Executioner's song? Long way home.
Which of the following would you expect to happen in a close game under three minutes against an SEC leader?
(a) A Brandon Stockton dribble drive against two players
(b) A Bobby Perry off-balance three-pointer
(c) A Rajon Rondo three-pointer
(d) All of the above
The answer, of course, in Tuesday's 75-67 dagger of a loss at home to Tennessee, was (d) all of the above. No wonder, then, that when the game came down to a few possessions, it was the Volunteers that executed and won the game, sending them three games up on the Cats in the SEC, and effectively ending any flickering UK hopes of challenging for the title. At this point, the focus is on not missing the NCAA tournament which, if the Cats don't beat Florida, Tennessee or LSU (much less Vandy at Vandy or even Georgia for Godssake), is a real possibility.
I mean, look back at my posts and you'll see I understood that optimism wasn't going to get the job done. And now, with the Cats at 15-8 (5-4) and unable to put together a quality half, things look about as bleak as they have in Tubby Smith's nine years. And that includes the Saul Smith era and the early Team Turmoil era. The reason being that it's so late in the year, and there is a sincere lack of quality wins to point to, especially if the Cats finish 8-8 with no wins over the SEC's top four teams (Alabama).
In other words: Yes, it's time to panic.
Some more nuggets from the game:
UK's heralded sophomore class (4 players) = 45 points (of 67), 16 rebounds (of 36), 5 turnovers and 4-of-12 from the line, 1 DNP.
UK's oft-maligned junior class (5 players) = 5 points, 11 rebounds, 0-for-0 from the line, 6 turnovers and 2 DNPs.
Patrick Sparks = 15 minutes, 2 points, 1 assist
Stockton = 13 minutes, 3 points, 0 assists
The list goes on. I won't continue.
Tubby and his crew of coaches have simply not performed well this entire season, with the exceptions of the Louisville game, the West Virginia game and the Arkansas second half. Pretty much every other game has been a slog or at least has featured a series of questionable moves. I don't blame all this on Tubby entirely, but the former National Coach of the Year -- and deservedly so -- has had what may be his worst season on the bench, taking a team with, by his own admission, enough talent to win the SEC and coached it (with the help of his staff) into bubble territory.
There have been many mitigating factors, but the bottom line is that Kentucky hasn't beaten a definite NCAA team in the calender year. Arkansas is borderline, at best. That is not going to get it done. And the vanishing junior class is due back for an encore. Whomever is in charge of this team -- whether it's the coach, the seniors or Bill Keightley -- has his work cut out for him, because they are a mess.
The one that got away
Much will be written (already has) about the Chris Lofton situation, so I won't rehash it. But I will say that Lofton is an outstanding shooter and a real Kentucky killer. Some sort of off-the-court issues keeping Ramel Bradley on the pine magnify the dramatics of Lofton not being a Cat, but you'd have been hard pressed to justify not taking Joe Crawford, Rondo, Morris or Bradley over Lofton in the spring of 2004. Retroactively, yeah, it was a mistake not to even look. But how about we focus on getting someone to guard him instead of worrying about the one that got away.
(a) A Brandon Stockton dribble drive against two players
(b) A Bobby Perry off-balance three-pointer
(c) A Rajon Rondo three-pointer
(d) All of the above
The answer, of course, in Tuesday's 75-67 dagger of a loss at home to Tennessee, was (d) all of the above. No wonder, then, that when the game came down to a few possessions, it was the Volunteers that executed and won the game, sending them three games up on the Cats in the SEC, and effectively ending any flickering UK hopes of challenging for the title. At this point, the focus is on not missing the NCAA tournament which, if the Cats don't beat Florida, Tennessee or LSU (much less Vandy at Vandy or even Georgia for Godssake), is a real possibility.
I mean, look back at my posts and you'll see I understood that optimism wasn't going to get the job done. And now, with the Cats at 15-8 (5-4) and unable to put together a quality half, things look about as bleak as they have in Tubby Smith's nine years. And that includes the Saul Smith era and the early Team Turmoil era. The reason being that it's so late in the year, and there is a sincere lack of quality wins to point to, especially if the Cats finish 8-8 with no wins over the SEC's top four teams (Alabama).
In other words: Yes, it's time to panic.
Some more nuggets from the game:
The list goes on. I won't continue.
