College basketball 2009-10 running thread No. 1

I think Norm Stewart overstayed his welcome by a few years, but one thing the dude knew how to do was win in Lawrence.

Last night, MU played like the sophomore-freshman dominated team it is. Lots of stupid shots. No offensive flow, whatsoever. When they're at their best on offense, they share the ball, like they did in the first 5 mins. After that, it was come down, jack up a 17-footer with no one in place to rebound, then try to play defense without breathing on or looking wrongly at the Great and Powerful Aldridge.

Whatever.

If MU holds serve at home, which it can do, odds are it'll be an NCAA Tourney team. With everything they lost coming into the season, I'll take that. And the frontcourt figures to get a huge boost next year, if recruiting rankings mean anything.

I can see the big picture, and for the most part, I like it. On nights like last night, I just wish that team would grow up in a hurry.

 

Mizzou fans seem to have inflated memories of what Norm Stewart did against KU. His overall record was 33-41. He won in Lawrence 11 times and six of those came against Ted Owens. One was in Larry Brown's first year and one was in Roy's first year.

 

It's late January and Clemson is on the road in ACC play getting their ass kicked.

I'm shocked...

 

This is becoming a recurring theme: Devan Downey effing amazing.

 

Calipari needs to remind the freshmen that being No. 1 for one week and losing impresses nobody.

 

Devan Downey should probably get a few votes in the top 25 this week.

 

Downey cannot freaking miss. That's why it's hard to be No. 1, you face efforts like this. Solid teams with one good player get a once-in-a-lifetime game

 

My friend just texted me after that latest ridiculous shot: "This kid from South Carolina is a circus freak."

 

He's 9-for-28. I'd say he could miss.

 

The problem isn't the freshmen, per se, it's the lack of a killer instinct. I've started watching Kentucky this year, and they'll have teams down 20, and then suddenly it's a 6-point game. Plus, like any Cal team, they're not great at FTs, so close games aren't their friends. They'll tout all the close wins they've had this year, but they shouldn't have had any. They play to the level of their opponents (and they are a little ragged at times) which is what happens.

Plus, second half tonight: 29 points for freshmen, 0 for any other class.

 

Hang in there, Chickens ...

 

I've seen better shots in a game of 21 at the local middle school than Kentucky had in that last possesion.

Let's see what Cal does after the TO.