Sunday Night Notes...

As you might have noticed, Sundays are pretty slow around here, except of course, on those rare Sundays when Kentucky has a game, like next Sunday when Kentucky hosts Florida for Senior Day. With that said, here's a few notes to the end day with...

:: Random first... I love these shoes on the left. They wore by the Wildcats of the mid-80's, and I love to see them broke out for a game at some point. Now, I realize this is most likely not going to happen but it would be cool if it did.

:: Purdue lost today to Michigan State today, ending a weekend of upsets. With the top three teams all losing this weekend, and with Syracuse's convincing victory over Villanova, its almost certain we'll have a new team take over the #1 ranking when the polls are released tomorrow.

:: Little brother pulled off a solid win at UConn today, upsetting UConn's senior day activities. The loss today probably knocks UConn off the bubble and into NIT territory, but helps the Cardinals solidify their NCAA resume with a solid road conference win.

:: Speaking of the NIT, it might have a SEC flavor this year. Lunardi has predicted that Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Florida will most likely be three of the last teams out of the Big Dance, and could be joined by a number of other SEC teams hovering around the .500 mark. Right now, Kentucky, Vandy and Tennessee are the only locks on Selection Sunday.

:: Kentucky travels to Georgia on Wednesday in what is now a big game for Kentucky's hunt for a #1 seed. Georgia's record doesn't indicate how tough of a team they are, especially at home. So far at home this season, the Bulldogs have already knocked off Illinois, Saint Louis, Georgia Tech, Vandy and Tennessee; so that should remind us all just how tough this game on Wednesday could be. We'll have lots more to share on this game as we get closer to game day.

That's all for now, check back tomorrow and all week for all your UK news and views.

USA vs Canada.. Yea, I'm Talking About Hockey

I am getting geared up for the gold medal showdown between the US and Canadian hockey teams. If you are anything like me, you cringe every time the NHL is talked about at any length on Sportscenter. I have never played hockey, I don't understand all the rules, and I could care less about the NHL, but that never stops me from getting sucked into Olympic Hockey every four years. If you have followed the Olympic hockey tournament, you have been rewarded with great drama and an extremely intense competition.

I can't help but draw the comparison between Canada's passion for hockey, and the Bluegrass State's affinity for college basketball. Most of the countries sports fans only watch college basketball for a couple weeks a year in March, where we Kentuckians live and breath the Cats year round. Hockey is arguably even lower in American sports hierarchy than college basketball, but for these past two weeks they have been on center stage, similar to the NCAA tournament, and they haven't disappointed.

I have seen the complaints about the officiating of yesterday's game, but I think we are missing something. For most of the game, the Vols were the aggressor. Officiating and fortune almost always goes in favor of the more aggressive team, and the Cats weren't able to match that intensity for the first 30 minutes of the game. You are going to see that same storyline for today's border battle with the Canucks. When the Canadians were stunned by the American squad earlier this tournament, it resulted in a more focused and intense squad their next three games. That same 'back against the wall' mentality is something the Vols had going for them yesterday, and the Cats late surge wasn't enough to pull out the win. We can only hope that the Cats use this loss as a lesson, and come back as strong as the Canadians have in this Olympic Hockey Tournament.

With all that praise for Canada's love for their hockey, I hope we make them choke on it. GO USA!!

Misery loves company...

Misery loves company, and folks, we we had plenty of it today. While Kentucky certainly lost a tough one this afternoon, they were just one of several ranked teams to lose on a day that ESPN creatively named "Upset Saturday."

Here is a list of the ranked teams that lost on Saturday...

#1 Kansas (lost to Oklahoma St.)
#2 Kentucky (Lost to Tennessee)
#8 Villanova (Lost to Syracuse)
#11 BYU (Lost to New Mexico)
#13 Georgetown (Lost to Notre Dame)
#21 Texas (Lost to Texas A&M)

As for the Kentucky game, here's what Cal had to say...



And here is what Wall and Cousins thought about the loss...



Overall, I agree with Cal and think this could be a loss that will actually help this team a great deal moving forward, similar to the loss Kentucky had in 1996 to Mississippi State in the SEC tournament, or the loss to Ole Miss in 1998. Both of those losses came late in the season, and helped Kentucky gain focus before the NCAA tournament. Of course (in case you forgot) Kentucky won national titles in both of those seasons.

Of course, the jury is still out, and I'm not predicting a national title just yet, but I certainly wouldn't rule one out just because we lost to a ranked opponent on the road. The bigger question is whether or not Kentucky will find their outside shooting touch again. This team hasn't been the greatest outside shooting team all year, but they've went from average to just plain horrible. It will be hard to advance to the Final Four (much less win it all) shooting 2 from 22 from outside the arc.

Still, we have a great coaching staff and tremendous talent and I believe they'll find what's broken and fix it before the SEC and NCAA tourneys.

Had Kentucky won, we would have been ranked #1 because of the Kansas loss at Oklahoma State, and right now, I think our young team is better off playing with a chip on their shoulder and with something to prove. With this loss, our Cats should be hungry moving forward, and that will help us on the home stretch.

Anyway, that's my two cents... what's yours? Talk about it in the comments section below...

I didn't know he had it in him...

Gomez here...

After the game today, I was shocked to hear that CBS's Seth Davis was very complimentary of the Wildcats despite their loss to the Vols. I'm paraphrasing (because I'm too lazy to back up the DVR) but he basically said this: "I'm impressed with Kentucky. They had a chance to lay down when they were down by 19 in the second half, but they battled back. This is a team still very much in the mix for a national title."

It was nice to hear him say that, because even though we're all bummed out about the loss, we're still in pretty good shape. 27-2? Not too shabby, folks. If you don't believe that, try to think back about where our program was this time last year.

It's all about perspective, people.

I Don't Know What To Title This....

I have never in my life seen so much offensive holding since football season and bogus charge calls in my life. If you saw what happened in the post you could assume that a few of the UT players learned something in jail. (I'll let you figure it out.)

We played like crap until about ten minutes left in the game. I won't deny that. Tony Green however did not disappoint his reputation. I mean this with all of my heart, if I had the opportunity to kick him and the other two officials squarely in the junk with a steel-toed boot, I would be kicking before you could get a catch and shoot off. I dislike him as much as you possibly can without outright hating him.

*Note: This post was not approved by anyone at BBNR and I won't be upset if it's removed but I think I speak for the masses.

