Transcript
Matt Jones (0:00)
Hey, what's up guys? It's Levar Arrington here from up on Game. Wanted to talk to you about a serious issue.
Billy Rutledge (0:07)
Hate.
Matt Jones (0:08)
You know, something personal that I have experienced and witnessed and watched is how the hate in our country is getting so out of control. It's at an all time high and people are facing way too much hate. A lot of people don't think it's a problem, but I do. I can recall growing up being in high school. One of my high school teammates, good dude too, just happened to wear a shirt that was a derogatory shirt towards my racial group. It depicted Malcolm X moments after he was assassinated and it just made me feel really, really sad. It made me feel upset and so many other emotions. And it's really because we're supposed to be a team but it's going to take all of us to stop that sort of hate. As I mentioned, we are a team in this country. So let's take a break from hate so our team can regroup and regain our momentum. We need to take a time out Against Hate. Visit standuptoallhate.org to help and join me in calling for a time out against hate by following at what's up with hate or posting the blue square emoji. Welcome everyone. It is the local Toyota dealers. KSR post game show. The Cats win a relatively sluggish effort tonight over Colgate 78, 67 in Rupp Arena. And now get ready for the big rivalry game next Saturday against Louisville. You can give us a shout. Love to hear from you. It's one of these people sometimes say to me, Matt, what are the, what are the hardest shows to do? And the, there's like two different kinds. It's usually, you know, if they lose on a Tuesday night on the road at like Ole Miss, a late game, people go to bed. We have a game like that this year at Oklahoma and then December games against bad teams. So this is a good time to get in. 859-280-2287 so I said on the pregame show that I expected this game to be closer than the 30 point spread, that I expected Colgate to slow Kentucky down. And I thought they did a lot of things really well. I mean Kentucky came out on a 17 nothing run to start the game and I'm sure like most people, the players sort of thought, well, we're good. And then they played like it for about the next 20 minutes. Colgate even got the lead by one point, which it's kind of amazing when you start 17. Nothing. But to Kentucky's credit, in about a minute and a half a game action, they went from down one to up 11. Jackson Robinson hitting two big threes that I thought were the most important shots of the game. Then Trent Noah getting a big one. Trent played good minutes off the bench tonight, getting real minutes and taking advantage. And then of course, all game, Kobe Brea, who went 5 for 8 from 3 and really was the most important player in the win for me, I mean, this game, we won't remember this game. I don't think it particularly matters. You're sandwiched between really three big games at Clemson, at Gonzaga, then Louisville Saturday. This is an easy game to forget. Honestly, most of the year I forgot this game was even happening. I would. I thought they were taking doing finals this week and there wasn't even a game. So I'm sure the players are like that too. Look, I mean, you just want a massive game against one of the best teams in the country on their court, and then you got the biggest rival next week. It's easy to overlook this, but what's odd is that they actually started 17. No. So it wasn't like they overlooked at the beginning. I just think they got complacent. I think you also see how this team really needs Lamont Butler. I mean, I know they we won against Gonzaga, but I think for this team to be good, you really need Lamont Butler in part because it frees up Jackson Robinson. He went 2 for 11 from 3. Now the two he hit were. But he needs to not have to create as much. I don't think that's really his role. Butler can do that. You know, the bench, with the bench really didn't have a great game. I mean, if you look at it right now, Kentucky's bench points total was nine. That's probably the lowest that it will be all season. Nine points off the bench. All the starters were in double figures. But you know, they need Lamont Butler back and with Kirk Creesa gone, I think it's going to be important for, for, you know, I don't think Travis Perry looks comfortable yet. I don't really think Colin Chandler looks comfortable yet. Trent Noah, maybe he's the guy, right? Maybe he's the guy to get some of those minutes. But whatever it is, you know, we've seen a pattern. Kentucky, by the way, has won the second half in every game this year they've played. They are what, 10 and oh, in second halves. But the first halves, you know, cats have got to be a little more on it because I think obviously Pope's become a king of halftime adjustments. But you know when you get an SEC play, there are going to be some games that they'll drop if they don't have better first halves. And hopefully tonight is a little bit of a wake up call. Ultimately, two basketball takeaways I had while watching it. Number one, I wish that. Well, three, actually number one, I wish Kobe Brayer would shoot more from three. I think I heard when they were doing the replays Jack Givens say this during the game. I'm all for a pump fake but man, you're like the best shooter in the country. Shoot. I wish he took eight threes. Watching the game I thought he could have taken 14 and honestly in part of the game we needed him to. So I kind of wish he would shoot more. It's almost too unselfish. Which gets me to the second point, which is I do think this team overpasses a little bit, especially down low. I love the passes on the perimeter and the way they go. They pass to get an open look. But I do think especially with away Brea, I don't think it happens so much with Robinson, but away and Brea especially like they get in the paint on a drive and then it's I appreciate the fact they're always looking for a lob, but sometimes I think they're giving up a good shot for a high risk, better shot that might not go in. I'd rather have if Kobe Brea has the lane for layup, I'd almost rather him take it than try to throw a contested lob to one of the bigs. It's a nitpicky thing, but I do think we overpass sometimes. And then third, I just thought Amari Williams played pretty good tonight. Dunk. It reminds me of when I was a kid. Larry used to always sort of when Jared Prickett played, he would say why doesn't he dunk? Because he would always sort of try to bunny a layup and he would miss it. I feel that way about Amare and into some extent Garrison, but really Amare more like dunk. You know, his touch is not as good as his power. I hope. I wish he would do that a little bit more. But again, Saturday is what matter. Kentucky and Louisville. Louisville struggled tonight. They only won by three at home against utep. They were down a lot of that game, but they'll give Kentucky a fight and I think Kentucky's going to have to play better than they did today to win. Pope says he Thinks he'll know if Lamont Butler is going to play Saturday based on how he feels tomorrow. Because I think they gave him like his first really major workout today. I hope he does. I think I feel really good about Kentucky's chances if he plays. But if he doesn't play, I think it could be a game. And you know, Louisville's had actually kind of a brutal schedule and they, you know, they play Kentucky. I think they still have to play North Carolina maybe right after Kentucky. When you consider Duke, Ole Miss, Tennessee, they've had a tough go of it. They need to win one of these if they're going to make the tournament, and I don't want us to be the one that they win. 859-28022 87 Cats. Not much of a night of college basketball outside of Kentucky. The NBA cup is going. Billy, do you like the NBA cup or have you followed it at all?