For starters, I just gotta say it again this week: what a fabulous game. Just speaking as a sports fan in general, UK's loss to Indiana was by turns entertaining, thrilling, intense, pulse-pounding....basically everything you could ever hope for out of college basketball (and we say it again: IN DECEMBER!) The NBA should be grateful that they worked out their whole labor situation, 'cause the college game was going to absolutely steal some of their fans this season, and more than partially fill the void that the pros would have left. I'm convinced of it.
Now, coming at it from my usual Kentucky fan perspective: that ____ed. Especially that last part. You know, the one where UK missed free throws and let the Hoosiers get up the game-winner? Awful. I actually dreamed about that game several times last night (no joke) and my blue-demented, R.E.M.-driven cranium kept contriving these alternate scenarios where the Cats came away victorious, leaving the rabid Assembly Hall crowd in silence.
I suppose it's no wonder, since under most situations that's exactly what would have happened. Excuse me, "should" have happened. UK probably wins a best-of-seven against Indiana without breaking much of a sweat. Heck, they probably win most "best of ones" against Crean and company on any neutral floor, on any particular day, much less a home game at Rupp Arena.
But we all know that's not what college hoops is about. It's about one game, one moment, and yesterday it belonged to the folks in Bloomington. So before I continue my.....session, let me pause and give them their props: Well played, sirs. Nice shot, big guy. Nice dunk, other dude. Nice coaching, guy with the glasses. You beat number one. Pretty fair and square, I'd say.
You shoot lights out from three, you're always going to have a chance. And I think even the Hoosiers would admit, they nailed more than their share. Whichever Zeller that was, he did a pretty good job of neutralizing Davis. Terrence Jones: don't even get me started. What the foxtrot? I mean, did he even step off the bus? Jeez.
But to me the story of this one is absolutely about the end-game. It's about putting things on ice and walking away clean. Number one: Make your free throws.
MAKE YOUR FREE THROWS.
It's not easy, I know. Never will be. Not everybody can step up like Brent Turner at the Martin Luther tournament and act like it's really a two-footer in his backyard. But still. It is only fifteen feet, wide open/take your time/CONCENTRATE! ..... and it is a shot everybody practices, every single practice, and you know what? You've gotta want to shoot it.
The better free throwers absolutely prefer to get fouled late in games. And I believe Doron Lamb is in that category. But yesterday, he gacked one. It happens. I bet he feels like garbage today because of it. Anthony Davis on the other hand, whew...I don't think he wanted any part of that free throw stuff. That's what I saw.
It's so mental. It really is. Muscle memory helps. No doubt. Having a routine. All that stuff is true. But I think everybody in BBN expected Doron to make his. And unfortunately, I wouldn't say the same for AD. And what's more, I'm not even going to make a unibrow joke right here. I know you're disappointed. I guess that's how it is with freshman, one week you're the hero, the next week....
So let's just say Mr. Davis needs a few more reps from the stripe. Like about a billion. Whatever it takes to get him into a groove and a mental state of mind where he feels like the ball is going to swish through any rim, in any gym, whenever he really needs one. It's absolutely do-able. Confidence, man. Stroke it like you mean it, and stand there and pose on your follow through like you had it all the way.
Otherwise, Kentucky could have itself a real liability in the late/close ones for the rest of the season.
Man, this game was so winnable.
And secondly, on that SportsCenter Top 10 shot, let's listen to the coach, okay? Do what the guy in the huddle tells you to do. Don't lose that game like that with two fouls left to give. Dang it! That was just so.... just so....preventable. I imagine the "young team" excuse is fully applicable here, but I'd still rather not hear it. Pretty simple strategy: don't give up a 3. Under any circumstances.
Just foul early. Make it obvious. Not a shooter of course, preferably the guy catching the inbounds or bringing it up in the backcourt. Make them burn some clock. Easy-peasy. But repeat: do not give up a 3. I guarantee that's the last thing Cal said.
But the Wildcats did. Fell asleep on that one. And their guy made a nice shot.
Will the last student that leaves the gym please pick up the giant Dick Vitale head on a stick and drop it in the dumpster please? K thx bye.
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Great game...no doubt! Hoosiers shot more threes than they ever did under Knight. They had an unconscious shooting night. I felt that Terence must have showed up at the wrong gym-hope he played well for whomever was there. The calls were typical for Assembly Hall, but in the last few minutes, the refs seemed to be closer to neutral. We lost because we did not execute free throws- the albatross of Calipari's existence. We also lost after making a great comeback in a hostile environment. This team of future multi-millionaires needed a little humility, and certainly had no business going into the SEC being undefeated. Having said that, I personally like this loss. There is a lot to take from it...perhaps this is a December lesson that may offset what could have been a late March one. It is certainly better to teach these guys that they are freshman now, than to have to rationalize this after the season has ended on a heart-wrenching note. Thank you WW for shining your own brand of humor on the situation. I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans twice in 2012.
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