The Cats' Record This Season

[Will Lavender]

So now that Liggins and Galloway are reportedly good to go, and we have the schedule, what do you think Kentucky's record is going to be this season and who do you think will give us trouble?

I see us going 22-9.

Losses to North Carolina, West Virginia, Miami, Louisville in the OOC. Tennessee in Knoxville, Florida in Gainesville, LSU in Rupp, South Carolina in Columbia, and Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Anybody else wanna take a shot at it?

[ukbob]

I think it will be another 10 loss season. While we have great athletes, we have little or no real shooters(Meeks) and question marks at the PG position once again. (Porter and a Frosh)

However, I think by year's end we will be ready to make noise.

Early losses will happen..UL, UNC, WVU, and perhaps another or 2 we should not lose. A 12-4 SEC record is possible with more late wins than early ones. We lose one to UT, Bama or USC, LSU and Vandy. We sweep Arkansas(they are decimated) and Florida.

21-10. The following year is when we start scaring the crap out of people again.

[Bleeding_blue_80]

Will, thats pretty much exactly where I have my predictions. So as not to look as though I am copying you, I pulled my predictions from another thread like this on the second page.

21-10.

Losses to :

North Carolina
West Virginia
Miami
Louisville
Tennessee
Alabama
Vandy
South Carolina
LSU
Florida


My optomistic heart tells me that we will win 4 of those losses and go 25-6... but thats my realistic view. :thumbup:

[Dawood Khan]

has there been this much talent at UK along with discipline and esprit de corps.

This will be Gillispies team. In his two coaching ventures thus far, he has had tremendous turnarounds/jumps in his second years.

I think this team will surprise some folks out there. I think they will beat the likes of WVU, Miami in the OOC handily. I don't think Vandy or UT will find this team so easy a foe to beat either. UF in Gainesville will be a win. I don't see LSU beating this team in Rupp either.

I only see two definite losses. UNC is going to be good. Maybe too good. UL will be good this year as well.

The rest are all possibilities. By no means do I think that this team will go 29-2. I just don't see 10 losses either. Gillispie can coach. He will also make these guys so tired that they won't have time to have personality conflicts ala the last era. This will be a well coached, disciplined and conditioned team.

[crazzedcats22]

I think it will be another 10 loss season. While we have great athletes, we have little or no real shooters(Meeks) and question marks at the PG position once again. (Porter and a Frosh)

However, I think by year's end we will be ready to make noise.

Early losses will happen..UL, UNC, WVU, and perhaps another or 2 we should not lose. A 12-4 SEC record is possible with more late wins than early ones. We lose one to UT, Bama or USC, LSU and Vandy. We sweep Arkansas(they are decimated) and Florida.

21-10. The following year is when we start scaring the crap out of people again.

Good predicition Bob. This is what I think as well. Our schedule isn't terribly difficult but I still see at least 10 losses maybe 11 or 12 counting losses in the SEC tourney and NCAA tourney. This team lost too much from last year and there are just too many question marks after Patterson.

[I. Melvin]

LSU? Am I missing something?

They lost their best player and their new coach is (amazingly) no better than their previous one.

[Will Lavender]

LSU? Am I missing something?

They lost their best player and their new coach is (amazingly) no better than their previous one.

I don't think they lost their best player. They lost their most marketable player. Their best player was Marcus Thornton; they also return Chris Johnson, who's going to be a beast this season. You plug in Tasmin Mitchell, who might make a run at SEC POY, and you've got a pretty decent team. And I'm one who thinks Trent Johnson's going to be very good at LSU. He came into a hollowed-out situation and built Stanford into a top 25 team fairly quickly.

I think the SEC is going to be down, but there are a couple of really interesting teams. I think LSU, South Carolina, Vandy and Alabama are all going to be really interesting to watch. It can go either way with those four.

[jfthom2]

“It’s the unconquerable soul of Coach, not the nature of the players he uses, that insures victory.” - General Patton on Coach

"If Coach is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles." - Karl von Clausewitz on Coach

"Coach has made all the calculations. Fate will do the rest." - Napoleon on Coach

"Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Wildcat" [of all these, the Wildcats are the strongest] - Caesar on the SEC


"Alea iacta est" [the die is cast] - Caesar on the upcoming season


My prediction: 27-4


"Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt" [men willingly believe what they wish] - Caesar on my prediciton

[billoliver40]

Some mighty good picks on the board.

21 seems about right to me. Some tough OOC games, and last year's 12
win SEC run was unheard of for what that team had.

Next year or the year after should be the return of the Blue Domination.

This year will be fun, though....:icon_smile:

[Dawood Khan]

“It’s the unconquerable soul of Coach, not the nature of the players he uses, that insures victory.” - General Patton on Coach

"If Coach is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles." - Karl van Clausewitz on Coach

"Coach has made all the calculations. Fate will do the rest." - Napoleon on Coach

"Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Wildcat" [of all these, the Wildcats are the strongest] - Caesar on the SEC

"Alea iacta est" [the die is cast] - Caesar on the upcoming season

My prediction: 27-4

"Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt" [men willingly believe what they wish] - Caesar on my prediciton
Why not 27-4?

:thumbup:

a true believer...

[UFWildcat]

“It’s the unconquerable soul of Coach, not the nature of the players he uses, that insures victory.” - General Patton on Coach

"If Coach is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles." - Karl von Clausewitz on Coach

"Coach has made all the calculations. Fate will do the rest." - Napoleon on Coach

"Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Wildcat" [of all these, the Wildcats are the strongest] - Caesar on the SEC


"Alea iacta est" [the die is cast] - Caesar on the upcoming season


My prediction: 27-4


"Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt" [men willingly believe what they wish] - Caesar on my prediciton

Superb post. :thumbup:

[countrycat]

“It’s the unconquerable soul of Coach, not the nature of the players he uses, that insures victory.” - General Patton on Coach

"If Coach is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles." - Karl von Clausewitz on Coach

"Coach has made all the calculations. Fate will do the rest." - Napoleon on Coach

"Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Wildcat" [of all these, the Wildcats are the strongest] - Caesar on the SEC

"Alea iacta est" [the die is cast] - Caesar on the upcoming season


My prediction: 27-4


"Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt" [men willingly believe what they wish] - Caesar on my prediciton

Well I am impressed and I hope you are right. We may loose 2 or 3 more but we will be notably improved.

[Will Lavender]

WCN may be the only place where you can find Caesar and Napoleon references on the basketball forum. :icon_mrgreen::thumbup:

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

For more predictions, including mine, see this thread from page 2.

http://www.wildcatnation.net/forum/showthread.php?t=44681

[Will Lavender]

For more predictions, including mine, see this thread from page 2.

http://www.wildcatnation.net/forum/showthread.php?t=44681

Thanks for posting that. I've been out of town for a couple of weeks due to my mother's gall bladder surgery. Didn't see that thread.

[weedhopper41]

I thought we had a good chance to go 21-10 before Liggins was cleared now I'd say 24-7

[wildcat_lover]

So now that Liggins and Galloway are reportedly good to go, and we have the schedule, what do you think Kentucky's record is going to be this season and who do you think will give us trouble?

I see us going 22-9.

Losses to North Carolina, West Virginia, Miami, Louisville in the OOC. Tennessee in Knoxville, Florida in Gainesville, LSU in Rupp, South Carolina in Columbia, and Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Anybody else wanna take a shot at it?

THERE IS NO WAYY we lose to LSU in Rupp and South Carolna in Columbia! I dont think we'll lose to Miami either, I say 26-5

[cory_kruger]

Losses to North Carolina, West Virginia, Miami, Louisville in the OOC. Tennessee in Knoxville, Florida in Gainesville, LSU in Rupp, South Carolina in Columbia, and Arkansas in Fayetteville.


I agree with all but Ark. There is no way they beat us this year. They will be down big time this year, not because of Coach Pel, but because of loosing dang near everyone who did anything from last year.

[catspress]

No way PP and Stevenson shine Meeks gets hot, Fresh and Jr College transfers come through along with a good preformance by J.Carter we should be able to play with anyone when were hot:icon_idea:

[Will Lavender]

A lot of "no way"-type posts here. While I love homerism as much as anyone, I'm not going to say "no way" about anything this season. We're still a year or so away from being talented enough to feel confident about anything other than the fact Gillispie's going to coach them up well and they're going to play hard. Outside of that, who really knows.

Last year I said, "No way Gardner-Webb beats us." Even ordered my tickets for Madison Square Garden. :icon_redface:

I think we'll be better this season, but it will likely only be incrementally. Still need quite a bit more talent in this program.

[Will Lavender]

THERE IS NO WAYY we lose to LSU in Rupp and South Carolna in Columbia! I dont think we'll lose to Miami either, I say 26-5

Both LSU and South Carolina return quite a bit. USC's not a deep team, but Archie, Holmes, Frederick and Downey is a pretty good nucleus. I don't think either club is going to compete for an SEC title or anything, but I see them both having a real shot at being .500 teams in the league.

Not going to be cakewalks by any stretch of the imagination.

[Dawood Khan]

Will, ya gotta believe DAWG! Ya gotta believe! lol

[catspress]

I live in Charlotte and I see your point I gave my lower level tickets to the AD from Garner Webb last year, but I think Stevenson has matured enough and PP is so hungry that it will be passed on to all the other team members that losing is not a option and if AJ and Miller play with heart and J.Carter comes through the sky is the limit. I have alot of friends that are UNC fans and they have a over confident attitude , if liggins is cleared and porter plays well and they jell early I think we have a chance if they overlook us. I think UNC could beat the Bobcats there scary deep but can only put 5 on the court at a time. I think coach worked out a lot of the kinks last year by establishing the team concept via legion,so I dont take the Garner Webb loss that hard it was kind of similar to RickP when he had less talent and I think could of coached to wins but putting his style of play into effect early even with losses which added up to the team playing well and winning some games in the end. Now we have some good talent and even though were young I think the sky is the limit. Sweet Sixteen if injuries and academics are OK:widcat::5x

[KYISSUPREME]

LSU? Am I missing something?

They lost their best player and their new coach is (amazingly) no better than their previous one.

I was wondering the same thing. Why is everyone willing to concede a home loss to LSU? They just don't appear to be that good for this season. The UNC and Louisville games I can see.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

A lot of "no way"-type posts here. While I love homerism as much as anyone, I'm not going to say "no way" about anything this season. We're still a year or so away from being talented enough to feel confident about anything other than the fact Gillispie's going to coach them up well and they're going to play hard.

I know what you're trying to say here Will, since I'm not big on "no-way" statements either.
I sort of disagree on the unknown talent/we can't yet be confident issue though. I seem to think we actually have a pretty good idea about many key players. Such as, we know that both Pat and PS will be rock solid. We know that Ramon will be a stellar defender. We know that Porter is as tough as they come and has a decent shot, so if he can just handle the ball a little better he'll be solid. Now I for one, think Jodie is still a bit unknown, just because of the injuries, but most people seem to think he'll be our best all-around player.
I guess I'm just thinking that we have a strong enough nucleus that if the "unknown" players can simply MEET expectations, then we'll be a fine basketball team. If they EXCEED them, then we'll be elite-eight/possible run at the FF material.

For me, a bold W/L prediction for this season is a combination of what I already know about our guys, what I know Coach will do with the newcomers, and us playing a relatively softer schedule. My predictions, as they should be, are based on what other teams are looking like this year too. I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that there are only 2 teams on our sched that "on paper" look better than us.

[weedhopper41]

You are forgetting Darius Miller from what I'm reading he is learning to assert himself and getting stronger. They say he is playing like Mercer. While I won't say he is that good if he is even close its going to help alot.

[Will Lavender]

You are forgetting Darius Miller from what I'm reading he is learning to assert himself and getting stronger. They say he is playing like Mercer. While I won't say he is that good if he is even close its going to help alot.

I saw Darius play about two months ago. He's going to help this team right away, but it's probably going to be in a role. The Mercer comparison, at least the time I saw him, is off. He's more like an Eric Daniels with more of a perimeter game (and probably more strength; he can really pound guys, Joe Crawford-like, when he gets down low). Very, very good passer at his size; that's what excited me most about him.

But I don't think he'll put up huge numbers as a frosh. He's more of an all-around player, the kind of player who's going to, once he learns how to play hard every single trip down, stuff stat sheets.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

I for one, am super excited about Darius. To me he's one of the "unknowns who should contribute". It does seem Deandre and Kevin are getting all the press only since they've had a tough time getting grades. Which is ironic because we have a Kentucky Mr. Basketball on our hands in Miller and hardly anyone's talking about him. But I'm definitely figuring Darius into the mix as a solid contributor when I make predictions.
I think there's alot more to this team than first meets the eye, and a softer schedule will only help the process.
We certainly won't be sitting around on selection Sunday just hoping we made the tournament.......we'll be wondering whether we're going to be a four or a five seed.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

I was wondering the same thing. Why is everyone willing to concede a home loss to LSU? They just don't appear to be that good for this season. The UNC and Louisville games I can see.

I don't think we'll lose in Rupp this year.

[JWORLD]

I don't think we'll lose in Rupp this year.



Maybe i should set up a stand at Rupp and for every lower level fan that is going into the game, i will offer them a RED BULL.


PLEASE DON'T SIT THERE ON YOUR _____ AND BE QUIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Stand up and cheer.............

[weedhopper41]

From what I've read this is in the last few weeks that Miller has come on strong. He realized he is going to have to earn his playing time and has to work to do it. I'm repeating part of what Dave Kersey said about him at TBK. I've always found his information pretty reliable

[freethrow]

It is hard to guess a record right now having not seen our new guys yet other than a few video clips. I would even find it hard to predict after a couple preseason games. But, I do feel our record will be better and not lose more than 6-8 games this season. We will have an improved bunch even over last season, IMO. Our guy's were really starting to get it at the end of the season and the new guys will benefit greatly by their example.

Go Big Blue !!!

[wildcat_lover]

I don't think we'll lose in Rupp this year.

I couldnt agree more. I say losses @ UNC, @UL, @UF, @UT ans maybe one more.

[JWORLD]

Im going to try a different approach this upcoming season. Im not going to get bent out of shape when we take some losses as long as the team stays in contention for a NCAA bid during the regular season. I just expect to see steady improvement as the season develops and come tournament time, i expect the team to gel and make a run in the NCAA tournament.


Im not going to count this team out for the simple fact that we are very fortunate to have a All American calibre player in Patterson. Jody Meeks should make a great number 2 option and should be highly motivated after last season with his injury and having to ride the bench.Liggins is a freshman who should grow as the season goes along and his main objective should be to distribute the ball and cause problems on defense.Harris is a very good defender and role player that every team needs.Stephenson is obviously a good shot blocker that can cause problems and from what i hear, he is starting to excel on the offensive end as he showed towards the end of last year.

When you look down the bench, you have players like Porter,Carter,Stewart,Miller,Harrellson,and Galloway along with a couple of walk on's who can flat out shoot the rock.

I feel pretty good about the mix of players that we have on our team but im a little disappointed at Jasper for leaving the team though i do understand his situation and respect his decision.

Will this be the year we play fast,fast, and faster?

[Will Lavender]

Will this be the year we play fast,fast, and faster?

No. Gillispie's teams have never played fast.

And really, there aren't that many teams playing that fast anywhere. UNC is an exception, and there are some teams who really get up and down from time to time because of talent and numbers, but if you look around most teams are playing at the same pace.

We might play faster than we did a year ago, but we still don't have much depth. Why would you run when you don't have any depth?

I think it's going to be like this:

Feed the ball to Patterson and get back on defense.

[Will Lavender]

From what I've read this is in the last few weeks that Miller has come on strong. He realized he is going to have to earn his playing time and has to work to do it. I'm repeating part of what Dave Kersey said about him at TBK. I've always found his information pretty reliable

Really hope Dave's right. He usually does have great info. And that's one of the things I saw pretty immediately with Darius: he just doesn't play hard all the time. If he learns how to be aggressive all the time, then watch out. Kid has some big-time skill. And it's all-around skill--rebounding, passing, scoring, defending. He's got an Antoine Walkeresque skill set.

[JWORLD]

No. Gillispie's teams have never played fast.

And really, there aren't that many teams playing that fast anywhere. UNC is an exception, and there are some teams who really get up and down from time to time because of talent and numbers, but if you look around most teams are playing at the same pace.

We might play faster than we did a year ago, but we still don't have much depth. Why would you run when you don't have any depth?

I think it's going to be like this:

Feed the ball to Patterson and get back on defense.



At this point, if the score ends up being 41-40 and we win, i'll take it..

[Bombastic Blue]

has there been this much talent at UK along with discipline and esprit de corps.

This will be Gillispies team. In his two coaching ventures thus far, he has had tremendous turnarounds/jumps in his second years.

I think this team will surprise some folks out there. I think they will beat the likes of WVU, Miami in the OOC handily. I don't think Vandy or UT will find this team so easy a foe to beat either. UF in Gainesville will be a win. I don't see LSU beating this team in Rupp either.

I only see two definite losses. UNC is going to be good. Maybe too good. UL will be good this year as well.

The rest are all possibilities. By no means do I think that this team will go 29-2. I just don't see 10 losses either. Gillispie can coach. He will also make these guys so tired that they won't have time to have personality conflicts ala the last era. This will be a well coached, disciplined and conditioned team.


I think Khan nailed it. I believe the number of "suprise" losses will be way down this year, and the number of "suprise" wins will be on the rise.

It's sad that the last several years have conditioned us to expect the worst. I think this is the year that the swagger starts to come back.

[Will Lavender]

It's sad that the last several years have conditioned us to expect the worst.

I don't think this is what it is, though.

The talent is just not where it needs to be to really compete at a top 10-15 level, not unless somebody other than Meeks and Patterson step up in a big-time way. I know I sound like a pessimist, but I really worry about who's going to score for us this year. I think we're going to defend, I think we're going to rebound--but who scores? Just not a lot of natural playmakers in this bunch. That has nothing to do with what's happened the last several years; it's just a basic, hard fact of the roster.

And I think we're going to have a good year. A 9- or 10-loss season, in this day and age, is not bad at all. I'll take that in a heartbeat assuming we're playing well in March, and I think we will be.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

I know I sound like a pessimist, but I really worry about who's going to score for us this year.

Remember Charles Barkley saying "any knucklehead can score". I've always thought there's alot of truth to that. We're talking about putting a ball through a hole. Oversimplified ? maybe, but the point is that the things leading up a basket (defense, rebounds, position, passing) is more important to me. It's sort of like the "which is more important-offense or defense" thread we had about a year ago. I argued defense because defense CREATES opportunities for the offense. getting turnovers and def. rebounding are the only ways to get the ball without giving up points. Once you do that, throw in some crisp passing and then the actual scoring part is simple. Teams with good shooters will score more easily, but we have some good shooters.....supposedly.

[Will Lavender]

Remember Charles Barkley saying "any knucklehead can score". I've always thought there's alot of truth to that. We're talking about putting a ball through a hole. Oversimplified ? maybe, but the point is that the things leading up a basket (defense, rebounds, position, passing) is more important to me. It's sort of like the "which is more important-offense or defense" thread we had about a year ago. I argued defense because defense CREATES opportunities for the offense. getting turnovers and def. rebounding are the only ways to get the ball without giving up points. Once you do that, throw in some crisp passing and then the actual scoring part is simple. Teams with good shooters will score more easily, but we have some good shooters.....supposedly.

You make a good point about defense to offense. I'm going to concede that because I think you're exactly right.

Still, there are going to be nights where we come out and can't hit nothin' and we either have to win in the low 60s or get beat. It's just inevitable with the lack of pure scorers and shooters this team is going to have. Kenny Walker said as much this morning in Tipton's notebook. He was looking at Liggins and Galloway in particular, but I think the entire team is going to suffer at least a little bit from a pretty evident lack of talented scorers.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

True it's not like we a have a slew of Masburns, Delks, Tays, and Bogans here. But I've just seen too many Kentucky teams in the past where the D would bail out the offense night in night out when scoring side wasn't clicking. I've seen it enough to not get worried about this year because I seriously think we'll be a stellar defensive team. Best since '03 maybe ?

[billoliver40]

I think we're all trying to be realistic. The players we're counting on to contribute: Meeks, Miller, Galloway and Liggins, have not played under
Gillispie....Meeks is included because even though he tried a couple of games, he was in no way able to play up to his potential due to injury....so that was pretty much a giveaway year.

By the end of the year, we could be ready to make some noise, barring
injury or academic problems.

[Forrest4Three]

Well first Liggins IS going to play.

I dont see us losing over 7 games. Shooting is kind of a concern yes. Meeks can get it done... remember last year in the 2nd EXB he had 34 points with 26 at halftime.:icon_biggrin: But we will need others...I think Liggins and Galloway will be OK... but just not OK every game.That is why I think Sloan and maybe Krebs will get some PT. Especially if we get zoned alot which if we cant shoot we will....We lost 2 of our main 3 shooters with Meeks being the shooter returning. But we will still have more guys with the abality to shoot from outside (does not have to be 3 pointers) PP-Stevenson-Harrelson-Miller all can shoot....(Miller and Harrelson can nail 3's as well) I dont see alot of teams playin Liggins straight up man... especially if we pick and roll with him and Patrick alot. They go zone we bring in Porter/Sloan/Meeks/Miller/Harrelson we will hit shots.:cool:

[UFWildcat]

A lot of nice records being posted. 7, 6, 5, and even 4 losses.

I have faith but let's see what this team looks like in the beginning. I would be ecstatic with only 6 or 7 losses.

[poodoo]

I never make predictions. I surely look forward to watching the Cats this coming season, though, and will be pulling with all my heart each game. My philosophy is merely going into each and every game game thinking that we CAN win it! GO CATS!!!