Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
A basketball coach in Louisville who attended the UK Coaches’ Clinic this weekend filed this report on the proceedings to me via email. I thank him for his very interesting observations:
The practices were the most intense practices I’ve ever seen on a basketball court. The players hustled and ran for 2 straight hours stopping only once every 45 minutes for water. They didn’t run just to run but the hustle was always incorporated into a basketball skill related drill or scrimmage (which was very physical and defensive oriented). The players were constantly on the floor and everything was extremely physical (to the point where I was afraid somebody was going to get hurt, which already happened with Razor and Perry’s broken noes). Even when an individual was not actively participating in a drill they were clapping and encouraging their teammates. There wereat least 6 walkons who actively participated in drills and constantly cheered on the others.
Ramel Bradley- Obviously the vocal and emotional leader of this team. He shot very well and was very physical defensively. Coach seemed to love his enthusiasm but corrected him when he was talking just to talk(ex, “I GOT BALL” but he didn’t pick up ball)
Jodie Meeks- Probably the most impressive player in my eyes. He consistently knocked down jumpers and was a beast defensively man to man. There were times when he really frustrated Joe Crawford defensively to the point where Crawford really couldn’t bring the ball up the court against him. Coach was on him about his rebounding, and that is an area he’s needed to work on since he got here.
Crawford- Crawford wore a knee brace but seemed to be close to a hundred percent and participated in all drills and scrimmages. Gillispie was constantly on Crawford the first day. Crawford wasn’t giving the effort that Coach required on both ends of the court and Coach let him know it. He even said once that the underclassmen should take advantage of this opportunity to take Crawford’s minutes. Joe didmuch better the second day, especially in his defensive intensity.
Patrick Patterson- Patterson’s athleticism was on full display and he was always intense and hard working. He runs the court very well and he was also pretty vocal and should develop into a leader on the team. He’s a tremendous rebounder and Coach said he is among the most coachable guys he’s ever had, Patterson doesn’t ask questions when told what to do but just wants to please the coach. Patterson is a good screener as well but has a tendency to set moving screens.
Mark Coury- Coury was impressive once again with an consistent midrange shot and also finished well around the basket. He plays good position defense and sets good screens. He will get some PT and very well may start at the beginning of the season.
Perry Stevenson- He was blocking shots left and right and was the best post position defender on the team. He is also a great high-low post entry passer and that will be vital to Gillispie’s offense. Stevenson still needs to work on his ball handling and passing. He also needs to catch the ball more consistently. I think he will start to begin the season along with Patterson, although Harris or Coury may also start.
Razor Ramon- Wore a mask during practice but that didn’t slow him down any and he was very physical and is a very good rebounder and defender. His shot is also pretty consistent although he needs to be a better passer and ball-handler as well. Ramon is very long and has bulked up but still runs the floor well and is a great finisher. Hewill definitely see some PT this year. Harris’ play could be the difference between a good and a great season.
Alex Legion- His shot is pure and he finishes well around the basket. However, he needs to become a better passer and definitely needs to improve defensively before he sees major minutes. He is a decent rebounder for his position as well.
Derrick Jasper- Jasper was not 100% and did not participate in the more physical aspects of practice (although he was still very physical and was often on the floor and in contact with others, which constantly scared me). His ballhandling seemed to be significantly better and will only improve due to the intense pressure the ball-handler is constantly under in Gillispie’s practices. I think it will be hard to keep Jasper off the floor once he is fully healed due to his great passing ability and tremendous help defense and rebounding.
Jared Carter- Still wearing a brace on his shoulder and has not been cleared for contact until today (Sunday, the 21st). I don’t know how many minutes he will be able to play since he’s been out for so long but he does run the floor well and isn’t afraid to be physical in the drills he did participate in despite his injury.
A.J. Stewart- He is extremely athletic and is a good finisher. He runs the floor among the best on the team and also is a decent shot blocker and good rebounder. Gillispie had to stop and teach him more than he had to stop and teach any other player. He needs to learn how to play position defense and needs to better understand the game before he sees major minutes but he definitely has a lot of potential.
Mike Williams- Still slow but he’s getting a little quicker and seems to work hard and understands the game pretty well. He finishes well around the basket but doesn’t have much hops so the hook shot is his best option (although Patterson was still able to block one of his hook shots with his tremendous timing and athletic ability).
Michael Porter- Didn’t participate in contact drills due to a concussion but the form on his shot looked great and he didn’t miss many. His handle is also improving but still needs work.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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October 21st, 2007 at 9:38 pm
What now!
October 21st, 2007 at 9:40 pm
first
October 21st, 2007 at 9:41 pm
in your face d this year..bring it!!!
October 21st, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Can’t wait til the season starts. No matter how the the season turns
out it is refreshing to know that we will be watching a team that
plays hard and exciting basketball.
GO BIG BLUE
October 21st, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I can not dribble.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:49 pm
suck
October 21st, 2007 at 9:52 pm
I’m glad he’s challenging the veterans, I sure hope they step up to the plate this year!
October 21st, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Jai is my boyfreind.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Thanks for the great report. Bring on Halloween.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:01 pm
‘69Z I am so glad you are here now. Where is GoCats, bcgobsession and the rest of the lonely hearts club?
October 21st, 2007 at 10:06 pm
10 more days! I can’t make it!
October 21st, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Crawford should get beat out.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Great report…thanks!
October 21st, 2007 at 10:13 pm
I made Matt jones tap out.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Billy G recruiting + toughest practices in America = National Championship
October 21st, 2007 at 10:19 pm
this was a great read…….i was wondering how practices were going……i love it
October 21st, 2007 at 10:20 pm
I shoot way too much and I dribble the hell outta the ball. I hope Legion takes my starting spot.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:21 pm
I can’t believe BCG wants me to be a Wildcat. He must really be running out of options.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:26 pm
10- We’re all at the party. Where you at?
October 21st, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I still think Porter is going to have a breakout year and sorry,but the Coury Flurry doesn’t have me convinced yet.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Is Mark Courey really our best option at center? If so, we are in trouble.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:34 pm
It’s good to have some good news coming from practice. Hopefully we will be better than most think. And Mark Coury has turned into a good player. He can shoot outside and play around the rim well. If he can contribute, who cares if he’s not scholarship. It’s at least another inside body this year to hold us off until next year.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:38 pm
#21 I think Coury will be playing forward and not center. It will be more of a 3 guard 2 forward offense from what I have read
October 21st, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Mark Coury played my Xbox. Booyah.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:45 pm
All good stuff, Matt. Hope you are well.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:47 pm
I wrote the report and I didn’t mean to imply that Coury has become a superstar or anything because Harris, Stevenson, Stewart, Patterson and even Williams (pretty much the whole team) are definitely more talented and gifted athletically.
However, Coury is big, strong and knows how to play the game the right way and Gillispie really loves that. Coach will reward hard work with PT.
Coury has a great mid-range shot but needs to improve his high-low entry passes in order to get consistent playing time, since the high-low game is so essential to Gillispie’s offense.
I don’t think Coury will start, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he does since he may understand the system and be the healthiest to start the season.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:03 pm
BTW, Jasper seems much more confident in his shot and it seemed to be much improved. We were told he’s shooting 600 shots a day.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Trae Golden to Ohio State.
http://ohiostate.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=729519
October 21st, 2007 at 11:18 pm
1. Trae Golden committing to Ohio State literally makes me sick. Literally.
2. I almost feel guilty reading about the basketball team at this point.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Great analysis… get well soon, Matt.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:49 pm
ahh hell boys dont worry if he didnt wanna come we dont need him..if he doesnt wanna wear the most sacred jersey in college basketball then screw him…were about tradition, championships,the most wins in ncaa history.If trae doesnt want that he doesnt deserve it, only winners wear the blue and white. so they way i see it let him go to ohio st there not gonna be any better than they where last yr, simple because fad matta isnt a real coach he’s a posser. kentucky basketball is a beautiful thing for those who dont wanna be the best shouldnt wear the best. go cats
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:46 am
Thanks for the scoop, I’m so anxious for Pikeville, The first VILLE we CRUSH GO CATS
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:55 am
31. Oh st. isn’t gonna be any better than they were last year? Well, they can’t get much better. They were in the final four..lol. Stop hating man. They are a good team.
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:10 am
no one is hating just sayin there chokesters just like the braves in the 90’s..if you dont like me bashin go to another board sure some ohio st fans would love to put there buckeyes in ya mouth..go cats
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:46 am
The flurry seems to be every bit as talented and athletic as many on the team and seems to be proving it on the court. This guy hits jumpers,rebounds ,and plays tough defense and you still cant give him his props-give the flurry a break! Believe in miracles.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:33 am
Excellent report. The questions about passing are a concern, because if this team is going to have success, it must be able to passs.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:37 am
21 have you seen Coury play very much? You seem to know all about him. Thank you 36 for your comments on Coury. When I saw him play at Madness he hit at least three shots from 10 feet or so.
I read somewhere that someone couldn’t understand why Woo made the NBA. I went to a game at Rupp last year and Woo hit every shot he took from at least 15 in pregame practice. He could always shoot facing the basket but Smith wanted him to play cent and he just is not a back-t0-the-basket type player.
Smith just didn’t know how to use the good players he had. Gillispie will develope the players that Smith recruited.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:52 am
Anyone heading to NYC for the Coaches v. Cancer tourney?
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Beatle Bum is right. If we had back 1/3 of the turnovers may due to
poor passes in the last three years, we would have won 10-15 more
games. Good passing is the key to improvement for the veterans and
catching them is key for everyone to improve this year. Good team
chemistry should make a big difference.
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:22 pm
I was also at the clinic this weekend, and I saw it a little differently. Patterson, Meeks, and Bradley impressed me, as well as a lot of other guys. On the other hand, I was disappointed with Stevenson. He seemed to hesitate everytime he got the ball, even in the drills. It took him twice as long to score on a layup drill as the others. Meeks, Crawford, and Legion seemed to struggle with their ball handling at times, and Patrick Patterson made everyone else look like school girls. He played as a 5 throughout both practices, and out muscled everyone. I was impressed with the team, Legion looked great the second day, but I didn’t even notice him the first.