The look of Calipari in this picture is a fairly good reflection of how I feel about the Cats heading into postseason play – I just don’t know what to expect from this team. I mean, I know that there will be some great plays, great effort (at times), good statistics etc. But will they be able to pull it out in the crunch when losing sends them home for the spring/summer? Based on what we’ve seen all year, they will. Time and time again, this team, and primarily Wall, has made the big play right when it was needed and has been able to win the tight games, including the many times they have had the big lead and let the other team back in to it. I’m not sure why this happens, other than you have so many freshmen and sophomores playing. It’s frustrated me all year, but I’ve really only just come to the conclusion that this is who they are. The experience isn’t there, but the pride and will to win is. And as long as they have that, I think they will be OK. In the end, I think they need to feel challenged. Feel the heat a little. Playing on the edge. If you think about it, that is when this team has been at it’s absolute best. So, I’m not sure if the inexperience is going to bite them in the tournament or not. But if I had to throw my lot in with one team in the country heading into this thing, it would be the Cats. They’ve proven they can win under pressure and they have more talent than anyone else.
As for today’s game, it was a little anti-climatic for me. It was senior day, Florida, and the last game of the regular season. I was really hoping for a blowout. And for a while there, it looked like I might get it. But, as has happened on many occassions this season, the inexperience and mistakes let the other team make a short run, gain some confidence, and then make a game out of it. I think the point in this game where the tone/momentum changed was the two straight charging fouls on Eric Bledsoe toward the end of the first half. As Bledsoe has done all year, he drove the lane a little out of control, took one dribble too many, and in these two instances got called for the charge. I love Bledsoe’s game, but this is the one area I have harped on all year. Driving to the lane with no where to go and then taking a dribble too far. He should pull up for a short jumper or the dish, before he gets in the defenders face. So instead of a 14 or 16 point game going into half time, it was a 10 point game with Florida grabbing some momentum before the break.
Now, the team played quite well in the first half, particulalry on the defensive end. There were a few mistakes strung together that gave Florida a little confidence. But that’s basketball. Teams are going to make runs. Momentum changes multiple times per game. I was particularly pleased with the contributions of Dodson and Miller in the first half, hitting some big 3 point shots. The defensive pressure was good on the ball and Florida really didn’t shoot very well due to the pressure. Problem was, they were getting offensive rebounds. The Gators outscored UK 16-8 in the paint in the first half. For the game, Florida had 17 offensive rebounds and outrebounded UK in total by 36 to 31.
In the second half, it ended up being back and forth with Florida slowly cutting further into the lead finally drawing to within 62-60 before UK took control and wrapped up the game. There were a couple of great moments in the second half. John Wall had two drives into the lane back to back to regain momentum for the Blue. Also with Cousins out of the game in the second half, the team clearly was looking for Patterson, and he didn’t dissappoint, he had 6 points in a short span that helped maintain the lead for UK. Let me just say that I would like to see this more often when the other team is making a run. Patrick delivers down on the post almost every time it is needed. He is just too strong and quick for most people to guard. And with the other team’s big man guarding Cousins this year, Patterson is even more potent against the other team’s power forward as opposed to the center.
Statistically speaking, no one really dominated the box score. It was a victory by committee with 5 Cats in double figures – Patterson(13), Wall (11), Miller (14), Dodson (10) and Bledsoe (14). No one had double digit rebounds, although Cousins had 9. Patterson contributed 5. The best part of the game was the 8 for 18 performance from the three point line. I’ve been waiting for the team to break out of it’s slump and they did tonight. Hopefully it carries over to the postseason. Hitting the three, makes this team unbeatable.
General Thoughts
- Darius Miller had a very good game tonight. He looked for his shot and knocked it down, shooting in rhythm when the ball was passed to him.
- I loved that Calipari started all the seniors and let them play for about 5 minutes before subbing in Cousins, Miller and Bledsoe. I really wish that Krebs had hit that three he took and converted his baseline drive. The crowd would have gone absolutely nuts if those shots had gone in. And what better way can you think of for a great guy like Krebs to go out, by hitting a couple of shots on senior night for the team he dreamed of playing for.
- Alex Tyus has hit only three 3 pointers in his career, all three against UK this season.
- Cousins didn’t seem to be himself tonight. Perhaps not getting the start threw his rhythm off a little. Whatever it was, I’m not worried. He’ll be ready to go come tournament time and I expect him to have a HUGE postseason.
- Patrick Patterson is statistically the best 3 point shooter on the team at 41.2% (21 of 51). Go figure.
So in summary, this was a good win tonight. There wasn’t much at stake considering the #1 seed in the NCAA tourney is sown up and the regular season conference crown was in the bag. The team could have easily come out flat and just gone through the motions on this one. So, even though the team let a big lead slip away again, it doesn’t really bother me. They made the plays when they counted most and the put another W on the board. Now, comes the time that we have all been waiting a year for – tourney time. I’m more excited for the NCAA tournament this year than I have been for a while, probably going back to the 02-03 season. I’m taking the first Thursday and Friday of the tournament off work and will be watching as many games as possible. Then on Saturday, I’ll be BBQ’ing some Brisket, Ribs and Pulled Pork for my dad’s birthday while watching games all day. I don’t think it can get any better than that. Well, I guess if Duke loses on the first weekend, that would just be the cream on top of that glorious first week of the tournament.
Next week, we’re on to the SEC tournament. Check back for more discussion leading up to next Thursday when the tourney kicks off.
Go Cats!!
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