Kentucky Wildcats [E1] 100, East Tennessee St. Buccaneers [E16] 71: Postmortem
by Truzenzuzex on Mar 18, 2010 11:31 PM EDT
in Basketball
32 comments
I think that was a game Kentucky Wildcats fans have been waiting for out of this team since the early SEC season -- a game that left no doubt who was the best team, and why.
Congratulations to the East Tennessee St. Buccaneers for getting to the NCAA Tournament against long odds and taking on the Wildcats with all the effort they had. Despite facing huge deficits, the Buccaneers never gave up, and kept fighting when many other teams would have simply laid down. It says a lot about ETSU that they never quit, never surrendered, and may have been humbled, but were unbowed.
Kentucky, maybe for the first time in a long time, approached this game with exactly the right mindset, and it showed. They respected their opponent, treated them as though they were as dangerous as the Kansas Jayhawks or the Syracuse Orange. That respect took away any chance of the emotional flip-flop that did in teams like the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Georgetown Hoyas.
Kentucky respected their opponent, looked them in the eye, ripped out the still-beating heart from their chest and ate it right in front of them. There was never any doubt, nor fear, nor trepidation. Kentucky treated the Buccaneers just like this was a Final Four game against another #1 seed. Unfortunately for ETSU, they were not up to that challenge.
More after the jump.
32 comments | 0 recs |
NCAA Tournament Open Thread: PM Edition
by Truzenzuzex on Mar 18, 2010 9:47 PM EDT
in Open Thread
77 comments
This is an open thread for the NCAA tournament games. You can watch March Madness On Demand, or your regular TV, whatever you like.
77 comments | 0 recs |
East Tennessee St. Buccaneers [E16] @ Kentucky Wildcats [E1]: NCAA Tournament Round 1 Open Game Thread
by Truzenzuzex on Mar 18, 2010 6:45 PM EDT
in Open Thread
562 comments
Tonight, the Kentucky Wildcats tip off their first NCAA Tournament as a high seed in four years versus the East Tennessee St. Buccaneers.
ETSU is a tough, gritty team in the mold of the Murray St. Racers (although not as talented), so lest anyone think Kentucky can go to sleep on this team, consider the fate of the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Game particulars are as follows, courtesy of UKAthletics.com:
| Date & Time | Thurs., Mar 18, 7:15 p.m. ET |
| March Madness on Demand | Every game streamed online, for free |
| Coverage | Tournament Central TV: CBS Radio: BBSN GameTracker Text Updates |
| Location | New Orleans Arena New Orleans, La. |
I am not truly concerned about a repeat of today's Vandy debacle, but I hope the team takes this ETSU team as seriously as though they were the Kansas Jayhawks. You cannot give an inch in a one-and-done tournament, because that little upset that doesn't mean all that much in December ends your season from here on out.
I'm treating this just like a regular game, because that's what it is. The biggest difference is that the team can't treat this like any other game, and if they take their foot off the gas in this one, it could spell doom.
562 comments | 0 recs |
East Tennessee St. Buccaneers[E16] @ Kentucky Wildcats [E1]: NCAA Tournament Game Preview
by Truzenzuzex on Mar 18, 2010 5:55 PM EDT
in Basketball
12 comments
This is sweet.
Since the first-round loss by the Kentucky Wildcats to Marquette Golden Eagles in 2008, I have been anxiously waiting, even dreaming, about writing this post -- Kentucky as a prohibitive favorite in an NCAA tournament game. I had no idea at the time I would wait almost two years to do so, nor that I would be writing about a #1 seed -- I would have settled for anything in the top five.
But here we are after a long wait, preparing to watch Calipari's youth brigade do battle in the first of what we all hope will be six stirring victories, which would complete one of the most improbable team comebacks (from a #4 NIT seed to an NCAA Tournament championship) in college basketball history.
Oops. Getting ahead of myself there. Before we celebrate a championship, we have to get past the East Tennessee St. Buccaneers. Baby steps, Tru.
First, a quick comparison:
| Rank and Records | ETSU | UK |
| RPI | #125 | #2 |
| Strength of Schedule | #173 | #45 |
| Overall | 20-14 | 32-2 |
| Conference | 13-7 | 14-2 |
| Home | 11-5 | 21-0 |
| Away | 9-9 | 7-2 |
| Neutral | 0-0 | 4-0 |
| Top 25 | 0-2 | 7-1 |
| RPI Top 50 | 0-3 | 9-1 |
| Common Foes | ETSU | UK |
| Louisville | L, 69-56 |
W, 71-62 |
| Arkansas | W, 94-85 |
W, 101-70 |
| Tennessee | L, 78-66 |
Split |
| Morehead | L, 60-58 |
W, 75-59 |
More after the jump.
12 comments | 0 recs |
NCAA Basketball Tournament Open Thread -- March Madness On Demand
by Truzenzuzex on Mar 18, 2010 11:45 AM EDT
in Open Thread
150 comments
This is an open thread in which you can watch today's games if you are at work, or otherwise don't have access to a TV. Follow the jump.
