Kentucky coming up just short this season seems to be something of a trend, now with 4 losses by just 2 points. I keep wanting to be optimistic about this season so I will continue to pick out the "positives" in these close calls.
Diversity (in the first half): While watching the first half it seemed as though more than just two people showed up and wanted to play for the Blue and White. With the regular standouts produced, Kentucky had 8 different players score in the first half, the most this season. Even Vargas who normally looks lost and uncoordinated showed some signs of "hey maybe he isn't that bad" getting a couple of offensive boards and put-backs. John Hood ended the first half with a buzzer beater with only 0.6 seconds left (even though the score keeper must have been a Cats fan because Hood really had about 3 seconds to get that shot off). It was nice to see these players get some shots and look as though they can compete when our "6 starters" get into foul trouble.
Shooting: The Cats continue to impress me with their ability to shoot the basketball. As of right now they are the best 3-point shooting team in UK's history and shooting 57% from the downtown last night continued their purity. Knight and Lamb made some big shots with Miller even making one in the second half (why he doesn't shoot more I don't know). Now I am all for Terrence Jones taking the game over, and yes I know he made a 3, but sometimes him shooting 4 threes in a game can get frustrating. Also another solid game for the team from the field AND the free-throw line.
Fight: I know we lost by 2 (again...) but for some reason I like the fight in this team. In tough road environments the Cats get down by double digit margins (13 last night) in the second half and find a way to climb back in it. The Cats always get you to want to look away because it looks like the opponent is going to pull away, but this young team wants to fight back and they do. Even though we aren't getting the W, maybe down the road this season those come-backs will starting turning in the Cats' favor.
Those are some good things that happened in the loss, but the sting from losing by 2 again is still hurting. I have always been a firm believer in coach Cal's opinion about "talent over experience" and I love that UK gets the best talent in the nation. But perhaps talent can get you back into the game from being down in the second half, but there is a trend with our close losses. In all of the Bama, Ole Miss, and now Florida games, a freshman has taken the last shot (Ole Miss) or two freshman miscommunicate and turn the ball over (Bama).
Maybe Miller should take the last shot, or even Liggins, experience is not abundant on this team, so who should step up take the last shot?
Time to sit back and make some awesome dips and watch the Superbowl (and commercials) and try to get my mind off of another 2 point loss..
Go. Cats. Go.
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