Brandon Garrison expects Nichols to be physical against Kentucky tonight. (Vicky Graff Photo)
This one counts.
After splitting a pair of exhibition games, No. 9 Kentucky opens the season tonight against Nicholls.
The Wildcats defeated top-ranked Purdue 78-68 on Oct. 24 before dropping an 84-70 decision to Georgetown last Thursday in the finale tune-up before the season opener.
“It’s a terrific opportunity for us to learn, which is what we want right now,” Kentucky coach Mark Pope said after the loss to the Hoyas. “At the same time, we don’t do this here.”
A year ago, the Wildcats went 24-12 in Pope’s first season at the helm and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Pope and the players are ready to build on that success.
“I’m just ready to get out there and get this first one,” returning forward Brandon Garrison said. “It’s a season opener, so (the team is) more locked in just knowing that the season is finally here.”
Garrison said the Wildcats experienced a learning curve in the loss to the Hoyas.
“Just knowing that we’re going to get everybody’s best shot,” he said. “Just teaching the guys that we get everybody’s best shot.”
Kentucky forward Mo Dioubate agreed.
“We’ve got to play hard no matter how good we are,” he said. “On offense, it comes down to playing hard.”
Leading up to the opener, Garrison said the Wildcats have been focused on improving on defense.
“We just have to buy in on defense,” Garrison said. “We came in the next day (after the Georgetown game), and we were working on that and made big steps. I feel like we’re going to show (improvement) tomorrow night.”
The Colonels finished 20-13 last season, and Garrison said overcoming Nicholls won’t be an easy task.
“(They’re) just a physical team,” Garrison said. “Everybody on the team can really shoot; they have athletes. They’re going to come out hungry.”
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GAMETRACKER: Nicholls State at Kentucky, 7 p.m., Tuesday. TV/Radio: SECN +, UK Radio Network. Coverage: www.kentuckytoday.com
10 Responses
Moreno had an excuse, being a one exhibition game freshman, but I thought that Garrison had come along further than his play has shown. He needs to make the most of the time he has before Quaintance takes the floor.
From what I have heard Lowe and Aberdeen won't play tonight. There was frustration when Cal would say he hadn't seen him when asked about a injured player. To me it's just as bad when Pope says that Lowe wasn't that bad and will be good in a few days. Or says that Quaintence is way ahead of schedule and breaking every record with ACL recovery. That's all bull_hit. Unless Quaintence plays before December, he has not been ahead of schedule. When talking about injuries, Pope is as bad as any other Coach. If Quaintence is not back playing Very Soon, the Cats will be lucky to be .500 by the time conference play begins.
Are we to assume that Garrison didn't learn any lessons here last year? It sounded a couple of days ago that Lowe and Aberdeen were looking good to go this game….go figure. A number of Top 20 hit Triple digits last night and let's hope the Cats can make a respectable launch as well.
When any player feels compelled to cry out that "we must always play hard" seems absurd to me.
I always believed that was a given, the starting point, not a debatable charge for any player at any time in any game, against any opponent.
Yet, we keep hearing this prattle from players at an increasing frequency.
The great teams hit the ground running and never look back. This team is already looking back.
A game hasn't been played and I'm already disappointed this isn't a good sign. Lowe is out because his shoulder popped out of place and they had to reset it correct? I've seen guys playing football get there shoulder popped back in and play in the same game. I hope I'm wrong about this injury but nobody is really explaining what it is?? Aberdeen was a game time decision against Georgetown and he hasn't improved at all since then? Did he come here for money and money only?? Is Lowe milking his injury because it's more fun to goof off then work hard? There is one thing I know. Kids today are super soft. Why do we always have so many injuries. In all sports? Way more than anyone we play. In both basketball and football. Last year we had 2 point guards out. This year we have our starting point guard and back up out. Hmmmmm? Why didnt Pope recruit another true point guard but we have like 8-9 forwards and centers? Most teams load up on guards and get the best 3-4 guys in the post. It's like we do the opposite. Why did JQs father and his agent both say he will be 100% by September when all of us said there is no way he will even be ready by November? There is really no word on JQ. In September he was waaaay ahead of schedule? Shouldn't he be ready if that is the case if not why lie to everyone? I said when he came here I would be surprised if he was ready by conference play because that is just 10 months removed from surgery. I do know he isn't practicing full speed with the team yet. Once he starts practicing full speed he will be about 3-4 weeks from playing. It takes at least a month of conditioning. So once he starts full contact it will be about a month countdown until he plays and when he does play he will only play 10-12 mins the first 3-4 games back. Then ease him into more and more minutes. I will be surprised if he plays by January. I say at the end of January early February we will see JQ. By then tho we will have our lineups pretty much set and we will know what combinations work better together. It could hurt the chemistry of the team if he comes back to late. Is playing for a month or 2 worth over 2 million dollars? Hes basically getting paid to rehab here. I think Pope took JQ who I didn't want in the portal I said you can get 2 great guys for what they will pay him. But I am anxious to see him play. I think Pope got him because he knew he would be a lottery pick. Popes first lottery pick. Sure fire.
Got a question, What if a player misses several games due to injuries does he still get all his NIL money? I'm just curious how this works.
I think in the pros the team takes out insurance and if a player is hurt and can't play, the insurance pays him. Don't know about college and nil and all that.
What in the hell is going on? 32% field goal, 12% 3 point, 46% free throw…what are they doing in practice, playing checkers? It's a good thing they are playing Nicholls. Lowe needs to get his ass back on the floor.
A better second half but 47% FG, 26% 3Pt, and 54% FT shooting percentages will not win No. 9. Chandler needs to play at the 2 spot backing up Oweh, and Aberdeen at the 1 with Johnson being his backup until Lowe is ready again. Noah needs to move to the 3. Garrison needs to step up his rebounding. This level of play won't fare well at the Yum Center.
The better teams in America will be shooting free throws at an 85+%; the national title contenders will be shooting over 90%. That comes from practice, practice, practice. Bad shooting mechanics get corrected. A good coach will not assume that his players will make an unguarded 15 ft. shot without practice. Take 200 shots a day until you reach 90%, then you can cut back to 100 shots daily. Take these shots at the end of practice when you are tired.
Making 3 pointers come from shooting off the catch 200 shots a day. This means the shooter will need 2 rebounders to keep shooting. Again, shooting mechanics get corrected. Shooting immediately off the catch provides the most open shots because it does not allow the defense to recover. A second later, the defense has recovered. Kids who cannot consistently make 40% in practice should not be allowed to shoot any 3s in a game. Kids not making over 35% in a game should have to make 40% again in practice before getting the green light to put them up in a game.