Thursday, December 31, 2009
UK fans leaves his or her mark...
A UK fan managed to engrave the UK logo into freshly poured concrete at the construction site for the new Louisville basketball arena. This is awesome...
Benedict Rick on UK game...
On getting ready for Kentucky... "We don't want to kill our guys on the court. We do a lot of film work. I concentrate more on the other team that we are playing. The other guys concentrate what they do. We have seen them a lot and we know how great they are and we know their abilities. They are not the tallest team, but they are the fastest team, and the most athletic team I have ever seen at Kentucky. So we know what we are up against and it won't be surprising to us. We will work on a game plan to try to limit some of that athleticism. Not easy to do. No one has been able to do it; that is why they are undefeated." On Kentucky's size advantage... "It is a big problem. There are freshmen and there are certain freshmen. They have some special ones and they play well together. They have Patrick Patterson, who I have always loved. They play defense so hard."
On UK's transition and John Wall... "They are the best transition team I have seen in a long, long time. Their runs are incredible. I was charting them on film and on their transitions, they were 75-80 percent on transition and you don't see that very often. They can really finish. Their bigs run well, run really well. They get up and down the floor and they are unselfish and play together. We gotta' watch what we do because if you take a bad shot they really make you pay. Shot selection is really key. Yes, they are incredible. Just the two games I looked at, they were great in transition. A good team normally goes 65 percent (on transition). But they are great finishers and sometimes you think you have them stopped and its one on three and then he (Wall) splits it and dunks the ball. You remember that dunk against IU? I forgot which one it was, when he dunked it lefthanded. That was an incredible play because there were three guys back. `No, not really, I will just put on my Superman cape and just dunk it left-handed.' He is having a great start. He is a terrific basketball player."
On playing in Rupp Arena... "They (the players) know it is a great atmosphere, I coached there and it picks up when the players are great. Best atmosphere I had there, except the first year, was 1996-97 when the players are great. It picks up in the elevator. Just watching the North Carolina game you could hear everything. We know that. We have Edgar and we have an experienced back court and that will help us."
ESPN is coming after Cal, UK... again
In case you haven't heard, ESPN's Outside the Lines is airing a story on Cal's purge of Billy Clyde's UK roster after he was hired to rebuild Kentucky basketball. This story is old, and judging from the clip below, grossly inaccurate. It'll be interesting to see what kind of reaction, if any, this story generates from the Cal Haters...
John Wall after the game...
Notice DeMarcus Cousins trying to get John Wall flustered during the interview. Very funny stuff. Also notice our man Austin Martin over John's left shoulder...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
John Wall Interview
Our very own Austin Martin caught up with John Wall after the game last night. The recorded interviews can be listened to by clicking on the files below. They're in M4 format, meaning they're compatible with iTunes, iPods, and iPhones.Enjoy...
John Wall continues to amaze...
John Wall did his part last night to ensure there would not be any sort of overlooking of the Hartford Hawks. He had 16 assists and only one turnover while also scoring 9 points of his own in a 104-61 victory. What is so nice about Wall's game is that he thinks to pass first, and then if there's nothing there, he'll look for his own shot. It's great to see a player of his talent so willing to dish the rock when you know he could score a lot more points than he currently does.Wall's 16 assists breaks Travis Ford's previous record of 15, and they came in a variety of ways. In a stretch in the first half, Wall kept getting into the lane and then sending lobs to the rim for Patrick, DeMarcus, and Orton to slam home. The undersized Hawks had no answer down low. But Wall also drove the lane and then kicked out to open jump shooters, proving that he can find the open man anywhere on the court. This guy is truly special.
Now, the Louisville Cardinals await, and there's no doubt that Rupp will be rocking. Calipari has asked the crowd to once again keep it respectable but we'll have to wait and see how the fans respond. Its hard to believe that things will stay cool and calm, despite what Cal might want. Unfortunately, for us, this will be one of the few home games that we won't have any of our staff in attendance. Thanks to the national attention for this game, lowly bloggers such as ourselves were left on the outside looking in. However, you can guarantee that will be watching from the couch and we'll be on here to talk about it before, during, and after the game. We'll probably even do another live blog for the occasion.
Stay tuned... we'll have lots more about Wall's record setting night and the upcoming Louisville game coming very soon.
Cal's Cats: Did you know Wall is going 1st in the draft??? edition
-Jimmy Dykes continues his broken record that John Wall will be the #1 pick in the draft. I don’t disagree with him but he needs to come up with something else to say every time Wall does something ridiculous because Wall will continue his crazyness…and who was the other announcer? He looked like he just became legal to vote in the past election.-On to the game, UK wins 104-61 over Hartford. Bledsoe did not play because of his ankle, he is day to day. He seems to be fine; Cal just wanted to rest him for Saturday.
-1st half: ton of alley oops. Dodson hitting a ton of threes but he continues to struggle shooting inside. Cousins and Orton dominating inside, Cousins getting a little hot headed again. I will be surprised if Samuels doesn’t try to rile Cousins up Saturday, hopefully he will be able to ignore it. Wall’s crazy reverse alley oop was nuts, he even hit his lip on the rim.
I hope everyone is truly appreciating what you are watching, who knows when you will see a player like him at UK again. Cal can recruit but neither Knight nor Selby is on Wall’s level.
I believe UK put up more alley oops this half then I saw all last year. Wall with ten assist on his way to breaking Ford’s record.
Sad to see Hartford’s starting point guard Torres go down like that, very bizarre with no one touching him.
-2nd half: UK continues to roll, what about Dodson…wow…he may struggle on defense and can’t score inside but when you shoot threes like that you don’t need to be able to do anything else. Miller also went off from three. He finished 6-10 from three.
-Wall gets six more assist to overtake Travis Ford for all time assists at UK with 16He also took the most assist from anyone this season which was previously held by Seton Hall against of all people Hartford.
Of all people to get us to 100 points it came from Mark Krebs, hitting a three to the crowd’s approval. This was his first points of his senior season.
This game could have been a lot worse but Cal cleared the bench with 10 minutes to go in the second half. Rick Pitino at Louisville wouldn’t dare take his players out this early maybe because of less class or the fact his players would throw a fit.
Cousins and Dodson both finished with 19, Miller-16, Patterson-11, Orton-10, Wall-9, Harris-7, Stevenson-5,Krebs and Liggins-3, Harrelson-2.
-Louisville is next and I am hearing a ton of talk from UK fans on how we are going to run them out of the gym and we may but I wouldn’t be surprised to see this as a close game.
Last year Louisville went into the NCAA tourney as the top #1 seed and it took a last second three by Sosa to beat us a team who couldn’t even make the NCAA tournament.
Also Louisville was in a little rut losing some games they had no business losing, they did have some guys out for these games and Samuels clearly was someplace else. Lately they have improved winning their last four in games that were not really close at any point. Is UK more talented? Absolutely and its at Rupp but when it comes to UK/UofL rivalry don’t be surprised by anything.
Other notes: I went to the Long Beach St game and it wasn’t a route but a win is a win. When Cousins received the technical foul early on, Cal went on the floor mocking him yelling something the likes of “hey look at me, I’m a man, and look where it’s going to put me…on the bench.”
Duke took it to Long Beach St tonight 84-63
-There was a little blurb from Patterson saying that he has been contemplating coming back next year. I doubt that it happens but we can dream.
