First off, I would like to address a small portion of Kentucky fans, but mostly the group of non-Kentucky fans and their opinion on "one and done" players and those whom may question Calipari's recruiting strategy.
Before Kentucky fans worry (or rival fans get excited) about Kentucky being a one year stop for the NBA, consider this:
In Calipari's 20+ years of coaching, up until this season, he has recruited a total of FOUR "one and done" players. That's it. Just 4 (which actually ties the number of this season's team). This season was an incredibly unique situation and Kentucky fans do not need to worry about this happening on a consistant basis. At Memphis, Calipari's best teams were veteran teams. He mixed one or two talented freshman in with 3 and 4 year veteran players and went to Final Fours. Soon enough, that will also happen at Kentucky. With what was left here for Calipari, he had no choice but to have a freshmen led team this season.
It took a very talented and special recruiting class (maybe the best of all-time) to bring the excitement back to Kentucky basketball.
Mission accomplished.
Now, that the excitement is back and the program is back to the national level that we expect it to, Calipari can now build this program like he has been doing for over 20 years: with a good mix of veteran and young, talented players. They'll have that next year with the return of Darius Miller, DeAndre Liggins, and Darnell Dodson mixed in with Stacey Poole and Enes Canter (4 and 5 star recruits whom have already signed with the Cats) as well as hopefully Brandon Knight (an "A" student and #1 recruit in the country), Josh Selby, Marquis Teague, Terrence Jones, C.J. Leslie and Doron Lamb.
The upside to this year's batch versus last years is that none of these guys look like automatic lottery picks next year, besides maybe Brandon Knight and Josh Selby. Last year's class was special, but will not be the norm by any means here under Calipari. Do not expect another mass exedus like this, probably ever again. What you can expect is for a couple of talented 3 and 4 year guys to emerge out of this year's recruiting class and for current Cats' Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins to have a Senior Day ceremony at Rupp in 2 years from now (and maybe Dodson too if he stays put). The 35-3 season that we enjoyed in 2009-2010 is only the beginning of the Calipari era, and I'm incredibly excited for the next group of guys to come in and continue right where we left off this season.
Brandon Knight is planning on making his decision exactly one week from today, on April 14th. When it's all said and done, I believe Calipari will have a top 15 team again next year on just his 2nd year on the job. Best of luck and much thanks to Demarcus, Patrick, John, Daniel, and Eric for bringing back the excitement of Kentucky basketball. When this program gets back to the Final Four and wins a National Championship, we will not forget the efforts of these young men and their part in the miraculous turnaround of Kentucky basketball in 2010. You will be missed and your time here was very appreciated.
Showing posts with label Darnell Dodson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Darnell Dodson. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Cats silence critics, clinch 44th SEC Title.
After an abysmal 2-22 from 3 point range Saturday at Tennessee, the Cats spent extra time in the gym this week working on outside shooting and apparently it paid off. The Cats hit 8 threes tonight, and silenced the doubters that they didn't have the shooters to make a deep run in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Leading the way for the Cats behind the arc was John Wall (3-5) and Darnell Dodson (3-6). Wall also led the team it total scoring with 24 points while Patrick Patterson added another double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Another weak spot of Saturday's performance was bench scoring. The Cats only had 5 points off the bench against the Vols, today they had 24. Dodson scored 11, Liggins was once again his usual scrappy self with 5 gritty points off the bench along with a steal. Orton added 4 points and a block, and even Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris each added 2 points. Harris was awarded 11 minutes of play and contributed with 2 offensive rebounds and three assists as well as his 2 points- talk about a guy who knows his role and thrives with it. Tonight was, perhaps, the best overall TEAM win of the entire season. In a night that DeMarcus Cousins had only 6 points and 4 rebounds, everyone else stepped up and played brilliantly TOGETHER.
It was also a great team defensive effort. The Cats suffocating defense totaled up 8 steals and 14 blocks and created plenty of offense as they put on a clinic in points off turnovers with one of the most fast-paced highlight packed games of the season. Defense, transition offense, bench scoring, and three point shooting all were bright spots for the Cats tonight as they ended Georgia's 4 game conference home winning streak and clinched at least a share for the school's 44th SEC Championship.
On Sunday, Seniors' Mark Krebs, Perry Stevenson, and Ramon Harris will be honored on Senior Day against Florida. With a win, the Cats win the SEC Title outright. It will also likely be the last game for three of the most talented players to ever wear the blue and white, and it is rumored that Patrick Patterson (who is academically a senior and graduating this semester) will also be honored. Get your tissue's ready, it's going to be a sad but surely memorable afternoon in Rupp as 24,000 will sing "My Old Kentucky Home" one last time in this storybook season.
Another weak spot of Saturday's performance was bench scoring. The Cats only had 5 points off the bench against the Vols, today they had 24. Dodson scored 11, Liggins was once again his usual scrappy self with 5 gritty points off the bench along with a steal. Orton added 4 points and a block, and even Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris each added 2 points. Harris was awarded 11 minutes of play and contributed with 2 offensive rebounds and three assists as well as his 2 points- talk about a guy who knows his role and thrives with it. Tonight was, perhaps, the best overall TEAM win of the entire season. In a night that DeMarcus Cousins had only 6 points and 4 rebounds, everyone else stepped up and played brilliantly TOGETHER.
It was also a great team defensive effort. The Cats suffocating defense totaled up 8 steals and 14 blocks and created plenty of offense as they put on a clinic in points off turnovers with one of the most fast-paced highlight packed games of the season. Defense, transition offense, bench scoring, and three point shooting all were bright spots for the Cats tonight as they ended Georgia's 4 game conference home winning streak and clinched at least a share for the school's 44th SEC Championship.
On Sunday, Seniors' Mark Krebs, Perry Stevenson, and Ramon Harris will be honored on Senior Day against Florida. With a win, the Cats win the SEC Title outright. It will also likely be the last game for three of the most talented players to ever wear the blue and white, and it is rumored that Patrick Patterson (who is academically a senior and graduating this semester) will also be honored. Get your tissue's ready, it's going to be a sad but surely memorable afternoon in Rupp as 24,000 will sing "My Old Kentucky Home" one last time in this storybook season.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Calipari unveils his new Cats in a 74-38 win
Darnell Dodson continued to impress tonight as he led the Cats with 19 points and 6 rebounds. It also looked as if the Cats were led by an All-American point guard and his name was not John Wall. Eric Bledsoe dominated on both ends of the court with a number of steals, blocks, assists, and points. It's amazing to think that this guy isn't our starting point guard and that our starting point guard and best player, didn't even play.
Daniel Orton also played very tough tonight. It's also amazing to think that he will be coming off the bench this year. All of the newcomers, even without Wall, looked like the best recruiting class in the nation as they scored 46 of the first 62 points and 26 of the first 40 rebounds in the game and led the Cats to a 43-11 lead three minutes into the 2nd half (yes, that's correct...the score was 43-11 with 17 minutes to go in the SECOND half).
Not only did Orton play very well, but he played very hard nosed and passionately, with a purpose. Daniel is a guy that could be here for four years and the love affair that this fan base will have for him will run very deep. This is what Daniel wrote today as his facebook status getting ready for the game:
But from the 17 minute mark on in the 2nd half, it had became more clear that these Cats aren't quite ready to be crowned National Champs just yet. Possibly they were a little sluggish with the big lead, possibly their conditioning is not yet where it needs to be with just two weeks of regular practices. But they're just not quite ready to be mentioned in the same sentence as the 1996 Cats, for right now anyway. There is a lot of work to be done, but there is without a doubt the talent there to accomplish everything that that the 96 Cats did and dominate in that very same fashion. The 1st half was a glimpse of what we could expect and the 2nd half was a realization that this is a young, inexperienced team learning a new offense. A team that come around March, could be nearly unbeatable, but could have some hick-ups along the way.
Daniel Orton also played very tough tonight. It's also amazing to think that he will be coming off the bench this year. All of the newcomers, even without Wall, looked like the best recruiting class in the nation as they scored 46 of the first 62 points and 26 of the first 40 rebounds in the game and led the Cats to a 43-11 lead three minutes into the 2nd half (yes, that's correct...the score was 43-11 with 17 minutes to go in the SECOND half).
Not only did Orton play very well, but he played very hard nosed and passionately, with a purpose. Daniel is a guy that could be here for four years and the love affair that this fan base will have for him will run very deep. This is what Daniel wrote today as his facebook status getting ready for the game:
Big Blue Nation, we are going to love this kid, on and off the court. As much as he and Cousins dominated an undersized Campbellsville squad down low in the 1st half, most of the second half the Cats focused on improving the outside game. They weren't worried about scoring 100 points, but improving in other areas and focusing on defense, perimeter play, and learning the dribble drive offense according to Patrick Patterson in a post game interview.
"First game tonight.....yea im nervous but ready. A lots going through my
head right now. Going over the plays, my post moves, and what coach has
been talking about. Main thing i cant stop thinkin about my mom. I know
my mother wanted to see this day its somethin ive been thinkin bout all day.
