By LARRY VAUGHT
KNOXVILLE  Not having a pregame shoot-around may have been a factor in Kentucky’s 74-65 loss to Tennessee here Saturday.
Or at least that’s what UK coach John Calipari thought after his No. 2 Wildcats lost for only the second time this season.
Since UK had played a late Thursday night game and then traveled here Friday, Calipari decided not to bring his team to Thompson-Boling Arena to shoot early Saturday. He says that is a mistake he will not make again.
“If we have an afternoon game, we have got to have a shoot-around,†said Calipari. “I didn’t.
“We had two guys sleeping (during the game). No energy. In that mode, you just don’t change during the game.â€Â
He said it was not a “good choice†on his part to let the players sleep late instead of having them in the gym shooting. It wasn’t only because UK went 2-for-22 from 3-point range, but it was also because of the team’s sluggish start that allowed Tennessee to rip off 18 straight points to take an 18-4 lead eight minutes into the game.
“By not having them up, they were not mature and experienced enough to know. They were sleep walking,†Calipari said.
“We should have been down by 20 early. I was glad they were holding the ball and running down the shot clock or we would have been down 25.â€Â
23 Responses to No shoot-around had Cats sleep walking
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I like people who can look in the mirror and be honest with themselves. Coach has often admitted his mistakes with this team and that means they are all still growing together!! We still have the biggest upside of any team in BB. I still believe they will do special things and I am looking forward to the big dance. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
I agree it is nice that Cal can admit when he has made a mistake. I think he better pay more attention to UT next year. At Rupp he didn’t prepare for the Zone D and today he didn’t get them awake and ready.
I know these guys were tired, but what are they going to do when they play EVERY day in the SEC tourney and have a late game one day in the NCAA tourney and then play an early game 2 days later? NOW is the “moment of truth” time for this team. Are they going to BE a great team or are they going to be a great team who never realized their potential? It is all up to them.
UKFMLY, I’m glad you got your computer back. It is great to be hearing from you again.
GO BIG BLUE!!!!
Thanks Jim it’s good to be back. I really think on a neutral court with the other team on the same amount of rest and with the BBN at the game in force we will be just fine. Look at what our boy Travis is doing to Kansas right now. Win or lose they have them down by 13 and Kansas had plenty of rest(not an excuse just a fact). KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR GO HOME
PS The lapses in the games does bother me but their will to win makes me feel better. Its tough on the road ask any team in the Big East. Its tough and it should be.
We can make all the excuses of what happen. Look at the brighter side of it we came back and made a game out of it and really had a chance to win the game it just that the ball didn’t bounce our way at the end.Lets forget this game and move on to win the sec conference.GO CATS!!!
UK had the shortest turn around between games of any team in the SEC this season. Other teams have also had the Thursday-Saturday format, I don’t think any had a noon tip off on Staturday.
Larry, you probably know the teams and the times of the games both days. I believe Arkansas, Vandy and maybe another.
So, I don’t blame Coach for trying to sneak in a little more rest for his team. I like the idea of having a head coach who puts the players stamina on game day first for a change. It’s a breath of fresh air.
No excuses life is tough on the road. Just ask Kansas!! Way to go TRavis. Just putting a smile on the faces of the BBN!!! The Slaughter in Stillwater!!! Kentucky boy helping out his home school. It’s tough on the road whether you are playing number 19 or an unranked team with fire in their eyes. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME!!
Something no one has mentioned yet…I believe Brucie just stole the SEC Coach of the Year away from Cal today. It’s hard to deny what he has done with one of the most limited teams I have ever seen beat a #1 and #2. True that they were at home, but still pretty impressive.
Ky’s youth hit the wall today but a great player named Wall almost brought them back from the brink. This team is talented but 2-22 from 3 will not get them far in the NCAA. This is the worst shooting 27-2 team that I have ever seen. Hopefully the bad shooting will correct itself. By the way, congratulations to Travis Ford and Matt Pilgrim. GO CATS!!
As much as many people dislike Billy G, I’m not sure Coach shouldn’t resurrect some of the films of the games we beat Pearl. We didn’t have near the talent, but Coach G owned Bruce Pearl. Whatever he did (besides just having Jodie – because Jodie wasn’t always the answer) worked. We almost beat them when Patrick was out.
