Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
I won’t say Kyle Wiltjer was unstoppable last night against Alabama, but he was pretty close to it in the first half. Even when he wasn’t knocking down step-back jumpers, open three-pointers, or slow motion hook shots, Wiltjer drew help defenders and then made good passes to open teammates. He ran the offense fluently. He got everyone involved. He made smart decisions. He was everything Archie Goodwin wasn’t.
But, for whatever reason, Kyle Wiltjer wasn’t involved in the offense in the second half when that nine-point lead turned into a four-point loss. Kentucky instead turned to the one-man Archie Goodwin Show, and we all saw how that turned out.
Was it Wiltjer’s fault? It could’ve been. Was it Archie’s fault? Partially. But a lot of the blame should go on Coach Cal for letting it happen.
Everyone watching the game — from the diehard Kentucky basketball fans to your bartender at the neighborhood Buffalo Wild Wings — knew Kyle Wiltjer needed to touch the ball more in the second half, yet Kentucky continued to rely on Archie’s playmaking, if you can call it that. It was some of the most frustrating 20 minutes of basketball we’ve ever seen in the John Calipari era at Kentucky and it cost the Wildcats a game they’ve should’ve won.
There’s no denying Archie’s ability to get to the rim, but what good is it when the other four guys are sitting around watching him take on three or four defenders at a time? Isolation for Archie needs to be used sparingly within the offense. And that offense, whether Calipari will admit it or not, needed to run through Kyle Wiltjer last night.
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January 23rd, 2013 at 11:17 am
Nail meet head.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:17 am
amen
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:18 am
pass the ball Archie!
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:19 am
Agree 100%. Our best offense is when we use Wiltjer as a point-forward. Archie can still get plenty of shots, but when Wiltjer is the one who gets things rolling good things tend to happen.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:21 am
Maybe Archie thinks its a 4 point play when you go 1 on 4 and shoot the ball off the shot clock at the top of the backboard. Cal just needs to tell him it ain’t true.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:22 am
Wiltjer is an awesome high-low passer. The offense should run through him more often than not, certainly.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:22 am
1- I think it would be more like hammer meet nail head…or something like that. Just saying…
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:23 am
ARCHIE SUCKS!!!!! He needs to be benched indefinitely. We are so much better without him! Unfortunately, he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He’s just buying time till he can get drafted. No way he should go early, but I’ll be glad to see him go! Good riddance!
Also, coach needs to start answering some questions about HIS poor coaching. No way Archie should be allowed to keep doing this…yank him out like he does Poythress.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:25 am
post a screen shot of the live bloggers last night where a whole bunch in a row all said “Pass the ball, Archie!”
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:26 am
Keep right on diminishing young Mr. Goodwin, you’re saving me millions on a future NBA All-Star.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:26 am
He don’t need to be the floor late in the game. he hurting the more than he help.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:27 am
There are several times every game where Archie drives the ball to the hoop while attracting defenders, and instead of throwing an oop he throws up a terrible shot. You could make a highlight reel of Noel or WCS looking like they’re preparing themselves for an oop and then watching Archie thow up a crappy shot instead. He’s a ballhog. That’s the biggest difference offensively (scheme wise) between this years team and last years team. If I’m Cal I’m making Archie work on his ally-oop passing abilities in practice.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:28 am
At least twice he looked off the open man on the fast break and took the ball himself. He is extremely selfish and for some unknown reason hasn’t figured out that defenders are better in college than HS. He is just a turnover machine – and a selfish one at that.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:28 am
Who do you idiots think changed the offense at the half. It sure as hell was not Goodwin.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:29 am
Drew – My sentiments exactly. This one rests squarely on Cal for what occurred in the 2nd half.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:29 am
Will Archie be the recipient of the PAAAAASSSSS chant?
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:29 am
i BELIEVE….Coach Cal…let that happen…to PROVE a point to Archie and the team….”THERE WAY” doesn’t work….
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:30 am
Cal consistently got in Terrence Jones face about being selfish, but for some reason gives Archie a pass. TJ was way less selfish to boot.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:31 am
9….STFU….Coach Cal…is a wonderful Coach….
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:31 am
I think the burrrr Archie spoke of that he wanted in Rupp was about his game…. He told us early on that he is COLD but not in a good way… He knew his shot was as cold as the weather outside…
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:31 am
Harrow still needs to run the offense and feed Wiltjer in the high post. You need speed and handle to be a ‘Point-Forward’. That does not sound like Wiltjer. He is a great option…FOR HARROW, especially when teams play the zone. Goodwin’s frustrated drives are a result of Poythress, Harrow, Wiltjer, and Mays usually standing around like its a friggin pick up game. Lets not forget that 2 weeks ago, whether or not Wiltjer was too much of a liability to even see the court was the big question. Things don’t change that much, that quickly…
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:32 am
Archie is the perfect example of a player that needs to stay in school for more than a year. He has unreal raw talent but no head for the game. Unfortunately, next year’s cats won’t make it easy to stay. I do think Archie would start next year, because he would benefit tremendously from an off-season program to develop his body and his mindset. Even if he gets less playing time next year, his development will benefit his NBA stock.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:32 am
Again….Last night was a game…to show those young man…There way doesn’t work….last night’s game….was last year’s…IU game….(just wait and see)….In Cal we Trust.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:32 am
This team is also the worst shooting team inside of 5′ I’ve ever seen.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:32 am
Dear Archie,
Thought this rhyme might help. Two on me somebody’s free!
