Trouble in Lexington?
The Kentucky Wildcats have lost back to back home games and just gave up over 100 points at home for the first time since 1993.
This team has a lot of flaws right now and not having DJ Wagner is definitely not helping, but how can the Wildcats continue to put so many players in the NBA and have only won the SEC one time since 2017. The NBA All Star selections were made and Kentucky had eight NBA All Stars, which is just an incredible number, and they have players up and down NBA rosters.
It’s honestly confusing and somewhat embarrassing to have this much talent and not much success with it.
John Calipari has made his mark on one and done players, and has been very vocal on telling players to only stay one year. The problem with Kentucky is I’m afraid players are not committing to the program, but committing because they know they only have to be in school for a couple of months and then they leave for the NBA. When is the last time Kentucky has had players stay in its program for 3 or 4 years? I’m not so sure there is one.
You need players that are committing to build the program and want to have college success, not just players using college as a bridge to the NBA.
Let's take Tennessee, who just beat Kentucky. Rick Barnes has built this program by getting guys who love the University and want to be developed in college. You look at guys like Josiah Jordan-James and Santiago Vescovi who have been in Knoxville for five years. These guys are able to teach the young guys the system and show them the standard that is expected at Tennessee.
Who is this person for Kentucky? Who has been in the program for years and understands that tradition and standard at Kentucky. You can have all the talent in the world, but you have to have guys who understand the program and will not let the other players play below that standard.
Until Kentucky can find those program guys to go along with the NBA guys, I’m not sure we can expect them to be anything more than they are. To win in today’s college basketball its about getting old and staying old. You can’t expect a team who has never had road or tournament experience together to win big games.
It’s never been a talent problem or coaching problem, its a culture problem at Kentucky.
The old reliable Vols show up in Lexington
All the talk has been about Dalton Knecht for the Tennessee Vols and its much deserved, but the old reliable Vol veterans showed out in Rupp arena. Zakai Ziegler was unbelievable in this game as he had 26 points and 13 assists, in what might have been the best point guard performance ever by a Vol. Josiah Jordan-James scored 26 points as well. James, who has struggled in SEC play, regained his confidence and was assertive. His energy level on both ends was great and I thought was a direct result in his play. Dalton Knecht wasn’t his best, but still scored 16 points.
If the Vols can get contributions from the role players to go along with Dalton Knecht, this team has as good of a chance as anyone to make a Final Four. After looking flat and not interested in playing against South Carolina, this Vols team came out with great energy and lead wire to wire. This was just a very impressive win, in what was an electric environment.
For Kentucky, this is a devastating loss for John Calipari’s club. Not only do you lose to your rival, but never lead in the game and really were outplayed and out coached. This has to be one of the worst defensive teams I have ever seen. Zakai Ziegler numerous times just drove and scored on uncontested layups. I have been warning Kentucky fans on how they haven’t been able to guard the ball and that was evident on Saturday night.
I also think you can blame coaching on this loss as well. Tennessee scored seven points on baseline out of bounds. Two times they scored on the same exact play and got two wide open dunks. This is just inexcusable and a lack of preparation and attention.
Every team goes over baseline out of bound plays and Tennessee has ran the same plays the entire year. There is no other way to put it than you're not going to win games giving up seven points on baseline out of bounds plays.
Tigers rally in the Grove
The Auburn offense woke up in the second half and scored 56 points in the half to overcome a nine point deficit at half. As I have been saying, when Auburn runs offense and stays under control they are very hard to guard. I thought the second half was the best ball movement I have seen from the Tigers. On offense the best teams work to get to there spots and get the shot that they want every time.
When things get hectic Auburn sometimes dribbles too much and forgets to run their stuff. This second half performance could be the turning point in this narrative. The flex offense that Auburn runs is really hard to guard and the counters they have off of the base offense is great. This is why its frustrating to watch sometimes because Auburn has really good sets and actions that are hard to guard. Jaylin Williams is so good at playing off the flex screen.
Whether its him screening and slipping to the basket or screening and popping to the three. He’s been really good this year. Johni Broome is a mismatch and his footwork in the paint is great, HIs use of his pivots and ball fakes is a tough combination to handle.
Ole Miss has to be kicking themselves as they threw away a golden opportunity to try and stay in the conversation at the top of the SEC. These teams have similar flaws. I thought in the first half Ole MIss just made very tuff shots and weren’t generating enough easy looks. They scored 77 points, which with a Chris Beard defense should be enough, but the defense was non-existent.
I thought in the second half Auburn did the same thing that Tennessee did and brought the Ole Miss bigs to the perimeter in screening actions. This allowed for driving lanes and kick out threes.
Tide ROLL over Mississippi State
I actually thought the Bulldogs could give the Tide some trouble, especially with their length and changing defenses. That was the farthest from the truth, as this game was over very early.
The Tide blitzed Mississippi State and hit 15 threes and outrebounded them by eleven. I still believe Tennessee is the best team in the SEC, but Alabama is playing as good as anyone right now. Marc Sears continues to play so well. His ability to control his body in the paint is something that most guards do not have. As a small guard he is able to use his body and body angles to finish around the rim. He also uses pump fakes and has a great euro step. Alabama also got great bench production.
Alabama’s game plan against Mississippi State’s defense was great. They used slips to basket and in their pick and roll offense the big would short roll. With a switching defense the offense should slip the screen and short roll to the free throw area. Once the guard passes to the big, the corner man should cut and the wing guard will replace the cutter in the corner.
Very simple offense, but very effective with skilled big men. It also helps your offense when you grab 20 offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds are the best time for kick out threes and we all know how dangerous the Tide are from three.
Best of the rest of the SEC
South Carolina is finally getting the recognition it deserves as they are ranked in this weeks polls. They had a good win in Athens. I am so impressed with the Gamecocks and how they just play their game and how they drag every team they play into their style.
Coming off the best win of any team in the league, I was unsure of a possible let down. I have been really high on this Georgia team and think they can upset a couple teams. Collin Murray-Boyles was great in this game for the Gamecocks.
Texas A&M saved their season on Saturday and I’m still not sure how they won this game. This was the best game of the weekend in the league, and it was a highly entertaining finish. Tyrese Radford hit the go ahead layup to win the game. Radford made a great play as he drove to the basket and jumped stopped in the paint.
Playing off two feet is very important for guards in the paint. He showed great patience and was able to score over the bigs of Florida. Radford finished with 26 points. Florida had a chance to win as Todd Golden drew up a great play. They cleared out a side for Riley Kugel and the big for Florida acted like they were going for a dribble handoff and Kugel went back door, but he fumbled the pass out of bounds. Wade Taylor was then called for traveling, as you can’t run the baseline on a dead ball. Florida got the ball back and got a great look from Walter Clayton.
The Gators got the rebound and kicked out to Zyon Pullin who was wide open. He for some reason pumped faked when he could have just stepped right into a wide open shot. As a result, he made the shot harder than it needed to be. The Gators really let a great opportunity slip from them.
The disaster season continues for the Razorbacks, as they get blown out by the LSU Tigers. One has to wonder if Eric Mussleman has one foot out the door in Fayetteville. I believe USC could be a real contender for Mussleman as they make the move to the Big 10.
Vanderbilt picked up their first win in the conference as the nightmare season for Dennis Gates continues.
Look ahead to upcoming games
The game of the week is pretty obvious as the Iron Bowl part two will be happening in the Jungle. The atmosphere at Auburn on Wednesday will be as good as anything all year. I will be interested to see how Alabama reacts to the atmosphere. The last big road game did not go so well for them in Knoxville. Whoever wins the rebounding matchup, will have a great opportunity to win this game.
On Tuesday, Ole MIss travels to South Carolina in what is an interesting matchup. I’m interested to see how South Carolina responds as now they are the hunted and have expectations on them. Ole MIss has to find a way to generate better looks on offense, but that’s almost impossible to do on the Gamecocks.
Kentucky looks to get back on track as they travel to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt. Kentucky fans should be focused on one thing and that is their defense. I do think Vanderbilt has good guards and can give the Wildcats some trouble in that aspect.
Georgia goes to Starkville as both teams are desperate for a win. This will be a great game between contrasting styles. Which team can get the other to play their style will have a great chance in this one.
Texas A&M goes to MIssouri and I think MIssouri could pull off the upset in this one. Tennessee welcomes LSU to Knoxville in what should be a fairly easy game for the Vols.
Power Rankings
Now that we are a good way into the SEC season and things are starting to take shape in the league, I want to give my personal power rankings for the league, as well as where I believe each team has the potential to accomplish in the NCAA Tournament
- Tennessee (Final Four)
- Alabama (Elite Eight/ Sweet Sixteen)
- Auburn (Elite Eight/ Sweet Sixteen)
- South Carolina (Sweet Sixteen)
- Kentucky (First Weekend)
- Ole MIss (Tournament Birth)
- Florida(Tournament Birth)
- Texas A&M (Tournament Birth)
- Mississippi State (Tournament Birth)
- Georgia
- LSU
- Arkansas
- Vanderbilt
- Missouri