OPEN SHOT: Discuss the Wildcats

by Truzenzuzex on May 11, 2008 4:12 PM EDT in Open Thread

Lots and lots has happened this week. New blogging platform here at A Sea of Blue, the whole Tipton thing, Jasper probably leaving, Jon Hood committing ...

The list of things to discuss seems endless lately. On thing is for sure, the whole recruiting thing for coming years has been rendered a lot less interesting. If Gillispie continues at the rate he is going, he will have the classes for the next three years filled by the end of the summer.

What a concept -- not having to live and breathe recruiting every waking moment. I for one am ready to move on to some other subject.

So what did you want to talk about again?

Oh yeah, I almost forgot: Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there.

Storyend_dingbat_medium

Here is a guy who gets it. I wonder why some feel so unencumbered to misbehave on the Internet. Maybe everyone should be required to post comments under their real name. That would probably change the tone from disrespect to discourse in a hurry.

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Recruiting Going Well

Injuries seem to be recuperating well.

Lots of Good News for (about) UK the past 12 months.

I’m looking for 25 W again next season. We’ll C. No reason Y not.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 11, 2008 4:59 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

25 wins?

We lose 2 senior guards and the guy that would have been our starting point guard. The SEC will be tougher and as of right now our OOC isn’t any easier. If Patterson or Meeks get hurt again we will be in big, big trouble.

For me, I look at next season as a continuation of BCG rebuilding the program and putting his stamp on it. He’s already proving that he will bring in the players so all we have to do is be patient and allow the influx of talent to take hold. Right now, we are still a pg and another high quality big away from being where we should have been all along at a major top 5 program like Kentucky.

"Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. " -- Sir Winston Churchill

by Crow on May 11, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

I think ...

... we will be fine next year, even with our losses. We should have a good enough combination of returning and new talent to make a run at the SEC East.

We will be a bit of a long shot, but I think we will be better than anyone expects.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 11, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Purdue (My Alma Mater)

Had 7 W in 2005 and 9 W in 2006. Then 22 W in 2007 and 25 W in 2008. Big 10 conference not SEC but still major conference. OOC schedule not as tough as UK but still competitive.

Basketball turns on a dime. I see NO REASON why UK can’t get to 25 W by March 2009. Not one.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 12, 2008 6:55 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I agree ...

With the combination of talent we have incoming and returning, 25 wins seems doable to me as well.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 12, 2008 7:18 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yessireebob

12 W in SEC. 10+ W in OOC. 2 or 3 W in SECT. 25 W before you know it. 2 deep at every spot.

UK AVERAGED 26 W and 12 W in SEC the 10 years before last season. Let’s get back to both.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 12, 2008 6:46 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I agree about 12 SEC wins

But we might not do as well out of conference again. I’m expecting to lose some early ones again, we’re definitely going to have an “adjustment” due to the point guard position flux (just like last year’s lack of experience in the paint and rebounding woes – even though Patterson was of course great). Even Tubby had some 1-3 and 1-4 starts, but the season turned out OK.

But there’s no reason not to get 12 SEC wins this year. Florida’s not the national championship team they were 2 and 3 years ago, and Tennessee is going to be off compared to the last couple of years.

by EEWildcat on May 12, 2008 9:16 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

UK Was Below .500 In OOC Last Season

That won’t happen again. 10+ W OOC because IU is down this coming season.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 12, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

How about the NBA?

I think discussing how well Tayshaun is a worthy subject during this slow time for UK. The Detroit Free Press has a story where they consider Tayshaun the future leader for the franchise.
Rondo has struggled the last couple games now that the Cavs have realized he is not a threat to shoot.
Bogans is playing well in a supporting role for the Magic and it has been fun watching Prince and Bogans defend each other.
I am predicting Pistons over lakers in 6 and Tayshaun shuts down Kobe.

UK has the greatest fans in the world!

by GoCats on May 11, 2008 10:39 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

It has been fun ...

... watching Prince and Bogans duel. Former teammates, having at each other.

I love having all these Kentucky guys in the playoffs, it really is awesome.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 11, 2008 10:51 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

They Dueled At Practice During 2002 (Team Of Turmoil) Season

Tay and Bogans got into a fistfight but it was quickly broken up. Both are VERY competitive guys.

(My source was a teammate of theirs, I know his family from my hometown near Cincinnati)

by FortyYearCatFan on May 12, 2008 6:48 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

That did not happen.

There was never a fist fight between those two.

by MyBloodRunsBlue on May 12, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

not that i know

whether a fight happened or not, but i wonder what makes you so sure…i’d like you to elaborate a bit more than “it didn’t happen.”

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on May 12, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I am curious...

Why did you not ask the same question when 40yroldguy said a fight broke out and all eh said is tht he had a source?

OK, I shall elaborate.. my source is someone in the athletic department.

by MyBloodRunsBlue on May 12, 2008 8:54 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

actually i have

i “called him out” in the Recruiting Re-Education post.

he said he has a source that was on the team…whether or not i believe him, he mentioned he had a source. if you said you know someone in the athletic department in your original post, i most likely wouldn’t have said anything.

so now we have two people each with a “source”...why do i sense this is not going to get resolved? ;)

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on May 12, 2008 11:55 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

My Guy Was Actually At The Practice

And was one of the players who broke up the fight.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 13, 2008 6:34 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

It never happened..

Think about it.. do you really think this would not have leaked out to the media? Some people just like to make this stuff up.

by MyBloodRunsBlue on May 13, 2008 9:56 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Anyone that has played any level of sport....

..knows from time to time incidents like this happen. No big deal. Keith had a strong personality and Tay probably got sick of hearing it one day. Stuff like that happens at a heckuva lot more practices than fans probably realize. It’s no big deal and really I have no idea why if it did happen it would be controversial?

Tayshaun basically replaced Bogans as the go-to guy in the clutch (and did a wonderful job of it, too), so that may have led to a little resentment. Keith always was a great scorer, but he stuggled when the game was on the line whereas Tayshaun has always been money in the clutch. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if they got snippy once or twice and I also wouldn’t think anything of it and neither would they.

by Crow on May 13, 2008 10:15 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Indeed IT DID

The 2002 season was far worse than its public perception.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 13, 2008 8:35 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Indeed It Did

My source was a sophomore on the team.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 12, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Wrong..

never happened. Stop making things up. Tay getting in a fistfight? Uhm.. right.

by MyBloodRunsBlue on May 12, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Indeed

It happened at a practice in 2002.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 12, 2008 9:23 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

i can't remember...

A time when there were this many kentucky players in playoff positions.

Back in Hagan and Ramsey’s day, it was a regular occurance.

The 2000s have been a real treat.

by SeasonNeverEnds on May 12, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

"Maybe everyone should be required to post comments under their real name."

I’ve been saying that for years. It would be great but each site has to make it mandatory for all members. Those that don’t agree can badger those who use their real names and viola! ... I’m rolling with the nic “Clandestine.”

by Clandestine on May 11, 2008 11:13 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

I know it's a pipe dream.

I really have no problem with anonymity if people would just act like they were signing their name to what they said.

:-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 11, 2008 11:18 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yeah but...

...that’ll never happen, unfortunately.

by Clandestine on May 12, 2008 11:28 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Manners

It’s too bad that sometimes manners which one would normally possess in their real everyday life are thrown out the window once you get on a blog and start discussing and giving your opinions. I know, sometimes I am guilty too. That’s life in blog world I guess. ; )

BTW, this reminds me, I have been meaning to ask, did BeatUL go on "vacation", along with gocatsgo?
I haven’t seen any BeatUL posts in a LONG, LONG time?
Just curious if I missed something—and I WOULD ask that question in my real everyday life. : )

by BigSkyCat on May 11, 2008 11:38 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I appreciate ...

... the question, but I try not to discuss things like that.

What I can tell you is that I take all appropriate action to ensure that the members of this blog get to enjoy the kind of experience I hope they come here for, which is conversing like adults and not acting like frat boys at a sports bar. Nothing against frat boys, I was one once, but that’s not what we do here. That doesn’t mean we can’t rah rah with the best of them, lament losses and poor play or be critical of things that need to be criticized.

I’m not talking about momentary lapses of judgment—we are all guilty of that and I certainly understand. But the main thing is not to disrupt the community. I prefer happy humans here, but sometimes things get a little heated and passionate. As long as we remember that we are (mostly) all on the same side and not to get personal, that is fine and dandy.

Holding one’s tongue is an acquired skill. It reminds me of the old proverb, “Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” The author of that article laments the way people misbehave on the Internet, and that has always bothered me as well. One thing I think that people don’t really consider—when you get in a verbal tiff with someone, after the words are gone and the feelings soothed, nobody remembers it.

But when someone posts vile offal on the Internet, it is potentially there forever. Think about it.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 12, 2008 7:40 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Just to clarify,

I honestly meant no disrespect or disruption to anyone in my previous comment. I was just curious, thank you for your impeccably polite response. Unfortunately, (for me I think) there is greater potential to misunderstand one another on the internet as well, when you don’t have the benefit of a person’s facial expression or tone of voice. : )

I haven’t been posting for a long time, but I have reading for a very, very long time. It’s kind of silly; I guess you could call me blog shy.

Keep up the good work; I do love visiting this site because of its content and “adult” conversation/discussion!

by BigSkyCat on May 12, 2008 8:16 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Of course ...

... you didn’t. I knew that. You were understandably curious. There is never anything wrong with asking a question (unless of course, you’re Jerry Tiption :-) ).

Thank you for reading and commenting. It is a pleasure to have you here.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 12, 2008 8:34 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Appropriate time to share this link again...

I’ve shared this before, but this is as good a time as any to provide for any new users. (Obligatory Profanity Warning in the linked image.)

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/

You ever see that movie Star Wars? People tell me I look like Han Solo.-Reed Rothchild,Boogie Nights

by chirop1 on May 12, 2008 7:12 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Truly ...

... a classic.

:-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 12, 2008 7:41 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

NFL -- Free Agent Contracts

Has there been any work on Free Agent contracts for Kentucky’s undrafted seniors? Living near Nashville, I know that the Titans picked up Little primarily based upon character since he will be out rehabing until the 2009 season. Is there any word on Woodyard or any other undrafted senior?

Thanks

by SirTanksAlot on May 12, 2008 1:11 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

nfl

woodyard, i believe went to the broncos, while another UK player whose name eludes me right now, was also picked up by the titans.

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on May 12, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Question..

What is the team’s reaction to Jasper running back home?

by MyBloodRunsBlue on May 12, 2008 3:36 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

If Jasper Is Happy

My guess is his teammates would be happy for him.

Just like Marvin Stone’s teammates were happy for him when he left.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 12, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

My guess is

that they view Jasper as a quitter.

I am torn with my feelings on this.. part of me recognizes he is a kid and part of me recognizes he is also a man. If he will be happier elsewhere then by all means go.. yet, he is walking out on his teammates.

by MyBloodRunsBlue on May 12, 2008 9:02 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

My Guess Is Different

Players generally like one another and want each other to be happy. Few view him as a quitter. That’s absurd. Perhaps you view him that way. I highly doubt players do.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 12, 2008 9:24 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Players

like teammates who stick together and go to battle together and are not selffish. Despite what they may say publicy (and we know they have already been todl what to say) I am sure on the inside they view him as a quitter.

by MyBloodRunsBlue on May 13, 2008 9:54 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

You have a lot of pointed opinions...

but no proof for any of them. You don’t believe Keith and Tay would get in a fight because in your opinion Tay isn’t a fighter. You accuse Jasper of “running back home” without knowing his motives and now you are attempting to speak for all of his teammates.

My guess is as good as anyones in regards to these issues, I just try to avoid making deragatory assumptions about UK players and fans without facts to back them up.

Still not a crook!

by TrickyD26 on May 13, 2008 10:27 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Feelings

Lets face facts, we won’t get a straight answer from any members of the team in any public forum. They’re too well schooled in PR for that.

All we can conjecture is how we would feel in that situation. I would assume that I would feel exaclty the way I do right now: A little disappointed, but hoping mainly that things work out for the best for him.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on May 13, 2008 5:25 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs