The Roundabout: News and Opinion

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 16, 2008 10:45 AM EDT in News Comment 27 comments

Rather than just a bland news link dump today, I figured I would combine it with a bit of commentary, just because I can.

Some coverage of the game yesterday can be found at the following links:

The Courier Journal:

The Herald-Leader:

Others:

Rick Bozich has this interesting piece about the tournament and the wild scene it produced. I loved this quote:

At game time, UK fans outnumbered Georgia fans at least 8 to 1. Former Auburn coach Sonny Smith took a long look at Kentucky's turnout of considerably more than 400 and laughed. "I knew they knew how to breed horses in Kentucky, but I didn't know they could breed family members that quickly," Smith said.

"You can't say Kentucky fans aren't the best in the world, because they prove it every time. They're amazing. They always find a way to get in."

That is a weird microcosm of the passion of Kentucky fans for basketball. Would Duke or UNC fans have had the desire and ingenuity to do the same? I rather doubt it, but maybe. Probably we'll never know.

Patrick Patterson expects to have surgery on his injured ankle. This has been rumored for quite some time, and it looks like now it is going to happen. Many are impressed that Patterson is still traveling with the team in spite of his injury, and praising his poise and toughness. Also, wish PPat a happy birthday -- he turned 19 on Friday.

Dakotah Euton is moving from Rose Hill to Scott County. Apparently, his father got relocated to Georgetown.

Seems the Bat Cats weren't bothered by the foul weather. They beat the University of Alabama 15-2. The rain did interrupt the game, but the teams were able to complete the game. This is the first time since 1993 the Wildcats have come out on top on a series with the Tide. Today, they will attempt to complete the hat trick.

Seems Gillispie is as sick as I am of Gerald Boudreaux:

As Gillispie passed Gerald Boudreaux, the coordinator of SEC officials, he could not resist a comment.

"Nice job," Gillispie was heard to say with a tone of sarcasm. "Nice job."

Boudreaux, a longtime referee before becoming an administrator, did not respond.

I hereby reiterate my call for Boudreaux to step down as SEC Coordinator of Officials. I just know he is quaking in his boots in fear of my mighty keyboard, but I think he hurts our league. Retire, Gerald, for the good of the conference. Your time has passed.

Here is a longer article explaining the charges against Jared Carter's father. The amount of money ($4,800.00) involved makes this a grand theft, and if he is convicted in a jury trial, he will likely do some time. Apparently, this isn't Carter's first run-in with the law, as he was also charged as a persistent felony offender. I really feel for Jared and the rest of his family. Mr. Carter, on first glance, does not look like a model citizen, but we should all reserve judgment until after this is adjudicated and due process is satisfied. Hang in there, Jared.

Dennis Felton and Georgia AD Damon Evans' persistent pessimism and digs at everybody during the SEC tournament irks me. I generally like Felton, but I don't think he has exactly distinguished himself with his comments. And Evans was bitching to ESPN about the number of UK fans that, through persistence and ingenuity, found a way to get admitted to the UK-Georgia game:

"I knew there would be a lot of Kentucky fans here," Evans said. "There was supposed to be a limit. I'm not going to get into that. I'm going to take the high road right now. I'm sure everybody tried to maintain that number and do what's appropriate. But you knew they'd show up. Kentucky has a big contingent and huge following. They're here, and it is what it is."

Some high road, Mr. Evans. Do you want some cheese with that whine?

Here is an interesting blog post calling for the SEC tournament to be canceled. What is interesting is that virtually every dire prediction/question this guy brought up came true, and yet here we are about to crown a championship game that includes one of the teams he (and many of us) thought could not overcome the worst possible scenario.

Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction.

Finally, here is a review of the 2007-2008 season at Wildcat Links. Kind of cool, it brings back some strange emotions.

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Comments

espn's joe lunardi

has texas a&m as a 6 seed. how interesting would it be for the committee to make us an 11 seed. I that might be to good for them to pass up.

by i got the blues on Mar 16, 2008 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would ...

dearly love an 11 seed. That gives us a likely 3 seed in the second round, but I like our odds with that.

A 12 seed would be the sweetest, but I think that's too much to hope for.

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 16, 2008 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Doug Gottlieb's comments on ESPN

Last night on Midnight Madness, Doug Gottlieb ripped into those who were considering UK as a lock for the tournament. He went on a five minute tirade about how awful UK was in the non-conference and how the SEC is down this year. The passion in his voice felt personal and almost vindictive. What the heck?

by lankyd on Mar 16, 2008 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps ...

he has a dog in this fight. Who knows?

:-)

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 16, 2008 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gottlieb

Played for (and likes) The Drunk (Eddie Sutton) at Okla St.

He feels The Drunk (Eddie Sutton) was mistreated by UK.

I don't.

by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 16, 2008 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BUBBLE

I didn't see the show last night. If Arkansas wins, we have nothing to worry about. If Georgia wins, I'm worried....not that we don't deserve a bid, but that we will be punished for Georgia's success. That somehow, the 5 to 8 teams that all these guys considered to be less deserving than UK yesterday (after UK lost to GA) will suddenly become more deserving than UK after GA beats Arkansas. Would not be fair, but some will think those things....because they will think the SEC does not deserve 6 bids with the Big 10 and/or ACC getting only 4. Therefore, I'm concerned, and particularly about Ohio St (whose AD is on the committee, I think).

by johnr on Mar 16, 2008 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gottlieb

Hard to believe Doug isn't giving us much "credit", huh? Sometimes I think he's just a "fraud" but hey, maybe we can "steal" a spot in this tourney after all.

by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Mar 16, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glockner

Glockner still diss'n us!
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bubblewatch

by johnr on Mar 16, 2008 2:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Honest Reveiw

http://www.bracketography.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/

These guys have reviews of most of the teams they concider locks for the NCAA's. I can't really argue with anything they say.

by sylvar on Mar 16, 2008 3:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmm Bias?

Good thing the guy that wrote that spot is a UK Grad as indicated by: Nick Evans is the Assistant Director of Media & Public Relations with the Louisville Bats. He earned a Masters Degree in Sports Management at the University of Kentucky. He focuses primarily on SEC action at Bracketography.

Biased much? lol

by blueninja on Mar 16, 2008 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Euton

My mom worked with Dakota's dad at Woolpert when we lived in Ashland. She says he is a great guy, etc. Good to see him moving local. She said she is going to give him a call. :D

by blueninja on Mar 16, 2008 3:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Can you believe this?

GA by 17 midway through the first.

by KYLegacy on Mar 16, 2008 4:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think that

it is time to face the fact that it is just not our year. we are in serious trouble if that score keeps up. not sure that we get in if ga wins.

by i got the blues on Mar 16, 2008 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That ...

may or may not be true. We just don't really know. Most projections show us in regardless. I'm thinking that they are probably right.

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 16, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I saw an earlier interview with the head of the NCAA committee...forgot his name. He said the teams are ready to be set in place with some tweaking for "those teams that would not have been in except for today's performances". He said two teams are on the actual bubble and one will be out if "a team not thought to be in wins today". He said "two teams are playing today that could knock out one of the teams we have scheduled in". He said the play in is set and not a part of this thought.

Oh well......what a year. At least we end OK. I love my Blue Boys...whatever nickname we call them and I love BCG. As I watch Arkansas more than I have...I would not trade our BCG for Pelfrey.

I even saw the replays of his handshaking yesterday....he was PO'd....that is not classless. He was into the game and I suspect from what he did and said later he thought we got hosed....in more than one way at the end. He is classy enough to say also that the team tried and did not win. So many parts were odd...especially Bradley. For the first time in a while I felt for RB....I think he really wanted that....

It is still a long time until 6.

by CAWebb on Mar 16, 2008 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

joe lunardi

as of 3pm has us playing texas a&m in a 7/10 game. at this point in time i would gladly take that. i am sure bcg would love it.

by i got the blues on Mar 16, 2008 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Location?

I am to lazy to look right now, where would the game be played?

by BigSkyCat on Mar 16, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Quick question:

If you knew that a UGA win would have zero impact on UK's chances (if you need to, pretend that the committee had announced which team was on the UGA bubble, and it wasn't UK), and ignoring the current score, would you rather have seen:

UGA win and pull the #6-seed, overcome-adversity storyline to win the tourney?
Arkansas win instead (maybe for spite, or because you like Arky, or whatever)?
or would you not care either way?

As a UT guy, it's easy for me to hope for UGA since they're a great story and I don't think Felton's a bad guy. But I don't have a dog in the fight, pardon the pun. Just curious on your thoughts.

by Hooper on Mar 16, 2008 5:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I personally ...

want as many SEC teams in the tournament as possible, so I would be pulling for the Dawgs.

Pelphrey or no, the Razorbacks are a little tough for me to pull for. We have a real, honest rivalry with that school that could be rekindled, and I well remember the days when it burned as hot as a magnesium flare.

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 16, 2008 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Georgia

When Georgia beat us on Saturday I immediately thought (WELL, right after I went through a small period of mourning...) that I wanted Georgia to win it all. I do have to admit that I had selfish reasons behind my well wishes. I figured that if Georgia could pull off the impossible that this years whole SEC tournament would become an outlier and the outcome wouldnt hurt any teams reputation (UK especially, "the team that beat us beat everyone else") - and could only help Georgia in the sense that they were getting really close to losing their coach.

by kentuckygirl0724 on Mar 17, 2008 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs