Big Game, As Always

Well, it's that time of year again. The time when college basketball fans around the country are treated to the most heated and passionate rivalry in college sports.

Sure, some might argue Duke v. UNC or Michigan v. Ohio State (football), but to anyone living in the Bluegrass State, there is no doubt that Kentucky v. Louisville is the most anticipated game of the year.

There are a ton of sub-plots this year, as always, but some of the more intriguing ones include the first UK/UofL matchup at the Yum! Center (or, as some call it, Slick Rick's Chicken Brothel) and how each team plans to cool off the other's red-hot shooters.

The play of the Cats' freshman (as always) will be a huge factor, and hopefully the more experienced players like Miller, Liggins and Harrelson have imparted their wisdom on how to handle this type of game.

Both teams are coming in off blowout victories and have been shooting the ball extremely well lately, so I don't think either coach will want to play zone. It should be an up-tempo, run and gun style of game, a concept that fans of both teams can certainly get behind.

Of course, I'm picking UK to win (by 8), but I think it should be a really entertaining game right from the opening tip.

ND Half Time Thoughts

Couple of thoughts after a really entertaining first half against Notre Dame:

• It was very impressive to see a young Cats team battle back from a double-digit deficit to tie the score at half-time, especially on a neutral floor (wink wink). The poise of these young players is remarkable for an early season game.
• Jon Hood most likely earned himself a spot on the bench for the rest of the game with what could have been the worst minute of basketball by a UK player this season. Hood failed to box out and secure the ball after ND took an ill-advised shot, resulting in an easy stick back. To compound the error, Hood got the ball on the next possession, drove wildly to the lane, spun and had a shot rejected. To top it all off, he fouled the guy who blocked his shot. Bravo, Mr. Hood.
• The winner of this game will be the team that imposes its style on the opponent. Kentucky needs to use their speed and athleticism, given that Knight and Jones are basically unstoppable one-on-one. Notre Dame is going to try and slow the game down and use quick passing to dice up the Cats' D, and it will be interesting to see which group of players asserts their will most effectively.
• Also, it's nice to see that Louisville finally realized that UK owns Freedom Hall and painted the floor the correct colors. But seriously, what school allows its fiercest and most hated rival to come to town and put its logos and colors all over the floor? It's really kind of a head-scratcher.

Looking forward to a great second half, more comments after the game.

ETSU

Enough with the exhibition games, the Cats opened their regular season last night with a (fairly) impressive win over East Tennessee State University, beating the Buccaneers 88-65.

In similar fashion to last year's opening round NCAA tournament game, it was up to Kentucky's freshmen, albeit a different set, to provide the necessary firepower to see off a spirited effort from their border rivals. Terrence Jones scored 12 straight early in the second half to spark a Wildcat run from which the Buccaneers would never recover.

The freshman power forward-turned-center finished the night with an impressive double-double, totaling 25 points and 12 rebounds, a performance that is sure to ignite the debate as to how quickly Jones will head to the NBA. The big man ran the floor incredibly well, made a couple threes and also turned in a very good game defensively.

And as for the shooting woes of last year's squad? Hopefully they followed Wall, Bledsoe and Co. to the NBA, and with the number of threes the Cats knocked down in their season opener, it looks as if that may be the case. Freshman point guard Brandon Knight knocked down four from behind the arc and fellow newbie Doron Lamb led UK with five treys.

Maybe the best harbinger for this team was the play of Deandre Liggins, a former cast-off who flew a bit under the radar last night but finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists. Liggins will have to be a leader for this team, and hopefully with the spotlight squarely on the freshmen (again), he'll be able to step up and show why he was so highly recruited in the first place.

A Sign of Things to Come?

With the McDonald's All-American Game later this week, speculation is rife about where the nation's best unsigned high school players will be heading to college this fall. A lot of that chatter is focused on Kentucky for obvious reasons, but I don't think a whole lot is going to happen until we learn what will become of this year's team.

Well, today we may have gotten a big clue.

Doron Lamb and Brandon Knight, two of the All-Americans, spoke with reporters last night after the Skills Competition in Columbus and some of what they had to say was particularly interesting.

Lamb was quoted as saying that Coach Cal told him there will be 9, count 'em, NINE scholarships available next year. So here's the breakdown for those of you trying to crunch the numbers:

• SENIORS: Harris, Stevenson, Krebs
• NBA DRAFT: Patterson, Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Orton

That's only eight, so obviously one player is on his way out via transfer, and the most likely player at this point is Darnell Dodson. Several rumors are circulating that Dodson is unhappy with his role on the team and is looking to get out, but the same could certainly be said for Jon Hood and Deandre Liggins at this point.

I really didn't expect to see Bledsoe and Orton bolt for the draft after just one year, and granted this is all speculation at this point, but it looks as though there could be an entirely new roster at next year's Big Blue Madness.

Another quote worth reading: Brandon Knight, the nation's number one player according to Rivals.com, slipped and said "we" when talking about the Wildcats and his recruiting process. Several outlets have reported that Knight has already given a verbal commitment to Coach Cal, but we'll just have to wait and see.

I think the next 10-14 days are going to be pivotal in the formation of next year's squad, so keep an eye out for updates.

No Name Change Forthcoming

I'll say a few quick things about the game tonight and then let ESPN's analysts go on ad nauseum about how our youth and inability to shoot three's finally came back to get us, but primarily I just want everyone to realize how great of a year it's been to be a UK fan. Take a step back, think about it, and soak in how awesome it feels to be cheering on your Cats in late March.

Three things:

• Kentucky had great intensity and played loose the first and last five minutes of the game, but the thirty in between were awful.
• Patrick Patterson played his heart out and it would not surprise me one bit to see the number 54 hanging in the Rupp Arena rafters a decade or so from now. He had a spectacular tourney, a fantastic career and really deserved a better send off.
• When is Big Blue Madness next year?

Now, on to the ten most memorable moments of this year:

1. Remember when John Wall made the game-winning jump shot against Miami in his first ever collegiate game?
2. Remember when Demarcus Cousins was averaging a double double and was absolutely unstoppable in the post? (well, that was pretty much the whole season, not really one memory)
3. Remember when the Cats won their 44th SEC regular season title and finally returned to their rightful place at the top of one of the nation's premier conferences?
4. Remember when John Wall danced?
5. Remember when Demarcus Cousins had a few teeth knocked out and danced on the sideline, a moment that indelibly transformed him into one of Kentucky's own?
6. Remember when Mark Krebs got a standing ovation on Senior Day surrounded by his mom, dad and family?
7. Remember when the Cats ran the backdoor alley-oop to John Wall every single game and no one scouted it and no one stopped it?
8. Remember when Kentucky was ranked number one in the nation? (okay, so that only lasted a few seconds, but hey, we were there!)
9. Remember that sprint down the floor and gang tackle of Demarcus Cousins after he sent the SEC title game into overtime?
10. Most of all, do you remember how exciting it was to be able to support a team full of players that truly showed the heart, desire and determination that it means to be a Kentucky Wildcat? Sure, it would have been incredible to win our 8th national title (although this blog would have been screwed) and it sucks to lose with such a terrible performance, but this was a phenomenal start to the Coach Cal era and really should have everyone looking forward to next season.

Recruiting updates will follow throughout the latter portion of the Spring, and who is everyone rooting for from this point forward?

I'd have to say Butler.

Kanter Commits

BREAKING NEWS:

Turkish phenom Enes Kanter has committed to the University of Kentucky. The 6'10" power forward re-opened his recruitment earlier this year and it looks like Coach Cal is going to reload down low if Cousins and Patterson both choose to go the NBA.

Kanter is a 5-star prospect and will be an immediate impact player. He joins 4-star small forward Stacey Poole in the Cats' 2010 recruiting class.

Let the Madness Begin!

Couple of thoughts as I sit watching the opening games of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, mainly about UK's bracket and possible matchups:

1. I've heard a lot of UK fans moaning about how terrible of bracket the Cats are in or how the NCAA is trying to screw us over but the simple fact is, if you want to prove you're the best team in the nation, you have to beat quality teams. That being said, I'm not quite sure how Texas is an 8 seed, and how does the best no. 2 seed in WVU get in the second no. 1 seed's bracket? Either way, UK very well may not have to play either of those teams.
2. I have a feeling that Patrick Patterson is going to dominate this entire tournament. With the NIT being the junior's only postseason experience, he will undoubtedly be chomping at the bit to prove his worth to Big Blue Nation, the nation at large and the NBA.
3. Barack Obama has UK in his Final Four, woohoo.
4. LeBron James has Kentucky winning the national title in his bracket, woohoo.
5. Jay Bilas has Kentucky losing to Cornell in the Sweet Sixteen, haha.

Okay, so those last three really aren't thoughts, just statements of fact, but I thought they were worth mentioning. Some predictions on the tournament at large:

• Duke will be the first number one seed eliminated.
• the Final Four will consist of only one or two seeds.
• First round upsets: San Diego St. over Tennessee / UTEP over Butler / Robert Morris over Villanova

Prediction for tonight's game: Cats by 17.

5 Thoughts

Now, five thoughts on the SEC Final against Mississippi State:

1. What a great game! Given that Mississippi St. was squarely on the bubble entering the contest, you had to know that it was always going to be a very hotly contested matchup. The refs let most of the physical play go which certainly helped the Cats down the stretch, specifically when the Bulldogs got tired.
2. A lot has been said about John Wall's refusal to lose games and will to win, but I think the entire team showed that attitude today. From Wall's steal to cut the lead to three, Patterson tipping the ball out on Bledsoe's missed free throw and Cousins putting the game-tying bucket in as time expired, every single player gave 100% today.
3. What is Rick Stansbury thinking not putting anyone on the line when his team is shooting free throws down the stretch? Instead of sticking one guy on the block, Stansbury had everyone back at half-court, allowing Kentucky to grab three uncontested rebounds on three crucial missed free throws in the final minutes. Utterly stupid.
4. Did the team think we had won the tournament when Cousins tied it at the end of regulation? As soon as the ball went through the basket, the Cats celebrated like they had won the national title, with Cousins ending up on the bottom of a cat-pile that ended up down at the far end of the floor. Great to see that kind of energy, but I was worried they forgot about the overtime period.
5. Simply put, the seniors on the team deserve this title.

10 Thoughts

Couple of quick posts here as we wrap up what has been a very exciting and very intense SEC Tournament.

First, ten thoughts on the Tourney in general:

1. Kentucky is ready for March Madness. The poise and "refuse to lose" attitude on display when the Cats had their backs against the wall should give fans a lot to look forward to as we head into the NCAA Tournament.
2. Tennessee may be the UN-classiest team in the nation, let alone the conference. Constantly jawing with officials and opponents, maliciously elbowing an opponent in the groin, and a general "me first" attitude are all prime examples. And what's worse, it all stems from their coach.
3. The SEC West made a much better showing than anyone, especially me, expected. Miss. State made it to the finals by knocking off Florida and Vanderbilt and Tennessee was taken to the wire by an otherwise awful LSU squad. Or maybe the East just had a poor showing.
4. Great to see the Big Blue Nation swarm another SEC Tournament venue and absolutely dominate the crowd.
5. I don't think I've seen John Calipari as animated on the sidelines as he was this weekend. I know he's consistently said that the SEC titles mean nothing, but I think he's as happy as anybody to be crowned champion.
6. Can the Cats dance or what? Those pregame tunnel routines are a hell of a lot of fun to watch!
7. The shot selection in the tournament was a lot better than it had been down the stretch in the regular season. The Cats were focused on working the ball inside out and didn't force threes. As a result, Patterson and Cousins were really effective and the guards knocked down the outside shots when the team needed them most.
8. How great is it to beat UT by thirty? That team has been overrated all year and I think they'll be bounced from the big dance in the first round.
9. The Wildcats' conditioning seems to be a non-issue. Even as we went into the overtime against Mississippi State, nobody seemed especially tired and I think our depth really helps with that.
10. What a relief to be able to watch the Selection special without any worry about what seed we'll be or whether we make the field of 65 for that matter! Although according to Joe Lunardi's latest bracketology, the 8/9 game in Kentucky's bracket is Oklahoma St. and yes, you guessed it, Louisville.

Enes Kanter

If you don't know who Enes Kanter is, don't worry, you should get very familiar with the 17-year-old Turkish phenom in the coming months and years. Kanter is the top high school player in Turkey and yes, that doesn't sound like much, but scouts are really starting to take notice of the 6'10" senior's skills and potential. So much so, in fact, that Kanter is currently projected as the number 15 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.

What does all this have to do with Kentucky you might ask? Well, after decommitting from Washington a few weeks ago, Kanter has made his official visit to Lexington and sources close to the big man say it wouldn't be a shock to see him sign with the Cats before the season is over.

I know a lot of you are cringing right now, with thoughts of Lukasz Orbzut, Shegari Alleyne and Jules Camara rattling around in your heads, but Kanter is already a polished basketball player who has competed at the top level with the Turkish U16 and U18 squads. He's a back to the basket post player who loves to battle inside and with the likely departures of Demarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson, he would definitely be a welcome addition to this year's recruiting class.

Senior Day

Today's regular season finale against Florida started out better than most people would have expected, with a largely reserve lineup getting the Cats out to an early lead in the first four minutes, and then things got even better. Once Coach Cal decided to pull seniors Mark Krebs, Ramon Harris and Perry Stevenson, Kentucky looked phenomenal and pushed the lead out to 19 at one point.

And then it happened again. We've seen it all too often this year and it could very well come back to bite this team in the tournament, and that is the inability to put teams away in the first half. Florida started making some shots, the Cats forgot how to play solid defense and the lead was slowly whittled down to ten at the half. Certainly, a ten point lead at the half isn't terrible, but when you're up 19 at home on senior day, you would hope that a team as talented as this one would step on the collective throat of the Gators and put the contest out of reach.

However, at this point in the year, I think the tight games and lack of a killer instinct are things that UK fans are going to have to deal with because, let's face it, if the team hasn't developed that knockout punch mentality by now, it ain't gonna happen in the next week.

Some more thoughts on the game:

• The seniors on this team played really well and showed just how deep of a roster the Cats have this year. I don't think anyone should have any qualms about having to see Harris or Stevenson out on the floor at any point during the SEC and NCAA tournaments.
• Obvious credit goes to Mark Krebs for being able to stay on this team for four tumultuous years and ultimately get a scholarship under Calipari; the kid has tremendous heart and work ethic and it was great to see him start for the first time in his career at UK.
• Can we say that the shooting slump is behind us now? Darius Miller, John Wall, Patrick Patterson and Darnell Dodson all had three's in this game and the three was a big reason we were able to keep the lead the entire 40 minutes. Hopefully the hot shooting continues as we head into tournament play, because as I've said before, if we hit 40 or 50% from behind the arc, no one can beat us.

Now onto the SEC tourney, the first games of which will be played this Thursday in Nashville, TN. Let me first say that regardless of what the Cats do in Music City, they will enter the tournament with a no. 1 seed, but I think they're still the obvious favorites to win the tournament title. That being said, with the way the bracket is set up, UK will most likely have to face Devan Downey and South Carolina in the second round, as the Gamecocks will be matched up against Alabama. Doesn't really make me nervous, but it's worth pointing out.

Other thoughts:

• I would not be shocked if the SEC West doesn't win a single game in the tournament. Their best chance in the first round is Arkansas against Georgia and that's far from a guaranteed win. If the East wins all the first round matchups, you'd have Ole Miss taking on Florida (a team that needs to win to stay in the Big Dance) and Mississippi State against Tennessee. Trust me, the West is that bad this year.
• It should be very interesting to see how the Cats respond to (hopefully) playing three games in three days. It will be a great barometer as to how we'll do in the NCAA tournament without have a ton of rest between games. I think our depth will be crucial and if we can blow out a team or two, it will go a long way to being well rested once Selection Sunday is over and the real fun begins.

SEC Tournament Finals: Kentucky v.s. Vanderbilt

Georgia Video Reaction

Please excuse the inadvertent text message at the 2:30 mark.

Georgia Preview

Sorry for the lack of updates, but here on some thoughts on the UT loss and tonight's game at Georgia:

First, the Tennessee loss. That game was always going to be incredibly difficult, and in speaking to some people before the game, I said that the chances of losing were about 50/50. That being said, the way the game played out was both good and bad for the Cats.

It was terrible to see our shooters struggle so badly from behind the arc, but it was equally as impressive to see the team come back to tie the game after being down 19 in an incredibly hostile environment. The critics have come out in recent weeks giving the Cats no chance to win the title because of their lack of consistent 3-point shooting, but I think what it really boils down to is shot selection.

This Kentucky team can beat anyone, anywhere, anytime, and it doesn't matter if we shoot 3's or not. There have been games this year when Liggins, Dodson, and Miller have combined to make 8 or 10 threes, and there have been games like Saturday when the team has combined for 2 or 3, but the bottom line is this team generally finds a way to win.

If it's obvious early on that our shooters aren't hot, we need to pound the ball inside and let Cousins and Patterson dominate the game. The only problem is that the Cats haven't done that; quite contrarily, they continue to put up long range shots when they should be pounding the ball into the post or driving to the basket.

On to tonight's game, a very tough road contest at Georgia.

• Georgia has beaten every team in the SEC East except Kentucky. Obviously, this team is capable of beating just about anyone, and so it's certainly important to come out and show some intensity early on in the game.
• The play of the big guys down low will be important for both teams, especially since Georgia is one of the few teams in the conference that can match up, at least size wise, with the Cats. Trey Thompkins is averaging over 18 points and 8 boards a game, so his battle with Cousins should be fun to watch.
• Proving that this team can bounce back from a loss will certainly be on the mind of the players, but I think Coach Cal will have his boys focused and ready to play when they step on the floor.
• A win will clinch at least a share of the SEC title, with Vandy's win at Florida last night keeping the pressure on the Cats at the top of the table. Calipari has said the title is "meaningless," but I don't think he would be opposed to capturing Kentucky's 44th regular season SEC championship.

I think we get that share of the title tonight. Cats by 8.

USC Preview

Two quick points before tip-off tonight:

• The Cats must, and I mean must control the boards tonight. Devan Downey was 9-for-29 from the field in USC's win a little over a month ago, which means most of the Gamecock's points came off of second chance points. Kentucky is such a good rebounding team at every position it's insane to think that history could repeat itself, but Cousins and Patterson need to assert themselves on the glass early so we can transition well and put this game away.
• We need to control our energy early on, mainly by putting thoughts of "revenge" in the backs of our minds and not let a raucous crowd put us over the edge. Eric Bledsoe has a tendency to come out a bit too hopped up on Mountain Dew and it usually results in early fouls and a seat on the bench. He needs to stay composed and stay on the floor to help UK in the first half, so he can take a rest on the bench when the Cats are up twenty in the second half.

Cats by 14.

Vandy Pre-Game

Couple of quick thoughts before the Vandy game tips off @ 6:

• The first five minutes of this game will tell a lot about both UK's chances to win and UK's growth and development as a team. It was great to see the Cats battle back from 7 down to steal a victory against Miss. St., but I don't know if we can do it again at Memorial. Cal's team needs to come out with controlled intensity and take the crowd out of it early. If we don't, it could be a very long evening.
• Making shots will be huge (as it is in every game of basketball), but more importantly, Dodson and Miller need to step up and make some three's. The Cats took way too many last game, and unless we make some early on against Vandy, I think we need to look inside to Cousins and Patterson almost exclusively.
• Ogilvy sat much of the game at Rupp this year with foul trouble, and I think if Cousins gets on a roll quickly, it's going to be tough for the big Aussie to stay on the floor.

Cats by 4 in a thriller.

32-29 HT

What an ugly first half. Probably our worst shooting half of the season, but we're still up 3 because we are absolutely dominating Miss. St. on the boards. Varnado has nothing if he's going up against Cousins, and I really like the way Patterson is flying around the court, getting loose balls and knocking down shots.

If we could have made one or two of those threes when we were up 5, we'd be coasting right now, but as it is, it's gonna be a fight to the finish.

Gotta love John Wall taking it right to Bost after he started getting a little cocky. It's amazing how he just takes over the game and wills the ball into the bucket.

Hoping for a few threes to go down this half and the completion of a few double doubles, specifically for Cousins, Patterson, and Wall.

Mississippi State

So they may be a little later than I anticipated, but here are my thoughts on the UK/MSU game:

• Cousins is going to need to play under control and mature tonight, because Jarvis Varnado has the ability to consistently block his shot underneath the basket. We've seen Cousins get rattled very easily when he doesn't get his way, and even though Varnado may only weigh about 120 lbs., he can elevate and is the best shot blocker in the country, period. It will also be interesting to see how the big freshman bounces back from his worst game in recent memory.
• I'd like to see Kentucky get into their full court press a little more often tonight, and the way that happens is forcing turnovers and converting those turnovers into easy baskets. I think MSU will play zone most of the night, and if they do, we need to push the tempo and generate quick baskets to get our pressure defense going.
• Darius Miller has yet again faded to the background of this team after deservedly losing his starting spot to juco transfer Darnell Dodson. I'm not predicting a "break-out" game for Miller (again), I'd just like to see him get more involved and not look so scared when he's on the floor. It just seems like he plays timidly and is terrified of making a mistake and getting yanked by Coach Cal. We're going to need him this year and beyond if we want to become a great team.
• A few off the wall predictions: 1) we will see the double low block screen alley-oop for John Wall at some point tonight 2) UK will throw down at least 3 breakaway alley-oop dunks 3) Daniel Orton will have 4 blocks and 2 stupid fouls going over the back on the offensive boards 4) Liggins gets chest bumped, again

Could be a trap game on the road, but I think the Cats' survival of GameDay gets them primed for the stretch run and they win by 12.

Gameday

It may not have been pretty, but it was still a win. Kentucky's Gameday contest against rival Tennessee certainly didn't live up to the hype of a conference game between two of the top 15 teams in the country, but I think most Cat fans will be happy with the way their team battled and came out with a W.

A few thoughts:

• Deandre Liggins is the man. I've said it over and over again, he is going to be one of, if not the most important role player on this team down the stretch. Last year, he had so much pressure as a freshman starting at point guard, but now with Wall and Bledsoe, he's playing loose and he's playing hard. Just take a look at his stat line for Saturday's game: in 28 minutes, Liggins ended up with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. And maybe the most important stat, one that doesn't end up in the books: a chest bump from Coach Cal after diving on the floor to secure a key loose ball midway through the second half. You gotta love the effort.
• Patrick Patterson finally seemed to be playing closer to the level everyone expects, and it was great to see the Cats isolate him in the low block on the first play of the game. He may not have scored on the play, but it was an encouraging sign to be sure. In a game where Demarcus Cousins played a bit more like the immature freshman we saw earlier in the year, we needed Patterson to step up and be a leader.
• I think John Wall might be back. He's not making as many of the flashy, highlight reel plays he did earlier in the year, but he is certainly stepping up in the right situations and making good decisions as the floor general of this team. Even though he may have had 4 turnovers and only 3 assists, his 24 points were crucial to getting this team back into the lead and back in control.
• Just a small side note: how terrible was the officiating?

The Wildcats now enter a crucial stretch in their season, one that will most likely determined whether or not Cal can lock up a coveted #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. I'm still pretty sure that this team will lose another game before heading into the SEC tourney, and I'm almost positive it will be against Vandy in the most poorly designed stadium in the country, but we shall see.

Preview of the Miss. St. game coming later today.

Movin' on Up

The Cats will once again be moving up the polls after this weekend's slate of games, thanks to a walloping of woeful LSU in Baton Rouge and an upset of no. 2 Villanova. Despite falling behind 6-1 early, Kentucky used a prolonged stretch of stifling defense and balanced scoring to overtake the Tigers and take a commanding lead that would never be relinquished.

Cousins was the player we've come to expect, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds for his sixth consecutive double-double. Patterson was much more assertive on the offensive end of the floor, and did much of his scoring inside, which was a welcome relief from all of the 3's he's been throwing up lately.

After LSU jumped out to an early lead, the Cats' suffocating defense held the Tigers to just eight points over the final 12 minutes and change. And, in what was a refreshing change of pace, Calipari's team did not allow the home side back into the contest.

All in all, it was a relatively boring contest once the Cats jumped out to a double-digit lead, and now the Cats prepare to face the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena on Tuesday night.

Ole Miss

I'll be honest, I haven't seen Ole Miss play a single time this year, and I don't think I can name a single player on their roster.

However, I do know that they have been in and out of the top 25 all year, so they'll certainly provide as stern a test as Vanderbilt did over the weekend. If the Cats can rebound the ball as effectively as they did against the Commodores, the Rebels have no chance. If the Cats can rebound the ball and shoot three's as well as they did over the weekend, the Rebels have no chance of staying within 20.

All the talk about John Wall and Coach Calipari is meaningless, it's just the media trying to create a firestorm out of a brushfire. Wall should never have said anything publicly and should probably get used to being criticized a bit. He has played poorly over the last two or three games, but the fact is he's still getting near double digit assists every game while averaging 17 points a contest. I think Wall takes this opportunity to block out the distractions and dominate the game, he should finish with around 20 points, 11 assists, and 3 steals.

Hopefully Patterson does more than knock down a few threes, and we all know that Big Cuz is going to dominate inside again, regardless of what Ole Miss brings to the table. And speaking of Cousins, have you ever seen quicker feet on a guy who's 6-11, 270?

Cats by 13.

Recruiting Update

A quick update on several of UK's most notable targets, for this year and beyond:

• Brandon Knight (PG, 6'3"/185, Ft. Lauderdale, FL) - Knight is ranked as the number one player in this year's class, according to Rivals, and he's been leaning towards Kentucky ever since John Calipari was hired. Knight has yet to set a date for his college decision, but he has finished all of his visits, which means it could come sooner rather than later. Those in the know seem to think that Knight will pick the Cats, thus ensuring that Calipari will have signed the top point guard in the classes of 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
• C.J. Leslie (F, 6'7"/205, Raleigh, NC) - Kentucky has been leading for Leslie since he first trimmed his list of schools, and it's still a safe bet that the Cats will land the lengthy, athletic forward. Leslie is ranked in the top twenty of nearly every major recruiting service, and would certainly go a long way towards solidifying Kentucky's 2010 class.
• Marquis Teague (PG, 6'2"/170, Indianapolis, IN) - Class of 2011 - Teague is listed as the top point guard for next year's class, so it's no surprise that John Calipari has already started laying the foundations to bring another floor general to the Bluegrass. It's not going to be easy to land the versatile guard, however, as local rivals Louisville and Indiana, among others, are also working hard to nab a commitment. Teague will be visiting Lexington in the coming weeks, and Calipari's staff will certainly try to impress the youngster in hopes of landing a verbal commitment.

Vandy

Quick thoughts before this afternoon's tip-off against Vanderbilt:

• Calipari has done a great job of coaching the team this year, and it's going to be very interesting to see how he handles the Cat's first loss. I think he knows how to motivate a team as well as any coach in the nation, and the boys will be poised and ready to play in front of the home crowd.
• A lot of talk about Facebook over the past couple of days, most notably by Patrick Patterson, who was very upset at the way some "fans" lashed out at the him and his teammates following the loss to South Carolina on their Facebook pages. I think it's safe to say that some of these people were sick individuals who pose as UK fans only to bring down the young men who give their heart and soul to the Kentucky basketball program, and hopefully, the players realize that. However, I think it's also safe to say that there are some crazy fans out there who really were distraught and suicidal after seeing our undefeated season end on Tuesday night, which is scary.
• I'm looking for John Wall and Patterson to really assert themselves today against a Vandy team coming off a big win against in-state rival Tennessee earlier in the week. The Commodores have a bigger squad than most of the teams we've faced up until this point, but I still think Patterson can have a stellar performance. Wall needs to force the tempo and get to the free throw line, and I think Calipari will let him know that.

I would be really concerned about this game if it were being played in Nashville, but I think the BBN will rise to the occasion and help end the Cats' one-game losing streak.

Cats by six.

Video Reaction to USC Loss

It's Unanimous!!!

The Kentucky Wildcats are the number one ranked team in all of college basketball.

Take a breath.

The Kentucky Wildcats are the unanimous number one ranked team in all of college basketball.

Let it soak in.

It may not last the rest of the season, it may not last the rest of the week, but right now, the Cats are on top of the college basketball world. And it's been a very long time, just over six years, as a matter of fact, since UK fans could celebrate being in this position.

What a wild ride it has been up to this point: the firing of drunkard/demolition man Billy Gillispie followed swiftly by the hiring of savior John Calipari, the amassing of the most highly touted freshman class in the history of college basketball and the return of Patrick Patterson, all leading up to a 19-0 start culminating in a no. 1 ranking.

The bad news is that an undefeated record and a number one ranking at this point do not ensure a national title, a final four, or even an SEC tournament championship. However, the good news is that this is not college football, and one loss (even two, three, or four losses) does not prevent any of the previously mentioned accolades.

The Wildcat team that took the floor on Saturday against Arkansas would have beaten all but five teams in this country by double digits. Easily. Oh, and they wouldn't have lost to those five other teams, they most likely would have beaten them by nine. The Cats were lighting it up from behind the arc (thanks to Darius Miller's overdue breakout game) while suffocating the Razorbacks on the defensive end. John Wall finally looked healthy again, and Daniel Orton was the physical presence we need off the bench for the rest of the season.

Everyone did what they were supposed to do and John Pelphrey's squad never stood a chance.

South Carolina awaits on Tuesday, and the expectations should be pretty high after Saturday's dismantling of Arkansas. The Gamecocks best post player, Dominique Archie, is out for the year, and the Cats have a massive, and I mean massive, advantage in the paint. Yes, Devan Downey is a stud, and yes, he has absolutely tormented the UK back court for the past two years. Five words will put an end to that: John Wall and Eric Bledsoe. No more Michael Porter trying to stick with the fastest (next to our backcourt) guard in the SEC.

Confidence is running high right now, and even though the skeptics will boldly declare that Kentucky is set up for a letdown, I think Calipari has these guys primed to play the second half of the season as good or better than they did on Saturday.

Cats by 18.

Video Preview of UK v.s. ARK

Patterson Returning for Senior Year?

An article published in the Louisville Courier-Journal today gives UK fans something to get excited about for next year: the possible return of Patrick Patterson for his senior year. Patterson will have earned his degree at the end of this semester, but he still retains another year of eligibility as far as athletics are concerned.

The junior from Huntington, WV, was quoted as saying, "If I come back for my senior year, I know some of my teammates are going to be back, and we'll still have a good team, a nationally ranked team." It's logical to assume that if P-Pat does come back, some of the underclassmen on the fence about the NBA may be persuaded to come back for another year.

Another thing on Patterson's mind? UK's all-time scoring record: "Plus, if I come back, I might have a chance to break Dan Issel's (career) scoring record and be no. 1. That's always at the back of my mind."

Regardless of what he decides, Patterson will forever be remembered as one of the greatest to play at the University of Kentucky, and much like Jodie Meeks before him, should feel no remorse in heading to the NBA a year early.

Bracketology

Quick update on the projected bracket for this year's tournament, courtesy of ESPN's Joe Lunardi. At this point, Kentucky is obviously projected as a no. 1 seed and would play the winner of the tournament's annual play-in game. The other number ones are Syracuse, Texas, and Kansas.

Interesting to note some other teams projected in UK's bracket: (2) Duke, (3) West Virginia, (4) Purdue, and (12) Cincinnati. None of the teams in the bracket are particularly threatening, and I would be happy as long as we don't have to face Syracuse and their 2-3 zone.

The Cats match up well with most of the teams they could face, especially the Blue Devils, who I think would be utterly helpless against Patterson, Cousins, and Orton inside, as well as far too slow to handle our backcourt speed. But I'm looking way too far ahead, and besides, I highly doubt that Duke will 1) end up as a two seed and 2) make it to the Elite 8.

Deja Vu, Anyone?

I think we may be on the verge of a new nickname for this year's basketball team. Why don't replace "Cal's Cats" with "Cardiac Cats"? With yesterday's narrow win over Auburn, Kentucky extended its unbeaten streak to 18 games and, in the process, fueled recent criticism claiming this young squad cannot put lesser teams away.

As I said yesterday, Auburn would be a tough win if they started making threes. First half, the Tigers made only a couple threes. Second half, Auburn's best shooters got hot and ended the game having made 9 field goals from outside the arc.

It really looked like Kentucky was finally going to pull away from a team and get their first 20 or 30 point victory in the conference, with a stellar 5-minute stretch at the end of the first half and a 13 point advantage at the break. Unfortunately, John Wall played uncharacteristically sloppy in the second half, trying to force too many fast breaks and turning the ball over too often. Nevertheless, his free throws down the stretch proved to be the difference. I'll say this, I don't think there's another player in the country I'd rather have at the charity stripe with the game on the line than John Wall. He proved it against Stanford early in the year, he made clutch free throws against UConn at MSG, and he continually looks cool as ice at the stripe in the closing minutes.

So much for Darius Miller's breakout game. Although he did have a fantastic defense sequence in which he blocked two shots and started a fast break, he was the only starter not to register in double figures and was altogether lackluster.

Another long stretch of off days for the Cats, with the next game coming this Saturday against Arkansas. Should be very cool to welcome back John Pelphrey into the confines of Rupp Arena, although I'm sure his Razorback club won't find them all that friendly.

Auburn

Watched a bit of the Auburn/Tennessee game last night, and I have to say that tomorrow's game is now causing a little more anxiety than it probably should. Yes, I realize that UT eventually cruised to a massive victory, but the way that the Tigers kept pace with the Vols in the first half and even early into the second was enough to give any UK fan cause for concern.

If Auburn was able to keep pace with Tennessee on the road, imagine what an arena packed with Tiger fans will to do to pump them up on Saturday. Just like any other team, if Auburn shoots the three well, the Cats will be in trouble. However, with the way UK is playing defense right now, I think Auburn's chances will be limited.

Despite last night's game, I don't think that the Cats will face a great deal of adversity when they travel to the great state of Alabama tomorrow, and I think Darius Miller is poised to have a breakout game.

Cats by 15.

Florida Comments

Just some observations from the Florida game:

• How great is it as a fan to know that, at any point, one of five or six players can step up and dominate a game like Eric Bledsoe did last night. All of our stars may not contribute consistently, but generally one steps up and has a huge night, which is more than enough for me.
• How concerned should we be about this team's inability to step on the throat of our opponents when we have them down? Coach Cal spoke about it after the game, as usual trying to temper the thoughts of an undefeated season with things the team needs to work on, but it could be a major issue as we move in March and, hopefully, April.
• Why don't teams prevent the double screen alley-oop pass to John Wall? Kentucky has run that play in every game (with the exception of the SEC opener against Georgia) and I don't understand how the Florida players could have been so oblivious. It's definitely something they saw in tape sessions, and coming out of a timeout, I'm not sure how Billy D didn't warn them. Definitely a momentum swinger, though.
• Is Big Cuz a beast or what? The guy gets fouled just about every time he touches the ball, but he keeps his cool and finishes plays around the rim. He seems to have matured a lot since the Louisville game, and if he keeps this up, he may be second in the draft behind teammate John Wall.
• Great to see Daniel Orton bumping chests and showing some attitude after swatting three consecutive Florida shots into the seats; he's gonna be a special post player.
• Dicky V has already tipped Calipari to be coach of the year, along with John Wall to be Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Good, let's heap some more praise (and pressure) on these guys.

Andy Katz Article

Great win last night, it was definitely good to see Bledsoe step up and deliver when others either wouldn't or couldn't.

Andy Katz has an article on espn.com today that pretty much sums up what everyone in the BBN is thinking at this point in the year:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=4821331

Also, apparently bananas will keep you from cramping.

5 Keys to Victory

If the Cats are going to win in Gainesville tonight, it's going to take a much better effort than the one they had against Georgia this past weekend. That being said, here are five keys to victory for Kentucky:

1. Neutralize the crowd early. If the Wildcats can get off to a hot start like they did against UNC, Louisville, and UConn, the raucous crowd of the O'Connell Center will be quieted early and become a non-factor.

2. Push the tempo. Against Louisville and Georgia, it seemed as though the Cats became reluctant to push the ball with as much urgency as they had earlier in the year. Some of this was the result of zone defense, but at times, it almost seemed like Wall and Bledsoe forgot the style of offense that has brought so much success to this team. Let's hope they rediscover the frenetic, open style of basketball against the Gators, because, let's face it, it is a lot of fun to watch.

3. Control the paint. No team in the country has the size to match up with Patterson, Cousins, and Orton inside, and Florida is, by its very nature, a perimeter-based team, so this one is simple. UK's bigs need to control the glass on both ends of the floor, and the guards need to look to Patterson and Cousins early and often.

