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Unprecedented!

According to all sources I can find, Kentucky's SEC Tournament quarterfinal game will be played at noon at Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

The tricks? In addition to the winner being forced to agree to play a second game that same day at 8:30-9 PM against a rested Mississippi State team, due to logistics and lack of time, there will be no non-family or necessary media and staff fan support for the noon game.

So the advantages Kentucky got for winning 12 games and receiving a bye in the first round? Yeah, those were negated first by postponing the game, allowing Georgia more time to rest, and then in an unthinkable way, by yanking the Big Blue Mist from the equation.

So Georgia effectively plays Kentucky with extra rest an hour from campus/home with no Kentucky fans.

Awesome!

Sure, it's an act of God, but Mike Slive had better know something we don't, because if Kentucky were to lose, understandably, to Georgia in this next game and then be booted from the Field of 65, there will be a pitchfork and fire-wielding mob making its way up I-64 from Lexington to burn Indianapolis to the ground.

More as it develops.

0 recs  |  Comment 42 comments

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Stunning
This turn of events has been truly stunning I agree... however, greatness isn't a label handed out for walking the easy path.  IF somehow we manage to win this tournament, you don't think we'll all be telling our grandkids about it?

Watching the game on TV will be very weird without the fans there.  Hopefully our band can cheer louder than their band!

by chirop1 on Mar 15, 2008 8:33 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Agree...
A pair of wins, or even winning the whole thing, would be a story for the ages, and would send the CAts into the NCAAs as THE story of adversity overcome.

Time for that boot camp to pay dividends, huh?

The Online home of Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on Mar 15, 2008 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

20-12 On Selection Sunday
I'll stick to that number.

I'd be even happier at 21-11.

by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 15, 2008 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

TV question?
Will the game still be televised...do you know?

We have been able to watch all the other games on ESPN Fullcourt-package with DirectTV.

by BigSkyCat on Mar 15, 2008 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Opportunity?
BCG says he loves tough people. Here's their chance. Does this seem just another blip in a series of unlikely events. How much can we endure and still win? Oh what the hell!! BRING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by modcpa on Mar 15, 2008 9:03 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

my 2 cents
I care a lot less about playing at 9 than I do that there will be no fans there.  The place is like 30% Kentucky fans and that's just a shaft to every one of them and one of our biggest advantages to begin with.

I just wish I could get some solid info on the TV status.

by blueninja on Mar 15, 2008 9:12 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Sympathy?
You would think that if Kentucky were to lose today, the selection committee would take into consideration the strange series of events that's happening.

The real thing that sucks is, hoping we win, how beat up are we going to be for tomorrow's game?

"The three point line should be moved back. It shouldn't be the same in Division I as it is for eighth-grade girls."

by MNBlue on Mar 15, 2008 9:20 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I wouldn't worry too much about the NCAA tourney.
Given the horrid performance of bubble teams over the last few days, I think UK has plenty of cushion.  The committee can point to the events of last night and today as reasons to discount any odd performance, particularly as those are game conditions that are highly unlikely to be replicated in the NCAA tournament.

But past the UGA game, there's no way anybody would hold the late game against UK if they should lose that one.  That's a freebie, as far as the NCAA tourney is concerned.

But, you do believe you have one of the best coaches in the country, right?  Will he prove it here?

by Hooper on Mar 15, 2008 9:29 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Update
I just called a guy from work who is at the SECT.  He said they are refunding the money for all the games that are not played at the Georgia Dome. He also said there is NO RAYCOM AFFILIATE IN ATLANTA.  So the game isn't even on TV except any sports bars that may have it on satellite.  Good luck getting in one though.

He said they may well just head back to Lexington so at least they can watch the game.

What a crazy spectacle this is, but what can you do I guess. :(

by blueninja on Mar 15, 2008 9:30 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

WOW
WOW.
Atlanta got rocked, y'all.  I'm sure you've all seen it on CNN, but my pictures are available here:
http://whatsrequiredky.com/?p=112

This was crazy.  CRAAAZY.  And the press now seems to be in consensus that it was a tornado, which has to be the case--the damage was too concentrated on one area.

