By: Tyler Adkins
Last week we watched as the Wildcats beat Northwood during the first exhibition game of the new season. Tonight the Wildcats will take on Transylvania in the final tune-up before playing Maryland on Friday. The young Cats did a lot of good things and some bad things during the first exhibition game, but nothing that is out of the ordinary for a young team. I have watched the game a few times and have come up with some things I will be looking for in terms of improvement in tonight’s game.
*Will Ryan Harrow play “tougher?”
Calipari has made it no secret that his thin point guard has to be more physical and the evidence was there in the first game suggesting he isn’t quite where he needs to be during the season. Harrow showed his speed and playmaking ability during the game when he was getting to the rim early in the game, but he needs to be able to absorb contact better and continue to be able to get by stronger defenders. He also seemed to have the ability to run the team; which is essential for the point guard of a young team. It will be interesting to see how he is able to compete tonight.
*The offensive games of Cauley-Stein and Noel.
Both big men showed why they can be so dominate on the defensive end last game and showed how athletic they are by getting lobs and put-backs. Now I am wanting to see if either, or both, are getting more comfortable with their backs to the basket. At some point they will both be threats down low to score on their own, and I am hoping we start at least seeing one of them be comfortable enough to make some offensive moves when they get the ball on the block. Whether the shots fall isn’t as important now as seeing them get the confidence to make the moves down low.
*What will Poythress do?
Poythress showed flashes of why he is viewed as a guy who can be a beast on the basketball court, but also showed at times why Calipari gets on him daily for not playing hard every possession. Poythress has all the tools to be a superstar for this team by scoring inside and out, but when that switch will flip and he begins competing every possession is the question. Once he learns to go hard at all times, he will be scary good.
*The Bench
We saw a limited rotation in the first game and there isn’t much evidence to suggest that Calipari will be willing to go more into his bench during this game early. Cauley-Stein and Mays played well off the bench but I am hoping at least one other guy can find his way into the rotation to add some depth. Hood or Beckham (when healthy) are the two I am looking to show the ability to get spot minutes and produce. If one or both can get in the rotation, this team becomes a much deeper team and one that can handle occasional foul trouble throughout the season.
*Wiltjer and Goodwin on offense
Goodwin showed that he is a real threat on this team to be the leading scorer and go off for big numbers any game. His desire to compete is off the charts and he has that scorer’s mentality that is hard to teach. Wiltjer was quiet for most of the game and seemed to have a hard time getting the ball in a spot where he could score. Wiltjer is a guy who can score inside and out, and is someone I think could challenge Goodwin for leading scorer. Seeing how the offense continues to get these guys shots will be interesting to watch.
These are a few of the many things I will be watching for in this game. I am certain this team will look more comfortable in this game than they did in last week’s game, and hopefully that will lead to less mistakes and a cleaner game.
In the forum let me know some of the things you will be watching for in this game.
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