Morris has one hell of a line

[blueheretic]

I like that. Great Stuff.I really like these frosh.



Not sure why Perry was in there so much.

What was up with Stevenson? Is he injured or is he Tubbys 2007 Dawghouse Dweller.

[Jody Porter]

The last two games, Stevenson has looked completely lost out there. He'll get it back.

Meeks came through big. :thumbup I've got a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of that over the next three-and-a-half years.

[FatCatDaddy]

Thank goodness Morris didn't get drafted. How pathetic would we be without him. Grats Randolph on another great game. Carry this team on your shoulders big guy.

[Caveman Catfan]

Meeks should start. I would start:

Jasper, Bradley, Meeks, Thomas and Morris.

Meeks got burned big time a few times off the dribble, but the kid is getting better (did not get any help defense the first time, Morris did better the other times).

Crawford and Perry need some time on the bench. They can come in as defensive specialists.

[DCWildcat]

Man was that an awful game. Meeks definately turned it around at halftime, he had a really bad first half. Jasper continues to impress though.

[UderricKY]

Without Randolph...we're the team that is sitting at 5-7 right now.

[Will Lavender]

Morris is absolutely unreal. I believe he had three more blocks tonight, which may be the most impressive thing about his game.

The rest of the team, other than Jodie and Sheray, really let the big guy down tonight.

[Will Lavender]

Back to the original post:

Jodie saved us with that hellacious three point play. The kid plays all-out, and I love that about him.

[ukbob]

Meeks should be getting JC's minutes, IMO.

[UderricKY]

ukbob wrote: Meeks should be getting JC's minutes, IMO.


Agreed.

JC has the confidence of a 14 year old bulimic.

I don't know that I'll ever understand the kids mindset or game.

[patpat4three]

stevenson has kinda been in the doghouse cause comments on the call in show from tubby were that they were tryin to get him to prac as hard as he plays in the games

[blueheretic]

What happened to Joe? He just can't adapt or...?

[Wildcat Larry]

ukbob wrote: Meeks should be getting JC's minutes, IMO.
Not sure what that would do to Crawford's psyche, but it would improve the team. :shrug:

[largebluej]

patpat4three wrote: stevenson has kinda been in the doghouse cause comments on the call in show from tubby were that they were tryin to get him to prac as hard as he plays in the games
Oscar also referenced that in the pre-game call-in. Said something to effect of "They want him to be more intense in practice, and I'm putting it kindly."

[ukbob]

Wildcat Larry wrote: ukbob wrote: Meeks should be getting JC's minutes, IMO.
Not sure what that would do to Crawford's psyche, but it would improve the team. :shrug:

Psyche be damned, IMO. Meeks is the future and has the game and lack of fear to screw up and succeed. And he will screw up. But you know he is going to get better and better since he is already better than JC and is a Frosh.

You play your best players...your smartest players. And you tell they others why they are playing and you are not. I say we ride the Meeks/Jasper/Porter horse until they drop and hope Stevenson understands that his time is now if he puts the effort in it.

[FatCatDaddy]

Will Lavender wrote: Back to the original post:

Jodie saved us with that hellacious three point play. The kid plays all-out, and I love that about him.


Morris has one hell of a line

This is the original post.

[Wildcat Larry]

Good point, Bob. I concur. :thumbup

[blueheretic]

ukbob wrote: Wildcat Larry wrote: ukbob wrote: Meeks should be getting JC's minutes, IMO.
Not sure what that would do to Crawford's psyche, but it would improve the team. :shrug:

Psyche be damned, IMO. Meeks is the future and has the game and lack of fear to screw up and succeed. And he will screw up. But you know he is going to get better and better since he is already better than JC and is a Frosh.

You play your best players...your smartest players. And you tell they others why they are playing and you are not. I say we ride the Meeks/Jasper/Porter horse until they drop and hope Stevenson understands that his time is now if he puts the effort in it.



PRAISE THE LORD!!!

[blueheretic]

FatCatDaddy wrote: Will Lavender wrote: Back to the original post:

Jodie saved us with that hellacious three point play. The kid plays all-out, and I love that about him.


Morris has one hell of a line

This is the original post.
The sub topic was about Meeks, though.

[BigCat33]

Wildcat Larry wrote: ukbob wrote: Meeks should be getting JC's minutes, IMO.
Not sure what that would do to Crawford's psyche, but it would improve the team. :shrug:
I think Joe C would definitely pout. I think it might hurt his game if he was sent to the bench. Who knows how he would handle it but, Jody Meeks is going to be tough to keep out of the starting lineup. Morris is our go to guy but there is no doubt in my mind that Meeks is our best #2 option. He can just score so many ways. Much more then anyone else. But, surely this is going to make crawford pick it up cause Meeks is rising higher with each game.

[Rockober]

I say make Joe shave his beard. He's playing likea boy and at least make him play the part.

[RaleighCat]

I'm on record- Meeks is better than Crawford. For this team. As of today. Considering one's a frosh and one's a McD's AA Jr.
JC has more ups n' downs than any player since Roderick Rhodes.

Morris is a forgotten man for too many minutes. How can this be? We fall in love with the 3 waaaaaaay too often. Please, just pass Randolph Morris the ball and we'll be OK.

Does anyone still want to question why we're not ranked?

[DCWildcat]

I love Meeks, but I still don't think he's ready. He's consistently far out of position on defense, which is probably the main reason Tubby gets on his case so much. He's equally far out of position on offense unless a very specific Jasper/Bradley/Morris surrouding cast is there to keep things smooth. Without their leadership, things tend to look like they did when Tubby did the hockey substitution in the first half--out of position, and ugly. Jodie will get there in time, but I don't think he's there yet. And while Crawford often disappears for long stretches, has trouble fighting through double teams, doesn't produce offensive rebounds or steals at the same rate, he's done much better on ball defense through the year, and I think that's why he's on the floor.

[Will Lavender]

RaleighCat wrote: I'm on record- Meeks is better than Crawford. For this team. As of today. Considering one's a frosh and one's a McD's AA Jr.
JC has more ups n' downs than any player since Roderick Rhodes.

Morris is a forgotten man for too many minutes. How can this be? We fall in love with the 3 waaaaaaay too often. Please, just pass Randolph Morris the ball and we'll be OK.

Does anyone still want to question why we're not ranked?
I'm not in love with Joe or anything, and I think he disappears way too often, but let's throw out the fact that he was a McDonald's All-American. Let's treat him like every other player and forget about where we thought he would be. He is what he is; to dog him for what we thought he might be is unfair.

Jodie had a lot of accolades in high school, too. He was highly ranked. He should have played well considering how he performed -- on a great, great team -- in high school, and he is playing well.

Joe had 10 points and 4 assists tonight. He didn't shoot it well, but neither did Jodie.

I think they both bring a lot to the team. I don't think Joe was the reason we played so poorly tonight. We simply need more out of the 4 spot, and our TEAM defense was awful.

(I agree that we shot waaaaaaaaay too many threes tonight. I didn't like our gameplan at all -- on either end of the floor. Tonight's game, by the players and Tubby, reminded me a lot of last year.)

[Gunsmoke]

Meeks, Morris, Jasper all had very good games. I also thought Ramel had a good game. I don't know where Joe's jumper went but when/if he starts hitting them it makes us so much better. I know, what if he doesn't? Don't want to think that for then our run to the final four ends abruptly. Bottom line is we have to have Joe playing at potential to make any kind of run, for in the tourney you got to have depth and multiple options. And Bobby Perry? Wow! He has a beautiful stroke but seems to be shooting without confidence, like he hopes it goes in and hopes he doesn't miss, instead of just stroking the damn shot. That goes along with the shortarmed short shots near the basket. He has got to get his confidence back. Put a little more arch on it Bobby. Sheray hustles and brings his A game for the most part night in and night out. I don't fault him at all for he gives us all he has. What more can you ask out of a young man? Randolph is a beast..smooth as silk and under complete control out on the court. Why ask or imply where we would be without him? We have him and have had him now for going on three years. What if..what if..your dawg bites your nose off? Did he do it to spite your face? Think about it.

[Caveman Catfan]

DCWildcat wrote: I love Meeks, but I still don't think he's ready. He's consistently far out of position on defense, which is probably the main reason Tubby gets on his case so much. He's equally far out of position on offense unless a very specific Jasper/Bradley/Morris surrouding cast is there to keep things smooth. Without their leadership, things tend to look like they did when Tubby did the hockey substitution in the first half--out of position, and ugly. Jodie will get there in time, but I don't think he's there yet. And while Crawford often disappears for long stretches, has trouble fighting through double teams, doesn't produce offensive rebounds or steals at the same rate, he's done much better on ball defense through the year, and I think that's why he's on the floor.

