Kentucky...

[pie n eye]

Here's a wild idea, there shouldn't be any polls until...say, January 1st. Obviously that will never happen. But ranking teams before the season starts is a bad system.

[kochHead]

Here's a wild idea, there shouldn't be any polls until...say, January 1st. Obviously that will never happen. But ranking teams before the season starts is a bad system.

Since the one and done rule it has made it even harder to evaluate teams pre-season.

[_kai_]

Drive and kick out and pick and pops. Kentucky bigs live for blocks, they bite easily on drives, just a massive collapse on the paint. Kentucky is averaging nearly 10 blocks/game and 8 steals/game. The team that beats Kentucky will have superior guard play, and doesn't crash offensive boards too hard so they can get back on D to stop the fast break. Also, get them to the line, shooting 60% on the year from the line.

I'd bet money the Shockers wouldn't have gotten blown out like that against Kentucky. Not saying we'd beat them, but it would have at least been competitive.

[choida]

I think we would have a 50-50 chance at beating this Kentucky team

[WuShock16]

I'd bet money the Shockers wouldn't have gotten blown out like that against Kentucky. Not saying we'd beat them, but it would have at least been competitive.

I said the same thing. Kentucky would probably still beat us, but there is NO WAY that a good Gregg Marshall team loses by 32. I pity the guys who would have to watch film with Gregg after a disgustingly-played game like that.

[ShockerPrez]

When I see teams like UK, I imagine our guards having a field day digging on their bigs and picking pockets. Also getting in the passing lanes.

Not real sure our bigs could post up, but that doesnt mean we couldnt run a motion offense to get some easy back door buckets. Also if they sagged and played zone, we could hit shots.

It would be fun to see what Gregg would do.

[molly jabali]

When I see teams like UK, I imagine our guards having a field day digging on their bigs and picking pockets. Also getting in the passing lanes.

Not real sure our bigs could post up, but that doesnt mean we couldnt run a motion offense to get some easy back door buckets. Also if they sagged and played zone, we could hit shots.

It would be fun to see what Gregg would do.

Part of it depends how closely the 'blocks' are called...while loving KU getting whalloped and not having the sense to QUIT DOING THAT, I did think they got bumped on several occasions...

[WSUwatcher]

When I see teams like UK, I imagine our guards having a field day digging on their bigs and picking pockets. Also getting in the passing lanes.

Not real sure our bigs could post up, but that doesnt mean we couldnt run a motion offense to get some easy back door buckets. Also if they sagged and played zone, we could hit shots.

It would be fun to see what Gregg would do.

Well, maybe we'll get a chance. Not that I'd object to seeing Kentucky in the opposite NCAA bracket or even having someone else upset them before the Shocks reached them, but it would be kind of fun to see WSU meet Kentucky in a tournament round befitting the quality of the teams this year. And you know the players and coaches would embrace the challenge.

[jdshock]

Well, maybe we'll get a chance. Not that I'd object to seeing Kentucky in the opposite NCAA bracket or even having someone else upset them before the Shocks reached them, but it would be kind of fun to see WSU meet Kentucky in a tournament round befitting the quality of the teams this year. And you know the players and coaches would embrace the challenge.

Not a comment necessarily on how good UK may be this year, but I like our team's chances in a revenge game. FVV, Baker, and Cotton are just too competitive to lose twice in a row to the same team.

[Slalomshocker]

Beating UK is as simple as playing fundamental basketball. KU tried to go athlete for athlete with them. Can't do that. Like has been said, make their bigs move. They collapse and try to block EVERYTHING, and its not just one guy, 3-4 guys are going for the block. As far as rebounding, put a butt on a guy and make the official call them for the foul. Box out well, pick and pop and pressure defense to create transition opportunities. The jump shots have to fall and the guards have to be good. The bigs just have to play fundamentally sound. Foul trouble will wreck Cal's platoon system, and once someone is playing with the wrong team and the balance is upset....it could get interesting. Right now its all working well because its going to plan, throw a wrench in the plan and lets see how all the young kids handle it.

There is a reason Kentucky is the favorite to win the championship at +150.... Duke for example was at +1250 at last check.

[Dave Stalwart]

Beating UK is as simple as playing fundamental basketball. KU tried to go athlete for athlete with them. Can't do that. Like has been said, make their bigs move. They collapse and try to block EVERYTHING, and its not just one guy, 3-4 guys are going for the block. As far as rebounding, put a butt on a guy and make the official call them for the foul. Box out well, pick and pop and pressure defense to create transition opportunities. The jump shots have to fall and the guards have to be good. The bigs just have to play fundamentally sound. Foul trouble will wreck Cal's platoon system, and once someone is playing with the wrong team and the balance is upset....it could get interesting. Right now its all working well because its going to plan, throw a wrench in the plan and lets see how all the young kids handle it.

There is a reason Kentucky is the favorite to win the championship at +150.... Duke for example was at +1250 at last check.

I want the game for one big reason. To see TKO posterize some really big "shot blockers"

[Slalomshocker]

Just a guess that it would be Cauley-Stein on the receiving end....he is on 2 posters that I know of already. The kid from Buffalo's was very impressive. So was Cle's.

[pinstripers]

If I remember right, neither WSU or KU recruited Willie Cauley. Wonder why? K-State was all over him and was the leader until he moved to KC for his Sr. season.

[wushock27]

Here's something else to consider... UK played 5 games in the Bahamas in late summer, therefore getting more practice and play time as a group... So you could say there are further along than most teams at this point in that regard...

[ShockerPrez]

Dont get me wrong. UK could play mediocre and beat anyone. The Shocks would have to play damn near flawless to beat them. I would love to play em in the final 4! :)