Tubby and his crew of coaches have simply not performed well this entire season, with the exceptions of the Louisville game, the West Virginia game and the Arkansas second half. Pretty much every other game has been a slog or at least has featured a series of questionable moves. I don't blame all this on Tubby entirely, but the former National Coach of the Year -- and deservedly so -- has had what may be his worst season on the bench, taking a team with, by his own admission, enough talent to win the SEC and coached it (with the help of his staff) into bubble territory.
There have been many mitigating factors, but the bottom line is that Kentucky hasn't beaten a definite NCAA team in the calender year. Arkansas is borderline, at best. That is not going to get it done. And the vanishing junior class is due back for an encore. Whomever is in charge of this team -- whether it's the coach, the seniors or Bill Keightley -- has his work cut out for him, because they are a mess.
The one that got away
Much will be written (already has) about the Chris Lofton situation, so I won't rehash it. But I will say that Lofton is an outstanding shooter and a real Kentucky killer. Some sort of off-the-court issues keeping Ramel Bradley on the pine magnify the dramatics of Lofton not being a Cat, but you'd have been hard pressed to justify not taking Joe Crawford, Rondo, Morris or Bradley over Lofton in the spring of 2004. Retroactively, yeah, it was a mistake not to even look. But how about we focus on getting someone to guard him instead of worrying about the one that got away.
4 Comments:
At 12:00 PM, Truzenzuzex said…
So here we are - a team in desperate need of depot-level maintenance. We need at least a week off to regroup, retool and try to salvage something out of this season, but the nature of the college game makes that impossible. So we are going to have to McGuyver something together out of jock straps and shoe laces.
I agree that Tubby has mucked up this season from a coaching standpoint, along with his staff. I love Tubby, but I can't look anybody in the eye and blame all the troubles on the players. The coaching staff is part of the team, too, and together they have made a mess of this season. I am convinced there are serious internal issues with this team, because they have decided that they are not going to do what the coach tells them - at all.
With all that said, I am ceasing all criticism of this team from now on. At some point, a fan has to discard analysis, throw out review and reflection, and just grab an oar and row, or a bucket and bail. The ship is foundering, and taking the captain or the crew to task over their missteps won't keep it afloat.
This season is a debacle, but not yet a total loss. Unfortunately, it is going to take some serious bailing and rowing just to get the USS Kentucky Wildcat Basketball program back to port in one piece.
I am an optimist, but it is impossible to continue to be optimistic about this season. What's needed now is realism, and a realistic approach to the schedule that we have left. We must win at least one of our last 3 games against marquis opponents, and if we loose any on the way to that point, we may well be NIT bound even if we do. That in itself isn't the end of the world (except to some fans who don't remember when we had bad years before), but if we continue the funk we are in, we may just miss the NIT as well.
I lament the lack of attitude in this year's version of the 'Cats. We have shown no passion, no poise, and have little hope for success unless we find some of both. Granted, "success" at this point must be defined a little differently than "national champ" or "Final Four", but define it we must if we are to avoid a shipwreck with no land in sight.
Regarding Lofton, it was just bad timing. It happens, and everyone should get over it. Maybe if Crawford or Bradley bailed, but back in 2004 I can't see how you pick an in-state player over a burger boy if you are forced to choose, as Tubby was.
Tough luck. Maybe next time.
At 1:27 PM, Agonica said…
I agree ... just a waste of talent. If Rondo or Morris leaves, it will be sad that we never got to see them performing their best and getting the best result...
At 4:15 PM, Anonymous said…
I'm sad to say that this current Junior class will be the death of our beloved 'Cats. It will take 2 or 3 seasons to recover from their negative impact on this roster. It's unbelievable how poor and ineffective this class of players has proven to be. Would Perry, Thomas, Obrzut, or Alleyne start or receive quality minutes on any of the other SEC teams?? I'm a long time UK fan and I've always given Perry and Thomas the benefit of the doubt because they can sometimes pull good games out of their collective butts...but I've had it with these guys!!
At 8:22 PM, P-Man said…
I remember the days when Kentucky had talent. As long as I have been alive, I do not remember a
Tennessee-Kentucky game, where the talent was in the orange and white. It saddens me everytime I tune and watch the "Unwatchables". They scratch and paw just to be behind by single digits at the half. Something must be done in Lexington to restore the desire of top high school athletes to come to Kentucky.
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