2010 Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball - 5th edition

[cumberlandreds]

Originally Posted by WVRed

Does this concern anybody?

http://www.lex18.com/news/john-wall-is-frustrated/

Wall is just frustrated. He's going through an adjustment period that he has never had to go through before. All players great or not have to learn to adjust their games almost constantly to excel. If there is one coach who can handle a star players frustrations it's John Calipari.

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by cumberlandreds

Wall is just frustrated. He's going through an adjustment period that he has never had to go through before. All players great or not have to learn to adjust their games almost constantly to excel. If there is one coach who can handle a star players frustrations it's John Calipari.

I guess the quote that concerns me is "I didn't think I played that bad. I don't know what to expect. He's probably going to say I played bad today too so. I don't know. I just try not to listen to him and go out and play basketball and try and help my team win."

I'm sure it will all be handled closed door, but after seeing some of what I saw with OJ Mayo in high school if this is more of an entourage thing. Brian Clifton come to mind?

[Javy Pornstache]

Young kids say stuff, especially in the heat of the moment when you're surrounded by the likes of Jerry Tipton and Alan Cutler in your face right after the game. I wouldn't put too much behind every single word Wall or any of these kids say immediately after the game. This quote from Coach Calipari earlier regarding Wall:

“He comes in like a puppy dog and says, ‘Coach I need to talk to you, I am frustrated.’ I told him, ‘just play and enjoy yourself. When you play bad, its ok to play bad. You act like you cant play bad. Yes you can. He came over and said ‘I love you” and hugged me and left.”

[WVRed]

There is a podcast on Kentucky Sports Radio of an interview between Matt Jones and Michael Porter that I would consider a "Must listen-to". Michael Porter is writing a book about last season and from the sounds of it I will definitely be purchasing it.

Contrasts playing for Tubby vs playing for Billy Clyde and how miserable it was even when winning toward the end of last season. Commented on how his father would always get onto him the hardest during practice (his father was the HS coach in Modesto), yet Gillispie always seemed to demoralize the players.

[WMR]

Nice win tonight. The Cats didn't play their best but still handled Ole Miss with relative ease.

I agree with Dykes that Kentucky has a higher ceiling of any team remaining. Will they reach it?

[HBP]

Bledsoe almost had a triple-double:
8 pts
8 assists
7 TO's

[Blimpie]

Good win against a solid SEC opponent. In fact, I think Ole Miss might be the best team in the West. Nice to see Patterson be more aggressive last night.

With just four home games remaining this year, I would like to see more from the UK crowds. I know that they will have 20,000+ rabid fans on display at ESPN Gameday on Feb 13. However, those people are not the ones who will be sitting in those seats come game time against Tennessee.

There were 25 pro scouts in attendance for the game last night. UK fans need to realize that this level of talent is not going to be around every season and learn to appreciate that while it lasts.

[Blimpie]

Originally Posted by WMR

I agree with Dykes that Kentucky has a higher ceiling of any team remaining. Will they reach it?

Not to avoid your question...

But since early last year, the Brad Nessler / Jimmy Dykes broadcast duo has surged to the top of my power rankings.

I have always loved Nessler as a PBP guy for college basketball. I think that the chemistry with Dykes is fantastic.

[cumberlandreds]

Originally Posted by Blimpie

Not to avoid your question...

But since early last year, the Brad Nessler / Jimmy Dykes broadcast duo has surged to the top of my power rankings.

I have always loved Nessler as a PBP guy for college basketball. I think that he chemistry with Dykes is fantastic.

I agree. They are very good. Nessler has been around for a long time and has always done a good job. He and Dykes seem to get along very well and that is key element for a broadcasting duo.

Very good win. I never felt they were in any danger of losing even when Ole Miss cut it to three. The Rebs are pretty solid. If they had a better inside game they would be top 15 good. Cousins is really getting better and better every game. Dykes may be right in that UK could have the top 2 picks in the NBA draft this year. If Cousins keeps improving and maturing at the current rate I can't see how anyone could pass him up.

[dabvu2498]

Originally Posted by WMR

I agree with Dykes that Kentucky has a higher ceiling of any team remaining. Will they reach it?

Dykes is a total goob.

For example, this quote from WilyMo. I ahve no doubt that WilyMo is not paraphrashing, because it sounds exactly like something Dykes would say.

Why is it goob-ish? Every team is still "remaining."

Stuff like that annoys the crap out of me, and Dykes is good for 5-6 of those a game.

[Javy Pornstache]

I do like Nessler and Dykes as well, but I especially enjoy Dykes for sheer comedy, such as last night's "box diagram" he was so proud of that was shown a thousand times, last year's "acceptable turnover zone" in the UK-UT game, Saturday's game where Vandy was "playing with house money", and of course, the most legendary, Jodie Meeks and his VIOLENT CUTS!!!! JD is the man.

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by dabvu2498

Dykes is a total goob.

For example, this quote from WilyMo. I ahve no doubt that WilyMo is not paraphrashing, because it sounds exactly like something Dykes would say.

Why is it goob-ish? Every team is still "remaining."

Stuff like that annoys the crap out of me, and Dykes is good for 5-6 of those a game.

I somewhat agree, although for another reason.

Dykes speculated yesterday that Wall and Cousins could be the first two picks in the NBA draft. I honestly believe Cousins has improved his draft stock significantly and if he doesn't have any blowups and can keep his temper in check, he could easily be a top 10 pick. Top 2 though?

Does any UK fans think he has made THAT MUCH of an improvement?

[dabvu2498]

Originally Posted by WVRed

I somewhat agree, although for another reason.

Dykes speculated yesterday that Wall and Cousins could be the first two picks in the NBA draft. I honestly believe Cousins has improved his draft stock significantly and if he doesn't have any blowups and can keep his temper in check, he could easily be a top 10 pick. Top 2 though?

Does any UK fans think he has made THAT MUCH of an improvement?

Thing is, as discussed earlier, his skill set is much more rare than most guys coming out of college.

Most teams in the NBA don't have as good a back-to-the-basket guy as Cousins is right now.

[TeamSelig]

I just love how Dykes absolutely LOVES UK.... lol I could see how he could be very annoying to opposing fans

[Blimpie]

Originally Posted by WVRed

I somewhat agree, although for another reason.

Dykes speculated yesterday that Wall and Cousins could be the first two picks in the NBA draft. I honestly believe Cousins has improved his draft stock significantly and if he doesn't have any blowups and can keep his temper in check, he could easily be a top 10 pick. Top 2 though?

Does any UK fans think he has made THAT MUCH of an improvement?

To be fair, Dykes' reference to UK having the most upside "of any team remaining" came after he had just identified a series of 3-4 teams that he thought were among the favorites to win an NCAA Championship.

Regarding Cousins, I absolutely think he could end up going as high as #2 overall. If you look at the NBA prospects next year, no frontcourt college player--regardless of their class--has the skillset that he possesses at this stage of his development.

Cousins is only 19 years old--but his low post moves and agility remind me of a young Kevin McHale or Hakeem Olajuwon. Unbelievable hands and body control for someone who will most likely be playing around 290lbs in the NBA.

Although he is a consistent scorer down low, he has not settled for easy buckets. Just look at what he has done to improve his free throw shooting since November.