Halftime: UK leads Alabama 31-24

Current Alabama Head Coach Anthony Grant’s old team fucked me royally tonight.  VCU choked away a 17-point lead (or something like that) in the second half of their game (which preceded the Kentucky game on ESPN’s TV Schedule), allowing George Mason to come back, take the game into overtime, and force me to miss the first 9 1/2 minutes of the first half of UK-Alabama.  Notes:

- Wall leads all scorers with 11.  He also has six rebounds, two steals, and one block (and five turnovers).

- The double-double cyborg that is DeMarcus Cousins is on pace for his 15th this season.  He’s got six points and seven rebounds at the intermission.

- Bledsoe and Patterson have five each.  Liggins has chipped in four off the bench.

- I heard someone say this week that Jay Williams was one of the best color anlaysts in college basketball.  Granted, this is the first time I’ve really listened to him, but I could not disagree more.

‘Bron ‘Bron in Lex

I think just about everyone’s seen this video by now, but given my unhealthy obsession with the LeBron-Kentucky dynamic, I’d be more than a little remiss if I failed to post it.  My two favorite things from the clip:

1) A stunner-shaded LeBron (presumably to shield him from the sirius-like glow of our seven National Championship banners) spectating in the Joe Kraft Center (2:15 mark).

2) Not being able to understand a word LeBron (or any player other than Mark Krebbs) says the entire time (Throughout).

He’s so cool.

Saints Win Super Bowl

You heard it here first.

You know everyone in The Big Easy is calling in to work tomorrow and that town is going to being throwing an epic party all week long. Not to mention all the Mardi Gras celebrations that’ll be happening this week leading up to Fat Tuesday on the 16th. You just gotta love this story.

By the way, what an entertaining Super Bowl.

What will have to pass for a UK-LSU reaction

Because of work, I wasn’t able to catch the majority of yesterday’s game against LSU.  Not that I needed to; the Tigers are terrible and Kentucky, from what I saw, played a solid game.  Generally speaking, it’s hard to pull a whole hell of a lot from those types of games.  But I will try:

- DeMarcus Cousins continued his assault on the UK freshman record books with a 19 point, 13 rebound performance (in just 20 minutes of action) that gave him his sixth straight and 14th double-double of the season.  Also of note, Cousins is eigth in the country in double-doubles for the season and 24th in rebounding. The way his numbers have increased of late–along with the way Wall’s have slightly decreased–has upped the chatter of a possible SEC and/or National Player of the Year award for the freshman big man.  Keep in mind, this gradual transition in though has come quite a long way.  It was only a little over a month ago when John Wall was on the cover of SI and pretty much everyone assumed that all the postseason POY awards were his to lose.  For whatever reason, over the past few games Kentucky’s started to look more and more to Cousins when they need a bucket, essentially getting away from the core principles of Calipari’s DDM, which makes me think he (Calipari) sees a lot in Cousins.  Calipari’s made a name for himself by developing point guards, primarily because the offense he runs encourages the sort of ‘Lead Guard’ game that allows players like Wall and Derrick Rose to put up huge numbers.  So, it’s not like Calipari is getting away from something that he hasn’t had success with.  For him to essentially change the entire offense around so that every possession goes through Cousins, and not Wall, is maybe the strongest testament of any to Cousins’ abilities.

- From what I saw yesterday (which, I admit, wasn’t much), Patterson seemed to be getting more touches in the paint than he’s been getting of late.  I like this, but it’s not something that I’m expecting to see more of as the season winds down.  I love Patterson’s game in the paint, but Calipari’s offense runs best with one true big man–which Cousins has clearly established himself as–and another sort of hybrid wing/post guy that can make perimeter moves and knock down perimeter shots.  Patterson’s filled that role to the best of his abilites, and for that he should be commended.  The majority of his shots now are perimeter jump shots, a far cry from the back-to-the-basket brute we’ve come to know and love over the past two seasons.  With that said, his change in position/style has forced his game to evolve, and (at least according to Coach Cal) improved his NBA stock immensely.  He looks much more comfortable taking 3-pointers now than he did at the start of the season, which has seemed to translate to a more confident and effective stroke.  I guess what I’m getting at is Patterson’s evolution as a player wasn’t something I saw coming (at least not to this degree), but is something that, I think, seems to be working out for the best.

- Part of me hates to bring this up again, but Kentucky’s offense has a much greater up-side with Dodson (rather than Miller) as the starter at small forward.  He’s not necessarily a better shooter in terms of statistics, but he’s a much more confident shooter (and player, for that matter), which keeps the defense honest and opens up more for everyone else.  With Miller on the floor, the defense has one guy they can essentially ignore, since they know he isn’t looking to drive, pull-up, handle the ball, or do anything, really, other than float around the 3-point line and await kickouts from John Wall and Eric Bledsoe.  I love Miller, and I hope he breaks out of this funk he’s in sooner than later, but until that happens, Dodson’s the guy.  His defense in shakey, sure, but let’s be honest, this team doesn’t hand its hat on defense (if it did, Wall wouldn’t see the floor).  This is an offensive team built to get up and down the floor, finish in transition, and score lots of points in a hurry.  They already have two essential elements to that sort of offense–quick, efficient guards and a dominant big man–and Patrick Patterson at the four-spot is nothing to shrug your shoulders at.  All they’re missing is a confident, dead-eye shooter–someone who can keep the defense from packing it in and making them shoot–and Dodson has the potential to be that guy.  Moral of the story: Keep Dodson in the starting lineup.

UK destroys LSU, 81-55

I’m currently at work, much more in the form of analysis will have to come a little later.  We’ll just take a look at the notes for now:

- DeMarcus Cousins continues to kill it.  He finished the game with 19 points and 13 rebounds, his sixth straight and 14th double-double of the season.

- Patrick Patterson showed signs of life: 16 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.

- In his third straight game as a starter, Dodson knocked down one trey and gave Kentucky eight points.

- As a team, UK out-rebounded LSU 51-20 and blocked seven shots to their one.

- Darius Miller, despite playing 17 minutes, did not score a point for the third time in four games.  Miller’s numbers since that 18-point anomaly against Arkansas: Five points on 2-of-9 shooting, 1-of-8 from 3, 0-for-0 on free throws, five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.  That’s over a span of four games.

Like I said, we’ll have more later.

UK leads LSU by 39 at the Half

It’s a beatdown special in Baton Rouge.  UK leads LSU, 43-14 at halftime.  Notes:

- I keep waiting for DeMarcus Cousins to have a bad game.  It’s not happening today.  He’s Kentucky’s  leading scorer (15) and rebounder (9).

- Patrick Patterson has had a solid first-half.  He’s got eight points and three boards (all offensive).

- Wall and Bledsoe have combined for 10 points, seven rebounds, and two SportsCenter highlights.

- As a team, Kentucky has out-rebounded LSU 30-12, and 10-3 on the offensive glass.

- The Tigers shooting percentages look like this: 18 percent (6-32) from the field, eight percent (1-12) from three.

- Today’s game makes me think of this:

-

Kentucky @ LSU Preview

One team from the Bayou state is going to have a monumental victory this weekend. That team is not the LSU Tigers. Coming into the game on what one could call a tremendously godawful 8-game losing streak (all SEC games), the Tigers will almost certainly make it 9 when the more-talented-in-every-respect Kentucky Wildcats come marching into Baton Rouge. The Cats should easily march away jazz funeral-style, leaving the Tigers wondering how to pry open the lid on their proverbial coffin.

LSU may be the first SEC team Kentucky has faced that hasn’t had one genuinely decent win all season long, though they do have wins against several teams they should have beaten, including elite-level Division One programs like Louisiana-Lafayette, Nicholls State, McNeese State, and Rice. Truthfully, if you’re beating the teams you should beat, you’re doing something right; LSU just can’t seem to get over the hump of beating someone no one expects them to.

Their best player is senior forward Tasmin Mitchell, who averages a double-double (18 pts, 10 rebs) per game. Two other players average double figure points: Junior guard Bo Spencer with 15, and sophomore forward Storm Warren with 12 points (also contributing 8 rebounds per game). If anything, the battle down low between Mitchell and Cousins could be interesting. It is, however, hard to see Cousins losing this battle given his sheer dominance as of late.

Not to count the chickens before they hatch, but in a game like this where victory is all but sure, it will be interesting to see how Kentucky plays. Will they come out flat because this is a hard game to get up for? If they get up big will they be able to drive the nail in, or will they allow LSU to keep close (in the 10-15 point range)? Here are something other things to look for:

- John Wall’s explosiveness hasn’t been on display as much in recent games like it was was earlier in the season. Against a team like LSU, I think he has a chance to break that open again. Teams have adapted well in learning how to guard him, but look for Wall to be a penetration machine against the Tigers. He’s due for a breakout game–I suppose as much as the future #1 draft pick even needs a breakout game. (Yes, I realize I said penetration machine.)

- I really don’t think anyone can stop Cousins. He’s playing like a man on a mission, a mission that involves leaving everyone he faces asking themselves the question, “Why does he make me feel like I am so gentle?” The most dangerous thing is, he’s having fun. It’s hard to stop a man having fun making other players feel helpless against him.

- I also hope Daniel Orton gets some significant minutes. It’s the perfect game for him to hone his offensive ability against a pretty good big man on an immensely beatable team. Defensively, I’m going to go out on a limb and predict 5 blocks for the big freshman.

- If Dodson can shoot even close to 80% from 3 again, which, with that stroke, I think he can, then Kentucky has an answer to its perimeter-shooting prayers.

- Deandre Liggins could also have a breakout game. I’ve been most impressed with his hustle and attitude; he’s going hard after loose balls and rebounds, and seems to have settled into his bench role well. He has the potential, with his quickness, to be another guy that can get quick shots in the lane (though not on the level of Wall) and has even displayed nice touch with the 3-ball. If he can score 5 field goals this game, or at least get into double-figures (he hasn’t had a double figure game all season), I think that’s a huge step for him and a big boost for his confidence, which helps when you’re playing on a team with 2 other talented guards.

- Darius Mi….nevermind.

All in all, the Cats come away with an Arkansas-esque 90-60 victory.  Go Cats!

What is this ‘Football’ you speak of?

There hasn’t been much written on this site in regard to the football side of things at the University of Kentucky.  Naturally, I blame the media for this.

I do my best to read everything I can in regards to UK athletics–the Courier-Journal, the Herald-Leader, KSR, Cats’ Pause, etc.–and, truth be told, I just don’t read much stuff about football that gets my motor running the way the basketball stuff does.

But Steve Jones’ piece today on Cats’ Pause is definitely an exception.

Jones’ A Civil War of Recruiting Awaits Jefferson County is an exciting look at the recruiting war currently being waged between Louisville’s newly-hired Charlie Strong and Kentucky’s recently-appointed Joker Phillips.  Specifically, it discusses why the football-fertile ground of Louisville is so important to each program’s success, and how U of L’s new coaching staff has made things infinitely more interesting (and competitive) for the schools and their fanbases.

UK’s owned the Louisville-area schools for the past few years, but Strong’s hiring (and rep as a recruiter) sends a signal that the Cardinals have gotten sick of Kentucky plucking recruits out of their own backyard.

Phillips scored a huge victory Wednesday when he got top-recruit Tim Patterson’s signature to end up on UK stationery, but Strong’s impact is still being felt.  U of L has already landed commitments from several 2011 Louisvillians: Wide receiver DeVante Parker of Ballard, running back Jerrell Moore and lineman Jamon Brown of Fern Creek, as well as quarterback DaMarcus Smith of Seneca, the guy most people are expecting to be the best player in the state next season.

But the article does more than list specific recruiting victories.  It does an excellent job of articulating why if you even want a chance of having a good football program in Kentucky, you have to own Jefferson County.

Cats’ Pause: Civil War of Recruiting Awaits Jefferson County

What About Dodson?

There’s a lot of talk on this site about Darius Miller’s role on the team but little mention of Darnell Dodson. To me, he’s got to start over Miller and DeAndre Liggins. I’m no expert, but Dodson really does seem to have the potential to be a great scorer. He’s already got a deadly 3-point shot. He gets it off in no time at all and it ALWAYS looks like it’s going in. Miller on the other hand has one of the slower releases I’ve seen… Miller’s shot is so slow he doesn’t just plant his feet, he waits for them to germinate! (Feel free to use that one.)

'...aiming....Aiming....STILL AIMING!!'

In addition to Dodson’s 3-pointers, in recent games he’s also started to drive to the basket more and create his own shots. He’s also got good height for a shooting guard, which has to be his most natural spot. If he could bulk up a bit he’d really start looking like a fine NBA player as opposed to Perry Stevenson’s little brother.

'I'm not skinny, I'm just little-boned!'

On a somewhat unrelated note, I’m really starting to come around to Big Cuz. (I’m never coming around to ‘Boogie’. Sure, it’s probably a reference to the musical term, but it also has a more nasally connotation. I honestly think I’d prefer if he just went by ‘Phlegm’.) Anyway, the point is I’ve really started to like this kid. It might have something to do with the fact that he’s become f-ing awesome, but DeMarcus Cousins’ expressiveness has become kind of endearing. He just really can’t help himself. As long as they can keep it in check, players that wear their emotions on their sleeves have always been rather likable…. Rasheed Wallace, Allen Iverson, and Antoine Walker come to mind. (Those players are all likable, right?) Cousins doesn’t mean any harm, he’s just more transparent than others and I think that’s a good thing. Just please stick to expressing yourself with your face and not your elbows.

Cousins' poker face

Kentucky’s NBA Draft Prospects (Part II)

All this chatter regarding the number of scouts in Rupp Arena the other night got me thinking: How many legitimate NBA prospects does Kentucky have on its current roster?  It’s been awhile since we’ve had more than one at a time, let alone several, like we have this year.  Some are gimmes, others are works in progress, and there are even a few potential diamonds in the rough buried at the end of the bench.  Let’s break down the roster, layer-by-layer, in terms of perceived NBA talent.  Part I can be found here.  Next up:

The Keith Bogans/Tayshaun Prince Group (i.e., The guys that have every right to test the waters, but would almost definitely be best served by returning to school.)

