Kentucky players could only think about what might have been as they left the court after losing to Arkansas. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Jack Givens was like a lot of Kentucky fans. He thought coach John Calipari’s team was “beyond losing a game like they did” against Arkansas Tuesday when the Cats got soundly beat on both ends of the court.
“The real problem is that the way they played brings back all those memories (from previous losses) and all the questions you had about this team all resurfaced,” said Givens, the former UK All-American and analyst for the UK Radio Network.
“Arkansas got it going. It was such a change. I can’t figure it out. I was very disappointed. I didn’t think we would win them all but I thought we would force the other team to struggle and lose that way, which you can understand. It’s very hard to understand and very frustrating.”
Now Kentucky is back on that NCAA Tournament bubble and has road games ahead at Georgia today and then Mississippi State, Florida and Arkansas.
“The game against Arkansas would have helped a lot and gone a long way (to putting UK in the NCAA). I was expecting if Kentucky won it might have got back in the (AP) top 25,” Givens said.
Can Kentucky find a way to make the NCAA Tournament?
“Yes, Kentucky can still make it but they have put a lot more pressure on themselves,” Givens said on WPBK-FM Thursday morning. “I thought (before the Arkansas loss) they had to win every home game and pick up one or two on the road.
“Now it comes down to winning at home the rest of the season and picking up two or three on the road and then win maybe two games in the SEC tourney. I had totally stopped thinking about this team in the way I did when they lost to South Carolina at home until the second half (against Arkansas).
“I thought we played really well in the first half and we were still down one at half. I was a little concerned defensively about that. I still think we will make the tournament but we have our work cut out for us. That game against Arkansas really hurt and really surprised me.
3 Responses
No one could have been more pleased to learn that Jack Givens would move into the Mike Pratt seat on the UK network. Jack is a Wildcat to his core. Jack has been a winner in the game and life. Jack knows the game of basketball without a doubt.
It is refreshing to see him speak candidly about what has been happening.
Tell it like it is Goose!!!!!
I wish “The Goose – Jack Givens” could help coach some of these games or at least advise the coaches what needs to be done!!!
Not sure Goose would take it, but I was talking about him replacing Calipari for a few years.
We could, and have done so much worse that Goose would be.