Louisville is going to get blown out today.

[cusetown1]

I just don't see it any other way. They have looked like crap lately.

 

[SUintheVille]

I just don't see it any other way. They have looked like crap lately.

I agree they haven't played well, have watched them in person too. I have a feeling they will play better than most think. They have the talent. Execution has been another thing lately. Pitino should have them ready. I do see them losing, and maybe by 10+, but I think they'll give UK a game for at least awhile. Here's hoping for a big upset!

 

[Cuse4]

I just don't see it any other way. They have looked like crap lately.

I strongly disagree... This Lville team needed that loss, whereas a team like Cuse probably doesn't need one... Rick will have them ready... Look for Russ and Chris Smith, as well as Siva and others to put a ton of pressure on Teague, that he's not ready for... Closer than the experts think and down to the wire! Go Cards

 

[stuckinbig11]

Maybe the UK frosh will have difficulty with the UL pressure.

 

[realorange]

Remember Louisville is just getting back together as a team due to the injuries they've had.

 

[Solitude]

Louisville's half court offense looks terrible and they are doing awful in transition. They aren't passing the ball well and they are picking up way to many fouls.

 

[SUintheVille]

UofL's half court offense non-existent. Good thing they are getting into lane and finishing. Too many turnovers. Kyle Kuric, who kills Cuse, hardly has any touches. Need him to hit some 3s in 2nd half. Great comeback. Need to continue in 2nd half.

 

[Garbs]

or not

 

[44cuse]

These teams are good. No other way to say it.

44cuse

 

[Cuseman78]

These teams are good. No other way to say it.

44cuse

Not today they weren't. That was some awful basketball. Though Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist are impressive. Siva was a disaster for Lville and Kuric only shows up against us.

 

[SUintheVille]

Don't know what the problem with Kuric was. His teammates didn't even look for him, and he hardly moved out there to get to a spot to shoot. Since they have no other outside shooters other than Russ Smith, Kuric's lack of effort was terrible. Too much street ball 1-on-1 play by Louisville, although got to give Russ credit as the main guy playing very aggressively, despite being a little out of control with some questionable shot selections at times.

Yeah, you can bet that Kuric will probably hit 5 or 6 3s against SU. That would figure.

 

[44cuse]

Not today they weren't. That was some awful basketball. Though Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist are impressive. Siva was a disaster for Lville and Kuric only shows up against us.

Disagree completely. Great perimeter defense was what took its toll on the shooting percentages. Those teams were aggressive to the boards, aggressive to the loose balls, aggressive to the rack and aggressive protecting the tin. Very impressed by both of these teams today.

44cuse

 

[Solitude]

Disagree completely. Great perimeter defense was what took its toll on the shooting percentages. Those teams were aggressive to the boards, aggressive to the loose balls, aggressive to the rack and aggressive protecting the tin. Very impressed by both of these teams today.

44cuse

Disagree completely. Poor passing and not working for open shots were what took its toll on the shooting percentages.

 

[Cuseman78]

Disagree completely. Great perimeter defense was what took its toll on the shooting percentages. Those teams were aggressive to the boards, aggressive to the loose balls, aggressive to the rack and aggressive protecting the tin. Very impressed by both of these teams today.

44cuse

We watched different games. That wasn't exactly a pleasure to watch. The shooting numbers bear that out. And any game with a combined 70 FTs is inherently unwatchable in my book. It was like I was watching the NBA (aka FT shooting contest).

 

[44cuse]

Disagree completely. Poor passing and not working for open shots were what took its toll on the shooting percentages.

Not what I saw. In fact, at about the 9 minute mark of the second half, one of the Louisville bigs received a high post entry pass, made a back to the basket move to his let, and dished a sweet bounce pass out for an open three. Perfect high post inside feed with a look opposite for the kick out.

Poor passing is often a function of great perimeter def.

44cuse

 

[44cuse]

We watched different games. That wasn't exactly a pleasure to watch. The shooting numbers bear that out. And any game with a combined 70 FTs is inherently unwatchable in my book. It was like I was watching the NBA (aka FT shooting contest).

Funny. I thought it was great to watch. I like when teams play aggressive and go to the rack and protect the basket. If that results in FT's...who cares. That was aggressive basketball and I thought it was great. BT has the ability to take it to the hole like some of these guys were today when he tries.

That said, I also love the NBA. So that may have something to do with it.

44cuse

 

[Cuseman78]

Funny. I thought it was great to watch. I like when teams play aggressive and go to the rack and protect the basket. If that results in FT's...who cares. That was aggressive basketball and I thought it was great. BT has the ability to take it to the hole like some of these guys were today when he tries.

That said, I also love the NBA. So that may have something to do with it.

44cuse

Yea we obviously enjoy different styles. That was absolutely unwatchable for me (not a fan of FTs shooting contests and missed bunnies). Dare I say I enjoyed the last 10 minutes of Iowa-Wisconsin better? Who woulda thunk it? And as you know, I despise the NBA.

 

[Solitude]

Not what I saw. In fact, at about the 9 minute mark of the second half, one of the Louisville bigs received a high post entry pass, made a back to the basket move to his let, and dished a sweet bounce pass out for an open three. Perfect high post inside feed with a look opposite for the kick out.

Poor passing is often a function of great perimeter def.

44cuse

How do you account for all those terrible step back three point shots then? Pointing out one open shot isn't necessarily evidence for an team's play an entire game. Most of the shots taken were very contested because Louisville wasn't dishing the ball when they drove instead opting to get blocked by Davis

 

[44cuse]

Yea we obviously enjoy different styles. That was absolutely unwatchable for me (not a fan of FTs shooting contests and missed bunnies). Dare I say I enjoyed the last 10 minutes of Iowa-Wisconsin better? Who woulda thunk it? And as you know, I despise the NBA.

So let me ask you this...when you were watching that game, how did you think we would do against those teams? Clearly two very different styles (UK/Louisville compared to SU), but from a player perspective the closest we have to the style is Dion.

But did you come away from that thinking we would fairly easily beat those teams? The only reason I ask is because I came away from that game thinking that UK was clearly more athletic and aggressive than we are and Louisville is...well...Louisville. Kuric will have 8 three's and that will be that. But same odd aggressive Louisville that has given us fits.

44cuse

 

[Cuseman78]

So let me ask you this...when you were watching that game, how did you think we would do against those teams? Clearly two very different styles (UK/Louisville compared to SU), but from a player perspective the closest we have to the style is Dion.

But did you come away from that thinking we would fairly easily beat those teams? The only reason I ask is because I came away from that game thinking that UK was clearly more athletic and aggressive than we are and Louisville is...well...Louisville. Kuric will have 8 three's and that will be that. But same odd aggressive Louisville that has given us fits.

44cuse

I'm not saying that it wasn't a game full of talented players. Of course it was. But it happened to be poorly played. It happens. Neither team was at their best. There were great individual performances by Kidd-Gilchrist and Anthony Davis. They are freaks. But it was a game that had very little flow, I saw no momentum changing 3s (which I love), and it was just overall ragged. I am in no way saying that these two teams aren't quality teams.

Regarding us playing either team, I would absolutely love to see this Kentucky team face our zone. That would be REALLY interesting. For my money, I think Kentucky is clearly the most talented team in the country. Are they the best? I'm not sure yet. I need to see more. I actually think there are 4 or 5 teams that can all stake a claim to being the best team (us, OSU, UK, UNC, and maybe Baylor).

Louisville, they always beat us. Bad match-up and they have our number. I have zero doubt they will beat us at least once. Confidence is non-existent when we face Pitino. I think we have the better squad this particular year, but as you know sometimes it simply comes down to match-ups when teams are relatively equally talented.

 

[44cuse]

How do you account for all those terrible step back three point shots then? Pointing out one open shot isn't necessarily evidence for an team's play an entire game. Most of the shots taken were very contested because Louisville wasn't dishing the ball when they drove instead opting to get blocked by Davis

Step back three's: result of great perimeter defense. AKA: The original premise.

44cuse

 

[44cuse]

I'm not saying that it wasn't a game full of talented players. Of course it was. But it happened to be poorly played. It happens. Neither team was at their best. There were great individual performances by Kidd-Gilchrist and Anthony Davis. They are freaks. But it was a game that had very little flow, I saw no momentum changing 3s (which I love), and it was just overall ragged. I am in no way saying that these two teams aren't quality teams.

Regarding us playing either team, I would absolutely love to see this Kentucky team face our zone. That would be REALLY interesting. For my money, I think Kentucky is clearly the most talented team in the country. Are they the best? I'm not sure yet. I need to see more. I actually think there are 4 or 5 teams that can all stake a claim to being the best team (us, OSU, UK, UNC, and maybe Baylor).

Louisville, they always beat us. Bad match-up and they have our number. I have zero doubt they will beat us at least once. Confidence is non-existent when we face Pitino. I think we have the better squad this particular year, but as you know sometimes it simply comes down to match-ups when teams are relatively equally talented.

Agree on UK. The most talented team in the country. IMO, they are the best team in the country, but multiple teams (including SU) still have a stake to that claim. Would also like to see them face the zone and see what our length would do to them. Hard to see any other team matching up with them athletically. It'll take something like our zone to neutralize that.

As for the game. I don;t think it was a bad game at all. What I saw was similar to LSU/Bama (which I know you liked which is why I am surprised you did not like this game) with two teams playing nails tough defense. Yeah, the offense suffered...but does that really matter.

I don't think it was poorly played at all. I thought the defense was excellent. And sometimes excellent defensive games make for ugly basketball games. Just because the offensive numbers don;t look good, it doesn't mean the game wasn't wel played.

44cuse

 

[Knicks411]

On the FT thing, last year, an NBA game had .3 FT for every fg attempted. Last year, in NCAA, teams averaged .37 FT for every FG attempted.

The raw numbers are probably higher, but that is because A) NBA games are 20% longer, and B) the shot clock is about 33% shorter.

Found the raw numbers, average college team took 20.9 FT per game last year. Average NBA team took 24.3 per game. Per 48 minutes, the average college team took 25.1 FT per game, compared to 24.3 FT per game in the NBA.

 

[Cuse4]

Not today they weren't. That was some awful basketball. Though Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist are impressive. Siva was a disaster for Lville and Kuric only shows up against us.

Could not have been a more accurate post... don't know why ricky stuck with Siva... MUCH MUCH better with the 2 Smith's... not like Siva was just missing open shots or something, and Rick thought he'd get going... he was lost, scared, hesitant and just unbelievably bad... I covered on that Russ Smith 3 at buzzer btw

 

[Flacusian]

There is no question as to the talent on the floor for UK, but talent doesn't always prevail to win a basketball game. I came away feeling that if Syracuse was up against either of those two teams today, Cuse would have handled them with little problem. I just finished watching PC/ Georgetown and wasn't impressed by them either. With Marquette not showing much as of late and Uconn not looking as dominant as people believed they would be, Syracuse has the ability to run the table in the BE although it is highly unlikely... they are good enough to do it.