UK Basketball: March Madness
by BigSkyCat on Mar 14, 2010 11:01 PM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
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PrintWell, it's that time of year again Wildcat fans; it's that glorious, fun-filled, ever-so-thrilling time of year that we-who-are-crazy-about-college-basketball call March Madness. Selection Sunday is behind us and now it's time to rearrange your schedules, take time off of work, get a sitter, plan pre-game and during-game parties, grocery shop for the proper food, buy the proper drinks, shop for festive new UK-inspired apparel, or whatever it is you normally do in order to suitably prepare to celebrate March Madness and to watch a whole lot of college basketball. In addition to schedule reshuffling and all the other things mentioned above in order to get ready for March Madness, it's also time to fill out your annual NCAA tourney brackets. March Madness, here we are.
I am so excited that this year's bracket includes our beloved Kentucky Wildcats, and boy does it ever include them as our remarkably talented boys are making us quite proud with an extremely impressive return to the field of 65 this year with a #1 seed coming out of the East region, and our first game is slated against the Buccaneers of East Tennessee State on Thursday March 18th. When quickly glancing at our bracket and perusing the teams with the highest seeds I see a few teams of interest. Now, this is not to say that any of the teams in our bracket couldn't be a potential matchup for us, but just for the sake of simplifying things I will just make mention of the #2-6 seeds in our bracket. I confess to knowing absolutely nothing about New Mexico or Temple, so I have no informed opinion whatsoever about them, but I have seen Wisconsin, Marquette and West Virginia all play numerous times this year and if were we to meet up with any of those three, Bob Huggins' Mountaineers being the most difficult, IMO, well, they could prove to be quite challenging for us, but you must play and beat the best to be considered the best as that is the name of the game, after all, and I for one, relish the chance. March Madness, I can't wait.
It's true that our team is young and our critics, rivals and even some of our own fans see that as a negative aspect for us, and it's also because of that youth we might not be coming in as the paper-favorite or popular favorite to win it all this year, and while no team as young as we currently are has actually ever won it all, history does not always repeat itself, anything is possible this time of year and they don't call it March Madness for nothing. The paper or popular favorite does not always win games in March, but rather it's the teams that peak at just the right time and click on all cylinders precisely when they should that win games in March and ever the optimist, it's that mentality that gives me great hope and belief in our team, and there is really no good reason for me to think that we won't be the team that excels and overcomes any obstacle in order to advance and conquer. It's what we have been waiting for, it's what we have been working ever so hard for, and even though we are young and inexperienced in major tournament environments and could be prone to youthful mistakes and those mistakes could indeed prove costly, our boys are also totally and admirably fearless in their youth and that's one of the reasons I really like our chances, they are not afraid of losing when the stakes are raised, why should I be? I'll take fearless talent over experience any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.
Sure, sometimes we get down, and we don't play with an experienced teams' level of intensity for 40 minutes straight or make all the decisions that a veteran laden team might make, but in addition to flexing our considerably talented muscles by blowing teams out as we have done a few times this year, maybe more remarkably, we are capable of taking a 10 point deficient and converting it into a lead in a matter of minutes, we are capable of overcoming glaring rebounding and turnover deficiencies, we are capable of playing incredibly ferocious lock-down defense, and simply, somehow, have successfully been finding a way to win more than a respectable amount of games all year long, and when you reach March and everyone elevates their play and is playing for their lives, so to speak, it's because of the fact that we can overcome being down in one way or another and it's because of our will-to-win ideal combined with our freakish athleticism, extraordinary playmaking ability, unsurpassed talent, and Coach Calipari's leadership that I find this team to have a truly magical nature about them, they are more than capable of greatness in a major tournament environment and could very realistically be the last one standing come April 5th. In the end, though, whatever happens this March, I am simply ecstatic that I have the opportunity to cheer on our ‘Cats in the tourney this year. March Madness, bring it on.
March Madness is when considerable memories are made, and as I said previously, just because a team as young as ours has never won it all, that doesn't mean it can't happen. This year, we have a chance to write an amazing story and make history while we are making memories -- here's to all our memories being good ones. We shall see. March Madness, oh, how I love thee.
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Winning
Our guys are so young they believe they will win them all. And I believe them!!! We win the whole thing.
Great writeup BSC.
It has already been magical, now maybe it will become legendary. On a side note, I watched a replay of Cuz’ game tying shot and I can’t see where the idiot Gotlieb could possibly conclude that John Wall had a lane violation. He was several feet behind Bledsoe when the shot was put up.
what a tool
you can’t enter the lane till the ball leaves the shooter’s hand, and wall is barely in the frame at that point. he is in the lane when the ball hits the rim, and if that was a violation, i can find 6 other guys who were there too.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Mar 14, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions
the players who are not lined up on the free throw lane
have to follow a slightly different rule (I think).
