The 2015/16 team

[TheRealVille]

Will always be known as the "banned" team, but also will be known as the can't get it done in crunch time on the road team as well. Against ranked teams on the road, it has been the same result each and every time. Michigan St, UK, Duke, Notre Dame and now Miami. Throw in the loss at Clemson, a unranked team as well.

It's not just chance, it's a pattern with this team. They led in the 2nd half of each of those games, but when it came down to the last three minutes, the shots wouldn't fall or the whistles wouldn't stop. In this Miami game, they missed four wide open 3's down the stretch and two layups. Nanu was called for a BS foul going after a loose ball. It was the same thing we've seen all season. Only road games against weak teams like Virginia Tech, Pitt and Georgia Tech have the Cards been able to win at the end.

All fans are frustrated because of the ban. More so because you don't play road games in the NCAA tournament. However, I could see the Cards losing if they could play just like they've done today. Be winning the entire 2nd half only to miss their last 10 shots and lose at the end. This team is young and most all should be back. I think next season we will see the usual road warriors were used to.

 

[KerryRhodes]

Believe it or not, some of the air, well alot has been taken out of team since the ban.

No matter how the team says theyre playing for a regular season title, theyre not 100% focused for the entire 40 minutes.

Had it not been for the ban, and Anas would have been back by now, the Cards will more than likely won today.

Defense isnt championship level, yet they would have more opportunities to improve it.

The ban just flattened the team.

 

[kozmas]

I have no complaints with this team we only have 2 seniors and 2 juniors on the team. The rest of the team is freshmen and sophomores closing out games comes with experience.

 

[BPGhost]

Teams lose - even great teams - which this UofL team is not, still lose.

Particularly on the road.

Yesterday there were 5 match ups of Top 25 teams. Guess what? In all 5 the road team lost and 4 of them were the higher ranked team. On top of that 2 other ranked teams - ND and the yuts - go on the road and get beaten by nobodies. In a lot of these games the story is similar to UofL's - game is very competitive until deep in 2nd half when the home team rallies and wins.

Did the ban hurt? Sure but, IMO it's not what is costing us games.

 

[Knucklehank1]

1) it is very tough to win on the road in college basketball

2) we have been spoiled the last few seasons with UofL teams that won at a disproportionate rate on the road

3a)one thing lacking this year is cat quick guard who can get into the lane and draw fouls late in the game.

3b) officials are calling a very tight whistle driving into the lane, so superior guards are taking advantage of this and getting easy points at the free throw line or less contested lay ups

3c) when you don't drive the ball (and spend 20 seconds running a weave out front) then you settle for jump shots. Guys are more puckered up late in games and their percentage drops

4) my hope is that next year Mitchell works on his handles and can be that guy who can force the action in the lane late in games. I love Q but creating and forcing contact is not his forte

 

[Senore2006]

Both Deng and Mitchell can slash like nobody's business. Even the baskets Mitchell made yesterday were talent-laden works of art. And those were through a gauntlet of poorly-reffed pit bulls, feasting on Mitchell wearing pork chop underwear. A Summer of working on his handles and general game and next season will in no way resemble anything whatsoever to what we have seen this season from - really - either guy. Next year will have its own drama, but it will in no way resemble this season anywhere except on defense - which will actually be far better, too.

Whatever King brings will just add to that. We're steady at the point and we can perhaps hope Tony Hicks or one of our other guards can provide a consistent alternative to give Q his breaks and maybe, hopefully, be the mosquito we were always so rich at having out front and on the press.

In the end, this team remains one of Pitino's all-time favorite bunches of kids. He got emotional satisfaction of a rare order from simply being with them every day. This may have been the biggest gift of them all.