Blue Tinted Point of View: Big Win Over UNC!!!!!!!!!!

If you had told me before the season started we would beat UNC by 30+ I would have smacked your face and called you a liar. This team bore no resemblance to the squad that won it all just a year ago. I know Ole Cryin' Roy has probably built up a lot of goodwill with his success the past few years, but talk about resting on your laurels.... Wait... Wrong UNC. We were playing UNC Asheville. My bad.

It was easy to get the two mixed up. This one had that big game feel you can only get from a game against a top flight opponent like UNC... Asheville.

Here are a couple of things that I liked about this game tonight:

Outside shooting. One of our biggest question marks coming into the year hasn't really been that big of a problem so far. Darius Miller, Darnell Dodson, Eric Bledsoe, and even Pat Patterson have shown an ability to make open jump shots. Dodson seems like the only guy that might be able to get unconscionably hot from outside, but the team as a whole can keep defenses honest.

Patience. We only had 8 turnovers, and we just seemed like we were a lot more calm out there. Good to see our guys can raise their games in the circus-like-atmosphere accompanying a big game like this one.

We killed them rebounding, as we should have. They didn't seem to get to nearly as many loose balls as some of our other out-manned opponents have this year either. Just seems like the team is maturing a little bit with each game. That is really all we could hope for with a team as inexperienced as this one.

Another thing I love about this team is Cousins ability to stuff the stat sheet. He can score in bunches, and he misses enough easy shots to pad his rebounding stats going after his misses. He is averaging over 15 points game only getting 20 minutes a game. It is unclear if he could actually do more with more minutes, as he has had trouble putting together a complete effort to this point.

A Travesty in Louisville...

I went on the record before the game by saying it would be a travesty for the Cats not to score at least 100 points against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs. Well, we came up short, only managing a measly 94 points against the stingy defense of UNCA. I'm really saddened by our effort tonight, and I am securing a new website to begin a grass root effort to see Calipari fired. No way UNCA comes into our house Freedom Hall and plays this team within 75 points. We need a change and we need it now! EDITOR'S NOTE: This was a joke. Erase the potential hate mail that popped into your head.

Predict the Future!

Gomez here. If there is one non-conference game that the Cats are heavily favored in, tonight is the game. UNC Asheville is woeful, and the Cats have had a few days to both practice and prepare for this warm-up game to the real "UNC," which comes to town on Saturday. I think the Cats are going to win by a ton; let's say 106 to 63.

But hey, what do I know, right? I want to hear from you... So who do you think will win tonight and by how many? Leave your predictions in the comments section.

PS: Any predictions for UNC Asheville to pull off the upset will be viewed as poor attempts at humor/sarcasm and nothing serious. We all know Kentucky is going to win, but by how many?

Notre Dame Does The Inevitable... Fire Charlie Weis

I don't really care that much about Notre Dame Football, but I can't help but see the striking resemblance of Notre Dame Football to UK Basketball after year two under Billy Gillispie.

Both programs have been criticized to varying degrees for their treatment of African American coaches (Tubby Smith and Tyrone Willingham). There were some that played the race card when Tubby left Kentucky for the green pastures of Minnesota. I never bought that argument for a second, and Gillispie's unceremonious dismissal is further evidence that race didn't play a part in Tubby's treatment at UK. Many complained when Weiss was given a huge extension half way through his first season after accomplishing relatively little. He also benefited from a slightly longer leash than his predecessor Willingham. Willingham got off to a similar start as Weis, and there did appear to be a difference in how the two were treated.

Both programs are paying a lot of money to two men for nothing. There are reports that Weis will get 18 million dollars as part of his compensation, and Billy Clyde got a little more than 2 million for his trouble after his dismissal. (Before I go on... 18 million. Really? We might see Notre Dame asking for a government bailout soon. Luckily for Athletic Director Jack Swarbick, he wasn't the one that handed out that extension... Notre Dame might have to take one from the New York Knicks playbook and wait out the past administrations terrible financial decisions. I will say it one more time... 18 million. Ouch.)

The comparison doesn't end there, as both of these guys were unjustifiably smug and unlikeable. Neither Weis or Gillispie had ever achieved much as head coaches, but that didn't stop that from being Bobby Knight-esque arrogant. (If you are going to be a jerk, you really need to have the results to back that up. Nobody likes a jackass that is also a loser. You might can get away with one of the two for a little while, but it is going to catch up to you.) The two also had self control issues in their personal life as evidenced by Billy's DUI's and Charlie's wasteline.

Both programs suffered really embarrassing losses. Notre Dame has lost two out of their last three games against Navy among several other losses to teams that were meant as schedule filler. Gardner Webb and VMI were the headliners of the many teams that beat UK in Lexington the past couple years.

Both programs became a big story while losing. Most schools have to win games in order to be a part of the national conscience. Not true for UK and Notre Dame.

They became, arguably, even bigger stories through losing in an embarrassing way. There are other blue-blood programs out there that draw attention when they struggle. I don't believe there aren't two brighter spotlights than at UK and Notre Dame though. That spotlight can be great when things are going good, but things can get ugly in a hurry when things go bad. These two programs are without a doubt placed under a magnifying glass that is unique in their sports.

Things turned around in a hurry for UK when they hired Calipari, but football is a different animal. It will be nearly impossible for a new coach to have the immediate impact that Calipari has had in Lexington, but luckily the bar has been lowered enough that a solid season next year might get the coach a 100 year-40 Billion Dollar guaranteed contract in South Bend. So the Fighting Irish do have that going for them, if nothing else.

Painting the town blue...

Gomez here... Kentucky is set to paint the The Ville blue tonight, and in coming seasons, this might happen on more than one occassion. John Calipari is on the record, perhaps just thinking outloud, about the potential of a three game package each year in Louisville's Freedom Hall. Coach Cal's idea is to play one non-conference game against a mid-major opponent (like tonight's game against UNC-Asheville), one major non-conference game (like returning the Indiana game back to Louisville perhaps?), and one SEC game in Freedom Hall each season. With the Cardinals preparing to move their home games to a new downtown arena, this would open up a number of potential dates that were once unavailable to the UK program.

In the meantime, Kentucky will continue to play their one and only "home away from home" game until a new arrangement is made. Even Calipari knows the new deal might not ever pass since some people would complain about Rupp losing two more home games, especially since they'll be higher profile games.

What says you? Would you want to see more games played in Freedom Hall and lose two games at Rupp? Or perhaps, is Calipari just taking some playful jabs at Ricky P and the Louisville faithful by openly pondering taking the Big Blue Machine into their backyard more often? Personally, I think the one game is fine and I'm not really interested in playing anymore than that right now.

Game Day: Kentucky vs. UNC-Asheville

The Wildcats head into their annual Freedom Hall game riding a six-game winning streak, the best start to a year since the 2004 season, when the Cats started 7-0 under head coach Tubby Smith. The Cats play UNC-Asheville, and to call the visiting team "underdogs" would be an understatement, considering how they're 0-5 and have lost the games by an average margin of 27 points, including a 75 point pounding from the hands of the Bruce Pearl Warriors, 124 to 49.

Here is your game day information....

Time: 6:00 PM (CST)

Location: Freedom Hall
TV: Fox Sports South

Radio: BBSN

Online Audio
Online Video

More on tonight's game later...

Be Proud

Last night's overtime loss to Tennessee was certainly a tough pill swallow. We now have to wait a few weeks before we can see them on the field again. Meanwhile, the basketball team will get into the meat of their non-conference schedule against teams like North Carolina, UConn and Indiana, stealing the attention of Big Blue Nation entirely. I'm afraid that last night's loss and the hype surrounding the basketball team could cause the football team's accomplishments to get lost in the shuffle. If that does happen, it will be sad footnote on a football season that should be celebrated.

UK will attend their fourth Bowl game in a row, the first for our program. Sure, it would have been amazing to finally see the Cats knock off the Vols, but it wasn't meant to be this year. However, we did see the Cats win at Auburn and at Georgia this season, and total up a 7-5 record.

To say Rich Brooks has done a good job at Kentucky would be a huge understatement. He took over a probation program in disarray and lead them back to being competitive in the nation's toughest conference. He went from losing records to playing in Bowl games... every year. He has taken diamond in the rough players and turned them into all-conference stars.

Do we still have a lot to accomplish? Of course. We need to beat the Vols, and Spurrier, and find a way to win games we're supposed to win while continuing to pull off a couple of upsets along the way. If we had beat South Carolina, Mississippi State and Tennessee, we'd be 10-2 right now and probably ranked in the top 15 in the country. Yet, we shouldn't look at the missed opportunities, and forget to celebrate what these players and coaches have done.

Be proud, Big Blue Nation. Our football team comes ready to play every week, and we give our opponents all they want. We're going Bowling again and the future is bright for Kentucky Football. Thank you Coach Brooks and Seniors for all you've done.

Seth Davis is a Tool

I am not going to talk about the football game. I have usually given my undivided attention to Basketball by this time of the year, but this team suckered me into believing. I believed in something that hasn't happened as long as I have been on this planet... Beating the Vols. You know that story by now, so I am done with that. I will watch the 'Nobody Really Cares' Bowl and cheer on the team, but for now it is on to Calipari's Cats. Some of my scorn must be directed somewhere, and who better than Seth Davis to fill the role of whipping boy.

Here is an article from Seth Davis at SI.com that I found hilarious...

If you hate Seth Davis too much to read his article that is fine... I would prefer nobody read it either so he could just go away... To sum up the piece for those that hate him enough not to link to his article, Davis boldly predicts which Sophomores are going to have breakout seasons..... Three weeks after the season has started. It would be one thing if Davis were pointing out who had made leaps of improvement, but he passes himself off as a fortune teller. This is equivalent to me becoming a financial planner and predicting what is going to happen ten days ago for my clients. It is actually hilarious to read if you want to waste a few minutes of your life.

He uses words that only Duke graduates would use in way that is uniquely Seth. Here are is one of the funnier examples.

"I have to say, in the many years that I have performed this invaluable function, last year's was my most prescient effort yet."

How can you not hate this guy? I really can't stand Seth Davis. I have no idea what qualifies him for his job. If he were the guy that did whatever Greg Gumble or Tim Brando job description is that would be one thing, but he gets passed off as somebody that actually has quality insight. I can't think of anyone that respects what he has to say about anything. I have read on KSR about Matt Jones' man-crush on Andy Katz. I didn't get the chance to talk to Katz, but I can confirm that he just seemed like a really cool dude. If I were to meet Seth Davis and find him likable, I don't think I could handle it. He may be writing stuff like this as a snarky joke to tick people like me off, or maybe he has so much job security due to his influential family he doesn't even care anymore. Either way, he is a tool.

Heartbreak again. . .

Cat's fall to Tennessee in OT...

This one hurts and it'll take some time to gather our thoughts. This game was given to us in regulation and some questionable playing calling cost us a win. There will be plenty of second guessing tomorrow, but I can't handle it tonight.

Half Time. . .

and Kentucky goes to the half with a 21-14 lead. You gotta like where the Cats are as any lead at the half is big for this team. Typically this season Kentucky has proven to be a second half team. There were several big plays in the first half and we won't try to remember them all, however one stands tall right now. Sam Maxwell's INT return for a touch down set the tone for the first half. UT has tied it on two occassions, but because of that first score the Cats are yet to play from behind. UT has possession to start the second half and it will be again on the defense to set the tone for the rest of the game. More later....

Saturday is far more than just another football game...

This is it, make no mistake about it. This is Coach Rich Brooks' biggest game as head coach at the University of Kentucky. There have been plenty of big games over the last seven seasons for the football program, but in my opinion, none bigger than Saturday's showdown against the Tennessee Volunteers. This just feels different, it just feels like this could be a win that could change a lot of things for this program. On the other hand, a loss could keep the program stuck in neutral.

The Cats already have two historic wins this season, wins at Georgia and at Auburn. Those were big games, but they were games that most believed UK would lose, yet Brooks' team found a way to win. Those wins helped put the Cats in a position to finish second in the SEC-East, a feat that Kentucky hasn't accomplished since the SEC divided into two divisions. That is the difference, a win helps UK finish above Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina in the SEC standings. That just doesn't happen, it's not supposed to happen in most people's opinion and that is why this game is different. Why it's not just big, but monumental.

Here are just some of the things that this team can accomplish with a win Saturday.

• UK's first 8 win season (regular season) since 1984


• UK's first win over Tennessee since 1984


• UK would likely be invited to the Outback Bowl


• UK would finish with wins against UT, AU & UGA for the first time ever


• UK would finish 2nd in the SEC-E for the first time ever

What Rich Brooks has done at UK is nothing short of remarkable. He is already the first coach to ever win three straight bowl games and has multiple marquee wins on his resume in Lexington. Let's not forget he has beaten LSU, Auburn, Florida State, Clemson and Georgia twice. He can lose this game and still be a legitimate candidate for coach of the year in the SEC. Most people picked Kentucky to finish close to the bottom of the SEC and considered a 4th straight bowl appearance a long shot. Who would of thought that with all the adversity this team has went through, that this could be his best season at UK?

Still, with everything on the line, there is something more than stats and milestones that Kentucky continues to play for and that is respect. The culture in Lexington is firmly changing, but it's journey to relevance is far from over. A win Saturday could be remembered as the day it changed for good.

Florida has something else to be thankful for...

Billy Donovan and his Florida Gators gave their fans something else to be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend, a win over the #2 ranked Spartans of Michigan State. It is the biggest upset of the season so far and could be signs of things to come in the SEC-East this season. The East is already stacked with NCAA tournament teams with Kentucky, Tennessee and Vandy all figuring to be in the mix. However, most of the national media thought Florida would be NIT bound for a third straight season. Yet, the Gators already have a HUGE win for their NCAA resume.

The Gators could be this season's Arkansas who started last season with a bang, only to finish in the SEC with a whimper. Or they could be an underrated factor in the SEC landscape. It's too early to tell, but Billy Donovan is proving that Florida Basketball is still alive and well. The question is, does any one in the state of Florida care?

Blue Tinted Point of View

It is so easy to forget how young this team is. We are just one year removed from an embarrassing trip to the NIT. We find ourselves in the Top 5 in the country despite losing our leading scorer Jodie Meeks and replacing him with a bunch of Freshman. I am sure many have already started to expect more than this team is ready to produce. The talent is there for a special season, but keep in mind we are dangerously close to being a .500 team right now. The team, as well as the fans, need to realize how much improvement is needed for this team to become championship quality.

I am on record as saying that I reserve judgment on this team until New Years. There have been several areas of improvement that have become evident in the early going that will have to be addressed for this team to reach its potential. The main issue I see moving forward is how we are able to deal with intelligent and patient teams that can make outside shots. Stanford and Miami Ohio both filled that description, as both nearly knocked off the Cats with inferior talent. How we can deal with teams like this come March will go a long way in determining our fate.

I am not sure that the faults of this team can be cured with anything more than time. They are mistakes of inexperience that should be expected from a team as young as ours. A lot of the mistakes will only be cured through trial by fire. We are going to have to learn as we go. Time is really the only thing that can keep this team from being special. If this team had a year to grow together, they could become one of the ALL Time great teams. That isn't reality with the lure of millions of dollars awaiting in the NBA draft for Wall and Patterson.

We are left to enjoy whatever it is that this team can put together for this season. As Calipari put it, we should strive for perfection, and accept excellence. There are just too many new battles and adversity for this team to face between now and March for perfection to be realistic. They will leave us scratching our heads at times, and singing their praises at others. I am just glad that we matter again. Be thankful for John Wall. He is the best player in the country. Every game we see him is a chance to see something unforgettable and unique to John. My advice is to sit back and enjoy the ride and try to keep in mind how hopeless you were at that age.

Fan's reaction to Bledsoe's 3 in OT

This is a fun video... listen to this dude's reaction to Bledsoe's big 3 point shot in overtime. The same type of reaction could be heard in my house, and I'm sure from countless living rooms all across the bluegrass.

Highlights from Stanford game...

Cal's Cats: Thanksgiving Edition

-Wow, we survived the Cancun Challenge... it wasn't pretty but we leave still undefeated. Cal said it would not be pretty until around January, and well, he continues to be right on that.

-I love our team's ability to fight through adversity. First we had a game where we were way behind and had to come back, then last night's game where we got a win in overtime. Our guys have to be growing up through these close games.

-I loved how Ramon Harris played. He not only continues to be one of our best defensive players, but did well on the offensive side of the ball too, and we all know that is just a bonus.

-Wall is clutch; he first hit the game winning shot against Miami and then against Stanford he hit a big shot with the shot clock down, then coolly stepped up to the line and sank two free throws to send the game to overtime.

-The shot that got me the most excited was Bledsoe's three close to the end of overtime that put us up by 4. Huge shot by the kid.

-Cousins is everywhere... usually he starts off bad, gets in foul trouble, and then comes out the second half rolling. Against Stanford, he started off well, hitting shots and seemed to be rolling early. But he started throwing up shots that were not even close, and it reminded me of how Orbzut (Woo) would shoot sometimes.

Then his free throw shooting... I know he is a big and many bigs can not shoot free throws, but it is hurting us. He has a way of attacking and ends up getting fouled in the process but getting fouled doesn't help if you miss your free throws, especially in a 1-1 bonus. Missing that first one is as bad as a turnover. He shot one free throw airball. That is a tell tale sign of someone who has some work to do in this department.

-But when the smoke cleared, we find ourselves sitting pretty at 6-0. If we beat UNC Asheville on Monday, we will have tied with the best start since the Eddie Sutton era. This would tie the 2003-2004 team who started off 7-0 before losing to Louisville. In the 92-93 season, we started off 11-0 before losing to Vandy in our 12th game.

-Also we are one more win closer to 2,000 and beating North Carolina to this bench mark. If North Carolina goes undefeated until they hit 2,000, we still get there first if we go 6-5 or better in our next 11 games.

-Good games to watch while you are resting from all the turkey:

See Tubby in action... #16 Minnesota vs. #10 Butler on ESPN2 at 8:30 EST.

Then on Friday, Florida (4-0) takes on #2 Michigan State (4-0). Who do you root for in this one? Florida, a team I despise thanks to Noah, versus a team who could help us in our rankings if they lose...tough choice.

Friday also has Duke against UConn in the NIT Championship. Good stuff... go UConn!

Go Cats!

Thanksgiving Quick Clicks...

:: Box score and recap of UK's victory over Stanford
:: UK FB team can break mother of all streaks
:: Chris Low praises Rich Brooks at ESPN.com.
:: Fidler is giving up his last year of football

:: Sam Bowie breaks racial boundries

:: Harris, Stevenson should embrace new roles

More later...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Everyone here at the Big Blue Nation Report would like to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a joyous beginning to your Holiday Season!

Don't eat too much, and remember to truly be thankful for the blessings in your life.

More later.

Cancun Champs!

Kentucky won a close one in the Cancun championship against Stanford, outlasting the Cardinal 73-65 in overtime. I have to admit, I felt like Kentucky was the much better team and thought they would win and win by a comfortable margin. However, after the first half, I was beginning to wonder if Kentucky would win at all, but they found a way in the end.

"We have a long way to go to be a good team," Coach Cal said after the game, and I think we can all agree with that statement. However, like I said after last night's game, it's great to know the team has a long way to go before reaching it's ultimate potential, but they're still doing the small things it takes to win ball games. The Cats are 6-0 for the first time in a long time. "We have a great will to win, and I like that," Cal said.

Ramon Harris played big in the second half, making a couple of baskets, pulling down some rebounds, and playing excellent defense. Its great to see him finding a way to be productive within Cal's system. "He's great; I love the kid," the Coach said after the game.

The freshmen guard duo of Wall and Bledsoe were huge down the stretch as well. Wall hit two free throws with 2 seconds to go in regulation to send it to overtime and Bledsoe hit a big three with seconds left in overtime. Again, the kids have a long way to go, but it's encouraging to see them making big plays with the game on the line.

Well, that's all for now. I watched the game delayed on my DVR, so the hour is very late. However, it was worth staying up for. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Some Quick Thoughts...

Jeff Goodman is reporting that Darnell Dodson is out of the doghouse and will be able to return to the rotation in tonight's game against Stanford. No word on Liggins though, so we assume he's still sitting out.

In the area of bad news... Derrick Miller plead guilty to the charges relating to the ticket scam he was accused of earlier this year.

Andre Woodson was cut from the Washington Redskins Practice Team. We wish Andre and Derrick the best of the luck.

Stanford Cardinal...Cardinal is The Dumbest Team Name.... Ever?

If this team can't get up for playing in front of nearly one thousand sunburned and hungover Cats fan's; in the obscurity of a ballroom; with the bright lights of CBS College Sports Channel; and in front of broadcasting legend Rich Zsovec... we have some serious issues. I know I dreamed of this exact scenario shooting hoops out on my gravel backyard pad. I knew how to use the pothole near the right side of the free throw line to my advantage, and I am sure John Wall has already adapted his game accordingly. The great one's know how to use these things to their advantage. You can expect to see Wall lead his man to any imperfections there may be in the court for a twisted ankle, as well as an easy scoring opportunity.

If there is need for any extra motivation, I say look no further than Stanford Alumnus Mark Madsen. Madsen is the antithesis of the University of Kentucky Basketball. He doesn't know how to celebrate winning moments, evidenced by his dancing during the Lakers championship parade. There was also his... shall we say... "special" performance after beating Rhode Island on a last second play to go to the Final Four in 1998. Cats fans know how that one ended, and we can't allow any retribution tonight. He got by on hustle, grit, smarts, and his Mormon ideals. That just isn't how we do it at Kentucky. We out gun people with superior everything. If Madsen were a gun, he would be taken to a robbery somewhere in Knoxville. 

Calipari has the team locked in a banquet room showing clips of Mark Madsen and Casey Jacobsen right now. The team, as anybody else, won't know the difference between these two and whoever Stanford might actually have. I say we end up winning 85-69 if Patterson can't play, and 145-33 if Patterson can go.

Cancun Championship Tonight

Pop quiz... what is this a picture of?

a.) Carlisle Middle School's Art Project
b.) A demented Christmas Tree
c.) A deleted scene from Sesame Street
d.) The Stanford Mascot

If you said "C," you were correct. Congrats... you're smart.

That's right, folks. Kentucky and Stanford are facing off tonight at 8:30 CST to decide who will win the Ball Room Blitz Cancun Challenge, a rematch of the 1998 Final Four Match-up between the two programs. However, Stanford isn't anywhere near as good as they were back then and Kentucky is, so this should be a lopsided affair. Look for John Wall to score around 50 and for the Cats to win by about 100. Of course, I'm reaching a bit, but I do think Kentucky will handle Stanford rather easily tonight.

This being Thanksgiving Eve, I have a couple of early holiday events to attend with my family today, so I'll be DVRing the game and watching it late tonight. I won't be able to post much before then either, so hopefully some of the other BBNR team members will show up at some point today and share their thoughts on tonight's game. In the meantime, why don't you share your predictions for the game in the comments section. And enjoy this quick highlight of Jeff Sheppard dunking on Stanford back in 1998.

Blue Tinted Point of View: Cleveland State

This game was very hard to watch. There was no flow or rhythm because of turnovers and the way the game was officiated. Oh well, we got another 20+ points against decent competition. Every game doesn't have to be a thing of beauty, and I think winning a few of these ugly games will pay off down the road. Come March, there won't be many teams that are willing and able to run with us. We had better figure out how to grind out some ugly wins, and we are doing a good job of that so far.

I spent most of the game in a state of frustration due to the way the game played out, but that doesn't mean there aren't several positives to take away.

First off, I liked how our team responded to Patterson having to leave the game. This was the point where we extended our lead, and we didn't seem to miss a beat without our fallen leader. I felt like we got a really good effort from all of our big guys. Harrelson and Stevenson both can provide a solid effort off the bench, and Orton is showing that he is a difference maker.

Hate to state the obvious, but John Wall is awesome and indispensable to this team. I am hoping that the jacked up court can be partly to blame for some of his turnover issues tonight. I always wondered what it would be like to have the best player in the country on our team. I am sure it has happened in the past, with Dan Issel, Mashburn, and Chapman able to make a claim to this title. I have read rumors that the NBA is going to be changing their policies in the near future with the collective bargaining agreement expiring in 2011. They should just mandate that the best players serve a one year tour of duty in Lexington and call it a day... David Stern has that kind of power right?

Cousins managed to play less than half the game, while still padding his stats enough that you wouldn't notice if you didn't watch the game. I am still a little unsure if he is capable of playing 25 minutes. I think he knows deep down if he played that long something bad would end up happening to the other team. That technical he got for the elbow is nothing compared to what would happen if he had to play more than 5 minutes in the first half.

Miller was a little more active tonight. Seems like he took the praise of Harris' rebounding to heart and showed up with 8 of his own to go with his 9 points. Harris chipped in 8 rebounds of as well. If these two can play great defense and chase down the longer rebounds we can be really efficient and dangerous. These two rebounding allows Wall to bounce out and do his thing as the one man fast break.

I am still a little curious what a smaller lineup would look like with Patterson, Miller, Harris, Wall and Bledsoe/Dodson. I think that unit would actually be capable of running the Dribble Drive as opposed to the Dump Down Offense we have been employing. I don't think we will be able to simply dump it down there against teams with real big guys. We will have to develop some more continuity on offense, and maybe a smaller look could help with that. We still haven't had our full compliment available, so hopefully when those problems get resolved we can find out what shape this team is going to take. There are a lot of options on this team that haven't been explored. It seems logical to think we could start to see different looks sooner than later.

Finally, and probably most significantly, the defense is really stepping up. It is impressive that the team has identified weaknesses early in the season and improved on them dramatically in a short period of time. After the first two games Cal said we needed to pick up the pace, and we answered with two high scoring outputs. When the onus was placed on defense, our team stepped up the intensity on that end. There is still room for improvement, but it is promising that they have shown an ability to shore up weaknesses. We shut down Rider on Saturday, and held Cleveland St to 26.6% from the field tonight.

It is now time for the quick turnaround as the Stanford Cardinal await  tonight. Hopefully the team can resist the temptations of the open bars lurking at every corner. More on that game later.

And the judges say...

It was ugly, and at times, hard to watch, but this is the outcome you hope for with games like this.  Kentucky had too many turnovers, a ton of silly fouls, and there were some questionable decisions by our players (Cousins's elbow comes to mind), but Kentucky still won and won big. 

Patrick Patterson left the game after turning his ankle and was out for almost all of the second half of the game.  Of course, we hope he's okay and is able to play tomorrow, but the fact that he had a limited time on the floor only cements the optimism we can take from today's game.  To dominate the other team like Kentucky did in the second half with their best player on the bench just speaks to the overall depth and talent of this team.

Kentucky was plus 20 in the rebound department, absolutely killing the Vikings on the boards.  John Wall lead the team with 15 points and 7 assists.  Darius Miller had 9 points and 8 rebounds, as well. 

The Wildcats now play the winner of the Virginia/Stanford game tomorrow night.  Stay tuned for more thoughts later.

Game Time Post

First and foremost, for those of you that do not have CBS College Sports, the Kentucky game today can be seen online right here. Just click the link and enjoy!

Share your thoughts, predictions, and reactions in the comments section below!

Go Big Blue!

Interesting playing environment...

Playing in Cancun will be an interesting experience for the college kids this week, but not for the obvious reasons. The picture above is floating around the internet this morning, and I saw it on KSR and I had to re-post it for you guys. Yes, that's right, the Cancun Challenge is being played in a ball room!

"They brought the floor down from Boston Garden," Coach John Calipari said on Monday. "They don't quite match; there's a little seem, balls are going to fly. There's (a gap) in front of one bench that you can sprain an ankle, there's a gap about three inches. There are some dead spots on the floor and it's a ballroom. We go from 24,000 to playing in a ballroom, which is fine. The good news is the other team is playing the ballroom on the same floor too."

So there you have it. Evidently there are no gyms in Cancun, only ball rooms. We're still not sure if the judges from Dancing with the Stars will be in attendance to give their halftime critiques or the final score after the game.

Cats in Cancun!

After Saturday night's upset win over Georgia, Coach Rich Brooks took some playful jabs at Tom Leach on the air. "You have to go to Cancun now... poor thing!" Of course, for Tom and Mike and the traveling media, it is a nice get away from the dreary fall weather we've had of late in Kentucky. However, for Cal and the Cats, it's all business down there.

"It's definitely a business trip," Patrick Patterson said. "We came down here for one thing, and that's to win and that's the thing we want to concentrate most on; working in practice, working hard in preparation and pregame practice and then play hard and hopefully get the win."

Of course we all want that Patrick... but not just one win, but two big ones. The Cats will play their most talented competition yet in Mexico, and though the Cats are the nationally ranked team with all the hype, Cleveland State, Virginia and Stanford all come in with the same goal: WIN THE CHALLENGE.

Kentucky plays Cleveland State on Tuesday afternoon, and they'll be a challenge for the boys in blue. After losing to St. Bonaventure to open the season, Cleveland State has rebounded to win three games in a row by an average margin of 18 points, including a 15 point win over Sam Houston State, a team that battled Kentucky close at Rupp Arena.

"We know they're a tough team," Patterson said. "They have great size and great guard play."

The game today is at 3:30 PM CST/4:30 EST and it can be seen live on CBS College Sports. Check back here tonight for our post game thoughts and a look ahead to tomorrow's game.

More later...

Coach Calipiari... What a Difference

At the University of Kentucky (like just about every other school), there can be no doubt that winning cures all ails. If Billy Gillispie had won more games, the administration wouldn't have had the support needed to fire him after just two years. We all know that situation was more than just wins and losses, but ultimately losing was what sealed his fate. Had he built up more good will might he have gotten more rope to hang himself? Possibly, but we will never know for sure.

Coach Calipari on the other hand has aced every aspect of his first few months as Coach. Does it help that he hasn't lost a game yet? Sure. Even the most radical, sky-is-falling wackos are having trouble finding things to complain about so far. If and when we do lose some games, Calipari should have built up enough support to last a lifetime (well a really long time anyway). His management of the day-to-day grind that comes with the Big Blue spotlight has been impressive to say the least. He makes it hard for us to break down the game here at BBNR. The best post game summary can be found by simply reading Coach's remarks after the game. If you haven't made it a habit already to read what he has to say after the game, put that on your to do list. You aren't going to find a better or more insightful reflection on the game than what comes straight from our coaches mouth.

I admit that I have supported every coach in a similar fashion. I ignored glaring faults in our last two coaches, choosing instead to point out their strong points and hope for better days ahead. With Coach Calipari, it is hard to find a fault to ignore. The only argument that holds any weight is his history of having two final fours vacated. I have to say that this does cause some concern. How can it not? However, I think he realizes he is going to be held to an even higher standard than he has faced before and will act accordingly. There is no need for him to do anything outside the rules at Kentucky. He has every institutional advantage, plus himself and an exciting system to sell to recruits.

There are no guarantees when dealing with the NCAA. I have about as much faith in them as I do the Federal Government running healthcare. Not much. Time and time again, they have proven themselves to be a corrupt , inconsistent, and poorly run organization. We might find ourselves vacating titles when the NCAA finds that we provided free #2 pencils for final exams. Hopefully that isn't the case, as it is about the only thing that can derail us at this point. More about the Cleveland State game later...

Wall and Patterson receive honors...

Nov. 23, 2009 (from ukathletics.com)

Cancun, Mexico – UK men's basketball players Patrick Patterson and John Wall were named the SEC Player and Freshman of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday and Wall was named the ESPN.com National Player of the Week.

Wall, a 6-4 guard from Raleigh, N.C., received the league's freshman of the week honor and national player of the week honor after hitting the game-winning shot with 0.5 seconds left to lead Kentucky to a 72-70 win over Miami University in his season debut. Wall averaged 20.3 points, 7.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals in three games last week. He finished with 19 points and had five assists against the Redhawks. He followed that with a 21-point effort against Sam Houston State and then recorded a double-double with 21 points and 11 assists against Rider, the first double-double in points and assists for the Wildcats since Cliff Hawkins in the 2004 season. His 11 assists are the most by a Wildcat since Rajon Rondo in the 2006 season and the third most by a Wildcat freshman in UK history.

Patterson, a 6-9 forward from Huntington, W.Va., was named the SEC Player of the Week after he averaged 18.7 points and 12.3 rebounds in wins over Miami University, Sam Houston State and Rider. He scored 19 points and tied his career-high with 18 rebounds in the win over Rider. On the week, he recorded his 23rd and 24th double-doubles of his career which is tied with Pat Riley for 10th on UK's all-time double-double list. Patterson moved to 46th on UK's all-time scoring list with 1,096 points and recorded his 22nd career 20-point game against Sam Houston State. He hit his first career three-pointer against Miami and then hit another against Sam Houston State.

Wall's national recognition is the first of its kind this season for the Cats, while the league honors were the second and third for UK this year. Wall became the fifth Wildcat to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors since the SEC started the award in the 2006 season and the second this season after Eric Bledsoe won the award last week.

Patrick Patterson received his fifth career weekly honor. He was named SEC Player of the Week once last season and received the league's freshman of the week honor three times in 2008.

The Wildcats return to action Tuesday in the Cancun Challenge taking on Cleveland State. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.

Kentucky vs. Georgia Slide Show...

Monday Quick Clicks...

:: Tennessee survives close call with late free throws
:: Morgan State battles Louisville close at Freedom Hall
:: Cousins told Cal to start Orton in second half
:: UK providing a block party down low
:: The UK football team turned heads with upset of Georgia

Cals Cats: Ways to watch UK in Cancun and more...

Wow, wasn't yesterday an amazing day for UK? At halftime of the Georgia game I didn't give us a chance in the second half, but what a game!

Many are asking about TV coverage for Tuesday and Wednesday’s games. It is on CBS College Sports.

So this is the information I have been able to gather, but I only have Dish so I can’t guarantee its accuracy. You would be best advised not to wait until right before the game to check it out or you may find yourself without it. UK plays early on Tuesday at 4:30 eastern. This is 3:30 my time and will not be able to get home from work till 4 at the earliest so I will miss the beginning.

Then the next day, if we win we will play the winner of Virginia and Stanford and play at 9:30 eastern, but if we lose against Cleveland State then we play the loser of the Virginia and Stanford at 7:30 eastern.

613 Direct TV
152 Dish
531 Insight (not in HD)- they are apparently offering a free preview for this even if you do not usually get this channel
251 Time Warner- part of the sports pack for $8.00

Streaming online: http://www.justin.tv/funchester

For those who do not see it on your cable, you may want to call and ask if they are doing the free preview or have some package you can order to get it and then you can cancel it after this week. I know some people with Time Warner are doing this. Some on the dish are upgrading their package to get this channel for a week and then paying a $5 fee to downgrade back down after the week.

If you have additional information to add this or see something I put that is definitely wrong, let me know and I will put on the Cal’s Cats Facebook page with any updates.

Check out the Cal's Cats Facebook page for Wall highlights against Rider, new pictures from Akron and a link to pictures of what Cancun gym looked like last year to give you a feel for the atmosphere on Tuesday.

Go Cats! Take Mexico by storm!

Kige Chat

The Dark Side: Still some room for improvement

I told Austin I would try to be the offsetting voice of concern when he posts a mainly positive post about the basketball team. However, after yesterday's win, I have to admit my task is much more difficult. Yet, with that disclosure plainly stated, I'll try to point out just a few areas where the Cats must improve.

I guess I'll start with Eric Bledsoe. This guy has a tremendous amount of talent, but his maturity is still very much a work in progress. On numerous occasions, he sped by his defenders but instead of dishing to the open man, he took out of control shots or turned it over. Eric finished with a team high 5 turnovers and only shot the ball 3 for 10 from the floor. Of course, he's a freshman and the maturity will come with experience, but at times, he's a bit of a loose cannon.

Still a source of concern is play from the bench. Of course, this could improve when (and if) Dodson and Liggins are once again cleared to play by Coach Cal. For now, the bench is sorta shallow. With the exception of Daniel Orton, there's a significant drop off of production when the reserves hit the floor. Cal has proven that Jon Hood and Ramon Harris are going to get minutes, and the two must begin producing some offense. Both have struggled to shoot the ball so far this season, and always seem to be a step behind on defense. In games against deeper, more talented teams, more minutes will be needed from the bench, and these guys will need to step up. Luckily, Daniel Orton performs well so if Cuz continues to get in early foul trouble, we at least have a very reliable back up.

And yes, the Cats were finally able to stop their opponent's three point efforts, but they struggled there themselves, only managing to hit 4 of 16 for a very poor 25% overall from behind the arc. While this poor shooting did not cost the Cats against Rider, we have to believe there will be games where that kind of shooting from outside might prove to be the difference in the game.

Again, this is mainly nitpicky stuff, and I was very satisfied with their performance overall, but I wouldn't be Darth Vader if I didn't find some areas to point out that still need some improvement.

Blue Tinted Point of View: Rider Broncs Got Bucked

Even the dark side would have a hard time finding too many negatives from yesterday's game. Before I get into the many great things that we can take away, I will touch on the two biggest negatives.

Cousins getting into early foul trouble for the third game in four is something that he will have to grow out of. In the half-court game, throwing it to Cousins down low is probably the most sure fire offense we have right now. Cousins shot isn't as developed as I thought it was, but he is more than making up for it with his soft touch down low. His shooting percentage might not be as high as Patterson's (73.8% vs 56.8%) but I think this can be attributed to Cousins seemingly passing it to himself off the rim on his first shot and going for the put-back, as well a couple ill advised outside shots. He scores or gets fouled almost every time he gets the ball on the block. He has to stay on the floor and average more than the 19.8 minutes he has seen so far. 25-30 minutes a game is more like it.

Eric Bledsoe has got to cut down on his turnovers. It almost seems like he is confident to a fault, in that he thinks he can make any play. It is great to have that confidence and fearless attitude, but he needs to value the ball more and cut back on his turnovers. Coach Cal said he wants him to limit it down to two turnovers a game, and he can easily accomplish that goal by slowing down a little bit and making the simple play his first option.

That is about it for negatives. We need to find more depth on the bench to allow Bledsoe, Wall, and Patterson a few more minutes of rest a night, but I am not going to complain too much about Coach playing our best players heavy minutes. I am simply going to give you a Top Ten list of things I liked about the game against Rider.

1. The Smiles. Great to see the Wildcats enjoying themselves this year. J Wall's smile is infectious.

2. Cousins giving Orton the second half start. I can see where some of the question marks about Cousins' character came from coming out as a prep, but I have seen enough to believe he was misunderstood. He isn't perfect by any means, but he is showing that he is a good teammate. There was potential for conflict between he and Orton, but Cousins has shown in his actions that he has Orton's back. Whether it was getting fired up to dominate Miami Ohio after Orton's blood was spilled, or giving him the second half start against Rider, Cousins has shown his true colors.

3. Bledsoe continuing to shoot with confidence. He was only 3-10 overall, but 3-6 from deep. His shooting has been one of the biggest surprises in the early going. Since Wall entered the lineup, Bledsoe is 8-13 from behind the arc. If he can shoot 40% or better from deep for the rest of the year we will be almost impossible to stop.

4. Orton gained some serious confidence. He has had some minor injuries in just about every game so far, but came away unscathed from the Rider game. Hopefully as he gets more comfortable he can continue to be a big contributor off the bench.

5. Unselfishness. We saw it with Cousins giving Orton the nod in the second half, but also in how the team shared the ball. At times certain players can almost be unselfish to a fault, passing up easy opportunities trying to find a teammate. That is the kind of thing you can live with though. We did a lot better job getting our big guys going with easy opportunities.

6. Ramon Harris has earned himself minutes with his defense and rebounding. He might not be an offensive star, but he can make up for that with his defense. If we force the opposing team into missed shots, we have instant offense in the one man fast break John Wall. Harris is used to taking on the opposing team's best player, and he does a great job comminicating on defense. It would be nice if Ramon can find some easy opportunities on offense, but even if he doesn't he brings value to this team.

7. For the second straight game we have had a player get 18 rebounds. There is no reason we shouldn't be a dominant rebounding team, and so far so good in that department.

8. John Wall

9. Patrick Patterson

10. John Calipari

Enough said. These three will be the catalysts for this team all year. For now, it is off to Cancun and a date with Cleveland State. More about that game and the great win by the Football team later.

UK Hockey--Great Experience

Since we have a couple days till the next basketball game and football isn't till the weekend I wanted to bring up something that doesn't get enough attention but it absolutely should.

UK Hockey--this stuff is fantastic. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Just an amazing experience. Let me set it up for you. Games are only on weekends. They start at midnight. Lets just say this leads to a raucous crowd in the first place. There is an undeniable home-field advantage for UK. There are amazing chants. People stand for the entire game. Its just an amazing fan experience. I brought up a few buddies the other weekend and guaranteed them a great time. The hockey game absolutely delivered--what else can do that. When's the last time you wanted somebody to do something, and guaranteed they would love it. I can only think of 2 other ways: forcing someone to watch "Christmas Vacation" for the first time or eating from PF Chang's. UK hockey is that good.

On a sidenote this weekend also lead to at least 2 stories that cannot be repeated here but are fantastic. Ill try to tell a very edited version of one that actually involved the game. Here goes--if you ever call a cab in Lexington you know there they are either going to show up either 57 minutes later or not at all. You have to plan your whole night around calling the cab on time since it will take so long (they will always say about 15 minutes--this is a lie, everybody knows it but just has to deal with it). Lets just say that, even though there is this problem with the cab companies, when the game gets out at 3 am its not a good idea to call 3 cab companies and have them compete to see who will pick you up. Even though its much more efficient that way. It did lead to me getting called about 8 times in a row. I finally stopped declining the call and it lead to a pretty animated hi-pitch conversation from one cabby. Another called later and screamed "IF I KNEW, YOUR WERE GOING TO CALL DIFFERENT CABS AND JUST GET IN THE FIRST ONE THAT SHOWED UP, I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN COME!!"--Well then. Kinda glad we didn't tell him. See where else are you gonna get to experience stuff like that. You have to hit up UK Hockey.

You cannot help but get caught up in the game. By the end you will be high 5ing and going nuts with everyone even if you hate hockey. There are a few reasons for this:

First off, hockey is amazing to watch live. Its probably the biggest change from TV to real life there is.

Second--did I mention the games start at midnight on weekends, that takes a regular rowdy crowd up about 87 notches. Think of the buzz in the crowd for a big basketball game, then move that game to midnight on a weekend so every can make some "questionable" decisions before they get there. Lets just say its a fun fan experience where you have a 15% chance of not getting out alive. That always leads to an exciting time.

Third--the jerseys. They are fantastic. If anybody knows where I can get one please tell me. Use the comments section for that. In fact most of the reason for this post was a selfish way for me to ask some UK fans who might know (thats you! loyal readers) where I can get a UK hockey jersey.

Fourth--Do I have to mention the Ashley Judd UK Hockey poster. That ranks just behind the championships in 96 and 98 and just ahead of 3 bowl game wins as the best things to happen with any of the Cats teams in my lifetime. In fact that was another big reason for the article just so I could search for that and look at it before posing it above the article. And anything that made that happen (or the very underrated picture with Rebecca Gayheart) well then its a winner in my book.

Fifth--Its UK and another chance to root for a fun team.

As I've said I can absolutely guarantee you will love it, it will not disappoint. Take my advice, if you have the chance go to a UK Hockey game.

And that's the Reno stamp of approval.

We want Tennessee!

If Kentucky beats Tennessee next week, they'll be 8-4 overall and 4-4 in the SEC to finish the regular season.  In a season where Kentucky has lost two games they should have won, that would be a heck of a finish and put the Wildcats in a great place to receive a the biggest Bowl bid we've received in quite a while. 

Of course, just beating the Vols would be a worthy thing in and of itself.  Tennessee has taken some hits in their program over the past few years, while Kentucky has been solid under Rich Brooks.  However, even during Kentucky's good years, and Tennessee's down years, the Vols always seem to find a way to beat the Cats. 

However, Kentucky beating Auburn and Georgia on the road has proven that Kentucky can certainly beat Tennessee if they play like they're capable of playing.  I'm predicting it now... Kentucky wins 30-27.  This is the year they get it done on Senior Day at Commonwealth. 

What are your predictions?  Leave them in the comment section.

CATS WIN!

In a game where Georgia dominated Kentucky in nearly every statistical category, Rich Brooks and his Wildcats found a way to win the game in Athens.  Unbelievable heart and some big play by Kentucky's defense, especially Sam Maxwell, in the second half helped Kentucky with the upset victory.

This improves the Kentucky record to 7-4 and it's the first win for Kentucky at Georgia since 1977!  What else happened in 1977?  Star Wars was released and I was born and Kentucky beat Georgia at Georgia.

What a day for Kentucky fans to celebrate!  Kentucky wins a basketball game by dominating Rider at Rupp, and then the football team travels to Athens and defeats the Bulldogs.

Go crazy, folks!  Go crazy!

Quick Recap: This is the team we thought they were

Kentucky finally played like everyone has been waiting for them to play, dominating Rider with a 92 to 63 victory.  UK was lead by a powerful performance by Patrick Patterson, who finished with 19 points and 18 rebounds.  John Wall also had his best game of the season with 21 points and 11 assists.

However, probably the biggest accomplishment for the Cats today was finally finding a way to shut down their opponents' three point offense, limiting Rider to only 4-17 from behind the arc.

Now, its off to Cancun, Mexico, where the Cats will face Cleveland State on Tuesday.

More post-game thoughts on today's contest, and more on tonight's football match-up with Georgia, later today.  Stay tuned!

Game Time Discussion!

Post your thoughts on the game in the comments section!  Refresh your browser for the latest posts.  Michael will be posting his thoughts there during the game.  Join the discussion!

Scouting Report: Rider Broncs

Big Question: Rider University comes into Rupp Arena on Saturday for their second game of the Cancun Challenge. The big question is, just which Rider team will come rolling into Rupp this weekend? Will it be the team that went into Starksville, Mississippi and blew out the Bulldogs on their home court, or will it be the Rider team that got creamed at Virginia on Thursday night? Time will tell.

Who to watch: Despite playing poorly at Virginia on Thursday, Rider is lead by sophomore, Novar Gadson. He was averaging 20 points per game before last night but only managed 3 points against the Cavs. If he gets hot, watch out though. Mike Ringgold is another player that the Cats will need to get after defensively. Ringgold, a junior forward, scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Broncs to an 88-74 win at #18 Mississippi State. He also tallied one assist and one block while connecting on 52.6 percent of his attempts from the field (10-19).

What they do best: The Broncs like to drive the ball and attack the paint. Kentucky defenders will need to stay in front of their men and fight through screens. In the first two games of the season (against Mississippi State and Lehigh), Rider was able to get to the rim or kick it out to open jump shooters. However, Virigina was able to guard their penetration and jump shooting effectively.

Where UK should have the advantage: Rider does not have the size to bang down low with Cousins, Patterson or Orton. The Kentucky big guys should be able to dominate underneath. Kentucky also has more talent outside too. We haven't even begun to see the potential of John Wall come alive yet, so let's hope we see this tomorrow. Of course, we need to see improvement on the defensive end. Rider has already proven that when their shots are falling, they can play with anybody.

What the Broncs are saying: "We came (to Virginia) expecting to win and we're going to Kentucky with the same attitude," Rider Senior, Ryan Thompson said after last night's loss. "We had a bad game and now we have to turn it around. Every team has its ups and downs. When our offense is clicking we can beat anybody."

"We have to go into Lexington thinking we can win," Mike Ringgold said. "If we don't, the same thing could happen that happened tonight. We go into every game thinking we can win. We went to Mississippi State thinking we could win and we did."

Head Coach Tommy Dempsey said after the loss: "This will bring us back to earth and get us more focused for the task at hand, Kentucky."

Prediction: I think Kentucky gets it's all figured out and finds a way to put Rider out of their misery quickly, 96-70.

Friday Quick Clicks...

:: Tobias Harris "Volunteers" for Pearl and UT
:: UNC survives close game against Buckeyes
:: UV spanks UK's next opponent, Rider by 33
:: Schedule for Coach Cal's TV and Radio Shows
:: UK needs to focus on fundamentals before wow
:: 3-Point Defense no laughing matter

More later...

Defense??? We don't need no stinking defense.....

It is what it is... one of the biggest cliches in sports today but I think it is going to hold true for the 2009-10 Wildcats. This Wildcat team is not a good defensive team. Who can blame them. An uber talented squad that absolutely fills it up, focuses on running and gunning and can't get back on D.

The defense can be improved but I don't think that should be the overall focus of Coach Cal. The overall focus of Cal should be the, well..... FOCUS. The biggest lapses defensively have been defensers losing sight of their man and allowing them open looks. That part of the UK defense needs to be improved.

With that being said, this team is a scoring machine. I'm looking forward to games with UNC, Louisville and Tennesee where we could possibly see scores such as the one above. Bring on the Loyola Marymount/UNLV early 90's type games where the scoreboard has to be cooled down.

The reality of it all is you can't have it both ways. With the new faces that Kentucky has fundamentals are going to get thrown out the door and with the talent they have brings in the showboating as well. I think we should have known that with Cal coming into town. Memphis wasn't Hickory High. They ran, they showboated, the kicked some butt. If that's the way it has to be.. so be it. A lot better and more fun to watch than last year.

Notes from the Dark Side...

Michael here... As Austin has pointed out, there are all sorts of positives to take away from last nights game. 102 points is nothing to sneeze at, and five players scoring in double figures isn't either. However, being the voice of reason here, I'll point out some of the negative thoughts from the dark side of things...

First and foremost, our defense was once again AWOL last night. For most of the game, the Bearkats rushed down the floor with little or no resistance from Kentucky's defensive efforts. Sam Houston three point shooters were wide open almost every trip. Even after they hit three or four 3-pointers in a row, Kentucky defenders were slow to rotate, switch, or help when shooters began spotting up from behind the arc. The three point defense has been absolutely horrible, and it has to get better, which is probably the biggest understatement of all time.

Another area of concern is our inability to have sustainable help from the bench. Orton, Hood, Stevenson, and Harris all played last night, but none did anything of note (the exception being Orton's four blocks). Instead, they seemed out of sync, and at times, unsure of their role on the floor. This was especially true of our seniors. Perry and Ramon missed wide open shots, failed to get in position on the defensive end of the court, and struggled to rebound the ball effectively. I'll go on the record now and say that if Kentucky is going to be the number three or four team in the country, as some have predicted, they'll need better play from the bench, especially the veterans. And Dodson and Liggins and the rest of the team better quit making bad decisions that put them in Cal's Doghouse. We need all hands on deck.

Next... What's up with all the showboating? Players were throwing lobs and look-away passes that went out of bounds or five feet above the intended recipient's outstretched hands, instead of just looking the ball into their teammates chest. Players were looking for the slick pass or sick dunk instead of just using strong fundamentals to get the ball in the hole. I'd say this to our young team... let's get up by a bunch, lots more than 14 or 15 points, before we start trying to make the ESPN highlight reel.

Just the poor fundamentals in general are a source of concern. Players need to dribble, pass, and rebound the right way every time. That sounds so simple, I know, but how many times did the Cats throw the ball away, rebound with little or no force, or make a silly foul? Too many times to count, which all worked together to keep the Bearkats in the game for the entire 40 minutes.

And I'll end with this last point of emphasis for our team. Develop the killer instinct! How many times in the first three regular season games have the Cats had their opponents on the ropes, just waiting for the knock out punch, only to see the Cats let them off the hook? UK jumped on Sam Houston State with a 14-2 lead and before you knew it, the Bearkats had answered with several big shots. Kentucky has to learn to jump on their opponent and stay on them for the duration of the 40 minute contest. And when they're up by 20, make it 30, instead of letting the other team back in it. And also, go to Patrick Patterson more. He's still not getting enough touches. When we're up by 15 or 20, let's go to our haymaker for the knock-out punches!

In closing, I hate to be a debbie-downer, but this team has a LONG way to go before there's any talk about top 5 rankings or National Championship potential. I love my Cats, and I'll be the first to say when they're clicking on the right spots. However, right now, they're not, so if you want to drink the blue flavored kool-aid, read Austin's post below. For now, this is Darth Vader signing off.