P.S It can even apply to three. Three on me and two guys are free. Imagine the possibilities.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:33 am
Drew, thank you. This is the FIRST time a KSR writer has said what everyone else sees. Archie is out of control, but for whatever reason Cal doesnt seem to care. In the post game he said “Kyle”, Harrow” “Noel” and poitned out their mistakes directly. “Noel left his feet”, “Kyle didnt get in position to help rebound….and thats what killed us”, and Harrow “just wasnt there”. BUT…. When asked about Poythress he said “he played well, just got in foul trouble”, and “it doesnt help when one guard goes 2 for… and the other goes 1 for…” He NEVER states Archie’s name in the entire post game, except to defend him on those crazy drives stating “Ill watch the tape to see if he was fouled”.
WHAT DIFFERENCE does it make if he was fouled??? He couldnt hit the FT anyway. Kyle Wiltjer has been “benched”, Ryan Harrow has been “benched”, Poythress has been “benched” (Starting spot taken away, but Archie has started EVERY game and gets no word about his involvement in the piss poor play. And I am not just talking about last night.
Has Cal realized Goodwin is simply not that good, but cant risk his reputation on it, and will continue to start him until he either has one great game and NBA scouts draft him, or until the world sees how bad he is, and he simply transfers (to take heat off cal)
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:33 am
This team is absolutely clueless when it comes to the alley-oop. Last years team had 6 players that enjoyed throwing an alley-oops to each other. Lamb to Gilchrist, Teague to Miller, Miller to Lamb, everyone and their momma to Anthony Davis or Terrance Jones. Completely different selfish team, Mays is about the only one who can halfway have the on court IQ to throw a correct alley oop. Last night we missed 4 great oppurtunities to make a highlight real and score in the process. Completely differenct selfish guard play this year, hope the TWINS don’t pull this selfish crap.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:33 am
This loss is on Cal, Goodwin & Harrow. And it might just cost us an NCAA tourney spot. Pathetic performance by Cal for not stopping the Archie Show as it was killing us in the 2nd half. Sit Goodwin down when he’s playing like that. No excuse for that loss. None.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:36 am
23 – dead on. Archie has immense talent, but seems like a player that doesn’t listen – thinks he knows what’s best. I’m sure people have told him for years to put a little air under that shot, but what do they know. Pass the ball on the fast break, but they don’t know how awesome I am at finishing! Don’t try to dribble between 4 defenders, but I’m the next Marques Haynes!
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:37 am
Maybe Cal changes his opinion about the SEC tournament this year. At this point, it looks like it might be our best shot to get in the big dance.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:37 am
Say what you want, but Drew you’re correct. Ball should have gone Kyle last night in the 2nd half. Oh, by the way Archie its call Triple Threat: “PASS”, Dribble and shoot. In your case shoot less.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:39 am
I agree. Petition to bench Archie. This is on Cal for not making a change.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:39 am
Yes to all you said Drew. Except that Harrow was even worse than Goodwin. And starting the second half Cal said he wanted those two to continue to drive into the lane only to be met by 4 defensive players and cough it up or shoot airballs. Cal WANTED that!!! No excuse for that game plan! Nerlans and Wiltjer,..that’s about all this team has. And I hate it for Nerlans’ sake. He deserves better.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:39 am
I dont recall a more out of control, terrible decision making, and what appears to be out of control player than Goodwin. For every one good play he makes, he makes five bonehead plays. If he is considered one of our elite players, its no wonder we have 6 losses and will likely miss the tourney.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:40 am
Maybe the ball should have gone to Kyle more, but I would settle for the ball just going to the open man!
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:41 am
Maybe Cal will realize that this team, offensively, runs smoothest when it is run through Wiltjer. Just like the Brandon Knight team run the offense through Josh Harrellson late in the season, and we all know how that turned out! He might be a liability on defense, but at this point I’d take my chances. It’s basketball, not rocket science! Harrow brings the ball up the floor and gets it to Wiltjer at the foul line and “Voila”…instant offense! Goodwin is going to have to SIT for this team to succeed. He’s too selfish and out of control. His best game of the year was Auburn, he didn’t force anything and took what the defense gave him.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:41 am
Less Archie – More Jughead Jones?
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:42 am
It kills me too to see Archie make one knifing layup after 4 turnovers in a row and the announcers acting like he’s Rondo.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:42 am
#25, this team is not shooting the ball,they are just throwing it and hoping. It seems the skill set of our guards is to just take it to the hoop. There are other ways to score.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:42 am
JARROD POLSON TIME!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:44 am
34 – The difference is that Polson came in for Harrow, while Cal let Archie continue to go nuts. I can’t believe he called out Nerlens for “leaving his feet.” Maybe that needs to be addressed, but not in the media after an ugly loss when Nerlens kept us in the game and Goodwin and Harrow blew it. I agree with 34 about Nerlens, he is a special player who is unfortunately in an unforeseen bad situation.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:45 am
God bless you, Drew Franklin! Thank you for telling the truth. If you listen to the post-game comments by Cal, it’s puzzling, and somewhat bizarre! When asked about the go to guy late in the game he stated they have no clue who it is, and acted as if going to Kyle was this team’s last resort. Wtf!? You couldn’t watch that game and tell that going to Kyle was this team’s best option as soon as he entered the game!? It worked pretty damn well in the first half and even late in the second when he finally got his chances. If they would have ran the pick & pop with him along with posting him up from time to time, this game would have been won, at least. Hearing those comments from him is really just baffling!
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:48 am
Drew, this is why I hate UK fans (while being one). You shouldn’t say anything negative about this team. That’s just awful, these young kids of 12 and 13 shouldn’t be exposed to this kind of abuse. They have feelings too.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:48 am
I’ve seen enough of Goodwins selfish play.He is beyond helping this team,and needs to sit.Can’t understand why Cal lets him play so out of control on both ends of the court.I wonder how Hood would look if given the opportunity given to Goodwin,certaintly not any worse.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:49 am
After getting home from Tuscaloosa early this morning I was tired and disappointed, but I was anxious to check in here and on KSR to see if everyone else had the same thoughts as me regarding the game. For the most part the impressions were similar. But I was absolutely shocked to see folks on both blogs ripping on Cal!
Rag on Archie Goodwin? That’s fair game. His selfishness and totally bizarre play single handedly cost us the game. How could we go inside to Wiltjer in the second half when the defense was sagging on him and Goodwin was hogging the ball? Maybe he will eventually adopt a team mentality but maybe not.
Frustrated with Alex Poythress? I’m with you. He is a total enigma. Maybe he will come out of his shell but maybe not.
But I respectfully disagree with those who criticize Cal and his coaching ability. Is there one person here who questioned his ability last April? Did he somehow lose his ability to coach in the last eight months? Some on KSR even suggested that Cal should not have signed Goodwin and Poythress. Is there anyone who did not want to sign them last spring?
It is easy to second guess Cal’s recruiting with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, but recruiting high school athletes is an art, not a science. Coaches must evaluate high school athletes primarily upon selectively edited highlight films and by watching games often played against vastly inferior competition. Determining how well a player will develop against the highest level of Division 1 competition is extremely difficult and even the best judges of talent will not be correct every single time.
Imagine that you are a business owner who must replace his or her top five employees every year. Having made some terrible hiring decisions myself, I guarantee that you are going to make some mistakes over the course of four years. Assuming that Goodwin and Poythress do not blossom this year (which remains to be seen), then getting only two “duds” in four years is nothing short of astonishing.
Of course, the other “solution” is to recruit fewer “one-and-done” players to develop team experience and continuity. Never mind that it is exponentially more difficult to assess the potential of lesser talent. Cal then would be criticized for not recruiting the best players. Tubby tried that–albeit due to laziness, not strategy. It didn’t work out too well.
We in the BBN have become extremely spoiled in a very short time. Perhaps this team is not living up to its potential, but before the season started it was obvious to even the most casual fan that this was going to be a down year for the Cats, if for no other reason than the youth and inexperience. The days of the ten year UCLA type reign are long gone. Expecting Cal to have a national title contender every single year is both naive and unreasonable.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:50 am
Off topic, but did anybody else see Erin and Brad Calipari going off on the fans? P!$$es me off, they obviously didn’t believe that the expectations of BBN are high and don’t compromise.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:51 am
Fair weather fans indeed let’s bash cal when in fact maybe this team is just not that good. We have the best of fans when things go good and the worst of fans when we lose. I know cal recruited these players but here’s a news flash for some of you idiots they all can’t be winners. This team is frustrating as he’ll but I love kentucky basketball no matter who plays or coaches them and I will for one not bash these guys like some of the losers on here. It’s one thing to disagree or discuss what team is doing wrong but to attack like some fans do should be shot in the head and put out to pastor. Like #5 I hope he gets put out too pastor real soon.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:51 am
Thank you for deleting #5
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:56 am
Honestly Drew, I really don’t like your posts. I find them to be childish and stupid for the most part. But this is actually right on the money and I agree with you 100R%. You actually added some analysis and you didn’t just photshop something and write 50 words.
Keep up the good work.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:56 am
45-when will your paperback version be out
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:57 am
I love coach cal, but he gets the blame here. Cal has got to rein in goodwin. 2 of 12 shooting for goodwin and 3 of 12 shooting for harrow is unacceptable. Wiltjer played great, I also thought Polson played a great game. He deserves more minutes.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:58 am
49. — Thanks?
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:58 am
What I want to know is WHY Cal puts up with Goodwin. I’d put Sam Malone in and tell Archie that he wasn’t going back in the game. THAT might get his attention!!!!!
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Wow. Blast from the past Litig8tr! First time I’ve noticed you on KSR. Not use to seeing you make positive comments about a coach! But you are spot on. No need to get ruffled about Cal or these young players just yet. However I would like to see Cal make some adjustments instead on trying to force something that is not working this season. I think at this point we can be pretty sure that Goodwin is not going to “buy in” all of a sudden and start making great decisions. Cal needs to try and finish out the season with the hand he’s been dealt not the hand he wishes he had.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Uh, I have made the exact same point about Archie ALL year on various posts. It took you this long to say something? Putting the Wiltjer comparison aside, Archie plays street-ball. Give it to me and I’m not giving it back, and I’m taking it to the rack no matter what. He never passes the ball. There were 5 or 6 times last night when he had Wiltjer, Mays, or Harrow wide-open for 3s and he took a stupid shot at the rim (and got it blocked…BTW, Archie, you were NOT fouled; rather, you got your shit thrown). On fast breaks he has guys who are wide-open and he never passes. He may be an NBA prospect, but he is killing this team with his selfish play. Quite frankly, Noel is such a beast around the paint that it might be time to start Polson or Hood or Beckham (if he’s not injured) at the 2 guard. At least these guys pass the flippin ball (even if they can’t play D like Archie does, which Archie does well). Finally, back to Wiltjer. I noticed this at the Maryland game. When Wiltjer is not in the game, our offense SUCKS. The only reason Archie and Poythress get to the rim at all is that the defense has to spread out to repsect Wiltjer’s 3 point shooting.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:01 pm
For Archie to drive the lane to get fouled is one thing but to drive the lane and to get fouled only to miss your free-throws I just can’t understand the logic behind that. Drive the lane and dish it out to Wiltjer with the hot hand.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:03 pm
I thought the whole principle of the dribble drive offense was the Three Ds, Drive, Draw, and Dish. Archie has turned it into Drive, Draw, and Dis (your open teammates)
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Bama was putting a lot more pressure on the ball (over-playing) in the second half. A standard counter to that is dribble penetration. That’s what Cal was trying to do with Archie and Ryan, but it didn’t work, primarily because they didn’t execute by hitting their shots, or passing to the open man when triple-teamed. Cal probably should have switched to plan B sooner, but what he was trying with plan A made good basketball sense.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Does anyone know how I can get Nerlens’ tea stain off my chin?
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:05 pm
Nothing against Goodwin, but opposing coaches need only tell the man guarding him to let Archie fly by.
Then, when Archie soars to the rim, their big man underneath can leave his man unguarded and swat the shot away because they have learned that Archie won’t pass the ball.
A player’s basketball IQ is just as important as his playing talent. Hopefully, Archie can learn that; either on the court, or from the sidelines.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:08 pm
#22 unreal talent, who have you been watching? goodwin is the most overrated kid ever at U.K. he has no outside shot, he can’t pass, he can’t shoot ft. where is this talent you are talking about?
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:09 pm
The majority of our problems & why they aren’t getting fixed start & end with Archie. Archie is selfish, hard headed & overrated !! His liabilities well out weigh anything he does descent. The kid plays like someone on angel dust & cocaine having multiple muscle spasms. Hope this kid likes playing in the D League. I hope he does go pro so we can get him the hell off the team.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:14 pm
52- No problem. Everyone needs a little positive reinforcement from time to time. Except this team. Cal needs to bust their asses. Baby time is over.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Archie plays like Russ Smith without a good jump shot and the constantly fouling.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:16 pm
We need to find Archie a virtural girlfriend.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:16 pm
Number 1…that’s a bullseye. Cal looks lost at times himself
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Kyle looked ok the past 2 games but he’s been lazy on most games. He needs to work harder to get open.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:18 pm
The fact that Archie has refused to come around to a team concept is a reflection on Calipari’s coaching of this group. What I don’t understand is why Cal hasn’t benched Goodwin as a result. Does he have an ulterior motive, i.e., to protect his one and done legacy?
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Bench him until he learns basketball is a team sport.. He should’ve played golf instead.. John hood needs to take his place.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Kyle is not strong enough to run the offense through. He was pushed out beyond the arc and looked very uncomfortable handling the ball with heavy pressure that far from the basket. Yes, run it through him in the post, but not that far from the basket. He is a catch and shoot player that far from the basket. You can not expect to isolate him on a wing 25 ft from the basket and him knock down 3′s.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Young teams are very frustrating watch at times. How frustrating must it be for Coach Cal? This team isn’t what we thought it would be, dosen’t mean it can’t end up that way. I for one never thought we would repeat or even go back to the final four after loosing what we lost, but I did thing we would look and be playing better thatn we have. The approach is what it is, it has worked pretty well so far, it’s unrealistic to expect it to work out every single year. The good news is look at what we have coming in the next two years. We’ll be back in the final four sooner rather than later. I wouldn’t trade what we have and what is coming in with any other program in the country. We are the BBN!!!