Another year learning the offense would allow him to show scouts what he can really do. Cousins or Patterson coming back may be bigger than any recruit coming in. We are not in the mix for any center for 2010, the biggest recruit is juco 6’9 Ratliffe who hasn’t received an offer from UK yet.
If we are to lose Patterson, Cousins, and Stevenson we will be forced to go much smaller next year. Cal will likely put in more DDMO next year either way which is part of the reason why there are not many true centers showing interest in UK.
Cal continues to say if you just want to be a post up big then you will not come here. Bigs under Cal must be more versatile then just post players. Guys like Terrence Jones and CJ Leslie fit more into Cal’s system hence their interest.
It’s good to be Wildcat, Go Cats!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Live from Rupp: Hartford
About to get this thing started. The Ryan Youngblood warm-up test is decidedly in UK's favor. We will see if he knows what we are talking about. Uppers are filled to capacity yet again, but there are several empties in the lower levels. I am going to guess 23,450 on the attendance.
* Carlisle County is bigger than Hartford, but I think they can probably shoot from outside. Cousins easily won the tip. You can tell early Hartford is looking to make this a 3 point shooting contest. Will be interesting to see if we adjust and guard them out there or let them hang around and make things interesting.
* Cousins looks like he is playing against middle school players down low. Hartford is going to try and sag and let us shoot open shots all day. They really don't match up though.
* It is going to be interesting to see if we are mentally tough enough to get out and defend the perimeter. We can get any shot we want though. It won't matter in the outcome of the game, but hopefully we have learned our lesson from Miami and Sam Houston State and won't give up open outside looks.
* This should be our highest scoring game this year. Hartford is just hoping we take an outside shot right now.
* Even with the hot start, crowd is mostly dead. I am going to amend my guess on the attendance to 24000, there were some late arrivals that filled in some of the spots.
* Orton spends more time on the ground than anybody else on the team. Wonder if that has anything to do with not trusting his knee completely...
* If Liggins keeps this effort up on defense his minutes are only going to go up. He hasn't looked to do as much offensively as you might think, but I think that is in part to his energy put out on D.
* Liggins play has cut into Miller's a little bit lately. Hopefully that will allow Miller to bring a harder effort on defense. We don't really need a ton of offense from either.
* Great to see Wall get Orton a big dunk there. We need Wall to make him better, and you see a little more of it each game.
* Patterson has been the one that has fallen asleep a little on defense more than anybody. He might not go against many guys that can shoot like that, and he probably hasn't had to do that much in his career.
* Wall is gunning for the assists records. I have played enough video games to know when somebody is going for assists. His teammates are with him too. I am calling it. 15 assists tonight for Wall.
* Wall has gotten Cousins and Wall three easy dunks now. That number needs to keep going up as the season goes along.... Make that four.
* Pretty cool that they let Cousins shoot the technical even if he did miss one.
* Sportscenter just put that one on Que for top plays. That was nasty. Rupp loved it too.
* Hartford's best player just blew his knee out. That sucks all the way around. Hate to see a leg go the other way like that. This game is probably going to get ugly for Hartford.
* Wall might get the assists record by halftime. Only thing that could stop him is the game getting out of hand and we get up by 40.
* I want the record to reflect that I saw Wall going for the assist record when he got to 4. Just saying.
* This is how you should treat teams like Hartford. We are dominating every way possible.
* Love how Wall got Orton going in the first half. That is the biggest storyline from where I am sitting. Great first half for the Cats.
*******************SECOND HALF**********************
*Probably going to see us work on the DDM this half. I have noticed we have worked on it more when we get up big.
* 12 assists for Wall. ESPN had him at 10 at half but I don't believe that is right. UKAA has him at 12 right now and I think that is right.
* Cousins shot that three solely because of Wall's record. I am telling you.. I am a veteran of padding stats on video games. You can see the reaction from Wall after every assist. He has 13 now. I am loving it. Just got fouled on a break though and the crowd didn't like it.
* Miller is showing why many said he was made for this offense.
* 14-0 run out of the gate. Wall better hurry if he is going to get the record. Hartford is doing their part though by playing no D whatsoever...
* THE dancing guy has made his glorious return. They need to pay that guy to get the crowd going. He is money.
* 14 assists now.. Miller is in on this game. Huge dunk from Wall. This is a John Wall showcase tonight folks.
* Cousins is a beast tonight. They haven't given Wall assists his last two trips down the court. Something is wrong.
* Got wholesale subs coming in. Will be interesting to see if Cal lets Wall go for the record or decides to rest him the rest of the way.
* Dodson said he would take that three if you want to give it to him.
* I think Wall is fully capable of breaking the assists record against a good team. It is almost unfair to do it against this team.
* Lil Dribble Drive from Stevenson. HERE comes Wall to write his name in UK record books. That is a record that has had his name on it from the time he signed on at UK. Hope it happens.
* Wall is going in with the B unit it looks like, will be interesting to see if they are up to helping him break the record.
* Dodson might be the only one that can help Wall out here.... There is the record. Harrelson helps him tie it up. Will be interesting to see if he can break it before the TV timeout.
* PURRY with the bucket to break the record. 16th assist for Wall!!!
* Nice ovation for Wall. Hope they will point it out in the TV timeout to give him another well deserved round of applause. Got a loud 'John Wall, John Wall chant going after he left the game. Waiting on the cheerleaders to do their thing now... We will see here in a second if they point it out. Would be surprised if they don't.
* Biggest ovation of the night goes to Krebs who let UK eclipse the 100 mark. Gotta love Cats fans for giving the kid some love there.
* No extra love for Wall just yet, but I am pretty sure that most everybody knows what just happened. I am going to sign off for now. Expect more later.
* Carlisle County is bigger than Hartford, but I think they can probably shoot from outside. Cousins easily won the tip. You can tell early Hartford is looking to make this a 3 point shooting contest. Will be interesting to see if we adjust and guard them out there or let them hang around and make things interesting.
* Cousins looks like he is playing against middle school players down low. Hartford is going to try and sag and let us shoot open shots all day. They really don't match up though.
* It is going to be interesting to see if we are mentally tough enough to get out and defend the perimeter. We can get any shot we want though. It won't matter in the outcome of the game, but hopefully we have learned our lesson from Miami and Sam Houston State and won't give up open outside looks.
* This should be our highest scoring game this year. Hartford is just hoping we take an outside shot right now.
* Even with the hot start, crowd is mostly dead. I am going to amend my guess on the attendance to 24000, there were some late arrivals that filled in some of the spots.
* Orton spends more time on the ground than anybody else on the team. Wonder if that has anything to do with not trusting his knee completely...
* If Liggins keeps this effort up on defense his minutes are only going to go up. He hasn't looked to do as much offensively as you might think, but I think that is in part to his energy put out on D.
* Liggins play has cut into Miller's a little bit lately. Hopefully that will allow Miller to bring a harder effort on defense. We don't really need a ton of offense from either.
* Great to see Wall get Orton a big dunk there. We need Wall to make him better, and you see a little more of it each game.
* Patterson has been the one that has fallen asleep a little on defense more than anybody. He might not go against many guys that can shoot like that, and he probably hasn't had to do that much in his career.
* Wall is gunning for the assists records. I have played enough video games to know when somebody is going for assists. His teammates are with him too. I am calling it. 15 assists tonight for Wall.
* Wall has gotten Cousins and Wall three easy dunks now. That number needs to keep going up as the season goes along.... Make that four.
* Pretty cool that they let Cousins shoot the technical even if he did miss one.
* Sportscenter just put that one on Que for top plays. That was nasty. Rupp loved it too.
* Hartford's best player just blew his knee out. That sucks all the way around. Hate to see a leg go the other way like that. This game is probably going to get ugly for Hartford.
* Wall might get the assists record by halftime. Only thing that could stop him is the game getting out of hand and we get up by 40.
* I want the record to reflect that I saw Wall going for the assist record when he got to 4. Just saying.
* This is how you should treat teams like Hartford. We are dominating every way possible.
* Love how Wall got Orton going in the first half. That is the biggest storyline from where I am sitting. Great first half for the Cats.
*******************SECOND HALF**********************
*Probably going to see us work on the DDM this half. I have noticed we have worked on it more when we get up big.
* 12 assists for Wall. ESPN had him at 10 at half but I don't believe that is right. UKAA has him at 12 right now and I think that is right.
* Cousins shot that three solely because of Wall's record. I am telling you.. I am a veteran of padding stats on video games. You can see the reaction from Wall after every assist. He has 13 now. I am loving it. Just got fouled on a break though and the crowd didn't like it.
* Miller is showing why many said he was made for this offense.
* 14-0 run out of the gate. Wall better hurry if he is going to get the record. Hartford is doing their part though by playing no D whatsoever...
* THE dancing guy has made his glorious return. They need to pay that guy to get the crowd going. He is money.
* 14 assists now.. Miller is in on this game. Huge dunk from Wall. This is a John Wall showcase tonight folks.
* Cousins is a beast tonight. They haven't given Wall assists his last two trips down the court. Something is wrong.
* Got wholesale subs coming in. Will be interesting to see if Cal lets Wall go for the record or decides to rest him the rest of the way.
* Dodson said he would take that three if you want to give it to him.
* I think Wall is fully capable of breaking the assists record against a good team. It is almost unfair to do it against this team.
* Lil Dribble Drive from Stevenson. HERE comes Wall to write his name in UK record books. That is a record that has had his name on it from the time he signed on at UK. Hope it happens.
* Wall is going in with the B unit it looks like, will be interesting to see if they are up to helping him break the record.
* Dodson might be the only one that can help Wall out here.... There is the record. Harrelson helps him tie it up. Will be interesting to see if he can break it before the TV timeout.
* PURRY with the bucket to break the record. 16th assist for Wall!!!
* Nice ovation for Wall. Hope they will point it out in the TV timeout to give him another well deserved round of applause. Got a loud 'John Wall, John Wall chant going after he left the game. Waiting on the cheerleaders to do their thing now... We will see here in a second if they point it out. Would be surprised if they don't.
* Biggest ovation of the night goes to Krebs who let UK eclipse the 100 mark. Gotta love Cats fans for giving the kid some love there.
* No extra love for Wall just yet, but I am pretty sure that most everybody knows what just happened. I am going to sign off for now. Expect more later.
Gameday: UK vs. Hartford Hawks
Gomez here...Kentucky returns to the court tonight to face the Hawks of Hartford. Okay, to be honest, I don't know much about this team except they're 2-9 overall and they've yet to play anyone near the talent level of Kentucky. To say they're an underdog would be putting it lightly. Of course the Kentucky coaches and players will say all the right things (such as "They're a good team" or "They're really well coached") but we all know they have to say that kinda stuff. Hartford is a team that Kentucky should pound hard, and that's what I expect to see. This is just one last tune-up before the UK-Louisville show on Saturday.
I'm not going to waste time trying to scout this game for you; just know this... Kentucky is going to win and by alot.
Enjoy the videos below...
Darius Miller Interview
On the intensity... Some guys might have been distracted or were ready for the break.. We just didn't bring it out of the gate. I am not sure if it was the celebration from the 2000th win. Everybody misses their family and wants to spend some quality time with their families. That might have been a factor. I think we did alright considering the foul trouble in the first half. Those three are a big part of our team.
On if people forget how young the team is... Maybe. Coach doesn't really talk about that. He expects a lot from us and so we expect a lot from ourselves. We don't want to use that as an excuse.
On learning a lesson from a tough game.... Definitely. They could be in the post season. Maybe they make a few more shots and could put us out. So we have to learn to bring intensity the whole game and take care of business. We know that we can't get away with not bringing it at all times. That could come back and bite us if we don't get it corrected.
On playing without Wall, Patterson, and Cousins in the first half... Seems like they can get you open shots every game which is nice. Definitely can get relaxed and spoiled playing without them if there is foul trouble. They make a lot of things happen out on the court.
On Cal's half time speech... Wasn't really loud or out of control, but just wanted us to pick up the intensity and focus on what we needed to do to get the win..
On reacting more than thinking... I think we are all getting better and more comfortable learning where to be and where to take our shots. I think we are learning the offense and getting a lot more comfortable playing together.
On Liggins.... Deandre is a big part of the team. He plays great defense and can wear down his man that he is guarding. He just stays on them and doesn't let them out of his sight. He is doing a good job knocking down some shots too.
On playing a smaller lineup... Maybe at times we might go to that if the big guys get in foul trouble. I think coach was improvising a little bit because of the fouls. It isn't something we have practiced too much. It could be something we see against some smaller teams. We normally just let the big guys play together in practice. Daniel and Demarcus play against each other to help them get better.
On the early success...We got a lot of work to put in and we have a lot to improve on when we get off this break. We feel good about what we have done, but we all want to keep getting better too. We gotta come off this break and be ready to go.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Calipari and Kentucky: A Powerhouse Marriage
What do Pat Forde, Bob Knight, Jay Mariotti, and Jemelle Hill have in common? For starters, all have taken shots at the University of Kentucky and its head basketball coach. What else do they have in common? Well, nobody really cares what they think. I know that I don't lose any sleep when they take pot shots at Coach Calipari. What does bother me is that other programs aren't held to the same standards as UK. The missteps of other coaches and universities are not treated the same as our own problems. Other programs and coaches have had similar and even worse transgressions, yet Kentucky seems to get singled out. When there are Billions of Dollars in play there is going to be some level of corruption. Everybody is living in the gray area that the laughable NCAA rules allow, yet only some of these programs and coaches are portrayed as shady.
It is a compliment in a way. We garner attention because we are the best. We are the Yankees, Lakers, or Cowboys of College Basketball. Those franchises are adored by their fans, but also intensely hated by their rivals. For many sports fans, College Basketball is only relevant for a couple weeks in March. For others, it is the proving ground for the bigger stage of the NBA. The most important team in the Bluegrass State is the University of Kentucky Basketball team. Football is important to many in the state, but Basketball is still THE sport. Kansas is the only program that can come close to matching what Kentucky Basketball means to a whole state, but they are slightly behind us in terms of success.
John Calipari has inherited the keys to THE Rolls Royce of College Basketball. Calipari is like that girl in Middle School that fills out before all the other girls. The other flat chested girls (Pat Forde, Bob Knight, etc) are going to talk about him behind his back. They might not have any proof that Calipari is a floozy, but that isn't going to stop them from spreading rumors. Calipari is able to connect to people. We have seen it in the Commonwealth already. He is part cars salesman, part politician, part teacher, and part basketball coach. He may not be a Saint, but I find it just as hard to believe he is the villain that he is portrayed by many to be. I don't know how anyone could keep up an act this long. This is who he is. He isn't perfect as far as I can tell, but I don't believe he is an overt cheater either.
