Florida at Kentucky -- After Action Report
by Glenn Logan on Mar 9, 2008 4:15 PM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
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It sure was nice getting the Florida monkey off our back, even though we tried very hard to give them a chance to win the game late. But as we have said so many times this year, a win is a win, and this is just one more. But it was a bit sweeter than most.
Congratulations to Florida for a great contest. They just would not give up, as you would expect, and really hurt Kentucky late by taking the ball hard to the basket. The Gators just let Kentucky get away from them in the middle of the second half with a barrage of three point shots and defensive stops that saw the Cats develop a 16-point bulge at one time. But just as Florida gave up a big lead to UT last week, Kentucky surrendered all but three points of that lead with 10.8 seconds left in the game. But as the Wildcats have done all year, they hit the big free throws when it really mattered and won the basketball game.
I thought Kentucky played well for most of the game, but they fell into Florida's trap. Whenever Kentucky winds up in a game that ends in the 70's, there is serious cause for concern. Gillispie wants the game to finish in the low or mid 60's, where he knows the Cats have a very good chance to win. Get the pace much higher than that, and Kentucky always struggles.
Just as it has been all year, depth was our biggest problem. With only 8 players at our disposal, it is very challenging when our best defensive player, Ramon Harris, gets into early foul trouble. But Perry Stevenson decided to do his best Patrick Patterson imitation with another double-double and 5 blocks to go along with it. Not only did he score 18 points, pull down 10 rebounds and get 5 huge blocks, but he shot 75% from the line and made the two free throws that iced the game. Stevenson has matured into a genuine scoring threat on the low blocks, and he is doing it with great confidence. It is always a pleasure to watch a young player suddenly break out, and watching Stevenson show us why he was so highly thought of in high school is a real pleasure.
But Stevenson wasn't the only hero. Crawford produced, although he shot poorly from the perimeter. Derrick Jasper made huge shots from three, winding up with 14 points and 4-4 from the arc, including one incredible contested 22-footer under shot-clock pressure. Ramon Harris shut down Calathes for long stretches, but credit the young freshman for getting him in foul trouble and eventually disqualified. Ramel Bradley did not have one of his better games, making only 2-5 free throws and shooting a very un-Ramel like 5-12 from the floor. Kentucky did have as many assists as Florida did, and 3 less turnovers, with Bradley leading the way with 7 dimes.
Overall, it was (and I hate to say this) a typical Kentucky performance. The Cats have not been able to stand prosperity all year, but at least they have learned to hang on to enough of the loose change that they don't wind up bankrupt when the final buzzer sounds. Via Statsheet.com, here is a a rundown of the final statistics:
Kentucky Players
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Shooting
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Rebounds
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| D. Jasper (G) | 31 | 14 | 5-5 | 100 | 0-3 | 0 | 4-4 | 100 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| R. Bradley (G) | 40 | 14 | 5-12 | 41.7 | 2-5 | 40 | 2-5 | 40 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| J. Crawford (F) | 38 | 16 | 7-17 | 41.2 | 0-1 | 0 | 2-7 | 28.6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| R. Harris (F) | 25 | 9 | 3-5 | 60 | 1-1 | 100 | 2-2 | 100 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| M. Coury (F) | 4 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Stevenson | 36 | 18 | 6-6 | 100 | 6-8 | 75 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| M. Porter | 15 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A. Stewart | 11 | 4 | 2-3 | 66.7 | 0-2 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Florida Players
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Shooting
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Rebounds
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| W. Hodge (G) | 31 | 5 | 2-6 | 33.3 | 0-0 | 0 | 1-1 | 100 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| J. Lucas (G) | 35 | 13 | 4-9 | 44.4 | 3-5 | 60 | 2-5 | 40 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D. Werner (F) | 35 | 9 | 3-7 | 42.9 | 2-2 | 100 | 1-4 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| N. Calathes (F) | 23 | 16 | 5-7 | 71.4 | 4-7 | 57.1 | 2-4 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| M. Speights (C) | 29 | 20 | 8-11 | 72.7 | 4-5 | 80 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| J. Mitchell | 12 | 4 | 2-3 | 66.7 | 0-1 | 0 | 0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| C. Parsons | 23 | 3 | 1-6 | 16.7 | 1-2 | 50 | 0-1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| A. Allen | 7 | 0 | 0-1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Tyus | 5 | 0 | 0-2 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Teams
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Points and Possessions
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Shooting
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1ST
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2ND
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F
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EFF
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FLR%
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TP
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PPP
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FG
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FT
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3PT
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eFG%
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TS%
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FTR
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| UK | 33 | 42 | 75 | 127.1 | 59.6 | 59 | 1.3 | 28-48 (58.3%) | 9-20 (45.0%) | 10-18 (55.6%) | 68.7 | 65.2 | 41.6 |
| FLA | 31 | 39 | 70 | 118.6 | 62.5 | 59 | 1.2 | 25-52 (48.1%) | 14-22 (63.6%) | 6-17 (35.3%) | 53.8 | 56.0 | 42.3 |
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Teams
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Rebounds
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Assists
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Turnovers
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Steals
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Blocks
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PF
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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REB
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REB%
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OFF
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OFF%
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DEF
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DEF%
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AST
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AST%
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A/TO
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TO
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TO%
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STL
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STL%
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BLK
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BLK%
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| UK | 23 | 38.1 | 6 | 23.0 | 17 | 53.1 | 13 | 46.4 | 1.4 | 9 | 15.2 | 4 | 6.7 | 5 | 9.6 | 17 |
| FLA | 35 | 61.8 | 15 | 46.8 | 20 | 76.9 | 13 | 52.0 | 1.1 |
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Do you like this story?Comments8-0 at home in SEC play
For the first time since 2003. A big congratulations to this group for really stepping it up.
It's a real pleasure to watch Perry Stevenson emerging before our very eyes - clearly playing with Patterson and against him in practice has done a world of good for that young man. Looking for a rock to wind a piece of string around.
Made my heart fail (almost)
Should be used to this, but can you ever get used to this type of torture? Watched the last 3 minutes at a Mr. Gatti's when i asked 2 kids working behind the counter if they thought the Cats would pull it out. One answered back "I hope not, i'm a Louisville fan". I wanted to reach over and slap him on the forehead, but i had'nt had my pizza yet!! GO CATS!
Coury
Coach G likes to reward players that practice hard so Coury has been starting all year and playing a few minutes at the beginning. It probably helps keep Stevenson from picking up any early fouls. Whatever works. They keep on pulling out the Wins.
Stevenson
One of those guys who is better (and brings a spark) off the bench.
Coury plays the first 3 or 4 minutes but then 0. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 9, 2008 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions As BCG said..
I want finishers not starters...
or something like that. by BeatUL on Mar 10, 2008 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions 
He shouldn't be.
In today's game 3 of Florida's first 4 baskets were scored on Coury. I'm sure he tries his best but it's so obvious his best isn't good enough. I'm sorry, but Stevenson deserves the start.
11 Of Past 13 Are W
Don't fix what ain't broken (as they say).
by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 9, 2008 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions Always Pull Through Late
I was really lucky and got a ticket today-- Rupp was rocking-- and I was really happy with how everyone played, and the response the crowd gave to Joe & Ramel both before & after the game. After the final, teary-eyed rendition of "My Old Kentucky Home," BCG took the mic and told everyone in his tattered voice how much he loved his two seniors & how much they've persevered, never quitting when they saw the hand they'd been dealt. Ramel & Joe spoke too, and it was just really nice. (And BCG intro'd P-Pat as a guy who doesn't get off the bench much!)
I will really miss these two guys. Also: we do GREAT in close late-game situations. We almost manufacture them. I recall an ESPN article about the NBA playoffs that said playoff performance is best predicted by how many close games you win. Well... :) I wouldn't want to face our Cats in the NCAAs. Some people may be surprised. We won't! by CW @ A Sea Of Blue on Mar 9, 2008 5:59 PM EDT reply actions 
We are tough ...
late. That's for sure.
Congrats on the tix. I got to go to Chuck Hayes' Senior Day. Never forget it. Ever. 
How high do we want to rise?
Do you think its possible to get too favorable a seed in the tourney? I would personally rather be a lower seed and get matched up with an overrated big conference school in the 1st round. 12 vs 5 would be ideal.
http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joingroup ID: 10939 password: wildcats08
Just Get in the Tourney
We just need to be happy we are in....but to answer your question, we need the highest seed possible...always the easiest route....personally, I would like to be in the same region as Memphis....if by some miracle we play them....I think they can be beaten....they can't play slow.
by Chuck Alexinis on Mar 9, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions UK Beat Tennessee
Memphis did not.
But I'd think Memphis has the depth over UK... by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 9, 2008 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed.
I also think the Memphis bracket would be the best for us. But I'd also like to see what we could do with Tennessee on a neutral court...
http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joingroup ID: 10939 password: wildcats08
UK wouldn't play UT until the FF....
...but I'm with you. Another chance at those guys would be sweet.
Totally untrue
The higher seed the better is only true for seeds 7 and better, and the really low seeds UK will never get (15-16 or so). The seeding above 7 is to make life easier for the 7 or better seeds, not to make life easier for the 8 or worse seeds.
A 12 or 13 is much better than a 8 or 9. Look at the road to the sweet sixteen. It's much easier to beat a 5 and 4 than a 8/9 and a 1 seed. Think about it, the 8/9 seed is the same as the dog-leg play in game. You get to play one game, the you have to face the #1 seed. That's no good. Give me 10-14 anyday over 8/9. Even better, get a 10, 11, or a 14, and then you don't have to face the #1 seed until the elite eight, and they may been upset by then. Of course there are good and bad match-ups for a team's style, and seeding errors for any bracket, but generally speaking, 8 and 9 are dogs compared to 10-14. But I won't complain about a 8 or 9 seed, I'll just be happy if UK makes it in! Go cats! 
Completely agree
I've been saying around here for the last several weeks that I wanted a 12 seed. I'm terrified that we'll go on a run this coming week and get "rewarded" with an 8 and a return date with UNC.
8 or 9 Seed
The 2006 and 2007 Cats each got 8 seed. This team is similar.
by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 9, 2008 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Seed
You're probably right, but if UK can get to the championship game next Suday, I think they have a real shot at getting a 7.
RPI And SOS
UK was #13 RPI and had #1 SOS in 2007 and got 8 seed with 21-11 record.
UK was #41 RPI and had #15 SOS in 2006 and got 8 seed with 21-12 record. If UK gets to SECT final (but L there), that's 20-12 with RPI in 40 range and SOS in 20 range. I smell another 8 seed. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 9, 2008 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions 
It depends on how you look at it
Or actually how the NCAA will look at it. We are different then last year especially if we do well in the tourney. Although the overall record is similiar we arent' going into the postseason limpling. If we make a strong run in the tourney say semis or finals then we don't deserve that horrible eight seed again.
8 or 9 seed in Memphis' region
I think would be best. A 7 or even 10 seed would likely put us against Duke or Kansas in the second round. Personally I think our team has a better shot against Memphis than either of those two. With Calapari's sorry FT shooting team against the Cluch Cats I think we could take them out in a close game.
http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joingroup ID: 10939 password: wildcats08
Clutch* catshttp://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joingroup ID: 10939 password: wildcats08
From DoyelDonovan said his team needs more size and athletic ability. He also implied that a little luck would have been nice, going out of his way three times to mention the series of lucky shots Kentucky used during its 24-7 run that broke open the game early in the second half. Jasper hit two of them, one a 3-pointer from a harsh angle that banked off the backboard. The other was an off-balance heave at the shot-clock horn. The third shot was another shot-clock beater, a 19-footer by post player A.J. Stewart that hit the back of the rim, popped 10 feet into the air and fell through the hoop.
"Eight points there that we couldn't do much about, so to speak," Donovan said. "What words would you use?" Every team wins and loses a few games because of lucky bounes - it's the nature of sports and it usually evens out over the course of a season and the course of a career. As fans it's fun (and frustrating!) to talk about bounces that went for and against your team, but coming from a coach it's small and whiny. Even during the worst stretch of this season, we never heard any excuses like this from Gillispie - yet another reason to know UK got the right Billy for the job. Maybe Donovan would like to go back and look at the OT win over UK earlier this season and look for some bounces that went his way, hmmm? No, I didn't think so. Looking for a rock to wind a piece of string around.
