Kentucky
National media weighs in on what’s wrong with Kentucky
The faculty basketball world is speaking about Kentucky right this moment, and never for motive. Final evening’s 71-68 loss to South Carolina introduced extra nationwide consideration to the Cats’ struggles, which had been punctuated by the “Please go to Texas” signal behind the Kentucky bench. Pundits from throughout the interwebs are weighing in with their ideas on the Wildcats. Right here’s a roundup.
Over at The Sporting Information, Mike DeCourcy shared his 5 midseason storylines, one among them being that Oscar Tshiebwe now not seems just like the Nationwide Participant of the Yr.
Kentucky middle Oscar Tshiebwe rampaged by means of the 2021-22 season seeming nearly to seize rebounds in video games the place he wasn’t enjoying. He averaged 17.4 factors and 15.1 rebounds, the primary participant in 4 many years to high 15 a recreation within the latter class.
His return to Kentucky was celebrated throughout the Bluegrass State, however Tshiebwe has not appeared like the identical participant because the season has superior. He skilled a preseason knee downside that required a process within the second week of October. Tshiebwe returned to play towards Michigan State within the Champions Basic and delivered 22 factors and 18 rebounds, and that might have produced a win had his teammates made a clutch free throw or paid consideration to the scouting report and stayed with Michigan State’s 3-point shooters.
In a one-sided loss Saturday at Alabama, he went 1-of-7 from the sector. Towards UCLA in Madison Sq. Backyard, he had 8 factors on 4-of-12 capturing. There’s little doubt opponents scouted him in the course of the offseason and realized to assault his offensive limitations, but it surely additionally seems he’s enjoying with out the extent of vitality that made him such a pressure a 12 months in the past.
Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting Information
BBN’s outdated pal Jeff Goodman wrote a function explaining that it’s time for the wedding between John Calipari and Kentucky to finish.
The ‘Cats have now gone from the crew everybody wished to look at for leisure worth into one that individuals now need to look ahead to comedic worth.
The offense is antiquated and it’s clear that Calipari misses his outdated X’s and O’s man, John Robic.
“I feel he’s misplaced the gamers,” one head coach stated after dealing with Kentucky this season. “Their offense is so shitty. He doesn’t run something for his or her guards. He has no concept how you can use Cason Wallace.”
“They need to nonetheless be getting the very best expertise,” one other coach added. “They usually have sufficient expertise proper now to complete within the high three or 4 of the SEC.”
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I’ve by no means had a lot of a relationship with Calipari, however I’ve defended him towards the critics the final couple of years, warning these to watch out what they want for, as a result of there was as soon as a man named Billy Clyde Gillespie in Lexington who’s tenure lasted two seasons, with a complete of 40 wins and sans a tourney win.
But it surely’s time. It’s time for Kentucky, and it’s time for Calipari.
Jeff Goodman, Stadium
Goodman and Doug Gottlieb, his new cohost on Inside Faculty Hoops, went extra in-depth on Kentucky’s points right this moment.
ESPN’s panel of faculty basketball writers unveiled their “midseason check-in” right this moment, which incorporates up to date Remaining 4 picks and different predictions. In October, Kentucky was ESPN’s favourite to win the nationwide championship. Now, Myron Medcalf and Joe Lunardi picked the Cats as essentially the most underwhelming crew so far.
Medcalf: I feel it’s Kentucky. It needs to be. The Wildcats aren’t the one squad falling in need of expectations. However they’re doing it with the reigning Picket Award winner, Oscar Tshiebwe, with a projected lottery decide (Cason Wallace), and with a bunch of veterans in Sahvir Wheeler and Jacob Toppin. The lopsided 78-52 loss to Alabama on Saturday showcased the intense challenges Kentucky is attempting to beat. Its offense is sloppy and restricted. Its defensive efficiency is listed as “common” on Synergy Sports activities. It’s additionally inconsistent. You possibly can make the case Kentucky enters the week with out an NCAA match assure. The Wildcats are 1-4 towards Quad I and Quad II opponents this season. And their finest win — towards Michigan in London — seems worse by the day because the Wolverines proceed to battle (2-3 of their previous 5 video games). The reality is, Kentucky is simply not crew proper now, and John Calipari’s squad is enjoying beneath its potential.
Lunardi: My high three disappointments, so as, are Kentucky, Kentucky and Kentucky. The Wildcats have been stunningly common on the courtroom and the sidelines, and it’s exhausting to ascertain a significant turnaround given the extent of competitors within the SEC. The ‘Cats are midway by means of the season and haven’t crushed a single crew that’s in any projected NCAA discipline, which needs to be unattainable. Kentucky’s finest efficiency of the 12 months was most likely in its additional time loss to Michigan State on the Champions Basic. Nothing else comes near transferring the needle, which greater than explains the heightened misery in Lexington and all through the Commonwealth.
