Smith might change lineup to help Wildcats be more consistent

[ukfaninva]

By Jerry Tipton
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
One problem Kentucky won't have to worry about going into Sunday's game against Tennessee: handling success.

With a two-game losing streak, the Cats will have to handle adversity.

When asked Friday whether UK had trouble handling success, Coach Tubby Smith said, "Absolutely. It's become our M.O."

The latest example came in the loss at Georgia on Wednesday. Kentucky all but toyed with Georgia in building a 17-point lead in the first half. Then it all came crashing down in the second half as Georgia played harder and took the fight to UK.

"We just haven't been consistent in our effort," Smith said, "and we've become very up and down in our games. We have droughts on offense and defense."

Smith called for a more tough-minded attitude and more discipline to play through difficult periods in games

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/16555299.htm

[Will Lavender]

Tubby seems to call Derrick out here. Not sure if that means we can expect a change at point guard, or that's just a quote Tipton pulled in there out of the blue. I have seen Tubby in Jasper's face quite a bit -- and really, Derrick's played poorly since the SEC schedule started.

That's been a problem for UK pretty much since Tubby got here: point guard play. Turner was awesome, but he was just an awesome talent. Then came Saul. Then Hawkins, who had spurts of brilliance, but he also had that one bad stretch his senior year where everybody was wondering what happened to him. Then Rondo, who sputtered mightily as a sophomore. Now the Jasper/Bradley combo.

There's really not been any consistent success at that position under Tubby, and that's a shame because point guard is far and away the most important position on the floor.

[My GYAADA]

Will, you're forgettingthe best of the lot, Fitch.:wildcatface

[cats65]

If there is a change at the point it will be less of Bradley in the back up role and more Porter. I think DJ is still the guy at point. I won't be surprised if the main change comes in the form of Perry Stevenson as a starter.

[FatCatDaddy]

Well it is Tubby's recruting problems that we are starting a freshman at PG. This is probably the toughest position to play as a freshman. Tubby should never have us in the shape to have to depend on a freshman to contribute so much.

[ukbob]

I will bet a dollar that if he benches Jasper, he will put Bradley back at PG and not Porter.

PG is just one problem. He has no alternatives at PF except one....play Stevenson until he drops. If we are going to lose games, lose them with our future.

[Rockober]

I would like to see more of Woo and Morris. Two big guys in at the same time and Woo can put up a screen and also pass pretty well.

[SamKat]

Stevenson could have blocked a couple of Ga's big man's shots. Randolph was in foul trouble and didn't dare commit himself.

I was shouting into my TV but the coach didn't hear me. Instead we had Thomas who shows the little things to the coach in practice, but very little to us in games. Sorry for the sarcasm on the senior, but seniority shouldn't count unless it is producing.

[wildernessboyjb]

What's been wrong with Jasper's play? He got 6 assists the other night. What did Bradley get? A big fat 0. If you ask me, the problem with Kentucky the past two games has been Bradley at the point. When did the winning streak begin? When Tubby took Bradley out of the point guard position is when the cats started playing better. Jasper may not be much of a scorer, but he and Porter both can make things happen with their passing ability. Bradley is at his best and is only a decent ball player when he is being set up by other people. He can shoot lights out when he's coming off of a screen. When Bradley is put in at PG, he suddenly thinks he is Rondo and dribbles the ball at the top of the key for ten seconds before he does anything. Moving Jasper out and Bradley back to the PG would be a huge mistake, and it's not fair to Derek or Bradley who is much more valuable as a 2 Guard.

[poodoo]

wildernessboyjb wrote: What's been wrong with Jasper's play? He got 6 assists the other night. What did Bradley get? A big fat 0. If you ask me, the problem with Kentucky the past two games has been Bradley at the point. When did the winning streak begin? When Tubby took Bradley out of the point guard position is when the cats started playing better. Jasper may not be much of a scorer, but he and Porter both can make things happen with their passing ability. Bradley is at his best and is only a decent ball player when he is being set up by other people. He can shoot lights out when he's coming off of a screen. When Bradley is put in at PG, he suddenly thinks he is Rondo and dribbles the ball at the top of the key for ten seconds before he does anything. Moving Jasper out and Bradley back to the PG would be a huge mistake, and it's not fair to Derek or Bradley who is much more valuable as a 2 Guard.


I'm certainly not a coach. However, I surely agree with what you say here. I think we have mostly not looked good on offense when Ramelhas goneback to the point position, andRamel's playing the point latehas not been helpful to the team, in my opinion.

Derrick is young and certainly makes freshman mistakes, but I would prefer that to Ramel's playing more at the point. In other words, I wishTubby would learn to live with that, as we seem so much better, overall, when he or Michael Porter is at the point. As you say, both Jasper and Porter pass the ball, while Ramel tends to dribble and seems to havetrouble at "crunch" time. Ramel is much more valuable to the team as the shooting guard,in myhumble opinion.

Like others here, I would likewise like to see Perry Stevenson get more minutes and learn as the season progresses.If there is a change, I would personally hope that change would bemade (as long as Stevenson isearning the time in practice, of course).Like someon this thread, I would certainly hate to see Jasper be taken out of the starting lineupand Ramel movedback to the point. GO CATS!

[Madiblue]

Strengths and weakness, we never seem to have a complete player( or it has been a looong time), one person defends the other one shoots well, he can screen andthat onecan dribble, he blocks shots and he this that and the other! enough!!!!!! recruit players who can Shoot and defend and handle the ball and is mean enough to rebound...then run a frickin offense that doesn't have them stand around, I am not talking about Few, Donovan. etc, Tubby get yourself assistant coaches who CAN and want to coach, leave the clip boards to the grad assistants, but since we do not develop players to use all aspects of the game it is time to get someone (players)who can do it all, i strongly think we currently have some like this, lets add some more!#1 on my wish list!

[RockStrongo]

Benching Jasper is like putting a band aid on a broken leg. Gimme a break. It's all smoke and mirrors, excuses andmeaningless solutions that aren't going to change the fact UKsinking. Eventually the excuses will run out...

Jasper's play has not been that bad. Statistically, he's not the strongest. But we have no one better to put out there. I would actually like to see Tubby play him down the stretch more. I know his FT is awful but damn something's got to give.

[UKcat]

ukbob wrote: I will bet a dollar that if he benches Jasper, he will put Bradley back at PG and not Porter.

PG is just one problem. He has no alternatives at PF except one....play Stevenson until he drops. If we are going to lose games, lose them with our future.

Your bet is safe; he will not give Porter any time; the question is, why not??? If the others are not producing anything; give the kid a shot.

[My GYAADA]

wildernessboyjb wrote: What's been wrong with Jasper's play?

He can't beat back court pressure on his own, he dribbles into sideline traps, he won't shoot when open, he struggles from the line,and his assist, turnover, steals and block averages for the season are virtually even with Bradley and both of them turn it over too much for a PG. Even worse, he did not finish at the hoopall that wellagainst Georgia, which, to date was one of his real strengths. That said, I don't believe a switch ofBradley for Jasper at the point is the change being contemplated, butlike everythingelse on this board, thatis mere speculation. The only certainty I can assure is that I will be cheering regardless of which Cats are on the floor.

GO CATS!!!:wildcatface

[wildcat74]

ukbob wrote:

PG is just one problem. He has no alternatives at PF except one....play Stevenson until he drops. If we are going to lose games, lose them with our future.

For the life of me, i dont understand why tubby doesnt get this very statement. he cant be so stubbornly loyal that hes never thought of this can he?

[bleedbluelady]

My GYAADA wrote: wildernessboyjb wrote: What's been wrong with Jasper's play?

He can't beat back court pressure on his own, he dribbles into sideline traps, he won't shoot when open, he struggles from the line,and his assist, turnover, steals and block averages for the season are virtually even with Bradley and both of them turn it over too much for a PG. Even worse, he did not finish at the hoopall that wellagainst Georgia, which, to date was one of his real strengths. That said, I don't believe a switch ofBradley for Jasper at the point is the change being contemplated, butlike everythingelse on this board, thatis mere speculation. The only certainty I can assure is that I will be cheering regardless of which Cats are on the floor.

GO CATS!!!:wildcatface



Jasper drives me nuts dribbling into sideline traps. But, we are still a better TEAM with Jasper at the point rather than Bradley. :shrug: I, too will be cheering regardless of which Cats are on the floor.

[KapitalCat]

Jasper has good basketball IQ, good court vision and is a pretty good passer. He is also young and needs time and he is not a great ball handler nor is he quick enough with the ball in his hands to beat pressure off the dribble. The question for Tubby is what to do with Derrick if he can't improve his ball handling. Can he play the 3? Jai Lucas would start from day one if he signs with KY

[My GYAADA]

I agree with you BBL, that's why I don't think that is the change that will happen if there is one. I think it will be a change at the 4 spot, whether that means Sheray or Perry S, I don't know, but like many, my preference would be Perry S.:wildcatface

[BigblueDrew]

ukbob wrote: I will bet a dollar that if he benches Jasper, he will put Bradley back at PG and not Porter.

PG is just one problem. He has no alternatives at PF except one....play Stevenson until he drops. If we are going to lose games, lose them with our future.

Bob, Stevenson doesn't get to play consistant minutes even when he plays well. Tubby is GOING to give those minutes to Sheray Thomas. I don't know why, in my mind I play the freshman and let him get better instead of playing the senior who is basically as good as he isever going to be.

[poodoo]

KapitalCat wrote: Jai Lucas would start from day one if he signs with KY.

I suspect the same, KapitalCat. Even more, though, I hope Jai Lucas feels that way. If he does, FWIW, I think he will become a Cat. :)

[SamKat]

Recruiting is the coach's job. It is so obvious that Patterson and Lucas help us in the two most critical spots. I'm hoping and praying for the Cats with these two young men, in particular.

[Gunsmoke]

We have more holes than my windshield which I shot out after the gawja game. We have no team speed and no top notch ball handler. I love Ramel but he will never attain point guard skills. Derrick is a freshman with many more deficiencies to overcome than I care to list at this time before he will be the answer at the 1 or even the 2. Meeks is our best athlete period. Joe is slow and panicks late in the game when he has to keep working for his shot and throws up bricks when he doesn't have the speed to take his man off the dribble. Randolph flat disappears in games when he gets some serious D thrown his way and is too easily blanketed by one man. The 4 is a lost cause. Bobby tries soo hard but just doesn't have it. Sheray is just Sheray, a banger with very little hops or athleticism. Perry has bricks for hands and is not blocking much of anything shot in the post when he is in the game. Porter shows promise but needs a ton of seasoning. He will be solid in the future but nowhere near the answer at the point this year for what we are lacking in..ie. consistent ballhandling bringing the ball up the floor, beating the pressure and avioding traps, setting up and running the offense,penetrating and dishing or finishing in the lane, shooting the three within the context of the offense, etc etc etc. In summation, we have a decent team when we play hard for 40 minutes and move the ball quickly, which masks some of our deficiencies. Right now we have too many glaring weaknesses and are not compensating for them in other areas where our limited strengths lie to make any kind of serious run at a contender or in the tournament.Our playersbetter learntheir roles including admitting to themselves what they can't dowhile concentrating on only doing what they can do..and fast or there will be many more gawja games than I can stomach this year. Windshields ain't cheap you know.Give me 5 JodieMeeks and I don't care what thedifferentials are. I will still beat this team.

[blueheretic]

Changing the wrong line up. It's the coaching line up that needs to change.