How good is John Wall? I don’t think anyone knows just yet. What was shown to us on a beautiful sunny November day in Rupp Arena was probably a sign of the flash and dash style of a very talented and fast 18 year old. A sign? 21 pts & 11 assists a sign? 
Aren’t those career numbers for most guys, not to mention freshmen? The point is that now John is hitting on both of his important cylinders as a scorer and as a guy who gets others involved. I believe he is better at both than he was on Saturday. I think we have a true leader there who has a heart that enjoys the competition and then the thrills that come from beating them into submission. It was a great thing to see him smiling so big, almost as if to say, “didya see that? I cant believe it either”. The reverse layup was the most impressive as he didn’t really use a drive to make the shot. He was on one side of the basket and the next thing you know he is on the other side and the hoop is full. His drives were very impressive and he appeared to read some of the tells of the defense and was able to penetrate them with ease. Eventually they just started fouling him on the floor since his free throw percentage isn’t that great. I guess they were tired of being on his highlight reel and wanted to take their chances with him not scoring from the line. John Wall’s picture is next to the definition of Stat Sheet Stuffer (a la Dickie V baby!). His line was great including only letting 2 turnovers go. During shootaround and warm-ups he was intently working on his shot and it appears Bledsoe is doing the same. The two they were working on were the 3 from the front and the mid-range jumper
A consistent start and a persistent defensive effort helped the cats garner the tempo of the game and run with it for both halves. The smaller but athletic Rider team seemed to be running backwards on their heels the entire game. The frustration coming from trying to stop two very talented outside players and three inside down low players was evident. Additionally the defensive intensity lacking in part of the team from early on in the season was gone. Everyone played their man well and avoided allowing any easy shots. The most noticeable thing from the stat sheet for Rider was that their leading scorer was 14-14 from the line meaning he hit only one basket. The small frustrated team however never stepped back down giving UK some of its own frustrations, mainly in stopping some of the transitions, or repetitions to put it in a better way, from play to play. Cal was often overheard calling a play and then would say “Two times”. Sure enough the cats would run the set play and get either Wall or Miller open with a great look and all of a sudden they would stop the play and re-run it. I guess if they know its coming twice and cant stop it on the first time and we still score on the second then its probably a good sign of things to come.
Superman doesn’t have to be a good guy does he? DeMarcus Cousins did not like the fact that after battling on the floor for the ball he had another man on top of him. He rolled him over and errantly starting trying to break bad ass. For what I ask? To make a point? To whom? This isn’t like high school Big Cuz, people don’t know who you are and that you are so “mean” all the time. I will guess though that you have now caught 3 SEC officials’ eye and they will not be taking it so lightly on you in the future when you should be getting a technical foul. From my perspective I saw nothing on that pile that made me think “DeMarcus should kick his ass”. I did see him immaturely get up on top of that guy staring him down the entire time. I saw him make an unintentional swipe with his hand that would have certainly got him kicked out if he had accidentally hit that ref. And then I saw Patrick keeping him in the game by ushering him to the sideline and Coach Cal doing his part by taking him out of the game. It was a great lobbying effort to prove to the officials that they know he was in the wrong and they are trying to correct it. A great teachable moment ensued and Cal got to spend some good quality time with one of his children on the bench. The good things were gone instantly when he started to do this, and that is when Calipari started throwing his freshman at the feet of the refs (see earshots below). His 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks in 15 minutes were erased by the realization by me that people like TN are going to have a field day with this kid. They are going to get under his skin and he will have foul trouble and will be on the bench a bunch unless he grows up.
Conversely how great is Daniel Orton, he is a silent producer when he has been getting minutes. He is a very smart kid who is going to be a shot blocking king as the season progresses and he gets better control over his body as currently he is fouling with his blocks. Looking at the stat sheet I had to look twice at his point total I thought it was lower and once again it was hard to believe that he fouled out. I don’t even remember that I must have been watching coach or something. The major headache of the season in a poor perimeter defensive effort was gone. Rider couldn’t “hit the barn” so to speak from outside not even hitting a 3 until well into the 2nd half. By that time Kentucky had put the brakes on them and stopped them from all sides. At half they were shooting somewhere in the 30%s from the floor and 0% from treyville. That is colder than cold and as Andre 3000 puts it, “ice cold”. Once again I am going to have to confer with the experts to find that elusive 6th scorer from this team. I am sure we will find him but when o when will we see the essential points that he will give us? Sorry sarcasm wasn’t my best subject in school but I am sure you get the point that I am on occasion comparing this season with last. Eric Bledsoe is on a two game skid, so to speak, but his presence and range from 3 will make him someone who constantly has to be guarded.
