Assume the position, and other notes ...

Defensive posturing

Much has been written here and elsewhere about the 2006 Wildcats' offensive woes. A near equal number of words have been spent trying to legitimize a failed chemistry. But the reason for the most recent slide into obscurity is quite clear: crappy defense.

In last 6 halves of play (three crucial losses), five have featured something that was once a Tubby Smith anomaly, the 50% opponent field goal percentage. If memory serves me, Tubby UK teams had allowed roughly 3 teams to shoot over 50% against them in eight years. This year, in so many ways, has been a different story. Two of those 6 halves have seen the other team (the winning team, mind you) collect over 60% shooting.

You simply cannot win allowing the other team to run roughshod over your defense, no matter how well you score ... and this team does not score well, as we have seen.

Starting Over

Since we last wrote, Tubby has adopted yet another measure in the hopes of righting the ship with what remains of the season, this one more drastic if as yet unknown how much more effective.

"Sometimes desperate times call for desperate means," Smith said. "We need to re-emphasize playing sounder, better defense. ... Be a little more (defensive) position conscious."

Thus, Tubby and his staff shot extensive video of all the practices and attached grades for things such as boxing out (+1), allowing someone inside position (-1), etc. We'll see tonight who graded the highest (starters) and who apparently did not take the opportunity for a fresh start (the pine-riders). Some fans may face a rude awakening, especially if the starters are of the Woo, Sheray Thomas and Brandon Stockton variety.

But no one can say Tubby isn't working hard to fix things, if nothing else. And the lineups and rotations he was using clearly weren't working, no matter how much McDonald's All-American resume it had. My prediction?

C - Randolph Morris
PF - Sheray Thomas
SF - Bobby Perry
SG - Joe Crawford
PG - Ramel Bradley

I have ZERO reason to believe any of this, just nonsensical speculation. But for all of Rajon Rondo's talent -- and there is plenty of it, despite the whining of a few ridiculous fans -- he has not executed to Tubby's liking of late. And Patrick Sparks? I'm afraid that his lax defensive play will hurt him.

Hopefully, I'm wrong and the regular starters just get a little more focused. Who knows. All I can say is that what was going on wasn't working, so kudos to Tubby for not giving up and riding out the season.

Piling On, and Rumors Upon Rumors

Leave it to CBS Sportsline troublemaker Gregg Doyel to take the rumor mill big time with his latest hack job.

I don't fault Doyel for writing about the troubles at Kentucky, or for calling out what he sees as poor recruiting and shoddy player development. We and others have said as much. But with his platform comes some journalistic responsiblity to avoid referring to things such as "word on the street" or "everyone knows." With blind quotes and unsubstantiated comments, he's basically writing an Op-Ed under the guise of "news."

Nothing we're not used to from Doyel, whose job as advertised on CBS telecasts is "outspoken columnist." That's a little like advertising "massage therapy" ... everyone knows what you're really getting, even if it's under the facade of legitimacy.

Doyel's piece, which you should read, is basically a crib's notes of message board posts and on-air radio call-in shows. Hardly a definitive cross-section of the UK fan base (which he's none too kind on, by the by).

That said, he's not so much wrong as he is typically one-sided. Here's to hoping that Tubby's changes, and maybe some strong defensive upgrades, can have him writing a much different story in three weeks, one about the Cats' revival.