UK Survives Terrible Second Half, Beats Auburn 72-67
Guy | Jan 16, 2010 | Comments 3
UK fans, I would go ahead and brace yourselves for a next couple days filled with questions about “How good is UK really?” ‘Microanalysis’ is my word for the way that sports analysts shape their opinions almost entirely based on what just happened and then figure out a way to justify their opinions.
Can’t you picture some national hit seeking writers seeing the score of the UK-Auburn, reading the AP recap, thinking “Hey, didn’t they just barely beat Georgia this week?”, then deciding that UK is overrated. They’ll cobble together an argument about how UK has narrowly beaten a bunch of mediocre opponents this season and talk about how UK’s best wins (UNC and UConn) really haven’t turned out to be that impressive.
There will be some validity to what they’re saying. UK will need to continue to improve this season in order to live up to the hype, but they will be unfairly discounting everything that this precocious team has accomplished.
Anyway, enough about that. Let’s talk about what happened today down in Auburn.
UK started out well enough, repeatedly getting to the foul line and repeatedly getting the ball to Patrick Patterson. They staked themselves to an early 19 point lead, before allowing Auburn to but the lead to 13 with two threes right before halftime.
I figured that UK’s pre-halftime lull was going to be short lived, but they played basically the entire second half the exact same way. Eric Bledsoe and John Wall repeatedly overpenetrated and the team as a whole just quit getting the ball to Patrick Patterson.
After decent first halves, Wall and Bledsoe ended up with a total of ten turnovers between them, Wall accounting for seven in what may have been his worst college game. Wall just never found a rhythm against Auburn’s backcourt.
Patrick Patterson was the man for UK in the first half, scoring 12 points. I don’t think he got up a shot in the second. Part of that can be attributed to DeMarcus Cousins’ strong play (16 points, 11 boards) and part of it can be blamed on not getting him the ball, but I guarantee you that John Calipari is going to make the point to Patterson that he has to demand the ball, particularly when teams are making runs like Auburn was in the second.
Fortunately, UK was able to do just enough. The game was tied late, but the ‘Cats were again able to step up when they needed to. DeAndre Liggins hit a big three and a big layup, as well as getting the game sealing rebound and playing probably the best clutch defense on the team. DeMarcus Cousins scored in the post and hit his free throws. And of course, John Wall closed things down, scoring UK’s last four point on a ridiculous split of a double team and layup and the two free throws that removed any drama.
So other than not getting the ball to Patterson and iffy play by Bledsoe and Wall, why did UK play so poorly in the second half against the team I believe to be the worst in the conference? I think complacency is the key word. UK built a lead because they just kept getting sent to the free throw line and because Auburn slowed it down in their half court offense so much that the Tigers couldn’t consistently get anything going.
In the second half, Jeff Lebo’s squad eschewed that approach and just played. UK was happy with its lead and wasn’t ready to play with them. Auburn started hitting some shots, which built confidence, and UK kept turning it over. Eventually, the Tigers were convinced they could score on UK, and they kept doing it. They shot 16-29 from the field after a putrid 9-31 performance in the first half, and most of the damage was done around the basket. UK had seven blocks on the game, but in the second half they couldn’t protect their own basket.
This game doesn’t really tell us anything new, but it reinforces in my mind that UK has a lot of progress to make in terms of consistency, both on a player by player basis and as a team. There’s no excuse for Patterson dominating the first half, then becoming a non-factor in the second. It’s also difficult to play a high level as a team when your best option at the three position changes every single time out. One game it’s Ramon Harris, the next it’s Liggins, then Dodson, then Miller, then Liggins again.
Even though UK could become number one on Monday if Texas loses to Texas A&M today (they are down in the second half), UK is a long way away from peaking.
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After reading the start of this article I was totally prepared for hearing just that by the media, but I just about fell off my couch a minute ago. I was watching the College Game Day crew and they brought up the UK game. Jay Bilas, who I despise, and the rest actually said they were impressed with UK as a team and that it was a good game and should help them. They said Auburn isn’t a good team, but played well. But still in shock that they didn’t down the Cats.
Yes, Patterson was a non-factor offensively, but defensively, he had a pretty good second half. Bottom line is that it’s just one game – or one half, so I’m sure Coach Cal will review the tape and make the necessary adjustments. Personally, I feel the key to going all the way lies with Orten and Liggins. If those two can provide consistant reliable backup, then it gives Cal a lot more options if the starters “get bored”. Cal does a lot of one-on-one work with players, so getting these two up to starter or near-starter level would be huge down the road.
It’s funny how what happens in other games can impact how UK is talked about. I think UK AND Texas both playing in tight games allows commentators to talk about the parody in college basketball rather than either team’s disappointing performance.
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I agree about Liggins and Orton. You won’t find a more talented 6th and 7th man than Liggins and Orton, that’s for sure. DeAndre has been solid on offense and getting better, but Orton has got to be more of a threat to score 1 on 1 in the post. I think he’s got the skills, but is lacking a bit of confidence.