Morning Brunch: Georgia on my mind edition
by Truzenzuzex on Jan 18, 2009 10:27 AM EST
in News
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It's time for the Kentucky Wildcats' annual trip down to Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia to take on Dennis Felton's bulldogs. The Cats are -8 points in this game, and that seems about right to me.
There were some serious shakeups in the college basektball world last night. You can read about that the UK-related news of the day after the jump.
Kentucky Basketball News
- This is a great article by Jerry Tipton about Jodie Meeks that clearly shows what a true crapshoot the college recruiting analyst game is. Money quote:
Can you imagine somebody actually suggesting Jodie Meeks might not get a D-I scholarship? I am no talent evaluator, but when I saw Meeks play his first few minutes in college, I knew he was going to be good. Okay, maybe not 54 points at Tennessee and break Dan Issel's 39-year old scoring record good, but then again, I don't get paid to evaluate talent.Recruiting analysts dismissed Meeks as a prospect. "Some really top guy said Jodie wouldn't even get a high Division I scholarship," Orestes Meeks said. "I told the guy, 'I'm glad you're not giving out scholarships.' "
- Mark Story says Meeks and Patterson have a new nickname, voted on by Kentucky fans. Pardon me while I roll my eyes a bit -- shouldn't these things be less ... well ... contrived? OK, I'm an old curmudgeon -- so sue me.
- "Big Shot Z" awaits the 'Cats in Athens today. Well, at least that nickname seems kind of original.
- Daugman takes a pessimistic view of the Georgia-UK game:
Kentucky should win easily. They have Patrick Patterson and we don't.
Heh. Pragmatic. Succinct. Directly to the point.
Kentucky Football/Other News
- UK football among elite company. Some interesting statistics there.
- Woodson signed with the New York Giants' official roster.
- Shag on Sports has a long blog post recapping the UK football season, the college football season and just a ton of other things.
- Chip Cosby says UK's defense still has a few holes.
- UK Hoops is on a bit of a roll.
- I have a new nickname for John Clay -- Mr. Obvious. He's right, of course, and has some interesting insights into what I have labeled the Gillispie Effect.
- Hoopsworld adds Meeks to their radar.
NCAA Basketball News
- Louisville takes down #1 Pitt. Neither team look like a top five team to me, but there is a lot to be said for winning games when you aren't at your best.
- Florida defeats Arkansas. Neither of these teams looks like it can beat UK anywhere but maybe at home.
- Mississippi State is shaping up to be a real contender, and looks right now like the best in the West after sending the Commodores home with an L yesterday.
- LSU whips hapless Ole Miss.
- The tide has turned against the Tide.
- NCAA Hoops Today calls for the charge-block semi-circle under the basket for college basketball.
- Cal goes down to Stanford. Bittersweet return for Mike Montgomery.
- Wake Forest makes a resounding case for #1 against Clemson.
- Tennessee rebounds against the Gamecocks.
NCAA Football News
- Lane Kiffin is wasting no time making news at Tennessee.
- GarnetandBlackAttack has five points about next year's edition of the Gamecocks.
Other News of Interest
- Bill Doyle makes the case that Rondo is the engine that drives the Celtics' success.
- Sports2Debate does an NBA Mock Draft. Patterson to the Bulls? Interesting.
- NCAA president Miles Brand has pancreatic cancer. My prayers go out to him.
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Good for you, Tru
Neither team look like a top five team to me, but there is a lot to be said for winning games when you aren’t at your best.
I’m not sure what all you guys on this site are looking for when evaluating a Top 5 Team, but you must not appreciate intensity or defense. To me, that was the most intense hard fought game I have seen this year. Either of these teams would run a slow Duke team off the floor on a neutral court (by the way is it me or does it always seem that whenever Duke plays a big non-conference team it always happens at Cameron). I haven’t seen WF play so I can’t comment.
It’s true, UofL just beat a great team while not playing their best (offensive game that is) game. Great for them.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
by HozeKing on Jan 18, 2009 10:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Duke nonconference
Several years ago, I recall reading a brief note in a basketball column about Duke trying to schedule a home-and-home type series with Arizona. Apparently Krzyzewski wanted to play the games at Cameron Indoor and Madison Square Garden (where Duke has a huge alumni base) to which Lute Olson countered with playing the games at UA and in Phoenix. Duke declined that offer.
I wish I could remember where I read that, I think it was Sporting News but it was so long ago I can’t be sure.
by JLeverenz on Jan 18, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The defense was pretty intense.
The Cardinals are a great defensive team. The Panthers are very good, but not deep enough to be great defensively.
I think Louisville is going to have a lot of games where they just can’t get any offense, particularly on the road.. They look like a good shooting team on paper, but against the real good shooting teams with depth like UConn, Georgetown and Syracuse, they will be sorely tested.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Jan 18, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Pitt is VERY deep.
That is the main reason why they are ranked so high along with their record, of course. I still can’t quite believe how strong the Cards were against them inside defensively. I still get nervous when Samuels sits…our replacements aren’t much of an offensive threat and I don’t know how bad George is injured.
You gotta like the way Kentucky played after a big game. Maybe Billy knows what he is doing….
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
by HozeKing on Jan 18, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Pitt ...
… didn’t look that deep to me yesterday. Their second stringers were a fairly big step-down from their starters. They play a lot of people, but I wasn’t impressed by their bench. Quantity does not necessarily mean quality.
My opinion, of course.
Kentucky played OK today. Defensively, it was a very good performance. Offensively, it was below average.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Jan 18, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agree with you on the 'contrived' nickname
Although I do kind of like the ‘Rhythm and Bruise’ idea, the fact that it came from an internet poll invalidates its use as far as I’m concerned, and I’m certainly not an old curmudgeon ;-)
If Mark Story wants a neat nickname for the pair then he should have wait until he is inspired by something he sees or hears at a game. I still like the ‘Volcano’ moniker for Meeks used by Clark Kellogg during the UL game and I think that is what we should use for him.
by JLeverenz on Jan 18, 2009 10:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
When I think of them ...
… I think of a forge. Therefore, I suggest “The Heat” for Meeks and “The Hammer” for Patterson.
The anvil, of course, is the opponent. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Jan 18, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Shock and Awe
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
by davw83 on Jan 18, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think I heard Jodie say that was his favorite one...
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Jan 18, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice..
I really like your idea of The Heat and The Hammer, but I’d say the opponent is the flimsy piece of metal that is getting bent out of shape, and the immutable anvil is the Kentucky Program.
by Keg Dude on Jan 18, 2009 11:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hehe.
That works for me.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Jan 19, 2009 7:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Love the football stats
Nice stats on UK football… I have not seen all of those yet… You are ahead of the curve as usual… It is truly unreal when you look at what old Brooksy has accomplished the last three years but I guess I am greedy because I want and expect more… Andre Woodson should be able to play in the NFL as he can read defenses which is something that these Spread QB’s cannot do… The Lane Kiffin thing is going to be interesting as this guy is on a roll to this point… Rajon is for sure a prototype NBA Point Guard and he plays defense like NBA Vet and former Bama star TR Dunn who played 12 years in the league on defense alone… Thanks for reading my other blog… It is pretty random but I like to get my opinons and thoughts out there…
ShagOnSports - "people should know when they are conquered"
by ShagOnSports on Jan 18, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
You do a fine job.
I liked how you wrote the article. It’s hard to do “stream of consciousness” type writing in a coherent and informative way, but I think you accomplished that in your post.
I think Brooks & Co. have done a great job, and next year expectations will have to be carefully managed. Offensively, we are still a giant question mark, and we are graduating some key players on defense. Theoretically, we should be much better, but …
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Jan 18, 2009 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It is a roller coaster ride though...
I am usually on an emotional roller coaster after a UK football loss because I can always find a reason we should have won (except at Florida this year) where with basketball it is a little different because they can usally get right back on the horse in a few days… Yes you are right I have to manage my expecations for fooball but I truly believe we are competitive from here on out and that is really all I ask… I want to win every time out but my wife and I both enjoy the up and down drama that watching, attending and participating in sports brings to our lives… Thanks for managing this site… Everyone I have turned on to it loves it…
ShagOnSports - "people should know when they are conquered"
by ShagOnSports on Jan 18, 2009 11:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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