Kentucky Wildcats 74, Tennessee Volunteers 45:  Postmortem

See there wineman? When we use OUR tools, it doesn’t matter at all what the other team brings. I disagree with Tru’s assesment that Tennessee played poorly. Tennessee played as we as they could, but they ran into a steamroller called UK. If UK stays awake, no one can touch them. No one.

Well, to date, that is!

Not even a nut check could deter these kids today. Liked the high five to Orton from Cal. That is the way to beat a team in the tournament, any tournament. Having played them twice already it was nice to see the focus on offense. I swear I see smoke trailing the ball with some of our passes, no wonder we sometimes look sloppy. You’d need a tracking beam to be ready for those heaters. rest, watch tv, play games, study and get plenty of rest for another gut check (no nuts!) at 1E on ABC.

GO BIG BLUE!!!

As a matter of fact, I think I will!!!!

The Sage of the Tidewater, speaking of Demarcus Cousins, recently said, and I quote: “When he comes out of his little two-game mini-slump, don’t be the guy guarding him.” I should have said “team guarding him”, and I never imagined that I would be able to use the following to describe him, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Sorry, I know religion isn’t one of our permitted topics, but the irony of him clearing
Daniel Orton out of a fight was too good to pass up.

Speaking of the O-Man, the Sage also said he was “finding his grrr.” News flash, HE FOUND IT. It looked like to me that the players and Cal were all shocked at Daniel getting it on. Nice Dan. Easy, son. Lots of games to be played. Save some of that; you’ll need it.

Note to Bobby Maze: Do not attempt to guard John Wall one-on-one. Just don’t do it! (Apologies to Nike.)

Note to wineman: Killer instinct. Disregard that. Murderer instinct. Glass overflowing, now. ;-)

Note to doubters: Just like F. Kreuger, we’re BAAAAAACCCCCCKKKK!

but his 7-17 FT # worries me. Luckily, FTs didn’t decide this one.

Tennessee point guard Bobby Maze noticed the blue crowd in the quarterfinals and said Kentucky fans travel like the “Million Man March.”

not far off…lol

not Tenn was tired, or they didn’t play their best, or things were physical, or anything but the fact that UK dominated. I think we may surmise once again that if 2 things occur in a game, we are not able to be beaten: 1) make 3’s, and 2) Cousins does his usual beastly thing. Making 3’s frees up inside, opens up the out-in-out play. FTs worry me- yes- but that is the only worry (besides not being consistently “on” for all the game).

Coach Cal said it in game end interview: “Hey, these are 18 and 19 yr. olds. They do immature things!” Easy to forget that fact.

Off to celebrate in one of my favorite ATL spots… Eclipse di Luna- where glasses of Woodford Reserve await! GO CATS!

37-11 at halftime. Eleven points?? YGBSM!!

Cousins/Varnardo on for tomorrow.

“See you tomorrow”
Vandy 52 Miss St 62

From John Clay’s new piece.

“For us to play here and finish so we keep that (No. 1) seed is important. Here’s what’s more important: When I see a building full of blue fans, who paid a lot of money for the tickets — $500, $1,000 probably, people that could not afford to pay a $500 or $1,000, they’re taking their vacation in Nashville, Tennessee, to watch our team play. Well, then, you kind of feel you owe it to them to give your best shot.”

The guy says the right thing even after he says the wrong thing.

Would have liked to beat the SEC COY for a third time, but to no avail…

What do you guys think?? MSU played us tight on their floor, OT in the end, kinda feel like we snuck away with one down there. Johnson will be back for this game, but a neutral (in name only) floor. Gut feeling is Cats by 9…

Made me realize how much I love Kentucky basketball

I may have missed it but I don’t think I saw any comment about Tennessee playing is third game in as many days,

Does that make a lot of sense to anyone?
The Gophers have defeated Michigan State and Purdue, playing today with two games in a roll, counting the opening victory over Penn State.
Their are going to play in the conference championship game. Four days in a row.
I know Billy has made the comment he doesn’t see any reason to win in the conference tournament because he’d rather be home practicing.

I hope so. They totally shut down Purdue today.
He’s done a good job this year. Especially when you consider he didn’t get to play his number one recruit.

for most in a season and still counting. 238 (08-09) was top spot until today. (97-98) was 2nd with 234. We had 5 today.

folks, but I watched an 84 yr old man jump up and down in his chair, applaud like he was a teenager at a rock concert, and swear twice he was gonna have to go take an extra nerve pill just to finish the game…….I would have given my next paycheck to have had a video cam there and had footage to show you folks……lol….he spilled his coffee twice and stopped to clean his glasses at halftime just to make sure he was really watching the right game. I love blogging with you folks during a game, and tomorrow I will be here, but I have never had more fun in my life and I missed a lot of the game laughing my butt off. The kids played great today, and I havent seen that much emotion from a UK team in a loooong time. John Calipari is a genius…..he can make those kids play like NBA all-stars when the chips are down…..WOW!!!

I guess if you are getting your beat down, a shot to a guys junk is the most mature response……..punk.

He angered the Cuz, never anger the Cuz.

bicoup, I know you are much more intelligeht than me. Heck, I remember when you said I had been kinked off this board twice. I think you got corrected on that. Thanks for the aplogize.
BUT calling any one a punk, especially after what we have seen from our own players might be a little over board.
But then its your pinion and you have the right to state it.
I think the elbow today was a cheap shot also. But does that make him a punk.
You see the Louisville game?

and say congratulations on a great win. If they can shoot the three ball that consistently, play with that much focus, and bring the defensive intensity like that in the NCAA tourney, then they will be hard to beat. I would like to represent for my guys, though, and say that even though I think there’s no doubt Kentucky has the edge in talent, and would have beat us no matter what, playing like they did today, there’s no way we would have gotten blown out if we weren’t playing our 3rd game in 3 days (and quite unfairly, by the way).

I won’t give my two-cents worth on the Goins situation, because I don’t feel like getting attacked, and I’m not in the mood to deal with that tonight.

Also, it’s great that you have hordes of people who are apparently able to drop real life and spend lots of money to buy up all the tickets for the tournament, but it seems a little strange to attack us because we don’t. Just saying. I mean, I live about 2 hours away from Nashville, and I love this team. I just can’t afford to pay that much money for a ticket to a basketball game. Why were they so expensive? Because UK fans bought them all up, and drove the price up. So I guess it just sort of hurts my feelings to be ragged on for not being there — because I am the “Vol faithful” of which you speak.

Anyway, congratulations again. We’ll get you next year!

I am finally getting to watch the game right now……i watched the last nine live on TV but had softball draft today so missed the majority of it. It was neat watching it though then because Kentucky started cleaning their clocks. WOW! What a team we have! When they are on they are on!!!!! I am so proud of them. I am so proud of the fans who made that a very exciting game. Rupp regulars need to take a lesson in how these fans acted. Way to go CATS!

I went back and checked and it wasn’t you. It was some guy that professes to be a chiropractor.
I APOLIGIZE and hope you will continue to ignore me. LOL

good. I hope he does well.
The time will come when I’ll post his comment. He was told he was wrong by tru but to no avail.
Forget it.
How’s it going ten?

The three games in three days thing probably explains the crazy margin in the last ten minutes, but it certainly doesn’t explain the first 30. We were hanging on for dear life, just trying to keep within striking distance. That defense might be the best I’ve seen this year. If you can play D like that, you’ll beat almost anyone in the tourney on a day when you can’t shoot threes. If you play D like that AND shoot threes, well. . . then days like today happen. I just hope we can regroup and make a run as a 4/5 (hopefully some sort of procedural stuff puts us in Duke’s bracket, because they’re beatable). If y’all keep playing like this, anything is possible. I fully expect you’ll come to play in the later rounds, just don’t let your guard down in the early rounds.

definitely!

2 tickets. aisle seats. 4rows from floor at mid court ..$950.00

At MSU we needed overtime to beat them . … and they played without leading scorer Ravern Johnson and Varnado only played 5 minutes in thesecond half due to foul trouble. On the other hand, if we play like we did today … no matter who is in the other color jersey – we’ll win ….

this photo at the bottom of the page and I had to post it for ASOB enjoyment. Great pic.

Wall – one on five against the Vols, no problem.

why are you up?

Does that wipe the UT loss off the mind of the Selection Commitee? Are we now the top seed?

When these guys are focused and the officiating is close to evenly called this will be the result every time. Noone in college basketball can match up against Cousins. No team’s second best post defender stands a chance against Patterson. UK has the best point guard in college and possible top 10 in the world.

I loved the defense this team played. Cousins & Patterson did a great job on Chism. The frontcourt for the most part kept their players out of the lane.

I also think Coach Cal coached his best game. He did small things he had messed up previously. For instance, taking Cousins out with 17 seconds in the 1st half. Calling a much-nneeded time out when Tenn started its mini-run in the 2nd half. Putting Patterson back in when Chism came back in the game.

Tru, I loved your analysis but Man, why did you have to tell me about 4 Roses Single Barrel? Like I need another expensive, bad habit! D*** that stuff taste almost as sweet as seeing the look on Pearl’s face when he has just be steam-rolled!

OK, so I’ll admit I am enjoying every moment of this season while it last. Tucking away the memories along side those already passed through UK lore.

Cheers to the coaches, players and to all of you Cat fans in Nashville and around your TVs. Here is to you Bobby Knight—We are Kentucky! Cats, Cats, Cats!!!!!!!!