Auburn coach Bruce Pearl believes Otega Oweh could be the best athlete in the SEC. (Vicky Graff Photo)
By LARRY VAUGHT
Bruce Pearl constantly praises the success Kentucky basketball has had and the fan support the Wildcats receive.
He sort of did that again Friday at his press conference ahead of today’s game in Rupp Arena, but he also maybe just tried to send a little message to the officials ahead of the game.
“I’ve never gone to Kentucky where they didn’t get a good whistle. They’ve earned it. You put 19,000 (fans) in there every single night, they’re going to get a good whistle. They’ve earned it,” Pearl said.
Kentucky certainly will have to “earn” whatever it gets today against the nation’s No. 1 team. With a win and an Alabama loss, Auburn will claim the SEC regular season championship.
The Cats have numerous injury issues but Pearl respects what coach Mark Pope has done in his first year at Kentucky.
“He’s a brilliant offensive coach. And he’s got a dangerous team because of the way they shoot the basketball,” Pearl said after Wednesday’s easy win over Ole Miss. “They run the most advanced five-out system in our game today.”
Wait. There’s more praise for the UK offense.
Otega Oweh had 28 points in UK’s win at Oklahoma Wednesday and scored Kentucky’s last 18 points, something no other UK player had ever done. Pearl said he was perhaps the “best athlete in the league” in a league filled with great athletes.
“An impossible cover,” Pearl said of Oweh. “He’s a monster. Oweh is a very tough cover. He can get downhill. He can make tough 2’s. He gets to the foul line.
“Guarding without fouling is difficult. He can make the 3-point shot. He’s got that next-level athleticism.”
Wait. There’s still more praise.
Pearl described UK’s Amaria Williams as a “dynamic center” and expects a “great matchup” between point guards Lamont Butler and his starter Denver Jones. They are perhaps the two best defensive guards in the SEC.
“They are night and day better defensively with (Butler),” Pearl said. “Whoever Butler is guarding is going to be challenged to score and play make.”
Kentucky is averaging 91.2 points and 19.4 assists per game at home. Kentucky is 14-2 at home this season with losses to Alabama and Arkansas. Auburn has not won in Rupp Arena since the 1987-88 season when it beat No. 1 UK 53-52.
“It’s a huge building. They have a very, very knowledgeable fan base. They know the game,” Pearl said after the Ole Miss win. “They expect to beat you. They’re always very, very talented.
But I think the reason we have not won there is because historically Kentucky has been the best team in the league, and historically we haven’t been one of the best teams in the league, over a long period. But we’re trying to put a dent in that right now.”
9 Responses
Good Whistle? Ive always thought he was full of it. Now I know for certain.
We haven’t got good whistles all year.
Home, road, it doesn’t matter.
The referees read his jibber jabber. So, in that way he’s being smart about it.t
Officials seem to leave their ‘good whistles’ at home when
they come to Rupp Arena.
Pearl like him or not is an elite coach. Always lobbying for his team.. why wouldn’t you?
The SEC may have the best teams in the country but have the Worst Referees in the World! It was terrible today! The SEC should Fire them All! A couple, and everyone knows who I’ll taking about couldn’t call an elementary girls game right!! They SUCK!!
I’m not sticking up for the refs in any way . But I’ve never seen a veteran team throw the ball to nobody and lose dribbles and dribble off their legs so much. At times it looks like they are throwing the game .
Or they are just that bad at basketball
Mr Grant I agree with You completely about looking like they were throwing the game? Maybe some of them are betting on the games like what’s happening at other schools?? I know there’s been injuries but I’ve never seen Kentucky players this late in the season playing like they have their heads up their Asses!! Early exit of the SEC tournament and another first round loss in the NCAA tournament for this team. I’ll just be reading about their losses instead of wasting my time on watching this NO EFFORT bunch.
I mean I hate to say such a thing. But we’re talking upperclassmen. Not frosh. It looks ridiculous. Or they are just not that good at basketball. I just find it odd with some of our wins against heavyweights then fold like a house of cards.. Injuries suck but injuries have zero to do with these unforced turnovers game after game..its just really weird
Rick, I will keep cheering them on. But I agree with your statement. They were not focus at all it’s been awhile I seen our cats team played this bad.