Still debating in my mind, but do believe Pearl outcoached Cal — and has often in their head to head matchups. Jim, you could be right on Coach of the Year. Beating Kansas and UK with the roster issues he’s had, that is very, very impressive.
Also like the thinking here. Very fair, but also sees the big picture. Why I like all of you so much. NO PANIC HERE OVER ONE LOSS
Coach of the year. Are you kidding me? These guys have finished above UK for 3 straight years. They don’t start 3 FRESHMEN, they won the east last year, all most all of thier scoring returned from last year, they have experience at every position, so what their thugs got loose and got caught with guns. That is a reflection of the attitude at UT(check the FB team) so it reflecks on the coach. Coach of the year? WHEN PIGS FLY!!!!!!!!!!! Let’s see what ole bruce does with 13 players that have NEVER played his system. Oh that’s right we have seen that and he did not go 27-2 in his 1st year at ut, period.
The job Cal has done is by far the best in the COUNTRY!!!!!!! To succeed when no one exspects it is good to OVER ACHIEVE when all eye are on you is GREAT! This team has done that!!!! Reguardless of the final outcome of this season 27-2 is better than the entire BBN (and the country)could have imagined!!!!! Coach of the year my A#&!!!!!
Sorry for the outburst but some times you have to DEFEND YOUR FAMILY!!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR FOLLOW KANSAS!!!!!
Got a little carried away, my apologies. My wife said that was a little strong but not sure if she is right but after 27 yrs she could be LOL. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME!!!!
Last comment, did I mention that this is Patterson’s 1st loss to ut. Out coached? When pigs fly!!!!! Out played, 42 points in the paint with only 2 or 3 post up moves, 24 minutes of hustle vs 16, the end result is predictable. Out coached not on your life!!! Out played(our boys) for 24 minutes out of a 40 minute game? You betcha! Todays lesson? You can’t mail in victories this time of year. Just because you see yourself as a one seed, everyone else is looking to improve themselves at your exspence(spelled wrong). KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR FOLLOW ul. LOL
I think we got bcth outcoached and outplayed today, and we need to get both Bledsoe and Miller playing better and more consistently for both halves. Miller did play better in 2nd half but he has pulled too many disappearing acts all season long for the talent level that he has. Mr. Dotson has probably earned a little more PT (pine time)for his play lately. If he is our best outside shooter we are in trouble.
OK, think what you will, out coached, out played…the best is never assured a win, the stars did not align today. You can debate it all you want but it’s not gonna make a difference. Blame it on the refs, they deserve a lot of the blame. I’m not gonna be sad, frown or cry in my beer, that is if I had a beer. I’m just happy, happy, happy and proud of the way the boys rallied at the end. How many teams can be down as much as they were and come back and tie the game? I know we have had big leads and almost blown them, but we have not been in a situation like this. I posted today on facebook they had just played Thurs night and then have a noon game on Saturday, plus the travel. I don’t think that is a fair schedule. However, as mentioned above, when the tourney gets here they better be prepared. This year and this team will stay with me for the rest of my life, however long that will be. This has been the best season in a long time…maybe 11-12 years. I love you team! GO CATS! 27-2
Outplayed but never outcoached in my opinion. Ask yourself this…Who would you want coaching your team? Bruce or Cal? The bottom line is this…Today’s game had a lot of home cooking for the Vols. I thought the officiating dictated some key elements of the game. The officials were letting the Vols be extremely aggressive and tended to call some questionable fouls on us. However, teams just have to play through this. Tennessee was ready for us and we probably were feeling the effects of the short turnaround and travel time. The shootaround was definitely needed based upon our shooting percentages today. Having said that, I had a bad feeling about this game all week. We were riding high on emotion from the USC game and it was going to take a great deal of mental toughness to get the win in this one. I admire the fact that we didn’t lay down and die. Nice comeback by the CATS to tie it up in the closing minutes. Hopefully, they use this as fuel for the fire going into the SEC tournament and NCAA. Even North Carolina last year lost 3-4 games, so I think we are still going to be fine. GO CATS and I’m still proud of you. How about that 360 shot by Wall in the first half. AMAZING!!!
UKFMLY, NO MAS!! NO MAS!!
