Kentucky or Virginia

[UKnation87]

I'm obviously bias here but when I compare the two, I look at two things. One, I look at the depth of each team. Not just the number of players available, but the quality of the depth. I give that nod to UK. Second, I look at where the offense is or can come from because both teams are, for the most part, at another level defensively speaking. That said, I believe UK has more options overall than Virginia but I could see them playing a game in the 40's if they met up this season.

 

[gpm1976]

I only watched the 2nd half because watching Nebraska continue to blow chunks on the road.

I actually think Virginia is a really good team and really not much difference between them and Kentucky. I really didn't expect Duke to come back when Virginia took the big lead in 2nd half. Duke just shot unreal at the end of the game and couldn't miss from 3.

This is why I don't necessarily see Kentucky winning the whole thing. Big and athletic, but their little mini-me guard is the only guy who can shoot. That said, my favorite guy for UK is Cauley-stein(spelling?!?). I feel like he's held them in games at times when everyone else is tossing up bricks. Wouldn't mind seeing the Cavs pick him up.

 

[rmilia1]

Kentucky is so much more talented than every other team in cbb it's not really a question of if anyone is better, it's a question of which few teams could beat UK if the Cats play well. That means providing one or two match up problems or being capable of flat out outscoring kentucky by shooting it lights out. Iva is great but they aren't that team. Neither is UL, Zona, Kansas etc. I only see one team that can both provide match up problems and is capable of outscoring UK and that's Wisconsin

 

[TrollyMcTroller]

This is why I don't necessarily see Kentucky winning the whole thing. Big and athletic, but their little mini-me guard is the only guy who can shoot. That said, my favorite guy for UK is Cauley-stein(spelling?!?). I feel like he's held them in games at times when everyone else is tossing up bricks. Wouldn't mind seeing the Cavs pick him up.

Mini-me is only their 2nd best shooter. Booker is the best. Ulis is right behind him. The twins are both streaky shooters, but both are capable of making shots when necessary. Depending on who they are playing though, Ulis is more valuable as a passer/penetrator than he is as a scorer. He can get the ball into the bigs one way or another which is great for beating zones.

If they lay an egg in Florida tomorrow I might start to 2nd guess things, because they should be pretty up for that game after going 0-3 against Florida last season. If they come out flat, then I guess they could come out flat against anybody, but when that team is amped up I don't see anyone beating them.

 

[Runeman]

It's been awhile since the doom and gloom predictions when Alex Poythress went down. Haven't seen his name mentioned so I guess Kentucky is doing just fine. That said, there seems to be a bit of transition from the Harrisons to Booker and Ulis, both freshmen and as the year goes on they will both get better. Ulis should develop into the best point guard of the four and will be a great college player. Come tournament time, Kentucky will have their guard situation figured out and be ready to dominate the tournament. Only way they lose is not covering the 3 point shooters properly. No team beats them inside.

 

[gpm1976]

Mini-me is only their 2nd best shooter. Booker is the best. Ulis is right behind him. The twins are both streaky shooters, but both are capable of making shots when necessary. Depending on who they are playing though, Ulis is more valuable as a passer/penetrator than he is as a scorer. He can get the ball into the bigs one way or another which is great for beating zones.

If they lay an egg in Florida tomorrow I might start to 2nd guess things, because they should be pretty up for that game after going 0-3 against Florida last season. If they come out flat, then I guess they could come out flat against anybody, but when that team is amped up I don't see anyone beating them.

Yeah, I agree. Kentucky is at the top by themselves and I don't really see many other teams that stand out at the moment. That said, it wouldn't surprise me if some hot shooting team like Duke catches them off guard in the tourney.. it's just happened too many times in the past.

 

[TangoBlue]

This is why I don't necessarily see Kentucky winning the whole thing. Big and athletic, but their little mini-me guard is the only guy who can shoot.

really???






Last I heard Devin Booker still played for Kentucky....seems like he manages a very respectable number of threes in most games.

 

[PPhan]

People are fooling themselves if they don't think Duke is just as talented. Kentucky has the deeper team, no question here, but Duke's starting lineup is just as good....if not better.

 

[jeffro151]

UVa barely wins, the talking heads say they really aren't that good.
UK barely wins, they may be the greatest team of all time.

 

[jontaejones]

UVa barely wins, the talking heads say they really aren't that good.
UK barely wins, they may be the greatest team of all time.

They're two different types of teams.

UVA gets the most out of its potential and plays at its peak.

UK is a bunch of superstars thrown together that is nowhere near its peak. Of course, they will NEVER reach their peak because 75% of the team will be in the NBA next year.

That is exactly why I LOVE UVA, but in the grand scheme of things, that is why people say they aren't that good when they lose. Nova gets the same shit talk.

If the NBA instituted a 'two and done' rule, UK could become like UConn women. Just dominating year in and year out.

 

[Archangel]

Virginia

 

[Runeman]

Virginia relies on Toby who will get pounded by Culley-Stein, Johnson, and Towns. IMO, the match-up for Virginia against Kentucky is not good.

