Great Win!

[blueheretic]

Crawford is showing signs of becoming consistent and showing the talent that I thought (hoped) thathe would show early on. Morris is outstanding. Is he averaging adouble-double or what?

If Bradley becomes a consistent threat from outside and Perry and the Frosh can be steady and Woo and Thomas can contribute on the edges, Tubby may even have himself a Final Four threat on his hands.

Wouldn't that be a great thing.

The real tests are still ahead. We will see what this team does when it faces UF, UT, Bama and LSU. They are starting to play lessor teams as if they are lessor teams who need to be eliminated rather than show up for the games as if they don't matter.

Good Job! Great Win! I might even start to get excited. Maybe...

[Wildcatcrazy11]

blueheretic wrote: Crawford is showing signs of becoming consistent and showing the talent that I thought (hoped) thathe would show early on. Morris is outstanding. Is he averaging adouble-double or what?

If Bradley becomes a consistent threat from outside and Perry and the Frosh can be steady and Woo and Thomas can contribute on the edges, Tubby may even have himself a Final Four threat on his hands.

Wouldn't that be a great thing.

The real tests are still ahead. We will see what this team does when it faces UF, UT, Bama and LSU. They are starting to play lessor teams as if they are lessor teams who need to be eliminated rather than show up for the games as if they don't matter.

Good Job! Great Win! I might even start to get excited. Maybe...





Blueheretic is excited.... We MUST be playing well....;)

[katfever]

It was a good win- nice to see UK consistently hit shots. I saw a ton of confidence exhibitedby the Cats- something sorely lacking last year.On the other hand, USC absolutely quit- it was an embarrassment. If we could somehow manage to win out to the Florida game, my goodness what a HUGE circus that will be in Rupp that Saturday night. One game at a time though. :P

[ukwebfan]

There you go drinking that cheap whiskey again.:D

[UKcat]

Impressive win!!! I really enjoyed watching the game and smiling when I looked at the score board; the pepcid AC stayed on the shelf last night! Real team effort; I love it when a plan comes together:dude:

[sardiscat]

"On the other hand, USC absolutely quit- it was an embarrassment."

This was the major difference last night. UK has been playing pretty well for a while, now, but our opponents almost invariably give it their best shot right to the closing horn. Even at Rupp, opposing players love playing in front of that crowd and absolutely leave their guts on the floor. USC's crowd--what there was of it--quit early in the second half, and the USC players followed suit shortly thereafter.

[Bogey1964]

It's really looking like guys are having fun playing as a group. The coaches, bench (whoever is on it at the time), really seem to be into whats going on, on the floor. Execution and spacing tonight was really good and guys looked for each other. Other than Jodie continually shooting in the last minute when we were up 35, I have no complaints. And that really isnt a complaint, I just felt sorry for SC. And Jodie is a freshman. As he gets older, he will take the air out of the ball and not rub their faces into it any harder. (I still have those nightmares of Spurrier teams throwing with two minutes left in a 70-3 football game) Getting beat by 30 and 40 back to back at home is tough. Especially for Tre' Kelly.

[capcat]

WildcatGirlsHubby wrote: Other than Jodie continually shooting in the last minute when we were up 35, I have no complaints. And that really isnt a complaint, I just felt sorry for SC.I kind of like that :blush: Bad me....maybe I should rethink it ;)

[bleedbluelady]

Yes, USC did quit. But last year's team would have lost focus, fiddled around and we might have won by 10 - 15. This team stayed focused. I don't have a problem with the players who are coming off the benchplaying with intensity rather than just killing time. As a matter of fact, I LOVE it. I want all our players playing with intensity every second of the game. Now, if our starters are still in with under 4 minutes to go in that kind of a game, that's rubbing it in.

[Will Lavender]

I have no problem with Jodie firing those threes. In that case, it's our bench versus theirs. If they can't guard Jodie, then tough.

Now, if the starters were in there, it'd be a different story.

[UKfaninCO]

We had pretty much cleared the bench. Let the kids play like they mean it. We fans don't get to see some of those players very much and it was a nice opportunity for those guys to get out there and get a few extra minutes in a game situation and I for one am glad they played their best. We are likely to need some of them down the stretch and they could use the exposure. I'm not sure what they could have done other than walk the ball up the court and hand it over to USC. I don't feel like Tubby was trying to run it up on Odom. USC quit. They got what they deserved.

[UKcat]

I like the players "going after it " till the game is over. So many times Tubby has put in the subs and ordered them to back off, not running the score up and it has made us look bad down the stretch and come back to bite us. I am all for finishing the game; pull the starters if it is obvious that we are going to win, but let the subs play on; score if at all possible and play agressively. They like it and so do we:P

[TrueblueCATfan]

What I like about this team is they did not give up last night................they got the BIG lead and they kept it.....alot of times in the past we would get the big lead... in goes the subs and there goes the lead.......we had everybody in last night and we still kept the lead............that says alot about the coaching and the players

[Chaz]

TrueblueCATfan wrote: What I like about this team is they did not give up last night................they got the BIG lead and they kept it.....alot of times in the past we would get the big lead... in goes the subs and there goes the lead.......we had everybody in last night and we still kept the lead............that says alot about the coaching and the players

All of the players continued to play hard until the final seconds. The starters were being pulled by the 5 min mark or before. By the 3 min mark, there were 5 freshmen on the court and it stayed that way until the final horn. IIRC, only Dwight Perry did not get in the game. Its great that these guys played hard and with purpose last nite. Kudos to them and to the entire team. :thumbup

One thing for sure, dUKe nor the Gaytors would have pulled their starters that early. It just goes to show you who has CLASS and who are less so. Let's make this our M.O., get a large lead and put in the reserves the last 5-8 mins of the game. :)

[lribookend]

Everyone talks about how USC "quit". Well, maybe one or two players did. But after watching the game, and then watching a tape of the game a second time,I am not sure the whole team just "quit". They started 3 Freshmen, and their star player was injured. There is dissension on the team, andthe coach is feeling the heat. They had a sorry crowd show up to "support" them on national TV. They tried pretty hard, I thought, but they caught a very good Kentucky team playing one of its better games of the year. And their shots just wouldn't drop.

They have 3 Division I transfers sitting out this year on the bench. Yes, they will get their tail kicked this year. But they will be back in a year or two. Not sure if Odom will be able to survive that long. I hope he does, he is a good coach and a fine human being.Mostpeople who havecoached have been in Odom's shoes before, with the cards stacked so much against you, you don't have a prayer. You hope the other team will have an off night. Instead, they come out ripping 3 point shots.Then your star player comes up hurting. And fans want to burn your house down.

Odom said after the game his team played better against UK than they did against UF. The scoreboard just didn't reflect it. I think that is probably true. Not sure it is fair to call the gamecocks "quitters", though.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

blueheretic wrote: Crawford is showing signs of becoming consistent and showing the talent that I thought (hoped) thathe would show early on. Morris is outstanding. Is he averaging adouble-double or what?

If Bradley becomes a consistent threat from outside and Perry and the Frosh can be steady and Woo and Thomas can contribute on the edges, Tubby may even have himself a Final Four threat on his hands.

Wouldn't that be a great thing.

The real tests are still ahead. We will see what this team does when it faces UF, UT, Bama and LSU. They are starting to play lessor teams as if they are lessor teams who need to be eliminated rather than show up for the games as if they don't matter.

Good Job! Great Win! I might even start to get excited. Maybe...



:cool:Hell Dave, go ahead and get excited...I know I am...see you in Catlanta brother.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

bleedbluelady wrote: Yes, USC did quit. But last year's team would have lost focus, fiddled around and we might have won by 10 - 15. This team stayed focused. I don't have a problem with the players who are coming off the benchplaying with intensity rather than just killing time. As a matter of fact, I LOVE it. I want all our players playing with intensity every second of the game. Now, if our starters are still in with under 4 minutes to go in that kind of a game, that's rubbing it in.
:cool:The most impressive thing for me about USC was how hard our bench players played right down to the final horn...wow.

[delkfor3]

UKcat wrote: I like the players "going after it " till the game is over. So many times Tubby has put in the subs and ordered them to back off, not running the score up and it has made us look bad down the stretch and come back to bite us. I am all for finishing the game; pull the starters if it is obvious that we are going to win, but let the subs play on; score if at all possible and play agressively. They like it and so do we:P
I agree, when your boot is on their necks, grind the boot. This has been one of my beefs with Tubby, if you can beat a team by 40, then by all means beat them by 40. Don't let up one bit, lord knows (as we found out last year aginst IU and KU) they won't let up on us.

[poodoo]

blueheretic wrote:

If Bradley becomes a consistent threat from outside and Perry and the Frosh can be steady and Woo and Thomas can contribute on the edges, Tubby may even have himself a Final Four threat on his hands.

Wouldn't that be a great thing.



Good Job! Great Win! I might even start to get excited. Maybe...





I cannot believe what I have just read. BH has just MADE MY DAY!!!He has actually put "Tubby" and "Final Four" in the same sentence without that negative "NEVER" word! :D

Too, BH has become excited enough to ADMIT that it COULD happen and that he thinks it would be a GREAT thing (which I knew was the way he had really felt, all along!). Too, Dave, I love the "maybe"at the end ofthis so-positive (and great)post! :ggrin:

Let's all hope Dave becomes even more excited as this season progresses. Tuesday's night's game was SO MUCH FUN! :)May it continue! :)

[poodoo]

Terry L. Wildcat wrote: bleedbluelady wrote: Yes, USC did quit. But last year's team would have lost focus, fiddled around and we might have won by 10 - 15. This team stayed focused. I don't have a problem with the players who are coming off the benchplaying with intensity rather than just killing time. As a matter of fact, I LOVE it. I want all our players playing with intensity every second of the game. Now, if our starters are still in with under 4 minutes to go in that kind of a game, that's rubbing it in.
:cool:The most impressive thing for me about USC was how hard our bench players played right down to the final horn...wow.
Same feelings here, Terry. WOW! I loved that! I can remember many games when Tubby has put in the players at the end of the bench, and we would really start struggling,losing big leads andeven causing the starters to have to return to the game.These guys played with so much energy,as if it were a close game, and PERFORMED WELL! Again, I LOVED it! :)

[blueheretic]

poodoo wrote: blueheretic wrote:

If Bradley becomes a consistent threat from outside and Perry and the Frosh can be steady and Woo and Thomas can contribute on the edges, Tubby may even have himself a Final Four threat on his hands.

Wouldn't that be a great thing.



Good Job! Great Win! I might even start to get excited. Maybe...





I cannot believe what I have just read. BH has just MADE MY DAY!!!He has actually put "Tubby" and "Final Four" in the same sentence without that negative "NEVER" word! :D

Too, BH has become excited enough to ADMIT that it COULD happen and that he thinks it would be a GREAT thing (which I knew was the way he had really felt, all along!). Too, Dave, I love the "maybe"at the end ofthis so-positive (and great)post! :ggrin:

Let's all hope Dave becomes even more excited as this season progresses. Tuesday's night's game was SO MUCH FUN! :)May it continue! :)


I'm still doubting Thomas until he proves something...but this team is looking good. Credit for that goes to Tubby just as blame for the turmoil and spotty recruiting and such.

[poodoo]

blueheretic wrote: poodoo wrote: blueheretic wrote:

If Bradley becomes a consistent threat from outside and Perry and the Frosh can be steady and Woo and Thomas can contribute on the edges, Tubby may even have himself a Final Four threat on his hands.

Wouldn't that be a great thing.



Good Job! Great Win! I might even start to get excited. Maybe...





I cannot believe what I have just read. BH has just MADE MY DAY!!!He has actually put "Tubby" and "Final Four" in the same sentence without that negative "NEVER" word! :D

Too, BH has become excited enough to ADMIT that it COULD happen and that he thinks it would be a GREAT thing (which I knew was the way he had really felt, all along!). Too, Dave, I love the "maybe"at the end ofthis so-positive (and great)post! :ggrin:

Let's all hope Dave becomes even more excited as this season progresses. Tuesday's night's game was SO MUCH FUN! :)May it continue! :)


I'm still doubting Thomas until he proves something...but this team is looking good. Credit for that goes to Tubby just as blame for the turmoil and spotty recruiting and such.

Most fair, and that's something that some will not similarly do, unfortunately--give Tubby credit when credit is due. Anyway, my post was to make it more obvious (to some who "doubt" in a quite differentway :)) that you are NOT a Tubby Hater! :)Again, great post, BH.

You mention that this team is looking good, and you also mention "spotty recruiting," which is a very fair description, in my opinion. Can you imagine this team with the addition of ONE Brandon Wright (who is leading the nation in field goal position at this time, I read yesterday, as he is both a key post scorer and rebounder for the Tarheels)! That thought makes me sick, and I'm sure it also makes Tubby sick.

I love to analyze, something that can be most annoying to Mr. Poodoo. :ggrin:Anyway, I think there were A LOT of reasons for UK's disapointing 2005-2006 season. One was the team's struggling in its dealing with some key unexpected departures. I honestly believe another was Tubby's struggling to deal with some disappointing losses: the loss of the senior player he had so loved, Chuck Hayes,AND theUNEXPECTED losses of Azubuike, Morris (for at least a semester), and his power forward for the future, Brandon Wright. I don't happen to think that Tubby Smith was a happy coach last year even before the season began, and then the embarrassing losses to Kansas and Indiana and the home conference losses certainly did not help things. It was a most difficult year. Team chemistry was seemingly lacking, and the unhappycoach perhaps made that situationeven worse.

Thankfully, it's over, AND Tubby has obviously been enjoying THIS TEAM, as have we fans. :)Too, as always, I think Tubby CAN COACH with the best of them (besides being probably THE BEST as a person), and that is one of the reasons I have HOPE for this team as the season progresses. :)Now,IF ONLY wealso had Brandon Wright...:ggrin:GO CATS!!!