Semi OT - Kentucky - do they run the table?

[RUfinal4]

I think it may be very tough for Kentucky to run the table. They have 3 games in the SEC tourney and then 6 in the NCAAs.

I can see them getting tight in the semi's or finals of the SEC tourney which can allow a hot shooting team that is hitting 3s to beat them. They had a couple of close calls this year. I remember watching a double OT game against TAMU.

For the NCAAs I think they are good until they get to the final 4 where they may be victim for an upset.

For them to win the NCAA tourney I think it would be better to lose in the SEC tourney and get hungry vs. the pressure of being undefeated heading into the final 4.

Talent-wise they should run the table but even the best teams in sports lose every now and again. In the NFL the 72 Dolphins are the last undefeated team. In the NBA the Jordan / Pippen Bulls lost like 8 or 10 games in their best season.

 

[toby83]

what you said, think it will take a team going 15-25 from three to beat them - Duke/Nova/ND

 

[knights1212]

I definitely hope they lose in the NCAA. I do not want to see them win the national championship. They get any player they want. Nine McDonald's All Americans is a bit much. I would love to see Wisconsin defeat them or Maryland.

 

[PatrickRU92]

I have to say I don't hate UK as much as I should lol. I really respect the coaching job Calipari has done with his teams. They'd be good still with horrible coaching but he gets these HS mega stars to drop their egos at the door and that is a very very difficult thing to do. He's a total slime but damn he's a great coach.

I think they run the table.

 

[toby83]

Wisconsin and maybe moreso Virginia would be fun

what teams can play mistake
free, shoot the three, and present one big time guard or big man?

Wisconsin only 7.6 turnovers per game is truely remarkable.

ND 3rd with 9.1 / Virginia 4th at 9.2

 

[derleider]

Originally posted by knights1212:

I definitely hope they lose in the NCAA. I do not want to see them win the national championship. They get any player they want. Nine McDonald's All Americans is a bit much. I would love to see Wisconsin defeat them or Maryland.

If you want to see this system end, then you need to accept the short term pain of Kentucky ripping off a few titles with essentially minor league players.

 

[ScarletRunner]

Originally posted by PatrickRU92:
I have to say I don't hate UK as much as I should lol. I really respect the coaching job Calipari has done with his teams. They'd be good still with horrible coaching but he gets these HS mega stars to drop their egos at the door and that is a very very difficult thing to do. He's a total slime but damn he's a great coach.

I think they run the table.

Patrick, I feel a little dirty saying it but I feel the exact same way lol. The guy must be a master motivator to get 9 college-aged superstars to all buy in to the team concept.

 

[Mr Magoo]

I hope they lose...except against Nova, Duke or ND.

 

[higgins3]

Great team but we all know what march madness brings...the unthinkable becomes the norm

 

[ecojew]

"I can see them getting tight in the semi's or finals of
the SEC tourney which can allow a hot shooting team that is hitting 3s
to beat them."

I don't think they'll be tight at all. In one month or less, most of them will have UK in their rear view mirrors and will be visiting NBA venues. So tightness won't be a problem for them. It's an NBA farm team, not a college team.

My preference would be that the national title not be awarded until final exams are over and only those teams that have had everyone complete their finals - and thereby qualify as "students" - be eligible for their victories in the NCAA tournament to count. Who knows, Harvard could wind up as the national champs!

"If you want to see this system end, then you need
to accept the short term pain of Kentucky ripping off a few titles with
essentially minor league players."

derleider's comment is right on target. It might take this to bring back college bball. Hopefully, ratings will be very low this year, since most people will just assume UK already has it wrapped up. That would also help speed things up to restore some excitement to the sport.

This post was edited on 3/9 5:59 PM by ecojew

 

[MarchDreams]

It's the NBA that sets the rules.. Carl's job is to win games...

 

[LotusAggressor]

Originally posted by PatrickRU92:
I have to say I don't hate UK as much as I should lol. I really respect the coaching job Calipari has done with his teams. They'd be good still with horrible coaching but he gets these HS mega stars to drop their egos at the door and that is a very very difficult thing to do. He's a total slime but damn he's a great coach.

I think they run the table.

It will take a near perfect game to beat them. What separates Calipari is his ability to get HS mega stars to defend and share the ball. As far as the sliminess is concerned, he probably doesn't have to cheat anymore. All he has to do with recruits is point to the wall with all the pictures of 1st round draft picks that are playing in the NBA.

 

[G- RUnit]

Kentucky's weakness appears to be half court sets on offense. I don't think its Duke/Nova/ND (shooters) that beat them but rather a team that does not turn it over and limits possessions, Wiscy/UVA/Wichita State.

 

[RUfinal4]

Originally posted by ecojew:
"I can see them getting tight in the semi's or finals of
the SEC tourney which can allow a hot shooting team that is hitting 3s
to beat them."

I don't think they'll be tight at all. In one month or less, most of them will have UK in their rear view mirrors and will be visiting NBA venues. So tightness won't be a problem for them. It's an NBA farm team, not a college team.

My preference would be that the national title not be awarded until final exams are over and only those teams that have had everyone complete their finals - and thereby qualify as "students" - be eligible for their victories in the NCAA tournament to count. Who knows, Harvard could wind up as the national champs!

"If you want to see this system end, then you need
to accept the short term pain of Kentucky ripping off a few titles with
essentially minor league players."

derleider's comment is right on target. It might take this to bring back college bball. Hopefully, ratings will be very low this year, since most people will just assume UK already has it wrapped up. That would also help speed things up to restore some excitement to the sport.

This post was edited on 3/9 5:59 PM by ecojew

Not sure about waiting until after finals but it is common for kids that know they are NBA bound to not attend classes in the Spring semester. If the NCAA could enforce an attendance requirement or some kind of passing grade requirement it could help assure these are student athletes.

At Rutgers classes start in mid-January and kids are on Spring break around now. I don't think our athletic dept would allow an NBA bound player to skip classes and play. At some schools they don't care as long as the kid is eligible.

 

[bac2therac]

they have had a lot of close calls in SEC play and those teams is that conference are not all that good. They could even get beat in the SEC tourney but hopefully they bow out in the 2nd round or maybe Sweet 16

 

[TDIrish1]

I can't see them walking through the tournament and just drilling everybody.

There's going to come a game where it's tight in the last 4 minutes and that's when it will be interesting to see how their young guys react.

Agree with the guy who stated that you'll need double digit in 3's to pull it off.

That stated I think they win it.

 

[PatrickRU92]

Originally posted by LotusAggressor:

Originally posted by PatrickRU92:
I have to say I don't hate UK as much as I should lol. I really respect the coaching job Calipari has done with his teams. They'd be good still with horrible coaching but he gets these HS mega stars to drop their egos at the door and that is a very very difficult thing to do. He's a total slime but damn he's a great coach.

I think they run the table.

It will take a near perfect game to beat them. What separates Calipari is his ability to get HS mega stars to defend and share the ball. As far as the sliminess is concerned, he probably doesn't have to cheat anymore. All he has to do with recruits is point to the wall with all the pictures of 1st round draft picks that are playing in the NBA.

Not just the cheating, which he clearly did a lot of in the past (and you right, he probably doesn't need to any more)

Just watch interviews with him. He's a phony kiss-ass.

But he's an amazing coach, you can't argue that.