CONCERNED FANS FOR
BASKETBALL
EDITORIAL
PART II
October 8, 2006
STYLE OF PLAY
STYLE OF PLAY
When UK hired Coach Smith, he promised to continue the pressing, up-tempo style of his predecessor. With the arrival of each new season, Coach Smith has told the fans, and the players, that the upcoming season will provide faster tempo, and more pressing. The data tell a different story and show the program slipping from the premier status established during the 90s. Consider these facts about UK 's game since Coach Smith arrived at UK :
• Pace immediately slowed, and has slowed further over the past nine seasons.
• Offensive output immediately fell and has never regained its prior levels of efficiency over the past nine seasons.
• Defensive effectiveness immediately fell, and has declined further over the past nine seasons.
• Average Margins of Victory immediately declined, and have declined further over the last nine seasons.
Brandan Wright said he chose UNC over UK because of UNC's up-tempo pace. “Recruiting woes are only the by-product of UK 's inability to reach championship status, not the cause. UK 's 'style of play' is the chief underlying cause of why recruiting is down. Players (and fans) who grew up watching UK's intense full and half-court pressure, followed by an equally intense fast break, do not want to play for [a] team bent on half-court offense 100 percent of the time. … Kentucky 's current philosophy seems more 'play not to lose.' rather than 'let's get 'em.' If you take a thoroughbred and train it [to] slow down … what you get … [is] a good horse that loses. Don't blame the horse.”
These style of play issues have produced a ripple effect throughout the program's recruiting, player retention, and national competitiveness.
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FOOTNOTES PART II:
http://www.cincypost.com/sports/1997/smith051397.html ,
See also http://www.kypost.com/sports/tubby102397.html
In eight years, Coach Pitino's teams averaged over 87 points per game.
Coach Smith's teams averaged 87 possessions per game in 98, 84 in 99,
83 in 2000, 86 in 2001, 87 in 2002, 83 in 2003, 82 in 2004,
81 in 2005, and 79.5 in 2006.
http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=46 , See also http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20051020/SPORTS/510200309/1006
http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/gleaner_sports/
article/0,1626,ECP_4477_4700568,00.html
Other Editorials:
Can UK Football Be Fixed By Just Replacing Its Coach?
Sadly It Is Not LikelyUK Should Fight The NCAA If Sanctioned Over Bledsoe in Two Parts
ARE TUBBY SMITH CRITICS UNREASONABLE?
MEMBERS OF UK SPORTS PRESS CORPS OWE DUTY TO BIG BLUE NATION, November 12, 2006
Please submit all comments about these editorials to The Editors at:
editor@BigBlueFans4UK.com
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SugarHill Communications of Kentucky
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