Should be a fun year

[ukbob]

This will not be a great UK team.
It might not even be a great record for a UK team.
But you will like this team.

We have SERIOUS issues underneath. Beyond Patterson(terrific fundamental, not flashy player) we have very little in the way of talent. That doesn't mean somebody won't step up and overachieve, but Stevenson/Coury/Harris and company are nowhere near the class of Patterson. Not yet. Maybe not ever. We have no idea if Carter(who Gillispie really likes), will ever come around. As for Williams...who knows.

Somebody...anybody...has to be the 2nd big man that consistently contributes. The other forward position can be handled by committee. BG has work to do on the recruiting trail.

Great guards but ballhandling still remains a weakness. It could improve with quicker passes and I am sure it will. We don't have that dazzling ballhandler that can get through traffic. But they can all score. And score a lot at times.

I love the constant hustle and movement. I am sure not used to it. I love the attitudes. I love the Bradley leadership. I think the defense will be really good with this group before the end of the year.

It's a work in progress team that will put a hurt on some but will lose more than their share, IMO. But they won't go down easy.

I intend to really enjoy these kids. My expectations are really not that high for them, but I think they will throw a surprise or 2 out there.

And after listening to BG's post game, I am convinced that we have the right guy for the job that understands limitations but strives to exceed them. And I think you will see that in this team.

Enjoy the season Cat fans. Don't get too high or too low for a change. Understand that BG is building something his way but not with all his tools.

See you in March. I think this team goes dancing and once we are there...you never know.

[DCCatFan]

Good post Bob. It sounds weird, but I don't feel a lot of pressure as a fan this year. This, as you said, is a season to enjoy and think about the fantastic future we have ahead of us and to enjoy this young, flawed, but also talented team.

Of course, I say that now -- come talk to me when he hit our first losing streak!

[BigblueDrew]

Bob, I don't know about you but I enjoyed this game as much as any I've seen in a long time. I caught a faint glimmer of something tonight, Kentucky Basketball( at least the UK Basketball I grew up loving) and it's been a while since I've seen it. I intend to enjoy the whole season. I agree with you that we have some major holes and I too think they will lead to some losses but I am optimistic more so than I have been in a long time. I also noticed we LOOK so much more athletic, my son commented on how LONG we look this year as opposed to last year. We are building something IMO that will get us where we ALL want to be in a year or two. GO CATS.

[poodoo]

I love the constant hustle and movement. I am sure not used to it. I love the attitudes. I love the Bradley leadership. I think the defense will be really good with this group before the end of the year.



And after listening to BG's post game, I am convinced that we have the right guy for the job that understands limitations but strives to exceed them. And I think you will see that in this team.



Nice post, ukbob. I, too, feel sure I will like this team--AND its coach, regardless of its record. :) Like you, I particularly like the hustle and movement, both of which were quite good to see--plus the nice addition of Patrick Patterson's interior passing. Like you, I am convinced we have "right guy for the job"--and have felt that way from the first press conference. Whatever our limitations, he will be fighting his hardest to come up with a way to overcome them. Also, I liked listening to his talking about watching the tape of every practice. What he did NOT say was how many TIMES he watches each practice. :) As one of the announcers noted, Coach G is not really single, for he is married to his job of coaching basketball. :) THAT is definitely a perfect match for the UK head coaching job.

Yes, I agree that we fans will need to be patient. The current limitations in the frontcourt are most obvious. YET, I think we will be dancing in March--and maybe longer than you think. Derrick Jasper and Jared Carter could certainly make a difference. Regardless, yes, I already like this team and its coach--A LOT. Tonight was FUN. :) GO CATS! GO COACH G!

[Gunsmoke]

I agree with everything you said Bob. It could get ugly at times when we play a team with a dominate inside game but Coach will have something up his sleeves to overcompensate I am sure. Traps and doubling down maybe? The so called "Coury flurry" is a nice story but that in itself won't help us win any games. We have got to get something positive out of Carter. Aside from him where else could it come from? I can only hope that by the end of December Williams can give us 8-10 strong minutes a game but who really knows? All in all I love this team, their attitude and their endless energy.

[AugustaDan]

And let's remember that some of these guys haven't actually played much in actual games in over a year. Carter, Harris, Coury, and Stevenson didn't play much last season and Williams was suspended for much of last season in high school. I hope that with some game time, we see these guys improve rapidly.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I like this team....they played unselfish basketball last night..they played as a team..Meeks and Patterson are all that and a bag a chips

[RaleighCat]

Bob, don't be a stranger. Good to hear from you- and I agree.

[matt colvin]

This will not be a great UK team.
It might not even be a great record for a UK team.
But you will like this team.

We have SERIOUS issues underneath. Beyond Patterson(terrific fundamental, not flashy player) we have very little in the way of talent. That doen't mean somebody won't step up and overachieve, but Stevenson/Coury/Harris and company are nowhere near the class of Patterson. Not yet. Maybe not ever. We have no idea if Carter(who Gillispie really likes, will ever come around. As for Williams...who knows.

Somebody...anybody...has to be the 2nd big man that consistently contributes. The other forward position can be handled by committee. BG has work to do on the recruiting trail.

Great guards but ballhandling still remains a weakness. It could imporve with quicker passes and I am sure it will. We don't have that dazzling ballhandler that can get through traffic. But they can all score. And score a lot at times.

I love the constant hustle and movement. I am sure not used to it. I love the attitudes. I love the Bradley leadership. I think the defense will be really good with this group before the end of the year.

It's a work in progress team that will put a hurt on some but will lose more than their share, IMO. But they won't go down easy.

I intend to really enjoy these kids. My expectations are really not that high for them, but I think they will throw a surprise or 2 out there.

And after listening to BG's post game, I am convinced that we have the right guy for the job that understands limitations but strives to exceed them. And I think you will see that in this team.

Enjoy the season Cat fans. Don't get too high or too low for a change. Understand that BG is building something his way but not with all his tools.

See you in March. I think this team goes dancing and once we are there...you never know.

Same here Bob. Should be a team that will win the fans over with hustle, tenacity, and level of desire not seen in a little while. Coach has a lot of work to do, acknowledges it, and gets to work :icon_mrgreen:. He's definitely the right man for the job so far, and I love his and his coaching staff's presence on the bench. It's a team effort for sure. I also agree that we'll surprise a team or two this season, and towards the end, we'll be a team not too many would want to play. Just need to get healthy, and continue with what appears to be good attitudes and attention from our guys.

Anxious for Saturday to roll around now. Go Cats :widcat:

[Sticeman]

Bob, don't be a stranger. Good to hear from you- and I agree.

Totally agree, I love to read Bobs posts after each game. They have been few and far between lately. I agree don't be a stranger this year Bob we are going to need your insight to keep our heads up at times ( At least I know I probally will)

[Wildcatcrazy11]

At this point my expectations are not too high. However we have so much talent and so many players itching to break through and be contributors. Hopefully some of these players can improve over the season and make us a team not too many people will want to play come March.

[countrycat]

Bob, I don't know about you but I enjoyed this game as much as any I've seen in a long time. I caught a faint glimmer of something tonight, Kentucky Basketball( at least the UK Basketball I grew up loving) and it's been a while since I've seen it. I intend to enjoy the whole season. I agree with you that we have some major holes and I too think they will lead to some losses but I am optimistic more so than I have been in a long time. I also noticed we LOOK so much more athletic, my son commented on how LONG we look this year as opposed to last year. We are building something IMO that will get us where we ALL want to be in a year or two. GO CATS.

I completly agree. I saw UK type basketball for the first time in a long time. I will admit at times thy looked lost, but they hustled and dove on the floor after loose balls. This is the kind of play that helps you get better players. It also shows a team can play defense and still score points.