Kentucky at Tennessee -- After Action Report

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 2, 2008 2:47 PM EST in Basketball Comment 31 comments

Congratulations to Tennessee for a great game, and a gritty victory. Kentucky put forth an effort that was nearly one for the ages, desperately shorthanded against one of the best teams in college basketball this year. At the end, however, the many minutes played by Kentucky's starters simply took their toll, and Kentucky struggled to hold on to the ball. It was a tough loss, but the Wildcats left no doubt that while Patrick Patterson is a critical part of the team, he isn't a one-man show by any means.

Perry Stevenson simply could not have played any better. Even though the bigger and stronger Volunteers manhandled Kentucky on the glass all day, Stevenson showed that playing with Patrick Patterson has completely changed him as a player. Many doubted that Perry was up to the task, and that most of his production was due as much to the attention given Patterson as to anything else, but Stevenson proved them wrong today with a strong double-double and a great job intimidating many shots. Unfortunately, he still has a tendency to get pushed around a lot, but his effort today was truly extraordinary.

This is a setback for the Kentucky Wildcats on their quest to get a bid into the NCAA tournament, but the way they played this game may wind up weighing more heavily in the minds of the committee than the outcome. In order to secure an at-large bid, the Wildcats have to overcome at least one and preferably both of their next two opponents, one on the road and one at home. If they fail, they will need to win the tournament outright. If they defeat one, my feeling is the Cats will need two victories in the SEC tournament to secure a bid. If they defeat both South Carolina and Florida, one victory in the tournament may be sufficient. But one thing is certain -- nobody would have been surprised if Tennessee beat UK by 20 today in Knoxville. The fact that UK had a shot at the buzzer to tie will matter.

I cannot say enough about the grit and effort given by this team. There are no moral victories, and this is just a loss, plain and simple. However, many people expected this team just to fail open after losing Patterson, and nothing in today's game suggests that is ever going to happen. Ramel Bradley and Derrick Jasper nailed shot after big shot, and defended a much more talented team to within an inch of victory. This team has shown more heart than the teams of the last three more successful years combined, and that is a magnificent testament to the coaching of Billy Gillispie.

Gillispie knew exactly how Tennessee could be beaten, and for 32 minutes, the Wildcats executed that strategy to near perfection. For the first 5 or 6 minutes of the first half and the very last couple of minutes of the second, the Wildcats struggled with ballhandling, just as they have all season. In the end, they lost by turnovers, and that is probably what we should have expected. Still, the number of big shots hit by Crawford, Bradley, Jasper and even Ramon Harris has to give this team confidence that they can beat anybody, even as short handed as they are.

I am very pleased the way this team competed and executed, for the most part. I am less than pleased with all the late turnovers, but fatigue was surely a factor. Tennessee was the much fresher team down the stretch. If we are going to play this spread-out, high-screen game game, we have to learn to work with a bit more time on the shot clock. Kentucky also must find a way to do a better job rebounding the basketball, somehow, some way. But overall, this style of play could hold the seeds of two more victories in the regular season, and although I am not tremendously confident, I am much more confident than I was before today.

Great effort, Wildcats, and a tough loss. But your work isn't done, and you have proven to anyone who saw this game that you are far from dead as a factor in the SEC East, and possibly even in the SEC tournament.

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Just to reiterate what I said on the game thread..

Play the next game..............

What an effort!!!!!!!!!! South Carolina is now the biggest game of the year. Wow....what a game...what a game....they DESERVE to play in the big dance....I REALLY THINK THAT THIS TEAM (RIGHT NOW) is a TOP 25 team....not the season as a whole, but we are playing just as good as 15 - 25 right now....even without Patterson......

Unfortunately, they don't look at it that way....but I would put this group of young men against anybody ranked 15 or lower and take my chances.....

As for Coach G....that was a helluva game plan with minimal notice. I am not sure we get this close with Patterson as it caused others to step up and UT was not as prepared for the smaller line up.....just a great job in coaching, motivating, and execution...I have never been more proud to be a UK fan right now. I am 42 years old and I have witnessed 3 of the 7 championships....never am I more proud than I am on this day at this time.....

