UK’s inexperience doesn’t worry Vitale
November 11th, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
Don’t tell Dick Vitale that Kentucky cannot be a national championship contender with a starting lineup that has three freshmen or has five new players among the team’s top eight players.
“I will tell you one thing. It’s not a handicap to have a lineup with John Wall,” said the ESPN analyst Tuesday.
He noted how some “so-called experts” already had Wall, UK’s freshman point guard, as the top pick in the 2010 NBA draft.
“(DeMarcus) Cousins and those kids are talented. With motivation and inspiration, the will really create some noise,” Vitale said. “They are too talented, will be well coaches, have depth and size, (Patrick) Patterson is an all-American candidate, and (Daniel) Orton and Cousins give them great size,” Vitale said. “Darius Miller will be a much better player, too.
“The three guards they have will be very good. I have not talked to anybody who has put a question mark on John Wall.”
That includes Louisville coach Rick Pitino who Vitale said raved about Wall’s ability to get to the basket.
“Can they live up to frenzy down there will be the question,” Vitale said. “I was talking to some Kentucky fans and they were talking like they would run the table (and go undefeated) and that’s not going to happen. But they are so excited.”
Vitale doesn’t sense UK’s talented roster will have a huge adjustment to coach John Calipari’s dribble-drive offense or his intense defense. “John Wall has been breaking guys down off the dribble his whole life,” Vitale said. “He is going to get these kids to do it. They can move laterally. They are going to play and defend. John Calipari will not have it any other way. Darius Miller could be a standout defensively. DeAndre Liggins could give them quality play. Perry Stevenson can block shots.”
Maybe Vitale didn’t know Liggins has not played or maybe he knows he will be playing soon. Either way, Calipari obviously let Vitale know he thought Liggins could help.
What Vitale is waiting to see is for Patterson to be a more demanding player like Calipari wants him to be.
“Patterson without a doubt is a star. He has great hands and the ability to post up inside. At times, he has a tendency to disappear and not get involved in the action. He took only seven shots in an exhibition game and Cal was upset. No way should he take seven shots. He has to get 14 or 15 and make himself available. With the help he’ll get from Wall, I think he will be free inside a lot and will have a big year,” Vitale said.
Posted in UK Basketball
Sounds like Dickie V. is back on our bandwagon, after a 2 year absence. He may mention us a few times with Crapolina and Puke this season. Just kidding. I enjoy it when he broadcasts a game. He is more of a fan than a commentator. The man definitely loves his job.
HAS you can imagine, I have Mixed feelings about this…I Have yet to watch a Vitale called game when he didn’t call a player in that game”THE BEST PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY BABY” usually a UNC or DUKE player, OR “BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY BABY” that gets old IMO,That said he is exciting and the KIDS-AKA/Recruits love him…..MAYBE WE WILL get some of that SCREAMED about us for a change..curious to see…GO CATS!!! GO BIG BLUE BABY!!!!!!!!
This guy is so two-faced. I turn the sound off when he is calling a game. Yes, he did have some good things to say and we all want to hear them but I wish they had come out of someone else’s mouth…keyboard. I think puke and fartolina pay him off not to say bad things about them. And then there is that ‘other’ coach from that ‘other’ school in Louisville, who he is so fond of, bet he will be a character witness for him. As far as I am concerned, he is up there with the other two piranhas that we should boycott. Anyone heard when we are going to stand outside the LHL boycotting that journalist that thinks he knows what he is talking about? I think they should give the job to someone we all respect! Guess who that would be?
Easy now. Dick is not a bad guy. He just needs loved and has not got much love from UK lately. But he truly respects UK and he loves Cal
Right on Larry. Dickie V is one of those people that craves everyone’s love, but he has always talked highly of UK, even during games that had nothing to do with them.
Linda, my dad is with you about him. He can’t stand him either.
As far as Dickie V’s thoughts on Cal, KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) linked this story on their page, which many might find of interest: http://thebiglead.com/?p=27616
For all his bad points, Dickie V does truly love this game and the people in it.
Vitale makes me laugh. Like him or not and I do he knows his stuff about college BB. Good story. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
I saw the article about him and his ‘love’ for coach cal…I still don’t like him, I don’t trust him and I can’t believe he is in the hall of fame and Joe B is not. I can’t remember the exact articles he has written, but he has thrown some mud at KY. I will give him credit that he knows college b-ball, but man, he gets on my last nerve when he calls a game. Do you remember Al McGuire calling games? That man could call a game! He wasn’t Cawood, but he was good and he thought Ky basketball was better than buttered bread. “They had it before you, they had it during you, they’ll have it when you’re gone”….” – Al McGuire on Kentucky Basketball Tradition
He makes me laugh, too, and I do like him. Always been great to me.
But Linda, what a great memory with Al McGuire. He did love UK basketball and all it meant. Of course, it wasn’t always that way when he battled Rupp, but he grew to be quite an admirer of UK basketball
I’ll admit, I can tolerate Dicky-V a lot more when he’s giving UK praise, but there’s almost always a point where he becomes annoying. I respect his passion for the game and the effort he puts toward Coaches vs. Cancer and the Jimmy V. cause. Any idea when we might know more about the Liggins situation?
Linda, I agree with you about Al McGuire. He was always one of my favorites. I always thought that, if he was asked, he would have come out of retirement and coached UK, in a heartbeat. As far as Dicky V throwing mud at UK, the only time I can ever remember him doing that was when Tubby left. He expressed some ill will during that time period, but so did a lot of people. Keep up your great posts. GO BIG BLUE!!!
John I am not sure about LIggins. I think Cal may just play him one game and that will be it without a big announcement of what went on. I keep being told he will be back. I would have to assume he may not play these first four games from what I have heard, but could be wrong
Jim, maybe it was only the time Vitale blasted Ky when Tubby left, but it sure did leave an impression on me. He knew how the seasons were playing out, he knew how unhappy the fans were. You could see the look in Tubby’s face he wasn’t happy and had given up. The excitement and logic was gone from the game. The previous 4-5 years were a nightmare. Hopefully, this year will make up for it all. I would love to see the guys win the NC2A but a strong winning season is more important to me. I want to see basketball played the way it should be played. GO CATS!
I enjoyed the quote of Al McGuire that Linda shared with us. I remember a game back in the early part of the 1978 season that Al and Billy Packer worked together. Billy kept going on about how this team or that team could win the championship that year. Al finally said “Billy, there are a lot of good horses in the race, but there’s only one Seattle Slew.” Al always had a healthy respect and admiration for the UK program. I can’t say the same for Billy Packer.
Amen to all of that Linda.
Larry – when you say you assume he [Liggins] may not play these first four games, do you mean the two exhibition games and the first two regular season games, or four games yet to come in the regular season?
And are there specific comments that have led you to assume that? Why four?
Sorry, I know this is off the topic of the article.
Just a guess of four regular season based on some things i have heard. But a pure guess. no legit inside info on this yet
BIG BLUE IS BACK BABY!!!! That does sound good doesn’t it…Try it LARRY>>>>>ready>>>>>>>BIG BLUE IS BACK BABY!!!!!!!GO CATS GO!!