Thread: 2-25-10 South Carolina vs. Kentucky

What do you think the keys to the game are for Kentucky to pull out a win against South Carolina on Thursday?

I see 2 key components:
1. Defensively we have to shut down Downy.
2. The Wildcats will have to remain composed and not think they will win simply because "the will revenge the previous loss".

Comment on this post and let us know what you think.

I just want to see 1 thing we have yet to see do...

1. Play hard with no let down.. no remorse.

If they pick thursday to be the night they play 40 mins of solid Basketball, the gamecocks will have no chance.

Downy only shot in the 30% range for the night last time, which is even more pathetic. He did come through when they really needed him. This time, i'm saying the enthusiasm will be alive, and hopefully the most we have seen thus far.

I may eat crow, but Wins at Rupp by 30+!!!

What worries me the most is that this is our first "short week" this far into the schedule. We have been used to Tuesday and Saturday games for the most part. And now we have a Thursday then Saturday. Cant look ahead to the ugly orange nation- the gamecocks are coming to Lexington!!!! Go Cats!

Originally Posted by My Old Kentucky Homeboy

I just want to see 1 thing we have yet to see do...

1. Play hard with no let down.. no remorse.

If they pick thursday to be the night they play 40 mins of solid Basketball, the gamecocks will have no chance.

So what you're saying is you want us to dominate SC like we dominated Arkansas?

Sounds like a plan to me!

Yes, only we let up against Arkansas. I want blood this time! lol. makes no difference to me, if we win by 40 or 1, as long as they play their best ball is all i want to see.

To absolutely destroy South Carolina, we need to do this.

1. Feed the low block, Patterson and Cousins are the two biggest men on the floor at any given moment and can work the block to perfection.
2. Keep Downey from driving and force him to take difficult shots.
3. Play tight D on Downey.

That's it. That simple.

I say Liggins should get the starting job and have him man up on Downey all night, his defense is relentless, and his three point shooting helps us greatly on the offensive side.

We need to play alittle bit tighter D to keep Downy will be good.

Offensively

FEED THE BEAST
Work from the inside out. In Patterson and Big Cuz we have the best two big men in the country. Get them the ball in the post, this will open up 3 point opportunities as well as dribble drive opportunities for our fantastic guards. I particularly like having Miller flash across the top of the lane near the foul line, having the opportunity to shoot over defenders from 15 feet or more importantly with his size be able to work the high low game with Patterson on one block and Cuz on the other block. This pressures the lane heavily and will also open up 3 point shooting opportunities for Bledsoe and Dodson on the wings and JW out front. This is a particularly good way to get pressure in the lane when other teams make it their main priority on defense to keep JW and Bledsoe from penetrating. Use all of these opportunities to ATTACK THE BASKET and get to the free throw stripe early and often!

Defensively

Let him take the three or give up the ball!
We cannot let the preoccupation of stopping Downey cause us to get out of position for defensive rebounds. At Columbia we let USC collect 16 offensive boards that I believe lead to 20+ points and allowed USC to out-bound us 40-38 (ridiculous). Stop Downey's penetration. Downey doesn't look to shot threes as a first option, his goal is to drive the lane, make the basket, and get to the line as often as possible. Play off him, when he has the ball, on the perimeter to take away penetration opportunities. Play him tight when he doesn't have the ball in a ball denial defense. He only shot 2-5 in 3's in the previous game, make him beat you from three. He lived on the line scoring 10 of his 30 point from the stripe while causing foul trouble and disrupting our rebounding ability. If you are going to help defensively on Downey double him early before he makes a move to the basket, make him give up the ball, if he gets to the lane you open up a whole can of worms you'd rather not see opened!

South Carolina-Kentucky Preview

THE REMATCH GRUDGE GAME

Downey vs. Kentucky
Downey dropped 30 on the Cats in Colombia but he only shot 9 for 29 including 2-5 from three. What killed the cats was chasing Downey when on defense and getting out of position for the defensive rebound. USC got 16 offensive rebounds leading to a ton of second chance points. USC out bounded the Cats, and was +3 in blocks, +2 in steals, and +4 in turnovers. The Gamecocks also got to the line and hit 20-28 free throws, while both team only shot 25% from 3. Starters, Dominic Archie, USC’s second leading scorer at 14.4 ppg and rebounder 6.0 rpg, and Mike Holmes, USC’s 5th leading scorer at 9.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg, did not play in the game at USC.

The Cats have had since Saturday’s big win at Vanderbilt to prepare for Downey….how do you prepare for Downey…is there anyone on any scout team capable of emulating Downey?

1. Defense at all times .....
2. rebound off the boards... all the time...
3. deny the zone......
4. make them take the hard shots...
5. block the ball....
6. offensive motion on the inside off the block...
7. intensive smart plays from the outside....
8. easy on the fouls........
9. play excellant defensive posture....
10. DO NOT PLAY SELFISH DEFENSE !!!!! HELP DEFENSE at all costs when your teammate gets beat... !!!!

our CATS love 'em... but we need to step it up for real now... all the way to the finish line ....All in or nothin....this Game and Tennessee ...one Game at a time....all cylinders firing....play cool.. smart ...explosive basketball...wait for the comfortable lead at the end of the Game before celebrating....we need 15 or more points on the other teams from here on out...smart shots inside...great plays outside...easy on the fouls... block the ball. stay on the ball...

sounds like I am repeating myself.... GO KENTUCKY>>>>>>

Originally Posted by kywildcatinva

1. Defense at all times .....
2. rebound off the boards... all the time...
3. deny the zone......
4. make them take the hard shots...
5. block the ball....
6. offensive motion on the inside off the block...
7. intensive smart plays from the outside....
8. easy on the fouls........
9. play excellant defensive posture....
10. DO NOT PLAY SELFISH DEFENSE !!!!! HELP DEFENSE at all costs when your teammate gets beat... !!!!

our CATS love 'em... but we need to step it up for real now... all the way to the finish line ....All in or nothin....this Game and Tennessee ...one Game at a time....all cylinders firing....play cool.. smart ...explosive basketball...wait for the comfortable lead at the end of the Game before celebrating....we need 15 or more points on the other teams from here on out...smart shots inside...great plays outside...easy on the fouls... block the ball. stay on the ball...

sounds like I am repeating myself.... GO KENTUCKY>>>>>>

this this this!!

I don't even think it's that involved. The reason we lost last time is not because we couldn't shut down Downey. The reason we lost last time is because we couldn't score. Kentucky only scored 62 points in that game - the least we had scored up to that point and the 2nd least since then. To beat South Carolina, the Cats need to make shots or at least get rebounds of missed shots (both of which I believe they will do at Rupp).