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Kentucky is the best team in the country, IMO.
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Kansas was overrated and should not have been anywhere near the top 5 this early. They have no PG and are very young.
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Kentucky played phenomenal last night. If they play that way every night, they will be hard to beat. Let’s not forget, though, this same Kentucky team was losing to 38-33 to Buffalo at halftime just 3 days ago. Sure, they came back and dominated the 2nd half, but if a mid-level MAC team can outplay Kentucky for 20 minutes, I don’t think it’s crazy to think that a loaded Duke / Wisconsin / Arizona could outplay them for 40.
Green Bay is doing that thing where it makes me think a low/mid-major team may upset a high-major team at home. I expect Wisconsin to run away with this shortly.
I don’t think Kentucky has the mental fortitude to go undefeated. Is there any team on their schedule that would beat them if both teams played their best? No. But 40ish games without a loss is practically impossible in men’s CBB nowadays. They’re clearly the favorites to win the NCAA tournament though.
Frankly, I’m not even sure I’d say that Kentucky played “phenomenal” against Kansas. They were dominant on defense, certainly, but their offense was nothing special. Despite their inside presence, they were only 43% from the field overall, and not that great on 3 pointers or free throws, either. They have good, but not great guard play, and that may bite them in a few games. I’d be surprised if they don’t lose somewhere along the line…I certainly don’t see them beating Florida 3 times.
Frankly, I'm not even sure I'd say that Kentucky played "phenomenal" against Kansas. They were dominant on defense, certainly, but their offense was nothing special. Despite their inside presence, they were only 43% from the field overall, and not that great on 3 pointers or free throws, either. They have good, but not great guard play, and that may bite them in a few games. I'd be surprised if they don't lose somewhere along the line..I certainly don't see them beating Florida 3 times.
Depends on how you look at it - you took the glass half empty approach.
Conversely, the fact that UK didn’t play “phenomenal” and their offense “was nothing special”, and yet still won by 30+ against a high major opponent (at minimum) may be indicative of the fact that if this team does play well offensively, they are virtually unstoppable. We are very quick to point out that UM teams often improve throughout the course of the season, does that assumption not apply to UK as well? If I recall correctly, UK didn’t start off so hot last year, but they were great come March. Point is, that UK is VERY good right now, with a very young team, they will only get better, and that is very scary.
Well, yes, that was basically my point. They beat a very good team by 30 despite playing what was probably not their best on offense. I’m not convinced that overall they will be a great team on offense, but even if they’re only good, they’ll be very tough to beat.
And yes, Kentucky got on a roll at the end of last year, but all of their tournament wins were close, even in the early rounds. Everything broke their way, but they weren’t exactly blowing people out. We looked a lot more impressive getting to the NC game than they did.
I’m not all that enamored with the Harrison twins, I think they are average players, but nothing special. I just don’t think it matters…UK’s frontcourt players are just downright dominant on both ends of the court.
As dominant as they are, they looked mediocre (at best) for 20 minutes against a Buffalo team that starts:
6’1 170
6’3 175
6’3 160
6’7 240
6’8 230
And as good as Kansas should be, they have no PG player and their front court is soft. Their bigs (read: Perry Ellis) were playing with their tails between their legs. I don’t think they dominant these teams inside like they did Kansas:
Texas: Jonathon Holmes (6’8 240), Cameron Ridley (6’9 285), Myles Turner (6’11 240)
Wisconsin: Sam Dekker (6’9 230), Nigel Hayes (6’8 235), Frank Kaminsky (7’0 242)
Arizona: Stanley Johnson (6’7 245), Brandon Ashley (6’8 230), Kaleb Tarcewzki (7’0 245)
I’m really looking forward to the Kentucky vs Texas matchup. Kentucky should win because they are the better team and playing at home, but that matchup in the paint is going to be fun to watch.
I agree with UA being UK’s biggest challenge. I think UA matches up quite well with UK.
What about UNC? I haven’t seen them play yet this year, but Marcus Paige is a great PG and they always have size inside.
I think Kentucky will drop a game that it shouldn’t … although the chances of that happening are much lower in the SEC generally than a league like the ACC or Big Ten.
I also think it’s worth asking whether a team that matches up well will be the team that gives them the biggest test or beats them. Teams that match up well generally try to play the same way, which makes playing them a bit more natural.
Often times you run into a zone team or a pressing team that does things differently in the NCAA tournament and they can really test you.
FWIW, the Kentucky fanbase seems to consider Duke their worst matchup. As good as their bigs are, Okafor will be the best big on the court. Duke also has the shooters necessary to expose Kentucky’s perimeter defense and not rely on getting to the rim (where shots are bound to get blocked).
Like I said earlier, though, I watched an undersized and middling talent Justin Moss score 8 1st half points against Kentucky. Their defense is great but not an immoveable object.
Once upon a time we were after Blackmon And Booker. Small sample size - but the one I wish we would have got looks to be Blackmon…he just gets buckets.
I was saying it over and over last year that Booker was overrated and Blackmon was an absolute beast. I think that will come to fruition. Losing out on Blackmon and Harris is going to haunt us. Those players are custom made for UM.
Bucknell/Villanova tied at 59-59 inside the final TV timeout on CBS Sports Network.
Hass from Bucknell can play.
Jesus Haas can shoot the rock
He had four monster possessions against us.
I’m not buying all the Wisc hype. They are certainly a very good team, but I don’t see them as a top 3-5 team in the country. They have good post players that are multi dimensional but they really lack speed/lateral agility in the backcourt. Their perimeter defense is very suspect in my opinion. Wisc is a bad matchup for us because Kaminsky/Hayes will simply overpower any of our bigs, but a team like UK would absolutely destroy Wisc.
I'm not buying all the Wisc hype. They are certainly a very good team, but I don't see them as a top 3-5 team in the country. They have good post players that are multi dimensional but they really lack speed/lateral agility in the backcourt. Their perimeter defense is very suspect in my opinion. Wisc is a bad matchup for us because Kaminsky/Hayes will simply overpower any of our bigs, but a team like UK would absolutely destroy Wisc.
I agree, their not a team that is going to overpower you talent wise or athletically. They are very well coached as per usual and have guys who have been in the system for a while(ie Gasser, Jackson, Kaminasky, Dekker). Agree that Hayes/Kaminsky is a bad matchup, but keep in my mind they don’t play Wisconsin until Jan 24 and it’s a home game… I expect the bigs and the team as a whole to only improve by the time they get into conference play and that games rolls on. Backcourt wise from a talent and production standpoint, Michigan has a significant advantage.