Gametracker: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

For a week I’ve had the contest between South Carolina and Ohio State circled.  I wanted to know if USC could back up their early season quality team rebounding statistics (top ten nationally) against the likes of #2 Ohio State and Jared Sullinger.  Great test for USC to see where they stand against a big boy.  This was an opportune time to fire up a gametracker.  When I do a gametracker I choose one player and I follow every single move they make throughout the game.  I’m looking for details that go beyond the final stats.  I want to know if they block out well, or what their hustle effort is like.  I want to know if they are just athletic and filling up the stat sheet, or if they are disciplined and a great basketball player. Below is a gametracker detailing Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger.  Minutes denote the time remaining on the clock when the play or event by Sullinger took place.  Substitutions are noted.  Commentary on the impact of Sullinger and game notes in general will follow the gametracker.

1st Half

19:40–Misses shot in lane. Good post up for ball.
19:20–Manchild defensive rebound
19:10–Post up, receives ball, uses body well to get contact and fouled. On line. 2-2 FT’s. Nice stroke.
18:50–Good switch on D, recovers to his man. Perfect.
18:20–Aggressive towards glass, maybe over the back. Not called.
18:10–Gets ball on turnover on fast break, ball tied up. Nice presence to hustle and get ball from guard.
18:00–rebound and bucket, and fouled. Made FT.
17:40–Nice help D, forces pass out. Rebound on missed long shot.
16:50–Nice pick, post up, missed shot in lane. Not much lift trying to get ball over lengthly USC player.
16:20–GREAT positioning. Off rebound and fouled.
16:00–Def rebound. Nobody around.
15:40–Post, aggressive move to right in lane. Fouled. TV timeout. 10-5 OSU. “Sullinger making early impact.” Out of timeout 0-2 FT’s.
15:10–OSU with 2-3 Zone defense. Jared playing his part very well, no penetration by USC bigs.
14:50–Misses layup.
14:20–Post up, turns left, layup and fouled. Great stuff. WENT LEFT (right-handed). And 1. Makes FT.
14:00–Great Def rebound
13:50–Length of USC blocks Sull badly. Not much lift.
13:20–Looking for guys to block out when shot goes up. FUNDAMENTAL.
12:40–GREAT off reb positioning. Was ready but teammate swished shot.
12:10–Great post move, 360, made shot, fouled. IMPRESSIVE. Made FT. 11 pts now.
12:00–Subbed out @ 12:12. OSU up 18-6.
8:50–USC’s Jackson with off reb. Jared still on bench. USC making some noise.
8:25–Jared checks back in. 20-11 OSU up. USC outscored OSU 5-2 while Jared on bench.
7:40–Disciplined on D. Fills passing lane perfectly. Timeout. 22-11 OSU.
7:00–Steal. Right place right time
6:40–Conceded rebound. Doesn’t pursue.

Big East/SEC Challenge Wish List

The SEC and Big East announced today a two-year agreement to play one another in an annual challenge.  This follows on the heels of back-to-back seasons in which a mini-version of this challenge existed, in which four teams from each conference competed for the challenge bragging rights.  There was enough momentum from this subsample for the conferences to agree on including all members in the SEC (12 teams) against twelve (out of 16) teams from the Big East.  The twelve teams from the Big East will be chosen at a later date.

The fact that we still don’t know which Big East teams will compete makes for a great opportunity to blog.  As with any challenge it’s all about the matchups.  You have to select matchups that will ultimately be competitive but also have as much marketability as possible in order to draw the highest ratings.  I put pen to pad tonight and did my best to break down the matchups I would want to see and some logic behind the choice.  Below is my personal wish list.  The conferences are free to use this in their decision making.

Kentucky vs Syracuse

Hype factors:  Both are perennial power basketball schools; the teams met in the 1996 Championship game; they almost never meet adding to the sexy matchup factor; perhaps most importantly they are #1 or #2 in annual home attendance every year, something the announcers can hype up until you vomit; the famed Syracuse 2-3 zone defense against the Dribble Drive Motion Offense of Kentucky.

Tennessee vs Connecticut

Hype factors: I went with this matchup mainly because Tennessee has already played Pittsburgh and Villanova this year, so I feel like there’s some process of elimination here.  Next year’s matchup should have new blood.  Now that UConn has rebounded from last year’s disappointing campaign this matchup oozes excitement.  Tennessee continues to be a giant-killer with wins over several Top 10 teams in recent years.  Lets throw the Vols another chance to add a feather to the hat.

Florida vs Louisville

Hype factors:  Lock this up.  Done deal.  Ricky P vs Billy D.  Mentor vs Pupil.  Championship winning coaches.  This is long overdue.  Marketing dream.

Vanderbilt vs West Virginia

Hype factors: This is a coaching decision for me.  I appreciate what Stallings and Huggins get out of their players.  The Mountaineers stifling defense pitted against Vanderbilt’s persistent offense.  I really think this could be the best matchup of the entire challenge.  Both coaches are gracious competitors and I think they would provide a great scene for college basketball fans.

SEC East Power Rankings

If you pay any attention to college basketball then you are surely aware of how ultra-competitive the SEC East has become in recent years.  A division that was once Kentucky’s birthright has now become a division of an arms race to win championships.  Florida struck first when Billy Donovan’s teams cut the nets down in 2005 and 2006.  Tennessee struck next in hiring Bruce Pearl, who has proven time and time again since 2007 that the Vols will be one of the nation’s toughest outs.  Kevin Stallings’ Vanderbilt teams are as well coached as any in the nation, leading to unprecedented consistent success by the Commodores in post-season games.  And the old guard, Kentucky, plucked the nation’s most controversial coach from Memphis in order to restore order in the SEC East.  John Calipari did just that in year one at Kentucky last year, thanks in part to one of the greatest recruiting classes in college basketball history.

Still, even if you follow the SEC East closely, you had to be at least mildly surprised to see the most recent RPI statistics for the aforementioned teams.  In terms of Strength of Schedule (SOS) Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky are currently ranked 1, 2 and 3, respectively, in the nation.  Vanderbilt is ranked 19th.  Aggressive scheduling (oh, and winning!) has largely accounted for their current RPI ratings as well with Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida ranked 1, 4 and 6, respectively.  Vanderbilt is ranked 20th.  That’s THREE SEC East teams currently in the top 6 RPI ratings, and FOUR East teams in the Top 20.  This is a division that has been on the rise for several years–slapping conventional football wisdom in the face–which is culminating in some pretty sick national statistics in the early portion of this year’s college basketball season.

It also makes for a competitive and fun power rankings segment!

SEC East Power Rankings as of 12-12-10:

1.  Tennessee–Say what you want about Bruce Pearl’s aversion to truth-telling and the NCAA, but when it comes to his sanctuary on the court the man is getting it done.  He has reinvented Tennessee basketball with an aggressive, confident, attacking system and continues to bring in some of the better athletes around the nation.  His best trait, however, is most likely his motivational skills.  The men’s team has been on the winning end of some high profile games in recent years, including a win @ highly-ranked Memphis in 2008 and a win over #1 Kansas–without key players–last season.  This year, for an encore, Pearl’s Vols have taken down #7 Villanova and #3 Pittsburgh–both Big East contenders–in the early going.  The result thus far is a perfect 7-0 record and a spot in the #1 slot in the first edition of the power rankings.

2.  Kentucky–The Cats are not far behind the Vols, but the influx of several freshmen playing large roles has produced enough inconsistency to post two losses thus far on the season.  The good news for Kentucky is that they have managed a 7-2 record amidst a difficult schedule.  Of their nine games the Cats have played Oklahoma, Washington, Connecticut, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Indiana.  Six of nine games against power conference programs, including four against traditional power programs and/or hated rivals (UConn, UNC, ND and IU).  Calapari’s fearless approach is clearly paying off, however, as boys are turning into men.  The youthful Cats made Notre Dame’s Ben Hansbrough look like Larry Bird for one half, but rallied in the second half to play suffocating defense and pull away from the Fighting Irish.  You get the feeling watching this version of Calapari’s Cats that they are in that transitional mode of really implementing his desired offense and defense strategies.  This team has offered glimpses of greatness on both ends, but lacks the focus and consistent effort to implement it for 40 minutes.

3. Vanderbilt–This is a typical start for a Stallings Vandy club.  Very good, but not great.  They only have two losses, both by three points.  One came against a solid West Virginia team on a neutral court.  The other was an overtime loss on the road–in overtime–to #11 Missouri.  You really can’t complain about that.  Their stats across the board are outstanding.  They rank 31st in ppg, 33rd in rpg, 53rd in apg, and 39th in team field goal percentage.  Compiling that consistency against a top 20 SOS is no small feat.  This is a team that will continue to be a ridiculously tough out in Memorial Coliseum and will look to surprise on the road in conference play with a bit more consistency.  With sharp-shooter John Jenkins, they have one piece to deliver big wins this year.

4. Florida–I’ve got to be honest with you, Florida’s current played schedule doesn’t pass the “toughest in the nation” eye test.  Only two games jump out at you–Ohio State and Florida State.  But I won’t argue with the SOS assessors, as they have a lot more information than I do.  Regardless, it’s ranked #1 in the nation and the Gators have started 7-2.  I just wonder in the early going how far Florida can really go without prolific efficiency from their starting guards.  While Erving Walker is shooting at a good clip (and was last year too), he’s not a very big guard and he can easily be defended by a quicker, longer guard.  He’ll get his shots off and hit his share–he’s too good a shooter–but in crunch time can he take a game over?  Off-guard Kenny Boynton is the counter to Walker that makes their backcourt more versatile–a strong, quick guy with excellent athleticism.  So far though, I generalize his career as one in which he has settled as a jump shooter.  The problem is he didn’t shoot well but in spurts last year, and this year he’s off to a concerning start.  He’s shooting 38% overall, and a putrid 25% from three-point range.  I could analyze their front court but I truly feel a Billy Donovan system requires excellent guard play, and I question how good this year’s team can be without a significant improvement by Boynton and a Kemba Walker-like offensive contribution from Erving Walker.  One good stat the Florida team possesses is a 48.2 % team field goal percentage, good for 30th in the nation.  That suggests some good ball movement on offense, even if the long-distance shooting is not there yet.  If the 3’s start falling, look out!

5.  Georgia–I give the nod to the Bulldogs here over the Gamecocks thanks to a win over rival Georgia Tech on the road.  Georgia has started 7-2 only losing in double-overtime to a rock solid Notre Dame squad followed by a loss to a ranked Temple team.  Georgia has proven to be past disappointing losses, but without putting away the Notre Dame’s and Temple’s of the world, they remain to be noticed nationally or warrant serious consideration as a higher ranked power rankings team.  For those that predicted a breakout year from this Georgia team, the Bulldogs haven’t done anything to prove or disprove those beliefs.  Unfortunately their schedule is chalk-full of cupcakes from now until conference play begins, so gauging their competitiveness against the nation’s best will be difficult.

6.  South Carolina–The Gamecocks, impressively, are the 5th best rebounding team in the nation as of this morning.  And that includes competing against notoriously interior-tough Michigan State.  Despite that awesome stat, the Gamecocks have lost their only truly difficult test, against the Spartans.  They did, however, beat rival Clemson.  The rest of their contests have resulted in just the 90th toughest schedule in the nation, by far the worst SOS in this division. With the way the team has won rather easily against inferior competition I tend to believe that this Gamecock team is in fact dangerous, with the rebounding stat proof of a good team.  On December 18th the Gamecocks take on #2 Ohio State.  I’ll be tuning in to see how well the Gamecocks rebound against the likes of superfrosh Jared Sullinger.  The Gamecocks will certainly have their chance to impress and prove their status in the insanely competitive SEC East.

SEC East Power Rankings

Only two games left for most SEC teams in conference play.  As always Selection Sunday should be very interesting for a handful of teams hoping to hear their names called for the Big Dance.

1. Kentucky–The Cats exacted revenge on South Carolina this week before the “upset” to Tennessee in Knoxville yesterday.  Although the Cats lost, this was hardly a bad loss.  Tennessee, in the underdog role at home, plays like the Connecticut women’s team.  Also, Kentucky had a late Thursday turn around to play in a noon game Saturday–not the kind of circumstances you want walking into a death trap.  How many teams can be 19 down with 14:00 to play and come back to tie it with 2:00 remaining–on the road?  Not many.  It was a remarkable effort by the Wildcats, but not enough when Tennessee made the plays to win the game.  I see this as the proverbial “good loss” where Kentucky will use this as a wake up call.  Time to start shooting the deep ball better fellas.  By the way, I was glad to see just as many threads on messageboards making fun of the Kentucky fans that started a thread blaming the referees.  Normally, it wouldn’t be so even as most fans prefer to blame the refs for absolutely everything.  When your own coach says after the game “we had two players that were asleep out there,” you have less fouls called against you than the opponent (18 to 24), and you shoot 2-22 from 3 point range–you need to attempt to put your emotions on hold and watch the game with at least a pinch of objectivity.  Referees played a miniscule part in determining this game.

2. Vanderbilt–I’m starting to equate Vanderbilt as the SEC’s version of Syracuse.  Just without the army of bigs coming at you.  Seriously though, I think Vanderbilt is the most complete team with the best balance in this league right now.  You get consistency with Vandy.  Beal shows up and leads this team well, and they have the confident 3 point shooters that Kentucky lacks at the moment.  Ogilvy is someone that I don’t particularly care for, but he still “gets his” in this offense.  And what’s not to like about Jeffrey Taylor, the athletic wing that serves as Vandy’s Wes Johnson of Syracuse.  Call Vandy mini-Syracuse.  They can’t bring in a guy off the bench like Kris Joseph, but they play a wicked 2-3 zone like the Big Orange and they are sure to threaten the field in the NCAA tournament.

3.  Tennessee–Enter the team that could be anywhere from #1 to #4 in these power rankings.  If Tennessee could camp out on Rocky Top and play all their games they would be in business.  As is, they have suffered enough setbacks to make you question their ability to win big come tourney time.  If Tennessee is sent out to the Western bracket will they pull a no-show like they did playing @ Southern Cal this year?  I think if the Vols finish the regular season strong and either win the SEC tournament or have one those inspiring losses–like being up 12 and dominating Kentucky with 8:00 to play only to lose by a bucket at the buzzer–they will enter the NCAA tournament on a great high and a very dangerous final four sleeper.  But we just have to wait and see what this team does.  Hell, maybe they’d feel better losing their last three games and playing the tournament as a 9 seed.  Brucie knows how to play up the underdog role!

4.  Florida–I know Florida was nipped by Georgia yesterday but almost nobody escapes Athens this year with a W.  In addition, the Gators were lackluster in the first half to build a 15 pt halftime deficit only to charge back and lose by one.  I’ve been very impressed with Chandler Parsons all year.  He went from the guy who makes miraculous buzzer beaters to the do-it-all wing man that can drain 3’s on a regular basis.  In addition, I really like what Erving Walker brings to the table.  He’s fearless and he hits 3’s at a good clip.  Both 49ways and I had to disagree with an SEC coach that dismissed Walker as a guard he wouldn’t want running his team.  I totally understand the size argument, but the rest of his opinions?  I think we’ve been watching two different players.  Florida is one freakshow athlete (Corey Brewer?) away from having a much scarier, I-don’t-want-to-play-Florida type of team.

5. Georgia–In the latest edition of “who finishes next-to-last between Georgia and South Carolina?,” this decision was made easy with Georgia’s win over Florida.  I’m telling you man, you don’t want to play these Bulldogs in Stegeman.  They get all funky on you and start getting double-digit leads.  I fear for my Wildcats this week.  If you think Florida gets a big crowd turnout in Athens, wait till you see the standing room only isht when Kentucky visits.  Travis Leslie will be licking his chops to thunderdunk on someone’s head, and Patterson will be asked again to display his improved flexibility on perimeter defense by guarding talented and smooth big man Trey Thompkins.  Georgia may have caught Kentucky at a bad time–a bit grumpy coming off a loss–but if they Wildcats keep clanging long balls Georgia will pull this one out.  I suggested Mark Fox was a better coach than Kevin Stallings and 49ways completely agreed (this is not true, but it’s the only way to check and see if 49ways still reads my posts).

6.  South Carolina–Unless there is an SEC tournament miracle, the post-season Devan Downey show will have to be seen in the NIT.  IF they are invited.  After the circus called and took all of Downey’s Kentucky shots back, South Carolina hasn’t been the same team.  Maybe it was their superbowl and it felt like the team had reached the pinnacle a bit.  Or maybe it was South Carolina’s cocky student government that brought on bad karma.  Either way overcoming the loss of two starters and the obscene points per game of Downey has proven to be too much for this gritty, relentless Darrin Horn team.  When you have a guy like Downey anything can happen in the SEC tournament.  Let’s wait and see who they draw in the first round.

SEC East Power Rankings

We’re over the midway hump in conference play now, so teams that find themselves 2 or 3 games back in the standings better start reeling off the W’s. Here are the latest power rankings.