Great for P-Square that he is consistently taking his game to a new level. He was so upset when he had to come out because you could just tell he wanted more. Between his stats, his desire and his ability to take care of his entire team shows this guy is exactly an example of what an All-American should be.
Aren’t those career numbers for most guys, not to mention freshmen? The point is that now John is hitting on both of his important cylinders as a scorer and as a guy who gets others involved. I believe he is better at both than he was on Saturday. I think we have a true leader there who has a heart that enjoys the competition and then the thrills that come from beating them into submission. It was a great thing to see him smiling so big, almost as if to say, “didya see that? I cant believe it either”. The reverse layup was the most impressive as he didn’t really use a drive to make the shot. He was on one side of the basket and the next thing you know he is on the other side and the hoop is full. His drives were very impressive and he appeared to read some of the tells of the defense and was able to penetrate them with ease. Eventually they just started fouling him on the floor since his free throw percentage isn’t that great. I guess they were tired of being on his highlight reel and wanted to take their chances with him not scoring from the line. John Wall’s picture is next to the definition of Stat Sheet Stuffer (a la Dickie V baby!). His line was great including only letting 2 turnovers go. During shootaround and warm-ups he was intently working on his shot and it appears Bledsoe is doing the same. The two they were working on were the 3 from the front and the mid-range jumperA consistent start and a persistent defensive effort helped the cats garner the tempo of the game and run with it for both halves. The smaller but athletic Rider team seemed to be running backwards on their heels the entire game. The frustration coming from trying to stop two very talented outside players and three inside down low players was evident. Additionally the defensive intensity lacking in part of the team from early on in the season was gone. Everyone played their man well and avoided allowing any easy shots. The most noticeable thing from the stat sheet for Rider was that their leading scorer was 14-14 from the line meaning he hit only one basket. The small frustrated team however never stepped back down giving UK some of its own frustrations, mainly in stopping some of the transitions, or repetitions to put it in a better way, from play to play. Cal was often overheard calling a play and then would say “Two times”. Sure enough the cats would run the set play and get either Wall or Miller open with a great look and all of a sudden they would stop the play and re-run it. I guess if they know its coming twice and cant stop it on the first time and we still score on the second then its probably a good sign of things to come.
Superman doesn’t have to be a good guy does he? DeMarcus Cousins did not like the fact that after battling on the floor for the ball he had another man on top of him. He rolled him over and errantly starting trying to break bad ass. For what I ask? To make a point? To whom? This isn’t like high school Big Cuz, people don’t know who you are and that you are so “mean” all the time. I will guess though that you have now caught 3 SEC officials’ eye and they will not be taking it so lightly on you in the future when you should be getting a technical foul. From my perspective I saw nothing on that pile that made me think “DeMarcus should kick his ass”. I did see him immaturely get up on top of that guy staring him down the entire time. I saw him make an unintentional swipe with his hand that would have certainly got him kicked out if he had accidentally hit that ref. And then I saw Patrick keeping him in the game by ushering him to the sideline and Coach Cal doing his part by taking him out of the game. It was a great lobbying effort to prove to the officials that they know he was in the wrong and they are trying to correct it. A great teachable moment ensued and Cal got to spend some good quality time with one of his children on the bench. The good things were gone instantly when he started to do this, and that is when Calipari started throwing his freshman at the feet of the refs (see earshots below). His 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks in 15 minutes were erased by the realization by me that people like TN are going to have a field day with this kid. They are going to get under his skin and he will have foul trouble and will be on the bench a bunch unless he grows up.
