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.