I know i'll be playing for her tonight..."
But from the 17 minute mark on in the 2nd half, it had became more clear that these Cats aren't quite ready to be crowned National Champs just yet. Possibly they were a little sluggish with the big lead, possibly their conditioning is not yet where it needs to be with just two weeks of regular practices. But they're just not quite ready to be mentioned in the same sentence as the 1996 Cats, for right now anyway. There is a lot of work to be done, but there is without a doubt the talent there to accomplish everything that that the 96 Cats did and dominate in that very same fashion. The 1st half was a glimpse of what we could expect and the 2nd half was a realization that this is a young, inexperienced team learning a new offense. A team that come around March, could be nearly unbeatable, but could have some hick-ups along the way.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Blue/White Scrimmage
Before we get into the official "Wildcat Wrap" of tonight's scrimmage, here are some key stats...
Darius Miller 14 points and 5 rebounds
Darnell Dodson 26 points and 7 rebounds (four threes)
Jon Hood 14 points and 5 rebounds
John Wall 25 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists
Demarcus Cousins 16 points and 9 rebounds
Eric Bledsoe 14 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists
Daniel Orton 14 points and 8 rebounds
Patrick Patterson 24 points and 8 rebounds (11-15 from field)
Josh Harrellson 11 points and 15 rebounds
Ramon Harris 12 points and 7 rebounds (4-7 from field)
Mark Krebs 5 points and 2 rebounds
Perry Stevenson 2 points and 3 rebounds
Deandre Liggins 0 points and 4 rebounds
Ladies and Gentleman, your first official "Wildcat Wrap":
One of the biggest concerns of this team throughout the preseason, other than youth, has been whether or not the Cats would be able to find someone to replace Jodie Meeks as a premier three point shooter. Nobody questioned the team's athleticism and ability to drive to the basket in Calipari's Dribble Drive Motion Offense, but who would be able to step up and make a three when needed late in the game, Mark Krebs? Well yes, Mark Krebs has the ability to come in and make some shots. But out of the regular core of players that will be playing 25 or more minutes a game, Darnell Dodson showed that he could potentially lead the team in 3-point shots this season as he nailed four of them tonight and also added seven rebounds and 26 points.
Dodson, a Rivals.com 3-star junior college transfer, has been lost in the shuffle of the nation's top recruiting class this preseason that includes #1 ranked recruit John Wall, #2 ranked Demarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, and Kentucky Mr. Basketball, Jon Hood. Darnell wins the award for the most pleasant surprise in tonight's scrimmage, but he wasn't the only one knocking down three's on a team that supposedly couldn't shoot. Ramon Harris shot well from outside and scored 12 points and even big men Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton combined for a perfect 3 for 3 behind the arc, with Patterson hitting two of them!
While Dodson was the biggest surprise, Patterson was the most impressive tonight as we finally got to see him play his natural position and not with his back to the basket. If you thought Patterson was good before, you have seen nothing yet! Patrick will be a totally different player in the Dribble Drive Motion Offense, where he will no longer be forced to have his back to the basket as he did in Gillispie's high/low offense, which usually resulted in the Cats' inability to even get him the ball. With big men Demarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton now on campus, Patterson has now also moved to his natural NBA position at Power Forward. Tonight, we saw a much more flashy Patrick Patterson who drove to the basket and even knocked down two three's. These were things that were nearly impossible for Patterson to do last year while his back was to the basket and Michael Porter was responsible for getting him the ball. Now Patterson relies on projected 2010 NBA Draft #1 pick John Wall, as well as Eric Bledsoe, to dish him the ball.
In the first half of the scrimmage, Patterson got to play alongside Cousins in a lineup that seemed to feature Cal's projected starting lineup on the Blue team which dominated the White in an un-evenly matched 1st half. In the second half, Calipari switched things up and put Cousins on the White team. Patterson was now playing against big men Orton and Cousins who were both on the White team but it didn't seem to matter as Patterson finished with 24 points. Calipari also switched things up in the 2nd half by moving Eric Bledsoe to the white team. Instead of Bledsoe and Wall playing with each other, they were now playing against each other, and let me tell you...we won't miss one beat without John Wall for 3 games. Wall is every bit as good as advertised (25 pts, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists tonight), but Bledsoe is much better than advertised and would start on almost any team in the country. The best thing about Bledsoe is that we can expect him to be here at least a few years (Daniel Orton too).
Last but certainly not least, it was so great to see all the former Wildcat legends in the record crowd tonight in Rupp for the scrimmage. Ron Mercer and Wayne Turner were in the stands, Tony Delk and Scott Padgett are on staff and were shown numerous times on the video boards while receiving big cheers, and Joe B. Hall even sat on the bench for a while and chatted with Calipari. The program is back in every way. Everything that UK basketball hasn't been in the last 2 years, it has been and will continue to be this year. It's basketball time in Kentucky folks, buckle your seat belts and enjoy the ride!
Darius Miller 14 points and 5 rebounds
Darnell Dodson 26 points and 7 rebounds (four threes)
Jon Hood 14 points and 5 rebounds
John Wall 25 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists
Demarcus Cousins 16 points and 9 rebounds
Eric Bledsoe 14 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists
Daniel Orton 14 points and 8 rebounds
Patrick Patterson 24 points and 8 rebounds (11-15 from field)
Josh Harrellson 11 points and 15 rebounds
Ramon Harris 12 points and 7 rebounds (4-7 from field)
Mark Krebs 5 points and 2 rebounds
Perry Stevenson 2 points and 3 rebounds
Deandre Liggins 0 points and 4 rebounds
Ladies and Gentleman, your first official "Wildcat Wrap":
One of the biggest concerns of this team throughout the preseason, other than youth, has been whether or not the Cats would be able to find someone to replace Jodie Meeks as a premier three point shooter. Nobody questioned the team's athleticism and ability to drive to the basket in Calipari's Dribble Drive Motion Offense, but who would be able to step up and make a three when needed late in the game, Mark Krebs? Well yes, Mark Krebs has the ability to come in and make some shots. But out of the regular core of players that will be playing 25 or more minutes a game, Darnell Dodson showed that he could potentially lead the team in 3-point shots this season as he nailed four of them tonight and also added seven rebounds and 26 points.
Dodson, a Rivals.com 3-star junior college transfer, has been lost in the shuffle of the nation's top recruiting class this preseason that includes #1 ranked recruit John Wall, #2 ranked Demarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, and Kentucky Mr. Basketball, Jon Hood. Darnell wins the award for the most pleasant surprise in tonight's scrimmage, but he wasn't the only one knocking down three's on a team that supposedly couldn't shoot. Ramon Harris shot well from outside and scored 12 points and even big men Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton combined for a perfect 3 for 3 behind the arc, with Patterson hitting two of them!
While Dodson was the biggest surprise, Patterson was the most impressive tonight as we finally got to see him play his natural position and not with his back to the basket. If you thought Patterson was good before, you have seen nothing yet! Patrick will be a totally different player in the Dribble Drive Motion Offense, where he will no longer be forced to have his back to the basket as he did in Gillispie's high/low offense, which usually resulted in the Cats' inability to even get him the ball. With big men Demarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton now on campus, Patterson has now also moved to his natural NBA position at Power Forward. Tonight, we saw a much more flashy Patrick Patterson who drove to the basket and even knocked down two three's. These were things that were nearly impossible for Patterson to do last year while his back was to the basket and Michael Porter was responsible for getting him the ball. Now Patterson relies on projected 2010 NBA Draft #1 pick John Wall, as well as Eric Bledsoe, to dish him the ball.
In the first half of the scrimmage, Patterson got to play alongside Cousins in a lineup that seemed to feature Cal's projected starting lineup on the Blue team which dominated the White in an un-evenly matched 1st half. In the second half, Calipari switched things up and put Cousins on the White team. Patterson was now playing against big men Orton and Cousins who were both on the White team but it didn't seem to matter as Patterson finished with 24 points. Calipari also switched things up in the 2nd half by moving Eric Bledsoe to the white team. Instead of Bledsoe and Wall playing with each other, they were now playing against each other, and let me tell you...we won't miss one beat without John Wall for 3 games. Wall is every bit as good as advertised (25 pts, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists tonight), but Bledsoe is much better than advertised and would start on almost any team in the country. The best thing about Bledsoe is that we can expect him to be here at least a few years (Daniel Orton too).
Last but certainly not least, it was so great to see all the former Wildcat legends in the record crowd tonight in Rupp for the scrimmage. Ron Mercer and Wayne Turner were in the stands, Tony Delk and Scott Padgett are on staff and were shown numerous times on the video boards while receiving big cheers, and Joe B. Hall even sat on the bench for a while and chatted with Calipari. The program is back in every way. Everything that UK basketball hasn't been in the last 2 years, it has been and will continue to be this year. It's basketball time in Kentucky folks, buckle your seat belts and enjoy the ride!
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