Kentucky game observations

[97spiderfan]

Lots of good observations in the game thread, thought I would start my own.

Overall, I thought we controlled literally ever aspect of the game. We played our pace, they could never figure out our defense, had zero runs, zero threes, and we got all of the shots we want by our offense. We probably win this game by 20 plus, if we just shoot our average from three.

As for players, here is what I saw:

1. Cayo: Anyone who saw this performance in the first two games is a damn liar. He is playing on yet again another different level from last year. Got his first couple of shots altered, blocked by Kentucky's athletes and then he flat out dominated them, and some of these guys are gonna be lottery picks in the next year or two. He is playing a man's game right now.
2. Gilly: He had a terrible shooting night, awful, and yet he completely controlled the game on both ends of the floor. Floor general on offense and just big time steals in crunch time to ice it. I loved how he waived off Mooney after getting his 3rd foul. He knew the importance of this game and I knew when he did that, that he was gonna do some special shit and he did indeed.
3. Blake: Also not his best shooting night but man he hit some big ones.
4. Tyler: Hit a couple big shots early in the second half, again super active and all over the court, picked up a couple charges.
5. Grant: Foul trouble was not his fault, got caught on a couple ticky tack fouls. 7 boards, 5 assists, 13 points in 20 minutes, that is some solid production. I thought we ran a lot of offense through him when he was in there.
6. Grace and Sal: When they both saw their first action, I was like oh, here we go again. And then, they both gave us some quality bench minutes. Grace in particular held his own while Grant was in foul trouble. Huge 3 to ice it.
7. Goose: Just so smooth out there. Hit a big 3 and gave us really quality bench minutes. He's our 6th man now and I think he is gonna play that role really well.

Moondog: Did Mooney ever even call a timeout, I can't recall one. He didn't need to though because we never needed one. Let his senior leader run the show and they performed. Shout out for that mask, why aren't we all wearing those?

 

[AnnapSpider]

Was Weir dressed for this game, or is he in the dog house the rest of the season?

 

[Dr. Spidey]

I thought I saw Weir in street clothes.

 

[SFspidur]

Agree with pretty much all of this.

- Cayo. Believe he hit his first two shots to get to 12-for-12 on the year, then he got blocked by Jackson, came right back and made a jumper. He got blocked again by Jackson a few minutes later, and then he turned it on.

- Gilly needs to find his shot...definitely in his head right now. But he does so much other amazing stuff, it's hard to get down on him.

- Glad Grace made that three, but man, I still cringe every time he shoots it from out there...still a career 30% shooter from out there.

- Love Goose...so heady, always in the right spot on both side of the ball.

- Correct on the timeouts...we didn't use any the entire game.

- Weir was indeed in street clothes again. Don't know the deal, but feels like maybe he needs to get something academic squared away. Better do it ASAP starting tomorrow morning.

 

[Eight Legger]

I need to know more about the Mooney mask. I think it's an inside job, because Roussell was wearing the same one against VaTech a few days ago. Had never seen one like it before, but it seems like a really creative combo. Especially for people who are deaf and need to rely on lip-reading, but clearly also for players during a game who probably do the same to some extent.

 

[ur2K]

 

[Eight Legger]

If that's how he looks out of uniform, I wonder how he looks in uniform?

 

[SFspidur]

I need to know more about the Mooney mask. I think it's an inside job, because Roussell was wearing the same one against VaTech a few days ago. Had never seen one like it before, but it seems like a really creative combo. Especially for people who are deaf and need to rely on lip-reading, but clearly also for players during a game who probably do the same to some extent.

ClearMask. I know Apple was distributing some to its retail workers to be able to better help deaf customers.

ClearMask™

The first fully transparent, FDA-cleared mask optimized for maximum clarity and comfort: making connections more human and providing clearer communication for all.

www.theclearmask.com

 

[97spiderfan]

ClearMask. I know Apple was distributing some to its retail workers to be able to better help deaf customers.

ClearMask™

The first fully transparent, FDA-cleared mask optimized for maximum clarity and comfort: making connections more human and providing clearer communication for all.

www.theclearmask.com

Mooney needs to get a sponsorship deal going pronto with them.

 

[97spiderfan]

Grant and Grace were 2-3 from 3. Gilly and Blake were 3-18. Maybe we had the wrong guy launching them. Kidding, but if you knew those stats before the game, you thinking we lost by double digits instead of winning by double digits.

 

[SFspidur]

Pretty cool story behind ClearMask...deaf Johns Hopkins grad student in public health had a bad experience in a surgery a few years ago and was inspired to team up with some other grad students to develop the mask. They're the only FDA-approved clear mask, and they hit the jackpot thanks to COVID.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

Lots of good observations in the game thread, thought I would start my own.

Overall, I thought we controlled literally ever aspect of the game. We played our pace, they could never figure out our defense, had zero runs, zero threes, and we got all of the shots we want by our offense. We probably win this game by 20 plus, if we just shoot our average from three.

As for players, here is what I saw:

1. Cayo: Anyone who saw this performance in the first two games is a damn liar. He is playing on yet again another different level from last year. Got his first couple of shots altered, blocked by Kentucky's athletes and then he flat out dominated them, and some of these guys are gonna be lottery picks in the next year or two. He is playing a man's game right now.
2. Gilly: He had a terrible shooting night, awful, and yet he completely controlled the game on both ends of the floor. Floor general on offense and just big time steals in crunch time to ice it. I loved how he waived off Mooney after getting his 3rd foul. He knew the importance of this game and I knew when he did that, that he was gonna do some special shit and he did indeed.
3. Blake: Also not his best shooting night but man he hit some big ones.
4. Tyler: Hit a couple big shots early in the second half, again super active and all over the court, picked up a couple charges.
5. Grant: Foul trouble was not his fault, got caught on a couple ticky tack fouls. 7 boards, 5 assists, 13 points in 20 minutes, that is some solid production. I thought we ran a lot of offense through him when he was in there.
6. Grace and Sal: When they both saw their first action, I was like oh, here we go again. And then, they both gave us some quality bench minutes. Grace in particular held his own while Grant was in foul trouble. Huge 3 to ice it.
7. Goose: Just so smooth out there. Hit a big 3 and gave us really quality bench minutes. He's our 6th man now and I think he is gonna play that role really well.

Moondog: Did Mooney ever even call a timeout, I can't recall one. He didn't need to though because we never needed one. Let his senior leader run the show and they performed. Shout out for that mask, why aren't we all wearing those?

‘He called one towards end when we turned over twice against press

 

[SFspidur]

‘He called one towards end when we turned over twice against press

We took one after Grace’s three pushed the lead to 13, but that’s all I see in the play-by-play. There were a couple of timeouts in the last 30 seconds, but they were both by UK.

 

[AnnapSpider]

I need to know more about the Mooney mask. I think it's an inside job, because Roussell was wearing the same one against VaTech a few days ago. Had never seen one like it before, but it seems like a really creative combo. Especially for people who are deaf and need to rely on lip-reading, but clearly also for players during a game who probably do the same to some extent.

I can sell them to you all day long. Do you want a logo on them? We can do that too.

 

[Stork3]

The Spiders didn't shoot well in the first half; but the good defense and the hustle and good ball movement only had us down by four at the half. Same heady play, but better shooting, in the second half had us winning by twelve. Well done, gentlemen. Boy - these guys are fun to watch!

 

[SpiderRick]

Not meaning to crap on the party platter, but I am concerned that Cayo is 4-9 in free throws after his dramatic improvement to 80% last year. FT shooting can be a mental thing and we really need him to get off to a good start and gain confidence at the line. He is definitely playing more aggressive this year and potentially will be drawing more fouls. We're going to need him to be an asset at the end of the games, not a liability. Nathan, we know you can do it buddy!!

 

[spiderman]

2. Gilly: ... I loved how he waived off Mooney after getting his 3rd foul. He knew the importance of this game and I knew when he did that, that he was gonna do some special shit and he did indeed.

I want to give Coach a lot of credit here. literally thousands of players have waved off or begged a coach to stay in after getting a 3rd or 4th foul. the coach still makes the call. he can't let a player decide for him and then watch his guy pick up another foul. Mooney would have been blamed if that happened and we lost. but instead he made the right call in trusting an amazing veteran player to be smart while also not getting conservative. Gilyard takes risks on defense, but he's so darn quick and anticipatory that it rarely puts him in a bad spot.

and off topic, but Francis has become a terrific defensive guard as well.

 

[97spiderfan]

I want to give Coach a lot of credit here. literally thousands of players have waved off or begged a coach to stay in after getting a 3rd or 4th foul. the coach still makes the call. he can't let a player decide for him and then watch his guy pick up another foul. Mooney would have been blamed if that happened and we lost. but instead he made the right call in trusting an amazing veteran player to be smart while also not getting conservative. Gilyard takes risks on defense, but he's so darn quick and anticipatory that it rarely puts him in a bad spot.

and off topic, but Francis has become a terrific defensive guard as well.

Agreed on Francis. He is an all around great player. Gilly overshadows him on defense, but Blake plays tough hard nosed defense and has developed a Kendall Anthony knack of taking a charge.

And the trust between Gilly and Mooney is great. I remember that Mooney had a similar trust with KA and Ced. KA always came through, Ced sometimes let him down. Gilly doesn't let Mooney down.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Late to the party - was moving this weekend - but I love these observations.

SVP asked Mooney about the mask; He saw the face shield that Andy Reid wore in NFL Week 1, and ordered a bunch of those. UR would not approve those for use (SVP: "I hope you got reimbursed, har har"). That's when he found the Clear Mask. He correctly observed that several coaches are pulling their mask down to yell out instruction to their players, and shouting is precisely one of most important times the mask should be on! (You saw this a lot from Coach Cal on Sunday). The clear mask helps. Fortunately now the arenas are mostly empty - I can only imagine coaching in a noisy arena with a mask on.

Re: Francis - small sample size, but he appears to be flopping less this season. Glad to see it.

 

[GKiller]

Broc I didn’t get chance to listen to SVPod w Mooney. But the burning question...was Mooney asked about the Eagles?!

Primarily that’s a Philly Bob staple but SVP being a loyal DC fan maybe he brought up. I think it’s a talking point our PR team now gives out.

 

[RichmondNative]

UK not looking like much with a double digit loss to a winless GT team.

Spiders may need to find another quality opponent after all.

 

[Eight Legger]

Kentucky better get it together fast.

 

[AnnapSpider]

If KY get’s it together and has a typical KY year, has our win already been soiled?

 

[URWilk110]

Well that was a short lived quality win. Maybe coach Cal is on drugs.

 

[spider23]

Yep Ga tech has been horrendous again this year. Have to think KY can pull ot together, I hope. Just tough year to get any momentum, unconnected beat down would have been nice. They are now on pause too.

 

[whampas]

Ky headed to a Q3 win for us.

 

[SFspidur]

If KY get’s it together and has a typical KY year, has our win already been soiled?

Yeah, it has. Even if they pull it together and run through the SEC, there will be an asterisk by our win when the committee looks at our resume. “That was when UK was bad and still trying to figure things out.”

That said, if we’re as good as we think we are, we should have some more pretty good wins. WVU could be our only opportunity for a Top 25 win though. Hopefully SLU as well if they keep impressing.

 

[gcarter52]

So does that means that every win by other teams are tainted? We still had to beat them. I don’t subscribe to your analysis.

 

[SFspidur]

Don’t understand your question.

Fact is, UK is nowhere near the #10 team in the country so far this season. They could get there by the end of the year, but the committee will make note of their early struggles.

 

[gcarter52]

So does that means that every win by other teams are tainted? We still had to beat them. I don’t subscribe to your analysis.

Is our win soiled because our win was when ky was ranked #10 and was 1-0 at the time?

 

[VT4700]

Don’t understand your question.

Fact is, UK is nowhere near the #10 team in the country so far this season. They could get there by the end of the year, but the committee will make note of their early struggles.

Committee will also make note of a mid major going into Rupp and beating them by 12.

 

[SFspidur]

Look, I’m not saying it’s not a good win.t will be a positive for us (assuming they do get things together). It just looks like it’s not going to carry as much weight with the committee as we hoped.

Georgia Tech is a bad loss...no two ways about that one. Kansas loss is obviously fine.

I don’t see how it’s controversial to say that our win over UK sure isn’t looking like a road win over the #10 team in the country.

 

[Captain Anderson]

Is our win soiled because our win was when ky was ranked #10 and was 1-0 at the time?

No different than college football teams beating LSU, Penn State, or Michigan this year. Always a good win to beat blue blood teams but from an NCAA committee standpoint this win isn't looking like it's going to give us some blank check into the Dance. It was a great win and a great 2 hour promotion for the program on national tv. I do think some of our fans may have felt like we punched our ticket to the dance with that one win, lol. We are a very good, veteran team and that experience is going to be even more valuable in this very weird, constantly changing season. A great opportunity coming up against WVU. This team will be fine but it's going to be a long, strange road to March this year.

 

[spiderman]

I don’t see how it’s controversial to say that our win over UK sure isn’t looking like a road win over the #10 team in the country.

I thought that by halftime of our game. they weren't the 10th best team in the country. too young. they need time. their guard play is weak and they can't shoot. they looked good for a half against Kansas though.

a lot of teams are trying to figure it out this year. not many have our experience.

 

[Spiderstew1962]

Beating Wofford convincingly at home would go a long way toward staying ranked this week. We can't have a bad showing. Let's keep the momentum going.

 

[spiderman]

you don't often move down much if you keep winning, no matter what your earlier victims do. other teams are losing. let's roll!

 

[VT4700]

Look, I’m not saying it’s not a good win.t will be a positive for us (assuming they do get things together). It just looks like it’s not going to carry as much weight with the committee as we hoped.

Georgia Tech is a bad loss...no two ways about that one. Kansas loss is obviously fine.

I don’t see how it’s controversial to say that our win over UK sure isn’t looking like a road win over the #10 team in the country.

I hear you, and it's not controversial at all to say that. But, I do think unless Kentucky has a terrible year and goes less than .500 in the SEC, the committee will still look at this win as a very good one, and it likely will be one of the better OOC wins for mid major.

 

[SFspidur]

 

[8legs1dream]

let's hope the other MBB pundits don't share his view

 

[Not-A-Homer]

As I said at the time, Kentucky looked like a top 100 against Richmond. Don't see much change so far. Even with in-season improvement, the name on the front of their jersey will probably be what gets them into the NCAA tournament. A UR win over Kentucky is good, but that is about as far as it goes this year.