Rating:

4.0 (6 votes)

With about 6 minutes to go in the first half against Alabama, my thought process was it was time for Jon Hood. DeAndre Liggins, who was playing one of his best games just hit a free throw to make it 26-15 UK.

Coaches like to say they never think ahead. They never worry about the next game in a tournament because if you start doing that, you don't coach in the moment.

I've never bought that line. Coaches get paid millions to see the big picture. You are in a tournament. Your players are playing 3 games in three days. Sure, UConn just won the Big East Tournament over Louisville by playing 5 games in 5 days, but I'm not thinking clear the bench.

Why Hood? Against Ole Miss he gave Cal five good minutes. He didn't hurt UK when it comes to rebounding and defense which is what Cal says is all Hood needs to do to stay on the court. And if he plays enough, perhaps he starts shooting in a game the way he does in practice. Against Ole Miss, Hood missed both of his shots.

If you put Hood in and he hurts you, at the TV timeout after the next stop in play after the 4 minute mark, you take him out. If not, let him play and save Terrence Jones because he was playing on a sprained left ankle and he and Brandon Knight combined were 0 for 9 in the first half from the field.

Hood sits.

In Atlanta Saturday night after the game, we had True Blue fans ask why didn't Cal play some of his bench late in the game with the Cats up? The answer is, it's not Cal's style.

So with the game over and a little time left on the clock, Lamb and Liggins get hurt. Lamb is serious. He was in a lot of pain when we talked to him after the game. He said he was playing in the SEC Championship on Sunday against Florida with his bad ankle, but who knows if he can? And if he can, how effective he can be?

Cal doesn't trust his bench. Words mean little. Action means more. When you don't play your bench in a blowout, you are telling them you are no good. There is no other way to sugar coat this. And, if Cal thinks that way, he needs to recruit better players. There are a lot of really good players who aren't good enough to play at Kentucky.

"They didn't stop pressing," says Cal.

And why would Alabama stop pressing? They were hoping for a miracle.

"You don't know my bench. I play six guys," says Cal.

Really Cal? We don't know your bench? Millions of True Blue fans who might not understand when you switch to a zone and why you do it know you play six players. And, Cal is talking to the media. So, we are that dumb?

"If they had stopped pressing, I would have subbed with three minutes to go," says Cal.

"But they didn't stop pressing and they kept grabbing and strapping. And the minute he backed up, I would have subbed. But if you don't stop... All right. So I sub, and they make a couple three's, we miss it, my bench is saying we're fine. It goes to 11. I sub my guys back in now, we miss foul shots, and it's three, and you say, You never played those guys all year. Why would you do that? Why wouldn't you finish the game off? You don't win. Obviously, I would have rather have had all of them out. We play tomorrow. But I'm trying to win that game. So good question, though."

Cal is the coach. There is a reason he makes 4 million a year. He is one of the best coaches.

Coaches don't like it when they are second guessed. Maybe Jon Hood can't play on this level. But, if he found 5 minutes here and there more during the season, maybe he would relax more and do a better job in Cal's eyes. Maybe.

So, if you are Jon Hood what are you really thinking? The bottom line is, you can't be honest with the media because you just can't.