Conversely how great is Daniel Orton, he is a silent producer when he has been getting minutes. He is a very smart kid who is going to be a shot blocking king as the season progresses and he gets better control over his body as currently he is fouling with his blocks. Looking at the stat sheet I had to look twice at his point total I thought it was lower and once again it was hard to believe that he fouled out. I don’t even remember that I must have been watching coach or something. The major headache of the season in a poor perimeter defensive effort was gone. Rider couldn’t “hit the barn” so to speak from outside not even hitting a 3 until well into the 2nd half. By that time Kentucky had put the brakes on them and stopped them from all sides. At half they were shooting somewhere in the 30%s from the floor and 0% from treyville. That is colder than cold and as Andre 3000 puts it, “ice cold”. Once again I am going to have to confer with the experts to find that elusive 6th scorer from this team. I am sure we will find him but when o when will we see the essential points that he will give us? Sorry sarcasm wasn’t my best subject in school but I am sure you get the point that I am on occasion comparing this season with last. Eric Bledsoe is on a two game skid, so to speak, but his presence and range from 3 will make him someone who constantly has to be guarded.Great for P-Square that he is consistently taking his game to a new level. He was so upset when he had to come out because you could just tell he wanted more. Between his stats, his desire and his ability to take care of his entire team shows this guy is exactly an example of what an All-American should be. While I saw small instances of greatness yet to be opened up I am firmly under the conclusion that this team has a lot more to give than what we are currently seeing. Running plays to run plays and not score, specifically posting and trying to recieve passes inside the zone, pushing 40 minutes a game? All small tests to see if the intestinal fortitude is there to excell in the spring. Its obvious now that the talent is there lets hope we can put it all together and put it in a large can of whoop-ass.
(New feature!) Earshots: (or the things I get to hear from being within earshot of the court and the bench.)
Several Play names for the UK offense: Fist, double fist, loop, x, 2, 3. #3 seemed to be pure DDMO as the players were turning and churning leaving Miller open at the left elbow once, Bledsoe open from 3 twice and a Wall delivery another time. I cant wait to see (and hear) more from the offensive sets as I try to learn this offense better.
A “son-of-a-bitch” from the Rider coach.
a raucous “G-D”, that shocked the crowd in the general vicinity and got the teams attention. It was early in the game, while UK was on offense but seemed to be miscommunicating between themselves on the floor and the bench.
coach telling referee Karl Hess after the jump ball on the floor involving Big Cuz “don’t pay any attention to him (Cousins) he is 12 and I have a team of kids and I am trying to teach them right from wrong like a father. They should know better…”
again later in the game close to the end I overheard Cal “look at this Ed(referee), I have got 5 freshman, two sophomores and a junior I am trying to raise here, they think they can do no wrong. I don’t know what I am going to do with them, they are about to give me an aneurism”. Replies Corbett as he walks away, “You need some more hair gel then…”
At last a big shout out to Wazoo sports, the new channel on broadcast. It has had excellent programming so far playing old school UK football games, local standout performances from the high school level and many other great choices like the UK Bball women live against Morehead. It definitely was a welcome addition to us media challenged kids who don’t pay for any media.
(New feature!) Earshots: (or the things I get to hear from being within earshot of the court and the bench.)
Several Play names for the UK offense: Fist, double fist, loop, x, 2, 3. #3 seemed to be pure DDMO as the players were turning and churning leaving Miller open at the left elbow once, Bledsoe open from 3 twice and a Wall delivery another time. I cant wait to see (and hear) more from the offensive sets as I try to learn this offense better.
A “son-of-a-bitch” from the Rider coach.
a raucous “G-D”, that shocked the crowd in the general vicinity and got the teams attention. It was early in the game, while UK was on offense but seemed to be miscommunicating between themselves on the floor and the bench.
coach telling referee Karl Hess after the jump ball on the floor involving Big Cuz “don’t pay any attention to him (Cousins) he is 12 and I have a team of kids and I am trying to teach them right from wrong like a father. They should know better…”
again later in the game close to the end I overheard Cal “look at this Ed(referee), I have got 5 freshman, two sophomores and a junior I am trying to raise here, they think they can do no wrong. I don’t know what I am going to do with them, they are about to give me an aneurism”. Replies Corbett as he walks away, “You need some more hair gel then…”
At last a big shout out to Wazoo sports, the new channel on broadcast. It has had excellent programming so far playing old school UK football games, local standout performances from the high school level and many other great choices like the UK Bball women live against Morehead. It definitely was a welcome addition to us media challenged kids who don’t pay for any media.
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