As far as games go, and man are those far from my head, I'm simultaneously pissed about the day-night doubleheader option and really, really excited.  I can't help but picture BCG as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, shouting "...and Hell's Coming With Me!"
If UK makes the final, start printing the t-shirts--this team is the Unbreakables.

by Ben on Mar 15, 2008 9:32 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

And as a non-UK person,
semi-responding to many posts above,  if UK does happen to win this whole thing you all will be utterly insufferable for years.  Seriously.  Nothing will spell hatred of another team's fanbase faster than a conversation beginning with, "Back at the SEC tournament in 2008,..."

;)

by Hooper on Mar 15, 2008 9:35 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

heh
"...if UK does happen to win this whole thing you all will be utterly insufferable for years.  Seriously."

Oh, you don't have to convince US we'd be insufferable were we to somehow someway win this thing : )    

There'd be a team nickname, someone would print up some tshirts...this would be sports bar-  dinner table- and message board-fodder for years and years to come.

by blue kentucky girl on Mar 15, 2008 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey, just remember that UK's has prepared for this
When they played UT in K'ville, remember how they'd sit on the ball for about 22 seconds and then run a 3-second offense?  For the entire second half?  It didn't work too badly then, and I would expect to see a lot of that now so long as the UGA doesn't build up a big lead.

by Hooper on Mar 15, 2008 9:48 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Another Advantage
Early in the season we had been griping about the game day practice. Now hopefully we will see the results. BCG has taken this team and made them a never say die group of men who have overcome time after time. There is no reason to believe that we can't make a run. Coach can take this an use it to the team's advantage by letting them know they have been preparing for this all season long. Every game day practice was preparation for today.

by jshawn17 on Mar 15, 2008 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, the fan solution is simple...
The families just need to adopt as many UK fans as possible before noon ;-)

Seriously though, my guess is the "no fan" policy has more to do with issues of logistics than issues of fairness.  To fill GT's arena would require they have a full complement of employees present - security staff, maintenance, ushers, etc.  That's tough to get at this short notice at the best of times, but with all the damage and weather in Atlanta it would be even more difficult to organize that many people to work.

Looking for a rock to wind a piece of string around.

by JLeverenz on Mar 15, 2008 9:48 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Your answer is here.
From the article:

"Also, an NCAA official e-mailed ESPN.com and said the NCAA will plan accordingly on Saturday morning on how the SEC situation affects the selection, seeding and bracketing process."

That's before the first game is even played.  I have no doubt the selection committee will have plans for everything, from an out-of-kilter losing performance against UGA to a lights-out, B-grade movie plot to win the tourney.

It may not be fair in any sense, but there's no fault to be handed out either.  The officials can only react to these events, not control them.  This probably is the best solution available; even though I thought the final would be on Monday, that creates logistical nightmares for teams, fans, and a city; this also allows any students with classes on Monday to get back to school rather than miss a day.

by Hooper on Mar 15, 2008 10:02 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

any chance
they get stuff figured out by tonight or tomorrow and let the certain fans attend those games?
I think the whole thing is , if the building was safe enough to make everybody STAY in it, why the in the world couldn't they be playing some basketball last night after everything calmed down.  This option (2 games in one day and no fans) is the WORST option they could have come up with for UK.  This is one of the rare times the SEC has dissapointed me.  I know it was an act of God, but for all the BS they were spewing last night on tv about how prepared they were for the situation (Raycom patted the SEC and themselves on the back for no apparent reason for an hour last night), it sure doesn't seem like they were very prepared.  I would be really upset if I had made the trip to Atlanta, which I almost did.

But even though I am upset, I am thinking BCG would absolutely destroy me for my poor attitude and he will have the team ready to go.  All of the sudden those game day practices all season don't seem like they were such a bad idea now, huh?

And as much as I proud of the fact that UK fans are more passionate and less annoying/illogical than other schools (can anyone say Duke fans?), I would absolutely love for a UK team to be so memorable that UK fans could not help but be insufferable for years to come.

Lastly, if only the Gophers could have pulled off that magic in the NCAA tournament - then perhaps there would have been a slight reduction in the 15 times a day we will all see the Hill to Laettner clip on espn and CBS for the next 4 weeks.
And what about Hoffarber, that kid certainly has a knack for the unbelievable.  He is going to win the espy for best play of the year twice as an amateur athlete in the span of four years.

by cdnWildcatfan on Mar 15, 2008 10:05 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

As far as Raycom's backpatting
idle broadcasters are the warm-fuzzy devil's playground, or something like that.  :)

by Hooper on Mar 15, 2008 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Opposite effect
No it would probably increase it because they would then show both clips in the same blurb saying how similar they were.

by blueninja on Mar 15, 2008 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

students students students
All the basketball players have tutors available to them and every other resource imaginable to them.  It is a farce when the 'student' athlete excuse is used by the NCAA.  Everyone of those kids would much rather play a fair tournament that ends on Monday and miss a couple of lectures.  
And all of the other students might as well go home today if they arent letting fans into the games.
I think the committee should have made 2 different brackets on Sunday, based on the either of the two SEC finalists winning the final game on Monday.  

by cdnWildcatfan on Mar 15, 2008 10:10 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

There's more to the story
Every athlete is only allowed to miss a set number of school days on account of games.  I don't have the numbers for the remaining teams (nor will I bother looking them up) but it's something they have to keep in mind, and moving the final to Monday could affect two schools negatively.

Additionally, none of the travel letters include time for a Monday game.  The universities have to amend those (doable, but a headache), and it's further administration that must be accounted for before scheduling a Monday game.

And as mentioned in other posts, Atlanta is a complete mess now.  Keeping the tournament in there another day would add to the headaches for a city in emergency mode.  Right now, it appears they're just trying to wrap up their business and go home.  It's the best idea in a bad situation.

by Hooper on Mar 15, 2008 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Alexander Memorial Colliseum
Make no mistake about it, the game is closed for a reason, but I don't think anybody's hit on it yet--downtown Atlanta is cordoned off right now.  The city is clearly trying to keep as many people out of the affected areas right now, and having even 9,100 come in to GT for a game just isn't feasible right now and would hinder the recovery efforts.

Frankly, the SEC blew it by even continuing the tournament.  

by Ben on Mar 15, 2008 10:10 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Game day
So with potentially two games today, is BCG holding a practice right now? :)
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!

by NYCCats on Mar 15, 2008 10:23 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

TWO practices, of course!
(Classic!  Loved your comment.)

by Hooper on Mar 15, 2008 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

ESPN Full Court TV for today's noon tipoff?
Cat fans in Oregon must rely on ESPN full court to see UK play the majority of their games, including SEC tournament.

Cannot find any info on any TV coverage.  Help!

Keep the Faith Big Blue, BCG will lead this team as far as it can go!

Kentucky is College Basketball.

by oregonblue on Mar 15, 2008 10:26 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Fellow Oregonian
I have to say, as a West Coast UK fan, i was really hoping for that midnight game last night!

by The Lexpatriate on Mar 15, 2008 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Full Court
We have Full Court, and I was digging around but didn't find any info either. I would imagine that they would just show it on one of the six channels since there doesn't seem to be anything else programmed for that time. We can hope, anyway.

by The Lexpatriate on Mar 15, 2008 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

RUPP
Rupp Arena would be glad to host the remainder of the tourney, I am sure of that!! :D

by blueninja on Mar 15, 2008 10:27 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

agree
but better to error on the side of giving the Cats another disadvantage, rather than trying to compensate for the first one last night - according to the SEC and NCAA.
I guess UGA fans wouldnt agree to it though

by cdnWildcatfan on Mar 15, 2008 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

TV coverage
Raycom will broadcast the remaining games. UK vs GA at 12 Eastern. At 6pm Eastern the Arkansas vs Tennessee game will be shown and thirty minutes following that game will be the Miss St vs UK/GA winner.