Go Big Blue!

by Chuck Alexinis on Mar 2, 2008 2:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sheesh

I know there should be some sort of moral victory for making the Vols feel like they escaped with a win. But, damn.

Damn, damn, damn!

I can't be much prouder of this team.

The Online Home of the Big Blue Nation...

by TheFakeGimelMartinez on Mar 2, 2008 3:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re:

Wow, what a great game! I'm definitely a fan of this Tennessee team; despite being one of Kentucky's main rivals, the effort and athleticism the Vols put forth in every game is incredible. They may not be the most talented team in the country, but they are definitely one of the most athletic and well-coached teams out there. With that said, and after watching the first ten minutes of this game, I was just hoping for some inspired play and potential building blocks for next year. Color me pleasantly surprised.

Over SEC play, Ramel and Joe have improved so much that I'm starting to think of them as future NBA prospects. They almost certainly won't be drafted, but put in a year or two of hard work and development, and I surely think it's possible to see them in the league.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the improvement of Perry Stevenson is even more incredulous. I had NO IDEA that Perry had it in him to be this good. He gets lost on the occasional play, but the potential for a GREAT player is there. One minor quibble, Gillispie: wither AJ Stewart? If Perry is your ONLY big man, you've got to give him a little more rest than that. Coury, try as he might, doesn't have the talent. So why not steal some minutes with AJ, which both helps rest Stevenson and gives AJ a confidence boost. Particularly against a frontcourt as big and athletic as Tennessee's? He may get just as lost as Stevenson sometimes, but as evidenced by his last minute block, he can get the job done.

It's nice to see Derrick Jasper develop his three-point shot, something he didn't have last year and something that will be crucial to next year's team, as our two best 3 point shooters will be leaving.

Ramon Harris: great rebounder and shut-down defender. Yes! He reminds me a lot of Texas' Justin Mason: not the best player on the team, but a crucial "glue" guy.

It's also nice to see that Michael Porter can now bring the ball up the court without losing his dribble or turning it over. I still can see him in a JP Blevins type role.

I can't wait to see this team next year. Coming from Big XII country, I have FULL faith that Gillispie will turn this team into a perennial contender. In fact, I'd venture that this Kentucky team, even without Patterson, could consistently beat any team in the Big XII outside of Kansas, Texas and perhaps K-State. It'll be a damn shame if they don't get to at least show their chops in the tournament. Go Wildcats!

by jc25 on Mar 2, 2008 3:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Kentucky performed very well.

This little rivalry of sorts between these two teams could become something really fun to watch over the next few years. If Pearl stays at UT and is able to maintain the program with solid recruiting and Gillispie can keep up the rebuilding he's already started, these two teams could end up in a quasi Duke-UNC type relationship. Not quite as close, and not quite as legendary, but certainly as entertaining it the respective fan bases.

Even while going to UT, the Kentucky team is a fun one to watch and follow. As you all have noted many times before, there's a lot of fight in the team, and they don't let disappointment stop them. The end result may not have been favorable, but the process was certainly one you can take pride in. If they keep that kind of effort up, they'll make the tourney.

by Hooper on Mar 2, 2008 3:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gillispie's Post-Game Interview

If you did not hear Clyde's just finished post-game with Leach, I encourage to link to it somewhere and listen.

It is a study in the type of attitude one must have when faced with adversity. Don't look for sympathy, don't hang your head, and fight until the end.

Words some fans need to hear.

I disagree with Tru when he writes that this game is "a setback for the Kentucky Wildcats on their quest to get a bid to get into the NCAA Tournament". I think just the opposite is true.

As long as Seth "I'm Usually Wrong" Davis is not on the Selection Committee then this game goes a long way towards proving UK is Tournament worthy without Patterson. Winning at SC and versus Florida are musts, and if that comes to fruition, this game may be the catalyst that pushes UK off of the bubble and into the Big Dance.

I couldn't be prouder of the effort and determination displayed by this group of players. When all seems lost, they dig, and then dig deeper, to find that extra something which enables them to compete like champions.

If the officiating had been competent, and UK's free throw shooting had held to form, then Kentucky probably wins this game. But on the road the officiating is more sub-standard than usual, and today they didn't have what it takes to overcome the terrible odds. The free throw shooting is just as disconcerting. Fatigue may have played a part in the 63% they shot from the line.

Being outscored 21-10 off of turnovers also was a major factor in the defeat.

But the play of Stevenson and Harris went a long way in making this game a whisper away from being the biggest UK upset in my lifetime. Kudos to both players for their inspired play.

Now they must regroup, refocus, and renew their spirit in order to play S. Carolina Wednesday. This game was a very emotional, tense, hard fought game. Rebounding, both emotionally and physically, will take focus and determination. But I will never, ever doubt the mental fortitude of this team. Their "bounce back" ability has been proven over and over again.

Great effort by the Boys in Blue.

Go 'Cats, beat SC!

by Ken Howlett on Mar 2, 2008 3:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

anyone have the link?

does anyone know the link for the post game interview with Gillispie?

by cat woman on Mar 2, 2008 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's probably not up yet.

You will be able to find it at any number of sites, eventually.

To be honest I'm not sure if Tru links the interview or not, but KentuckySportsRadio usually makes it available, as well as John Clay on his Sidelines blog.

Be patient, it should be up before the end of the day.

by Ken Howlett on Mar 2, 2008 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There are a few...

There are a few Gillispie post game quotes on UT's website:
http://www.utsports.com/common/article.aspx?id=53014

by cthom on Mar 2, 2008 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Love BCG!

Gillispie again shoulders blame saying that he should have called a time out during the last seconds to give UK a good position on the floor. I truely think that we have found a gem in Gillispie. I believe that he is exactly what we need to take the Kentucky b-ball program back where it deserves to be.

by kentuckygirl0724 on Mar 3, 2008 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I might be wrong...

...about Gillispie's post-game interview with Leach.

I believe I'm thinking about the post-game with the press, being linked by multiple sites.

You can find Gillispie's, as well as Pearl's comments at ukathletics.com. Many times Clyde's interview with Leach contains the same, or very similar thoughts on the coaches part, as the post-game press interview.

by Ken Howlett on Mar 2, 2008 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

NCAA tourney

I agree with everything you said above Ken. The most important thing UK can do now is prove they can win games without Patterson. Although they didn't get a W today, they did prove they can play a great game without PP which is almost just as important.

It also helps to further prove the game at Vandy was an aberration and not an indication of their true ability.

Looking for a rock to wind a piece of string around.

by JLeverenz on Mar 2, 2008 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Vandy

About half-way through the second half I thought "this game neutralizes the Vandy loss".

I certainly think that's fair, and hopefully the Committee thinks the same.

by Ken Howlett on Mar 2, 2008 10:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought

the exact same thing!

by cdnWildcatfan on Mar 3, 2008 1:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great minds and all that ... :)

by Ken Howlett on Mar 3, 2008 1:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

RPI

UK's RPI now stands at 53 with a SOS of 10.

My oh my, what would a win have done to the RPI?

by Ken Howlett on Mar 2, 2008 4:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Whew

Iknow alot of peope have said that the SEC is down this year but in my twenty years of watching SEC basketball I have to say this is one of the most entertaining to watch. Every team with the exception of one or two can win the SEC championship. I hope that somehow we get to play Tennessee for the championship. I have real high hope that Ky and Tennessee will be the teams to beat next year. I just hate that we lost. Hate it hate it hate it, but folks...........WE ARE BACK. For the first time in years we are playing at or above our talent level. I believe that Coach G is giving these guys what they need to succed. Can you imagine one or two more yeas with Bradley and Crawford? If we had this guy two years ago I strongly believe that we are in the NC talk. I just hope with all hope that Kentucky goes to post season and honestly I feel that the NIT would be better for us. Our seeding will be terrible in the NCAA. If we make it out of the first round we face a number one seed. Get us some Rupp games at Rupp and win the NIT. Its not what we are used to but I believe that we could do some great things in the NIT.

by tenken on Mar 2, 2008 4:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Terrible Seeding = Better!

I would LOVE to have like a 12 seed.

Remember, it's the 8/9 seeds that stink. They are the ones that get to play the #1 seed next round. I would prefer 10-14 over 8 or 9 anyday!

by EEWildcat on Mar 2, 2008 7:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great game

Very impressed with the 'Cats. Your team is tough. I'm calling it now, Florida's 7-game streak ends at Rupp next week. We don't have guys with that amount of grit right now. Wish we did, but we don't. But they'll get better.

Anyway, at the risk of sounding like a Monday morning quarterback, I was disappointed with the final offensive possession for Kentucky. It was obvious that they'd lost their legs somewhere around the 5-minutes-remaining mark and despite making 3 of their last 4 treys I felt Gillispie knew their long range shot was probably gone and would attack the basket. I wanted to see a drive to the hoop and maybe a foul, possibly even a 2+1 deal, but with 28 seconds or whatever was remaining on the clock there was plenty of time to do that, then foul UT (who was shooting poorly at the FT line) and get another possession. Instead they launched three terrible 3-point shots, none of which looked close (at least to my current recollection -- maybe Bradley's wasn't bad?)

I thought this could have been done better. Still, it was a magnificent effort and even though they don't log moral wins in the W column, that was pretty amazing and I gained a ton of respect for this team watching that game.

Orange and Blue Hue: The World through GATOR-colored Glasses -- http://www.orangeandbluehue.com

by Gatorpilot on Mar 2, 2008 5:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: GP

Thanks for the complement to our team

Jaspers premature 3pt attempt is puzzling to me also. I don't know if he thought the shot clock was running down or what, but it certainly was an ill-advised shot. I seriously doubt that is what Gillispie drew up.

By the way, it's great to "hear" from you again. I'm glad you're feeling better. My family and I went through about 3 weeks worth of sickness. I know it's no fun.

Once again, welcome back.

by Ken Howlett on Mar 2, 2008 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks ...

for the kind words, GP.

Right now, I just hope we can handle South Carolina. I'm taking after the team a little.

:-)

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 2, 2008 7:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

UK versus UF

This game may determine which team makes the field of 65. I am not sure UK wins as there is a serious matchup problem inside, much worse than with UT (IMO).

IMO, Florida is not deserving of a bid to the tourny unless they win 3 or 54 more games. The simply played a shameful schedule and.. uhm.. it looks like it may come back to bite them.

by BeatUL on Mar 2, 2008 9:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Field of 65

Whether they deserve it or not is up in the air. I can't really argue for or against. I do think one additional conference win and they're probably in, right or wrong.

This year's pre-conf schedule was very light, but I think it was a smart move by Billy D. It gave our young guys some much-needed confidence and most importantly gave him a chance to spread minutes throughout the bench, and that has paid off a few times this season.

Could it bite us in come selection time? Sure it could. Did it already pay dividends without which it might be a moot point anyway? Yep.

So there you have it.

Orange and Blue Hue: The World through GATOR-colored Glasses -- http://www.orangeandbluehue.com

by Gatorpilot on Mar 2, 2008 11:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

heart

arent' we all tru.......this team has my heart. I had tears in my eyes when we lost. I have to say that feeling I had hssn't happened since the Duke game. Its so hard to see them lose when they tried so hard. I keep hearing the pundits say Tennessee almost threw it away which is a total croc. We did what was needed to be done. Well almost anyway. Did anyone hear that some people were going to try to meet the team when they landed today?

by tenken on Mar 2, 2008 7:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Should have listened to Perry Stevenson

There was a press conference with Ramel and Perry and someone asked Perry how the team would do without Patrick. He said "We'll be fine. Just watch." He was right!

Hope we can ride this effort to do even better in South Carolina and finish up strong against the Gators.

by EEWildcat on Mar 2, 2008 7:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

At the Game

I bought tickets for my pops for his birthday. I was really dreading sitting next to dad (being an ut fan) and hear him razz me about UK doing poorly. He did for the first 7 or so minutes and then we made the run. He stopped and just sat there stunned. And that is what impressed me the most with this team and our coach. They have the ability to take away the home court advantage of a major rival team's crowd which rivals Rupp in numbers. I sat there for the rest of the game and watch the obnoxious orange faithful just stunned. They were ripping their team apart. Why aren't we pressing harder? We are we walking the ball up the court? We don't we have the three point shooters in? It was not until the 4 minute mark in the second half that ut fans stood up again (save the ernie g jersey retirement).
Not only that, Coach with the aid of his marvelous staff, I am sure, planned and executed a game plan in two days that made them competitive without one of the major contributors against the #1 team in the land. TWO FREAKING DAYS. Even though we lost, it was awesome to hear the ut faithful praise Billy G and watch them realize the Cats are always going to be a factor in the SEC even when the chips are down. Although the best part of the afternoon was hearing dad say that if you put Kentucky on the neutral court in Atlanta with their heart and intensity we probably aren't going to need a at large bid.

by jshawn17 on Mar 2, 2008 9:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Excellent post...

...great story.

Here's hoping pops is right :)

by Ken Howlett on Mar 2, 2008 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

proud, proud, proud

This group may go and get themselves remembered as one our most beloved teams if they don't watch it. Really couldn't be prouder to be a Wildcat than I am now. Right after the game I was pretty heartbroken to get so, so close and fall just short but really, today is a great day to be a Kentucky fan. I don't think I've ever felt quite so proud of a team after a loss in my life, and rarely even have I felt so satisfied after a win.

I don't know if we'll make the tourney or not, and while I hope like crazy that we will, if we don't, that's okay too. The future seems to like the weather here in Nashville today--clear skies and beautiful. I am someone who, I admit, has fretted at times this season at some of coach's odd on-court moves. Okay, I thought, I know he can recruit, but can the man actually coach a ballgame?? Guess he showed me--I was beyond impressed with his coaching today. To throw together this Patterson-less game plan in, what, two days? And almost take down #1 on their court after the emotional blow of losing Patterson? That's insane. His comments after the game were awesome too. I think he fits Kentucky basketball like a glove, I wouldn't take any other coach over him and I can't wait to see what he's gonna do here.

by blue kentucky girl on Mar 2, 2008 11:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

By the way

When did we get the Web 2.0 glossy icons? I feel like I should throw together some JavaScript that refreshes Billy Gillispie's latest location. :)

The Online Home of the Big Blue Nation...

by TheFakeGimelMartinez on Mar 3, 2008 12:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Fluff N Busters

This team has transformed from fluff-n-busters to gangbusters.

jc25 told the truth when they stated that Joe and Ramel will play in the NBA. I have been stressing all season that that is their ultimate goal and in order to do so they must listen to coach and their hearts. Like many UK fans it has been heartwrenching to watch Joe and Ramel play. Sure there is some selfishness there, but I can guarantee I was wearing UK paraphenalia long before these two decided to play at UK.

Watching them out of high school you could see their potential and the reason they were brought to UK. The truly heartwrenching part of watching them these past few years has been knowing that their dream? to play against the best in the nation (NBA)and possibly world (Olympics)was being thrown away and there was no way to transfer the passion and desire of an entire fanbase to them.

The culture of UK basketball had grown fat and needed trimmin'.I believe Tubby realized that change was needed and he couldn't effect the change and master strategist that he is, he arranged for a change of scenery. I don't think it's any coincidence that Tubby ended up at Minnesota. Well, the team is fairly inconsequential, it was going to be a D-1 team in a power conference that would embrace the magic that is Coach Tubby Smith.

I won't wax poetic about this season. We have seen the transformation of the ENTIRE TEAM and the effect Coach Gillispie has had. But I want to especially recognize Ramel and Joe because they were highly touted coming in, moreso than any other player on the roster, besides Patterson.

They could have easily said they were left high and dry by their fellow classmates Rondo and Morris and sulked off into obscurity. Early on this season I would have thought that their MO. Instead we have two warriors that I feel have come to embody the passion of a true basketball player and especially the qualities that a University of Kentucky fan holds dear to their spirit.

I wrote sometime in early December that I would be happy when Senior day rolled around so we could say goodbye to these two characters and move on properly into a new era of Big Blue basketball. Now, I only wish I could be at Senior Day in Rupp Arena so I could properly pay my respects to these two men who have made the best possible changes for THEMSELVES.

Thank you Ramel and Joe. Good luck in the NBA gentlemen.

GO BIG BLUE!!!!!

by bluecrip on Mar 3, 2008 2:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs