Interesting Bruce Pearl Quote

[GothamGator]

Pearl predicts that Kentucky will have its 52-game home winning streak snapped his this season because of its youth. Though Kentucky has another top-rated freshman class coming in this season, Pearl said Kentucky will miss the leadership and experience of senior Darius Miller and sophomores Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb. "Those three returning players along with Coach Calipari and his coaching staff took that talented group of freshmen and they rolled," Pearl said. "There is no anchor. Kentucky is going to lose a game at home this year. I don’t know who is going to beat them but they are going to lose at home this year because they are so young and young guys are not perfect every night."

http://m.gatorsports.com/11669/espn-analysts-high-on-florida/hoopsscoop/

I agree with this completely. The common refrain from last year is that Kentucky rode a bunch of freshmen to the title. But, they had a terrific and versatile senior in Miller and two solid sophomores. Those guys, along with a once-in-a-decade talent like Davis, that was the difference between their team last year and the ones before it under Calipari. Kentucky will be very good this year, but I don't think they are a serious national title contender.

[REM08]

http://m.gatorsports.com/11669/espn-analysts-high-on-florida/hoopsscoop/

I agree with this completely. The common refrain from last year is that Kentucky rode a bunch of freshmen to the title. But, they had a terrific and versatile senior in Miller and two solid sophomores. Those guys, along with a once-in-a-decade talent like Davis, that was the difference between their team last year and the ones before it under Calipari. Kentucky will be very good this year, but I don't think they are a serious national title contender.

While true, he picked UK to win the sec. I agree about no anchor though. Id actually say this team is unlike any past teams in that regard. There is NO experience. Im not confident with any aspect of this years team. My only expectation is that they give 100% and are fun to watch.

Normally id agree about not being a contender this year- just not this year. There are no power teams. I think vegas just gave UK the third best odds this year. Thats not a statement on UK IMO, its a statement on everyone else.

Btw, for any of you curious, Espn starts their hardknocks style series with the team tonight (i realize most of u care very little).

[don23lucia]

While true, he picked UK to win the sec. I agree about no anchor though. Id actually say this team is unlike any past teams in that regard. There is NO experience. Im not confident with any aspect of this years team. My only expectation is that they give 100% and are fun to watch.

Normally id agree about not being a contender this year- just not this year. There are no power teams. I think vegas just gave UK the third best odds this year. Thats not a statement on UK IMO, its a statement on everyone else.

Btw, for any of you curious, Espn starts their hardknocks style series with the team tonight (i realize most of u care very little).

I'm interested in the hardknocks, I just love basketball.

I think UK is going to be a problem, for whatever reason Poythress (spelling) is severly underrated and people are forgetting that Harrow has experience playing point already. I do agree that it might take them a little longer to gel, so I will agree with what Pearl had to say and if they do lose at home it will be coming from the Gators:joecool: maybe UT.

[InstiGATOR1]

Wow, why quote Pearl on UK when he says lots of things about UF and its players? To me this is much more interesting than one more boring back and forth on UK. For example:

Pearl also likes Florida because of its physicality and size up front.

"This is going to go from a team that took and made the most 3-pointers in the SEC a year ago, to a team that is much more balanced," Pearl said. "I don’t think there’s any question that Billy, he likes this team. I think he knows that this team has a chance to be a much better defensive club, a much more physical club and I think that will bode well for them in close games.

"Defense and rebounding win championships. I think it will allow them to be more consistent, Tennessee and Florida are probably the two most experienced teams returning and I think that experience will benefit both of them."

and later in the article on Young:

-- Pearl said he felt "too much" was expected of Florida junior center Patric Young last season: " He was a freshman on that team when Chandler Parsons and Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin, and those three senior frontline guys were pretty good, he went against them every day in practice and he couldn’t beat any one of them out. And so then he comes in his sophomore year and everyone expects him to be the man and be as good as Vernon Macklin was as a senior. He certainly has got the athleticism and the heart but he looked like a freshman at times last season because last year was really his first year playing. I think it was a great decision for him to return. He’s got a lot of work to do offensively. He averaged 10 points and he shot 61 percent but you know he’s going to benefit from that year of a little more skill work and I think he can have a big year and look like a much more competent offensive player."

and on Boynton though I think he is wrong about Boynton and bad shots:

-- Pearl, on Kenny Boynton: “He might be one of the best on-the-ball defensive guards in the country. And if he would realize it he could make himself and enormous statement by demonstrating what a beast he is defensively and the second thing, he’s one of the best bad shot takers and makers in college basketball. He can take and make some bad shots.”

[REM08]

I think Murphy is the most overlooked guy on the team when you consider what he'll actually contribute. Goodman seems to be the only national guy who gives him his due.

[InstiGATOR1]

Also Dykes was quoted on UF players a lot in that article. Some of the things he said were very interesting. For example:

Dykes said that improved defense will be the key for the Gators this season, but thinks Florida will be better defensively with Scottie Wilbekin at point guard.

"Under Billy Donovan, they are always going to be one of the best offensive teams out there," Dykes said. "His offensive mind is not going to allow his team not to, he’s an innovator, he’s terrific with his ball screen action, getting the ball inside and continues to find creative ways to do it.

and about Wilbekin Dykes said:

"It’s kind of unusual to say when you lose a three-year starter at the point guard spot you might be able to upgrade it, but I think that’s what they might be doing with Scottie Wilbekin. As good as (Erving Walker) was, he was only 5-foot-7 and that limited some of the things they could do with him on both ends of the floor ... by the end of the season Florida fans might look back and think the point guard play was actually better, more consistent and allowed Florida to go to another level defensively with Wilbekin on the floor."

Dykes has been impressed with Wilbekin's tenacity on defense since watching him come into the league as a freshman.

"Even in his first year there, he would lock into some of the elite players in that SEC and not back down, wouldn’t necessarily shut his guy down but he wouldn’t back down," Dykes said. "He always brought two fists to the fight. I like his size, his toughness, I just think your defensive needs to be built from that initial guy back and he will be that initial guy. I just like his core, I just like how he’s wired on that end of the floor.”

Now maybe this was ignored because it will lead to just another boring E. Walker discussion, but Dykes did say it and we have not had an E.Walker discussion as recently as the last 100 UK back and forths.

Finally, Dykes take on the UK v. UF issue is at least as interesting as Pearl's:

"You can’t dismiss the talent (that Kentucky coach) John Calipari puts on the floor again," Dykes said. "I think that’s how the voting is going to go. I think Florida is right there nipping at their heels because they’ve got players, too and their players are older.”

[themistocles]

One very important thing Dykes neglected to mention when he said "older," and that is STRONGER. I mean, compare the 240 lb Junior Yeguete to the 210 lb Freshman Yeguete. Compare the 220 lb Junior Prather to the 195 lb Freshman Prather. Compare the 240 lb Senior Murphy to the 215 lb Freshman Murphy.

The greatest physical maturing occurs between the ages of 17 and about 20. That is Ky's disadvantage, sending young and physically weaker players against experienced and physically more mature players.

As was noted, last year, he had some key guys who had hung around and gained strength, and then, he had Davis, who was like Superman (remember Oden).

This year's team will be good, but they will make mistakes due to their youth and inexperience.

[akaGatorhoops]

Pearl's comments on Boynton got me wondering. . . is there a player in the country with more 4-point plays than KB?

[UFreak]

Pearl's comments on Boynton got me wondering. . . is there a player in the country with more 4-point plays than KB?

Or more four-point plays ever. To me, that is how he will be remembered most. I love his 4-point ability.

[jeffphillips21]

Or more four-point plays ever. To me, that is how he will be remembered most. I love his 4-point ability.

God I love that about KB. Every time he gets fouled on a made 3 I go nuts...partly because I know he's going to hit the FT too. He has what, 10 now? I can't think of anyone that had more than a couple...it's really phenomenal, hope he keeps up his consistent shooting this year

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Has Dykes ever talked about UF and Billy Donovan and not uttered the words "ball screen"

[akaGatorhoops]

^^I don't think Dykes has ever discussed basketball and not used the words "ball screen" or "hedge".

[REM08]

"Violent cuts"

[bofusgators]

I think Dykes knows what he's talking about.

[GatorPlanet]

I'm excited about a 240-lb. Murphy and a 240-lb. Yeguete. We've got some real muscle alongside Young now.

[Osiris_DPM]

"Hot hands"

[madgator]

I think Dykes is a smart man.

I am very much looking forward to this upcoming basketball season. This season seems to be one of those years like 2 years ago where there is no really clear "dominant" team. That being the case, probably anyone in the top 15 can be considered a title contender.

We are experienced, deep, and athletic. We have good balance and should be excellent defensively.

[dailydoublecat]

I don't think UK will lose at home but we will lose a few in the road and on neutral floors. I honestly wish we could fast forward this year to the next. This will be a fun year and we will gel later in the year. I think Kentucky and Florida will tie in the Sec at 13-3.
Jeff