4. Play with swagger. A little bit of cockiness is not always a bad thing, and given that the Cats are 16-0 and no. 2 in the country, they need to take a bit of an attitude into the game tonight. The Cats should know that they are a better team than Florida and take the floor with a desire to prove it to a national audience.

5. Darius Miller. After looking awful against Louisville and even worse against Georgia, Miller needs to step up and start producing for this team. In order for Kentucky to be a truly great team, they need Darius Miller to make outside shots, plain and simple. Once he starts draining threes, the middle of the floor will open up for his patented driving floater, but the key is consistency from beyond the arc.

Should be a great game tonight, I'm looking forward to a crazy atmosphere and a much better performance by the Wildcats.

Cats off to Winning, Albeit Ugly, Start in the SEC

A win is a win.

And despite how poorly the Cats played at times on Saturday afternoon, they managed to tough it out against a scrappy Georgia team and get their SEC regular season jump started with a victory. John Wall and Patrick Patterson each had 17 points to lead Kentucky in scoring, but I felt like Eric Bledsoe and Deandre Liggins were just as crucial in grinding out the win.

Liggins was confined to the far end of the bench early in the year but the lanky sophomore point forward has seen increased minutes in recent weeks, and he's certainly made the most of his opportunities. And while a stat line of six points and three steals may not be all that earth-shattering, the fact that Liggins committed no turnovers and handled the Georgia zone as well as any of Kentucky's other guards speaks volumes about how much this young man has matured in such a short span.

And in a game in which John Wall looked distinctly out of it for large chunks of time, Eric Bledsoe also helped to pick up the slack by taking care of the ball and keeping his composure under pressure. Bledsoe scored 12 points in 37 minutes of action, while limiting himself to just two turnovers, a great number for this team's leader in that category. If Liggins and Bledsoe can keep up this kind of play as the season progresses, it certainly bodes well for the Cats. Having another reliable point guard on the bench is always a positive, especially considering this team's knack for picking up silly fouls.

The Wildcats now face a crucial test at Florida on Tuesday, a game which will undoubtedly serve as an early litmus test for Kentucky's hopes of an unbeaten SEC campaign. I would expect the Gators to play more straight up man-to-man than Georgia and Louisville, and this game will utlimately come down to tempo. Can Calipari get his Cats to run the floor like we saw earlier in the year, or will Florida be able to slow us down and level the playing field?

71 - 65, Cats.

Unbeaten in the SEC?

With a pretty difficult non-conference schedule safely behind them, the Cats now focus on the upcoming SEC schedule, a road littered with opportunities for upsets and annihilation alike. Given their current 15-0 record, it's easy to speculate that Kentucky could easily go undefeated in the regular season, but anyone that follows the SEC is well aware of the difficulties of traveling to places like Vandy's Memorial Gymnasium (seriously, who sets up a floor with benches on the endlines?) and the O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL.

Kentucky is the only team in league history to finish the regular season slate without a defeat, both in 1996 and 2003, and with the conference much weaker than it has been in recent years, it's not too outrageous to suggest that this year's team has a better than average chance to run the table.

If the Cats can manage to stay unbeaten as the season progresses, the conversation will ultimately turn to the age old question: "Wouldn't it be better to lose a game before the tournament?" I think anyone that argues that losing a game is a good thing is crazy, although I'm not saying that it's necessarily the worst thing that can happen.

Losing a game just to get the monkey off your back, so to speak, is ludicrous. If you lose a hard-fought game to a team that was better than you on that night, so be it, but it's not going to make a hell of a lot of difference if you head into the tournament at 30-1 instead of 31-0.

A perfectly relevant example can be found in the NFL this season when the Indianapolis Colts decided to bench their starters in the third quarter, forsaking a chance at an unbeaten season in order to "prevent injuries." If a coach is really that concerned about players getting injured, why not forfeit the game? Players have just as good of a chance of getting hurt in the first quarter as they do in the fourth (evidenced by Wes Welker's ruptured knee ligaments on the first play from scrimmage a week later), so really, once you have home field advantage locked up, why not stop playing altogether? Not only did the Colts in essence forfeit the game by benching their first-string players, they ultimately gave up the chance of achieving a feat previously reached by only two other teams in NFL history.

But I digress. What does Kentucky have to do to go unbeaten this year? Only a few things, really; the most important of which is maintaining their composure on the road. Very few teams are going to have a legitimate shot at beating the Wildcats at Rupp, but once UK hits the road, everything changes. They'll also need to stay healthy and, more importantly, keep their fitness levels up so they don't tire down the stretch. Perhaps most important, however, is the need for role players to step up on nights when Wall, Patterson, and Cousins either don't perform or get in foul trouble. Darius Miller and Daniel Orton's performances against Louisville were far from stellar (and that's being kind), and the Cats will need them to step up at some point this season, preferably sooner rather than later.

When all is said and done, I think the Cats will lose two games, both on the road, most likely against Florida and Mississippi State. Nevertheless, they'll claim the SEC regular and postseason crowns, and head into March Madness as a no. 1 seed.

Wooden Award

The Wooden Award is given out each year the most outstanding player in college basketball, and the mid-season list of candidates was released earlier this week.

The list contains thirty players total, with two of the candidates currently playing for the University of Kentucky. Junior forward Patrick Patterson and freshman point guard John Wall made the cut, so to speak, and at this point, both look like serious contenders to take home the hardware.

Kevin Durant of Texas became the only freshman ever to win the award in 2007, and many feel that John Wall is in the top five or ten when it comes to this season's trophy. Should be very interesting to see how things shape up as the season progresses.

5 Reasons

I will hopefully be doing a number of lists throughout the course of the season, and given the hype surrounding the Cats at this point, I figure a good place to start would be this double list:

5 Reasons Kentucky Will Win the National Title

1. John Wall. Specifically, his ability to take his game to another level when necessary and put the team on his back. See victories against UConn and Louisville.

2. Leadership of Veterans. Patrick Patterson and Ramon Harris are the leaders of this team, albeit in entirely different ways. Patterson leads with points and rebounds, while Harris is the 110% guy who doesn't blow you away with numbers, but has the court savvy a senior should.

3. Three Point Shooting. Everyone thinks this team's weakness is the inability to hit outside shots, but the game against Hartford proves that Miller and Dodson can be downright frightening when they are hitting shots. Teams that play zone against the Cats won't have a chance if our perimeter players are on.

4. Calipari's experience. Say what you will about vacation (as in victories), but Calipari has been to two Final Fours and knows how to get the most of out of each and every one of his players.

5. Big Blue Nation. The most rabid fan base in the country knows they are long overdue for a national title, and once the Madness sets in, every tournament venue will turn into Rupp Arena North, South, East, and West. Hell of a sixth man.

Now, for the flip side:

Five Reasons Kentucky Will Not Win the National Title

1. Inconsistency. John Wall and Patrick Patterson have proven they will show up to every game. Cousins is a little shaky now and then. But with Daniel Orton and Darius Miller practically nonexistent in Saturday's win over Louisville, it makes you wonder how Kentucky will win down the stretch. The Cats may not need five quality players to beat Hartford, but what about Texas? That's what I thought.

2. Pressure. BBN is craving a national title. The media have anointed John Wall the number one pick. Tennessee basketball players have started carrying handguns for Pete's sake. Everyone knows this team has the talent to go all the way. But will that pressure weigh too heavily on a team consisting largely of freshmen and sophomores? Definitely a possibility, and that pressure is only growing as we remain unbeaten.

3. Parity in college basketball. Wouldn't it be nice if this were one of those years when there were two, maybe three upper echelon teams? Knowing that you won't face an elite team until the Final Four provides some relief for fans, but this year's field will be chock full of ten or even twelve teams that deserve a one or two seed. The road to Indianapolis will not be easy.

4. Zone Defense. Louisville's stifling zone defense coupled with a horrid shooting day nearly spelled defeat for the Cats on Saturday, and if the Cards hadn't started 0-18 from the field, it probably would have. If Kentucky comes up against a good zone team in the tourney, it might ultimately close the curtains on Calipari's first season. (Please God, no Syracuse in our bracket!)

5. Injuries. We've seen what happens with John Wall on the bench. Kentucky goes from light speed to frozen molasses and loses its composure. The fact that Wall's continued good health has skyrocketed to number one on every Kentucky fan's prayer hotline certainly helps, but Lord only knows what happens if he or Patterson or Cousins goes down with an injury. Our bench is much deeper than in years past, but this team simply will not survive without one of its key components.

2010 Recruiting Trail

Is it too early to be thinking about next year?

Well, even though the 2009-10 season is only a few months old, it never hurts to look forward, specifically to the recruits that will help form the 2010-11 Wildcat basketball squad.

But before I speculate on who may or may not sign with the Cats, let's look at next year's prospective roster. Seniors Ramon Harris, Perry Stevenson and Mark Krebs will graduate, and in a worst-case scenario, the team would lose Patrick Patterson, John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe to the NBA Draft. Realistically, Bledsoe is never leaving after one year, and unless he matures dramatically over the remaining course of the season, Cousins should be back for a second (and ultimately final) year at UK.

This ultimately leaves the team in pretty good shape. A likely starting five would include Bledsoe, Darius Miller, Darnell Dodson, Demarcus Cousins, and Daniel Orton, with Deandre Liggins the likely sixth man.

6'5" wingman Stacey Poole has already verbally committed to Coach Cal and his staff, and is widely considered a top-30 player in this year's class. It's safe to assume that Poole will have a decent impact as a freshman, although it's tough to say depending on which players declare for the draft.

Many of the top players in the 2010 class have already committed, but that's not to say there isn't a wealth of talent left for the Cats to lure to Lexington. Brandon Knight (pictured), listed as the nation's top recruit by Rivals.com, has Kentucky listed as one of three schools very high on his radar. The prolific point guard, who hails from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, would fall right in line with Calipari's history of attracting the very best point players in the country year after year. With the amount of success Derek Rose, Tyreke Evans and John Wall have had in his Dribble Drive offense, it's safe to say that Kentucky has a very good chance of nabbing Knight before this season is through.

Other top unsigned players include Josh Selby, CJ Leslie, and Doron Lamb, all of whom have Kentucky as one of their top choices. All three are ranked in the top 25 players of Rival's 2010 class, and each one would fit nicely into Cal's uptempo style of play. CJ Leslie, who currently attends Word of God Academy in Raleigh, NC, is especially high on the Cats, and it's no surprise, given that former Word of God player and current Cat John Wall has flourished under Coach Cal.

Most top recruits tend to hold out until the last minute before making a college decision, and this year will most likely be no different. I'll update the status of all our recruits as things progress, but it's looking more and more like Calipari will restock the roster with another crop of talented youngsters for the 2010 season.

U of L Victory, SEC Regular Season

Wow. What a couple of weeks it has been to be a UK fan. We're now the number three team in the country and one of only four unbeatens left in Division I. Coach Cal has done far better than anyone could have expected, although everyone is hoping the best is yet to come.

After arguably our best game of the season against Hartford, speculation was rife that the Cats would pummel in-state rival Louisville when the Cards visited Rupp Arena, and the first few minutes of the game seemed to confirm those thoughts. There's been enough talk about the trash talk, elbows, and technical fouls, so let's leave that aside.

Once the game settled down, it became apparent that U of L's only goal was to contain John Wall. Double teams on the press, doubles teams out of the zone, and slap-happy defense served the Cards well in the first half. Kentucky probably would have wrapped the game up early with better shooting, but as luck would have it, U of L made a spirited charge in the second half and actually took the lead briefly.

Enter Jerry Smith. Shortly after Louisville took the lead in the second half, the senior guard decided it would be fun to talk smack to John Wall, arguably the nation's best point guard and undoubtedly its best freshman. After double technical fouls were issued, Smith found out why it's never smart to goad great players in pressure-packed situations.

Wall ripped off six straight points as Kentucky went on an impressive 13-2 run to recapture the lead and finish off the visitors. Despite being contained for most of the game, Wall finished with 17 points and help the Cats make their best start to a season in over 35 years.

The Cats will now open the SEC regular season by hosting Georgia on January 9th. The Bulldogs are a team that shouldn't pose a serious threat to our unbeaten record, but being the third ranked team in the country means every team will give you their best game.

After a full week of practice, I expect the shooting woes we saw against Louisville will disappear, and the Cats will continue their winning ways, this time by at least 15 points.