1. Kentucky–The story of Kentucky’s team hasn’t really changed.  Most of us know they are loaded with talent, and most of us understand that the talent are freshmen.  So what you get is mind-boggling turnovers followed by athletic moves that many teams can’t make.  Tennessee’s zone took DeMarcus Cousins out of his offensive game and the Cats struggled for more than 30 minutes to find a way to get some offense.  Only when Wall got loose on a couple of fast breaks late–finally–did UK put together a knockout run.  In this week’s action Kentucky did not do enough to convince me or America they are as close to their full potential as Kansas but you watch Kentucky because you understand that if it all comes together it could be frighteningly good.

2. Vanderbilt–The race for the SEC East title is shaping up to be a very good one.  Vandy sits one game back of Kentucky as I type, and has an upcoming home contest against the Cats’ to get even on the season.  Vandy’s final stretch is tough–probably tougher than any stretch of the year–but Kentucky’s seems tougher.  That is mucho gusto for Vandy and their fanbase, and it certainly gives them plenty of hope they can catch the Wildcats.  So this stretch run is compelling because it pits experience vs raw talent, Vandy vs Kentucky, Memorial Magic vs Blue Mist.  While Vandy struggled to put away a horrible LSU team yesterday, they did pummel Tennessee earlier in the week.  Not much to complain about if you’re 8-2 in league play and 1 game out of first place.

3. Tennessee–The Vols jump ahead of the Gators once again, thanks in large part to a hearty effort in Lexington for Gameday last night.  There is no doubt this team plays better when the chips are against them as evidenced by their efforts against Kansas (suspensions) and Kentucky (injuries and sickness).  Pearl got his team to play a very active zone last night that had UK’s players confused and silenced Rupp Arena.  I have never seen Pearl want a game as bad as he wanted the game last night against UK.  He was as intense as I’ve ever seen him.  At one point I thought he turned into his alter ego the Incredible Hulk, but even a highlighter orange blazer can stop a muscle building contraction in its tracks.

4. Florida–Sadly, the Xavier win in Gainesville yesterday put some perspective on the quality of the SEC this year.  It wasn’t that Xavier won–it’s the fact that they were up big in the first half and then, when challenged and tied late, still had more than enough to pull ahead and squash the Gators.  I consider this to be a setback for not only the Gators but the league as a whole.  You just can’t get punched in the face in a home game against an Atlantic 10 team at a time during the season when you should be clicking as we build towards tournament time.  Xavier impressed me big time.  I immediately put them on the list with Texas A&M of teams that are dangerous come tourney time that nobody seems to notice.

5. Georgia–I jumped Georgia ahead of South Carolina last week and they went ahead and proved me right by defeating the ‘Cocks in Athens yesterday.  I don’t have a whole lot to say even though I watched this game.  49ways will tell you that this one was a pretty good snoozer.  Leslie added another thunderdunk to his C/V, and the announcers were touting him as a more complete player–something College Courtside has noticed for quite some time now.  I will say this (and I said it yesterday to 49 ways):  I love watching this Georgia team compete.  They work very well together and play with a lot of heart.  Georgia will continue to be very tough to beat in Athens.

6. South Carolina–When you’re in 6th place in the power rankings and you lose to #5–yeah, you pretty much sit your butt back down in #6.  They did beat Florida at home before the loss to Georgia on the road, so this was a 50/50 week for USC.  This pretty much emphasizes what I wrote about both Georgia and South Carolina last week–they can win at home but they aint got the goods on the road.  So I kept UGA ahead of South Carolina because of a win in their head to head match up.

Player Spotlight: Devan Downey, South Carolina

Dazzling.  Jaw-dropping.  Amazing.  Brilliant.

Those are just some of the adjectives used to describe Devan Downey’s on-court skills.  After last night’s 68-62 win over the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats,  the 5’9″ senior guard is now the talk of the SEC.

South Carolina point guard Devan Downey starts the fast break.

You may be thinking that Downey’s diminutive stature hinders him from entering the next level.  Sawdog disagrees.  I asked him if he thought Downey was NBA material, and he quickly said, “I don’t care about his size, he is NBA ready.”  I agree.  Two names come to mind whom I consider nice comparisons to Downey:  Michael Adams and Nate Robinson.  Like these sub-six footers, there is a place in the NBA for South Carolina’s star point guard.