The Worldwide Chief even has one other roundtable right this moment entitled, “Can Kentucky’s program be salvaged?”. Most of it covers comparable floor, however John Gasaway says the Cats can enhance by getting wholesome and enjoying some perimeter protection.
Assuming everyone seems to be wholesome, Kentucky wants higher efficiency on protection from, effectively, everybody. Your complete roster must step up on that facet of the ball. In SEC play, the Wildcats have allowed opponents to ring up 309 factors in simply 253 possessions. A part of that has been unhealthy luck, to make sure, because the league has shot 43% on its 3s towards UK within the early going. Nonetheless, Kentucky can and should do higher not solely in limiting the sheer variety of perimeter makes an attempt but in addition on the inside, the place opponents are connecting 52% of the time.
John Gasaway, ESPN
Medcalf selected “Calipari leaving Kentucky” as his daring prediction within the midseason roundtable. Within the second column, he supplied a extra nuanced tackle Calipari’s future, writing that it looks like the start of an finish.
The large determination Kentucky has to make is that this: Is there somebody on the market who will do higher on this local weather? Or do you problem Calipari to overtake every part — his workers, his enjoying fashion, his strategy to gamers — this offseason after which decide subsequent summer season? We’d not get to that time. This looks like the start of a divorce.
Myron Medcalf, ESPN
CBS Sports activities’ panel of faculty basketball writers got here up with 4 eventualities for the rest of Kentucky’s season. All embody the Cats making the NCAA Match however in a wide range of methods. Right here is Gary Parrish’s case for Kentucky being a bubble crew however making the Massive Dance.
Predicted convention document: 10-8
Predicted NCAA Match seed: No. 9
Kentucky has been unimpressive all season and doesn’t appear on the verge of turning issues round. The Wildcats simply acquired blasted at Alabama by 26 factors. They’re 3-3 of their previous six video games, nonetheless in possession of zero Quadrant 1 wins and right down to forty fifth within the NET, 56th at BartTorvik.com and 62nd at KPI.
UK seems like a potential bubble crew.
At this level, I’m skeptical the Wildcats will ever dwell as much as the preseason expectations that had them ranked No. 1 at KenPom.com, within the high 5 mainly in all places and labeled as SEC favorites — however I nonetheless suppose they’ll land on the appropriate facet of the bubble and make the NCAA Match. After which … who is aware of? A 12 months in the past, UK had an excellent common season adopted by a horrible NCAA Match. This 12 months may conceivably be the alternative — a disappointing common season adopted by a pleasant NCAA Match. The Wildcats nonetheless have the reigning CBS Sports activities Nationwide Participant of the Yr (Oscar Tshiebwe) and a projected lottery decide (Cason Wallace). It’s not essentially the most gifted roster John Calipari has ever assembled, but it surely’s nonetheless a extra gifted roster than most coaches have. Now it’s only a matter of figuring some issues out, doing sufficient to make the sector of 68, after which seeing if issues can break the appropriate method when that single-elimination match will get underway.
Gary Parrish, CBS
The three different eventualities: Kentucky’s season stays bumpy, however huge wins will come; Kentucky hits its stride by February; and Kentucky being within the First 4. For the train’s sake, I can’t imagine they didn’t embody Kentucky not making the match.
FWIW, in Matt Norlander’s weekly “Courtroom Report” column, he says he doesn’t count on Calipari to be Texas’ high goal in its teaching search.
Do I feel Texas will kick the tires on Calipari? Certain, however Calipari’s in PR hell proper now. Do I feel he’s Texas’ high goal? No. Calipari (who’s recruited 2023’s No. 1 class to UK) can be 64 in February and has seemingly misplaced his fastball. Whereas he’d be on the quick listing of high candidates, guys like Royal Ivey, Eric Musselman, Nate Oats, Scott Drew and Bruce Pearl appear extra possible than Cal to move to Austin — if Terry isn’t the man.
Matt Norlander, CBS
Tyler Hansbrough on Subject of 68: After Darkish
If you happen to actually need to torture your self, you’ll be able to watch former North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough discuss in regards to the Cats on the Subject of 68’s After Darkish present final evening. Hansbrough shared his ideas on fellow Nationwide Participant of the Yr Oscar Tshiebwe, Calipari on the recent seat, and whether or not or not the Cats can flip it round. Enjoyable stuff!
