Live From Rupp: Long Beach State

Traffic was brutal, but I finally got here and set up shop. Post your thoughts on the game here... I will be doing the same.

* Like a funeral in here. Huge crowd for 1:00 on a work day.. There aren't many empty seats, even in the uppers. We have looked disorganized on defense so far from what I can tell.

* Might get a ball game today. Refs are doing their part so far for that to be the case. Long Beach isn't backing down though. They have faced a really tough schedule this year and don't look like they are intimidated.

* Something I have seen every game so far this season is how Cal never stops teaching... What is fun to watch is how he uses positives to teach. When Harrelson made that jump hook you could see him turn to Cousins and tell him that was how it is done.

* Crowd reacting a little bit to Harrelson and the rest of the team's effort on defense.

* Our top three scorers will sit with 3 fouls for the remaining 7:14 of the first half. Might be the first time one of those three haven't been in the game with a game in question. Will be interesting to see how we respond.

* Get to see a smaller lineup now. This is something I was hoping to take a look at and part of the versatility Liggins might be able to add... That straight away bank shot got a big groan from the Rupp faithful.

* Our outside shot isn't falling right now, and our three leaders on the bench. Considering the whistle it isn't all bad to be up only 3 at this point.

* It is going to be tough for this unit to score without making outside shots. Crowd is restless... Starting to hear some of the crowd voice their disapproval.

*Monson just got T'd up for some reason. He really looks like a moron riding the refs with the whistle going his way like this.... But it seemed to work. Another couple of terrible calls going their way.

*Nothing falling for us.. Just went 1-4 from the line in one trip. Long Beach is making off balance shots from everywhere. Refs have gotten a ton of calls wrong going against UK so far. Looks Tim Donaghy got his job back and he had Long Beach covering the first half spread. REALLY one sided.

* We already knew that Wall was what made this team go, and we have further proof in the first half. We held our own with him on the bench, but he is the difference between a decent team and an elite team.

* All things considered, being tied is about what we deserve at this point. We have been flat, and the more aggressive team is usually going to get the favor of the whistle.

* As his custom, Cousins has shot out of the gate in the second half. Giving Rupp something to get up for.. Not quite as loud as the Miami game, but close.

*By the way, went down to hospitality room for some grub. Kenny Walker, Mike Pratt, and Oscar Combs felt about like you would think after an ugly first half. Lot of shaking of the heads and the sort from the people that have forgotten more than I know about the game.

* We have a different energy than the first half. There might be some paint peeling in the UK locker room right now. We are too big to settle for outside shots against this team though. Good to see us get inside early.

* We haven't really capitalized on it yet, but we do have a different energy. Crowd is showing signs, but they have yet to really get into it so far.

* Wall has been sloppy so far. That is how our whole team looks when he plays that way.

* We are piling up some fouls early. Long Beach has five fouls at the first TV timeout. Hasn't shown itself on the scoreboard just yet, but is a result of getting the ball down low. Should start paying off pretty soon.... If we can make our free throws.

* Kenny Walker is your celebrity Y folks... Just thought I'd let you know.

* You really can't stop John Wall in the open court. Any missed shot or turnover by our opponent has a chance to be a John Wall highlight. It is awesome to watch him blow by people like they are standing still.

* Still a tie ball game with 13:50 to go, but we just got into the bonus while only having 1 team foul ourselves. Hopefully we can take advantage.

* I will be surprised if Cousins doesn't get a technical foul in a really bad spot this year. He bounces around like he just walked into a hornets nest on foul calls that don't go his way.

* Wall might not make the open shot in the first half, but when it is show time, it is Wall time. Basket seems to get bigger for him as the game wears on. If we can step up our Defense and continue to go down low and get to the foul line Long Beach is in trouble.

* Weird game to this point. We have brought more energy, but we aren't getting the 50/50 balls. I am not sure if it is a lack of attention to detail, or the ball just isn't bouncing our way. Hate to let a team that can make the outside shot hang around.

* Long Beach is doing just enough to stay within reach. We are about to be in the double bonus though with nearly 11 minutes left. Nice to see Cousins make his free throws. It is amazing how he can do nothing in the first half and dominate a game in the second half.

* Still hate to see this game in single digits. They just won't go away. Most of their shots have been very closely guarded though. They have made several tough contested shots. As long as we make our free throws and keep our head on straight there should be no way they stay with us...

* Refs have done their part to take Cousins out of the game though. HE has two cheap CHEAP fouls this half... They might remember him jumping around like an idiot after every call against him though.

* Crowd is finally going now that we got the lead to ten. And Long Beach answers... They have no answer for us down low though. This game wouldn't be close had Pat and Cousins not been saddled with tick tack fouls... On que, Patterson gets an extremely cheap third foul.

* Liggins hasn't had the same impact as the Drexel game, but he has shown that he belongs on the court... Crowd has given Cousins a lot of love in the second half... UK has out-manned Long Beach in the second half.... Bledsoe is 2-6 from the charity stripe.. Cousins 5-6...

* You know the ball is going in when you go to Wall late in the game... He got the puppies set and nailed a big shot to stretch the lead back to double digits.

* Still have an 11 point lead with 4:33 to go in the game. I like our chances. Been a weird game, with the crowd never really getting going and our big three sitting out much of the first half.

* Nice to see Miller nail a three to extend the lead to 14. Looks like Long Beach is about to get some Christmas Shopping time in Lexington.

* Cousins and Patterson thought they were playing volleyball for a little bit around the 3:00 minute mark. Good way to pad your rebounding stats, but might not be so great for the FG%.

* Still up 14 though. Make our free throws and this one should be on ice. The way the game has gone, it is hard to imagine us stretching it to 20+... Just been a strange game, but probably a good game to get our attention over the Christmas break.