Following the end of the 2000-01 season, Kentucky’s Keith Bogans and Tayshaun Prince made themselves eligible for that summer’s NBA Draft.  Both had the numbers to go: Bogans finished the season as the team’s leading scorer (17 ppg), while Prince was named the SEC Player of the Year after averaging 16.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest.  However, after going through their workouts and talking to GMs, both decided that it’d be best for them to spend some more time honing their skills at UK. The NBA guys told Prince he needed to get stronger and work on his defense in the post; they let Bogans know that, as a general rule, they like their perimeter players to be able to dribble the ball with both hands.  So both came back and both were better served for it.  Following Prince’s senior season at Kentucky the Detroit Pistons made him the 23rd selection of the 2002 NBA Draft.  Bogans ended up staying for two more seasons in Lexington, being named SEC Player of the Year in the process, before being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks (43rd overall) in 2003.

Kentucky’s current roster has one player, in my opinion, that should strongly consider the Bogans/Prince approach with this year’s NBA Draft.  He has every right to declare, but I think he’ll find out (from the guys that know) that it’d be in his best interests to play another year (or two) of college basketball.

Eric Bledsoe

Strengths: Athleticism, Strength, Excellent Slasher/Penetrator

Weaknesses: Turnovers, Inefficiency, Outside Jumper

The idea of Eric Bledsoe turning pro at the end of his freshman year seemed fairly crazy for the majority of this season.  All that changed, however, when Bledsoe went for 25 points against Florida, and suddenly people started calling him the second-best point guard prospect in this year’s class.  This seemed like a great idea at the time, but once you take a look at Bledsoe’s numbers (specifically, his turnovers and 2-point FG%), I think you’ll realize that sort of talk is just insane.

Don’t get me wrong.  I like Eric Bledsoe.  He’s a strong, tough player, and has been able to do things (knock down the 3-point shot, score 20+ points when we need him to) that I hadn’t expected to see out of him this early.  But for all the things he can do, there’s one thing he can’t: Not turn the ball over.  Take a quick look at Bledsoe’s NBA Draft Express profile, and one of the first things you’ll notice is that he’s one of the most turnover-prone players in college basketball. Bledsoe averages about .32 turnovers per possession, which currently puts him 3rd from the bottom amongst all college players.

Another problem with Bledsoe is his jump shot.  I know the numbers indicate he knocks it down at a fairly solid clip (42% from 3 for the season), but even the greenest NBA scout won’t have to look long before they realize that percentage is a little skewed.  For one, he’s only hit 26 for the season, or one for almost every 25 minutes he spends on the floor.  For two, they’re mostly uncontested, which allows him to get away with the slow, flatfooted jumper he currently hoists.  For three, for a guy with a rep as a slasher, his 2-point FG% is brutal (46 percent).  You’d have to think all of that would diminish Bledsoe’s high 3-point percentage in the eyes of most NBA scouts.  As if that weren’t enough, his size kills him.  He’s only 6′1”, which would almost certainly take away any chance of him playing off the ball at the next level, and only further compounds the issue of his jumpshot, or lack there of.

The quandary for Bledsoe, though, is whether or not it’d be worth coming back, since his role on next season’s team may not be any different from his role this season.  It’s looking more and more like Brandon Knight will be a Cat, which, from what I’ve seen (of Bledsoe) and heard (of Knight), would create a situation for next year that’s not much different from the one we’re currently seeing: Bledsoe as the two-guard (with occasional point guard responsibilities), with Knight as the primary ball-handler. Bledsoe and Wall have coexisted beautifully this season, and I’m sure we’d be able to say the same thing about a Bledsoe-Knight backcourt next year.  But as great as that is for Kentucky, it doesn’t do a whole lot for Eric Bledsoe, at least in terms of improving his NBA stock.  Ideally, he’d be able to come back, run the point next season, cut down on his turnovers, improve his outside jumper, and show NBA teams that he’s ready to be a floor general at the next level.  However, assuming Knight comes in, and Bledsoe stays at the two, all of the sudden he’s got the same issues facing his draft stock as he had as a freshman.  Combine that with the fact this year’s crop of point guards is considered extremely weak (a large part of the reason Bledsoe is becoming so highly regarded), and all of the sudden Bledsoe is facing a decision not unlike the one Jodie Meeks faced last season.  Do you come out now, even though you’re not ready, but the talent at your position is low?  Or do you stay another year, improve, but risk getting lost in the shuffle of a stronger class?

That will likely be the decision Bledsoe has to make at the end of the season.  I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t at least declare, if for no other reason than to attend the draft camps and see how his game stacks up against other prospects (Sherron Collins, Kalin Lucas, Kemba Walker, etc.) and figure out what he needs to work on for next year, assuming he returns (which I believe he will).

NBA Draft Express: Eric Bledsoe

Basketball Prospectus: One and Done?