I didn’t say I AGREED with Pearl being C.O.Y.
I said he MAY have STOLEN it.
I stand by the statement that what Pearl has done IS impressive, but STILL not as impressive as what Cal has accomplished.
Any GOOD coach can motivate a good veteran team to perform amazing feats against the #1 and 2 teams in the country, AT HOME.
Only a truly GREAT coach can take a team of mostly FRESHMEN and SOPHOMORES (No matter how talented), put them into a totally new system (Which only a few of them had been recruited for), manage the egos of 4-5 eventual first round draft picks, take them to #1, win over 30 games (Which WILL happen), not just coach, but also DEVELOP the talent and be talked about as a #1 seed and possible National Champion all year!! Not to mention handling the Big Blue Nation the whole time!!
Cal is MY C.O.Y. hands down, but I don’t get to vote. My thought was that Pearl’s 2 big wins might just dazzle the voters enough to push it his way. Fair or not, it COULD happen.
If you thought the outcry over Patrick not winning P.O.W. last week was bad, imagine how it will be if THAT happens.
COACH CAL FOREVER!! BRUCE PEARL NEVER!!
GO BIG BLUE!!!!
have to give the Vols credit. they did outplay UK. ANd Pearl’s teams have given Cal fits. He surprised Cal with the zone in Rupp and they surprised UK with tempo and physical play Saturday. But 2-for-22 beat UK more than anything in my opinion
JB…I think Bruce and Cal are 3-3 playing each other. I do agree that over the course of the year Cal should get the nod for what he has done with the inexperience he has had to do it with. That said I do believe Pearl had his team much more motivated and energized to start that game Certainly the home crowd also played a significant role. Pearl had a much better gameplan to counter our strength than Cal developed to counter their strength. He went the first half unable to adjust to their zone. With all the zones we have faced, and will continue to face, we should be further along with good counter measures. I had the same feeling when we played SC down there. I wondered what Darren Horn could do if he had our level of talent. Cal certainly has done a much better job than any of us would have expected with the record he has accomplished. I do get a little tired of constantly hearing the YOUNG theme in all the interviews though. Let’s hope they do learn from this UT loss. We probably would have been #1 had we taken care of business. Maybe we are not destined to have that spot since we couldn’t stay there when we had it earlier.
Huge Wildcats fan always looking to improve our stock and our chances in the big dance….however….(you lurking Tywanna?)….I don’t like the number of times in games that Patrick Patterson walks down the court after we inbound the ball. This is not taking ANYTHING away from the many great things he has done and will likely continue to do. However, even if the team wanted to attempt to catch the other team sleeping, when PP is walking nonchalantly down the court, it looks like he thinks he is above hustling. Remember now, I’m his BIGGEST FAN, but I think that he is sending the wrong message to the throngs of fans and young admirers when he is the ONLY player on UK doing this.
As for the TN game, here Patrick is with the highest FG% of the starters, but only took 6 shots? Cal tells his players to ask for the ball, but given his FG%, how is he not fed the ball more than he is? Is he demanding the ball, and not getting it? Or, is he not demanding it? You get my drift: with his FG%, he should be taking way more shots than he is because when he “goes off”, like against South Carolina at Rupp, we will win.
Patrick: more hustle and many more shots!!!!
Go Cats!!!!
Good call Alan…I have felt the same way during many of the games this year. He is one of the best talents to ever walk on the floor at UK, and it seems Cal has to use some motivational ploys to keep him motivated. He has had a couple of PP games of late but yesterday wasn’t one of them. Look at how their bigs always seemed to beat our bigs down the court. PP seems to have those leadership skills but is too willing to stay in the background and defer to the freshmen.
Pat doesn’t need me to defend him, but when I have asked about him inbounding the ball after a made basket and going down the court Cal says he is doing exactly what he wants him to do. Don’t know if that means he wants him back in case of a turnover or just maybe to conserve a little energy (that is what one assistant told me). Also Cuz got beat back three times yesterday — and I thought Cal was going to have a cow. NOt saying Pat didn’t too, but I was seated close to the bench and Cuz was the one that Cal went off on. Do agree on the shots. Team has to get him the ball more
We just could not make any shots. We could have won this game if we had made some shots or gotten rebounds. Its ok though, we needed this wake up call.