Former UK Player Jay Shidler Knew Arkansas Earned the Right to Talk Smack

Kentucky had no answers for stopping DJ Wagner Saturday. (Vicky Graff Photo)

For those of you old enough to have seen Jay Shidler play at Kentucky and help the Cats win the 1978 national championship, you know the “Blonde Bomber” was never shy about showing his emotions or expressing his opinions.

The former Wildcat was very active on “X” Saturday when Arkansas stunned the Wildcats 89-79 in the most disappointing loss of the Mark Pope era.

The Razorbacks celebrated in a big way after the game — something not everyone liked — but Shidler had a simple explanation.

“They earned the right to talk smack. They came in & busted UK in the chops & UK was unable to hit back. Of course with Lamont (Butler) in there & (Andrew) Carr at full strength, they don’t win even with Boogie (Fland). It’s just one game. Healthy Kentucky is a Final Four team. Healthy Arkansas, not,” Shilder posted.

Shilder was especially frustrated that Kentucky let former UK guard DJ Wagner score all 17 of his points in the second half. Wagner also had eight assists and only one turnover in 37 1/2 minutes.

“With Lamont out (with a shoulder injury) they made Wagner look like an All-Pro on the drive. ABSOLUTELY should’ve gone zone,” Shilder posted. “Only one to worry about from 3 was Z (Zvonmir Ivisic) & U know he’s not going to drive. Nothing to lose going zone. Might’ve made the difference. AS owned the night, a healthy UK owns the future.

“No way Z should’ve scored all those points. Everyone in the building knows all he’s going to do is shoot the 3 off the catch or the pick and pop. No excuse for him hitting more than a couple (Ivisic was 4-for-7 from 3). Probably should’ve gone zone since in man the made Wagner look like John Wall.”

Wagner was as unstoppable as Wall was during his prime at UK and Kentucky fans know that was not the case when Wagner played at UK last year. But with Butler, UK’s best defender, out for the second straight game the Cats had no answer for his drive or for keeping Adou Thiero — who had 21 points and eight rebounds — out of the lane.

“When Wagner is scoring, you know you can’t guard anybody. Butler is missed. Cats missing the toughness, ball pressure, penetration, and leadership of Butler,” Shilder posted.

The worry now is when Butler might be back. His shoulder is sore and considering the number of screens he’ll run into with this aggressive defense, he has to be healthy to absorb that punishment. He played hurt at Clemson after injuring his ankle and then had to miss the next game. He played hurt at Vanderbilt and now has not played in the last two games.

“Bottom line, Cats without Lamont and subpar Carr played one of their worst games, the former Cats & Cal & AS as a whole played their best game. They came in and took home the win. They earned it. Cats need to get way tougher,” Shilder posted.

Shider also posted a thought that it seems a lot of Kentucky fans have another loss to a lower-rated opponent — UK’s fifth of the season.

“Kentucky has got to toughen up and Coach Pope has got to stop being Mr Nice Guy & start challenging & working the refs. Otherwise, the Cats will continue to get pushed around & fouled without getting calls. It’s been going on all season & it has to stop!” Shidler posted.

Certainly, the physical play will be coming from Ole Miss on Tuesday when the Cats hit the road trying to avoid falling below .500 in SEC play.