The Kentucky hoops freaks behind the Big Blue Lowdown (JRokDimes and UKHomer43) got together last recently and debated some important points about the future prospects of this year’s UK squad. Here’s an excerpt from the the point-counterpoint:
1) Who is the team UK should be most afraid to face?
JRokDimes
The Cats’ match-up with Mississippi State in Starkville on Feb. 16 still looms as a difficult road date based on MSU’s ability to shoot from deep, defend on the interior and run with Kentucky athletically. The two Tennessee games are big, too. But from a national perspective, Villanova is the team that UK fans should most fear. Why? Because Nova has the kind of savvy, experienced guards in Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher that can give Kentucky’s young backcourt fits. It’s true that they are undersized, but coach Jay Wright relies on a deep bench and can throw a lot of confusing looks at you defensively. Nova’s team is incredibly well conditioned and will pressure opposing teams all over the court, using a variety of half court traps to force mistakes. For a turnover prone team like Kentucky, this could be a problem. They also shoot the ball well both from the free throw line and beyond the arc. Basically, they are talented, well-coached and have been spectacular in the clutch (see last year’s regional final game vs. Pitt).
UKHomer43
I somewhat disagree. Villanova is excellent from the perimeter but significantly weaker than UK in the post. They have NOBODY to match up against Big Cuz or Patrick Patterson (if he sets his mind to actually play hard and contribute). The one team I think UK should fear most is Syracuse. They are long and tall and their zone will literally freak out John Wall and Eric Bledsoe, who will dribble into traps and turn the ball over with regularity. It’s unlikely UK will face either of these teams until deep in the tournament as they should both be #1 seeds.
2) How does this team compare historically to other Kentucky teams?
UKHomer43
Only one team in UK history compares. That was the 1995-‘96 team. They had nine legit NBA players and that includes “cup of coffee” guys like Jeff Sheppard and Wayne Turner. This year’s version is the most athletic and longest UK team in history. They have three players at the wing position that should all eventually play in the NBA. Bledsoe, Wall, Patterson, Cousins and Orton are all sure-fire NBA top 15 selections whenever they decide to leave for the pros. Harrellson, Stephenson, and Harris are decent role players and each of them should have a chance to play overseas for pay for a while.
JRokDimes
From a raw talent perspective, it is probably true that only the 1996 title team can compare with the 2009-‘10 Cats (though some props must be thrown out to the 1983-’84 team’s NBA front line of Mel Turpin, Kenny Walker and Sam Bowie). But as much as it pains me to say it, this team’s 23-1 record is a bit inflated, given that UK hasn’t played a single team with a legit hope to make a deep run in March. It makes it hard to say how they truly stack up against the past. But the pieces are all there.
3) What is Kentucky’s Achilles heel?
JRokDimes
Right now, UK’s biggest weakness is its youth. All of Kentucky’s problems stem from this in some way. The mental lapses of DeMarcus Cousins, the sometimes wild and out of control styles of Bledsoe and Wall, and the consistent failure to put inferior teams away—these are all symptoms of inexperience. Sure, there have been freshman stars like Derrick Coleman, Derrick Rose, Mike Bibby and Carmelo Anthony that led teams to deep runs, but they all had excellent supporting casts with veteran leadership. This is why the Cats need Patrick Patterson to be playing his best basketball come tourney time.
UKHomer43
UK’s biggest threat is a lack of expectations for how the tournament is officiated. Their draw and seeding will be crucial to their chances to take home the championship trophy. If they get placed in the East or Midwest region, they will be in games where tough physical halfcourt defense will be the order of the day. UK’s young and emotionally fragile guards could be overwhelmed against a feisty BCS conference team with veteran guards who force and dictate a slower tempo. A team that takes away UK’s ability to dribble penetrate and forces them to make plays that aren’t spontaneous definitely puts them at a disadvantage in a tournament where every possession becomes critical to surviving and advancing.