Defense is the only thing keeping him from getting more minutes.

[RaleighCat]

Will Lavender wrote: RaleighCat wrote: I'm on record- Meeks is better than Crawford. For this team. As of today. Considering one's a frosh and one's a McD's AA Jr.
JC has more ups n' downs than any player since Roderick Rhodes.

I'm not in love with Joe or anything, and I think he disappears way too often, but let's throw out the fact that he was a McDonald's All-American. Let's treat him like every other player and forget about where we thought he would be. He is what he is; to dog him for what we thought he might be is unfair.

Jodie had a lot of accolades in high school, too. He was highly ranked. He should have played well considering how he performed -- on a great, great team -- in high school, and he is playing well.

Why is it irrelevent? It's on his personal bio at www.ukathletics.com (http://www.ukathletics.com). So is the fact that he "Was ranked the No. 9 overall recruit in the 2004 class by Rivals and the No. 3 shooting guard ..." You should write our SID and suggest all the players' bios be amended, since these facts don't matter.

Actually, they do matter. How players develop- or don't develop- says a lot about our program. Morris is playing up to his potential. Crawford is not. It's very relevent to the success of our team.

Also, Jodie Meeks wasn't rated anywhere near JC's level coming out of HS. It's obvious Meeks was underated, but you can't suggest the two players cameto UK with the same expectations. No, Joe Crawford came to UK with a Keith Bogans-like resume. How JC performs relative to his potential is very important to our team.

[I. Melvin]

Shudder.

You recently asked "where's the faith?" The Ghost of Season Just Passed haunts the faith of many.

Will Lavender wrote: Tonight's game, by the players and Tubby, reminded me a lot of last year.)

[Swimmer4uk]

I really feel Joe is more of an individual player rather than a team player. He really has a problem driving to the lane out of control and leading to a charge or an ill advised shot. That is not to say he doesn't have some stellar plays, and clutch 3's. But what it seems to me to be apparent in his game is that he is frustrated. He has talent, we've all seen it, but I think his role is this system is what is getting him down.

[Houstoncat]

ukbob wrote: Wildcat Larry wrote: ukbob wrote: Meeks should be getting JC's minutes, IMO.
Not sure what that would do to Crawford's psyche, but it would improve the team. :shrug:

Psyche be damned, IMO. Meeks is the future and has the game and lack of fear to screw up and succeed. And he will screw up. But you know he is going to get better and better since he is already better than JC and is a Frosh.

You play your best players...your smartest players. And you tell they others why they are playing and you are not. I say we ride the Meeks/Jasper/Porter horse until they drop and hope Stevenson understands that his time is now if he puts the effort in it.Agree absolutely....the best players play

[sardiscat]

"So is the fact that he "Was ranked the No. 9 overall recruit in the 2004 class by Rivals and the No. 3 shooting guard ..."

Says more about the guys doing the rating than anything else. Crawford didn't even play guard in high school. When I saw Crawfordin high school, I thought, "Great HS player, but what position is he going to play in college? Not really big enoughforforward,not quick enough andwithout the handleto be a greatguard." All that is being said when a player is named a HS all-American is that heis a great HS player. As Pitino said when he was at UK, "The object in recruiting is not to sign the guys who were HS all-Americans. The object in recruiting is to sign the guys who are going to be college all-Americans." I have never seen the potential in JC to be a college all-American, and I've always wondered what the folks who have raved about his potential here saw in him that I wasn't seeing. He has improved his handle, but he still is not really big enough for forward and not really quick enough to be a top flight guard.Worse, heoften doesn't play with a lot of intensity. There are going to be games where you miss shots, but he doesn't do much to try to compensate when his shots are missing. Why isn't he going to the offensive boards on every shot when he is playing forward? If somebody as thin as James Blackman can get offensive rebounds from the forward position, and he did, why can't somebody built like Crawford get offensive rebounds? The answer is that Blackman went to the glass when somebody shot and Crawford just stands in place 20' from the basket watching the shot. And, playing with intensity in areas such as defense or offensive rebounding often is the sort of thing that leads to your shots starting to drop.

[Will Lavender]

RaleighCat wrote: Will Lavender wrote: RaleighCat wrote: I'm on record- Meeks is better than Crawford. For this team. As of today. Considering one's a frosh and one's a McD's AA Jr.
JC has more ups n' downs than any player since Roderick Rhodes.

I'm not in love with Joe or anything, and I think he disappears way too often, but let's throw out the fact that he was a McDonald's All-American. Let's treat him like every other player and forget about where we thought he would be. He is what he is; to dog him for what we thought he might be is unfair.

Jodie had a lot of accolades in high school, too. He was highly ranked. He should have played well considering how he performed -- on a great, great team -- in high school, and he is playing well.

Why is it irrelevent? It's on his personal bio at http://www.ukathletics.com. So is the fact that he "Was ranked the No. 9 overall recruit in the 2004 class by Rivals and the No. 3 shooting guard ..." You should write our SID and suggest all the players' bios be amended, since these facts don't matter.

Actually, they do matter. How players develop- or don't develop- says a lot about our program. Morris is playing up to his potential. Crawford is not. It's very relevent to the success of our team.

Also, Jodie Meeks wasn't rated anywhere near JC's level coming out of HS. It's obvious Meeks was underated, but you can't suggest the two players cameto UK with the same expectations. No, Joe Crawford came to UK with a Keith Bogans-like resume. How JC performs relative to his potential is very important to our team.

It's not irrelevant, I just don't think it should come into a discussion about which player is better. I've noticed every time you bring up Crawford, you bring up the McDonald's All-American point. Everybody knows he was a McDonald's All-American. To judge Joe on potential and to judge Jodie on what kind of player he actually is is not a good analysis -- nor does it to justice to Joe.

Jodie could have easily been a McDonald's All-American. I saw both Jodie's Norcross team and Joe's Renaissance team, and Norcross could have beaten that Renaissance team by 20 points. Jodie had four or five other Division I prospects on the team with him; Joe had one. Jodie was the Georgia AAAAA player of the year, which is a hell of an accolade; Joe didn't win Mr. Basketball in Michigan.

They both bring really similar games. Neither is a great shooter. Joe is a better defender. Jodie has better instincts. Joe is tougher around the basket. Jodie is a better ball-handler. Joe is too patient at times. Jodie is too impatient at times. And so on.

Like I said: we need 'em both. Every night.

I just think Joe is judged too much on his ranking in high school rather than what he does on the court. I don't think that's a good way to figure out who's "best."

[RaleighCat]

"I've noticed every time you bring up Crawford, you bring up the McDonald's All-American point. Everybody knows he was a McDonald's All-American. To judge Joe on potential and to judge Jodie on what kind of player he actually is is not a good analysis -- nor does it to justice to Joe. " Quote by Will Lavender.

I also bring up the fact that he's now a junior. And that Meeks is a freshmen.

I bring up his resume to remindthose who claim Tubby's recruiting efforts are OK by pointing out that class (Morris/Rondo/Crawford/Bradley). I bring up his pedigree mostly because expectations influence perceptions.

You can go back to Heshimu Evans, through Bogans and Fitch and now Joe Crawford. Where they started to where they finished helps frame their careers at UK. Evans came from nowhere to provide a serious spark to his teams. Bogans is one of the most heralded recruits Tubby ever landed- and after a major setback his junior year- finished his career as one of our best scorers and grittiest warriors. Fitch transformed himself on the court and off to earn All SEC honors.

Frankly, the success of that class hinges on Joe Crawford. Rondo is gone. Bradley was 4th banana and his play is arguably on target. Morris has turned the corner to fulfill his mighty potential. The jury remains out on Crawford as precious seconds tick off that clock.

[poodoo]

Team chemistry seems to be great. There is no way that Tubby takes Crawford out of the lineup and risks messing up that team chemistry, in my humble opinion, especially since Crawford is a player who already gets down on himself so easily. Too, if Joe were delegated to the bench, I suspect we would basically get little production from him the rest of the season. Regardless, I trust Tubby to make the right decision on that.

Having said that, yes, I think Jodie Meeks deserves more and more of Crawford's minutes. ILOVEJodie's game, although I'm sure Tubby wants him to continue to improve defensively and look more for his teammates.