150 comments | 0 recs |
Q & A With Dicky Beal: A Blast From The Past
by ALLBLUCAT on Mar 17, 2010 7:08 PM EDT
15 comments
Next in our Q & A sessions with former UK greats is a point guard from the 1984 Final Four team, UK star Dicky Beal. This is my first, but hopefully not my last, so I may not be as polished as Tru or Ken, but I have so enjoyed doing this. After talking to Dicky for just a few minutes the first time we spoke, I felt like I was talking to one of my old friends. He is truly one of the nice guys in the history of UK basketball.
Since this is the kickoff weekend for the NCAA Tournament, I thought it would be appropriate to have someone who has actually been there as the subject of this Q & A. Dicky was a four-year member of the Cats from 1980-1984, and has assists on his record to the famous Twin Towers of Sam Bowie and Mel Turpin, as well as Kenny "Sky" Walker and others. The Cats were 96-24 during Dicky's tenure, and his time at Kentucky culminated in Big Blue's 1984 Final Four run.
15 comments | 1 recs
The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Leprechaun Edition
by Truzenzuzex on Mar 17, 2010 6:26 PM EDT
in News
41 comments
Happy St. Patrick's day to everyone!
- Who’s Hot? Kentucky’s Deron Feldhaus, Helpless Defender Now Golf Course Owner In Bluegrass State – LostLettermen.com
-
Rush The Court " Blog Archive " The Argument for the 96 Team Tournament? 31 Fewer Hot Seats
While coaches like to pontificate about expanding tournament to let more "deserving" teams in and give more players a chance to play in March Madness it is pretty clear to most neutral observers that the real motive is quite clear–keeping their jobs. With the recent spate of firings the coaches will continue to lobby hard for expansion.
This is an argument for expanding the tournament that is somewhat convincing. The "hot seat" is responsible for a lot of the unsustainable upward spiral in coaching salaries, and it may be seen as a worthwhile trade-off to keep coaching jobs more stable and begin to stabilize escalating salaries.
The downside is, it promotes mediocrity and a race to the bottom. From a fan standpoint, this is a no-brainer -- don't fix what isn't broken, and coaches, you are on your own. But ultimately, that may be a bit too facile.
-
Could Orton’s stock be rising, too? | Vaught's Views
I don't know about the NBA, but it's certainly rising in my eyes. - Sprints Doesn't Have Much to Say Beyond Congratulating Kentucky Basketball // 03.15.10 - Team Speed Kills
41 comments | 0 recs |
UK Basketball: ASoB Bracket Challenge [bumped as a reminder]
by BigSkyCat on Mar 17, 2010 2:14 PM EDT
in Basketball
54 comments
To celebrate March Madness and get in on all the fun around here, ASoB is once again going to do our very own NCAA tourney bracket challenge on Yahoo! Sports. This will be the third year in a row for the ASoB challenge and if you would like try your hand against your fellow ASoB members, I invite you to fill out a bracket(s) for yourself. All ASoB members are welcome and encouraged to participate
Those of you who participated in this challenge in years past are old pros by now and know exactly what to do, but for those of you who didn't get in on the fun before this year or for those who need a reminder where to go, please click here. Once you click on that link, you will want to pick the "Join Group" button. If you don't currently have a Yahoo! account, you will be prompted to create one. After you have created a Yahoo! account, or you have simply signed in to your existing account you will need to enter the Group ID # 21007 and Group Password asob2010 (no space) to access our group and once you have created your bracket name you can then enter your picks. More details to follow.
54 comments | 0 recs |
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Kentucky Wildcats
Saturday, Mar 20, 2010, 8:15 PM EDT
NCAA Tournament - East Region - Second Round - New Orleans Arena - New Orleans, LA
Southeastern Conference Standings
(updated 3.19.2010 at 1:32 AM EDT)
| East | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Kentucky Wildcats
|
14 | 2 | 33 | 2 |
|
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
12 | 4 | 24 | 9 |
|
Tennessee Volunteers
|
11 | 5 | 26 | 8 |
|
Florida Gators
|
9 | 7 | 21 | 13 |
|
South Carolina Gamecocks
|
6 | 10 | 15 | 16 |
|
Georgia Bulldogs
|
5 | 11 | 14 | 17 |
| West | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Mississippi St. Bulldogs
|
9 | 7 | 24 | 11 |
|
Mississippi Rebels
|
9 | 7 | 22 | 10 |
|
Arkansas Razorbacks
|
7 | 9 | 14 | 18 |
|
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
6 | 10 | 17 | 15 |
|
Auburn Tigers
|
6 | 10 | 15 | 17 |
|
LSU Tigers
|
2 | 14 | 11 | 20 |
Wildcats Basketball Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
Wake Forest
|
Sat 03/20 | 8:15 PM EDT |
Last 5 Games
| East Tennessee St. | Thu 03/18 | W 100 - 71 |
| East Tennessee St. | Thu 03/18 | W 100 - 71 |
|
Mississippi St.
|
Sun 03/14 | W 75 - 74 |
|
Mississippi St.
|
Sun 03/14 | W 75 - 74 |
|
Tennessee
|
Sat 03/13 | W 74 - 45 |
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