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The Good
* Nick of Time. Nick Richards may have put up his best game as a Cat. Yeah, so he had to come back in late to notch a double-double, but he was darn efficient when he was in there. I've always thought Richards had good touch; it's the move before the shot that always concerns you. Andy Kennedy made a point about Richards getting a little lower, and I've noticed that myself. Plays too straight up, which allows guys to get into the phone booth with him and rip the ball out. But that hook shot is a beaut, and now what we need to see is some consistency.
* "Sestina" Means Leader in Nordic. Nate Sestina continues to impress. One thing that jumps out about him is how much more vocal than he was than Reid Travis. Not sure Travis was the type of guy who talked a lot. You can see on the TV broadcasts that Sestina is talking to guys at virtually every dead ball. I really like him. Yes, he's limited, but he's going to be a godsend for this program this season and I predict he's a guy who Kentucky fans will remember for years.
* Ashton Hagans is Cliff Hawkins. Hagans' defense...goodness gracious. I tell my son every time we watch a game, "Can you imagine trying to bring the ball up against him?" Nightmare world. How Hagans tries to jump that dribble hand-off is crazy. That's the easiest play in basketball and Hagans gets a hand in there at least half the time. It's insane. If there's a better defender in America show him to me.
* New Balance. Kentucky's balance through two games is a really good sign. Even with Maxey's heroics against Michigan St., the number of shots each guy is getting is a little different than we usually see at UK. Usually two, maybe three, guys dominate the shots. This situation looks a little like 2012...and before you jump me, I'm not saying this team is as good. They just share the ball like that team. I think that comes mostly from having a pass-first point guard who has been in the system for a year.
The Bad
* Team o' Clankers? Kentucky's outside shooting was probably the only negative last night, as the Cats went 2-14. Of course they didn't need to take outside shots, what with the way Eastern presses and gives up easy dunks, but you'd like to see this team, with as thin as the frontcourt is, be a team that can gut you from three. I think they could be that sort of team going forward but they're not there yet.
* Brooks Wasn't Here. Keion Brooks had a nice game last night and he really deserves to go in "The Good," but his 1-6 showing from the foul line made me want to punch a puppy. He's got really good touch, so he shouldn't be such a bad foul shooter. But he hasn't found the stroke yet from there and IMO needs to calm down a tad.
The Ugly
* Crowd Control. That was one of those games where you could hear individual conversations in Rupp. I think I heard somebody putting in her Kroger Click-List for Saturday morning while the Cats were setting up offense at one point. These early season games are so necessary for these young Cats' growth, but they aren't what you would call exciting. Especially if you're in the building.
* A.W. Hamilton is Red Skull. Every time Eastern's coach popped up on my TV screen I had the urge to call the Avengers.
* Nick of Time. Nick Richards may have put up his best game as a Cat. Yeah, so he had to come back in late to notch a double-double, but he was darn efficient when he was in there. I've always thought Richards had good touch; it's the move before the shot that always concerns you. Andy Kennedy made a point about Richards getting a little lower, and I've noticed that myself. Plays too straight up, which allows guys to get into the phone booth with him and rip the ball out. But that hook shot is a beaut, and now what we need to see is some consistency.
* "Sestina" Means Leader in Nordic. Nate Sestina continues to impress. One thing that jumps out about him is how much more vocal than he was than Reid Travis. Not sure Travis was the type of guy who talked a lot. You can see on the TV broadcasts that Sestina is talking to guys at virtually every dead ball. I really like him. Yes, he's limited, but he's going to be a godsend for this program this season and I predict he's a guy who Kentucky fans will remember for years.
* Ashton Hagans is Cliff Hawkins. Hagans' defense...goodness gracious. I tell my son every time we watch a game, "Can you imagine trying to bring the ball up against him?" Nightmare world. How Hagans tries to jump that dribble hand-off is crazy. That's the easiest play in basketball and Hagans gets a hand in there at least half the time. It's insane. If there's a better defender in America show him to me.
* New Balance. Kentucky's balance through two games is a really good sign. Even with Maxey's heroics against Michigan St., the number of shots each guy is getting is a little different than we usually see at UK. Usually two, maybe three, guys dominate the shots. This situation looks a little like 2012...and before you jump me, I'm not saying this team is as good. They just share the ball like that team. I think that comes mostly from having a pass-first point guard who has been in the system for a year.
The Bad
* Team o' Clankers? Kentucky's outside shooting was probably the only negative last night, as the Cats went 2-14. Of course they didn't need to take outside shots, what with the way Eastern presses and gives up easy dunks, but you'd like to see this team, with as thin as the frontcourt is, be a team that can gut you from three. I think they could be that sort of team going forward but they're not there yet.
* Brooks Wasn't Here. Keion Brooks had a nice game last night and he really deserves to go in "The Good," but his 1-6 showing from the foul line made me want to punch a puppy. He's got really good touch, so he shouldn't be such a bad foul shooter. But he hasn't found the stroke yet from there and IMO needs to calm down a tad.
The Ugly
* Crowd Control. That was one of those games where you could hear individual conversations in Rupp. I think I heard somebody putting in her Kroger Click-List for Saturday morning while the Cats were setting up offense at one point. These early season games are so necessary for these young Cats' growth, but they aren't what you would call exciting. Especially if you're in the building.
* A.W. Hamilton is Red Skull. Every time Eastern's coach popped up on my TV screen I had the urge to call the Avengers.
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