I can't say for sure, but it seems that Calipari's biggest mistake in the past was that he was too trusting and allowed somewhat of a laissez' environment around his programs. The problems around the program seemed to be more oversight than open cheating. That isn't going to work in the pressure cooker that is Kentucky. We are held to a different standard than Memphis, Massachusetts, or any other College Basketball program. That standard wasn't the case at Cal's previous stops. Cal had to sell players on himself and his ability to get them to the next level. Kentucky is able to recruit itself in a lot of ways. The passion, facilities, and tradition are going to assure players of being a part of something special.
Something I didn't fully understand about these special programs is the need for a coach that can embrace the spotlight. When Coach Smith left to Minnesota, I thought all we needed was a coach that could upgrade the talent level. It was that easy. Just get some players and the rest will take care of itself. Especially in this age of intense media coverage, that just isn't the case. To job requirements for managing a blue chip program go beyond recruiting and X's and O's. When you get a succesful marriage of powerhouse program and coach nobody can really match up. That is what we have with Calipari.
We are on our way to becoming Goliath. We are arguably already there, but you have to validate that sort of thing in the post season. What separates Calipari from the pack is his charisma. The flat chested girls can't quantify what he has, so he must be cheating. In the haters minds, there is no way that Cal could simply be superior. He must be doing something outside the righteous rules and regulations of the NCAA. From my limited view of Calipari, I have seen a guy that I would love to play for. Many recruits have seen that same guy and felt the same way. It isn't cheating, it is just charisma.
Survey says...!
Gomez here... We asked you what you thought was the most difficult basketball game still on the schedule and the results were pretty one-sided...1.) at Tennessee 58%
2.) at Florida 23%
3.) at Mississippi State 9%
4.) at Vandy 4%
5.) Louisville 3%
What can we gather from these results? Well, first of all, most of us think visiting Tennessee will be the toughest test for the Cats to remain unbeaten. However, that game is still two months away, and I find it very unlikely that we'll be undefeated for that long. In the SEC, every game will be a test, and there's a ton of tough road games before our away date with the Fighting Pearls of UT.
One of those is the game that ranked second in our poll, at Florida, on January 12. Florida has certainly been a tale of two teams so far this season. After quality wins over Florida State and Michigan State and a jump into the top 25, Florida has lost three in a row. Okay, the loss to Syracuse is acceptable, but losses to Richmond and South Alabama? Ummm... not so much. But Florida has proven they can beat quality opponents when they're playing up to their potential, and UK fans can count on a hostile environment down there in Gainesville. I expect a tough contest.
Maybe the most surprising thing about the poll was the small amount of respect for Louisville. Yes, the Cardinals have lost three games already, and probably all three to teams they should have beat (with the possible exception being UNLV), but they have seemingly pulled it together with four consecutive wins by very large margins. There's no denying that Pitino wants this victory and he'll be prepared for Cal and the Cats. Of course, Cal wants the game too, so don't expect any kind of let down from the boys in blue either. Just as you can expect with any big rivalry game, I really think the game on Saturday will be a close one, and another tough test for our young team.
At this point, all of this is just fun for discussion. To be completely honest, the toughest game on the schedule is Hartford, because we play them next. While fans can look down the schedule and circle big games, the coaches and players don't have that luxury. They have to take them one game at a time. And if last week's odd game against Long Beach State is any indication, that can be a tricky affair, no matter the opponent.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Cats fall short in Music City...
If it was in fact Coach Rich Brooks last game as head coach at Kentucky, it was a sad note to exit on. Kentucky just didn't make enough big plays to overcome the Tigers of Clemson, thus ending Kentucky's streak of Bowl wins at 3, with a 21-13 loss in Nashville. As much as we love our Cats, at the end of the day, we have to admit that Clemson was simply the better team tonight. They made the big plays on both sides of the ball, and Kentucky didn't have an answer. Kentucky just doesn't have enough weapons to withstand a more talented team that has a month to prepare for them.If Brooks decides to officially hand the reigns to Joker Phillips, we must take a moment to say "Thank you." I have to admit, I was a harsh critic of Barnhart's decision to hire him, and again when he decided to stick by him after a rough start. I was a typical fan with unrealistic expectations. I wanted UK to hire some young coach with an exciting brand of football that would turn around the program overnight. In short, I wanted the impossible. What Rich Brooks did, however, was rebuild the Kentucky program from the ground up without even a hint of NCAA rule breaking. He's a class act, and a tremendous coach, and Big Blue Nation should be thankful to have had him as our coach for the past several seasons.
Of course, if the rumors are wrong, and Brooks decides to come back for another season, that's fine too. Given what he has done for our program, he deserves to go out on his own terms whenever he's ready to do so.
In closing, lets just say congratulations to Kentucky for another solid season.
Music City Bowl 2009 Preview
There is no denying that Coach Brooks and his team had their sites on Atlanta or even Tampa as their bowl destination. However, after several close losses in conference the Big Blue Mist will invade Nashville tomorrow for their 3rd Music City Bowl appearance in four seasons. The Cats could of done far worse than the MCB as most college football analysts predicted a losing record for the Big Blue. Instead, the Cats will be going for their fourth consecutive bowl win in the Rich Brooks era.
The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN and will not have any other college football competition in their time slot. This means that there could be some extra eyes on Music City tomorrow night and some extra attention to both UK and their opponent, the Clemson Tigers. If the Cats are to continue their march to SEC relevance tomorrow night's game is critical.
The Cats will enter the game as healthy as they have been in months. Both Locke and Cobb are saying to be "fresh" and ready to lead the Cats offensively. On defense Micah Johnson is close to 100% and Lindley is about as good as he could hope to be. Matter of fact, Sam Maxwell's injury is the only significant setback the staff has had to deal with.
The Tigers on the other hand had a minor setback when four players missed curfew and were suspended for the game. Two were a third string TE and WR, however, two others were part of their regular defensive rotation (Jamie Cumbie and Rennie Moore). While not a critical blow to the Tigers defensive scheme, it will certainly hurt their depth while trying to stop the running game of Locke and Cobb.
All in all, both teams should be ready for an evenly matched game at LP Field. I really do not know what to expect, but I am mildly optimistic for the Cat's fourth straight bowl championship.
Meyer to step down...
In what has become a shocking development in college football, Urban Meyer will step down from the head coach position at Florida after their bowl game. Meyer isn't going to another school or the NFL but states health as his reason for the tough decision.
He had just received a 6 year, 24 million dollar extension in August so again, this is a very surprising news.
It's not sure what the health concerns are, but I fear it could be serious if he is stepping away from not only a Top 5 program but the game all together. Everyone here at BBNR wishes him the best with his challenge ahead.
Edit: scratch that... He's changed his mind, and is now saying that he's just taking a break. He'll most likely be back at Florida next season.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A Blue Christmas...
Gomez here, wishing you all a very Blue Christmas. Of course, despite what Elvis might say, a Blue Christmas for us here in Kentucky is just fine. Fans of Kentucky have plenty to be "Blue" about this Christmas. Both the women's and men's basketball teams are undefeated and the football team is preparing to play in their fourth consecutive Bowl game on Sunday. The success of these teams certainly help to make everything merry and bright this Christmas.