Since Raycom is a regional gig folks in areas that don't have Raycom will have to go online to Yahoo sports and in the mens college b-ball section there is a tab that says broadcasts. Click on that and you should be able to find the UK games there. As far as CBS is concerned I am sure they will still broadcast the championship game at the same time. Haven't heard about a time schedule for that yet. When I do, I will post.

One more tidbit that I noticed before the tornado incident. Ever notice that no matter what the seed UK has gotten for the SECT we always seem to play the late game on Saturday. Fan retention maybe? If anyone has the time and patience I wonder if my theory is correct. Is it just my imagination or does UK seem to always get the late game?

GO BIG BLUE!!!!!

PS These guys are tough as nails, don't worry about two games in one day or another team more rested, this team can persevere.

by bluecrip on Mar 15, 2008 10:41 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Yahoo video
As of right now, I'm not seeing the UK/UGA game listed as one of the games Yahoo video is showing.  I think I remember hearing someone say that they often don't list games as available until right up close to tip-off...oh, I sincerely hope that's the case here??  I really (REALLY) need to get online video of this game, since I'm stuck at work right now and can't listen to audio.  It is soooooo frustrating to have to follow games by agonizingly slow score updates.

If anyone has any info--about whether Yahoo IS supposed to be offering this game contrary to how it seems now, or about another place I might find (preferably free) video--I'd be much oblidged : )

by blue kentucky girl on Mar 15, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

How could Bilas
still find a way to say we don't deserve to be in if we come out of this?

I like him. I feel sorry that he played his hand so hard so early and has no backup room now that we are winning.

OAN:
So, did we just see Tubby's boys "feel good shoot" themselves into a seat on the bubble?

by wilson452 on Mar 15, 2008 10:46 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Minnesota
Must W the B10 tourney to get in.

Not on the bubble now. Not even if they W today.

by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 15, 2008 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Name for the cats
How about "Riders on the Storm" introduced with the song by the Doors?

by wildcatfever on Mar 15, 2008 10:47 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

ok
Doors fan here...I'll take it. lol

Just plain sucks for our team and fans down there.

by gobigbluecats on Mar 15, 2008 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

important
Let's take a few minutes to try and keep our eye on the ball. Let us remember nobody died or as far as I can find was seriously injured. As Dave Baker said on the broadcast, "We just dodged a huge bullet". Folks this could have been real ugly with fans and even players injured or worse. There will be another day. Go Blue.

by modcpa on Mar 15, 2008 11:13 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Saving grace
The best news in all this is that Alabama got that game into overtime. If they hadn't potentially thousands of fans would have been out in the streets when this thing hit. :(

by blueninja on Mar 15, 2008 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Game time
SO I heard that they arent letting fans into the arena to watch the game becuase the atl pd was worried about people camping out and storming the arena to get seats.

John clay has some pictures up of inside the arena and it's really surreal. There are appx 500 UK fans inside this arean that seats around 9000 and according to clay 10 Georgia fans.

SO Im going to bed last night aroun 1am and I flip on Sports Center right before I turn the tv off. What do I see? A completley random clip in no context at all of the Laettner shot on the way to commercial break.
ESPN just freakin pisses me off. They will be feakin showing that clip 100 yrs from now. I say down with ESPN.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Mar 15, 2008 11:26 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

TV
It's on the ESPN Full Court package, so at least that's something.  Totally wierd to see/hear the almost empty gym - the cheerleaders are echoing!
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!

by NYCCats on Mar 15, 2008 12:08 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Our traveling party
Kicks Georgia's traveling party's a$$.
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!

by NYCCats on Mar 15, 2008 12:12 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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