The Goat Pen

Kid-Gilchrist was 6 of 7 from the field and 2 of 2 from the line against the Raptors the other day.

PTI has talked about Gilchrist being a bust a couple of times this year. I wouldn't know but it can't help being on a horrible team

He'll be a serviceable pro, just not 2nd pick in the draft good.

"Barnes doesn't have it between the ears like the elite players do. He has the skills, build and athleticism, but he lacks the killer instinct."

It seemed that way at times at UNC, but I think he's just the kind of guy who needs some time in a system to find his fit. He's turning out to be a better pro than I thought he would. Not that I thought he was going to be a bust or anything close, but I saw him as more of a 2 guard who would develop his outside shot than a guy mixing it up in the paint and getting to the rim. Obviously, he is developing into the latter. I'm happy for him. He had a good career at UNC and if Kendall Marshall hadn't gone down and we had won the NC that year, he would be remembered differently by most UNC fans, fairly or not. And I'm not saying we would have won the NC even with a healthy Marshall, but it was certainly well within the realm of possibility...

Tonight should be fun to watch. I have no idea what to expect.

Typically I'd say that UK will come out and just run on adrenaline for the first 8 minutes or so and jump to a 12 point lead all the while the announcers are slurping up to them, then Michigan St adjusts, takes the lead while the UK freshmen rely on 3 pointers. Michigan St goes in at the half with a 6 point lead and pulls away in the second have to win 77-65 as UK struggles to hit free throws in the second half.

However that model doesn't really apply anymore due to the experience level of the freshmen and the fouling issue. I'm not familiar with the depth of Michigan St but if one of their 2 studs gets into foul trouble due to the new rules it will have an effect on many early season games.

quite the double header tonight.
duke should throttle kansas 77-65 sounds about right

OK, Randle is an NBA player, hard to say if he's any kind of superstar in the league, though. Based on what I'm seeing now, it would be hard to draw that conclusion. The rest of the UK roster? No telling, but if this is the #1 recruiting class, I can't imagine many NBA teams are doing cartwheels...

well I don't know what quite to expect, this is pretty ugly but Michigan St is well coached and ready to play.

I understand what Calipari was saying, UK just wasn't ready at the start of the game. Can they adjust and get back into the game? I'd say no but I'm not going to try to predict what this team does after seeing this start. You just don't know what Freshmen are going to do.

Michigan St is playing really physical ball. If they foul, they are going to make sure its a hard foul

I'm not frustrated we are getting out played, I just wish is wasn't in a national televised , overly hyped game.

But I wanted it to see it so I have to live with it. No point rewriting history now.

saw that graphic of Calipari saying it's not fair for his record breaking class of 5 star freshman to be playing Michigan State in November

it's quotes like that that make him sound like a douchebag

and what's with James Young attempting NBA 3's ?

The Harrison's are getting killed. The rest of the team is doing OK actually.

I love how Bilas and other non-Southerners pronounce "Poythress" just like it's spelling. But it's not "Poy-thress", it's Poor-triss...

POOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-TRRRRRRRREEEIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wiggins and Parker will need to put on a show to eclipse Randle tonight

Randle's offense on the block is weaker than I expected, when he rebounds or catches in scoring position he's a beast

otherwise he's been stripped to the tune of 7 turnovers

That said, I dont expect much from Wiggins or Parker tonight at all

St was getting all those strips in the first half and then started picking up fouls. They can't afford to take chances now. Its opened the game up for Randle.

It won't ever open up like that in the league, but he'll be fine...

"Randle's offense on the block is weaker than I expected, when he rebounds or catches in scoring position he's a beast"

Again, he reminds me of Elton Brand. If he pans out that well, that should be worth $100 million (minimum) over this career...

I'm not sure if Cal will be happy with this or not, but I know the team benefited from it - they didn't fade like last years teams. Happy with Poythress. So far he is a different player than last year.