Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Pre-season's over...

Whatever happened before doesn't mean anything now. The only thing the Cats can do is focus on Miami of Ohio coming up next Wednesday.

Here's what I took from last night's game:

Stevenson is going to be a force to be reckoned with. The Big Blue Network said he had 8 blocks, the official box score said 5. Anyway you cut it, he's a defensive presence early. He is going to play and play soon. I could potentially see him breaking the starting lineup (depending on how Sheray Thomas plays when he comes back).

Meeks is another guy who will play soon. He's proven himself as a scorer (which is something UK needs after the loss of Rondo). He's also shown that he's one of the quickest guys on the floor at all times.

Morris... What can you say about him? He's one of the keys to the season. He HAS to stay out of foul trouble and he has to be in the game.

I'm still waiting for Crawford to break out.

Perry did some really good things and some bad things last night. He did a great job guarding someone a lot quicker than he was, but he shouldn't be trying to shoot when he beats someone off the dribble. He's typicially someone who works better when he gets an open look.

Bradley is unquestionably the leader of the team. I know that Perry is the "senior leader" but this team is going to live and breathe on the shoulders of Ramel Bradley. He still had a solid game (despite the turnovers). This team will go as far as he can carry them.

Woo and Carter will lose playing time due to Stevenson and the return of Sheray Thomas. Look for them to go in to pick up fouls (along with Coury) and to give Morris a rest.

Porter and Jasper will be solid contributors to the Cats this year, but not to the level of Meeks and Stevenson.

I think this will be a better team than most people think...
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3 comments:

J-Delicious said...

After watching the game last night, I couldn't help but wonder about the bench lacking depth and experience down the stretch. With the amount of projected playing time the freshmen will have, aren't you concerned about their seasoning? I don't want this to be labeled as a rebuilding year. I hope I am worrying for nothing.

Didn't we lose Porter last year in the form of Adam Williams? Morris's junior year...he has to bring something big to the table this year. Crawford will do the dang thang!

Does Perry Stevenson remind anyone of a player that was going to walk of the bench of Kentucky in 2004 and then went bye bye? This is the same guy that blocked 7 field goals/extra points for the Cats in 2004 for the football team. Yep, you guessed it, Lonnell Dewalt. I watched him in the 2004 State Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena. I had the fortune of scoring some sponsor tickets from my uncle, so we got to sit right behind Warren Central's bench for their game agaist Appollo. Dewalt played above the rim. Excellent rebounder and shot blocker. Imagine if we could have him and Stevenson on the floor together. Joakim who?

2:39 PM
John Edwards said...

I think it's going to be difficult for the freshmen to pick up Tubby's defense, but I think they're picking it up quicker than other classes have in the past. In other words... I don't consider this a rebuilding year at all.

I cannot begin to try and compare Adam Williams to Michael Porter. Do you realize that Porter was recruited by USC as a safety? There's no comparing the two. Porter is much much more athletic than Williams was.

Stevenson reminds me very much of Chuck Hayes (in the beginning with the execption being Stevenson's shot blocking ability). If you remember, Hayes played early on because he could rebound and then he molded himself into a team leader... Stevenson will play because of his defensive ability.

Has anyone else noticed how much happier Tubby Smith looks this year. I don't think he looks at this as a rebuilding year.

5:05 PM
J-Delicious said...

Time will tell and I know it is still early, but I still don't see the difference in Porter. He plays well because he has the faith of coaching staff behind him. With Williams, he was always the sixth gaurd in the game. With the short bench and finally an absence of point gaurds on the bench, Porter has already had more playing time that Williams had all last season. He wasn't given the opportunity. Tubby had Williams signed since he was a sophmore at St. Albans High School. Tubby is a great recruiter, remember? Cross said so, Ha, Ha!

I am not saying that Porter isn't good or won't be a good player. But, a player like him was already there in Williams. As far as Porter choosing UK BBall over USC's football team, I can't say that I blame him on that one.

8:22 AM

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