Pieces & parts after many false starts
It needn't be overstated that (a) one win does not a season make but (b) one win can right a season.
It remains to be seen whether Tuesday's feel-good 69-54 drubbing of the Georgia Bulldogs fits either category, though it's hard to imagine how the outcome could have been better for a team struggling though poor shooting, a slumping senior starter and needing a win. On national television, Kentucky managed to affix big, fat band-aids on all three of those trouble spots.
Coach Tubby Smith -- he of the former Georgia head coaching job -- probably slept better last night than he has in weeks, particularly after shedding roughly 15 pounds in water weight sweating through a tense first half and a powerful, rehabilitating second. Though it's impossible to know yet whether his boys finally found their groove or located any true grit, a few potential calling cards stood out, especially in the second half.
Excepting the atrocious games against Indiana and Kansas in which the tide of defeat seemingly swept over the Cats early and often, this team has shown -- especially since the return of Randolph Morris -- a strong defensive presence. That they had a chance to win both the loss to Vandy and the loss to Alabama despite playing offense like a one-armed man plays Mozart is testament to the fact that the defense has been sound, if by no means spectacular.
After surrendering just 36% field goal shooting to the Bulldogs (29% on threes), Kentucky is only allowing 40.5 % on the season, including those blowout losses and the 70% second half Bama got. While that's hardly earth-shattering, it does point to a possible team strength, something that at this point is worth taking stock in.
Tubby Smith's boys are allowing a paltry 61.8 points a game, good for third best in the SEC at this early stage. Again, this isn't to say they are quite the shut down team that the 2003 Wildcats became, but there is a lot to work with there, and with a proven defensive stopper in Rajon Rondo and an emerging force in the middle in Morris (2 blocks per game thus far), perhaps defensive pressure could catapult this team into a winning streak.
Kentucky's season-high 56% shooting was a blessing after a slew of clunker offensive games. Patrick Sparks' return to normalcy probably bodes as well as anything has for several weeks, since it's abundantly clear that as the streaky kid from Central City goes, so go the Cats. Sparks got going in the second half, canning a pair of catch-and-shoot three balls and flashing a grin unseen since the long forgotten days of 2005. A flashy (however unnecessary) between-the-legs pass and subsequent short jumper only further illustrated the senior's mood. Pundits, fans and coaches alike pointed to Morris' return as a salve for struggling UK shooters, and perhaps that is finally taking hold, as teams will have to key down low on Morris defensively, opening up deep shots for Ravi Moss (2 threes, 1 spindly moustache) and Sparks. The return to form of a healthy Joe Crawford would further deepen the Wildcats' arsenal. No one said the Cats would be a three-point laden club, but there's no way they should be shooting so poorly from deep with the streaky, but talented, gunners on the roster.
To me the best sign on the evening wasn't Sparks' reemergence, though that was extremely welcome. It was the display of all-around guard strength that will, I believe, be the propellant for this team to make any run they are capable of. Morris, with Woo spelling him at times, looks to be on his way to a consistent 14 points and 6 rebounds a game, which is exhilarating after watching the other three centers flail their way to 3 points and 3 boards maybe.
On Tuesday, Rondo -- who has been unfairly beseiged by a segment of fans desperate to find an explanation for recent poor play -- quietly played one of his best games of the year, scoring 12 points on a variety of strong drives, dishing out 7 assists while turning it over only twice and consistently disrupting the Georgia offense either with steals or deflections. In short, Rondo looked like the Rondo UK fans expect to see game in, game out. Tubby's insistence on making Sparks the ballhandler clearly freed up Rondo to exploit his strengths and to gamble more on both ends. Credit the Tubster for sticking with his initial game plan, talk shows be damned.
Sparks chipped in 6 assists, part of a stellar 17 assist effort (on 28 made baskets) on the part of Kentucky. That, as much as anything, should be the focus of the Wildcats offense. Lacking a dead-eye shooter, but owning a cadre of talented combo guards, passing and getting good shots in the paint can turn this team into a winner.
Another good sign was a continuation of Saturday's surprising rebounding prowess. Sheray Thomas grabbed 7 boards and, despite not scoring much, made his presence felt throughout. In all, the Cats pounded the glass to the tune of a 35-18 (+17) advantage, an eye-opening number given Georgia coach Dennis Felton's reputation for brutish play. That puts the Wildcats +30 in the last two games, over two teams that pride themselves on tough inside play.
Finally, a huge debt of gratitude to guard Ramel Bradley, whose combination of 11 first-half points off the bench and Brooklyn-style passion clearly sparked his teammates. Bradley could be seen clapping, cajoling and slapping his teammates throughout the game, particularly his main competition for starting minutes, Sparks. That Bradley's focus was so clearly on the team and on winning the game was as welcome as it was impressive. Bradley even stepped into the fray physically in the second half when, after witnessing Bulldog center Younes Idrissi bumping Moss after a foul call, Bradley stepped in and gave a shove, drawing a technical foul. Tubby Smith, irate at the call in the first palce, seemed hardly to mind. And the combination of a fired up Tubby and a team-focused Bradley sure melted the frozen hearts of the Big Blue Nation. Said Bradley afterwards, "I felt like the guy threw an elbow in Ravi's face. I wanted to show my teammate that I had his back."
Just the sort of togetherness this team has been needing in the worst way. If the Cats can build off this win and continue to show just the sort of all-around depth and sound decision-making they did on Tuesday, a few weeks from now UK fans may be seeing a return to the rankings for the Cats. As I said, one win does not a season make ... but now let's see if this win can be the turning point that alters the Cats' future.
It remains to be seen whether Tuesday's feel-good 69-54 drubbing of the Georgia Bulldogs fits either category, though it's hard to imagine how the outcome could have been better for a team struggling though poor shooting, a slumping senior starter and needing a win. On national television, Kentucky managed to affix big, fat band-aids on all three of those trouble spots.
Coach Tubby Smith -- he of the former Georgia head coaching job -- probably slept better last night than he has in weeks, particularly after shedding roughly 15 pounds in water weight sweating through a tense first half and a powerful, rehabilitating second. Though it's impossible to know yet whether his boys finally found their groove or located any true grit, a few potential calling cards stood out, especially in the second half.
Excepting the atrocious games against Indiana and Kansas in which the tide of defeat seemingly swept over the Cats early and often, this team has shown -- especially since the return of Randolph Morris -- a strong defensive presence. That they had a chance to win both the loss to Vandy and the loss to Alabama despite playing offense like a one-armed man plays Mozart is testament to the fact that the defense has been sound, if by no means spectacular.
After surrendering just 36% field goal shooting to the Bulldogs (29% on threes), Kentucky is only allowing 40.5 % on the season, including those blowout losses and the 70% second half Bama got. While that's hardly earth-shattering, it does point to a possible team strength, something that at this point is worth taking stock in.
Tubby Smith's boys are allowing a paltry 61.8 points a game, good for third best in the SEC at this early stage. Again, this isn't to say they are quite the shut down team that the 2003 Wildcats became, but there is a lot to work with there, and with a proven defensive stopper in Rajon Rondo and an emerging force in the middle in Morris (2 blocks per game thus far), perhaps defensive pressure could catapult this team into a winning streak.
Kentucky's season-high 56% shooting was a blessing after a slew of clunker offensive games. Patrick Sparks' return to normalcy probably bodes as well as anything has for several weeks, since it's abundantly clear that as the streaky kid from Central City goes, so go the Cats. Sparks got going in the second half, canning a pair of catch-and-shoot three balls and flashing a grin unseen since the long forgotten days of 2005. A flashy (however unnecessary) between-the-legs pass and subsequent short jumper only further illustrated the senior's mood. Pundits, fans and coaches alike pointed to Morris' return as a salve for struggling UK shooters, and perhaps that is finally taking hold, as teams will have to key down low on Morris defensively, opening up deep shots for Ravi Moss (2 threes, 1 spindly moustache) and Sparks. The return to form of a healthy Joe Crawford would further deepen the Wildcats' arsenal. No one said the Cats would be a three-point laden club, but there's no way they should be shooting so poorly from deep with the streaky, but talented, gunners on the roster.
To me the best sign on the evening wasn't Sparks' reemergence, though that was extremely welcome. It was the display of all-around guard strength that will, I believe, be the propellant for this team to make any run they are capable of. Morris, with Woo spelling him at times, looks to be on his way to a consistent 14 points and 6 rebounds a game, which is exhilarating after watching the other three centers flail their way to 3 points and 3 boards maybe.
On Tuesday, Rondo -- who has been unfairly beseiged by a segment of fans desperate to find an explanation for recent poor play -- quietly played one of his best games of the year, scoring 12 points on a variety of strong drives, dishing out 7 assists while turning it over only twice and consistently disrupting the Georgia offense either with steals or deflections. In short, Rondo looked like the Rondo UK fans expect to see game in, game out. Tubby's insistence on making Sparks the ballhandler clearly freed up Rondo to exploit his strengths and to gamble more on both ends. Credit the Tubster for sticking with his initial game plan, talk shows be damned.
Sparks chipped in 6 assists, part of a stellar 17 assist effort (on 28 made baskets) on the part of Kentucky. That, as much as anything, should be the focus of the Wildcats offense. Lacking a dead-eye shooter, but owning a cadre of talented combo guards, passing and getting good shots in the paint can turn this team into a winner.
Another good sign was a continuation of Saturday's surprising rebounding prowess. Sheray Thomas grabbed 7 boards and, despite not scoring much, made his presence felt throughout. In all, the Cats pounded the glass to the tune of a 35-18 (+17) advantage, an eye-opening number given Georgia coach Dennis Felton's reputation for brutish play. That puts the Wildcats +30 in the last two games, over two teams that pride themselves on tough inside play.
Finally, a huge debt of gratitude to guard Ramel Bradley, whose combination of 11 first-half points off the bench and Brooklyn-style passion clearly sparked his teammates. Bradley could be seen clapping, cajoling and slapping his teammates throughout the game, particularly his main competition for starting minutes, Sparks. That Bradley's focus was so clearly on the team and on winning the game was as welcome as it was impressive. Bradley even stepped into the fray physically in the second half when, after witnessing Bulldog center Younes Idrissi bumping Moss after a foul call, Bradley stepped in and gave a shove, drawing a technical foul. Tubby Smith, irate at the call in the first palce, seemed hardly to mind. And the combination of a fired up Tubby and a team-focused Bradley sure melted the frozen hearts of the Big Blue Nation. Said Bradley afterwards, "I felt like the guy threw an elbow in Ravi's face. I wanted to show my teammate that I had his back."
Just the sort of togetherness this team has been needing in the worst way. If the Cats can build off this win and continue to show just the sort of all-around depth and sound decision-making they did on Tuesday, a few weeks from now UK fans may be seeing a return to the rankings for the Cats. As I said, one win does not a season make ... but now let's see if this win can be the turning point that alters the Cats' future.
1 Comments:
At 5:07 PM, jrob said…
instead of having their previous attitude that it's all up to one individual, kentucky played like a team last night. hopefully this win against georgia will teach the wildcats that to win they need each other. that will be the step they need to right their season.
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