Thursday, February 08, 2007

Cats over South Carolina 95-89

For those of you that missed last night's break out first half, don't worry, I'm sure we'll see it again. Let's recap what happened last night (there was a lot):

The first thing that obviously pops into my mind is the fact that Woo started over Randolph Morris. Hopefully this got Morris angry for the game on Saturday against Florida. This also was a good wake up call to all the players; Tubby isn't afraid to bench anyone. It doesn't matter who you are. Well, as far as last night went, it worked for Morris. He ended up with 17pts and 8 rebounds. He also had 3 huge dunks in the first half.

I know that you can never really predict Tubby's substitution habits, but I think that he subbed well in the first half. There were almost two waves for the first 10 minutes. The first wave consisted of Bradley, Crawford, Jasper, Perry, and Woo. The second wave (done in a mass substitution) was Porter, Thomas, Meeks, Stevenson, and Morris. Finally, after 10 minutes, Morris was allowed to go back to the first wave, and Woo returned to the second wave.

At the end of the first half, UK had scored 50 points. In their last two halves combined (the 2nd half of Arkansas and the 1st half of South Carolina) the Cats scored 102 points. How about this offense?

Have you noticed that the Cats have been pushing the court more (thanks to Crawford, Meeks, and Bradley)?

If they let up like they did in this game, they will not beat Florida.

Honestly, I think that after they went up 28, they just felt like that was enough to coast through the rest of the game. I think at halftime they started to look towards Florida.

We'll see what happens on Saturday.

I'll have a preview of the game on Friday.
Posted by John Edwards at 11:59 AM

1 comments:

Glen said...

I wonder if Morris is not getting the full message Tubby is trying to send the big guy?

I know it's a message unknown in its fullness to the average Joe. But even the average Joe that rests his remote on his potbelly from his couch knows what's going on to some degree.

Forget big guys running the floor look sloppy and slow. Morris is quick and agaile.

Could it be he has lost interest? Heart? Preoccupied with other things on his mind?

I would say na na to all the above. I think Tubby is trying to lead Morris into the next level. And for whatever the reason, he's not grasped it yet.

For me, being benched in the big game in Fayetteville would have been enough. Obviously somewhere along the practice week, Morris still was not getting the message.

Could it be a lack of intensive hustle? Have you ever noticed the closeup shots on television of Tubby's eyes?

That is one set of eyes I would not want peering at me when my defensive hustle was displeasing to him.

Im not at the practices or shootarounds but reading between the lines I would expect Morris is not producing the hustle Tubby is searching for.

Summer workouts, early November unofficial practices are times when players are trying for playing minutes and starting positions. Tubby is well versed in the theory that if you practice hard that equates into minutes in the big games.

For Morris or any other UK player, you are more than halfway through your SEC season.

Almost halfway through the month of February. A few weeks away from the SEC Tourney, not to mention the beginning of March Madness.

This late in the season should not be the time your being benched because your coach is unhappy with your performance.

I am glad Morris responded with the points and the three big dunks. And I hope that the entire team works hard between now and Saturday and are ready to put in the quality minutes.

ESPN, Dickie V., and the monsters of the swamp are on their way.

It's going to take quality, quality, quality minutes from every single player on the UK bench. Whether they are starting, the sixth man, or part of the second wave.

We've been a defensive oriented team all season holding opponents to shooting around the 30% neighborhood mark. And more recently been putting up big offensive numbers.

The both of which will be needed to duct tape the snout of these Gators.

Hopefully, a gut check will not be needed by any of our players. This is a big game for the battle of the SEC East.

Florida's big, fast and deep on the bench. UF is the champ. They are number one.

And if a gut check is utilized, I hope that it doesn't turn out to be a dud, and be the reason the Wildcats fall at home.

Along this journey of the SEC East, may our players realize that we are Kentucky. The most storied basketball mecha in the world.

That when they lace it up, strap it on, and adorn themselves in Kentucky Blue.

Whether in the confines of the private halls of practice or on public display before a national audience during Rivalry Week.

They are a part of something much larger than themselves. They wear the colors and play for the Kentucky Wildcats.

An effort with these things in mind will lead UK to a victory.

I only hope the fans don't storm the floor. If they do, we'll realize how far Kentucky basketball really has fallen in the average Joe's mind.

A win over Florida in Rupp Arena in February was as common as hearts of chocolate being given out on the 14th of the month.

This year lets pass the chocolate and snap into some fresh gator meat.

Signing off from Richmond,
Glen

8:11 PM

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