UK 68 UGA 45

So what does UK do if it goes down to UGA, UGA wants an ugly game and UK obliges? You beat the snot out of them at their own game. THAT is a sign a team is getting really good. Its one thing to have a game go as you like and pound someone. Its quite another when you can beat them at your game AND at theirs. Meeks returned to earth, Patterson returned to being Patterson and UK beat up on Georgia from start to finish. There is plenty not to like about this game. UK usually doesn’t take too many bad shots but they did in this game. UK hasn’t turned the ball over as much of late but turned it over and over and over in this one. Why? I think there is a direct correlation between Coaches pre-game comments about returning to Patterson as the focus and many of the turnovers. Not all but a good portion. When UK wants to go to Patterson, they do it on one block or the other. You know it, I know it, the whole world knows it and especially the opposing coaches know it. It’s pretty easy to draw up a D when you know right where the other guy wants to go. Many of those turnovers were on entries when it simply isn’t there. Patterson is a hos, but he isn’t big enough to entry to with two guys within range every time down the floor and I think its a mistake to keep trying. The good news is UK did adjust by going to other places on the floor. I liked the pick and role game Porter and Stevenson played. I liked getting Patterson looks at the elbow. He needs to knock those down. Doing things like this pro actively will help keep turnovers down and get Patterson higher quality looks.

There is a question that begs for an answer. If UK didn’t play all that hot in some key areas, then how did they blow the doors off of this one? Lets start with a bucket full of blocks. Meeks is something, Patterson is, well, Patterson, but the thing that probably causes opposing coaches more loss of sleep than anything is UK’s D. And that is across the board. It’s quite true that most teams do not get much inside on the Cats. Thanks to Stevenson and Patterson for that. But teams also don’t get much any where else either on most nights. The blocks were a team effort and came from many places on the floor and from seven different Cats. But Georgia didn’t get many open looks anywhere. UK also simply out worked Georgia. When there was a ball on the floor a cat was scratching and clawing for it. UGA didn’t seem to like the fact that the Cats wanted it more, but that is why they are UGA.

This was also a great game from a team aspect. And when I say team, I mean guys that do not get on the floor much. There was a Carter sighting, and you had to do a double take to see if it was the same guy. He actually looked great out there, aside from the play where he passed out instead of going up and dunking the ball. His block was as decisive as the one on Liggins in the open practice, and his rebounding was superb. I actually thought all the Cats contributed. Harrelson looked good and his block made me do a double take as well. Liggins was solid, Galloway still has the best vision on the team, Stewart blundered in the first half but came back to provide some solid relief. I think Miller looks more and more comfy every time out. Here is a valid list of Cats that could make good cases for more PT. The problem for them: There are five guys ahead of them that have even better cases. What a great problem to have.

UK didn’t look so hot going to its bread and butter. It’s gonna happen. Its real nice to have an off night and still be able to come out on top in a laugher..