Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
Earlier this week after the Tennessee game, Calipari told reporters that he couldn’t see this team being up 20 on anybody. Or, more specifically, he said: “In the last seven or eight years, I’ve had teams that have absolutely whomped on people. And this ain’t one of ‘em. I can’t imagine this team being up 20 on anybody. We are what we are. I love this team. We’re going to be in dogfights.”
The Cats seemed to take that as a challenge and responded emphatically Saturday night by putting a 22-point hurtin’ on Auburn (with a 27 point lead at one point). So what were the differences between this victory cruise in a sold-out away game and an uglier-than-McBee’s-sh*tstache win at Rupp against a longtime SEC rival? Here, the game-changing factors that make Calipari say “Whoomp! There it is!”
Tag team, back again? Not necessarily. Turns out the Twin Towers lineup that we’ve become so enamored of over the past few games isn’t as crucial to success as we’ve thought. With Willie Cauley-Stein out indefinitely, Alex Poythress has more opportunities to play at his natural four position. I think we’ve accepted the fact that, for now at least, Poythress isn’t quite at the 15+ PPG playing level we expected after the Duke game. However, Poythress continued to make improvements in conference play with 12 points and 7 rebounds, and maintaining his steady play will be crucial in any whomping that takes place.
KW’s in the house, jump jump rejoice. Wiltjer scored 17 in the Cats’ latest certified blowout (against Eastern Michigan), as well as 17 against Tennessee and 17 against Auburn last night. There don’t seem to be in-betweens when it comes to Wiltjer’s game; either he’s on fire like he was last night- hitting jumpers, making smooth interior passes, and not embarrassing himself on defense- or he’s more of liability than a frat boy with a trust fund. If Kyle Wiltjer starts off strong and hits his shots early, the team’s chances at a 20-point win increase exponentially.
Also, can we start a movement to call Wiltjer “Mayonnaise” in the condiment analogies? White, kinda slow, when it’s good it’s really good but when it’s bad it’s really bad? Just throwing that out there.
Slam dunk it, stick it, flip it and ride. In the likely event that our three-point shots aren’t falling (see the Cats’ 0-8 start from behind the arc last night), the Cats need to continue to go inside with chutzpah. This can come in many different forms- autolobs to Nerlens and Willie, aggressive drives by Archie Goodwin and, more increasingly, Ryan Harrow, or inside passes from Wiltjer to Poythress. The Cats’ size is their greatest strength, and last night proved that they can bang inside even without one of the Twin Towers.
Now it’s time for Archie to get on the mic, and make this mother-something party hype. For most, Nerlens Noel’s Top-5-on-SportsCenter dunk over an unfortunate Auburn player was the hype moment of the game. Personally, I’m partial to the Wiltjer-Goodwin chest bump. That wasn’t the only case of Archie getting hyped throughout the game- in fact, he showed the most emotions during a game than I’ve seen from him all season. Even better? Archie was in control of himself more so than we’ve seen in recent games, with only two turnovers in a team-high 35 minutes of play. Since we know Archie is our most potent offensive threat, his success will be measured not by the free throws he attempts, but by the turnovers he doesn’t have.
(H/T Kentucky Basketball)
Here’s a shovel, can you dig it fool? @KristenGeilKSR
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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January 20th, 2013 at 11:54 am
Good to see the Cats were working on their fast break. The first 10 minutes we just needed to learn to shift gears when in the half court and work for a good shot. Go Cats!
January 20th, 2013 at 11:57 am
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS 1 2 – Tot
Kentucky……………. 4 11 – 15
Auburn……………… 3 6 – 9
POINTS IN PAINT 1 2 – Tot
Kentucky……………. 20 20 – 40
Auburn……………… 16 14 – 30
2ND CHANCE POINTS 1 2 – Tot
Kentucky……………. 4 9 – 13
Auburn……………… 4 6 – 10
FAST BREAK POINTS 1 2 – Tot
Kentucky……………. 4 0 – 4
Auburn……………… 0 2 – 2
January 20th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Rewatched the game a just notices a couple min before the game was over,the auburn students started to chant,”this won’t count!this won’t count!”kinda funny.Thoughts?
