For the record.........
by tenken on Feb 1, 2010 9:25 PM EST
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I remember the talk at the hiring of Coach Calipari. We all thought this first year was going to be a little tough but we would still be sweet sixteen contenders. Now, some of are saying final four bound with a real shot at the National Championship. I think that for me, I just wanted to get into the dance with a decent seed. With all the success that we have had I think some of our original thoughts have changed even from the beginning of the season. You could tell that by the loss that we had at South Carolina. There were some negative post and commentary by fans about the Cats after that. Not saying that on ASOB it happened as much but it was there at other places. I would like to know based on half of our season being played, what do you think a successful season would be at this point. I will go ahead and say..........sweet sixteen is for sure anything less and I will be disappointed. So yes even my expectations are up. They are just too good to do anything less. I will say though that regardless this team wlll always live in my heart because they made us relevant again. So while I might be disappointed at an early exit, the heart will only remember that they gave us a great ride :).
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I accept nothing less than perfection.....
the season is already ruined for me……lol…….
I have had to buy way too much new UK stuff….had way too much fun watching…..and had to go and buy a new dang 55" screen just to be able to follow along……
I’ve had it with them already……
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
I have UK to win it all every year
In my silly mind.
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
"We All" Didn't Think That
I expected 30+ W and Elite 8 or better.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 1, 2010 10:55 PM EST reply actions
ten
I agree with you! We are probably going to exceed my expectations. I hope for an 8th banner but, a good showing in the final four would probably exceed anything I thought of earlier. Go Cat’s
Happy Days are here again The sky is all ways BLUE again Happy days are here again !
Of Course Not
Who would have any idea how the team might do before the recruits were signed.
Before Calipari’s recruits signed, UK would be lucky to be .500 this season.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 2, 2010 2:19 PM EST up reply actions
With the returning team
I had BCG in the sweet sixteen. With these guys, the expectations are higher, or why else would we have fired BCG?
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
This year
I think they would have, and with having a third year under his scheme, with those guys, we should have had similar results to the ones at Texas A&M. Gillespie did have a defensive scheme, and it even made Acie Law look good.
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
He Had Better Players (Recruits) In His 3rd Year At TAMU
UK would likely have had several transfers and Patterson an earely NBA departure if not for the coaching change.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 2, 2010 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
I completely agree.
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 Feb 3, 2010 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
:) Thanks!
I am loyal, if nothing else. lol.
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 Feb 3, 2010 4:26 PM EST up reply actions
With BCG I had UK missing the tourney again
First time I shot her, shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...
With
what players??? Patterson would have left, Meeks would have left the same, among others, and no one coming in worth a mention. So who would we have to take us to the big dance?
by The Fake Calipari on Feb 2, 2010 11:34 AM EST reply actions
totally agree
not sure we’d have reached 2000 wins yet, with the team we would have had if BCG was still here.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Feb 2, 2010 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
The above
was intended to be a reply to ro307805
by The Fake Calipari on Feb 2, 2010 11:35 AM EST reply actions
We had plenty of players
I think everyone here knows what the roster would have been. It’s ok to hate BCG, but he did have team in place to do the job.
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
I don't hate BCG at all!
As a matter of fact I was disappointed he didn’t get more than 2 years to prove himself (at the time). But knowing what the roster would have been is exactly my point. We had an NIT team that would have lost its 2 (at least) best players, with no one new coming in to replace them. That doesn’t scream NCAA Tourney to me no matter how you look at it.
by The Fake Calipari on Feb 2, 2010 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
It was only a sinking ship after BCG was fired.
I am no lover of BCG, but an honest assessment of the returning talent was that it was a pretty good team with no holes. Obviously not up to the present standard, but no worse than Tubby Smith had to work with; of course Tubby could coach.
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
Ha Ha...he was fired
because he was the one drilling to holes in the ship!
by The Fake Calipari on Feb 2, 2010 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
Disagree
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 Feb 3, 2010 2:15 PM EST up reply actions
"Just wasnt a good fit."
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 Feb 3, 2010 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
Ha Ha
Nothing wrong with sticking to your guns.
by The Fake Calipari on Feb 3, 2010 4:02 PM EST up reply actions
Indeed UK Fired Gillispie
No 2 ways about it.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 3, 2010 8:34 PM EST up reply actions
you honestly believe
that last years team without meeks or patterson would have made the tourney? i can’t see how, but feel free to show some support to that idea.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Feb 2, 2010 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
Liggins was gone also.
Hood, Orton, Harrelson, Galloway, Miller (probably), Stevenson, Pilgrim, Stewart (maybe), Harris, Porter,and plus any other bodies G might have brought in late. Carter was not staying, regardless of who the coach was. That leaves:
Galloway or Porter at the 1
Miller or Hood at the 2
Harris at the 3
Pilgrim at the 4
Stevenson at the 5
Oh well thank the Lord we don't have to find out
Isn’t amazing that after all that, still not more Kentucky recruits? If you knew the program was going to be down, wouldn’t you give the best locals a chance a la Pitino 89’?
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
Pettigrew
He has been the one Kentucky recruit that I wish UK would have gone after. G watched him workout in E-town, but passed.
Hopson is another, but he was an early commit to Miss. State, and he’s not a Kentucky native anyway. Shelvin Mack (Bryan Station) is having a good career at Butler.
I saw Ty Proffitt play a few games in high school, but I’m not sure he would have played much at UK. Haven’t seen Elisha Justice play, but I’ve heard he’s quite good, but someone who accepts an invitation to walk-on at U of L, is probably not someone who would get playing time at UK, although, Preston Knowles is having a nice career at Louisville.
Albert Jackson, from Mad. North-Hopkins is at Georgia. He’s been decent, but there are a thousand other players like him.
Aaron Watts from McCreary Central was a nice high school player, but once again, not really major college caliber. The two Faulkner boys from Elliott were entertaining as heck to watch in the state tournament, but neither could play at UK, J. Ferguson falls into the same boat. Tommy Knipp has nice size, but he’ll be a C in college, and at 6’7" or so, he’s too small to play that spot at UK.
I know you have a problem with UK (historically) not going after local players,
but the above players are obviously of recent vintage.
Tommy Knipp?
I wonder if his father was the “Billy Knipp” at Boyd County who’s last second shot verses Greenup County was disallowed in the Sixteenth Region Tournament in 83’? The only year from 82-86 Boyd County did not win the 16th?
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
Timmy Knipp?
From Espn: “March, 2009: Knipp is a long and lean athlete that will need to add strength but his skill is very good. He can shoot the deep three off the catch with time and space and he likes to attack the rim along the baseline where he displays good touch and body…”
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
LOL! March '09 -- That's when I last saw him play.
I don’t recall him shooting much from the outside, but I’ve only seen him play three times. Another thing he did well is block shots; he stays on his feet, and he has long arms.
As far as Billy Knipp, I have no idea if they’re related.
were you at the sweet sixteen?
It’s amazing that Elliot County has had the success they have had lately; they were the doormat of the sixteenth. Of, course Timmy Knipp is suffering from the same problem Jeff Hall, Kent Sisler and others had; no press.
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
It may seem crazy to say he had no press
But he was only seen by scouts during the tournament. If Elliot County doesn’t make the dance; no press, like the other players at 15th, 16th region scools.
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
I don't know
Nowadays it’s very difficult for a player to slip through the cracks. Now, a player might be undervalued, but coaches are aware of the talent out there.
And those players from the 15th and 16th are going to schools, just not major D1 schools.
The national press and big schools pick the games in Louisville and Lexington
Because there is very little airport availability, and the Herald leader and Courier Journal only cover what they are interested in. IE; if the Herald Leaded does not give a favourable outlook to a sixteenth region school, then they don’t make the trip. If “Rating the State” does not mention you, no one is going to notice you, because the Ashland Daily rarely gives press to anyone but Paul Blazer. As far as Johnson Co. and South , Is anyone reading the Pikeville paper? That is why IE. Kent Sisler who avg 26 ppg went to Shawnee State. Him, and also Joey Wells literally embarassed everyone at the LIT in 82, yet was not even mentioned in the HL. The guys he played against, several ended up at UK. Just an example
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
I'm thinking Jackson Julson
Destroyed recruiting for 16th region guys. Him and Todd Tackett(15th region) are the only Eastern Ky Born players I see on the rosters for a while. I know that some people on this blog think that Corbin(due south of lexington), is Eastern Ky(It is not, neither Rockcastle or any of the counties along I75), and if you count those guys it adds a few more.
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
It's not so much they don't go after them at all; it is the perception of what "talent" is
Is talent in basketball only physical ability/gifts? Or, is it a wileyness that some guys just have, and skills developed by lots and lots of practice? Is there a place anymore for the hard worker; or can only the truly physically gifted be considered talented? Is reading a defense or a situation a “talent”, or is the ability to beat your guy one on one “talent”?
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
yes
Most of those guys have transferred to D1 schools and if not starting, are making contributions. One example: Matt Pilgrim
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
Few UK Caliber Players Among Them
Role players = .500 record AT BEST.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 3, 2010 8:35 PM EST up reply actions
How about
Perry Stevenson (6’9", 207, Forward) 2007-2008 scoring: 5.9
Jared Carter (7’2", 270, Center) 2007-2008 scoring: 0.8 Could have been eligible if applied.
Ramon Harris (6’7", 218, Guard/Forward) 2007-2008 scoring: 4.2
Michael Porter (6’3", 198, Guard) 2007-2008 scoring: 2.0
A.J. Stewart (6’7", 218, Forward) 2007-2008 scoring: 2.1
Josh Harrellson (6’10", 265, Forward)
Darius Miller (6’7", 223, Guard/Forward)
DeAndre Liggins (6’6", 202, Guard)
Kevin Galloway (6’7", 215, Guard/Forward)
Donald Williams (6’3", 205, Guard)
Matt Pilgrim (6’8", 233, Forward) Must sit out 2008-2009 season
Mark Krebs
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
.500 Record
No stars on that team.
More L than W not out of the question.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 2, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
I'm so old I think Good talent can be coached as Great team
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
Not That Roster
The former UK coach showed little or no evidence of that in Lexington.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 2, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
Interesting post tenken
One thing to remember abut this team, and probably future UK teams — These guys are going to be around a very short time, Cal recruits to win it all immediately. And then reload.
This team is FF caliber, about that there is not doubt, but getting that far takes some luck, great guard play, and unrelenting focus. Physically this team has all the tools, but will they mature mentally enough to cut down nets? We shall see.
My expectations are the same.
I have drank the Coach Cal Coolaid and I know this team may go farther, but I will stick with being happy with my original expectations.
Win the SEC
Get in the Sweet Sixteen
I think that UK is without a doubt one of the top 5 teams in the country
Anything less than the Elite 8 would be a major disappointment.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
Based on pure talent, yes
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
I'm Lovin' It!!
After the so-so years during the end of Tubby’s reign and the mess that was Billy Clyde,I am soaking up every drop of this year. If they were to lose early in tourney,say the 2nd round,I would be disappointed,but I wouldn’t be out on the ledge like in the past. I think I have learned a thing or two over the past 4 years or so. It’s just a game people!!! Enjoy this team!!!
The Choir
I been a member of that choir for over 40 years so I know the songbook. The comment I made about it being just a game comes straight from the current choir leader,Coach Cal. Nobody gets more worked up than me when watching UK games,but now I keep telling myself “It’s just a game. It’s just a game” per Coach Cal. And with all that’s going on in this country and the world,he is right.
by maysvilleblue on Feb 4, 2010 7:18 AM EST up reply actions
I figure the Elite Eight at the least.....
but so much depends on the matchups. A #1 seed could still end up playing a team like K State or Texas in the third round and a Michigan State, Villanova, Georgetown or Syracuse in the next round.
at this point...
i am deleriously happy with our Cats!!!…as in any part of life, striving to improve is important…and IMO the rest of the season belongs to the Team…i just want more of “the good thing” for them…i’ve NEVER had sooo much fun!!!
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as much as you please."...Mark Twain.
This team is fun
I am almost in awe the way I was when we had “thunder and Lightning”, Anderson/Mercer, before Anderson was hurt.
"Ignorance, I can fix, stupidity, well that's another matter!"-82nd Airborne NCO
Well tenken, so far...
this season is:
- 5 times more exciting than I thought it would be after we hired Coach Cal
- 50 times more exciting than I thought it would be before we hired Coach Cal
- has compelled me to watch more games, halfway through the season, than the previous 4-5 seasons did…. combined.
- inspired me to actually carry around a little McDonald’s schedule in my wallet- unlike in recent prior seasons
- Given me quite a thrill seeing this group of freshmen in UK blue
Expectations?
- Sweet 16: probably a “must” now
- Elite 8: I really do put this into the “probable” category, notwithstanding that “on any given night….”
- Final 4: A real possibility. Would definitely thrill, and would not surprise
- Championship Game: Back to those stomach jitters from the mid/late 90’s
- Hanging No. 8: Is really going to be hard… but WOW if it happens.
by Sonic on Feb 3, 2010 8:00 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Wait a minute Sonic ...
Am I reading this right?: “inspired me to watch more games, halfway through the season, than the previous 4-5 seasons did … combined.”
Are you a uncloseted warm weather fan/front runner?
Ha!
Good thing I was up working late, so I could defend myself, Ken! :-)
Yes, I saw more than an average of 4 or 5 games in each of the last 4 or 5 seasons. I was using "compelled’ in the “must see t.v.” sense. And besides, you mixed and matched the two quotes together.
To say what you meant, I probably would have typed “compelled me to watch more games this year than I even saw in the previous 4 or 5 seasons…. combined.”
The part about not bothering to carry around a schedule in my wallet during a large portion of the Billy G era was true, though.
And now…having defended my honor, I need to shut down this laptop and go to sleep! :-)
by Sonic on Feb 4, 2010 1:47 AM EST up reply actions
Re: Sonic
LOL! I was just givin’ you a hard time. Not serious at all:) But, you did an excellent job of defending yourself!!
Most excellent Sonic
A recommend from me.
I have the little McD’s schedules in every room of my house and one in my car. Now that I think of it, I probably drive around with a couple extra ones. You never know when you might run into someone that needs one. ;-)
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
I dont carry around a schedule.
I have heeded what Coach Cal is preaching. Each and every game is important. I only look ahead to the next game and dont know the one after that unless someone mentions it. I never used to be that way, I always knew the next few games and when we played Florida.
I agree with a lot of that
In fact, I can’t say I disagree with ANY of it.
We're all just a banana peel away from eternity.
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