Open Thread: 2009 NCAA Men's Final Four
by BigSkyCat on Apr 4, 2009 5:11 PM EDT
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PrintWell, it's that time. Time for the 2009 NCAA Men's Final Four to tip off in Detroit.
The first game slated for tonight is Michigan State vs. UConn at 6:07 ET, and the second match-up is Villanova vs. UNC at 8:47 ET. For those of you who are stuck at work or those of you who just happen to be hanging out on your computer tonight and want to talk about the Final Four games, have at it.
For online viewing, click here.
Me? I am proudly sporting a UK sweatshirt at the moment and am headed to the sports bar to watch the action. Who are we rooting for, again?
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When doe Kentucky play..?
Oh wait… er, oh…shoot…. uh, never mind….
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
Yep...
he had an interview on the Road to the Final Four show. Tipton has the interview on his page.
Another Honor For Coach JC
Phelan Award in 2009.
That’s his 3rd year (1996, 2008 are the others) where he has won National COY honors.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
That said, Calipari will reach for the highest of highs. In a promotional e-mail for his upcoming new book, Calipari sets a high target: the last unbeaten team in Division I, Indiana of 1975-76.
Says the news release: "Coach Calipari’s next goal – in addition to returning Kentucky to its glory – is to coach a perfect season. ‘I want to coach a team that wins all its games. I want to be part of that experience. That is what I live for,’ he is quoted as saying. "They say you can’t do it, but I’ve been told those things my whole life. The players I coach, they’ve been told those kinds of things, too.’ "
Calipari’s new book, which has a publishing date of Sept. 15, is called "Bounce Back: Overcoming Setbacks to Thrive in Business and in Life."
The book chronicles Calipari’s personal bounce back after being fired as coach of the New Jersey Nets.
Spork thanks
Watched video interview. Cal is smooth, he did not take the bait on the question about not enough
scholarships and the question about his large salary when public universities are struggling so much with the current economy.
Cal’s comment about next years returning UK players (I am paraphrasing)understanding their situation in relationship to playing time and the DDMO was revealing. I really don’t see Porter
getting much playing time in his system.
Primanti Brothers (Sandwiches)
Should be www.primantis.com I think.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe
It’s www.primantibrothers.com perhaps.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, I have heard about that place.
Sounds a little scary, though. Thought I would sport my Cats gear one night to see if I can get any bites. It is Coach Cal’s hometown after all.
In order of preference
Michigan St/Villanova (no difference between the two for me)
Connecticut
UNC
I like important stuff just as much as the next guy, but please, for a little while, deliver us from meaning, baseball. That's your greatest glory, and we thank you for it very, very much. -- Craig Calcaterra
If it can't be The Kentucky Wildcats...
it should be:
1. V. Wildcats
2 Sparty
3. Huskies
4. Heels
Does Calhoun retire
if he wins it all? If he does, who gets that job? He is 66 and not the healthiest guy.
I think he may retire either way.
With all of his health problems and the coming investigation and (likely) probation, I think he calls it quits win or lose.
Not about the games
But I just saw the segment on the autistic teens that were the team managers on their high school teams and both got to play in season ending games.
What a great story. I shed some tears…yes I am a crybaby.
Yeah, I'm a big baby too...
I got all choked up from the Scottie Reynolds piece (he’s biracial and adopted….like me!), then the Willie Johnson Hoop-De-Doo basketball court, and finally the piece on the team managers with Autism, I just lost it. Of course, I can’t even watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition without bawling. And yes, I’m a gal, though it’d be much funnier if I were a big man! And for relevancy sake – Go Spartans!
Do you hear that?
Neither do I. Billy Packer we hardly knew ye.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Apr 4, 2009 6:07 PM EDT reply actions
Ford Field is strange.
The elevated floor. An incredible game so far, but I keep getting distracted. At first, it was kind of like watching a game in Nashville @ Memorial Gym. The “dugout” (as Kellogg or Nantz called it) has now become as distracting as watching a college football game on the blue turf at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho.
Anyway, I’m pulling for MSU and Villanova (’dogs all around).
Anyone but UNC
also Coach Calhoun should come back and face the NCAA and whatever comes from the allegations
Izzo may have that Big 10/slow it down reputation
But they’re running like crazy in this game, and it’s working very nicely. Needless to say, he knows what he’s doing.
Yes
Draymond Green committed to UK in January 2007 as HS junior.
His HS coach (Lou Dawkins) played for Tubby at Tulsa.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
Defender got a piece of it but still got posterized.
Interruption
Watching the game in Ecuador and at the half my wife comes walking in with a visiting couple and the wife is wearing a UK shirt. Turns out they’re from Liberty, KY and she worked in Lexington for the Stoll firm of Stoll Field fame and was the business that syndicated Secretariat. They’ve retired and looking to move to Latin America. Great visit about Cats especially FB as they are huge Brooks fans, had season tickets to Rupp in “nosebleed section”. Anyway now back to game and MSU looks much as they did versus KU. Would like to see a MUS-’Nova final.
What a small world
Liberty is Casey County, Ky no more than 40 miles away from me. Tell them I said hi from Marion and Taylor Counties.
2 Cats From Liberty KY
(Thanks to Jon Scott website)
Nathaniel Buis in the early 40’s and another guy (name escpaes me) in early 1900;s.
Both from Liberty HS.
Recruiting update
for anyone who’s interested
http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/04/04/demarcus-cousins-weighing-options/#more-14537
Thanks M-B-P
Wall is quoted about making a decision after the Jordan game? When? Where?
April 18th In NYC (MSG Arena)
The MJ game is 2nd only to McDonalds game among HS All-Star games.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions
link to the roster
http://www.nike.com/jumpman23/classic/2009jbc.html
Orton, Wall, Cousins and Henry are all playing
And MJ's Son Marcus
Who led his Whitney Young Hs team to IL state title last month.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone. Do both Orton & Cousins play the 5 position.
Since Cal has already re-recruited Orton, how likely is it they both would be UK players
at the time?
Positions Interchangeable
DeMarcus Cousins listed as a PF while Daniel Orton listed as a C but those are up for interpretation. Actually neither of them is a classic back-to-basket, Hasheem Thabeet-type center although both feel comfortable posting up. Perhaps a Blake Griffin might be a better, though certainly not perfect, comparison. If forced to classify I would say from videos that Orton is better labelled as a C.
Patterson, Cousins, Orton
All play 4/5 spots.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Cousins Will Be
i doubt Orton will be.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions
hopefully
Cousins isn’t afraid of competition. Can you imagine practice with those three and Pilgrim going at it? WOW
Heels Rolling
Have to hand it to the folks in Chapel Hill, one top recruiting class after another certainly leads to excellence, something to look forward to as a UK alum/fan perhaps. UNC playing like the team they were predicted to be and as the one that earlier defeated MSU by 35.
Except For 4 In A Row Early In The 2000's (01-02-03-04) UNC Has Beaten UK Like A Drum
Recruiting or not, UNC has dominated UK since the days of Adolph Rupp.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Specifically UNC Is 18-7 Vs UK Since Dean Smith Became HC In Early 1960's
Rupp beat him twice, Hall once.
Tubby’s Cats beat the Tar Heels 4 straight.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Who won the earlier game?
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Apr 4, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions
UNC
Think the Spartans will have anything for UNC?
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Apr 4, 2009 10:19 PM EDT reply actions
70K Fans In The Ford Field Seats
Most will be Spartan fans.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Detroit
That’s right. I wanted Villanova to win, but I’ll take a Michigan State championship.
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Apr 4, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
How much time is left?
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Apr 4, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Duh.
Sorry – you just said that.
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Apr 4, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Funny Guitar Hero Commerical
Knight, Williams, RP, Coach K and Metallica
so...
what are the odds that anyone in Metallica could name any of those guys?
by man-bear-pig on Apr 4, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, unfortunately you are correct. The good news for the Cats is hopefully with Cal we can
stay ahead of the Heels .
not very exciting, a lot of empty seats
they need UK there, baaaadd. We’d fill it up. Final Four may be wishing for too much next year – but it would be nice.
figures, I missed the good game. this one had been weak, Nova just watching UNC offense, get the ball, shoot once, miss, run down court, watch UNC, repeat
Ugh
Monday night is liable to be an instant replay of the early season drubbing UNC gave MSU at this same venue. I don’t know if MSU can put together a 3rd great game in a row, but I hope so and I’ll be rooting for them.
As 40 wrote earlier
Lots and lots of Spartan fans. Husky and Nova fans will be selling many tickets. Plus,
MSU has a lot to prove because of the behind kicking they took earlier.
Worst Case Scenario...
Anybody read Jason Whitlock’s statements at KSR? His sources sound about as credible as anybody you find on a street corner, but just the thought of the possibility makes me cringe.
interesting rumour du jour
I’ll be curious to see how much happens via rumors and such in an effort to derail us. I feel this could be just the beginning of things will hear by people testing the resolve of players leaning toward UK and genuine fear of the momentum we are already building.
Cousins, Wall, Dennis
Get those 3 and it won’t matter too much.
I hope Orton comes but UK won’t cancel the schedule if he doesn’t.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Nolan Dennis, 6-5 SG
Top 50 rated from Texas.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Found...
this at Rivals.
Ht: 6-foot-5
Wt: 185 lbs
Shooting: Outstanding
Rebounding: Good
Handle: Outstanding
Passing: Good
Strength: Developing
Sounds like an excellent recruit.
Yep, let Self have them
the only time we’d run into them would be NCAA Tourney; and we know how good KU plays in the tourney. ,-)
I...
bet we end up with Ferguson. He likes UK, now he just needs to develop a relationship with Calipari.
More good news
UK is now in the conversation with recruiting wars with Kansas, who has had outstanding years two years in row.
Feels...
good to be able to say that we are competing with KU, Duke, and UNC, atleast in recruiting. Next it will be on the floor.
UK Was 1-5 Vs Those 3 Schools In The Pitino Era
And rarely, if ever, won recruiting battles against any of those 3 in the 1990-97 timeframe.
Didn’t matter to me, one bit.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Best We Have Done Lately
UK was 7-7 vs those 3 schools from 1998 thru 2007.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 4, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually...
better than I expected it to be. I guess the last 4 years or so have been so bad that the early parts of this decade kind of take a backseat, if you know what I mean.
Last 4 Years
0-1 vs Kansas. 0-0 vs Duke. 0-4 vs UNC.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 5, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions
UNC...
I get reminded of that daily. I work with a Tar Heel, I would gladly trade a UL win for a UNC win next year.
Im in the boat with you
I hate Baby Blue, and their ugly ram of a mascot!!!
UL Football Fan/UK Basketball Fan ~ Shreveport Louisiana
by The White Mandingo on Apr 5, 2009 3:37 AM EDT up reply actions
40 do you know
if Nolan Dennis, descibed above, will be in MJ game on April 18th along with Orton, Cousins, Wall, Henry etc…?
He's Not Listed On The Roster
But he is playing in KY Derby Festival Classic all-star game.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 5, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions
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