Notes from the Dark Side...

Michael here... As Austin has pointed out, there are all sorts of positives to take away from last nights game. 102 points is nothing to sneeze at, and five players scoring in double figures isn't either. However, being the voice of reason here, I'll point out some of the negative thoughts from the dark side of things...

First and foremost, our defense was once again AWOL last night. For most of the game, the Bearkats rushed down the floor with little or no resistance from Kentucky's defensive efforts. Sam Houston three point shooters were wide open almost every trip. Even after they hit three or four 3-pointers in a row, Kentucky defenders were slow to rotate, switch, or help when shooters began spotting up from behind the arc. The three point defense has been absolutely horrible, and it has to get better, which is probably the biggest understatement of all time.

Another area of concern is our inability to have sustainable help from the bench. Orton, Hood, Stevenson, and Harris all played last night, but none did anything of note (the exception being Orton's four blocks). Instead, they seemed out of sync, and at times, unsure of their role on the floor. This was especially true of our seniors. Perry and Ramon missed wide open shots, failed to get in position on the defensive end of the court, and struggled to rebound the ball effectively. I'll go on the record now and say that if Kentucky is going to be the number three or four team in the country, as some have predicted, they'll need better play from the bench, especially the veterans. And Dodson and Liggins and the rest of the team better quit making bad decisions that put them in Cal's Doghouse. We need all hands on deck.

Next... What's up with all the showboating? Players were throwing lobs and look-away passes that went out of bounds or five feet above the intended recipient's outstretched hands, instead of just looking the ball into their teammates chest. Players were looking for the slick pass or sick dunk instead of just using strong fundamentals to get the ball in the hole. I'd say this to our young team... let's get up by a bunch, lots more than 14 or 15 points, before we start trying to make the ESPN highlight reel.

Just the poor fundamentals in general are a source of concern. Players need to dribble, pass, and rebound the right way every time. That sounds so simple, I know, but how many times did the Cats throw the ball away, rebound with little or no force, or make a silly foul? Too many times to count, which all worked together to keep the Bearkats in the game for the entire 40 minutes.

And I'll end with this last point of emphasis for our team. Develop the killer instinct! How many times in the first three regular season games have the Cats had their opponents on the ropes, just waiting for the knock out punch, only to see the Cats let them off the hook? UK jumped on Sam Houston State with a 14-2 lead and before you knew it, the Bearkats had answered with several big shots. Kentucky has to learn to jump on their opponent and stay on them for the duration of the 40 minute contest. And when they're up by 20, make it 30, instead of letting the other team back in it. And also, go to Patrick Patterson more. He's still not getting enough touches. When we're up by 15 or 20, let's go to our haymaker for the knock-out punches!

In closing, I hate to be a debbie-downer, but this team has a LONG way to go before there's any talk about top 5 rankings or National Championship potential. I love my Cats, and I'll be the first to say when they're clicking on the right spots. However, right now, they're not, so if you want to drink the blue flavored kool-aid, read Austin's post below. For now, this is Darth Vader signing off.