The men's basketball team did their part yesterday, holding on to beat a determined but undermanned Long Beach State team. The thing I've enjoyed the most in the past few games is watching DeAndre Liggins begin to contribute to this team. I've always enjoyed an underdog story... Rocky, Hoosiers, Rudy, and now, DeAndre Liggins. We still don't know what kept the kid from playing in the first ten games or so, but at this point, it doesn't matter. The main thing is, the kid stuck around and now he's getting his chance. Good for him.
Kentucky plays Hartford next and then the Dirty Birds of The Ville... the one we're all waiting for. If Santa is rounding up a few last second gifts for Big Blue Nation, a pounding of the Cardinals would be swell. We don't have to yak about why this game is so important, because its all water under the bridge. At this point, we're just ready to see the game go down and have the results we've been dreaming of since Coach Cal came to Kentucky.
Another gift I'd love to have is a fourth Bowl win in as many years. Rich Brooks and Company had their ups and downs this year, but a Music City Bowl championship over Clemson would be a great finish and another positive step forward for next season. Santa... get it done.
Well, I've rambled on long enough. I just wanted to take this opportunity to say Merry Christmas to all of you guys. May it be Merry and Bright... and BLUE!
Christmas Eve Quick Clicks...
:: Parrish says UK joins Texas and KU as best teams in country
:: Katz says Freshmen must help Patterson lead Cats to Final Four
:: The Wildcats looking forward to spending Christmas with family
:: Kentucky.com's UK2K website relives the milestone victory
:: Trevathan and Cats ready for Bowl game on Sunday
More later...
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Cats hold on, remain perfect...
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - John Wall scored 19 points and No. 3 Kentucky pulled away in the second half for an 86-73 victory over weary Long Beach State on Wednesday.DeMarcus Cousins shook off early foul trouble to finish with 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Wildcats (13-0) continued their best start in more than 30 years.
For the first 30 minutes it looked like Kentucky had partied a little too hard after celebrating the program's 2,000th win on Monday night. The Wildcats led just 58-55 before using their size to outmuscle the 49ers down the stretch.
Stephan Gilling and Larry Anderson led the 49ers with 15 points each, but Long Beach State (6-6) looked tired in the final minutes barely 36 hours after dropping an overtime decision to Loyola Marymount and then flying crosscountry for a game that started at 10 a.m. PST.
The 49ers, however, didn't make it easy for the Wildcats to begin the march to 3,000.
Kentucky struggled with foul trouble in the first half, as Wall, Cousins and Patrick Patterson missed significant stretches after picking up two apiece. Even when the trio returned in the second, it took time for Kentucky to assume control. Long Beach even took the lead 46-44 on a putback by T.J. Robinson before the Wildcats started to wake up.
Eric Bledsoe, playing on a sore ankle, hit a 3-pointer to put Kentucky ahead, and Wall followed with a couple of free throws.
The 49ers rallied to tie it at 51 before Kentucky's defense started to wear on them.
Cousins, who received a technical foul less than 3 minutes into the game and was forced to sit out the rest of the first half, sparked a 12-4 surge with the kind of energetic play that has gotten him into trouble at times.
He scored five points during the burst and provided a defensive presence around the basket, forcing Long Beach to miss a handful of easy shots and go nearly 3 minutes without a field goal.
Long Beach went to a zone in hopes of saving its legs, but Wall exploited it for a 3-pointer that put Kentucky up 73-62, and Cousins followed with a layup. Darius Miller knocked down an open 3 to make it 78-64 and the Wildcats were finally in the clear.
Kentucky's start is the best since winning the first 14 games during the 1977-78 season. The Wildcats won the national title that year.
Patrick Patterson added 15 points and 11 rebounds while Bledsoe finished with 11 points and five assists. Robinson had 13 points and 15 rebounds for Long Beach State.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said Tuesday he was relieved the run to 2,000 wins was over, and he was happy to finally have a full complement of players after guard DeAndre Liggins finally worked his way out of trouble.
The Wildcats needed that depth in the first half with all the foul trouble, but it still wasn't pretty. Kentucky managed just 12 points over the final 8 minutes with their top three scorers watching from the sideline.
The game was Long Beach State's fourth against a ranked opponent. The previous three losses - to West Virginia, Clemson and Texas - were all by at least eight points.
Yet the 49ers hardly seemed intimidated playing their second game in barely 36 hours.
Long Beach State caught a redeye following an 85-80 overtime loss at Loyola Marymount on Monday night, arriving in Lexington around 9 a.m. EST Tuesday.
The 49ers didn't exactly look jet-lagged early. Gilling, who entered the game seventh in the nation in 3-pointers per game, knocked down three in the first half alone. The toughest may have been a contested shot from the top of the key that banked into the basket just before the shot clock expired as the teams headed to the half tied at 37.
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.
* 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.
Long Beach State Preview. ..
Today the Cats host the 49ers of Long Beach State. The 49ers made some early season noise when they beat UCLA in November. However, since then they are being outscored by 21 points a game and we realized that the Bruins just aren't very good this year.
I don't see this being much of a game unless there is some let down from the historic win on Monday. Austin will be at Rupp today giving live updates from the game. Until then here is ESPN's preview of today's match up.
I don't see this being much of a game unless there is some let down from the historic win on Monday. Austin will be at Rupp today giving live updates from the game. Until then here is ESPN's preview of today's match up.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
2,000 mark crossed... finally
Gomez here...There was a time during the dark days of Billy Clyde, and the rise of UNC's dominance under Roy Williams, that I honestly didn't think Kentucky would cross the 2,000 mark first. Kentucky was struggling against teams like Gardner Webb, VMI, and San Diego, while UNC was winning National Championships. That sort of disparity couldn't allow our lead in wins to last much longer.
Then, Todd and Barnhart pulled the trigger and sent Billy G packing, just days before getting what Dick Vitale called a "Slam Dunk Hire" in John Calipari. Critics came out and still lurk (mainly around the ESPN headquarters) but there's no denying what this man has done for Kentucky basketball in a very short amount of time. Let's take a closer look...
:: #1 recruiting class
:: Ranked #3 in both polls
:: 12-0 for the first time in over 20 years
:: Lead UK to the 2,000 mark before "the other team in blue"
Yes, Forde, Knight, and the rest of the ESPN mouthpieces can spout their hate, based on opinions and not facts, but you can't argue with what John Calipari has done for Kentucky basketball.
Congratulations to everyone who has ever worn Blue. 2,000 wins, baby... finally.
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Best. . .
Tonight was a historic night in Lexington as the Kentucky Wildcats turned what had been a week of negative press into an ESPN love fest. Cal's Cats knocked off the Dragons of Drexel, 88-44 in front of a rowdy crowd at Rupp Arena, with former UK assistant Jimmy Dykes and former UK All-American Jamal Mashubrn on the sidelines for ESPNU. In case you have been living under a rock, tonight's win was # 2000 in Kentucky's history, the first ever NCAA basketball program to record such a feat. The win also pushed Kentucky 12-0 for the first time since 1983-1984.
This week much of Kentucky's national attention turned vicious when Bobby Knight made the classless act of calling out Kentucky and Coach Calipari. The Calipari debate had subsided as of late, with most of the national press focusing on the improving Wildcats and it's freshman phenom, John Wall. Thanks to Bob Knight's remarks, the media had turned into full attack mode against Calipari and Kentucky. Tonight, with the landmark win, Kentucky and it's embattled Coach silenced critics, even if it's only for the moment.
As for the game itself, it was never in doubt as the hot shooting Cats took an early lead and eventually led by 51 points before Cal cleared his bench. Cousins looked especially focused and disciplined, pouring in 18 points and 13 rebounds against a physical, albeit outmatched front line for the Dragons. Patterson finished with 18 but only one board. Wall was his usual amazing self scoring 16 points with 7 dimes. Harris had a good night offensively finishing with 9 points. One of the story lines of the night was the emergence of Deandre Liggins. Liggins only scored 6 points but that was on two 3 pointers. He also played with tremendous energy and tough defense. He logged only 11 minutes, considering the first six weeks of the season, this has to be a huge boost for his confidence. Liggins can only help this team moving forward and proves just how deep and talented this roster is.
After the game the sold out crowd remained for a celebration which included remarks from Coach Cal, Coach Hall, Coach Rupp's son and Patrick Patterson. The Keightly family was also recognized. One of the better moments of the night was when Patterson told Hazel Kieghtly that her husband was missed and that he was sure Mr. Wildcat was looking down on them tonight. The festivities concluded with the playing of "My Old Kentucky Home," which tonight meant just a little more than it usually does. All in all, it was just a great and positive night for the program and Coach Cal. You can just feel that something special has started in Lexington for this team. Let Knight and the anti-UK media say what they will, but in the end we are still Kentucky and Kentucky is still the best.
This week much of Kentucky's national attention turned vicious when Bobby Knight made the classless act of calling out Kentucky and Coach Calipari. The Calipari debate had subsided as of late, with most of the national press focusing on the improving Wildcats and it's freshman phenom, John Wall. Thanks to Bob Knight's remarks, the media had turned into full attack mode against Calipari and Kentucky. Tonight, with the landmark win, Kentucky and it's embattled Coach silenced critics, even if it's only for the moment.
As for the game itself, it was never in doubt as the hot shooting Cats took an early lead and eventually led by 51 points before Cal cleared his bench. Cousins looked especially focused and disciplined, pouring in 18 points and 13 rebounds against a physical, albeit outmatched front line for the Dragons. Patterson finished with 18 but only one board. Wall was his usual amazing self scoring 16 points with 7 dimes. Harris had a good night offensively finishing with 9 points. One of the story lines of the night was the emergence of Deandre Liggins. Liggins only scored 6 points but that was on two 3 pointers. He also played with tremendous energy and tough defense. He logged only 11 minutes, considering the first six weeks of the season, this has to be a huge boost for his confidence. Liggins can only help this team moving forward and proves just how deep and talented this roster is.
After the game the sold out crowd remained for a celebration which included remarks from Coach Cal, Coach Hall, Coach Rupp's son and Patrick Patterson. The Keightly family was also recognized. One of the better moments of the night was when Patterson told Hazel Kieghtly that her husband was missed and that he was sure Mr. Wildcat was looking down on them tonight. The festivities concluded with the playing of "My Old Kentucky Home," which tonight meant just a little more than it usually does. All in all, it was just a great and positive night for the program and Coach Cal. You can just feel that something special has started in Lexington for this team. Let Knight and the anti-UK media say what they will, but in the end we are still Kentucky and Kentucky is still the best.
Monday Quick Clicks...
:: The truth is Calipari's best defense against Knight and other critics:: Cal's 2011 class might be even better than 2009
:: Kenny Walker talks about the Liggins saga
:: Coach Cal to be the subject of Fox Sports 1-hr Special
:: Drexel's Flint says Cal different than public's perception
:: Knight is the pot calling the kettle black
More later...
Slow Around Here...
Gomez here...
I can't help but notice that things have slowed down a bit around here, and many of you might be wondering why. The Bobby Knight speech, Kentucky moving towards 2,000 wins, and an upcoming Bowl Game would have most of you thinking that this would be a fever pitch week around here. And in most circumstances, it would be. However, this being a holiday week, most of us are busy preparing for Santa Claus and family gatherings of celebration.
This website is a labor of love for all of us here, and we write when we have time, which is hard to come by this week. Just be patient with us and check back as often as you can. We'll post any breaking news and we'll continue to post everyday... just not as often as we normally do.
Merry Christmas! (More later... )
I can't help but notice that things have slowed down a bit around here, and many of you might be wondering why. The Bobby Knight speech, Kentucky moving towards 2,000 wins, and an upcoming Bowl Game would have most of you thinking that this would be a fever pitch week around here. And in most circumstances, it would be. However, this being a holiday week, most of us are busy preparing for Santa Claus and family gatherings of celebration.
This website is a labor of love for all of us here, and we write when we have time, which is hard to come by this week. Just be patient with us and check back as often as you can. We'll post any breaking news and we'll continue to post everyday... just not as often as we normally do.
Merry Christmas! (More later... )
Cats go after 2,000 wins mark
Tonight, Kentucky tries for college basketball history... the first program ever to win 2,000 games. The Drexel Dragons is their opponent, and they come into Rupp with a 6-5 record.However, it should be noted that 4 of their 5 losses were with margins less than 10, and they battled Villanova tough until a big second half run left them too far behind. With that said, Kentucky is big favorite in this contest. The game is at 6 PM CST on ESPNU.
More later...
Saturday, December 19, 2009
A Closer Look at Bobby Knight
Bobby Knight not only called out John Calipari with his recent comments during a speech in Indiana, he called out all of Big Blue Nation. While our Coach took the high road, the rest of us know better. How Mr. Knight thinks he can be a mouth piece for integrity is beyond me, and I decided to spend a little time talking about why I feel that way...:: It was reported (although years after the incident) that Knight choked and punched IU's longtime sports information director, Kit Klingelhofer, in the 1970s, over a news release that upset the coach.
:: During the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Knight was accused of assaulting a police officer while coaching the US Basketball team before a practice session. He was later convicted in absentia to a six-month jail sentence, but extradition efforts by the Puerto Rican government were not successful.
:: In 1985, Knight threw a chair across the court to protest a referee's call during a game against the rival Purdue Boilermakers. Knight was suspended for one game and received two years' probation from the Big Ten Conference.
:: After being called for "...the cheapest technical foul I ever received" (Knight: My Story, pg. 292) during an NCAA regional tournament game against LSU in March 1987, Knight slammed his fist down on a telephone at the scorer's table while complaining to the head referee. After the tournament, Indiana University was fined $10,000, and Knight received a reprimand.
:: During an exhibition game against the Soviet national team in November 1987, Knight ended the game by pulling his team off the floor half way through regulation. Knight had received two technical fouls for leaving the coach's box, while the Soviet coach had received none for committing the same offense. Enraged at the non-calls against the Soviet coach, Knight ordered his team off the floor after he was expelled, effectively ending the game, which the Hoosiers were losing at the time.
:: Women's groups nationwide were outraged by Knight's comments during an April, 1988 interview with Connie Chung in which he said, "I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it." Knight's comment was in reference to an Indiana basketball game in which he felt the referees were making poor calls against the Hoosiers.
:: In 1992 prior to the NCAA regional finals, controversy erupted after Knight playfully mock whipped Indiana players Calbert Cheaney and Pat Graham during practice. The bullwhip had been given to Knight as a gift from his team, however, several black leaders complained at the racial connotations of the act (Cheaney is black.) (Knight: My Story, pg. 297.)
:: During a game against Notre Dame in 1993, Knight allegedly kicked his son, Pat, who was then a player, after he made a bad play on the court. Later, both father and son claimed that Knight had really kicked the chair his son was sitting in.
:: At Michigan State in 1994, Knight "head-butted" Indiana player Sherron Wilkerson, who had just sat down after coming out of the game. In his book, "Knight: My Story," Knight blamed the contact on severe back pain he was experiencing at the time, which flared as he bent over to speak to Wilkerson.
:: During a speech at Assembly Hall, Knight said "When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass." Real classy.
:: Knight was shown berating an NCAA volunteer at a 1995 post-game press conference following a 65–60 loss to Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament held in Boise, Idaho. The volunteer, Rance Pugmire, informed the press that Knight would not be attending the press conference, when in reality, Knight was running a few minutes late and had planned on attending per NCAA rules. Knight was shown saying: "You've only got two people that are going to tell you I'm not going to be here. One is our SID [Sports Information Director], and the other is me. Who the hell told you I wasn't going to be here? I'd like to know. Do you have any idea who it was?...Who?...They were from Indiana, right?...No, they weren't from Indiana, and you didn't get it from anybody from Indiana, did you?...No, I—I'll handle this the way I want to handle it now that I'm here. You (EXPLETIVE) it up to begin with. Now just sit there or leave. I don't give (EXPLETIVE) what you do. Now back to the game."
:: Former IU player Neil Reed alleged that Knight had grabbed him by the neck in a choking manner during a 1997 practice. A videotape of the incident was shown on CNN.
:: On February 19, 2000, Clarence Doninger, Knight's boss, alleged to have been physically threatened by the coach during a confrontation after a game.
:: An IU investigation inquired about an allegation in which Knight berated and physically intimidated a university secretary, once throwing a potted plant in anger, showering her with glass and debris. The University later asked the coach to issue an apology to the secretary.
:: It was alleged that Knight attacked assistant coach Ron Felling, throwing him out of a chair after overhearing him criticizing the basketball program in a phone conversation.
:: On September 8, 2000, IU freshman Kent Harvey told campus police Knight grabbed him roughly by the arm and berated him for speaking to the coach disrespectfully. Knight admitted putting his hand on the student's arm and lecturing him on civility, but denied that he was rough or raised his voice. The coach was fired from IU two days later.
:: Two days after Knight was fired from Indiana University, Jeremy Schaap of ESPN interviewed him and discussed his time at Indiana. Towards the end of the interview, Knight talked about his son, Patrick, who had also been dismissed by the university, wanting an opportunity to be a head coach. Schaap, thinking that Knight was finished, attempted to move on to another subject, but Knight insisted on continuing about his son. Schaap repeatedly tried to ask another question when Knight shifted the conversation to Schaap's style of interviewing, notably chastising him about interruptions. Knight then commented, "You've got a long way to go to be as good as your dad (referring to Schaap's father, Dick Schaap)!"
:: In March 2006, a student's heckling at Baylor University resulted in Knight having to be restrained by a police officer. The incident was not severe enough to warrant any action from the Big 12 Conference.
:: On November 13, 2006, Knight was shown allegedly hitting player Michael Prince under the chin to get him to make eye contact. Knight didn't comment on the incident afterwards and as of yet hasn't done so.
:: On October 21, 2007, James Simpson of Lubbock, Texas, accused Knight of firing a shotgun in his direction after he yelled at Knight and another man for hunting too close to his home. Knight denied the allegations. An argument between the two men was recorded via camera phone and aired later on television.
There are just a few of the many complaints that have been made about Knight over the years, which leads me (and anyone else that cares to join) to say "Mr. Knight... SHUT IT."
Cats take care of business...
It wasn't all that pretty for much of the game, but Kentucky used a big second half run to finally put away the scrappy Austin Peay team, 90-69.Patrick Patterson had his usual workman like game, scoring 21 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins scored 19 and pulled down 8 boards, as well. John Wall scored 17 point and had 6 assists. DeAndre Liggins did play 12 minutes and scored 2 points, so it seems he's in fact out of the doghouse for the time being.
Kentucky improves to 11-0 and is only one win away from 2,000. They'll set out to achieve that goal on Monday, when the Cats host Drexel at Rupp Arena at 6 PM. The game will be carried on ESPNU.
Cats return to action...
After a two-week absence, the Wildcats return to the friendly confines of Rupp Arena, where the Cats host Austin Peay. Kentucky is looking to go 11-0 and inch one more game closer to the epic 2,000 mark.
Game Day Central at ukathletics.com
Make your predictions, and then share your in-game thoughts, in the comments section.
Game Day Central at ukathletics.com
Make your predictions, and then share your in-game thoughts, in the comments section.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Cal's Cats: Game coverage and more...
I'm hearing several things on TV coverage for tomorrow, so you will have to check it out to see.
447 on dish alternate channel has it listed, but when I try to put a timer on it, it says it is blacked out in my area and I have heard other people say the same thing. One person called Dish and they were told it will be on channel 421...I checked my guide and I don't have a 421, it goes from 420 to 422...so I don't know what the deal is with that.
Insight cable it is supposed to be on channel 17
Direct channel 643 CSNa
It is available on espn360 for anyone who has that option
Cox Digital cable I'm told has it on, was not given the channel number
If anyone knows what has happened with justin.tv/funchester site let me know. If you currently go there it says "Content from this channel removed at the request of the copyright holder."
I know this has been a great site to many UK fans in the past who do not have 360 access so if anyone knows if the site is moved or what has happened be sure to let me know.
You can also buy the game on espn full court I believe.
-The biggest UK news today was Bobby Knight saying Cal shouldn't be coaching after what has happened at his two last stops. The irony of Knight calling out any coach can only be laughed at.
Cal took the high road and mentoned how he took his staff down to watch a Texas Tech practice once and was able to add things to his ddmo. Despite disagreeing with his remark it doesn't downgrade Cal's thoughts on Knight's ability to coach. He is smart and knows if he says anything negative it will just because a "statement war" between the two. The media will go back to Knight and ask for his response on Cal's response and on and on and on. If there is anything the media wouldn't like about Cal it's lack of ability to give them "drama filled" remarks.
-It seems the Knight race is between UCONN, Kansas, UK and Florida is in clear fourth place at this point. Things could change and Knight seems to be in no hurry to decide but if he decided today Florida would not be the choice despite making his cut of four schools. Florida seemed to heat up with him when there was talk of Rivers decommiting and also now that Florida has a commitment from five star guard Bradley Beal.
-Remember the name Moses Abraham, he is a 6'9 2011 recruit from Nigeria. A recruit who is hard to find a whole lot on but UK is starting to show notice.
Go Cats!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Another Reason to Hate Bob Knight
He was one of the all time great basketball minds and also (to borrow a term from Coach Cal) in the Jagoff Hall of Fame. I could write for days about how big of a prick Bob Knight is, but I will save that for another day. I do wonder why Knight would single out Kentucky's coach, and not mention his protege Coach K in the same breath. Link: Selective Memory?
Thursday Quick Clicks...
:: CBS's Gregg Doyel wants UK to go undefeated:: UK, John Wall has nation's attention
:: Cal tells Katz that UK still has lots of work to do
:: Coach Rich Brooks earns Coach of the Year honors
:: Like us, Vaught wonders about Liggins's status
:: Vitale on Cal's first 10 games at Kentucky
More later...
Will DeAndre get his chance soon?
DeAndre Liggins has been a man of mystery since arriving at Kentucky last season. Heralded out of high school and conveted by college recruiters, Liggins was the future at the point... or so we thought.After an up and down first season under Billy Gillisipie, Liggins survived the off season under new coach John Calipari as he sifted the roster to his liking. Considering that Cal had tried to recruit him to Memphis, there was some optimism among UK fans that Liggins would be a good fit in the new DDMO. Yet, after 10 games (12 counting the exhibitions), Liggins has played a whopping 40 seconds on the floor, and we still know very little about what this kid can do in a real game situation.
There have been mixed signals from Coach Cal during the first 10 games, so no one knows for sure what's going on. When asked about Liggins during an early season post-game press conference, Cal said simply "I don't throw kids under the bus," leading most to believe that it was a discipline issue relating to things like poor grades or consistently breaking team rules. Then, during a call in show with Tom Leach, Coach hinted that Liggins had not performed in practice or that his attitude might need adjusting; however, just as before, Cal stopped short of any real details and then changed the subject. There were even rumors circulating that Liggins would red-shirt this season, in the hopes that there would be more playing time for him after the departure of John Wall and Ramon Harris.
Then on Saturday, Liggins was on the floor, and that was very revealing as to his status. His problems can't be from grades because finals are this week, so the semester grades were not finalized last weekend. Playing a brief moment also brushed away thoughts of possible red-shirting. Then, on Monday's call in show, Cal said "we are about to find out in the new week or so if Liggins is going to be able to contribute to this team."
In the end, it sounds like a basketball issue. Even though Liggins made the cut in the off season, there must still be some doubt in Cal's mind as to whether or not he'll be able to contribute anything significant to this team. If that's the case, we might see Liggins transfer to another program.
Of course, all of this is just guess work. The only thing we know about Liggins for sure is that he's been on the bench... and not under a bus. Let's hope we learn more soon.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Just a little Christmas Jingle
Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful;
But The Wildcats Are So Delightful;
And All The Louisville Fans Should Know;
Ten-and-Oh, Ten-and-Oh, Ten-and-Oh;
And They're Not Showing Signs Of Stopping;
Two-Thousand Wins We'll Soon Be Topping;
While Beating Every Top Ten Foe;
Ten-and-Oh, Ten-and-Oh, Ten-and-Oh
Survey Says...!
Gomez here...We asked you guys what game you want to see added to Kentucky's schedule, and the results weren't that surprising...
1.) Duke 54%
2.) Kansas 24%
3.) UCLA 15%
4.) Minnesota 13%
5.) Memphis 10%
5.) Michigan State 10%
6.) UConn 8%
Who doesn't want to see Kentucky and Duke play more often? Dating back to the 1978 National Title game, the contests between these two schools have been classics (for the most part). Of course, the 1992 Regional Final (that featured Laettner's playful stomp to the chest of Aminu Timberlake that should have got him bounced from the game, but didn't, so he was still in the game to hit the buzzer beater to win in overtime) is considered by most as the best college basketball game of all time.
Not to be outdone in the minds of Kentucky fans is the 1998 Regional Final game, which saw Kentucky battle back from 17 down with less than ten minutes to go to win the game, allowing them to advance to the Final Four and eventually win their 7th National Title. I would love to see Kentucky and Duke agree to a four year series with two games in Rupp and two games in Cameron. That would be alot of fun.
A MUST READ...
Want to read a UNC fan's perspective of what it was like watching John Wall and the Wildcats beat Carolina in Rupp Arena? Its a great read... CLICK HERE.
MORE LATER...
MORE LATER...
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Competition
COMPETITION: A test of skill or ability; a contest.
Never before have these words rung more true than on the current University of Kentucky men's basketball team.
Last season, we saw players such as Perry Stevenson get called to action, and despite his limited abilities on the court, he had moments of greatness (maybe I had a slight indulgance w/ that wording). After a season that saw him average nearly 8 points, 6 boards, and 2 blocks per game, while playing nearly 30 minutes each contest (and thank the Lord we had him, or it could have/would have been much worse), he has now been relegated to the bench.
Is it because he suddenly lost a great deal of the abilities he showed last season? Maybe he took for granted the fact that he had an easy ticket to starting at PF/C? Did he eat too many Pop Tarts? Any and all of these are possible, I suppose... but also highly unlikely.
Instead, he is having to COMPETE for his minutes. Not compete against a floundering walk-on who got the start for sheer spite. No, not just a warm body, but some of the best talent in this year's national freshman class. I'll be the first to admit that I've yet to become too comfortable w/ Big Cuz, but when you can't step onto the court over a TRUE FRESHMAN, who is 7 months removed from high school, that implies a HUGE disparity in talent and ability.
Thank Goodness we now have players that make things like this so obvious.
The RPI?
I'm guessing that the equation used to determine the RPI looks something like this...
2 Kansas St. 8-1
3 West Virginia 7-0
4 St. John's 8-1
5 Texas 8-0
6 Temple 8-2
7 Purdue 9-0
8 New Mexico 10-0
9 Connecticut 6-2
10 Syracuse 10-0
11 Washington 6-2
12 Southern Miss 3-1
13 Georgetown 8-0
14 Villanova 9-1
15 California 6-3
16 Texas A&M 7-2
17 Western Carolina 8-1
18 William & Mary 6-2
19 Kansas 9-0
20 VA Commonwealth 6-2
21 Kentucky 10-0
22 Tulsa 6-1
23 Missouri State 9-0
24 UNLV 6-1
25 Cornell 7-2
Aren't you glad that College Basketball crowns their champs differently than football? The RPI might very well be a valid tool used in the decision process for Selection Sunday, but their rankings are always a little wacky. Take for instance Kentucky's 21st position against UConn's, a team they beat head to head on a neutral court. Also, look at some of the other teams ranked higher than both Kentucky and Kansas... just crazy.
Anyway, it doesn't really count for anything except for bloggers to complain about. Discuss below.
Because the latest RPI rankings are almost laughable...
2 Kansas St. 8-1
3 West Virginia 7-0
4 St. John's 8-1
5 Texas 8-0
6 Temple 8-2
7 Purdue 9-0
8 New Mexico 10-0
9 Connecticut 6-2
10 Syracuse 10-0
11 Washington 6-2
12 Southern Miss 3-1
13 Georgetown 8-0
14 Villanova 9-1
15 California 6-3
16 Texas A&M 7-2
17 Western Carolina 8-1
18 William & Mary 6-2
19 Kansas 9-0
20 VA Commonwealth 6-2
21 Kentucky 10-0
22 Tulsa 6-1
23 Missouri State 9-0
24 UNLV 6-1
25 Cornell 7-2
Aren't you glad that College Basketball crowns their champs differently than football? The RPI might very well be a valid tool used in the decision process for Selection Sunday, but their rankings are always a little wacky. Take for instance Kentucky's 21st position against UConn's, a team they beat head to head on a neutral court. Also, look at some of the other teams ranked higher than both Kentucky and Kansas... just crazy.
Anyway, it doesn't really count for anything except for bloggers to complain about. Discuss below.
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