We Did Get the Right Billy
I'd add that Billy D (or as we call him, Eddie Munster) got his fair share of questionable help from the refs today. From the nosebleeds it looked like the zebras wanted the run & gun game Florida prefers. Harris fouled out, Ramel with 4, Stevenson & Jasper with 3 each?
And Jasper's weren't luck-- 4 for 4, he can flat-out shoot the 3 (and was mobbed on the bank shot, no call). AJ's was highly improbable, I'll admit, but so was Ramel's uncharacteristic shooting from the line. It balances out. You can make either your own luck or your own excuses. by CW @ A Sea Of Blue on Mar 9, 2008 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions Donovan Is A Quality Coach
Just a bit of of Pitiwhiner in him.
But one heckuva coach. 3 FF, 3 title games, 2 NCAA titles in 13 years (so far) with this being his 14th season. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 9, 2008 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions Sure, he's a quality coach...
...but I don't like him. I never wanted to see him in Rupp anywhere but the visitor's bench.
by CW @ A Sea Of Blue on Mar 10, 2008 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Pitino
At least Donovan didn't flat out call UK lucky like Pitino did yesterday when referring to Georgetown.
Luck
I don't want to hear Donovan say a word about us being lucky. This UK team has had some of the worst luck I've seen any team have, but none of us here whined about it and neither did the team, or Coach G.
If we want to sink to that level then Florida was lucky that two of our best players were injured and didn't play today making the game as close as it was. But of course, we're wildcats. We don't make excuses, just victories. http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joingroup ID: 10939 password: wildcats08
have to say
that Billy is right......we couldn't miss. Rupp was up there on the board guiding those balls in the basket. We just couldn't miss today. I wish that I could grab Joe and Ramal and give them a huge hug.
for as much as we couldn't miss....
Florida was also immune to a travel/walking call from what it looked like at the game.
by cdnWildcatfan on Mar 9, 2008 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions Happy Chandler > MOKH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqGuVQsl-7U
This song on Senior Day and at the Derby, plus Back Home Again In Indiana at the Indy 500 are sure to bring a tear (or two)...
Another Great Win!
Gotta commend the players for their effort today. They look like they're giving it their all.
Go Cats!
seeding.
I am absolutely sick of 8/9 seeds and a 1-way ticket home in the second round (although upsets happen, they are never expected - remember UAB?). I would much rather get a 7 seed (maybe if we win the SEC tourney, if Vandy can upset UT in the semis) or get slighted and given a 10 or 11 seed; UK has a much better chance of beating a 6/7 seed and then a 2/3 seed compared to facing a team like UNC in the second round. I WANT ANOTHER SWEET SIXTEEN, something that really makes a statement about this amazing team and the direction this program is going in, and I think this is possible given the right breaks.
To hell with TN...
if I was on the team I would be salivating at the prospect of another matchup with Miss St. That game is the albatross on these guys neck. They made Darth Vadar look like Chamberlain and let Gordon go to town all the while getting basically out-toughed and pushed around like pansies. That was a road game they should have won.
Tennessee was beat once, nearly twice, there is nothing else left to prove there. The Cats lost to TN (split), Vandy (split), Florida (split) and Miss State. They owe Miss State. If all goes well there will be a rematch Saturday at 3:15. Bring it on!!!! GO BIG BLUE!!!!A!A!
True,
I think I just don't think about MSU as much, perhaps because I am rather confident we can beat them in the hopefully upcoming rematch. The truth is, while MSU is a really good team and be a good test for UK, UT is still more talented than MSU (and the available roster UK will have next weekend) and I think we would be significant underdogs in a final against the Vols. Ultimately, I don't care how it happens, I just want to see us with the SECT - then we would really have some steam heading into the NCAA tournament.
by cdnWildcatfan on Mar 9, 2008 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions SECT Champs = NCAA Success
1984 SECT champs = NCAA Final 4.
1986 SECT champs = Elite 8. 1988 SECT champs = Sweet 16. 1992 SECT champs = Elite 8. 1993 SECT champs = Final 4. 1994 SECT champs = oops. 1995 SECT champs = Elite 8. 1997 SECT champs = NCAA runner-up. 1998 SECT champs = NCAA champs. 1999 SECT champs = Elite 8. 2001 SECT champs = Sweet 16. 2003 SECT champs = Elite 8. 2004 SECT champs = oops. Generally SECT champs = NCAA success. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 10, 2008 12:08 AM EDT reply actions
Easy to forget sometimes
Just how dominating we were in the 90's. Every year that we were eligible we won the SEC tourney, with the exception of the year that saw the possibly greatest team in NCAA history.
Greatest Teams In NCAA History
UCLA in 1968 or 1969. UCLA in 1972 or 1973.
UK 1978 was a stronger team (10 NBA draftees) than 1996. IU 1975 and 1976 also very strong contenders. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 10, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions Opinions are Like Snowflakes
No two are alike and they melt when heated.
There was no RPI in 1968 or 1969, nor in 1972 or 1973. Those UCLA teams were utterly dominant. The 1978 UK team would beat 1996 UK, I think, playing the same (3 point) rules. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 10, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
all the reason more
I will being cheering for us to win the SECT, not to mention that if we do so we will have won 14 of our last 16, 5 in a row without PPat, and Meeks is so good that if he can get back it can only help. I think objectively, someone looking at Kentucky coming into the NCAA's having won the SECT (in theory), would have to consider them a team very likely to make noise and at least make the sweet sixteen. This makes me wonder then, what all the fans wearing blue tinted glasses will start to think if we do, indeed, win the SECT.
One game at a time though obviously - UK losing their first SECT game would obviously make us look like a very vulnerable team again. by cdnWildcatfan on Mar 10, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions huh?
wow.
turns out that apparently tubby was a great recruiter. he just could not coach(?). isn't that a twist. by mateotemprano on Mar 10, 2008 8:24 AM EDT reply actions
I couldn't disagree more
I'd say its just the opposite. If you look at the roster this team was left with other than the big boys, its obvious that the team was depleted.
The fact that Tubby was able to eke out the wins he did over the last couple of years is a testament to his ability as a sideline guru. I still maintain to this day that while he may have won the 98 championship with Pitino's players... I don't think Rick could have coached that team to the title. One thing that he didn't do was pull out the real desire to play that we're seeing from this team.
I agrree
Chirip I agree with you on this. Tubby had a great group of players but it takes coaching. Tubby did some great stuff with Hayes, Azibuke and others. But I just think he was tired of UK last year. Don't blame him. But you could see in his eyes that he was not into what he was doing. It didn't suprise me one bit that he left. I have alot of respect for Tubby, but he just wasn't that right fit for us basketball junkies. Billy G fits us to a T.
Tubby Happy, UK Fans Happy
Time to let it go.
If I can, anybody can. He's my friend. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 10, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions Of course Tubby is happy...
He is wealthy and famous thanks to UK. I hope he is stuck in the NIT for the next five years. Pitino will fall back into my good graces before the cash stealing, coattail riding, sacred cow of college coaches does.
by BeatUL on Mar 10, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions What A Load Of Crap
Tubby has 14 straight NCAA appearances. 14 straight 20 W seasons. 24-9 career average. 29-13 career NCAA record. 9 Sweet 16, 4 Elite 8, 1 NCAA title.
What pure, unadulterated BS... by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 10, 2008 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions and another stat...
more meaningless 20 win seasons than I care to count.
There is a saying "stats are for losers." You certainly like to spew them out. Tubby, while the coach of the greatest college program of all time, as the coach of the team with the greatest fan base and facilities in all the land, the coach who Pitino left the most dominate program in all of basketball to at that time could not make it to one, not one Final Four with his players. You want to win 20 meanignless games, hire Tubby, you want to make it to a Final Four, run from Tubby, don't take his calls, don't think about him and for God's sake do not hire him. by BeatUL on Mar 10, 2008 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions Tubby
While coach at UK, his teams had 4th best W-L record in NCAA Div I. And 4th best W-L record in NCAA tourney games.
1 NCAA title, 4 Elite 8, and 6 Sweet 16 in 10 seasons. All right at UK historical averages. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 11, 2008 6:30 AM EDT up reply actions Once again...
stats are for losers. They are spewed out to defend failure to produce championships. Maybe you are fine with good stats, I am fine with a Final four every five or six years. I DONT CARE WHAT UK TEAMS DID IN THE 60s and 70s.
Tubby was handed the keys to a lanborghini and he drove it like a Kia. Tubby was handed a team with NBA players; he has never recruited / signed a player to make it to the Final Four (saul doesn't count; although that kid played harder than any UK guard I can remember). Tubby was gifted tremendous talent, the best facilities, the greatest fanbase and MILLIONS of $ and he failed to take his own team to the Final Four. Given where UK was at the time and the situation he was handed, he failed. by BeatUL on Mar 11, 2008 7:05 AM EDT up reply actions 
agree
i agree with most of what you've said, if not exactly how you said it, but my one question is why saul doesn't count. is it just because he's the coaches son, or is there another reason?
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Mar 11, 2008 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
wow
clearly you have some strong feelings...here's my thought on that. i could care less how minnesota does as long as the Cats are doing well. if UK is in the final four and back to winning NCs, i couldn't care less if the gophers lose every game or they lose to us in the championship game. as long as UK is on top, let everyone else fall where they fall.
just my two cents. GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Mar 10, 2008 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
The argument is getting stale...
BeatUL, you seem to be the only person around here who likes to dredge up the past with such intensity. I would think it would be obvious by now that those comments don't quite fit in amongst the other posters and you'd let it rest.
On a personal note... you seem to have issues with finding a healthy outlet for your anger. I suggest professional counseling. ;-) 
Agreed...
and suggesting ANYONE here is a loser crosses the line IMO. This site is head and shoulders above other blogs because no one goes down that road. It's not my sight to say who posts what, but as someone who frequents this spot a lot, I for one would like to see it remain that way.
by wldcatsfreak on Mar 10, 2008 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions You read that wrong..
or I typed it wrong.. "stats are for losers" or, it is what teams or individuals that fail to meet expectations or win fall back to.
by BeatUL on Mar 10, 2008 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions i.e.,
that comment was directed at cash stealing Tubby, not 4000yrcatfan
by BeatUL on Mar 10, 2008 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions FYI
i didn't bring cash stealing Tubby up, I simply replied to a comment.
And when posters can only make comments that conform to popular thought, or the majority opinion that is when this becomes a pathetic meaningless blog. by BeatUL on Mar 10, 2008 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Stop bickering about Tubby please
I am sorry if this got off point but I was just agreeing that Tubby did a good job coaching in 96. This was about coaching not Tubby. I made the point that Tubby didn't seem to care anymore and he left and BG came in and he does care and so its perfect for what we need. Just comparing the coaching styles. So around the world way to say that BG is an excellent coach!!!!
Agreed..
BG is one hell of a coach and if he has earned SEC coach of the year and if he is not awared that, it is simply wrong.
by BeatUL on Mar 11, 2008 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions scratch the "if"
he has certainly earned it.
by BeatUL on Mar 11, 2008 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Contrary comments
I don't think anyone around here would say that your opinions are not valid and that you don't have a right to them or to share them with others... I think you'll find that if you read other posts on this board there are many messages that agree 100% with you on Tubby and with your comments on Florida athletics in general. What you won't find around here are any other posts with quite your "presentation" and that is what makes some of your rants seem out of place.
Beat UL
Is the poster known as Katman 2000 who runs the Dynasty Defenders website.
Real name is Mark Santangelo. Avowed Tubby hater since the day Tubby was born for reasons obvious to all. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 11, 2008 6:32 AM EDT up reply actions Wrong..
I have no idea who Mark Santangelo is. If you are implying that I am a racist then you can kiss my _ _ _ because you don't know me and you don't know my ethnicity.
I don't hate Tubby at all. He is a good coach; UK deserves great coaches. Tubby is a good man but flawed like us all. My beef with him is he singed the most lucrative contract in college sports and followed it by poor decisions, continued failure to make it to the Final Four and poor, very unbalanced recruiting. Fans complain when an athlete signs the megadeal then becomes fat and happy; certainly Tubby is a poster child for that. He had the Minn job and another multi-million dollar contract in his pocket before UK's season was over. UK did MUCH MUCH MORE for Tubby than Tubby did for UK. by BeatUL on Mar 11, 2008 6:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Fine ...
Leave it at that. When a Tubby Smith thread comes up, and it will, you can discuss his shortcomings with the rest of us. But every time his name is mentioned, it doesn't require a tirade.
So please, enough is enough. UK Did More For Pitino, Too
Pitino won 81% of his UK games and 81% of his NCAA games at UK.
He has won 71% of his games at 3 other schools and 63% of his NCAA games at those schools. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 16, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
For anyone checking this board early in the morn..
Mike and Mike on ESPN radio is getting ready to interview Billy Gillispie as soon as they can get him on the phone.
Crawford
Did anyone happen to see Crawford's body language when A.J. Stewart took that shot?? It was HILARIOUS!
by kentuckygirl0724 on Mar 10, 2008 9:06 AM EDT reply actions Joe Lunardi...
has us as a 10 seed now.
I see
Kansas lurking near there...
by kentuckygirl0724 on Mar 10, 2008 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions So does...
...Bracketology 101. And they've had us in the tournament a couple of weeks before Lunardi.
by CW @ A Sea Of Blue on Mar 10, 2008 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
10 Seed
He actually had us as a 10 seed as of last Friday. I'm actually somewhat surprised that he didn't move us up over the weekend.
Scratch that
He has yet to update it today. Come on Lunardi... its almost 3 o'clock on the east coast! Get some work done!!!
uh-huh
hey chirop:
i actually agree with you, for the most part. although i do think that the current sophs have (obviously) developed into a nice class. i don't think the prob with tubby was coaching-- he is obviously gifted with the Xs and Os. i think that over the years the expectations ground him down a bit and in the end he could not inspire the players the way BCG is doing now. but enough about tubby. good luck to him and GO CATS!!! what an amazing year... by mateotemprano on Mar 10, 2008 10:43 AM EDT reply actions One small complaint...
All of the great and deserving things about this team have already been said above. Therefore, I will not repeat them. However, I just have to get one small complaint off of my chest. Can someone, anyone, please explain to me why the coach continues to start Mark Coury at the begining of the games? I'm sure he is a great guy who shows up on time and practices hard every day. However, he is so completely, totally, and indisputably overmatched EVERY time he takes the floor against a quality opponent that, in my humble opinion, he causes UK to get behind early in virtually every game they play. Yesterday's game was a classic example. During Coury's brief stint on the floor, the Cats fell behind 10-2 and the air was momentarily sucked out of an otherwise high energy home crowd. During that time, Coury contributed no points, no assists, no steals, no blocks, and no rebounds. He also got beat defensively on three straight possessions. As soon as he went out (and Stevenson came in) the game changed dramatically, as UK went on a 9-2 run and the crowd woke up and became energized again. This was not an anomaly, folks, it happens virtually every time Coury takes the floor. I know, at the start of the season, that Coach was starting Coury to make a point to his "stars" that hard work in practice translated directly into more playing time. However, given the team's turnaround, I have to think thet all of the players have bought in and are working hard in practice, which means that the Coach made his point long ago and no longer needs to jeopordize his team's ability to start fast out of the gate by putting Coury on the floor.
There...I got that off of my chest and feel much better. Thanks for allowing me one small complaint while otherwise basking in the afterglow of yesterday's victory.
I have to agree
I feel a little deflated, myself, whenever I see Coury (or Carter, for that matter) take the floor.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Mar 10, 2008 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I've felt the same way....
....but at this point in the season I have given up on Gillispie NOT starting Coury.
This may be a bit simplistic, but it may be a superstitious thing with Clyde.(I've read someone here at ASoB theorize the very same thing) That's probably not the reason, but when I think logically about him starting a clearly inferior player, I can't come up with anything plausible. Coury did play well against S. Carolina...which was the first game in a loooong time where he wasn't completely overmatched. Whatever the reason, I'm not going to complain too much. At this point Clyde seems to be the Midas Man.
yes, Ken, exactly
I agree with everyone who says it makes no obvious sense to start Coury, but I'm not going to question Clyde's seemingly bizarro on-court decisions at this point. I'm sure he must have a reason, and that's good enough for me. I don't know if I fully buy the 'Coury practices hard, Stevenson doesn't' thing--because I don't see why two minutes of playing time at the start of the game is really that much of a reward, since coaches inevitably talk about how it's who finished that matters, not who starts.
Lord knows I didn't know what the hell BCG was doing with his weird mind games and strange player lineups back earlier in the season--his perplexing comments after the San Diego game about playing Meeks "when he was available" was among the most inscrutable coach-speak that I have ever heard. But I think it is obvious that he DID have some kind of diabolical master plan after all--and that plan seems to be working right about now. So I'm just going to trust he knows what he's doing with this too. Not that I begrudge those who are questioning him now--it is the fine tradition of UK fans to second-guess coaching decisions on matters of importance ranging from starting lineups to necktie color selection. by blue kentucky girl on Mar 10, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Me too
I was rethinking this too. Yes we always seem to have to dig out of a big deficit, but maybe it's Billy G being very clever. Maybe he's putting some foul bank in there to see how the refs are calling things that day, because Stevenson has been very foul-prone in the past. If there's one thing we have zero tolerance for, it is Stevenson getting in foul trouble.
Never thought of it that way...
...hell, it makes as much sense as anything else I have heard or read.
1 of the best
This season will go down as one of the most enjoyable ever. I believe the signature point for this season will be in the way this team went from little effort to effort over the top. I absolutely love a team with heart and this team has shown more heart like no other since the unforgetables. We must always remember to invite Joe & Ramel to the final four and the championship we're about to win very soon.
Tell the basketball world. Shout it! WE'RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coury starting
has to do with team building. Simple as that. The team is not worried about getting in a hole or "starting fast". They are mature enough to know that there is a whole game to play and with the current active roster it makes sense to pull an Ali and rope a dope!!! In this case, milk the clock and jab in a killing shot at the last second.
Don't be frustrated when you see Coury start. Take it as a sign that all is well and that coach has faith in ALL his players, even a walk-on. GO BIG BLUE!!! Worry when Coury finishes close games..
not when he starts games.
by BeatUL on Mar 11, 2008 6:27 AM EDT reply actions A "foul bank?"
That's the best explanation I've heard for starting Coury. However, I think the superstition angle makes the most sense.
If it ain't broke... .
I believe that
Saul doesn't count because Tubby didn't have to recruit him. My guess of what BeatUL was meaning.
My personal belief on the Tubby front is that there are a lot of UK basketball fans that feel Tubby didn't share the same passion as them, especially his last few years. No one here will argue his effectiveness as a coach. I rooted for him until he left, but it did seem like he had lost interest the last few years. Take a postgame interview from the 99-00 season and one from the 05-06 season and you will see an entirely different Tubby. Body language and voice patterns are the real indicators. He is the real deal and a great person and coach, which is why I believe he left the way he did, rather than going out like a Nolan Richardson. Tubby understood the passion and desire that the BBN has for its team and that it won't tolerate players or coaches who don't feel the same, if not for UK basketball, then for basketball period. GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!! Tubby Happy, UK Fans Happy
He is thrilled to be in Minnesota. So is Donna.
He is 407-158 (24-9 average) in 17 years as HC. 29-13 in NCAA games. He has 15 straight 20 W seasons. No active coach has more. The only 2 coaches EVER to have more are Dean Smith and Lute Olson. Ever. He had 14 straight NCAA appearances. Only Lute Olson and Roy Williams have more among active coaches. He was 308-102 in 12 years as HC in SEC. And 25-11 in NCAA games those years. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 16, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions Note Quite
Saul was committed to Georgia but changed to UK.
His brother GG was at Georgia but stayed there. Tubby recruited both. One came, not both. The one who came to UK was part of 4 teams that were 110-33 (27-8 average) and 12-3 in NCAA games. Those teams won NCAA title, 3 SEC titles, and 3 SECT championships in 4 years. by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 16, 2008 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Wahoo!
Well he got it didn't he! Coach of the year! I am so proud for Billy. He did a great job. I know we know it but I am glad his peers do also. So everyone lets calm down and enjoy this wonderful pleasant week. We don't know what the weekend holds in store for us so lets stand united. No use arguing about a man who is gone. Let us focus on what we have and that is a darn good coach who has his team going in a good direction. Tru....I didn't know if you new or not but I read on Knoxnews that Ramal got some other award with Division 1V all star team. I had trouble copying and pasting it. But you can see it on there.
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