Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
After two tough battles on the road, a night at home was all the Cats needed. Kentucky cruised over South Carolina, 77-55. It wasn’t always pretty…in fact, Frank Martin may have put it best when he said “We did a heck of a job putting everyone to sleep in there,” but a 20+ win at home is always a good thing. Let’s go over the headlines:
– This may have been the Cats’ most balanced game yet, with five players scoring in double figures and the Cats holding a comfortable lead the entire game. Better yet, they shot 61.4% from the field, their highest against an SEC foe this season, and dominated the paint 42-18.
– For the second game in a row, “Uncle” Julius Mays led the way with 15 points off 4-5 from behind the arc and 3-3 from the free throw stripe. Before the game, Cal lauded Mays’ progress as a player this season, best exemplified by his career high 19-point performance against Texas A&M. Mays shot the ball with more confidence than he has all season, shaking his tail feather after each three.
– Cal said that Willie Cauley-Stein would get more minutes tonight, and Cauley-Stein delivered. In 22 minutes of play, Cauley-Stein scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Willie’s knee seemed of no concern throughout the game; he provided his usual athletic spark and gave good pressure when the Cats pressed late in the second half. Willie said that he has to keep reminding himself that the pain in his left knee isn’t coming back and that he can go harder. Cal said that Cauley-Stein’s effort was “unbelievable” and that he wants more of his players to emulate it. Does this mean more bow ties? Please?
– Per usual, Nerlens Noel turned in a solid performance with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. In fact, Noel broke the 100-mark in blocks, accumulating a total of 102 for the season. Along with Anthony Davis, he’s the only UK player to block over 100 shots, and ranks third in the SEC behind Davis and Shaquille O’Neal for most blocks by an SEC freshman. The only bad part of Nerlens’ performance? He continues to shank it from the free throw stripe, going 0-3 on the night. Calipari isn’t worried: “He has that will to win. If the game is on the line, he will make them.”
– Not wholly satisfied with the Cats’ performance tonight? Neither was Cal: “We shoot 60 percent, hold them to 28 percent and I’m not happy. I must be a jerk. I’ve been called worse.” Not by us, surely.
– Frank Martin wasn’t happy either. Have you ever seen him so subdued? When asked why he was so calm in the second half, Martin said “If my guys aren’t playing, I don’t see any reason why I should be losing my mind out there.” Martin was so critical of his team’s performance that he said they “just got out of their way and let them practice their dunking.”
It’s okay, Frank. I’m sure Mr. Worldwide has some wisdom for these moments.
– Although he had a quiet game with only 5 points and 6 rebounds, Kyle Wiltjer has been a catalyst for this squad’s performance since the Vandy game. After the game, Calipair said the energy in practice is completely different than it was two weeks ago, all thanks to Wiltjer.
– For the umpteenth game in a row, Alex Poythress showed us bits of Beast Mode, going 2-9 from the field for 7 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Cal said that Alex remains a work-in-progress: “Second half, you miss two dunks, you’re out. What’s wrong? You tell me you’re tired? Your leg hurts, your toenails what is it? You missed two dunks. You’ve got to come out.”
– Ryan Harrow was neither excellent nor exasperating, putting up 12 points, 4 assists and only 1 turnover in 25 minutes of play. When asked about Ryan’s play, Cal said that Ryan needs to shed his laid-back exterior and touch his teammates more. Tell me that isn’t as creepy as it sounds, Cal? “We’re talking to him all the time about the best point guards in the NBA and the best point guards in college basketball are always touching their teammates, just touch. I mean, physically, you touch them all the time. You’re always near them. You’re touching them. You’re talking to them. We’re trying to get them in that mode. It’s just not natural for him.”
“MEN LIKE BEING AROUND MEN!”
– To show you just how boring things got, the most pressing question from tonight’s game (aside from “Who is Linda Myers?”) was: why isn’t Cal wearing ties anymore? Cal said he was starting to sweat through them and that his wife likes him without one, and as any good husband would say, “I care about my wife.” He also joked that he might grow a beard. No, Cal…just, no.
– No one loves a conspiracy theory more than John Calipari. The Super Bowl power outage came up in the postgame press conference (why wouldn’t it?), with Cal claiming that had the Cats been playing, haters ’round the world would be breaking out their conspiracy theories: “What if that happened to us? You know it would have been a conspiracy.” It must have been MKG, in the mechanical room, with the candlestick.
– You know what? Less talking and more sleeping. We have a big day tomorrow. Enjoy these highlights of the game, courtesy of KyWildcatsTV:
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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February 6th, 2013 at 12:41 am
What i enjoyed the most about this video is the fact the camera had to move around and keep up with all the passing. They are working together. Yea we were up most of the game.. boring?? i dont think so…but some need to stop acting spoiled. this is what we “expect” be happy!! We have the chance to be a good strong team in march. I cant wait! Next UCONN getting hot at the right time?? hoope so.
February 6th, 2013 at 12:57 am
Can Jon Hood get some minutes…he made a layup!!!
February 6th, 2013 at 1:20 am
it has been a long time since i have said when does football season start ssssssssssssssssstttttttttttttttttoooooooooooooooooppppppppppppppppppssssssssssssss whats that sound the tornado sirens are going off in bullitt county must be an air raid we need to take cover at cws
February 6th, 2013 at 1:59 am
A boring win yes, but one of the few times we can say the cats played the way they were expected to. I’ll take it.
February 6th, 2013 at 2:14 am
Thanks for posting. It looked like the Cats got some pretty good ball movement and assists. That is a good sign. GBB!!!
February 6th, 2013 at 3:36 am
Too excited for NSD to sleep xD
February 6th, 2013 at 4:43 am
Reminder… You can vote once every day!
Infinity Coaches Challenge South Region (Current Leaderboard)…Haith 22%, Calipari 19%, Gottfried 17%, Donovan 13%—C’mon BBN, let’s get to moving!
http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/infiniti/2013/
Yes, ball movement is much better but still too many turnovers.
February 6th, 2013 at 5:35 am
So, where are all the Mays haters? This kid had put in some pretty solid games. Get off his back! GO “Uncle” Julius!!!
February 6th, 2013 at 5:39 am
The way calipari treats/ uses polson is shameful. Last night he jerked him out for WCS not catching the ball in the first half. If he wants an excuse to play harrow weak butt just be honest, don’t ruin another kid (who cares about the program and saves your butt when harrow etc can’t play). South Carolina couldn’t beat Georgetown. Don’t worry cal, you’ll eventually ruin jarrod & he won’t be able to help at all.
February 6th, 2013 at 6:25 am
Happy with the nice win. But, South Carolina is beyond awful. Their best player is a football player. USC sucks. Auburn sucks as well. So, we won’t know more about this team until we go to Florida next week.
February 6th, 2013 at 7:04 am
77-55
February 6th, 2013 at 7:42 am
9 agree with you also I think he does the same thing to Alex one mistake and he is out you would see a different player if he could play through his mistakes like cal lets Archie cause god knows he makes them all game long and stays in not rite
February 6th, 2013 at 8:21 am
9&12) you really think polson is a better p.g then harrow? I’m sick of hearing this ” harrow is weak” stuff. The dude is little so he gets knocked around some,but he gets back up. Get off his back.
February 6th, 2013 at 8:24 am
9) what does south carolina not beating georgetown have to do with anything?
February 6th, 2013 at 8:59 am
#13, yes JP is better. Even when things are going well for harrow, like last night, he can’t hack it. He should have had 20 last night, instead, he’s busy holding his chest and asking to come out.
#14, Georgetown college in georgetown, ky. Dip
February 6th, 2013 at 9:33 am
#15 – You’re Dumb…… Fans like you give us all a bad name. I’d bet anything JP is very pleased with his role on this team.
February 6th, 2013 at 9:53 am
Poy was 2 for 5.
February 6th, 2013 at 10:12 am
#16, is that all you got? Insults? At least insult correctly. “dumb” is a person who can’t speak usually due to deafness. “stupid” is a person with an IQ below 70 or unknowing. Since you don’t know JP as a player or person, I’ll just call you stupid.
February 6th, 2013 at 10:18 am
15- you’re delusional. I love polson, but he’s not a great ball handler and doesn’t look to score. He’s a great role player, Love his scrappy play!
February 6th, 2013 at 10:23 am
19, not a good ball handler?? And the rest of your statement?? You really are stupid.
February 6th, 2013 at 10:30 am
16 gotta love the grammar police. When did this site get overrun by tools?
February 6th, 2013 at 10:33 am
#18, I disagree. “Dumb” when used as a descriptor of your posts is perfect. Even though you have the ability to speak, at least with the keyboard, you don’t have the ability mentally understand. The ability to ineptly make noise with your mouth or keyboard doesn’t disprove you are indeed, dumb.
February 6th, 2013 at 10:34 am
19)does jp ever go right? How many points did he score last night. How many shots did he take? 0 pts 2 ast 2 t.o in 11 min. What game was you watching?
February 6th, 2013 at 10:41 am
20)
February 6th, 2013 at 11:03 am
#2 I know you are being sarcasting but that was actaully a pretty good drive by Hood. Unless someone goes down with an injury though I don’t see him getting anything but mop up duty.
February 6th, 2013 at 11:36 am
Honestly, what do you expect from Harrow? He was 6-6 for 12 points, 4 assists, only one turnover. Shot looks great. That’s pretty damn good, especially considering he isn’t a “previous Cal PG” type of talent. Be realistic!
February 6th, 2013 at 11:42 am
All those hating on Tt, please leave Jarrod’s high school coach alone…
Wait a second, even he wouldn’t be that idiotic to write some of the stuff Tt has been writing.
February 6th, 2013 at 11:52 am
Finally, I am starting to see heart from these guys. The ball movement has drastically improved. Starting to look really, really promising.
February 6th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
February 6th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Looks like all of RH’s friends have been notified.
February 6th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Hah Tt is either Polson`s mom, grandma, or girlfriend. Jarrod is a great player in that he knows his role on this team and does his job well. Obviously you don’t share that knowledge of roles. Leave the basketball discussion to those of us that can tell a difference between hard work and talent.
I’ll let coach keep doing his thing, it seems to be working.
February 6th, 2013 at 6:52 pm
PW…I think I know what that stands for. Ha ha. Your STUPID. He he. Your probably 18, 5’6, 130 lbs. Thinking you know & looking like an a$$ h$:l:.