Live Updates from Rupp Arena (Miami Ohio)

Check right here for thoughts from Rupp tonight. I will keep you posted.. Like right now we are standing for the National Anthem.. You wouldn't have known that if you weren't reading here..

Reno and I just decided to have dueling posts. We will see how that goes. He just got done scarfing down a delicious wrap provided for us media types. Blogging is a lot like swimming and you should probably wait 30 minutes before diving in. I plan on using this to my full advantage. Expect posts riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. Should be fun.


* Reno has decided to position his lap top in a way that obscures my view.. Classy move from him. Wouldn't expect anything else from him though.

* Really loud C-A-T-S chant going around Rupp before the tip.. Crowd is up for Wall's debut.

* Good job by Miller to best his scoring output from Friday. Would love to seem him have a nice game to build his confidence. Followed by Pat for THREE.. Crowd liked that. On Miller, Cal said the only way to build confidence is demonstrated performance. Hope he can get something to build on tonight.

* Looks like Miami might only shoot three's. They seem like they can make them too. Could keep them in the game for a long time. Wall with one of his own. If he makes that shot we are going to be really tough to stop.

* Down three after the first break, but I am proud of the crowd. They are still positive and don't seem restless yet. Miami is better than Morehead. We are going to get tested tonight, but hopefully we can pull away as the game wears on.

* Wall attacks the basket with authority... You can see Cal now talking to some of the players telling them that is how we do it.

* For those wondering about Liggins, he is near the end of the bench again tonight. I don't imagine he will play, hopefully that isn't the case.

* Pressure D looks really good. Wall might be hurt. Looked like he hit his head on the basket support.. He is sitting up now, maybe he will be okay. Seems ok walking off.

* Wall back in there. And everybody giving him a nice hand.

* Miami has seen the ball go in from deep a few too many times for my liking. We aren't playing terrible and getting beat by one after the second TV timeout. We have given up a ton of open three's in the first three games, and tonight we have found a team willing and able to make them.

* Crowd still seems to be upbeat for the most part though, although they aren't nearly as loud as they were to start out.

* Miami's bench is really pumped right now. Timeout UK.. Crowd is dead quiet... Still haven't heard any yells from the crowd, but I anticipate them coming shortly if we keep this up. If there were no 3 point line we'd be up right now... Terrible shot from Bledsoe, but Miller should have shot the floater.. too many passes.

* The crowd has taken the approach of trying to clap us out of this slump.. I think our players are confused and think the crowd wants them to keep giving up 3 point baskets.. We need to start getting some turnover because we can't keep them from scoring in the half court.

* I hate this team on the floor right now, but the others weren't doing anything so they are getting a shot. Stevenson, Harrelson, Miller, Harris and Wall... HArrelson was pumped up after that block. Wall decided to throw down the And 1 mix tape when we are down 15.. Might want to make the simple play first.. Crowd still hasn't given Cal any suggestions on what he should do.

* I predict that #20 from Miami pulls up from half court soon ala Tayshaun Prince. Everybody is in shock at what he is doing right now.

* Dodson is the only player on our team that could beat Miami in a 3 point contest. If we can keep getting him shots like that we will get back in this game. That and maybe guard #20.

* If you haven't heard of Miami's coach he has been around a million years. HE has called two quick timeouts. You can tell he is trying to get his team to value this lead and hold on to Uncle Mo going into halftime.

* Unreal noise right now.. By far the loudest Rupp has rocked all year. We seemed to be really energized by it, but were maybe pumped up out of our minds. The young ones will have to learn how to deal with that over time. Really got goose bumps with how loud it was, was hard to concentrate on typing. Good stuff from the crowd. They haven't really gotten negative at any point, and they have had plenty of opportunities.

* Orton has been rewarded a couple times for running the court hard. HE just got whistled for a foul and you couldn't hear it. I wouldn't be surprised to see Orton start the second half. Cousins has been a no show... Cousins seems to be sulking on the bench right now too.

* Crowd might have just taken it up a notch with Dodson's Trey.

* And they just found another gear on WAll's floater before Tayshaun JR nails a three. Dodson with the answer though and I am pretty sure there are ghosts up making noise right now.. Only way it could have gotten any louder. You could see the crowd have an impact after we got down big. Really something I won't forget. I can't imagine how loud it can get against somebody like Louisville.

* Epic fail on the live blog. Tried setting it up at the half with no luck. Going to keep up the dueling posts for the second half. Reno got a head start since I was trying to get the Live Blog going.

* Wall VERY animated after knocking it out of bounds. No way that guy should be able to score on Cousins like that down low. Poor start to the second half. Here comes Orton to replace Cousins. Orton has clearly outplayed Cousins all night.

* Our best lineup looks to be Wall, Bledsoe, Dodson, Pat, and Orton. We need Bledsoe to quit deferring to Wall and come up with a second half performance similar to what we saw Friday Night.

* Apparently the crowds favorite colors are Blue and White. It is a consensus, and it isn't really close. We need the dancing guy to get us going.. I hope he is here.... Might be our best hope. Guy in the was rocking the Wall dance.. pretty funny... you know the one.. No dancing guy for the second night in a row which might end up costing us tonight.

* Miami has done a really good job getting back on defense after a missed shot. They are really well coached and disciplined team.

* The crowd is getting on the refs right now.. Very loud chorus of BOO birds... and now a Bull**** chant...still booing.. Been Booing for about two minutes now. Reminds me of the snake pit and CArlisle County right now... Now a REF you suck chant... REally not letting up at all.

* I thought Perry got away with goaltending, and Reno saw it through blue tinted glasses... Did he touch it or not? let me know in the comments section.

* #41 seems to play in slow motioned.. Reminds me of a taller version of myself.

* I gotta think we are down double digits right now without this crowd. Only thing is that it seems to be shaking up Wall a little bit too. He isn't playing with a lot of poise and looks like a freshman out there.. Which I guess we should expect.

* Really nice look from Cousins to Pat for the dunk. We haven't had a lead in forever, we need to get out in front before the next TV timeout. I still haven't seen Orton rejoin the team.. As I typed that he just came out of the tunnel. There was a lot of blood that I presume came from his body, but hopefully it won't affect him. He was playing well before he had to go out.

* There have been a couple instances of poor officiating, but that isn't why we are trailing.

* Cousins has shown a real fire since his boy Orton got that elbow.. You just don't do that to one of his teammates without some repercussions. He definitely seems like the type would take that personally. I think the boos got him going.

* #41 would have gotten away with that double dribble if he hadn't done it in slow motion. Makes it easier for the refs to pick up on.

* Thanks for confirming my suspicions about the goaltending call...

* If we lose, Free Throws will be something to point to. Two big misses from Pat and Wall on the front end. That is what happens when you let a team like this hang around.. you get tight.

* Miami only has one timeout left... Hopefully that will end up being a big deal here in a little bit. Their coach knows he can't afford to let us get on top and he is making sure his team is completely in the game.

* Bledsoe has come down to Earth tonight with foul trouble.. Hate to see that. We need him.

* You know Wall wanted to show some showtime there but he had to make the simple play.

* Reno and Me are the only two on press row that are clapping right now. I stuck my hands up in the air when Wall got out on the break. I try to keep it classy, but I am still a fan at heart.

* Way to stick with it Cuz.. Rupp loudest yet. I just added to the noise with Miller's three....REALLY LOUD.. You knew that kid was going to make that Three though... Miami is really tough.. Not going to go away.

* I think Cousins is missing gimmees to pad his rebounding stats. Hope I am wrong. Terrible shot from him on that mid range jumper too.

* Gut check time here for the Cats. Win or lose, I am glad we are having this adversity early. It is going to make us a better team down the road. I still want to win REALLY BAD. Would rather win and learn the lesson.

* Great job by Miller.. First time in a while we have gotten out for an easy basket. Terrible foul by Orton there. We have had a lot of silly mistakes that could end up costing us.... It is now...... Miller TIME

* Cal just took the kiddie gloves off.. Was livid on the sidelines after TAYshaun JR got a wide open look for three. Not sure how you can let him have that easy of a shot in that situation.

* Winbush is lights out tonight, but he will be referred to as Tay JR til he misses one.

* Two big throws from Pat. Miami is going to shorten this game up by taking time off the shot clock and looking for the outside shot.. hopefully the crowd can get up and help force some mistakes... They are a VERY disciplined team, and the exact formula you are going to need to play with UK this year.

* Huge play from Pat, and the REFS decide to check and see if their whistle still works.. REALLY LOUD on the first free throw attempt from #4!! Makes one and we are tied...

* We have kept our poise the last couple minutes.... Miami might be a little bit tired too.. Another Big miss at the stripe though.

* You get the feeling we are about to see a lot of ball screens followed by an outside shot... Why would you mess with that formula if you are Miami??

* Has been a great atmosphere most of the night. Crowd has stayed very positive. You can tell Cal is still in the honeymoon phase... would hate to see that messed with by an early loss.

* Wall was the one guarding Tay JR on that all important last possession. Good to see him take that assignment seriously, he was all over the guy.

* Will be interesting to see who we try to get the rock to in order to ice the game... Will tell you a lot about who Cal trusts... Last week it seemed like Bledsoe would be that guy... First things first though we gotta execute and get it in safely.

* Goes to Wall. I wonder if he will do the bicep dance before he shoots? That would be too much swag I think...

* Calmly sinks the first one.... The ref gave him the ball too soon on the second one..

* WOW folks... that was a wild finish... You knew that Wall was going to make the shot to win it... That has to bode well for the season in my opinion... That is all for now... Rupp is still cheering like crazy after the game.. Pretty good stuff. I gotta go change pants and go to the news conference. More later!