 

[jeffro151]

Virginia relies on Toby who will get pounded by Culley-Stein, Johnson, and Towns. IMO, the match-up for Virginia against Kentucky is not good.

Might want to look up some stats about UVa. Tobey isn't even our best 'big'. Between our 3 'bigs', the only category that Tobey leads in is FT%.

 

[Runeman]

Might want to look up some stats about UVa. Tobey isn't even our best 'big'. Between our 3 'bigs', the only category that Tobey leads in is FT%.

\
Maybe I haven't watched enough of Virginia basketball. Other than Tobey; who are the other 2 bigs that match up with Johnson, Towns and Culley-Stein? I could be wrong, but seems to me Teams challenge the hoop when Tobey is not inside. To me, Virginia if more of a finesse team; great passing and good shooting; however not a great transition team. Just my opinion; nothing more.

 

[UKnation87]

\
Maybe I haven't watched enough of Virginia basketball. Other than Tobey; who are the other 2 bigs that match up with Johnson, Towns and Culley-Stein? I could be wrong, but seems to me Teams challenge the hoop when Tobey is not inside. To me, Virginia if more of a finesse team; great passing and good shooting; however not a great transition team. Just my opinion; nothing more.

Don't forget about Lyles (6'10") also... he had missed the last 2 or 3 games due to being sick and wasn't near 100% last night. Once he gets his legs back, UK will be back to 10 deep.

That all being said, I have a thought on the whole "UK needs to drop one" before the tourney starts. First of all, I don't care at all about a 40 - 0 record. I've said this time and time again, and I would believe most of the fan base doesn't really care either.

Second, I'm not sure anyone can convince me that a loss will somehow be more beneficial to this team than winning close games in the types of environments they're playing in when on the road. Once March rolls around, UK will not have to play in environments like they've seen the last 2 games.

The UK team from last season would have lost last night, and at Florida, and at A&M, and against Ole Miss at home in my opinion which is why I'm encouraged about their potential to make a run at the National Title. They're tough mentally this year and they expect to win every game. Mix in their depth and talent with that mindset and you have a team built to win.

 

[jeffro151]

\
Maybe I haven't watched enough of Virginia basketball. Other than Tobey; who are the other 2 bigs that match up with Johnson, Towns and Culley-Stein? I could be wrong, but seems to me Teams challenge the hoop when Tobey is not inside. To me, Virginia if more of a finesse team; great passing and good shooting; however not a great transition team. Just my opinion; nothing more.

Darion Atkins and Anthony Gill. You are correct in that we are not a transition team. We deliberately run the shot clock to find the exact shot we want.

 

[Runeman]

Don't forget about Lyles (6'10") also... he had missed the last 2 or 3 games due to being sick and wasn't near 100% last night. Once he gets his legs back, UK will be back to 10 deep.

That all being said, I have a thought on the whole "UK needs to drop one" before the tourney starts. First of all, I don't care at all about a 40 - 0 record. I've said this time and time again, and I would believe most of the fan base doesn't really care either.

Second, I'm not sure anyone can convince me that a loss will somehow be more beneficial to this team than winning close games in the types of environments they're playing in when on the road. Once March rolls around, UK will not have to play in environments like they've seen the last 2 games.

The UK team from last season would have lost last night, and at Florida, and at A&M, and against Ole Miss at home in my opinion which is why I'm encouraged about their potential to make a run at the National Title. They're tough mentally this year and they expect to win every game. Mix in their depth and talent with that mindset and you have a team built to win.

Yeah, haven't forgot about Lyles and also Lee who is not getting a lot of floor time. Kentucky is so deep and talented. Still waiting for the guards to play better. I really like Booker and Ulis, although it was Towns and Aaron Harrison who did in Florida. Towns really made a stupid play last night and Cal was all over him. Glad to see Towns in the post game interview own up to his mistake and understood that he deserved his tongue lashing. That one almost cost Kentucky the game. I'm not a fan of dropping a game. Would rather a team with talent play each game hard and try to improve.

 

[UK Cowboy]

I believe Cal will shorten the rotation to 7 by the time the tournament gets here. The Twins, Booker, and Ulis in the backcourt, and KAT, WCS and Lyles in the front court. The twins and Booker are all 6'6", so Cal can mix as and match the 4 anyway he wants, and while Johnson and Lee are good players, 2 of KAT, WCS and Lyles should be on the court at all times. Lee, Johnson and Hawkins are there if there's foul trouble. If Cal did this, and kept his 7 best on the court at all times, I think they would be a nightmare

 

[Runeman]

Darion Atkins and Anthony Gill. You are correct in that we are not a transition team. We deliberately run the shot clock to find the exact shot we want.

Seems to me Atkins and Gill are giving up a lot of size hanging out with 3 guys that are all close to 7 feet tall each having an incredible reach. That said, Virginia does a great job of blocking out, so a 6-8 guy can hold his own if he has position; however a lot of balls go Kentucky's way simply due to incredible size; including 3 guards; each 6-6.

 

[redseat]

Duke's better than them both in my opinion

It depends upon which Duke team shows up.