What I like about Devan Downey is his fearless mentality and his ever-growing confidence.  He knows he can get his shot off, any shot, whenever he wants.  The spectators, commentators, and opposing players know it, too.  His cross-over dribble is so deadly, it’ll make any defender look bad.  His change of pace and change of direction are better than Allen Iverson’s.  Yes, I did just say that.  Downey is a one-man press-breaker.  He’s Barry Sanders with a basketball.  Kentucky’s Eric Bledsoe and Florida’s Erving Walker are excellent on-ball defenders, but there was simply nothing they could do to even slow down Devan.

I’ll run through some of his stats, but numbers really don’t paint the picture for Downey.  He’s averaging an SEC-high (6th in the nation) 22.4 points per game, while shooting a dependable 81.1% from the charity stripe.  He gets there quite often, too, having made 99 free throws on the year – tops in the conference.  Besides his killer cross-over, Downey also has Ninja hands, evidenced by his good-for-third-in-the-nation 3.1 steals per game.  And to add to all of this, he’s seventh in the SEC in assists with 3.6 per game.

I’m unsure of South Carolina’s fate this season because outside of Downey, they don’t have very much.  Perhaps there would be talk of the Gamecocks competing for an SEC title, but with the dismissal of Mike Holmes and the injury of Dominique Archie, I’m afraid they’ll have to compete for one of the lesser post-season tournaments.  One thing is for sure, though – Devan Downey has catapulted himself to the top of the list for SEC Player of the Year.

Kentucky ousted by South Carolina

Plenty to think about now that Kentucky has tasted defeat.  Some random thoughts, in no particular order, below.

• What kind of Patrick Patterson are we going to get from here on out?  The emergence of DeMarcus Cousins has been imperative in Kentucky’s success, but at what point is Patterson rediscovered?  I love the fact that Patterson has developed a jumper, but when does Kentucky get back to post feeds or isolations with their pre-season all-american?  I’d like to see a little more set plays for Patterson throughout the game, instead of only when the game is knotted up or Kentucky has to have a basket.  Patterson is just as capable of drawing a double-team and finding Cousins for a dunk than the other way around.  This is not a sky-is-falling request.  Instead, it’s a legitimate question to wonder as Kentucky takes this lesson and moves forward.  Patterson, where art thou?
• The Wildcats were murdered on the offensive glass.  America’s tallest team was outmatched, decisively,  by an 11-8 South Carolina squad.  Outside of “South Carolina played the game of their lives,” how is this explained?  I’m not being a smart-ass either.  Was it just more energy from USC?
• The turnover bugaboo was a killer for Kentucky…finally.  There were some highly questionable decisions down the stretch which only a more experienced college team can understand.  I’m looking at you telegraphed pass from the wing into the post right into USC’s hands with less than 2 minutes remaining.  Ugh.
• I heard Jimmy Dykes say that Kentucky got three points tonight from the SF position.  This spot has been UK’s most consistent weakness, and that stat is not good.  I don’t know what to make of it at present, but it’s concerning.  Who wants that job and who is willing to play smart and aggressive when they get it?
• DeMarcus Cousins is an absolute monster.  Discussion over.
• Devan Downey will get the majority of the credit (and he deserves a lot of it) but his teammates were the difference in this game.  The work on the boards was nothing short of spectacular.
• When Kansas struggled with Cornell and lost their next game against Tennessee, everyone had an opinion as to why the Jayhawks were overrated.  Now Kansas is surging, Cole Aldrich is coming around and folks are back on their title-favorites bandwagon–in less than three weeks time.  What this means for Kentucky is the sky isn’t falling.  It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.  We will see what this game means to this team in the next several days.
• Devan Downey talked confidently this morning about being better than John Wall.  He was right.  Downey was superior all night long, with Wall occasionally displaying his brilliance.  What John will need to do is continue to learn how to manage a game throughout, rather than try to be the hero when called upon.  It will be fun to see how these freshmen react to their first loss.
• Overall, Kentucky could have folded when the building was blowing up and the Wildcats got down 42-37.  But Wall went on a Wall run and retook the lead immediately.  Those are championship-calibur answers to tough situations.  I learned, then, these Cats are indeed fearless if not perfect.  I didn’t smell fear from Wall, Bledsoe, Cousins or Patterson even if I did see costly turnovers.  They will learn, and so long as they have the desire within they will be fine.