January 20th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
I would point out that the most impressive thing in my mind is Wiltjer actually had a poor start. I think he started the game 1-6. But he didn’t get down on himself and just kept playing hard. I’ve gotten to the point that between his passing skills and ability to hit shots we should never run a half court set where he does’t get the ball in the high post. He is just such a weapon right there.
January 20th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
I prefer “Miracle Whip” for Wiltjer
January 20th, 2013 at 12:37 pm
You won’t believe me but that song is in my top 25 most played songs on my itunes music library.
January 20th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
K-Wilt is not the first UK player to emerge from the security of his more talented brethren and showcase his true skills. Can you say Darius Miller? With WCS out and Nerlens on the bench in foul trouble, Kyle was forced to ball, maybe for the first time in a Wildcat uniform. When he knew the pressure was specifically on him to produce, we finally got to see what he can do. Taking Chubb to the hole or dragging him out to the 3-point line is different from attacking (or defending) Zeller, Plumlee, or Withey of course, but most games Kyle won’t be up against that caliber of big man. With WCS, Noel and Poythress to back up with power, Kyle should be free to create more offense for himself and that changes the game. Hope this was not a one-game surprise.
January 20th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Completely off topic, but, as a fellow member of the Big Blue Nation, I’d like to ask KSR followers a favor,
If you could please go to the link and answer the poll, I would be greatly appreciative.
Here it is:
http://silkroadsandsiamesesmiles.com/2013/01/20/would-you-read-this-book/
Thanks and Go Big Blue!
January 20th, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Cant knock on weltjer if your gonna knock the twin tower lineup and praise poythress, both guys have trouble guarding the 3. Weltjer can play the harrelson role at high post and he can be as smart s brandon knight in the 2 man game on top of thekey. Should be fun going firward, THE NOEL ALLEYOOP HAS TO GET U PUMPED SINCE IT Was ANTHONY DAVIS STYLE AND POYTHRESS PLYED MKg STYLE OFF THE BASELINE. GOODWIN MADE SMART DECISIONS these guys can dothis i think cal just wanted the twin towers to completely takeaway the drive from teams but this ream can prodyce iffense, hust cant start offthe game the first 10 min
January 20th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
10: ???
January 20th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
9/10 – WTF
January 20th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Nicknames:
Call Wiltjer “Mayonnaise” you say. I like the rationale. And if they start tugging his jersey to stop him inside, we would derivative options like
Hey, their holding the ‘Mayo’!
January 20th, 2013 at 1:29 pm
11 ?
January 20th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Tag Team is freaking awesome. I jam this song after every UK post season win.
January 20th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
We should call Wiltjer “Horseradish,” which is white and looks pretty ordinary, but actually has some kick to it.
January 20th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Can the writers on KSR join the 21st Century and just recognize Wiltjer as a basketball player and stop labeling kids based on the color of their skin?
There was once a pretty famous guy who advocated such forward thinking. Many of us are enjoying a day off tomorrow because of him. I guess KSR doesn’t share the dream.
January 20th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
#5 if you prefer “Miracle Whip” for Wiltjer, why not go all out and call him “Mirakyle Whip?”
#12 nice…
#0ldschool continues to complain about the site he apparently visits several times, each and every day.
Geat write up Kristen. Very entertaining read. GO CATS!!!!
January 20th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
or “Miracle Wilt?”
January 20th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
I never knew “womp” was a real word. It is also spelled whomp or whump. It means to beat or outscore someone. It does not say anything about beating someone badly or soundly. Lets go “wompin” for the rest of the season.
January 20th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
How bout cal giving mad props to harrow after his layup in the first half. No ones talking about it! Cal showin love mid-game?!? I love it
January 20th, 2013 at 9:31 pm
My wife has been calling Kyle Wiltjer “Mayonnaise” all season long. We used to call Patrick Sparks “Biscuit”.