Jack Givens (Vicky Graff Photo)
If Mark Pope had a chance to listen to former Kentucky All-American Jack Givens on the UK Radio Network during the Cats’ lackluster loss at Georgia on Tuesday night the Kentucky coach might have had Givens talk to his team this week.
Givens minced no words after UK’s road loss and was brutally honest about Kentucky’s shortcomings. He said it was obvious early that Georgia wanted to get “physical” with UK and did but that Kentucky did not have to be a “willing participant” like it seemed to be for most of the game.
“Just because a team says it will be physical with you, you don’t have to let them do. Kentucky said, ‘Okay, let’s just let them do it,’” Givens said.
He said he played with bigs at Kentucky from 1974-78 who refused to ever let UK be physically beat.
“Just because you want to be physical doesn’t mean I will sit back and let you be physical,” Givens said. “Got to give Georgia credit. They did just what they wanted to do. They sent four guys on both ends to get the rebound and it worked.”
Givens understood UK fans were upset that Georgia shot 38 free throws to UK’s 19 but blamed that on the Kentucky players, not the game officials.
“Georgia is a good defensive team but you have to initiate contact to get a call,” Givens said. “The officials understand what team is working for the ball. I just think Georgia executed their game plan better than Kentucky to put it in a nice way.
“They had the intention to be as physical and aggressive with every player on the court as they could get away with. When you are the aggressor, it seems like the officials reward them. Kentucky did not get the same calls or free throws but Georgia earned them. That’s just the way it is.
“They were so physical with our guards that it was hard to get the offense in flow. They bumped you on cuts, they bumped you bringing the ball up the floor and you have to go one-on-one and that is not what this team does best. But that is a lesson this team better learn.”
He’s right. Kentucky plays at Mississippi State tonight trying to avoid a second straight SEC loss. State is one of five teams 2-0 in league play and the Bulldogs won’t have to change anything to be physical against Kentucky because that is the way Mississippi State plays against everyone.
One Response
I agree to a certain extent, but not fully.
I’ve seen too many UK games in the UGA venue to know that their physical play is a thug-fest where fouls are not called on UGA.
The SEC has had extremely biased refs who target UK as long as I can remember. The SEC office endorses crooked refs who tilt games in favor of UK opponents.
If UK tries to even-up the physical play, there will be even more FTs given away.
Sharing then ball with quick crisp passes, screens, no selfish play and give help on D – those are keys to beating teams on the road. It is a major challenge to say the least.