Vicky Graff Photo
Sophomore guard Adou Thiero might not be Kentucky’s best player but he might be the team’s most honest player.
He knows Kentucky had a lot of issues in Saturday’s loss to underdog UNC-Wilmington that exposed how the Cats might not be as good as many UK fans thought they were.
“We got stuff to improve on, ball defense is definitely one. We came out tonight and let them get a couple of straight line drives to the rim and some and one’s in crunch time, but we’re just going to take that and learn from it and come back next game,” Thiero said.
Kentucky has allowed 80 or more points in four games already this year. Kentucky coach John Calipari said UK’s hot shooting enabled the Cats to win games despite so-so defense. However, Kentucky’s offense was way off from missing shots to making turnovers to not moving the ball crisply.
“We came into this game selfishly, I think,” Thiero said after the game. “First half we weren’t really swinging the ball to each other as much as we usually do. We didn’t get the same amount of assists we usually do; guys were trying to do things on their own — we were just out of it.”
Kentucky did seem sharper offensively in the second half but didn’t have enough defensive stops to get the win.
“We flipped the switch, but we dug ourselves a hole earlier and couldn’t get out of it,” Thiero said.
28 Responses
The coach should have corrected the defence,11 three pointer,s,no defence.
I remember a few years back, Tubby had the same problem, he benched the starting 5 the second half. Cal needs to get their attention.
They don’t play physical
Click on watch Purdue
A FINAL 4 TEAM
LOLOL. Purdue is not a final four team. The big man is slower than hell.
Purdue been a final four team the last 3-4 years always choke when crunch time
Missed Wagner
Too many ankle injuries, should consider high tops for ankle support and quit worrying about looking pretty.
Agree!
High-top shoes do not prevent ankle injuries, and they may actually lead to more. See a peer-reviewed scientific study below:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8368420/
Look up more sources if you wish, you’ll find the answer to be the same.
Thiero nailed it. Not enough passes to get the best shot. Defense was good – can’t stop a perfect shot. But we didn’t make them work enough for their shots. We see them in Atlanta – hope to see the fast , determined team we love. Dillingham’s eyes say it all to me. Hungry!
Our defense was the reason we lost, how can you say it was “good”?
Defense wins championships, people. There are two sides of the court, and it takes execution on both ends to win not only each single contest, but the season.
Rebounding, defense, lack of offensive execution in that order lost us this game.
should have corrected the defense? Why? this is the 8th game and there has been no defense played all season. From this coach’s point of view, there was nothing to correct, thus the poor defensive habits remain the same. This time, the offense disserted them, and they realized that they actually don’t play defense.
We played more I than we. Defense has to improve. First half many shots were taken out of control. All fixable
Again, our defense was one of the main reasons we lost this game. If you coach at any competitive level of basketball, you should know this. See my above reply: defense wins in March.
Rebounding, defense, and THEN lack of offensive execution in that order lost us this game.
Shots won’t always fall—a winner at any level of basketball knows this, and that it isn’t nearly as controllable as rebounding and defensive effort. Control what you can, win games. Simple.
Tre should have to make a 100 free-throw, he was shucking and jiving with the ref, missed free throws after laughing with ref, needs to get his head in game, not being with ref.
yep, Tre is not a Kentucky man, nor are hardly any of them playing for the name on their chest. Just little Shep…
“Shucking and jiving” you are completely out of touch with today’s social climate and you do not know basketball. The ref was getting on him in those instance for his shirt being untucked and he was pleased with the ref that we was being grabbed all game by UNCW defenders who were tugging his jersey out.
Your touch of racism here is unnecessary old head.
Also, all of these guys are KENTUCKY men. These are some of the best college basketball players in the nation, and if you think YOU care more about when THEY win that THEY do, you need a reality check.
*PLEADING not pleased
If that’s all we’re going to get out of Bradshaw we are sunk. We have a much traveled center (Tre, all teams have a center even if they play at the top of the key) for some reason and this kid looks like a yearling just after birth. He has obvious skills but his game HAS to advance hugely if we are to be a great team this year — and I have a feeling he will and if we get the other two big boys some playing time before the first of the year we will be terriffic come March.
