We have a hour till the game tips off in the Yum and it is tiime to think about the keys to a Kentucky victory. Cal always posts what the team needs to do as a team when he talks to them before the game. Here is what I would write:
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
[LIST]
[*]Terrence Jones has to play like the National Player of the Year candidate that he was just a couple of weeks ago. The last couple of games he has struggled with missed shots and really being a ball hog. In the Coppin State game he got back to rebounding and letting the game come to him. Terrence doesn’t have to shoot it everytime to be effective. Take good shots and rebound, in other words, be a force in the paint and get a double double. Oh yeah, please don’t shoot any threes.
[*]Brandon Knight has struggled in the two marquee games the Cats have played, UNC and UCONN, so it will be imperative for him to have a consistent BK game. Hitting open shots and running the team is the freshman’s goal for me. Finding the open man on the break, hint Doron Lamb, in transition to put daggers into the Cards hearts.
[*]Doron Lamb coming off the bench and knocking down shots. Doron and Brandon also need to play good perimeter defense and make sure they bother 3 point shooters with at least getting a hand in their face.
[*]Josh Harrellson does not have to score, but any time he does it is a plus. Josh needs 10 rebounds and 2-3 blocks today. The paint needs to be owned by the Cats, and that means Terrence and Josh have great games.
[*]The only players I haven’t mentioned yet are DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller. They have both been a part of this series for 2 years and know the emotions that go with it. They need to be the calming effect for the freshman, and be the leaders when things get rough. Darius hustling and diving on the floor for loose balls and DeAndre playing great defense and knocking down “catch and shoot” shots will go a long way into having momentum throughout the contest. These 2 can provide a lot of emotion as well as a calming effect for the entire team. Be leaders!!!
[*]Coach Cal needs to keep his cool. Mike Stuart is officiating the game and he will surely be watching Cal’s every move. It will be the assistant coaches job to keep an eye on Cal and not let him go to far, and this is verbally or onto the court. We don’t need any free points or momentum for the Cards or their fans.
[/LIST]I am looking forward to the game and we are inside the hour of the greatest college basketball rivalry in the nation. I say Cats by 10…and Terrence Jones will be the player of the game.
