Yes, I’m double dipping tonight. I’m such a good blogger than instead of doing my 8 P.M post I left it sitting in a word document, completely finished and forgotten and went and played some basketball with my friends, so I figured I’d just combine the two, so congratulations, you get to double dip tonight.
With the end of the year quickly approaching and tons of posts summing up how this half of the year went for the Kentucky Wildcats, I thought instead of grading the team on how they’ve done, how about some questions that need to be answered going into the SEC.
John Calipari says it and says it again but I don’t think it really rings through with Kentucky Wildcat fans until it happens; Kentucky is everyone’s super bowl. As Kentucky fans, we’ve witnessed it time and time again, and more recently when Loyola (MD) came into Rupp just today and gave Kentucky all they could handle. The SEC is no different, sure the conference isn’t a grueling one, but when Kentucky comes to town, the arena will be filled and teams will be out for blood, it’s just the way it is. On the road in the SEC, anything can happen.
So Kentucky is NOT a well-oiled machine yet, they are far from it, maybe even a work in progress. To compete in the SEC and get to that number one seed in the NCAA tournament come March, which is honestly right around the corner.
Rebounding:
Kentucky is averaging around 42 rebounds a game, and that would be okay if Kentucky didn’t give up so many offensive rebounds. Something Kentucky lacks is the mentality to box out because; well they don’t have to most of the time. Even Anthony Davis has said that Coach Calipari told the team no more one handed rebounds, they have to go up with two hands and grab it. Now, most of the time Kentucky is out rebounding whoever they are playing, but they can’t give up the easy offensive rebounds they have been giving up if they want to be elite, and they need to grab more on the offensive end themselves. One offensive rebound could beat you.
Depth:
Coming into the season it didn’t seem like depth would be a problem, now that Terrence Jones has gone down with a finger injury, we see just how shallow Kentucky can be. Now this doesn’t bother me because, quite frankly last season Kentucky went to the final four with just six guys that played a lot, but when you have talent on the bench, you have to use it. Kyle Wiltjer has to make it a priority to get better on defense; too often he gets brought out onto the floor and drove past easily. Kentucky NEEDS Wiltjer’s offense on the floor at times when the offense is stagnant or in a zone, he just has to get better on defense. Eloy Vargas has been showing improvement, but when he goes out on the floor, as Coach Calipari said, he needs to play like he’s the best big man out there, if Eloy can give Kentucky 5-8 minutes per game, it would do wonders for Kentucky.
Terrence Jones:
While many write Jones’s game at Indiana a bad game, I tend to agree, but on the other hand something about his body language and the way he acted bothered me, Kentucky fans thought they may see improvement coming during the Chattanooga game, but he got hurt and quickly didn’t see any action again. What Terrence Jones will we see going into the New Year fresh off of a finger injury that has kept him out of action? Will we see All-American Terrence Jones, or a player who shouldn’t see the floor for Kentucky. If All-American Terrence Jones shows up, it could get ugly for opponents in the SEC, if not, then well, it could mean trouble again on the road for Kentucky in the SEC.
Guard Play:
Every game it seems Marquis Teague is getting better and better. Calipari said that we as fans would start seeing great strides from Teague, and a few times it seems he’s under control and he’s not taking the crazy threes he was at the beginning of the year, just threes to keep the defense honest, but I’m not sold on Teague yet. I know he’ll get better, I know he’ll be elite by the end of the year, but if Kentucky wants to have an easy road to New Orleans, then I think the Louisville game against Peyton Siva, we will see glimpses of what Teague will do in the SEC this season. Siva is a seasoned guard and Louisville’s defense isn’t terrible, it will be interesting to see how the young freshman point guard reacts to a top ten defense.
If Kentucky can master those four big questions, then they are set for a historic run in the SEC regular season, and into the SEC tournament, all the way through the NCAA tournament and back to New Orleans.
Now for the night cap?
I’m going to take this time and tell you guys to forget about basketball for a moment, put aside the fact that Kentucky lost against Indiana, put aside the fact that the team still has a way to go, and I can’t wait to see them play in January as much as you, but Christmas is the time for remembering other things, like family and friends.
As I’m off to hang out with some friends while I’m in from school, just remember Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s mother in your thoughts, prayers, whatever it is you do, just remember him, because having a loved one in the hospital is tough for anyone this time of year.
The Kidd has been nothing but a work horse for Kentucky this year, and while the “Breakfast Club” deal has been beat to death, it speaks volume for a kid who was a McDonald’s All American to be out working on his game in the wee hours of the morning without anyone telling him too. His mother is in the hospital, keep her in your prayers.
Good night #BBN and follow me on Twitter @JNorth0 and if I don’t see you…Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.