I don’t have a copy of the NCAA rule book, but for international play, those other players must remain behind the 3-point line until the ball hits the rim.
The rule is probably similar for NCAA; if so, then both teams had violations on that foul shot.
Right.
The rule is, if you are at or above the line, you can’t enter the lane until the shot hits the rim.
Both Bledsoe and Wall probably got int the lane a tenth or two early, but officials are very reluctant to make a call that would end a game like that — they prefer to let it play out if no clear advantage was gained, and where Bledsoe and Wall entered the lane was far away from where the ball came off.
How many times have you seen the shooter fouled on the last-second shot and the ref swallow the whistle? Same principle applies here.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
No, Wall was in violation when he crossed the 3pt line
The shooter can’t enter the lane before the ball hits the rim. Everyone else (not lined up at the lane) has to stay behind the 3pt line and extension of FT line until the ball hits the rim.
haven't found the rule yet
I have been looking for a copy of the NCAA rulebook online, their official site now has you order the pdf from them and I can’t seem to get the form to work yet but I have read varying definitions of what is or isn’t a lane violation for a player not lined up and it seems that maybe the lane violation for them would be the imaginary line that extends from the FT line to the sidelines
"Come test me every day if you want," says Pujols, "Everything I ever made in this game I would give back to the Cardinals if I got caught."
That's right.
My above comment was not correct.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Jordon used to violate that rule all the time in the NBA
Wall is just being treated like the superstar he is.
We have a special team here
Young guys who are playing beyond their years. They show their youth at times but they do not crack under pressure…ever. They showed that yet again today. Cousins tip-in to send it to OT and Wall’s clutch-completely-had-no-business-going-in-3-pointer proved that and with icy veins like that I have to like our chances.
The road ahead is tough. But the road behind us has been too. How many games have these guys given us this year that were downright stressful? I swear I thought I was gonna die of cardiac arrest during about 20 games this year. But these guys, the guys playing the game, stay cool and show they can pull it out. I think the amount of close games we’ve played is a major advantage we have going into the tournament. We know how our guys play under pressure. Sometimes they play even better than we expect (Hi, UT vs UK 3) and even if they play sloppy they manage to pull off wins consistently.
We’ve been the best team on the floor on 32 occasions now. I don’t see why we can’t make it a few more. ;) Big Blue Nation has everything to be excited about this year.
Upon further review,
the ball was still in the air when Wall stepped on the freethrow line. I am not sure if you can’t enter the lane until the ball hits the rim or after it is released. In this case it does not matter because three Miss St players had already stepped into the lane and the ball came off to Wall. So once again Gotlieb’s rant is way off base.
should have replied here
instead of above, but either way, gottlieb is way off base.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Mar 14, 2010 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions
See above.
If you are not lined up on the sides of the lane, you have to wait until the ball hits the rim to enter the lane. They were both probably in a couple of tenths early, but that’s a tough call to make to end a game, and a very close call at that.
The refs were right not to make it.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Sorry to be so
obsessed with this but I hate it when some underqualified, overpaid talking head goes off on an anti UK binge and is dead wrong. You would think he might study the rules before he opens his mouth. According to the NCAA rules, players from both teams may enter the lane as soon as the ball is released. Only the shooter is prohibited from crossing the line until the ball hits the rim. Bledsoe stayed behind the line and the ball was almost to the basket when Wall ran past him. All this took was a little research and pausing the replay a few times to get it right. Maybe some of these idiots at ESPN, ABC and CBS ought to try this before attempting to tarnish team’s victories or players characters.
If I may...
The rule about entering the lane after the release only applies to the guys lined up on the side of the lane. There was no clearly visible violation here.
The shooter cannot break the plane of the FT line before ball hits something. And UK’s shooter actually does violate this, btw.
But before that, Wall steps past the 3pt line. The rule is that the (non-shooting, non-lined-up-on-the-lane) players cannot cannot cross the 3pt line or the extended FT line before ball hits something.
And even if both teams commit violations, it’s the first one that matters. Wall’s violation does seem to clearly be the first violation on the play. Strictly speaking, the ball should have been called dead, and you guys woulda had to find some other way to win it :)
I think you are correct on the rule. Haven't watched the replay and don't care to.
As you said, we woulda had to find some other way to win. We woulda.
my absolute favorite thing about this year's tourney
Patterson finally gets to play! I hope he gets in plenty of games to make up for the last two years!
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Mar 14, 2010 11:40 PM EDT reply actions
3 down ........6 to go........
I want to be in Indy when it all goes down!!!!
I AM THE CAT......The Cat In The Hat!!!
I'm sorry, but I hust have to say it...
the ONLY complaint I have with yesterday’s win was that I was very disappointed that the Cats didnt cut down the nets after winning the SEC championship. I know Cal and his whole “those arent the nets we cut down” argument, but I’m sorry, I just dont agree. This is the last time for several of those guys to compete in – much less WIN – their conference championship and I cant help but feel like he kind of took something away from those boys by not letting them cut down the nets.
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 Mar 15, 2010 11:48 AM EDT reply actions
Tink, ask yourself this question.
Has Cal let us down yet? Has the year not gone exactly as he has planned for it to? or better?
Let’s trust him on this one……I know it is a motivational thing, but maybe, just maybe, the man knows exactly what is coming…..maybe in the end it will be a regret for them, but I dont think so…..The best is yet to come.
I AM THE CAT......The Cat In The Hat!!!
Sorry ABC
No dice. Cal messed up on this one. I can not and will not get behind that decision – those boys should have been able to cut down those nets. I totally agree with Chirop – Ramone and Perry deserved it – and taking it one step further – it was Patrick Patterson (who will more than likely not get this opportunity again)’s freaking birthday!! I love Cal but he messed up on this one. He snubbed the conference tourney and robbed some of those boys of a once in a lifetime opportunity. There are no guarantees in life and simply choosing not to recognize any acheivement less than a national championship is arrogant at best – down right rude and disrespectful to the conference, the players, and the fans at worst.
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
Cal blew this one.
I’ve blasted other coaches over the years for this level of arrogance, and it would be a special kind of hypocrisy for me not to have issue with Cal over it. I’m disappointed in him.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
Cal hasn't let us down? Not much, but yes, he has. He has not been perfect.
We lost twice. We have played lesser quality teams to close games and overtime. This isn’t a team that has won the SEC every year and this is the “NCAA TITLE OR BUST” team. None of the guys on this team won an SEC title before. They should have enjoyed the moment.
I'm with the fairygirl on this one
I’ve always thought it was a special kind of arrogant to not cut down nets in your conference tourney. It may not be a big deal for Cal, but for Ramon and Perry they deserve it. Fans who have gone six years without a tourney title deserve it.
I admire Cal and what he’s done, but I vehemently disagree with his stance on conference titles. It takes a lot of luck on top of talent to win a national title, sometimes a conference championship is the only way you can measure a great season start to finish.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
by chirop1 on Mar 15, 2010 1:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not cutting down the nets
is no different than our fans not rushing the court. The program is about bigger fish.
We haven't won a title in 6 years.
Seems like lately our fish have just been stories.
Maybe we should have kept a little of the nets to prove it later.
I couldnt disagree more with that comment.
You are never “too good” to consider winning your conference a small feat.
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 Mar 15, 2010 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions
UK has not,
in recent memory, cut down the nets at the SEC tourney. I clearly remember several times that they said these were not the nets they were after.
I know for a fact...
That we didn’t cut down the nets in the last six years.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
by chirop1 on Mar 15, 2010 8:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I believe that in 2004
we won the SEC tourney and didn’t cut down the nets. We were clearly going to be a one seed, were looking forward to a long and fruitful March, and were aiming for bigger, more important nets. Then we lost to UAB in the second round. You never know. I am thinking I remember Tubby saying afterward something about how we should have cut down the nets at the SEC and really savored that honor (although I could be mistaken about the part about Tubby saying this, I may just remember a sportswriter making this point). Whoever said it, I think it’s a good point—enjoy the precious present (isn’t that a Pitino-ism? Even if it is, I still like the thought).
That said, I don’t find this a very big deal. I personally wish they had done it because it would have been fun for the fans and for the boys, but net-cutting ceremonies are not exactly tip-top on my priority list. If Calipari honestly thought it would make a difference in the team’s motivation or whatever, then we hired him to make those kind of calls, I guess.
by blue kentucky girl on Mar 15, 2010 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Do we know for
sure that the team wanted to cut down the nets? They might think that would jinx them from their ultimate goal.
Or
they might have felt silly expressing their desire to do so since their coach was so outspoken on how it wasnt an important enough thing to do.
Guess we’ll never know…
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 Mar 15, 2010 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
no, I don't guess we really know if the players would have liked to
Looks like it’d be fun to me though : ) I was just going by how it always seems like players doing it seem ecstatically happy.
by blue kentucky girl on Mar 15, 2010 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Tubby twice I believe didn't cut down the nets
2003 for sure, but I think there was another time as well. The rationale is they want to cut down the nets in April. I have no problem with it, it is for motivation.