Brick City: Cats fall to Vols in Knoxville

Just one game removed from avenging their only loss of the season, the Cats took another trip to "brick city" by going a nasty 2 for 22 from 3 point range, causing them to fall to Tennessee in Knoxville.

The Vols were composed and well prepared for the game, and Kentucky had no answer on either side of the floor. Kentucky failed to hit open shots all day, while Tennessee streaked down the floor for open lay ups and back door cuts on their missed shots.

Kentucky wasn't without their spurts though, coming back from a 19 point deficit to tie the score at 65 behind DeMarcus Cousins' 15 points and 14 rebounds. However, Tennessee scored the last 9 points of the game to win 74-65.

Kentucky is now 27-2 overall and 12-2 in the SEC. As long as they can win the remaining games on the schedule, they should be okay in the hunt for a #1 seed. Still, Kentucky has to take care of business moving forward or a slip to the #2 line is not out of the picture.

I'll have more to say about this game later... gotta let it soak in first. Stay tuned.

UK vs. Tennessee Talk...

Kentucky is playing Tennessee right now (just in case you slept in), so turn it on and talk about in the comments section below...

Cal talks Tennessee...

Some Friday Night Notes and Links...

:: Tomorrow at 11 AM CST, Kentucky takes on Tennessee (in the house Pat built) on CBS. There was some concern from the Knoxville faithful that injured Wayne Chism would not be ready to play, but Pearl said today that Chism will play despite missing practice today.

:: Patrick Patterson's resurgence couldn't have come at a better time because Kentucky's outside shot has gone icy cold. When the shots aren't falling outside, and the driving lanes are closed, its nice to have someone besides DeMarcus to pick up the slack.

:: All this talk about the mass exodus from Lexington to the NBA might actually be a bit premature. Cal said that he expects Cousins to be back for another season, and that Wall has hinted about wanting to stay too. Of course, we don't recommend you holding your breath on this, but still, it could happen.

:: Cal said that winning the SEC means nothing. ESPN put up a little spot about it, because I guess the World Wide Leader thought it was odd for a coach to say something so bluntly. However, Cal's at Kentucky now, not Mississippi State or Georgia, and in Kentucky, national championships are all that matters. Clearly, Cal knows this and wasn't afraid to say it. I'm not really sure why ESPN thought it was headline material anyway.

:: If Kentucky wins tomorrow, they'll clinch their first SEC title since 2005. That's quite a draught for a Kentucky program that has dominated the SEC since its inception. While Cal is probably right that it doesn't mean a whole lot outside of helping Kentucky to a #1 seed, I'm still glad Kentucky is back to putting the beat down on the SEC instead of it being the other way around. How about you?

:: It's an early game tomorrow, so we'll be here all day to talk about it before, during, and after the game, staring early in the morning. So, join us for all the Big Blue fun.

Jimmy Dykes previews UK-UT rematch...

ESPN breaks down possible #1 seeds...

Friday Morning Notes...

Gomez here...

Its Friday again, and I'm pretty happy about that. But we have lots to talk about, so lets dive in...

:: Kentucky reminded South Carolina who's the boss (Tony and Angela were not in attendance, but Magic and Big Ben were) by putting a beat down on the Gamecocks, 82-61. To be honest, and fair I guess, I have to admit the final margin of victory didn't really point to how competitive most of the game was. However, a late 13-0 spurt put them away, and gave us the blow-out victory we all wanted over South Carolina.

:: The Player of the Game was Patrick Patterson, who had 23 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals. We've all been waiting on the real Patrick Patterson to show up, and I think he finally has folks. He's established himself as the meat and potatoes of this team. We're certainly a more dangerous team with him playing this way, so let's hope he keeps this up.

:: There's an interesting competition brewing for that fifth spot in the rotation. While Darius Miller, Darnall Dodson and DeAndre Liggins have all been fighting for that block of playing time, Liggins had somewhat emerged as the guy to come off the bench with a spark and play the majority of the playing time at that position. However, Miller made his case for playing time last night, finishing with 7 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Liggins had another solid game, but also spent a great deal of time on the bench watching Miller. Meanwhile, Dodson was only played sparingly. It'll be interesting to see how this shakes out, but it was great seeing Miller perform at a higher level.

:: ESPN's Jimmy "Violent Cuts" Dykes said Kentucky's 3 point shooting might keep them from winning an 8th national championship, and as much as I hate to admit it, he could be right. Kentucky has yet to see a 3 point shooter emerge and remain consistent. While Patterson and Liggins have shot the ball well from beyond the arc, they're not in the position to shoot that many. Meanwhile, Wall, Bledsoe, Miller and Dodson have all gone very cold from long range. Case in point, that bunch was only 1 for 8 last night from 3 point land. No sense in daydreaming about how unbelievable this team would be with Jodie Meeks, but seeing these three point shots brick off towards the rafters on a consistent basis, you can't help but wonder.

:: The Cats have a quick turnaround now and must be ready to play Tennessee on Saturday afternoon. Playing the late game on Thursday followed by the early game on Saturday might actually help the young Cats get ready for the upcoming tournaments, but I sorta think our boys might come out flat on Saturday. Let's hope I'm wrong. The Lady Cats got beat last night at Tennessee, so lets hope that's not some type of premonition of what's to come.

Well, that's all for now, check back later for the goods.

Cats earn revenge over Gamecocks...

Patrick Patterson agonized for a month over the one blemish on No. 2 Kentucky's otherwise perfect season - a loss to South Carolina on a night when he had just five points, his worst outing by far.

"It was just pitiful on my part," he said. "No energy, no offensive presence, no defensive presence. I was extremely frustrated."

Determined not to repeat it in Thursday night's rematch with the Gamecocks, Patterson responded with a season-high 23 points - many of them in the clutch - and Kentucky coasted to an 82-61 victory.

The Wildcats (27-1, 12-1) need just one more victory or a Vanderbilt loss to clinch at least a share of their 44th Southeastern Conference championship. Vanderbilt beat Georgia 96-94 in overtime Thursday, delaying the Kentucky celebration for at least another game.

Like its last meeting with Kentucky a month ago, South Carolina (14-13, 5-8) proved a pesky opponent at times. However, Kentucky had too much offensive firepower, going on a late 13-0 run that turned what was then a 10-point lead into a blowout.

Defensively, Kentucky gave up 26 points to the SEC's leading scorer, Devan Downey, but little else.

"When you have Patrick playing the way he's playing, it takes the heat off everyone else," coach John Calipari said. "I'm so proud of him and what he's doing. We need him to be this."

READ MORE

Liveblog: UK vs. South Carolina

Yet another John Wall Dance video...

Survey Says...!

Gomez here...

As we pass the long hours to gametime, I thought I'd break down the past couple of polls we've had here at BBNR. The participation in our polls has continued to increase, and we certainly appreciate you getting involved. Here's what you had to say...

A couple of weeks ago, just before the new uniforms were revealed, we asked if you were in favor of black away jerseys. I have to admit, I was surprised by the results...

1.) No, only blue! (54%)
2.) Yes! (35%)
3.) I don't care (10%)

I really liked the black jerseys that we wore last year, and would love to see something similar to those worn again in the future. I wouldn't be in favor of wearing those exclusively, but the occasional black jersey would be pretty cool. However, most of you think we should stay with the traditional blue, and that's fine with me too. Like I said, if I had to chose one or the other, I'd go blue, but every now and then, a little black wouldn't hurt anything.

The other question we asked was somewhat of a no-brainer: Who should win the SEC coach of the year award? Here were the top 5...

1.) John Calipari (90%)

2.) John Pelphrey (4%)

3.) Kevin Stallings (3%)

4.) Mark Fox (2%)
5.) Bruce Pearl (1%)

Even though we're a Kentucky site (and therefore biased towards the blue) its hard to argue against what Cal has accomplished during his first season at Kentucky. Just one year removed from a failed NIT bid, Kentucky is 26-1, ranked #2, and positioned for a number one seed. No coach in the SEC has anything near that kind of turn around, so I fully expect Cal to win the big awards at season's end.

Keeping our blue bias going, we ranked Pelphrey second. We might have been able to make a case for Pelphrey's work a week or two ago, but now, the Hawgs have lost 3 of their last 4, including a loss to lowly LSU, and Pelphrey is once again on the hot seat. I hate to say it, because I love the guy, but he might be on his way out, and without another solid run, has little chance to win the coach of the year award.

Anyway, that's what you had to say about all of that, and now, we've a got a new poll for you to vote on... so let your voice be heard, Big Blue Nation!

The John Wall Dance is out of control...

Yo homies... enjoy these phat beats, which feature one Mr. John Wall of the University of Kentucky. You may not be a fan of rap, but the words really speak to me...

Gameday Notes: It's a trap!

I'm taking a break from my insanely busy lifestyle to give you the rare midday update. I choked down my lunch, and I'll spend the next few minutes sharing with you a few random tidbits, instead of enjoying my rare free time during the day...

First of all, let me address Gomez's comments below. We can't all be paperboys that live in our parents' basement, blogging and playing Xbox all day long, except for those few hours each morning that we spend throwing papers at old men's driveways because they haven't figured out that they can get the same information for free on the interwebs. I'm not buying this whole "private government" job scam. You're lazy, which is what makes you such a great blogger, and we love you for it. Now, on to a few notes...

In case you were wondering about Admiral Ackbar over there, I've included the picture because A.) I love Star Wars and B.) there's a grass roots effort to make Admiral Ackbar the on field/court mascot at Ole Miss home games. This because Ackbar was an integral part of the Rebel Alliance: you know, the group of heroes that lead to the eventual defeat of the evil galactic empire in The Return of the Jedi? Anyway, with his track record in rebellious efforts, he's an obvious choice to replace the racial insensitive plantation owner that used to have the gig. Of course, as any true Star Wars fan knows, Admiral Ackbar would later be charged with treason and kicked out of the alliance, so I have to warn the Ole Miss faithful... IT'S A TRAP! Okay, all overly geek chatter pushed aside, I think he would be a cool choice for the Ole Miss program. Here's hoping that George Lucas gives the green light.

Tonight, there's supposedly a big revenge game on tap, and our favorite beat writer, Austin Martin, will be in attendance. We'll be having a Live Blog during the game, so put the women and children to bed and join us for what should be a great discussion during the game. I hope Downey scores about 2 points, those as a result of technical foul shots because Boogie drop kicked a Cock for his over the top trash talk. Of course, I'm kidding... but seriously, I hope that happens because it would make for some stimulating fun on the Live Blog front.

The game will be on ESPN 2 at 8 PM CST and Dick Vitale will be there to scream his nonsense from the sideline. I for one am looking forward to that, because I love Vitale, and Vitale loves Cal and the Cats. In a season where haters have been out in full force (I'm looking at you Pat Forde and Bob Knight) to share their displeasure about all things Kentucky, its nice to hear perhaps the most well known voice in all of college basketball (repeatedly) say that Cal is the perfect fit for the job, and that John Wall is the greatest thing since Viagra. I'm not sure if Erin Andrews will be there or not, but Austin, you might want to pack some extra hair gel, just in case.

I know it breaks Austin's heart, but he'll be missing another big Kentucky game tonight, because the Lady Cats will be taking on Pat Summit and the Lady Vols in the Knox. This would be a huge upset victory for the Wildcats, and I'm sure I'll be sending constant text messages to Austin, just so he'll stay caught up on his real true love... women's basketball. Seriously though, we wish Mitchell and his gals the best of luck tonight and hope for a Thursday night sweep.

Well, that's all for now... check back later for more good stuff from the guys that are good at giving out stuff.

Thursday Morning Stuff...

Gomez here...

Austin is on his way to Lexington so he can cover the big game from Rupp Arena's press row. Now, I'll have to admit that seeing Michael and Austin get press credentials to all these big games is a little depressing, especially while I grind it out on here from day to day. I mean, everyone knows Gomez is the heart and soul of this blog! Still, its nice to know BBNR is representing at some of the biggest games of the year, so I'll try to keep my whining to myself.

Anyway, since Austin will be up there in the thick of things, he's agreed to host a Live Blog for us to join along in. Just come back here a few minutes before game-time and join the discussion and then share your comments throughout the game. If you're new to a "live blog," don't worry; its basically just a glorified chat room, and you'll pick up on it very quickly. Invite anyone you know to join the fun, because anyone and everyone is welcome... except Pat Forde. He need not apply.

Check back throughout the day for more news and views leading right up to tip off.

Goin' Down Down in an Earlier Round

Last night, #3 Purdue went on the road to Minnesota, looking to pick up another big road win on the way to a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Robbie Hummel, one of the more underrated players in college basketball, drove into the lane with about 7 minutes left in the first half and went down with a knee injury. It is not official how serious the injury is but most of the speculation says it could be season ending since we are so close to March already.

If one of Purdue's biggest leaders can't make it back for the tourney, look for them to receive a lower seed than they were hoping for, and also look for a potential earlier exit than the Boilermaker's were hoping for, especially with the Final Four being played so close to the Purdue campus.

It was also a tough break for our former coach, Tubby Smith. A win last night would have probably put them in the NCAA tournament. However, with the loss, they'll still have a lot of work to do in order to improve their resume before Selection Sunday.

Calipari and Orton talk about South Carolina...

Some Football News...

Gomez here...

:: UK announced today that Clifford Snow, a veteran football administrator and coach, is the new director of football operations at Kentucky. Snow will assist Phillips in all football administration duties, as well as serving as the liaison to compliance, academics and other university areas. He also is responsible for team travel, coordinating clinics, preseason training camp, football budget and supervising the football support staff. Snow comes to UK from East Carolina, where he served in the same position for the last five seasons.

:: In other football news, five Wildcats have been invited to participate in the NFL Combine. John Conner, Micah Johnson, Trevard Lindley, Sam Maxwell and Corey Peters have made the trip to Indianapolis for the annual event, which will start today and run through March 2. Congrats to these guys for getting the opportunity to show their stuff. We wish them well.

:: For those that have been critical of Joker's first few weeks on the job should take a look at this. The hiring of wide receivers coach Tee Martin and offensive line coach Mike Summers are among the top-20 assistant coaching hires so far this year, according to Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com. While some eyebrows were raised when Phillips made some questionable moves right out of the gate, it seems like he certainly knows what he's doing, such as locking up a solid recruiting class and hiring some outstanding coaches.

:: All of this good news almost makes you ready for spring football, but I guess we'll have to enjoy March Madness to hold us over.

:: Oh and one more thing... it seems that Tennessee has finally gotten over the whole Lane Kiffin saga. In an effort to bury the hatchet, Tennessee fans can now buy this shirt, just to show there's no hard feelings...

Wednesday Quick Clicks...

:: Liggins is having fun again at Kentucky
:: More on DeAndre's return to relevance from TSN's DeCourcy
:: K.C. Ross-Miller wants to beat Kentucky next season
:: Forde breaks down Louisville's loss to Georgetown
:: Vitale previews rematch with South Carolina
:: Video: Fox's Goodman finally a Big Blue Believer

More later...

A dish best served cold...

On January 26, undefeated Kentucky traveled to South Carolina for what most believed would be another notch in their conference belt. Instead, the Wildcats were dealt their first loss of the season, a humbling experience just one day after being ranked #1. Since then, South Carolina has lost four of their last six, while Kentucky has won seven in a row. However, that loss still lingers in the mind of the Kentucky players and coaches, whether they care to admit it or not.

During the post game press conference at Vandy, I asked DeMarcus and Patrick if they were looking forward to playing South Carolina again. They grinned at each other and then shared a knowing look. Their grins and silence provided a comical moment for everyone in the press room, but eventually DeMarcus gave the answer he was supposed to, saying that they would prepare for South Carolina just like they would any other game. However, everyone in the room knew better. No, this game means a little something extra.

Early on in the season, the young Cats were open and honest about their desire to go undefeated, and how it was of the team's goals for the season. However, that went crashing down with 5 foot nothing Devan Downey's second half circus shots, which all contributed to his game high 30 points. But on Thursday, Kentucky has a shot to avenge their only loss of the season and remind Downey and the Gamecocks South Carolina that they got lucky once, but twice ain't in the cards.

I could spend some time breaking down the game and the opposing players, but we already know what to look out for. We know it all too well. Instead, we'll just re-watch the highlights of the last meeting, and let our blue blood boil for a bit...



If the players feel anything like I do after watching that, I'd say the Gamecocks are in for a long night on Thursday. And Cal, if the Prez calls on Thursday, tell him you'll call him back on Friday... please.

Our man Gary Parrish also previews the "Revenge Game" below...



We'll have lots more on this game tomorrow, so stay tuned.

NBA Labor Negotiations Could Have a Big Blue Impact

Listened to Bill Simmons podcast today, with his guest Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey. Was pretty interesting overall, but something that might pique the interest of UK fans is something the Rockets GM had to say about the upcoming NBA draft. Morey believes that borderline NBA entrants will enter the 2010 draft in order to start their NBA clock before the new NBA collective bargaining agreement. Also, Morey believes that the next crop of freshman (Brandon Knight among them) will likely avoid the 2011 draft because of the contentious labor bargaining situation. Daryl Morey

They don't talk about the draft until about the 40 minute mark if that is all you are interested in. David Stern has drawn the line in the sand recently, saying that players are going to have to give up a significant share of the revenues in the new economic climate. There is no telling how the new agreement will affect incoming players pay scale. This might not be good news for those hoping to see some of our freshman become sophomores, or Patterson play a fourth season. There has been some speculation that Demarcus Cousins might take the Blake Griffin route and turn down a top five selection, return to school, and strive to become the top pick in the 2011 draft. That might have always have been wishful thinking, but the NBA labor situation might force Cousins, and Bledsoe for that matter, to make a business decision and leave school early.

There is a silver lining, as hinted above. The uncertain nature of the NBA contract talks will (according to Morey) scare a lot of players from leaving school early next year. If we have a mass exodus this year, you have to think Calipari will reload. This time around we might actually get to watch them for more than one season. Also, Daniel Orton should have some draft buzz this time next year, only to be turned off by the uncertain future in the NBA. So, get to recruiting Coach, you might get to coach the next group a couple years before they chase the riches of the NBA.

Fancy Thoughts...

When I watch a ballgame, especially a UK ballgame, I am a yeller and a screamer. Veins pop out of my neck, my face turns red, and I will beat the palms of my hands together to make a loud clapping noise. Honestly, I don’t realize how intense I am until out of the corner of my eye, I catch my three-year old being interrupted from his imaginative superhero session because he has been distracted by this vicious person he normally calls “Mommy.”

There are times, however, when this type of behavior is not permitted simply because of the surrounding environment. During the Vandy game, I watched the last half in a restaurant, and let’s just say there were several weird looks, all of which, I assume where directed at questioning my sanity.

Anyway, what a humdinger! Both teams fought until the bitter end, but the best team came out on top! It was a challenging game for our Cats, but what doesn’t kill them only makes them stronger, right?

Now, we here at BBNR would like to challenge our readers. Each year, our men in blue are donned with a name that best characterizes their team. Let’s see, there has been the ‘Comeback Cats’ and ‘The Unforgettables.” So, we think that its time for the faithful fans to start thinking of a label that will summarize the first season of the Calipari era.

After Saturday night’s victory, I was listening to the post show on the way home. Of course, they talked with Coach Cal, but then they had a special guest. It was an elderly woman that proclaimed to have bled blue for the 86 years of her life. “I am 86 years old, and I nearly had a heart attack during this game,” was her statement. She went on to say that she thought it would be appropriate to call our guys the ‘Heart Attack Cats.’ Her son, who is a cardiologist, suggested ‘Cardiac Cats,’ in keeping with the heart theme. After much deliberation between the two of them, they came up with ‘Killer Kittens.’

In their mind, they thought this was a perfect fit because it not only keyed in on their ferocity, but also their youth. It is obvious that this team plays with a great amount of intensity. However, at the end of the day, they are a very young team, hence the word ‘kitten’.

With that said, we want to challenge our readers to pick their brains. Think about what these guys have accomplished this season, and send the name you think best describes them to bigbluenation@wk.net or leave it in the comments section. Our staff will then select the top three choices and set up a poll for our reader’s to vote on our site.

This is just for fun, so we hope you'll get involved! Let’s hear it Kentucky fans!

Love you….GO BIG BLUE!
Fancy Feline

Praise for Cal from Forde?

Gomez here...

At first, I thought I must have looked at the calendar wrong this morning, because it seemed more like April Fool's Day than it did a random Tuesday in February. Why? Because while reading ESPN.com, it appeared that (at first glance) Pat Forde had actually written some nice things about John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats in his weekly ramblings (also known as Forde Minutes... more like Forty Minutes of Hell)

Then I saw the asterisks and the "since vacated" comments, and I realized that today is in fact February 23, and not April 1st, and that Pat Forde is still a jerk. He can't even mention Cal's accomplishments, or the fine job he's doing this season, without working in a couple of cheap shots. We expect nothing less from Rick Pitino's BFF.

Click here to see for yourself.

What's on the tube?

If the Winter Games and American Idol aren't your thing, then you might be like me and wondering what college basketball games are on tap for the night. In that case, I'll break down the games that could be worth your time...

#6 Kansas State at Texas Tech (7 PM CST on ESPN360)
Here's a tough Big 12 match-up in Lubbock. Texas Tech almost beat the Longhorns over the weekend, but then again, who hasn't? Still, Tech has been a scrappy team on their home floor all season long, so look for another good game here. Prediction: Kansas State should find enough ways to win, in what should be a fun and enjoyable game to watch.

#13 Georgetown at Louisville (6 PM CST on ESPN2)
In the past few weeks, the Cards have gone from being a NIT lock, to the NCAA bubble, to being firmly in the NCAA tourney field. Meanwhile, Georgetown has been moving in the opposite direction lately, though they're probably still a safe pick for Selection Sunday. Look for a competitive game tonight. Prediction: I hope Georgetown kills 'em, but I predict Louisville to squeak out another win at home.

#17 Tennessee at Florida (8 PM CST on ESPN)
Florida is fighting for their NCAA lives, and as of right now, will probably be one of the last few to earn a spot at the Big Dance. A win tonight would put them firmly in and would certainly help their seeding prospects. Meanwhile, Tennessee has probably dropped to that 5 to 7 seed range, and could use a few more quality wins to earn a higher seed. Long story short: both teams want and need to win this game tonight. Prediction: Look for the "Rowdy Reptiles" to will their home team on to a close, hard fought victory.

Illinois at Michigan (6 PM CST on ESPN)
Illinois is on the bubble and a win tonight could be another push in the right direction. Meanwhile, Michigan can only hope for a NIT bid right now, unless there's an unlikely championship run through the Big 10 tournament. In short, Illinois has more to play for, and should be playing with more passion and determination tonight. Prediction: Illinois by 5.

Tuesday is better than Monday!

Gomez here...

Just wanted to remind you that Tuesday is better than Monday, and we're all one day closer to the weekend, and to spring, so hang in there. (I looked for one of those cute pictures of a kitten hanging on to a tree limb to better drive my point home, but I couldn't find one that didn't reek of cheese... so instead, you get a generic picture of random UK students giving us the finger.) Now, a few notes to get your day started...

:: Not surprisingly, Kentucky maintained their #2 spot in both the AP and Coach's polls yesterday, and the Jayhawks are still atop the list. We can only hope for a match-up between the top two teams in the NCAA tourney, just like the match-up of #2 Kentucky vs. #1 UMass back in the 1996 Final Four. We should also hope for similar results.

:: Kentucky is also #3 in the RPI standings, just behind Kansas and Duke (yuck). Our SOS is still our weakness, with the Cats sporting only the 38th strongest schedule overall (double yuck). View the complete RPI standings here.

:: Thursday night is the big revenge game with South Carolina. Michael is working on a big preview of the game and it should be posted later tonight or tomorrow. Stay tuned for that because it should be good. Michael usually posts on the fly, so when he takes his time to let something simmer on the stove like this, it must be something great. At the very least, it will be better than the typical mediocre posts that he bombards us with on a regular basis.

:: UConn beat WVU last night, helping them move towards bubble status. The Huskies join the filthy birds of The Ville as supposedly quality teams that we beat in December that are finally putting together a decent resume for the NCAA selection committee. The other team that we beat back then is North Carolina, but they still suck... and I'm okay with that.

:: Just for Austin, because I know how much he loves Women's Basketball, I'm going to give a quick update on the Lady Cats of UK Hoops. Kentucky swept the SEC honors of the week with Victoria Dunlap winning the Player of the Week honor, and A’dia Mathies the Freshman of the Week. This after Kentucky killed South Carolina at home on Sunday, finishing the season undefeated at home. Our favorite gals in blue are now 23-4 overall, and 11-3 in the SEC, and have clinched the second place spot in the SEC standings. Not bad for a team that was picked to finish 11th in conference. This week, the Cats play at Tennessee and at Auburn. Good luck, Ladies!

Well, that's all for now folks. Keep an eye on the site for more news and views throughout the day.

Yet another blast from the past

Many of you may be asking yourself right about now "Who is this?," or maybe, "When did UK start a calf roping team?" Well, since hopefully all of you are aware that no such team (I hope, at least) exists at the University of Kentucky, I'll answer the former question. It is none other than Mr. Derrick Miller. UK's version of "Bullseye Bonds" before that video game ever existed.

Miller is what many UK fans long to be-- a quick-triggered, dead-eye, long-range shooter. I remember growing up and LOVING Miller... our very own "Miller Time" before Reggie ever set foot on the court for the Indiana Pacers.

Coming out of Baptist Bible HS, in Savannah, GA, Derrick became UK's 39th Parade All-American. He donned the #4 jersey for the Wildcats, a number made famous by none other than Kyle Macy.

Derrick had a good, but not great career at UK. He increased his scoring average from 5 ppg as a Freshman, to nearly 19 ppg as a Senior. During his JR campaign, he once dropped 34 pts in an unfortunate drubbing by junior college in Louistown (the way they are currently playing, I'm sure I'm not the only person in the nation that's going to totally forget who they are), and in his SR season, scored in double-digits in 25 of the 28 games played. That included 40 pts vs. Vandy at home and 32 pts on the road against eventual NC Kansas.

While the latest news about Miller hasn't been all the flattering (ticket-scam which led to his indictment for Theft by Deception in 3 KY counties), his on-court tactics and deadly 3pt shooting is what I will most remember him for... and not his recent lack of good judgement.

Bracketology

The latest ESPN Bracketology is out. Murray State vs. Kentucky for the chance at the Elite 8??!?!?!

GO CATS AND RACERS!

Beware the Ides of March

Tonight, UConn beat their second top ten opponent in the last week, knocking off West Virginia. That got me thinking about teams that I don't want to run into along the way to the Final Four. UConn is certainly in that group, and the scary thing is a #1 seed could conceivably see them in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Thought I'd take a look at how things stand in the world of Bracketology, and find the teams in each round that might be capable of giving us trouble. Here is the list of teams, that I'd just assume leave for somebody else.

First Round: Moving on...

Second Round: There are almost always underachieving teams that land in the 8-9 showdown that get the talking heads worked up. If you are a top seed, it is just odd to see names Kentucky or Arizona in the second round. Those duels are usually reserved for the later rounds, but both have been in this spot in recent years.  This year, looks like UConn and Louisville might get a chance to be hyped up, only to let everybody down. Personally, I don't want to tempt fate by playing two of the best coaches in the game for rematches of closely contested games from earlier this season. Both teams seem to be playing their best ball of the season of late, and both are sporting upsets against Top Five competition. We should be able to handle either team again if it comes to pass, but I'd much rather not tempt fate and avoid these hype-fests during the first weekend.

Sweet Sixteen: In the sweet sixteen, you are normally going to be worried about the 4 & 5 seeded teams, and I will get to a couple of them, but first I want to talk about one potential 12 seed who could give us a tough game. Mark Coury is a force to be reckoned with, and his Cornell team could be the sleeper that really won't be much of a sleeper. Lunardi has them as a 12 seed right now, and you can believe that they would be a trendy pick to advance. Again, we still probably beat them, but I don't want to have to mess with the Coury Flurry, and honestly would like to see them have a nice run come March.

As for the 4 & 5 seeds, I'd prefer to dodge Wisconsin, Gonzaga, and Texas. There are several dangerous teams that could be waiting in the Sweet 16. I still think we can be a little bit susceptible against teams that have big guys that can shoot from the perimeter, as well as teams that slow down the pace and try to grind out the game. Honestly, Wisconsin probably fits the bill there. Not sure that the Zags or Texas could hang with our physicality, but both are among the most talented teams in the country.

By the time the Elite 8 rolls around, we are going to be facing a quality and tested opponent. The two teams that I think pose the biggest threat to spoiling our run this round are Kansas St and Ohio State. Both teams have a player capable of taking over on offense like we saw against the Gamecocks and Devan Downey, and both are comfortable grinding it out at a slower pace. Neither are simply one player teams either, although they might not have the depth to hang with UK over 40 minutes. Knowing the selection committee as I do though, they are almost certainly going to put Duke in our bracket. I am going to go ahead and say that I don't want to play Duke strictly for jinxing purposes.

Ultimately, the team we need to worry about the most is the young Cats themselves. If we play with poise and make a couple shots we can control our own destiny and take care of business. Anyway, are there any teams that I didn't mention that you would rather not meet up with on the Road to the Final Four, or are you the bring on all comer's type? Let us know in the comments section.

Mike catches up with CBS's Gary Parrish

Gomez here...

One of the coolest things that's happened as a result of our little site is the contacts that have been made with some of the better known people in the college basketball universe. Just this past weekend, our very own Michael Lee caught up with CBS Sports' Gary Parrish at the Vandy game in Nashville. From what Michael has said about it, Gary seems to be a very cool guy, so it wasn't surprising that he graciously agreed to get into the BBNR Hot Seat and answer some quick questions about UK basketball. There's some really interesting answers here, so share your thoughts in the comments section below...

BBNR: Given the recent rumors, what are the chances Cal would actually bolt for the NBA after only one season at Kentucky?

Parrish: Depends on what you think the chances are of Cal getting the chance to coach LeBron James. If that opportunity presents itself -- and I have no idea if it will -- then I think he's gone because you don't pass on that opportunity. Short of that, he'll be at Kentucky, and I really do believe it's that simple. But if you're a UK fan, there's no sense in worrying about it now. The Wildcats are 26-1. This is fun stuff.

BBNR: John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins have certainly lived up to the hype, but which one do you think will make the better professional player?

Parrish: Cousins is physically dominant at this level, but he won't be able to just overpower NBA post players. He's damn good, and I love his talent. But I just don't trust him. I've had multiple NBA people tell me he's the second-best talent in the draft, but that they wouldn't take him with a top five pick because of his state of mind, and they don't all just chalk it up to immaturity. Cousins is a risky proposition while Wall is practically a guarantee. So I'll play the odds and go with Wall.

BBNR: What's your Final Four and National Championship predictions?

Parrish: Depends on the brackets, honestly. But barring an injury or something else strange, I'll have Kansas and Kentucky in the title game provided they're on opposite sides of the bracket. And, as I wrote a month ago, I'll have Kentucky winning it all.

BBNR: Is there a team flying under the radar that you believe could make a Cinderella run in the tourney?

Parrish: Butler can make a run, and I suppose Northern Iowa is capable, too. UTEP is talented enough to win a game or two. But at the end of the day, the Final Four will be four teams currently ranked in the top 12. That's my prediction.

BBNR: What teams get in from the SEC?

Parrish: Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Tennessee are locks. Florida is probably in, as of today, and Mississippi State has a shot, too. If I were guessing, I'd guess the league gets four bids, five tops. Better than last season, but still not great.

BBNR: Thanks for your time, Gary!

Cousins named SEC Frosh of the Week

After two fine performances last week, DeMarcus Cousins has been named SEC Freshman of the Week. Cousins averaged 19 points and 9.5 rebounds in road victories at Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. He also received (by far) the biggest reaction from the crowd, as boos (and occasionally water bottles) rained down from the stands everytime the kid did anything that resulted in anything more than taking a harmless sip of Gatorade. (And we're pretty sure there were more than a few that had rather him not even sit on the bench and drink gatorade either.)

Congrats, Cuz. We love ya, buddy... even if no one else does.

Role Reversal: Cal interviews Edwards...

Special thanks to our friends at WildcatWorld for the video.

Team of the Week: Kentucky

Andy Katz of ESPN.com has named Kentucky the "Team of the Week," after the Cats won at both Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, which is a nice acknowledgement by the world wide leader. Sure, the Cats had some issues this week, and both wins were dang near losses, but Katz keeps things in perspective. Vandy and Mississippi State are both quality teams, and both provided intense environments on their home floors. For Kentucky to go on the road, not once but twice, and escape with two hard fought victories, despite not playing at their best, speaks volumes to how good we are and how much better we still can be.

I had the chance to hang out with CBS's Gary Parrish at the Vandy game, and he said Kentucky has more or less locked up a #1 seed now, barring any type of unlikely collapse down the home stretch of the regular season. Andy Katz's said the same thing in his article, as well. To know that Kentucky is 26-1, destined for a number one seed, and still have yet to play to their potential is a pretty exciting thought as the madness of March draws near.

That's all for tonight. We're going to have a pretty solid week coming up, so stay tuned. I have interviews with both Gary Parrish and Kenny "Sky" Walker to share, and we'll be previewing the revenge game with South Carolina on Thursday.

Should be a fun time, so stick around.

Vitale and Nesler on UK-Vandy

Another Blast from the Past

Since my last Blast from the Past column was about someone who is relatively obscure in the minds of many (if not most) UK fans, I thought maybe I could so something about someone who anyone over the age of 30 and from the state of Kentucky has to know - Rex Chapman.

Ahh yes, King Rex, he of feathered bangs, which were all the rage in the mid-80's. King Rex, the man that was named ALL-SEC in both his Freshman and Sophomore seasons with the Cats. King Rex, the man who scored over 1000 points (1073 to be exact) in only two years with the Big Blue. King Rex, he who got the heck out of dodge just before Eddie Sutton wrecked the UK basketball program into the purgatory of NCAA probation.

In Rex's last game with the Wildcats, he posted 30 points in the 1988 NCAA Elite 8 versus Villanova. After that loss, Rex entered the draft, where he became the first player selected in the history of the now defunct Charlotte Hornets. Chapman bounced around a bit in the League... going from Charlotte to the Washington Bullets to the Miami Heat, and finally ending with the Phoenix Suns.

Along the way, Rex lost his sexy hair, but he never lost his shot. Rex amassed totals of 9,731 points (14.6), 1,788 assists (2.7), and 1,645 rebounds (2.5).

These might not be the totals and averages that most UK fans envisioned when he first entered the league, but in my opinion, they were more than respectable for a kid out of Owensboro, KY.


NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: "Blast from the Past" columns are just random, but fun moments for us to take a look back at former UK players. If you would like us to catch up with one of your favorite UK players from the past, send us an email at bigbluenation@wk.net and let us know. We'll certainly do our best.

More from Vandy...

Me and Austin were fortunate enough to be at both the pre and post game media stuff yesterday, and it was an experience for us to enjoy. Yes, Austin almost got cold-cocked by Kevin Stallings, and yes I waited for 20 minutes to use the bathroom because Vitale was apparently going #2 in there, but overall, it was an awesome experience and some great exposure for our little site here.

The room where these videos took place was really, really small and not the typical room they use for post-game pressers. However, the craziness that was surrounding this game caused the powers-to-be to use two rooms after the game: one for Vandy and one for UK. Me and Austin walked into the Vandy press room first, and there was only like six people in there, so we realized very quickly that we were in the wrong place. Meanwhile, the Kentucky room was standing room only after we finally wedged our way through the crowd.

It was sorta funny because even the Vandy beat writers basically ignored their own players and coaches in order to go down the hall to see what was going on in the Kentucky room.

And, here's what they had to say...

Football Game/Wrestling Match Post Game Wrap

Just now getting in from the game. As I am sure you could tell from your Lazy-Boy, it was a crazy atmosphere. I have to tip my cap to the Vandy crowd, and I was surprised how nice Memorial Gymnasium was once I got inside. Was still quirky, but not in the same (bad) way that Indiana's Assembly Hall is, and was a pretty good place to watch a game. I would say the crowd was easily 10% Blue, and possibly even been a little more even. It didn't affect Vandy's home court advantage, but it did make for an interesting crowd dynamic. There were a couple moments where UK fans got a surprisingly loud chant going, only to have it squashed out by the hometown fans.

Here are a few notes from the game today:

* Starting out, we didn't have internet access at the game. Planned on live blogging it, but didn't work out. Frustrating, but that is just how things go. Might have to invest in an internet card or something. Oh well.

* As you saw the game was incredibly physical. I am a little surprised we only got one technical. Just saw the replay of Bledsoe's, and he got his money worth. Was hard to tell from my vantage point what exactly happened. Cal said he had 25 text messages after the game telling him that was the best football game they'd seen in awhile. Get it?

* Loved Calipari's honesty about the timeout situation. Was a dumb decision, but oh well. Cal can step up his game just like anybody else on the team, and he will be better next time in that spot. You can kind of understand, at least a little bit, because sometimes our inexperience could come back to bite us in that kind of situation. If that is the worst decision he makes all year, I think we will be fine. The team being so young makes the learning curve steep for the players on the court, but also the same goes for Calipari. He is still learning about this team, and it is crazy to think that as good as we have been, we still have room to grow.

* After the game, I accidentally got in the way of Stallings while he was walking into the interview room. He didn't look happy. I don't really think me being in the way was the source of his frustrations; was probably more game related. Looked like he just wanted to punch me in the face though. Probably should have John Wall danced it right then and there, but decided instead to just get out of his way. He is a large man, and I am pretty sure he might double as the professional wrestler The Revolting Blob, of Billy Madison fame.

Was interesting that Stallings interview room was barren, while Cal's had around 40 people. They were held in separate rooms, and I am pretty sure the room Stallings went into was just a closet where they video taped him screaming until he passed out. Hope that makes it to Youtube.

* I can understand why Wall gets the recognition he does. It just comes with the territory when you are the unquestioned #1 pick. But I have to agree with the crowd that is slightly annoyed how the media almost lazily makes him out to be everything to the team. I just got home and saw that the ESPN ticker talked about Wall's block in the end of the game. I am not annoyed that Wall gets his much deserved due, but I do think more could be said about his teammates.Wall is the man on this team, and he deserves to be the headliner, but we are so much more than a one man team. There isn't one, much less two big men better than Patterson and Cousins in all of college basketball. To our credit, our team has shown no signs of letting the attention paid to Wall affect chemistry, and Wall probably is a big reason why. He seems to me to be like Kevin Durant and LeBron James in that he is a star, but his teammates absolutely love him.

That's all for now, should have more from Mike tomorrow.

Survive and advance. . .

Survive and advance, that is the motto of March in college basketball and the Cats got an early start tonight in Nasvhille. The Cats beat Vanderbilt 58-56 in the most physical game that Cal's team has faced this season.

UK led by two at the half and played even with the Commodores in the second to hold on for the victory. A clean defensive battle in the first half turned into a football game late as both teams became physical on both ends of the court. The physical nature of the game led to a parade to the line by both teams. The Cats could of put the game on ice late but missed five out of seven from the line in the closing minutes.

Patrick Patterson posted his second straight double double including a go ahead three pointer with just over three minutes to go. The jumper gave the Cats a 52-49 lead that they would not give up the rest of the way. Wall had some big plays down the stretch including a game changing block as Vanderbilt had a chance to take the lead with under 10 seconds to play. Cousins had another strong night with 19 points and 5 boards.

Mike and Austin are in Nashville and will be along later tonight to give us the first hand account of what was a crazy night at Memorial Gym. All in all, it was a major win on the road and one that almost puts the SEC regular season title in the books for UK.

Let's hear it for Patt!

WHEW!!! This has been my statement at the end of way too many games lately. What has happened to the team that we saw in the beginning of the season. I know that as it gets closer and closer to tourney time, everyone is stepping up, but it seems as though we have taken a few steps back in some areas, which makes me really nervous as we get closer and closer to March.

I think that Patterson deserves more credit than he is getting this season, especially after his performance tonight. I really think that he is one of the most overlooked players on the team this year as everyone is focusing on and praising Wall, Cousins & Bledsoe. I love to watch Patterson, especially when he steps out and drains a 3! I also admire him for being as big a part of the basketball team as he has been over the last 3 years, and being able to finish his degree an entire year early... what an accomplishment!

Let's hear it for Patterson and his accomplishments, those both on and off the court!

At Vanderbilt...Game Post

Despite some awesome chicken tenders and a fine fruit tray, Vandy's internet support leaves a little to be desired. We're doing our best, so bare with us.

Go ahead and leave your thoughts in the Comments Section.

UPDATE: The Internet is just not going to allow us to live blog. Post your comments and thoughts of the game here.

DePaul Eyeing "Strick"?

DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, John Wall, and possibly Eric Bledsoe could all be leaving UK for the NBA after this season. Could one of the bigger behind the scenes names be joining the mass exodus out of Lexington as well? Scoop Jackson over at ESPN thinks so. According to Scoop, Rod Strickland should be the only choice on Depaul University's radar for their Head Coaching position after this season.

Big Blue Nation loves all of our Wildcats, including the assistant coaches, managers, cheerleaders, dancers etc. and it would be tough to see "Strick" go after just one year. We will likely have to wait until the summer to see how this plays out, but it is worth keeping an eye on as this magical season in Lexington draws to an end. GO BIG BLUE!!

BracketBuster Recap

Tony Easley, Georges Fotso, and Danero Thomas (above left to right) played their final home game as Murray State Racers today in a BracketBuster matchup against the Morgan State Bears. The game was close for about 30 minutes but then the Racers pulled away with their superior talent.

Murray State is very deep with 7 players getting at least 17 minutes today and 5 of those players scoring at least 10. The Racers have a great team, but due to a weak schedule they will likely have to win the OVC tournament to get a bid to the Big Dance. If they do, they could get hot and be a sleeper pick for a first and maybe even a second round upset with the level of talent on this squad.

Here is a quick link to the box score from today's game. The atmosphere was electric today at the RSEC and it was a great game to watch. Check back later for Mike and Austin's coverage of the biggest game of the day for Big Blue Nation members everywhere, as the UK Wildcats travel to Nashville to take on the Dores of Vanderbilt. GO BIG BLUE!!!

"Dolla" Beal calls off the troops. . .

Jeff Drummond and the guys over at Kentucky Ink came across an interesting story last night where Jermaine "Dolla" Beal asks the Vandy fans to not rush the court when they defeat #2 Kentucky tonight at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. Dolla went on to say, "Let's continue to act like we've been here before." Really "Dolla", really?

All this "Memorial Magic" stuff is a little blown out of proportion. Kentucky hasn't had recent success there and they have lost some down right ugly games. However, what "Dolla Beal" may not realize is that Kentucky leads the all time series by 132 to 43 margin. That's right, Kentucky has nearly 100 more wins against Vandy then they do losses, including a winning record at Memorial.

I do like "Dolla" (I laugh every time I type that), quite a bit actually. He's a smart kid who has played SEC opponents tough for four years. Also in his defense, Kentucky has not been very good since his arrival in Nashville. In his sophomore year they defeated Kentucky for the most lopsided loss ever to the Commodores, by 41. Maybe to him it really is "just another Kentucky game". But "Dolla", you haven't been here. Sure, you have hosted other Top 5 teams and even won a couple of them, but you have not hosted Kentucky when they are really Kentucky. Tonight, you get your chance. . .

UPDATE: "Dolla" was more like a dime tonight, maybe even a nickel. He scored 6 points on 2-9 shooting in the loss to the Cats. Better luck next time, oh wait, there won't be a next time. I guess you can paint your face gold and join Foster in the crowd next season.