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:25 pm
i hope goodwin,harrow, go to the draft or transfer because if they stay will wont play next season.. they do nothing to help this team, nothing.. i remember alot of UK players and RYAN HARROW is a freaking joke, worst PG/player kentucky has ever had, worse than SAL SMITH..lol.. i believe if CAL worked with polson then he could get us thru this season, but he needs to shoot the ball.. but i get pissed off when i look at harrow, this rage of hate comes over me, that how can this weak ass kid who looks 13 be wearing a KENTUCKY jersey HOW.. he doesnt deserve too, and goodwin as well, I think alex will be fine, hes just seems to scared about something, every time subs come in he thinks there coming in for him.. he jsut needs his confidence boosted.. cals style of coaching is you Fu&K up, your out…and i think that really gets to alex.. but he might not be here next year either,
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Kentucky Fans are such prisoners of the moment. I mean really?
“Lets shift to a one dimensional offense because a guy we havent been able to depend on most of the year has had a stretch of 3 games that he has played well.”
I agree Wiltjer needs to be more involved but lets be rational. “POINT FORWARD”?! Are we talking about the same guy?
Start Wiltjer sit Goodwin if he gets silly thats all.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:27 pm
73 said it. Stop being silly.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Agree with #68. Archie did not lose that game. He was out of control; however, he was playing hard, he was doing what he (a freshman) thought would help his team. He was trying to be a leader and not be afraid to take the shots when they mattered. We have several guys that, in my opinion, don’t want to take the shot when the game is on the line.
If Cal told Archie to stop shooting, and he didn’t, then it’s Cal’s fault for allowing Archie to continue to do so. I think Cal is a great coach, but we all make mistakes and Cal is not beyond reproach.
As for Poythress, the kid has played 18 collegiate games: 12.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 62% FG, 47% 3pt FG, and 70% FT. Folks, like it or not, many coaches out there would love to have a kid that can do this every night. Stop picking on an 18-yr old kid because he’s not an All-American…yet.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:31 pm
why not Hood??? He has played 43 minutes all season. That’s about 1 game. He shoots 5 for 8…66%…he is 4 for 6 from 3pt…62%….has 7 rebounds…4 steals…knows how to run the break with passes…hustles constantly…and is unselfish.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:31 pm
If I dont come here it will be because of the way yall act and talk after a loss…
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:34 pm
I got hood’s % backwards…66% from 3pt….62% overall
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:36 pm
I like polson,but he can not be our starting point guard. Remember when everybody thought archie goodwin was the answer? How did that turn out? Harrow has been solid for the most part with the exception of last night. He had a terrible game and all the bandwagon fans pile on him. Our offense is just a bunch of standing around waiting for someone to take their man off the dribble. Guess what? We only have two players that can do that. That’s why they are forced to shoot all the time. I do agree though goodwins play has became a trend not an exception
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:37 pm
There is no coach I would rather have than Cal. I don’t like trying to evaluate and nit pick everything a coach does. Cal is the best coach in the nation for a reason. However, I don’t understand the infatuation with Archie. Archie is really good off the dribble, AFTER three or four passes. There are very few times you can beat a defender off the dribble on an entry or initial pass. He needs to give it time and pick and choose when he attacks. I still like our squad, but we must win a game against the Gators, Ole Miss or Mizzou or our tournament dreams are fading.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:42 pm
77 Grow some balls. We aren’t scared.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:47 pm
I saw the second half a little differently, so I reduce the blame on coaching. Agree 100% that AG was turrubbul! However, in the first part of the second half, K-Wilt was still getting his touches. He tried to create off the dribble as he had in the first half and the defense collapsed on him, tightly, with a second defender blocking his drive. He passed back out to the guards. Have to give credit to coach Grant for adjusting his defense to stop Wiltjer. This pattern repeated several times with no positive result, then the guards tried to create late in the shot clock, resulting in bad shots. Harrow beat his man to the goal on a couple of drives but just didn’t finish and THERE WAS NO HELP REBOUNDING, even from Noel. Then the crazed AG show began. Dykes reported that Cal had instructed Harrow and Goodwin to drive, drive, drive. Have not heard anyone confirm that, but that’s definitely what happened. In the post-game, Cal said that he wanted Archie to shoot the floater or dish to a big on those drives, which Archie did not accomplish even once. If you want to fault Cal for not benching Archie when he failed to follow instructions, that’s fair, but I do not disagree with Cal’s adjustment of the offense when Wiltjer was neutralized by the defense. Where was the rebounding? When AG’s wild shots did go up, there were no blue jerseys in sight- often not a single rebounder in position. Kyle was generally out on the floor and slow to the basket, but where were Noel and Poythress on offensive board? Until Cats get WCS back, we are limited on alternatives. Hood for Goodwin? Not much advantage there. 3-guard with Harrow, Mays and Polson gives us a defensive disadvantage, especially with Poythress sleeping. Pray for Willie’s knee and a speedy recovery!
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Archie is by far the most selfish, ball hog Cal has had since he has been here. I agree with this post 100%. Question is, how long do you wait for Archie to change before you bench him some games to see if he gets the hint?
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Don’t you Posters wish Archie would read all your constructive comments? I’m sure he would benefit greatly.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:54 pm
76) I’m with you on Hood. I personally believe Cal doesn’t play him more because he didn’t recruit him in the first place. Cal wants to win with “his” players, not Gillispie’s. It’s all about that ego!
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Archie needs to go pro this year, if not he will try to impress the scouts another yr at the expense of the team…it never appears to me he has a “team” demeanor about himself….it seems to be about him, 80% of the time…he may be the bad apple in the bushel, but how do you play without him??, for all the progress the other freshman have made, archie is still doing the same things he did in November…
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:06 pm
From the headline to the comments, Archie is getting eviscerated here. Assume he is reading, though not sure it will help. Coach shares our frustration with Archie, and he does get in Archie’s face, but Archie seems to shrug it off. One of Cal’s strongest talents is understanding his kids. Maybe Archie’s tough, emotionless exterior hides a soft, sensitive interior. If so, Cal can only push him so far and this blog will only make things worse. If, on the other hand, AG is just a bullishly headstrong egomaniac, then the bashing he receives here may wake him up. He cannot be happy. His game performance is not impressing anyone but Euro scouts. I will compliment him on his effort every game. How about the defensive play when he chased the Alabama fast break, got in front of the defender and skied over the rim to block the shot! He can produce some amazing highlights! Unfortunately his teammates didn’t follow on that play and the block went right to Jacobs for another easy dunk. Unhappy, frustrated, selfish, solo instead of team play, loner . . . do not know what’s in the young man’s head. Would like to see a lengthy interview about his life, but I guess we only write those for the players we love that produce on and off the court. Archie needs basketball rehab.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:09 pm
If you want to put some of the blame for last night’s loss on Cal, that’s fine…I don’t really have much of an argument there. He controls the lineups. He controls the game plan. The lack of adjustments in the second half is his fault. There’s really no question about it.
That being said, you cannot put ALL the blame on Calipari, because, quite frankly, I’m not totally convinced he didn’t let that game play itself out in order to prove a point. Was he trying to “throw” the game and get a loss? Absolutely not. I perceive it as more of a trial by fire. There’s no denying Calipari has tried and tried and tried to get this team to buy into what he’s selling, and there’s no denying that, at this point, they haven’t done that yet. Perhaps Cal was simply providing them with one last-ditched attempt to play their way, and let the chips fall where they may. It didn’t work. Maybe it’s just what they need. That remains to be seen.
But, last night’s game really brought to light (even more than any of the other games) the shortfalls this team has right now. I don’t care how young they are, it is on their shoulders in the game to realize something isn’t working. Archie and Harrow combined to shoot 20% from the field, and took more than 50% of the shots. How many of those were blind, shoulders-down, drives to the basket into a small army of defenders trying to get fouled? Was there some contact that went uncalled? SURE there was. But, as a player, you have to be smart enough to realize the trajectory of a game, and understand that sometimes you have to make your own adjustments out on the floor, regardless what a coach is yelling from the sidelines. From that point of view, the blame falls squarely on Archie and Harrow. They are the primary ball-handlers and continuously put the entire team in bad situations by making horrible decision after horrible decision.
Should Cal have benched Archie? Abso-freaking-lutely. But, as I said, I really think Cal might use that second half as a jumping-off point. “See, fellas? Your way doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked, and it’s not going to work. Do things my way.” We saw this team play Cal’s way on Saturday night at Auburn, and we saw them play his way in the first half last night. That team was fun to watch. Hopefully, the light will finally come on for these guys, or else it’s going to be a very long two months.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Goodwin is just not a good player and its painfully obvious. Watching him play its almost like he has never been coached a day in his life. I believe Goodwin and Poythress are having a hard time adjusting to playing ball with guys as good or better than they are and thats why we see tentative play from Poythress and Archie is still out of control.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:16 pm
85. I do not think Cal recruited P.Patterson or D Miller and he played them plenty. So to say Cal does not play Hood becuase he did not recruit him is nuts!!
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:20 pm
76 & 85 Seriously? Hood just got back from mono. 43 minutes all year and you think he is the answer? I think being a Billy G recruit has nothing to do with it. Hoods biggest issue is Cal has recruited over him. And by the way when has Hood ever ran a fast break?
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:21 pm
they suck
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:27 pm
“Everyone watching the game — from the diehard Kentucky basketball fans to your bartender at the neighborhood Buffalo Wild Wings…”
I went to the local Buffalo Wild Wings (down here in Archie’s hometown) to watch the game and had to leave 5:00 into it. On Tuesdays they have $.60 wings, so I was kinda psyched to go there. I had called ahead to ask if they could put the audio of that game on the speakers so could hear as well as see what was going on. The manager (a loser named Jeremy) said he would. But when I got there 15-minutes before game time, he said another group (Kansas fans) had gotten there ahead of me and asked to put their game on the speakers. He didn’t have the integrity to tell them he had already promised that to somebody else. No class jerk. I’m not going there any more.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Tubby never went to the NIT wit tourney if thats where they end up they should turn it down ridiculous.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:36 pm
If everyone got yanked for getting beat on defense we would have to forfeit all our games. If everyone that made a bone headed decision over and over, or wouldn’t run and hustle got yanked, Hood would have to play.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:37 pm
At what point do people start to realize Calipari just has no idea how to coach his current team. He warned us all off season he didn’t know what to do with this group, so it’s not really surprising he still doesn’t know.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:37 pm
even if they do make touirney 10 to 12 seed they will be out in first round
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:37 pm
My life means nothing now that the Cats have lost 6. My dog no longer likes me, and my girlfriend now will not look at me naked. My mother asked me to consider a vasectomy and my father changed his last name.
All of my investments have plummeted and I am pretty sure I have radon in my basement. Sharts are no longer the exception and all of my whitey-tighties look like technicolor medical waste. And, don’t get me started on my hemmorhoids.
I blame Archie Goodwin.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:42 pm
harrow says cal yells at me might not let us go home for christmas hes mean what a pussball
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:45 pm
is harrow gay
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Drew, while everyone with eyeballs and a brain agrees that Archie shoots too much and is selfish I couldn’t disagree more on running the offense through Kyle. He really can’t create his own shots due to his lack of any speed and his post moves aren’t good. Yes, he had one post move down low in the second half with the time he went up and under 9 times, changed pivot foot (uncalled travel) and chucked up a prayer hook that went in but that is no different than Archie driving like a bull in a China shop through the lane. In most situations the offense should be ran through the Point Guard but lets face it, Harrow played a bad game and got pushed around by Alabamas bulkier guards. It blows my mind how Cal didn’t run any set plays for Julius in the second half. Kid was 4-5 on threes and you mean to tell me you can’t design a double off ball screen to get him an open shot? Kyle isn’t fast enough to get open off screens and his post game is very overrated by the majority of BBN. This isn’t Wisconsin. The offense shouldn’t go through a non athletic, 6’11″ SOFT forward.
This loss falls in Cal’s lap. He should have settled down his guards and ran some plays through the hot hand who can get open off screens……not letting Archie drive out of control to the rack or run it through Kyle who has the post moves of a 50 year old YMCA pick up player
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:53 pm
It just hit me. All Archie needs to be successful is a vagina. Womens B Ball its him. Run into traffic…throw the ball toward the rim…fall to the floor after every play…and flop like a trout outta water. Problem solved.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:55 pm
Actually this year we play a lot like the old plodding methodical Big 10 teams used to play. It was always funny to watch them years ago on the game of the week after being used to the Cats running game and fast breaks attempted before we would settle for the half court game.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:58 pm
45 Litig8tr – Winning the NC last year does not give Cal a lifetime pass and make him immune from mistakes or having a bad game. Criticism does not mean people have given up on him. He gets paid plenty to listen to it, when it is deserved. Just as he gets the praise, when it is deserved. Last night, Cal had a bad game and deserves the criticism.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:59 pm
Wiltjer is the cause of 90% of UK loses. TOO SLOW & WONT PLAY DEFENSE. Only a good shooter in practice and he has only scored lately b/c the other team has decided not to guard him as the game plan. Wiltjer will never go to the NBA & won’t see any playing time next year. Look at how high the other teams shooting % is when he’s on the bench. That’s right it DOUBLES!
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:08 pm
i think he is
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:09 pm
Been saying it all season. The offense flows through Wiltjer….UK’s starting 5 have no idea how to run an offense.
As well, I would take Polson over Harrow 70% of the time right now.
John Swann, you have no idea what you’re taking about….none whatsoever.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:11 pm
CAL is worlds best recriuting & selling the KY brand but coaching? We never should have lost to WV w/ J.Wall & Cousins. Thats when it was clear.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Wiltjer does well on interior passing. You might have to put him at the low post in a hi-lo then he and Nerls switch trying to rub the defender off before you give him the ball.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Can someone show me these mythical NBA scouts who claim Goodwin and Poythress are NBA players?
Goodwin can’t shoot, has horrible shot selection, average defense, turnover prone AND poor mechanics on FT’s as was finally discussed during the game
Poythress has no effort, weak defense, turnover prone, no aggression, and is highly prone to fouls, and also has FT issues.
NBA ?!?!?!? These two would get SMOKED at the NBA level. Do they have the physical gifts? Absolutely. Are they NBA ready? Not even CLOSE !!
Look at this web site that does a STATISTICAL analysis of players. Nerlens is the 6th best player in the country.
Goodwin is 440th and Poythress 368th. NBA ?!?!??! Are you KIDDING ME ?!?!?!
http://www.valueaddbasketball.com/
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:59 pm
Wiltjer – running the offense through him sounds good in theory, but when he flashes to the top of the post, and they toss him the entry pass, he bobbles that pass a TON o gets it deflected. Maybe this will work better if they work on his ability to receive that entry pass.
And oh yeah. 1 for THREE from the line ?!?!?!?!?
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:59 pm
105 – no, no it doesn’t.
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:23 pm
OK, BLUECREEK what NBA team would wiltjer play for?
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:30 pm
85) This your first year watching UK? Josh Harrelson, Deandre Liggins Ppat, Darius Miller played key roles on teams in the past. I get it people are upset but I think you are losing perspective. in three year he had a great team that had an awful shooting night lose in the elite 8. A team that had Jorts as the starting center be a Liggins 3 pointer for playing for a national championship(and probably beating Butler) and one of the Best teams in UK history winning #8.Looks like it didnt work out this year(still a little time) but all this Cal bashing is getting absurd.
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:52 pm
I’d play jon hood ahead of archie goodwin
January 23rd, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Goodwin and Poythress are the weakest players to wear the Kentucky Blue in a long time. Always shying away from contact, shooting fade away jumpers and giving up easy rebounds. Just to weak. You can coach talent, but you can’t rewire a kids will or drive to compete.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Cal is the best coach for the Kentucky Wildcats. For a lot of reasons, but mainly because “he gets it”. He understands what it means to be the number one college basketball program in the country. Does that mean he is the best game coach? No it does not. And no he is not. Far from it. I would say he is top 20 in that category, but he is not one of the great in-game coaches. To know that, all you have to do is watch a few games this year. He looks lost in a lot of games. And last night, that 2nd half ranks among the poorest coached halves I have ever seen. By any team. Ever. Step it Cal. We expect much better from our coach.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:57 pm
#45 I hate to tell you this but, when you are the one in charge , then you are the one to blame. Cal could have took ballhog Archie out after anyone of his bone head drives, at least 30 of them. And cal is making all of us question his vision of the court after blaming Noel for anything, he was worn out in late 2nd half cause he was the only one playing his @ss off. Never been this disappointed since frickin Joe B Hall was coaching. Cal better watch who he takes advise from, Joe B, really?
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Old Joe was always known for taking out the player with the hot hand, just as soon as he made a couple shots, you could count on old Joe to take them out , exactly as cal did last night. Joe B ,What an idiot, never could figure out how they let him stay as long as they did.
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Here’s my opinion: Harrow was ILL at the beginning of the season cause Cal let ARCHIE do whatever he wanted (ballhog) and that was the same reason Harrow was ineffective last night…
to the cat that said Cal is a great coach, he just recruited bad players… I bet you said Billy G was a bad coach that inherited good players – this is TEAM TURMOIL and the spoiler is ARCHIE – and YEAH, they need to PLAY in the NIT to be shown a LESSON…
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:22 pm
What happened to Wiltjer coming out to the top of the key and screening/picking the guard with the ball? He also has been setting a lot of picks for players who don’t have the ball. This would get him and Mays open for the 3′s, or give Harrow a lane to the basket. I didn’t see any of that last night. It just disappeared after it had worked so well the last 2 games.
Last night I saw 5 guys all standing alone. And Goodwin & Harrow driving into traffic with no opening and either turning it over or throwing up junk.
I think Jon Hood should play the #2 spot. He seems to understand the team concept, passes often and has a good 3 point shot. It’ll never happen. (After 4 years.) He should spend his last year (next year) at some other school instead of spending his entire college career on the bench. No way Goodwin is a better player and teammate than him. Hood knows how to play basketball, Archie does not.
January 23rd, 2013 at 8:47 pm
I thought this was a player 1st team? If, so, is it fair to the rest of the players, to let one or two players play selfish?
It is to late in the season to think a player is going to change the way he plays! Goodwin and Harrow just want to shoot the ball! They get caught looking for the ball and not guarding their man on defense, and just stand around on offense if they don’t have the ball.
Harrow just quits, if his man starts playing physical defense. This team needs to play more physical on both ends of the court, Noel, and Wiltjer are the exception to the rule.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Cal has turned away from up-tempo offense to grind it out, put you to sleep style. I thought I was watching a Big 10 game. I could’ve sworn Tubby or BCG were coaching with all the paint play. Hey Cal, we were 5-9 on 3s. How about shooting more 3s?
January 23rd, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Why doesn’t Archie drive early in the first half and maybe get a few guys in foul trouble so that late in the game his drives might be a little more effective when they can no longer risk fouling him. He also needs to pass more and make better decisions. How many times can he go one on three and throw up ugly shots when there are guys open around him? I know Cal is a great coach but needs to work on alley oops and stop and shoot. Archie gets a ton of ten foot jumpers but puts the ball on the floor and runs to the rim instead. That’s Cals system. Whenever our players catch the ball near the rim, no matter how close they are, they put it on the floor and drive even closer. If I was an opposing coach I’d tell my guys to just stay low and wait for the dribble. It’s going to come. Imagine how many points Kyle could get if he shot from 8 to 10 feet instead of mostly from the three line. This team has good shooters. Why not take advantage of the elbow shot?
January 24th, 2013 at 10:34 am
How does Archie play the way he did against Bama and log 35 minutes of PT ??????
January 24th, 2013 at 11:02 am
106.john swann—-if the other team’s shooting % doubles when Wiltjer is on the bench, then he must be one heck of a defensive player
January 24th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Saw kats in Vandy and everything came clear with this team. They are basketball dumb and Mr. Goodwin takes the prize. Amazing what you see in person that tv hides. He has too many flaws for me to discuss. Hope he is one and done!