Some say a comet will fall from the sky. Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves.
Followed by faultlines that cannot sit still. Followed by millions of dumbfounded dips**ts.
Glad someone's got
my back here. I hear the quality of nylon in the nets is better in Indianapolis. Harder to cut but worth so much more.
Most excellent article
I also love March Madness and this year looks feels like it is going to be even more Mad. Let the games begin. I will take an extra helping of that fearless talent, please.
Oh and when’s your party ?? I know where we can get some fine KY wine. ;-)
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
Thanks, you are so sweet. : )
Good call on the wine for parties. I don’t do white wine, more of a red-wine lover myself and always equate red wine with fall and winter for some reason and hadn’t really even thought about it for a March Madness celebration. But, Sangria has red wine in it and to me Sangria really does scream spring what with all the fruit, sweets and such it calls for.
Maybe wineman has a marvelous Sangria recipe he could share with us? : )
BSC,
while I don’t have a specific recipe, I do have a wine that is perfect for Sangria. I also have a white wine that some have made a white Sangria out of. The dry reds with their higher alcohol content are better in cooler weather because they give you a blush of warmth. Fruity, sweeter, lower alcohol wines are more refreshing served cool in the Spring and Summer warmth. Cheers!
No, I don't.
Frankly doubt it exists. I do know that we have the best bourbon though.
Drinking some now.
I've got a Double Gold
best in class medal that says you don’t know what you are talking about.
East Tenn St (November 1980)
http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Games/19801129EastTennesseeState.html Only game I have ever attended in Rupp Arena. Saw UK lots of other places, just once in Rupp.
by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 15, 2010 4:08 PM EDT reply actions
Since we're still in a bit of a celebratory mood
http://twitpic.com/18s613 The cover of SLAM Magazine, with a few folks we know and love.
GUESS WHO'S GOING TO NEW ORLEANS??
Oh let me think…blue kentucky girl is. I am ridiculously, wildly, out-of-my-mind excited!! My sister and I threw together a idea about going this morning and I bought the tickets on my lunch break. Let’s see, my sis, one of my favorite cities, plenty of amazing food and drink, March Madness basketball AND the Cats—can you think of an awesomer trip?? No. You can’t.
by blue kentucky girl on Mar 15, 2010 9:36 PM EDT reply actions
Although I would have cut down the nets...
…I’m saving my money and earned free AirTran flights for Indy. Besides, I have appointments this Thursday I can’t move. Go CATS!!!
(EAR PIERCING SHRIEK!!!!!)
How exciting for you!!!!!
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 Mar 15, 2010 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
THANK YOU!!
It was totally spur of the moment and I had to do some finagling to get out of work with that short notice, and I probably really shouldn’t be spending this money right now : ) …but once I realized the tickets were available legitimately and at face value, and that there were a lot of really reasonably priced (okay, I mean cheap) hotel rooms, it was over. Once my sister and I had the idea in our heads, we couldn’t not do it. The two of us had been thinking of going somewhere for a weekend trip sometime, so we just decided to make it this. To make it all even nicer it’s supposed to be high of 69 and sunny most of the time, we’ll have games most of the day Thursday and Saturday, all day Friday to sightsee—she’s never been there before. I cannot wait. Happy, happy!!
by blue kentucky girl on Mar 15, 2010 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions
HOW EXCITING!
That’s so awesome that it worked out for you!
Now, since obviously, and quite regrettably, all 1000 or so of us here at ASoB can’t go with you — you must promise that you’ll have enough sun, fun, food and drinks for all of us in addition to yourself, ok? Do you think you can do it? : ) HAVE A BLAST!
Do your
tickets say what time UK plays Saturday?
Picking up the tickets at will call
The email confirmation thing just says TBA. I guess there’s no knowing what time the games will be until later, but it’s very frustrating. I thought since we and Texas/Wake are playing Thursday evening, the winner would play Saturday evening, but my sis thinks that since there’s only one session on Saturday, it’s in the afternoon. I really wish I could find some guidance since it would make planning our trip a lot easier, but I guess we’ll just have to wing it.
by blue kentucky girl on Mar 16, 2010 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
by the way, wineman...
My sister said she saw on the Ticketmaster website that session three (that’d be the Saturday session) started around noon, I think. Meaning Kentucky (barring the unthinkable) would either play noon or one-ish, or the second game at 2 or 3-ish. Take it for what it’s worth : )
by blue kentucky girl on Mar 17, 2010 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
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