Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Oof. I had almost forgotten about Kentucky's brutal early-season loss to Gardner-Webb last November. And then the quaint VMI Keydets waltzed into Lexington and ran the Wildcats out of the building in UK's season opener. VMI won 111-103.The Keydets did what they do: they pushed the pace. It’s not that they “ran,” really. True fast breaks were in short supply. Rather, Duggar Baucom’s team took the seven-seconds-or-less approach and shot the rock after one or, at most, two passes. As a result there were no fewer than 93 possessions in this 40-minute game.It's hard to fault the individual talent on the Kentucky roster: the Wildcat offense was pretty darn potent itself, with junior Jodie Meeks (injured most of last season) going ballistic with 39 points in 34 minutes. VMI was the nation's second-fastest team last season, a major high-scoring outfit. You'd think stopping the break and closing out on quick threes would be central to the scouting report. Gillespie's team just wasn't prepared. Again.
This tactic needs a name. For example it’s different than North Carolina’s accelerated pace. I propose to call it stun and gun. [...] Kentucky was plainly stunned at how quickly the Keydets did so within each possession.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
4 comments
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
Scoreboard data copyright © 2012 by STATS LLC. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC is strictly prohibited.
OpenCalais - Powered by Thomson Reuters
•
Odds Shark 
Comments
2nd fastest team? Do they run 40’s in college basketball? And if so, whose the fastest and slowest teams? Kentucky has gone down the drain since my dads boy Tubbo left.
by redman05 on Nov 15, 2008 1:16 PM EST reply actions
Gillespie can recruit, and apparently runs brutal practices (i assume meant to build a marine mentality and instill tougness) BUT he sucks as a bench coach. He’ll a win a national championship (if he makes it to six years) BUT not because he won it on the bench. Joe Hall proved talent WILL OUT in ‘78, Pitino had a system (and can coach) BUT Smith was the best bench coach we had since Rupp. I loved both Pitino’s system and Smith’s game ability. Gillespie leaves me cold. Even Sutton could coach better than this and he was grossly over-rated.
by brianscottp on Nov 15, 2008 2:40 PM EST reply actions
Once again the UK fan base thinking that UK should be this great team year in and year out. It just goes to show you that relying on history and tradition gets you nowhere. VMI simply exposed UK last night for what they are…mediocre. Billy G is not the next great coach UK expects. Sure he can recruit with the best of them, but he is not a good coach at all. He doesn’t make good game plans and surely doesn’t make adjustements. This team is going to be just like they were last year….bad.
by jaybird256 on Nov 15, 2008 5:47 PM EST reply actions
Its only Billy G’s second season.. Hes still implementing his system. Hes a great coach..I dont see where you all are getting that Tubby was a better bench coach then Gillespie. Because Billy did more with TEXAS A&M then Tubby did with Kentucky.
Give him time..Then see whos better.. Because im pretty sure you all will be changing your minds!
by bleed'nblue88 on Nov 17, 2008 12:51 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed