Let's Talk Kentucky

[madguy30]

This game imo now has ISU as the underdog (even if they're favored) and this team seems to thrive on that.

KY's size will be a problem and they'll get theirs but ISU's speed might counter that.

One problem is the Patrick Ewing effect is essentially used up since there's almost an entire game's worth of film without JJ so ISU will need to be even sharper.

 

[madguy30]

Game's scheduled for 1:45 PM CST Sunday.

I figure we can expect a 2 PM start.

 

[Jacktronic]

**** em. Let's kick the **** out of them.

 

[CySmurf]

I tried. He doesn't have one.

Then have Walters or Heft go over and tell them how to pronounce it.

 

[pourcyne]

Great chicken

Yeah, I know, too positive. Will save the mean sh*t for tomorrow...​

 

[cjclone]

What the hell is a Spanarkel?

National championship player from Duke.

 

[awd4cy]

I think we’ll have a bit of a dead cat bounce with Jefferson out. Kentucky is talented but haven’t played well as a team. Some very bad losses this year and there is a reason they are an 7 seed. I don’t see them reacting particularly well to our defensive pressure. I could see them folding if we go on a couple of runs.

What are their very bad losses? Everyone they lost to is in the tournament other than Auburn, who was the first 2 out.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

I think what I hate most about this whole situation is how eerily reminiscent it is of last years tournament. Slightly different in that we knew going in we'd be without Gilbert, whereas we at least had Jefferson for around 2 minutes of this years tournament. But easy first round game against overmatched opponent, followed by 2nd round matchup with an ultra talented yet underachieving SEC team that hasn't really put it together all year. But with the injury situation (again) stars are aligning for the underachievers to make a run, rather than the good guys. You hope the narrative will go differently this time around, but starting to get sick of this ****

 

[ForeverIowan]

In regards to playing small ball with Momcilovic and Heise likely to play the 4 spot for the majority of the game...

From what I know of Kentucky, they don't have an elite scorer in the interior. Their top 3 scorers are guards. Toure and Lipsey will be defending their top two scorers which is favorable for us. They don't have a Boozer, Toppin, Jefferson, Kaufman-Renn type in that you are going to post them up on the block regularly and run your offense through them.

Kentucky's starting front line is 7' and 6'11". Are they going to try and defend Momcilovic/Heise with a 6'11" forward? I don't see that going well for them whatsoever. If we can hold our own on the boards playing smaller I think we force them to play left handed and play 4 guards as well.

It'll be key to force them into our style of game from the jump.

 

[BCClone]

This game imo now has ISU as the underdog (even if they're favored) and this team seems to thrive on that.

KY's size will be a problem and they'll get theirs but ISU's speed might counter that.

One problem is the Patrick Ewing effect is essentially used up since there's almost an entire game's worth of film without JJ so ISU will need to be even sharper.

ISU is not ruling out JJ so even if there is no chance, KY has to plan for him. Watching that game, we don’t trap a whole lot, don’t need to, so defense won’t show much. We also have everyone canning 3s except batemon. So now they have to watch for even Toure out there shooting so Milan may not get covered as well.

The ball was flowing a little more but we also did a poor job of telegraphing our passes and TSU was jumping routes.

 

[Cyrealist]

there's almost an entire game's worth of film without JJ so ISU will need to be even sharper.

That film will show that ISU is tenacious on defense and versatile on offense. Tough to prep for in two days. And, as analysts have said, it's hard to prepare for Iowa State's defense. If we're on, I don't think it will be all that close.

 

[RagingCloner]

im going to try to keep my negativity to myself but tomorrow scares me. im just having flashbacks of the ole miss game from last year.

need the team that came out against AZ, but we wont have JJ

 

[madguy30]

That film will show that ISU is tenacious on defense and versatile on offense. Tough to prep for in two days. And, as analysts have said, it's hard to prepare for Iowa State's defense. If we're on, I don't think it will be all that close.

In short, ISU won't get the same looks that they did vs. TSU tomorrow.

Assuming it won't be close is kind of laughable tbh.

 

[cyclones500]

Oh great, another game of listening to Heise being mispronounced. Kind of annoying. Somebody get on that guy's Twitter account and set him straight.

John Walters should have called him immediately the first time it happened and set it straight.

On the other hand, if High-SEEE can score 22 points again vs UK, I won't care too much about pronunciation.

 

[cmhawks99]

Quite frankly, Kentucky just really isn’t that good? It would’ve been a double digit spread if Jefferson hadn’t got hurt. Iowa State will frustrate them so badly with their ball pressure. I could imagine seeing them chewing their teeth by the end of the first half.

The only chance they have is if Iowa State had an epically poor shooting stretch. And the times I’ve watched them this year, which is quite a bit. They’ve been way more consistent offensively than they have in years past.

 

[FerShizzle]

im going to try to keep my negativity to myself but tomorrow scares me. im just having flashbacks of the ole miss game from last year.

need the team that came out against AZ, but we wont have JJ

I don’t get that feeling from this group at all.

Could they lose? Yes.

But these guys are so much more connected than that group last year. Bummed for JJ but everyone is going to be playing hard for him to have a chance next weekend if he can’t go Sunday and playing hard for Tamin too.

I really like that Heise and Batemon and Milan have seen the ball go through the net at this gym.

 

[GoSTATE71]

Bunch of good players not really a team. Length and athleticism 1 through 5 makes me nervous and is the type of game we could really Jefferson. I’m way more nervous about Kentucky then I would be about a Virginia or Michigan matchup

 

[nrg4isu]

Bunch of good players not really a team.

Agreed

Length and athleticism 1 through 5 makes me nervous and is the type of game we could really Jefferson.

For sure

I’m way more nervous about Kentucky then I would be about a Virginia

Ok, I see where you're coming from.

or Michigan matchup

What? ! Strong disagree. If we should make it that far (which I think is possible), not having Jefferson would make us huge underdogs.

 

[cmhawks99]

Bunch of good players not really a team. Length and athleticism 1 through 5 makes me nervous and is the type of game we could really Jefferson. I’m way more nervous about Kentucky then I would be about a Virginia or Michigan matchup

Huh…. that’s one of those weird fan rationales right here. Kentucky has been wildly up and down all year and I’m not sure they really have one impressive win.

In Michigan is one of the three or four or five favorites to win the whole entire team. They’re gigantic their athletic. They play good defense and they play pretty good offense. Everybody’s concerned with playing Michigan.

With that said, should they play? I will be cheering for Iowa State and I’m typically a big 10 Homer. That’s just how much I like the state schools after being out of the state for 25 years, 30 really, I forgot my stent in Missouri….

Virginia I’m not terribly impressed with, but they’re still way way more consistent than Kentucky

 

[cmhawks99]

Agreed

For sure

Ok, I see where you're coming from.

What? ! Strong disagree. If we should make it that far (which I think is possible), not having Jefferson would make us huge underdogs.

Good follow up!