Bradshaw has not played competitive basketball since the McDonald’s All-American game, and yet he was our best played in advanced statistics outside of Sheppard.
He was rusty, jittery, and didn’t have much time to get up to speed, and he still played extremely well. YOU DON’T KNOW BASKETBALL.
Accurate assesment. I was scremaing at the tv all game. Even Reeves gave up hia apecialty 3 point spot ad would decide to drive wildy into the trees and get stuffed He shot just 2 3’s
all night. Dillingham was the same . me too ball all night and then do dumb fouls back to back. Even Shep tried to force too tuff passes but if it wasnt for him Cats woould have lost by 30.
bottom line is Cat’s played look at me and gave up what has made them a good team.PASSING AND RUNNING
SAD they couldn’t see that themselves during the game. Good for Thiero fr calling them out. and no D all night. from driving to let them shoot undefended 3’s
Simple fix. Kids stop reading how good you are. Your only as good as a ream
PERIOD
This fanbase pisses me off. I have bled blue my entire life, and I am sickened by the sad state of the median and mean (mid and average, respectively, for the uneducated) “fans” who include themselves in this fanbase. The vast majority of the most vocal parts of our fanbase is uneducated, out of touch with reality, cruel, and lacking in basketball experience and acumen.
If you hate these players so much, then walk. If you hate Cal so much, then walk. Why continue being miserable with yourself when you could simply cheer for whomever it is you believe is doing it better?
This team has the makings of a special team come March, and I don’t want to see one of you whiny crybaby losers cheering us on when we win.
If you’re a coach or a parent or have ever played sports, you should be doing better than this. This fanbase is pathetic. I’m here because I LOVE THE WILDCATS—can you say the same?
This is the first day I’ve ever commented on Vaught’s Views articles. I’ve got time today, so if you want to get literary circle run around you based in logic and facts, I implore you to reply to any of my comments.
This fanbase is a miserable bunch. I’m here because I love the WILDCATS—can you say this same?
If you don’t love our team, then walk. If you don’t love our players, then walk. If you don’t love our coach, then walk. Nobody will miss you. Why stay miserable when you can simple choose to cheer for whichever team you believe does it “better”? These kids, coaches, and fellow fans don’t need your negativity. Take it and go.
You see, the mean and median (average and mid-level, respectively, for the uneducated) Kentucky fan is lacking in both life and basketball experience. They do not know basketball and they do not know leadership. They are petty and unkind. The most vocal of the bunch at least.
It infuriates me as someone who has bled blue my entire life that these are the folks I’m surrounded by. DO BETTER because the team deserves better.
This fanbase will miss these players and Calipari when they are gone. The wins will be fewer and far between, yet the complaints will be just as consistent.
I’ve got time today, so if you want to get literary circles run around you regarding basketball acumen and logic, I implore you respond. If not, swallow your pride and DO BETTER. Happiness is a choice. Kindness is a choice.
I’m not happy we lost either, but these are PEOPLE you’re talking about. They have lives and feelings and family and friends. Most of them aren’t even yet 20 years old, while most of you are likely above 40, yet you’re the ones who need to grow up.
We have the makings of a great team come March. Don’t cheer us on when we win if you can’t act with grace when we lose. All the mistakes we’ve made in our two losses are fixable and the guys are working on them extremely hard.
If you truly believe that YOU care more about when THEY win or lose, then you need a reality check. No one takes losses harder than Cal and these young men.
I hope we don’t lose again, but I support our team through thick and thin. I encourage them to get better without having my pride wounded when they do not. That’s what a REAL fan does.
I typed this fast and there are some errors, sue me. It’s still more thoughtful and eloquently stated than most of the above were able to manage.
Also, I restated my original post because I thought it got rejected due to language but it looks like it posted as well.
Also, shoutout to Larry for being one of the best in the business. I love and appreciate what you and the staff do. My apologies for blowing up your comments today.
you are fine Sir
FYI no one is more of a Cat fan than myself and most BBN. AS many years in coaching and understanding what goes on in the minds of your players/ any comment I make is for the better understanding of and for the Devlopment of the kids.
I always refrain from commenting as there is always someone who is thinking POPE
Hopefully they will learn you play defense if you want to win