Thrill from the 'Ville saves 'em again
Just when you thought is was safe to go back in the paint, the great white beast known as Lukasz Obrzut makes an appearance. The next three minutes are a blur of missed defensive assignments and flailing karate chops at the shooter. And one.
Luckily for Kentucky on Monday, it had Rajon Rondo. The golden child once again saved the day, and not for the last time, methinks. While my enthusiasm for Mr. Rondo is perhaps a bit outsized at times, I think it's somewhat best answered with something that Mr. Rance Piatt -- afficianado of all things Wildcats -- said during the game Monday. And I'm paraphrasing here ...
Usually, it's been UCONN or Duke or Marquette (a-holes!) with that guy. But despite the chances, Rondo outdid himself in Monday's 67-49 win over Lipscomb at Rupp Arena.
Continuing his newfound focus on rebounding, Rondo added 7 boards (6 defensive) to his season total, putting him at a whopping 19 (9.5 rpg avg) for the first week of the season. That's just fantastic. While he didn't pile up the steals on Monday, some of that is the sloppy offensive sets and a two-games-in-two-days situation, plus, 5 more assists means he was busy, damnit!
Ravi Moss came up huge again, flashing some seriously nice jumpshooting, something that he can very much help his Kentucky team with this season. With a 3-for-3 night, 13 points on 3 threes and a free throw, Moss made up for a second straight stinker game from Patrick Sparks.
Now, I'll admit I was a skeptic before the transfer and changed my tune when I saw Larry O'Bannon staring dejectedly into the rafters, but something is amiss with Mr. Sparks. The guy seems tired and/or lost out there, and after a summer of basketball, he should be in prime shape. I know he'll figure it out, but for now, he's hurting that first team tremendously.
Ramel "Smooth" Bradley had a nice game, I thought, tossing in some clutch threes and seeing some serious PT at the end of the game over Sparks. One thing still clearly seperates Ramel and Rajon, and that's the combination of understanding of the game and the desire to learn the game inside and out. Rondo has both, Ramel has only some of the first and none of the second, it seems. Look at the (admittedly cherry-picked) postgame quotes:
Notice how Rondo is thinking like a coach, while Bradley is offering platitudes and stock answers (also like a coach). I lost my point.
Anyway, they need to look better than they did in these two games to beat Texas, and probably also Iowa, assuming they finish off their part of the bracket. Godspeed, Colgate!
Luckily for Kentucky on Monday, it had Rajon Rondo. The golden child once again saved the day, and not for the last time, methinks. While my enthusiasm for Mr. Rondo is perhaps a bit outsized at times, I think it's somewhat best answered with something that Mr. Rance Piatt -- afficianado of all things Wildcats -- said during the game Monday. And I'm paraphrasing here ...
The thing is, Josh, the reason we're so amazed that Rondo is so good is that we can't believe that we finally got that guy. We got the guy everyone says "man, I wish we had that guy."
Usually, it's been UCONN or Duke or Marquette (a-holes!) with that guy. But despite the chances, Rondo outdid himself in Monday's 67-49 win over Lipscomb at Rupp Arena.
Continuing his newfound focus on rebounding, Rondo added 7 boards (6 defensive) to his season total, putting him at a whopping 19 (9.5 rpg avg) for the first week of the season. That's just fantastic. While he didn't pile up the steals on Monday, some of that is the sloppy offensive sets and a two-games-in-two-days situation, plus, 5 more assists means he was busy, damnit!
Ravi Moss came up huge again, flashing some seriously nice jumpshooting, something that he can very much help his Kentucky team with this season. With a 3-for-3 night, 13 points on 3 threes and a free throw, Moss made up for a second straight stinker game from Patrick Sparks.
Now, I'll admit I was a skeptic before the transfer and changed my tune when I saw Larry O'Bannon staring dejectedly into the rafters, but something is amiss with Mr. Sparks. The guy seems tired and/or lost out there, and after a summer of basketball, he should be in prime shape. I know he'll figure it out, but for now, he's hurting that first team tremendously.
Ramel "Smooth" Bradley had a nice game, I thought, tossing in some clutch threes and seeing some serious PT at the end of the game over Sparks. One thing still clearly seperates Ramel and Rajon, and that's the combination of understanding of the game and the desire to learn the game inside and out. Rondo has both, Ramel has only some of the first and none of the second, it seems. Look at the (admittedly cherry-picked) postgame quotes:
#3 Ramel Bradley
On being concerned about losing in the second half…
“I don’t think we ever got scared. They (Lipscomb) were able to stick with us for the entire game, and they believed they could win. We had to keep our composure and pull it off.”
On how he played…
“It was a pretty big night for me. Anytime the opportunity comes you have to step up, and that’s what I tried to do tonight.”
#4 Rajon Rondo
On Lipscomb’s play…
“I was not surprised by how well they played. They were aggressive and wanted to win, and they came out and gave it their best.”
On playing with a smaller lineup…
“If you’re running the ball up and down the floor at a fast pace, then you need a smaller lineup in the game. If you’re playing a team with a lot of good guards, then you need some big guys like Shagari (Alleyne).”
Notice how Rondo is thinking like a coach, while Bradley is offering platitudes and stock answers (also like a coach). I lost my point.
Anyway, they need to look better than they did in these two games to beat Texas, and probably also Iowa, assuming they finish off their part of the bracket. Godspeed, Colgate!
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