In regard to Joe, he does not play as much TEAM ball as I would like to see. HOWEVER, there has been improvement from Joe in those TEAM areas, specifically his defense, rebounding, and assists. I think Tubby Smith realizes that Joe must step up his game for this team to go where he wants it to go. Joe is taking some baby steps in those important areas. I would love to see him penetrate and dish back out, instead of forcing the action and picking up a charge. Here's hoping that improvement comes as the season progresses, with Tubby's probably rightly continuing to encourage Joe in regard to his positives and areas of improvement.

Oh, NOW back to Morris' line! :ggrin:

[UKhoov]

Joe Crawford is probably the best player on our team........

The only problem is he doesnt know it and I think he has some serious head problems. Not the kind of head problems that Ron Artest has but cofidence problems.

I really like Crawford.....but for god sake son MOVE WITHOUT THE BALL, THEN TAKE IT TO THE HOLE



YOU ARE GOOD JOE CRAWFORD, I PROMISE!!!

[Jody Porter]

UKhoov wrote:
YOU ARE GOOD JOE CRAWFORD, I PROMISE!!!

Not much to add. Just wanted to say that I've been enjoying your posts today. Welcome to WCN!

I look forward to reading more from you...

[bret1555]

sardiscat wrote: "So is the fact that he "Was ranked the No. 9 overall recruit in the 2004 class by Rivals and the No. 3 shooting guard ..."

Says more about the guys doing the rating than anything else. Crawford didn't even play guard in high school. When I saw Crawfordin high school, I thought, "Great HS player, but what position is he going to play in college? Not really big enoughforforward,not quick enough andwithout the handleto be a greatguard." All that is being said when a player is named a HS all-American is that heis a great HS player. As Pitino said when he was at UK, "The object in recruiting is not to sign the guys who were HS all-Americans. The object in recruiting is to sign the guys who are going to be college all-Americans." I have never seen the potential in JC to be a college all-American, and I've always wondered what the folks who have raved about his potential here saw in him that I wasn't seeing. He has improved his handle, but he still is not really big enough for forward and not really quick enough to be a top flight guard.Worse, heoften doesn't play with a lot of intensity. There are going to be games where you miss shots, but he doesn't do much to try to compensate when his shots are missing. Why isn't he going to the offensive boards on every shot when he is playing forward? If somebody as thin as James Blackman can get offensive rebounds from the forward position, and he did, why can't somebody built like Crawford get offensive rebounds? The answer is that Blackman went to the glass when somebody shot and Crawford just stands in place 20' from the basket watching the shot. And, playing with intensity in areas such as defense or offensive rebounding often is the sort of thing that leads to your shots starting to drop.

Joe's defense has been too good consistently this season for us to question his intensity. Period. Confidence in his shot? Maybe. Not his intensity. I have said this a million times on different forums. . . Just because Joe doesn't scowl like Ben Wallace or ham it up on the court like Meadowlark Lemon does not mean his is not giving his all.

[SamKat]

Joe goes all out defensively, but this team needs offensive innovation. He is a blue chipper who hasn't lived up to his HS ratings, much like the fellow, Roderick Rhodes.

If he pouted a spell on the bench, I believe he could turn into a dynamo.

I, too, like starting more freshmen. I am not yet sold on Thomas for starting, but "it ain't my job". If Stevenson, is goofing off at all, he needs to kick himself in the butt. He has so much defensive potential. I have a blue fly swatter with a blue hand for the swat. For a guy who can block shots so well, he isn't getting a chance to show it in this 2006-2007 season and it is flowing by on by him and us.

Randolph Morris is definitely the aircraft carrier for this team!

[poodoo]

Littlemeyer wrote: UKhoov wrote:
YOU ARE GOOD JOE CRAWFORD, I PROMISE!!!

Not much to add. Just wanted to say that I've been enjoying your posts today. Welcome to WCN!

I look forward to reading more from you...


DITTO from this corner.

Too, Joe's moving without the ball firstand THENtaking the ball to the hole without forcing it was an excellent suggestion for his game, in my opinion. Mostly, though, he needs that CONFIDENCE he gets from starting the game out well as he did last night.

Joe, you are GOOD, very good. Let the game come to you, and THEN do what you are really able to do because you ARE good, really good, even on nights when someof the early shots do not fall. :cool:

Now, what was Morris' line? :ggrin: