I'll admit it - I sure as hell wish we had John Wall

by wolfonthehill on Dec 5, 2009 1:25 PM EST

Watching the uncch-UK game, and getting my first look at the kid.

DAMN! THAT KID'S GOOD!

He's the whole package - in complete control of the court on both ends - shooting 3's, dunking on fast breaks, finding the open man - he's the difference between our team and a top-25 team, all by himself.

And to all those who insist that building a program takes 3 years... or 5 years... or infinite WTNY's... I present UK as Exhibit A to the contrary. No top 5 appearances in 7 years... no tourney for a couple... and they're #5 in Year 1.

This is really just painful to watch, between Cal & Wall & Cousins. But I'm a Pack fan, so I'll watch it, just to punish myself.

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i think it was the game where they scored 100+

And Wall/Cousins combined for about 50 of those that I decided I wasn’t going to look at any more Kentucky box scores this year. As you said, it’s painful.

Though Cousins may prove a detriment to Kentucky’s offensive efficiency when all is said and done. He’s been effective but he’s a selfish possession hog who is taking shots away from the ridiculously efficient Patrick Patterson. Cousins is taking 39% of the shots, while Patterson’s shots is down to 22.9 from 25.7% last year. Patterson takes better care of the ball (significant because turnovers are a huge issue for Kentucky), is shooting 72.5% this year (60.3% last year), while Cousins is shooting just 54.1%.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on Dec 7, 2009 2:58 PM EST reply actions

Gasaway:

John Calipari needs to draw Cousins aside at practice this afternoon and say: "DeMarcus, I’d like you introduce you to John Wall and Patrick Patterson. They are very good at basketball. John’s making 61 percent of his twos. Patrick’s making 74 percent. Let them shoot too, OK?" Cousins isn’t chopped liver himself, of course, and on D he already gives the appearance of being a Cole Aldrich-variety hybrid, one who both blocks shots and crashes the glass. (When he’s on the floor.) But speaking literally, the Kentucky offense so far this year has risen or fallen largely according to how often Patterson and Wall get to shoot—the more often the better.

(If you still have this game on your DVR, watch the unintentionally revealing and slightly humorous sequence on Cousins’ scoring play with just under 11 minutes remaining in the first half. As the Wildcats run their offense, everyone off the ball moves really well—until Cousins gets the rock. At that point the other four UK players stop dead in their tracks and watch. Just eight games into Cousins’ career, his teammates already know that the ball definitely stops there.)

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on Dec 8, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

Agree that the offense...

… should flow through Patterson as a rule. He’s an absolute beast… can post his man up, can take his man off the dribble, can spot up from 18… Cousins is very raw and should be their 3rd option.

God, how I’d love to have a team where Cousins should clearly be the third option.

by wolfonthehill on Dec 9, 2009 3:36 AM EST up reply actions