UK Athletics Photo
One game does not prove that Kentucky has become more committed to playing better defense. However, at least UK showed signs of potentially being a better defensive team than it has been most of the season during a 63-57 comeback win over host Arkansas.
The Wildcats were down 10 points early in the game when the offense could not score. The only reason UK stayed close was because of its defense that created enough issues for Arkansas to give UK’s offense to win the game in the second half.
“Kentucky still has some strides to make on defense to be a championship team but tonight was a good start. They played much tougher in this game than they played against South Carolina,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said.
Bilas liked the way the Kentucky defense was forcing Arkansas to make tough shots over defenders compared to the way South Carolina got so many open looks in a 17-point win over UK on Tuesday.
Former Kentucky all-American Jack Givens noted before the game that UK had to show it could play more physically or more losses were going to keep coming.
Kentucky picked up the defensive intensity and physical play in part because Calipari played sophomore center Ugonna Onyenso a career-high 25 minutes. He is a better rim protector and more physical player than UK’s other two seven-footers. Aaron Bradshaw played only 12 minutes and Zvonimir Ivisic got only three minutes.
“Ugo did a really good job defending the pick-and-roll. That should point out to Aaron Bradshaw he has to improve or Ugonna is going to play a lot more,” Givens said.
Calipari said he was “coaching to win the game” and couldn’t play Ivisic more because UK got off to such a horrible start when it missed 14 of its first 15 shots.
“He still has to catch up on some toughness things and defense,” Calipari said. “He’s got to get in and do it in games which means I have got to play two big guys together and this was not the game to do it.
“Ugo earned minutes. He was the difference in the game and he knows it and everybody on our team knows it. He is long and active and can move his feet. He is better offensively than we are giving him credit for, too.
“But our defense was better. They were prideful. That team (Arkansas) is really talented and they took pride in guarding one-on-one.”
Givens thought the defensive intensity came from the beatdown UK took at South Carolina.
“I think the big learning lesson is what they faced at South Carolina. It proved tonight this team could do it (play defense),” Givens said. “The lesson was the last game. If they didn’t play good defense tonight it would mean they did not learn anything in the South Carolina game. This game is a result of what happened last time out against South Carolina.”
11 Responses
Why does it seem like at least to me this basketball team is starting over. This doesn’t look like a team that’s being honed for March. They look like they are going backwards. Disjointed or dysfunctional are words that come to mind . It’s should be "meshed" or "cohesive unit" or "gelled".. were not even close to the latter descriptions.
Still having players available, not available does not help. Need to get everybody able to play for 3-4 weeks in a row and let Calipari hopefully figure out best 7 to roll with
True, we need a solid 7 or 8 at the most. Too much in and out messes with the flow of the game. Here is an interesting stat to think about. The top 10 teams currently are 21-27 on the road this year. The only top 10 team without 2 road losses is UNC. We need to get better, but road losses are happening to everyone. Not just a young team like UK! If you don’t think so you can ask Bruce Pearl. Auburn lost 2 on the road this week. We have some issues, but they are fixable. Still, plenty of time to get it together.
This coach hasn’t shown the ability to fix much last few years. This year’s team is going in wrong direction. Nobody does less with more than Cal. He has the luxury of 3 7’s and we may actually have 1 at best. Three played a total of 40 mins. yesterday and 6 pts to show for it. A pro draft analyst announced yesterday that they had Z in their Top 10. Cal plays Z total of 3 mins. Edwards and Bradshaw would not be starting on any other SEC team based on YTD progress and not star ratings.
Who are your 7-8people…starters Wagner,,Reeves, Shepherd, Mitchell, Ugo…
Off the bench.. Dillingham, Thero, Bradshaw, ,Big Z, Burke, Edwards, etc..
All you are going to do is crush them and have them transfer to another school and become stars…It has happened in the past way to often..
I say play them all in the 1st half and see who gives you the best effort and chance to win, play them the 2nd half..
I believe in the second half of the Arkansas game 4 guys played the entire 20 minutes and he sub out Ugo, Bradshaw and Thero. That’s 7 and of couse you need Dilly! That’s my eight. You can bring in Big Z if we play some zone and the rest get to play if someone gets hurt or is having a bad night. Heck I don’t know. I’m not a coach nor do I post like I know better than they do. Honestly if everyone buys into their roles(whatever that may be) you can play more people. There are plently of coaches here I am sure one of them can tell you who we should play! LOL! !
I like your starting lineup, but I might try Z as a starter and see how that works out. We need his offense. Bradshaw has to come off the bench along with Edwards. I wouldn’t be surprised if Burks trans after the year and possibly Edwards also…not too sure Edwards has the heart for the limelight or 101 either. BTW Keion Brooks had 27 pts this weekend for UW.
To many talented individuals to only ay 7..
It looks that way because that is what it is. The idea that Calipari teams improve and peak in March is a false narrative that Calipari and his supporters have spewed endlessly for years. The way his teams start the season (first 5 to 8 games) have defined how they finish quite consistently. In fact, this relationship is true of nearly every college team every year.
Of course there are exceptions, but that does not dilute to power of this relationship. As for Sam’s observation that "this team is starting over" is a trademark of this fraud that some call a coach. Look at the way his teams have played in the summer exhibitions and then compare the quality of that summer ball to the way the same collection of players perform in early November, after this fraud begins to put his "coaching" into place.
This team will not win the SEC. This team will not win the SEC Tournament. This team will not advance to the final four. This team is very unlikely to survive to the Elite 8, and this team is as likely to lose in the first round as it is likely that this team will advance to the Sweet 16.
This team is a Round of 32 loser, which is fine with Calipari SO LONG AS HE HAS A FULL EVENING IN MID JUNE IN THE NBA GREEN ROOM WITH HIS PETS.
Cal’s teams do seem to have peaked during the summer exhibitions last few years. Does any coach not named Cal coach down a team of Mickey D’s players any better than Cal. Does any coach not named Cal have teams that miss more shots at the rim last few years? Does any coach not named Cal have teams that give up more shots at the rim same last few years? This team seems to be doing its best to lock in at least 10 losses and not make final 32 again just like Cal’s.
Great comment regarding Edward’s and Bradshaw!