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Author
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Topic: Kentucky shows a lot to like
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catmandoo
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Member # 1284
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posted 11-03-2014 09:11 AM
This is a great basketball team and could be Kentucky's best ever and they still are very young.
This was a game where Kentucky not only had a talent edge, but also a huge size advantage.
The Wildcats started a lineup bigger than most NBA teams and used that to help wear out Pikeville 116-68 in Sunday’s exhibition win.
Kentucky had 29 assists on 49 field goals (including nine by Andrew Harrison), put six players in double figures, shot 65 percent from the field in the game and dominated the boards 49-25.
“Twenty-nine assists — and in a game where guys could have tried to get their own, it’s the only way this will work if they really want to share for each other,” said a giddy UK coach John Calipari after the game. “Twenty-five what we would call one ‘mores’. I have a shot, but he has a better shot, we need to let that one go. You know, we did not settle for 3’s in the first half, we just did what we had to do.
“I’ll tell you what, I’ve got to give it to them. They came out of the gate making shots and playing and they weren’t afraid. We were just too big. What I’m happy with is that because we were too big, we threw the ball where we should have, in the post.”
The pace of play for UK was so much faster than last year. Scout.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels, who watched most of these UK players in high school, posted on Twitter: “This is fastest I can remember a Calipari team playing. Flying end-to-end.”
That’s be design and don’t look for transition offense or defense to be the problem it was last year for UK.Alex Poythress got a lob from Aaron Harrison that he turned into a dunk and then he apologized to Andrew Harrison for missing a shot and costing Andrew Harrison an assist on previous possession. That’s what team chemistry is all about.
Calipari put Poythress on a platoon with more older players to take the leadership burden off him he had in the Blue-White Game.
Freshman Devin Booker looking much more comfortable and Booker-like than he did during UK’s exhibition trip to the Bahamas. Made shots, ran the floor, active at all times. He had 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting and three assists in just 16 minutes.
“I am just getting adjusted to the college game. Today was a good test for me and I stepped up to it. It was a good time out there and the goal for coach was for us to have fun and that is what we did,” Booker said.
“Play fast, don’t be in a hurry, though we’re playing fast,” Calipari said. “If we can score quick, we will. If not, let’s create a good shot. If we get a shot and miss it, let’s send three guys to the glass and rebound. If we don’t rebound it, they are not getting a transition basket.
Link
[ 11-03-2014, 09:12 AM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
Posts: 186366 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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m hamilton
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Member # 127
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posted 11-03-2014 07:44 PM
Don't be surprised if we see a lot of ZONE this year!
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The potus is planning 1st major tax hike since '93 in next economic package!
I still can't believe some people believed that LIAR!!!
Your whole life is determined(by) 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you handle it!!!
Posts: 128558 | From: vevay, IN USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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catmandoo
Player
Member # 1284
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posted 11-03-2014 09:05 PM
It looks like Booker is going to get his share of playing time if continues to shoot 3's like he has.
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
Posts: 186366 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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SCWC
Player
Member # 2464
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posted 11-04-2014 02:43 AM
The more I see of Booker, the more I like his game. He is young, just turned 18 this past week so he is going to be a good one. He will get a lot of minutes this season.
Posts: 17777 | From: Myrtle Beach, SC | Registered: Jun 2005
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catmandoo
Player
Member # 1284
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posted 11-04-2014 08:32 AM
Ray, I don't think Booker was the best recruit we got but he seems to be the one that has surprised us the most and his upside could turn out to be very special. Great shooters are like hens teeth and don't show up that often but it really looks like we got one in Booker and if he keeps playing and shooting like he did in the Pikeville game.
Here is a article that talks about what Booker's teammates and coach think of him. When your team talks about a recruit like this you know he is something special.
Devin Booker said the main objective when Kentucky played Pikeville in Sunday’s exhibition game was “to go out there and have fun and win.” That’s what Kentucky did with its 116-68 win that featured 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting by Booker, a freshman guard.
“Going into the game, I didn’t know where Pikeville was at first,” said Booker. “I still don’t know where it is.”
However, he knows his game has improved dramatically from the time UK played exhibition games in the Bahamas and he struggled to make shots.
“I’m just getting adjusted to the college game and today was a good test for me and I feel like I stepped up to it. It was a good time out there. Like I said the goal was for us to have and we did,” Booker said. “I gained like 10 pounds, cut down on body fat and more muscle mass. It’s just been a lot of hard work this summer. I’m going to continue to do it.”
Teammates were not surprised that Booker played so well against Pikeville.
“He’s a flat-out scorer. Practices, you’ll see he’s a flat-out scorer,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “Doesn’t miss much when he has an open shot. He always knows how to make his own shot. So you saw a good glimpse of what is Devin Booker.”
Towns said Booker “came in the gym and worked harder” after the team returned from the Bahamas.
“That’s the easiest antidote to any challenges you have, is go right back in the gym and start fresh,” Towns said. “When you have to guard someone like him, it challenges everybody every day. You know anytime he can make his own shot. At any time he’s going to hit the tough ones.”
Junior center Willie Cauley-Stein said Booker just did what he should.
“That’s what Book does. It doesn’t surprise me. That’s what he’s for — to shoot the ball and play defense,” Cauley-Stein said.
Kentucky coach John Calipari thought Booker “played well” against Pikeville.
“I love his speed up-and-down the court. See, Devin — if Devin thinks he’s going to get two points, you can’t believe how fast he is. He will run — he will outrun world-class sprinters to go get that ball,” Calipari said.
Link
[ 11-04-2014, 08:42 AM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
Posts: 186366 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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