Moore Hoops: What to Make of Kentucky's Ups, Downs and Chances to Go Undefeated

Kentucky will go undefeated. 

Yep, I wrote it. And after those two overtime games last week, I've been feeling a little squeamish about my prediction.

So this week, I called up a guy who knows Kentucky and the SEC as well as anyone, former South Carolina coach Darrin Horn. 

Horn, who lives in Lexington, Kentucky, works for the SEC Network this season and also calls some games as a color analyst for ESPN. He took the time to talk all things Kentucky—platoons, undefeated chatter and everything in between—plus a little SEC. 

Bleacher Report: Does Kentucky have issues, or were those two overtime games last week more about how well Ole Miss and Texas A&M played?

Horn: I think "issue" is a strong word. Did they definitely not play well and weren't focus or engaged? I don't think there was any question that was the case and maybe more with Texas A&M. Not to take anything away from Texas A&M, but I thought Ole Miss played incredible. They did the things you have to do to have a chance to beat them, no question.

I think the biggest difference is in those two games, [Kentucky] got away from letting their defense drive their energy and their performance as a whole…Against Ole Miss, I kind of got the feeling doing the game, 'Eh, we got this. We're good.'

They weren't playing with the same kind of energy and unselfishness. Not that they played selfish, but they didn't have the same kind of bob…I think it's one of [Wildcats coach John Calipari's] biggest challenges, to be honest, how's he going to keep them focused?

B/R: After beating Louisville, I was there and I wrote I think they're going to go undefeated. A lot of people who were there thought the same thing. Do you think as much as Calipari is trying to hide them from that, it's hard to keep them focused because they're seeing those things and are starting to believe the hype? 

Horn: I think it's a combination of stuff. I think, one, kids are kids. It doesn't matter how good you are or not good, it's hard to keep them focused. I think the second part is…you've got a group of guys, and they know they're good. That's kind of their thing—'Hey, we're really good. We've just got to play hard and unselfish.' 

They had a team that didn't play real good last year, got into the tournament with an 8-seed and end up making a run to the national championship game. So you almost wonder if in the back of their minds, 'we'll get it going when we have to.' And part of it is the chatter. They hear that. It's everywhere. I live there. All anyone talks about is how great they are and all that, and sure it's hard to insulate them from that and not let it somehow affect them.

B/R: Has the loss of Alex Poythress been overlooked? How do you think his absence has impacted Kentucky?

James Crisp/Associated Press

Horn: I think it impacts them. One, because he's a good player. Two, he's a veteran guy who is plenty happy to do the dirty work. So maybe in those games where they're not bringing energy or getting to the glass, he's the guy that steps up and does that. And he was a good free-throw shooter.

They miss him for sure, and it's not as noticeable in some ways because you've got Trey Lyles out there and you've still got nine really good ones, but I don't think there's any question he could be helping them.

B/R: I saw a stat earlier this week that Kentucky has made the lowest percentage of two-pointers since Christmas of any team in the country. How does that happen with a group as big and talented as the Cats?

Horn: The one thing interesting about them from a basketball standpoint, there's no question they're ultra talented. No question. There's no question when they're really locked in and creating problems for people, they're incredible defensively. But, and I don't have any way to justify this, but they're not great offensively. And most teams that are as great as a team like this to the extent that people are talking about them the way they do, they're just incredible offensively. And you don't see that. 

Like you were at the Louisville game. Yeah, it was a defensive battle. But come on man, 58-50, that's two great teams? They ain't two great teams. 

I think the other thing is this: I'm not sure, different than 2012 and different than last year, I'm not sure they have a guy—or at least they're not playing like it yet—where they know there's trouble or they've got to have baskets, this guy is going to get us a basket or get fouled. Last year, it was [Julius] Randle. Give it to him off the elbow or on the block and there he goes. The other team knew he was doing it. Couldn't stop him.

B/R: If you're coaching against the Wildcats, how would you attack them? What's your game plan? 

Horn: I think I would try to do a lot of what you saw Ole Miss do. If I can get out in transition and get some easy looks, you've got to get them. 

I think you've got to do the job on the glass, and that's first and foremost. I don't know if you have to win it on the stat sheet by one rebound, but you have to be competitive. You can't get dominated. 

You've got to make shots. It's going to take eight to 10 threes. And again, you may not have to win the game at the foul line, but there can't be a big discrepancy. You have to do a good job of getting to the line. 

I think the big thing is—this is going to sound simple, but I've watched them enough and this was huge in the Louisville game—you've got to convert easy opportunities. Because when they are locked in defensively, they are terrific. You remember the play where Wayne Blackshear created the turnover and was out in transition and had a dead wide-open layup? And literally bounces it off the rim and over the backboard. I just don't think you can do that against them. If you've got a chance to make some easy ones, you've got to make it.

B/R: Are you anti-platoon or pro-platoon? 

Horn: I think what he's doing is really smart for 1,000 reasons as a coach. Did you see the thing last night where he took a little jab at Dick [Vitale] and Dick said he didn't like the platoon? I don't disagree with Dick. They're probably not in the best offensive rhythm by doing it, but I think he's doing it for more reasons than that. And the reality of it is when it's a close game and they've needed certain things, he's gone to the guys that he's needed.

Tyler Ulis has been the hot thing to debate in Lexington, but against Ole Miss, he couldn't play down the stretch because he couldn't guard [Jarvis] Summers. He was having his way with him, so [Calipari] had to play Andrew Harrison. I like it for what he's using it for. I think it's a really smart coaching move for a lot of reasons, but at the end of the day, he'll play who he needs to play.

B/R: I see on Twitter that you think there is no debate on who is Kentucky's point guard. So we can put you in the Andrew Harrison corner. Why do you think Harrison should be the man? 

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Horn: To me, it's really not about that. My point was let's quit talking about who it should be and why it ought to be Tyler. My point is they've got one. He's pretty doggone good. He's played for a national championship. He's 6'6" and creates some issues that Tyler Ulis will never create, and one of the reasons that Tyler's really good is because you also have Andrew Harrison. That's their point guard.

Are they playing them together? Are they playing the same amount? One does better one night than the other. Who cares? That was more my point with it. 

B/R: After all you've seen thus far, does Kentucky go undefeated?

Horn: I don't think they will, no. Can they? Yeah, but I don't think they will. You look at how they won those first two, it was a situation where if they don't make 11 threes in that Ole Miss game or [Stefan] Moody doesn't cramp, there was a lot of stuff that had to go their way. It wasn't like they just completely willed themselves or outplayed them. Same thing at Texas A&M. Dakari Johnson is still in the game for you and he's a 58 percent free-throw shooter.

I just think they're going to have another one of those nights on the road somewhere, and they're not going to make 11 threes or Dakari Johnson is going to shoot his average and they're not going to win the game. I think that's going to happen. Can they go undefeated and would I be surprised by it? I wouldn't be shocked, but I don't think it'll happen.

B/R: Is the SEC better than perceived? 

Pat Murphy-Racey/Associated Press

Horn: I don't think there's any question that it is. I think the problem is it didn't make a big enough splash collectively in the nonconference. But the league is better. There's no question. If you look at the numbers, it says there's going to be four in [the NCAA tournament] for sure. Maybe five. There's no question the league is better.

When they're playing well, there's a lot of teams that don't want to see LSU and Arkansas. You look at what South Carolina did and how solid Alabama's been. Georgia is capable, and Vandy is young but really talented. The league's better. There's no question.

Who is the second-best team in the SEC?

I think if they play their best, it's Arkansas. But the problem is they go and did what they did last night at Tennessee. But if they're playing their best, it's Arkansas. And LSU is right there as well.

Quick Hitters

USA TODAY Sports

*Louisville coach Rick Pitino threw some random—unprovoked, mind you—praise at Virginia head coach Tony Bennett on the ACC conference call this week.

"I'm not sure there's a better coach in college basketball than Tony Bennett at Virginia," Pitino said. 

Considering what Bennett has done over the last two years, it's hard to argue with those results. 

*On the Big Ten conference call this week, Northwestern coach Chris Collins said he'd like to see the NCAA adopt the international rule of not being able to call a timeout during live action. In the international game, you can only call a timeout during dead balls.

Yes, please.

Not only would it reduce the zillions of timeouts called in the final minute of games, it would eliminate the most bogus timeout there is in the game: the TO that saves teams from a 10-second violation in the backcourt.

*Fellow college hoop scribe Matt Giles, in response to my piece on Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell, tweeted out that he was intrigued who Russell is assisting. The freshman shooting guard has an impressive 28.3 percent assist rate. 

John Templon over at NYCBuckets.com came through with the answer. 

Considering Russell does some of his best work in transition, it's no surprise that the high-flying Sam Thompson is his favorite target.

More Horn

B/R: Who has done the best coaching job in the country to date? 

Horn: I'd hate to sound like a homer, so I probably won't say him, but what Cal is doing is harder than people think. I'm telling you.

Hard to argue Tony Bennett. I'd probably go with Tony Bennett.

B/R: Best player in the country is?

Horn: [Jahlil] Okafor. 

B/R: Current college player you would love to coach?

Horn: I'd like to coach Big [Frank] Kaminsky.

B/R: Now that you have experienced the broadcasting side, who is your favorite color guy in the game?

Horn: I think probably, like a lot of guys, I really like Jay [Bilas]. I don't think he's flashy, but he's really just solid and knows what he's talking about. He really does his homework. There's a bunch of good ones. If I had to pick, I'd probably pick Jay.

B/R: You can pick your next coaching job. No limitations. Which job do you want?

Horn: I think the Cavs with a healthy LeBron [James]. Who wouldn't want to coach the best player in the world?

Put the Kids to Bed or Set the DVR

All game times are Eastern time.

*No. 4 Duke at No. 6 Louisville, Saturday (12 p.m. on ESPN): Well, the Coach K 1-K cake has been put in the freezer. That's obviously not going down on Saturday, but this game is almost more interesting now with the possibility of Duke losing (gasp!) three straight. Check back on Friday for my analysis on why Louisville is the last team the Blue Devils want to see right now. 

Prediction: Louisville 74, Duke 69

*Michigan State at No. 14 Maryland, Saturday (4 p.m. on CBS): The first meeting went to double overtime. Bartender, I'll take another one of those. I'm not super confident in who will win this one, but here's what I would bet on: Whoever wins this will finish second in the Big Ten.

Prediction: Maryland 71, Michigan State 68

*No. 16 West Virginia at No. 20 Texas, Saturday (6:15 p.m. on ESPN): Texas has two trustworthy ball-handlers and is really laboring on the offensive end. Great news, Longhorns! You get to face a bunch of pests who make teams with good guard play uncomfortable. The Longhorns need a get-right game. West Virginia isn't the team to get right against. 

Prediction: West Virginia 69, Texas 62

*No. 8 Utah at No. 10 Arizona, Saturday (7 p.m. on Pac-12 Network): No disrespect to the Pac-12 Network, but can we get this game on national television? There are some great games this weekend, but this is the best of the bunch, and most of the country isn't going to see a second of it.

Prediction: Arizona 58, Utah 54

*No. 9 Kansas at No. 11 Iowa State, Saturday (9 p.m. on ESPN): Remember when I said Utah-Arizona was the best game of the weekend? I might eat my words. This will be the most entertaining game of the weekend. The Jayhawks and Cyclones have had some epic battles over the last few seasons. The Jayhawks are playing much better ball of late, and I'm starting to regret my stance of taking the field over KU for the Big 12 title. But with College Gameday in attendance, not sure it'd be wise to bet against Hilton Magic. 

Prediction: Iowa State 77, Kansas 76

*BYU at Saint Mary's, Saturday (11 p.m. on ESPN2): As much flack as Gonzaga gets for playing in the WCC, the league isn't that bad, and these two programs are the reason why. The Cougars play fast and are a blast to watch this year. Well, any year, really. And the Gaels have one of the most underrated big men in the country in Brad Waldow. Fun matchup. Worth staying up past my bedtime. 

Prediction: BYU 83, Saint Mary's 79

Moore Hoops Record: 9-5

Last week: 1-3

I embarrassed myself and threw up some bricks last week. Thankfully, Marcus Paige saved me from the 0'fer. Consider yourself warned: Don't take these picks to Vegas!

C.J. Moore covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @CJMooreBR.