UK Wildcats, Where Art Thou?

Ok, I haven’t seen a new Kentucky article since the UNC game, so I decided to pipe in.

Where are the University of Kentucky Wildcats?

Right now, at 4-2, the UK Wildcats are finally showing a small bit of comprehending the team concept. Except for the two blow out wins against the obligatory “no names”, they have come from behind to beat Kansas St. and West Virginia, winning the Las Vegas Invitational.

After an embarrassing home loss to VMI, in which the score was 111-103, UK has only hit 90 once, and 70 twice, otherwise their own score has been in the 50’s. Even in a win, 54. What needs to happen? What’s happening?

In the win over West Virginia to take the Las Vegas invitational, the Cats showed that they were actually trying to run an offense. At first it didn’t happen the way it should, there were too many turnovers trying to force the ball in to Patrick Patterson.

However, they showed they are willing to try and get the newly shorn head of Patterson into the game as often as possible, whereas they did not even really even try to get it to him in the previous five games.

Also, Jodie Meeks is trying to show he is the real deal. He's averaging 25.5 ppg right now, with 39 against VMI. He came out with 19 against W.V. and 37 against Kansas St.

Jodie is still taking too many shots when the team is in a desperate situation, ala a Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. But, he's not hitting those shots. However, when he plays within the offensive set, he is breaking out as a scoring machine.

The Freshmen: Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins are doing all right. Darius Miller had looked good enough to start one game, and Liggins is still being used sparingly.  Miller is averaging 5.2 ppg and 3.3 rebs a game in 21 minutes. Liggins however has struggled in producing on offense, shooting only 33% from the FT line.

Elvis Has Entered The Building! Meaning Josh Harrellson the Juco transfer center. Though only averaging 14.2 minutes he is averaging 5 pts and 4.4 rebs per game. Showing more so against West Virginia on the boards.

So far Billy Gillispie has not shown a consistent substitution pattern, however needs to start including more players with more minutes. Going further into the season giving the younger/more inexperienced at this level a little more playing time will get them more experienced, and hence a better team.

So really? Where are the Wildcats? Honestly, it is still to be seen.

They have come from behind in two games, at almost 20 points each time, blown out people they should have blown out. Lost one they were expected to lose, and one they weren’t. So it is truly up in the air folks, which Cats team is going to show up?

All this writer knows, Patrick Patterson seems to be playing better without the afro, Jodie Meeks might end up a true SG extraordinaire, and they might be able to crack the top 25 sooner than later.

We’ll see against the Hurricanes of Miami, and Indiana University in the month of December. So looking forward other than those 2 contests, UK could conceivably go 12-2 going into Louisville, who just lost to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, but don’t count out Rick Pitino’s Cardinals, as his squads at UK would lose an early contest or 2, and go on to win the SEC. Will Billy G’s Cats follow in those footsteps?

So going into the SEC conference play UK can be 13-2, or 12-3, either way, the SEC should not look past UK this season. Despite this early funk, and come from behind mentality, UK will be ready for an SEC run like last year or better.