Another source of contentment was how the way the game was treated by the media. UK was cast by some as hired gun mercenaries, making a mockery of the term student athlete, and Cornell as righteous examples of how the game used to, and should still be. All of that was too bad, as it should have been about one thing; basketball.
Whatever you want to say about Cornell, they were a good basketball team. The sum was greater than the parts, but they accomplished a lot and deserve some credit. A lot of teams, like Wake Forest did Saturday, would have packed it in after getting down 16 points. Cornell fought back, and as Jay Bilas would say, "put some game pressure on these young Wildcats." Congratulations to them on a great season.
I heard before the game that UK would fold if this game got close. I heard experts such as Doug Gottlieb say he would like Cornell's chance's in a close game at the end. I am not sure if you can consider what Cornell did in the second half as "close", but whatever you want to call it the Cats pulled out another close game at the end. I keep hearing talking heads tell me that Kentucky's lack of experience is going to catch up to them, but don't hear so much about the will to win we see on display night in and night out.
Say what you want about Kentucky, but they find a way to win. They can win any way you want to play them. Want to play ugly and grind the game to a halt? We can beat you that way. Please, be our guest in trying to play with us in transition. Ask Wake Forest, or anybody else who is dumb enough to play that way how that turned out for them. The talking heads can have their hatorade, none of it is going mean anything if the Cats keep doing what they have done all year long... Win
As has been the case all season, our biggest opponent is ourselves. We can control the game with sustained defensive effort. Forget shooting, both free throw and from distance. Forget the Dribble Drive. We can win with 40 minutes of effort on defense, period. Anything that goes right in the half court offense is simply icing on the cake. As long as we can get shots up without turning the ball over for fast break points to the opposition, defense alone is good enough for this team to cut down some nets.
Hopefully, we can have our cake and eat it too these next three games. We have looked locked in so far, and it is hard to see that concentration breaking as the stakes are raised. West Virginia could be the best team left in the tournament, and our toughest test to date. They were deserving of a #1 seed, and really should never have been placed in our bracket. They are the lone representative of the Big East left in the tournament, and they will probably be the crowd favorite on Saturday. With all that being said, they can't hold our jock strap if we come out with a focused effort on both sides of the ball.
If you haven't noticed, not a lot of people outside the Big Blue Nation like us right now. Kentucky is the villain to most sports fans, and that is a spot I relish. People fear the Blue again. The saying Envy our Past: Fear our Future that donned so many blue shirts before this season is proving prophetic. It is a lot of fun to feel the hatred from all sides, because it is just proof that we own them. All the snide comments from media or opposing fans isn't going to keep a star recruit from making his commitment, or put any points on the board for our opposition. To be hated is the greatest compliment of all, and something I hope we are able to get used to around here. Time to get ready for West Virginia. Expect more coverage coming up, and until then GO BIG BLUE!
A few things
ReplyDeleteFirst line of the night from Brandon Langston--Wow, Right in the Cornell-hole
Side not to this, did they seem to play a little too chippy last nite, like the huge push on Liggins when going for a looseball that was no-called or the full on WWF takedown of Cousins that was only called a 2 shot foul? Anybody else find that off putting for a team everybody is supposed to like? If Cousins had taken a guy down or Bledsoe pushed him in the back (not only would it have been called) but people would be out for blood today, just saying. I may turn this into a column but not if I sound too much like Rick Reilly or an Outside the Lines piece
Second the I'm not sure if the Refs for the WVU game got their money from Bobby Thuggins in cash or if he wrote a check but from what I saw the officiating was disgraceful.
Third the Xavier-Kstate game (feathering Joe Crawford's brother with flames shooting out of him) was FAN-tastic. And Gus Johnson was there so extra good.
Also there is only One 1 seed left (I'm not counting Duke b/c they didn't deserve it) but 2 extra strong 2 seeds (Ohio St. and WVU) I love the way UK is playing, it looks like a great team doing what a great team should.
As for Tonite I am all about St. Mary's and Purdue and Ohio St (even if it means better competition advancing I hate this Tennessee Team)
You have to credit those hard fouls to the intelligence of Cornell haha... Seriously though, if you don't foul Cuz hard he is going to kill you with And 1's... Even on that body slam from foote, he still got the ball up near the rim. Cousins is just a beast...
ReplyDeleteWest VA hasn't played great to this point, but they have been able to survive and advance which is all that matters. It is going to be as ugly, or even more so than the Cornell game. I got the Cats winning 65-52.