Orton, Cousins proving they can play together, too
November 5th, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
Daniel Orton
Remember when Daniel Orton was debating whether to honor his commitment to play at Kentucky after coach Billy Gillispie was fired and new coach John Calipari hired.
One worry was that Orton might not be able to co-exist with DeMarcus Cousins, another highly-touted freshman big man. Even though there was never any real concern on Orton’s part about that, the rumors swirled almost as much as they did about whether point guards John Wall and Eric Bledsoe could play together.
Since Patrick Patterson is back, Cousins and Orton are not going to have a chance to play together nearly as much as Wall and Bledsoe. However, they have played well enough together so far that Calipari is already looking for more ways to use them together — and that suits Orton just fine.
“We are getting more comfortable. We have been hanging out a lot together recently and getting more cohesive. We are starting to learn each other’s personalities more and are spending time together. Coach Cal has put us together in practice more so we can work together and help us develop,” Orton said.
DeMarcus Cousins
Remember that talk about the two of you not being able to play together and how that might keep you from coming to Kentucky?
“That is pretty much wrong as you can see. He is a lot of fun to play with and it’s nice to know if I miss a shot, he’s going to have the weakside rebound and if my man is driving he will block the shot and I also can do the same and help on his man. It is kind of comforting and a relief to have him out there with me,” Orton said.
While Orton says it is easy to feel the passion from fans when playing in Rupp Arena, he admits all UK’s new players still have a lot to learn.
“We have a long way to go like Coach told us. We have a lot to work on and hopefully it will all come together,” Orton said. “It has not been as easy as we probably thought it would be. We are trying to find out about ourselves and how things impact us. But we are getting there.”
Posted in UK Basketball
LARRY: I can’t remember the last time the CATS have so many options on the low block great “PROBLEM” to have..LOL..I am nothing short of slap happy with the quality of kids on this team, Orton will show up huge before all is done but we can say that about all these great STUDENT/ATHELETES..GO BIG BLUE!!!
Orton has shown very impressive potential in the Blue/White game and the Campbellsville game. Whichever one of these two is in the game, there will be no falloff in production.
I’d really like to see DeMarcus go through the training Daniel and Pat had over the summer.
DeMarcus would make a mistake if he were able to go directly to the NBA (today).
Daniel is much better with his footing and elevates much more quickly. He seems like he is in better shape than DeMarcus.
Frankly, I’m not sold on DeMarcus starting over Daniel if they don’t start together. Time will tell, and I’m certainly not knocking Big Cuz’s game, just feel like there is a definitive quickness, elevation, and sprint-speed difference in the two.
I see these guys playing together quite a bit against teams with some size. It’s tough to check two extremely quick (and fast) guards and bigs at 6′9, 6′10, and 6′11.
We were that big with Bowie, Turpin, and Walker. I think these guys are similar in talent. I’d have to say (and I know it’s really early) I’d give the upperhand to Wall/Bledsoe or Wall/Dodson over Minnefield/Master based on talent alone.
With that said, the talent is obviously there. It’s an aweful good problem to have as a coach to contemplate if DeMarcus or Daniel is going to start.
Wow
Larry
I’m really an extremely offensive-minded fan/past player/coach.
I’d love to hear what your current take on how well you think we will defend this year.
Have Cal’s teams been feared by their foes? Has it been consistent? I don’t hear a ton about defense.
Did we grow tired of how awesome Tubby’s teams were on defense but boring in the half-court set? (Tubby’s D was second to none and I know we take it for granted – do we?) Did all the stress from Billy G. (across the board) about D take too much out of us to absorb or wish to talk about?
I think we’re all happy to have some fresh air in the scoring department – but will we truly have “better than good” team defense this year? Or will our guys get beat on assignments a little too often?
Talk to me brother.
patterson will need a rest or may get in foul trouble. it’s all included in the game plan.
I think the defense will be outstanding from all I have seen. It may not always have great numbers because of the pace, but these guys will be able to play defense
And great point about these guys giving Patterson a legit chance to rest for a change.
Just nice to have so many good parts.
Jim, re: defense. Cal’s teams at Memphis were consistently some of the best defensive teams in the nation, year in and year out. It may take him some time to get the same production out of this UK team (another factor of implementing an entirely new system and philosophy), but there’s no question the players on this team have the physical gifts necessary to be outstanding defensively. And there seems to be a commitment to defense on the part of players, which will make a huge difference in the actual execution.
I share your love of defense. Other than 1998 (obviously), my favorite Tubby team was undoubtedly the 2003 team. Jay Bilas referred to them as a defensive team that would just “take away your manhood” if you were the other team. I hope UK can be that again this year, as well as an outstanding scoring team.
Don’t want much, do I?
But nothing wrong with thinking that way because I really believe that is how Cal feels. And these guys have a lot of potential to be a lockdown defensive team
Great points Kilgore. I been locked down so well on D before that I felt my manhood was taken away.
You and Larry are making me feel better. The teame also made me feel better – their effort on defense certainly seemed much better last night!
With you too Jim. The D was pretty darn good last night