Roller Coaster Ride

HAPPY NEW YEAR CATLAND!
09 has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. And I’ll be the first to stand up & point my finger & call you a liar if you could actually say you knew all along what path our beloved program was going to take.

Snicker Snicker — remember back at the beginning of March what we’re all saying, thinking, anticipating—- “Oh God, just bring on Summer already.” I tell ya the opening of the Big Dance tore at my nerves more than Laettner’s last second shot ever could. And Cats, that’s sayin somethin!
When out in the parkin lot there arose a clatter of sordid beeps & pops …. the word was spreading like wildfire & BIG BLUE NATION dared themselves to get caught up in the moment—- MEMPHIS WAS OUT & RUMOR had it CAL~ WAS IN. Those millions of beeps & pops albeit a Memphis NewsCast’s chat room adorning the INFAMOUS DOOR in all its BIG BLUE WONDER teasing us, tempting us, demanding the attention of 1000′s…… with every swing it made the MIGHTY NATION that had fallen held its collective breath ONE MORE TIME.
Less was in Awe, Memphis was in Shock & BIG BLUE NATION was
INSPIRED!
The battle raged for what seemed like an eternity leaving in its wake a terrific twist of irony that no Cat Fan could ever dream. What started w/a “plane” leaving Florida 2 years ago transcended itself into the ENCORE of the Big Dance led by BIG BLUE NATIONS PLANE taking off in Memphis & arriving in KENTUCKY!
THE RETURN OF THE KING.
Ya gotta love it Catland~ we stole the show forcing the BIG DANCE & UofJail to become a mere warm-up act while capturing the minds & imagination of every journalists, analysts, commentator & coach from Sea to Shining Sea. Cats we gave a whole new definition to the word PartyCrasher. The hatred & envy began to swarm from Carolina to Arizona. All with the Signing & Playing of each NEW RECRUIT — We drew in our head each scenario best & bad but it was here, CAL~ was here with ABOUND!           

He dressed all in BLUE, a rather damper Gent I’d say, said all the right things, Gave us new goals to reach & DARED US TO DREAM!
Though some say he’s tarnished w/NCAA scandal, I choose to BELIEVE & Entrust the PRESSURE he can HANDLE!
In the end, it’s really no clue—- HE REALLY GETS IT Just like WE DO!
A marriage no better you’ll be hard pressed to find whilst leaving all the depression behind.

THE KING WILL BE CROWNED January 2nd — what of his arch rival ….. well, that remains to be seen. But all his glory & fame he lusted for ever after has left him only a bitter mean disaster.
Kinda odd how things can change so much in a year. The man many of us chose to Despise, Shun, Belittle & Ignore is no longer a fun target, but rather a pitiful lil soul. Yep, that’s  Kentucky Justice my fine fellow Cats & the evil doer’s are getting theirs AT LAST.

Here we are @ 13-0 with BIG BLUE CAT GRINS & RESOUNDING HO HO HO’s.
Will we go unbeaten? We just can’t say? But dernit we’re havin fun along the way!
SUCCESS is ours & we wear it well, just don’t ever forget the journey took us through Hell.
Appreciate, Have Fun & Enjoy this ride— it’ll be gone in the blink of an eye.
The luxury of being a fan is this— where our Cats can’t look forward, we can with BLISS.
I hope Santa Cat has one last trick & that’s beat down louisville with a BIG BLUE STICK. I don’t want it close, no overtimes, no last second shots although those are all fine…
NO A JAGOFF is what I want to be called as we dine on cardinal leftovers of a 35+ tail stompin.
I LOVE THESE CATS & I LOVE OUR NEW KING!
LET’S STAY BEHIND THEM & HELP GET THAT RING!
GO BIG BLUE!

Merry Christmas

We here at BigBlueRules want to wish everyone in the BBN a Merry Christmas. If fate and the post office favors us our Christmas present will finally arrive some time in March.

Merry Christmas

Some good lovin for Jamele Hill

Heres a show just for Ms Shock Jock to show Jamele Hill that not only do we know basketball we know music and what Ms Shock Jock needs is a little Charlie to fulfill her wildest fantasy’s since there is a snowball in hells chance that UK would hire him as a coach.

Here’s Charlie Manson crooning just for her in a Sunrise Show

2000

What a surreal moment in history.  The winningest program in NCAA history reaching the 2000 milestone.  The celebration: before, during and after.  A team that truly deserved to be on the floor of the momentous game.  The game was called by one of the all time UK greats.  Mashburn was Patterson number one.  Or Patterson is Mashburn two.  Either way, he was a guy that helped re-establish UK to elite status just as Patterson has.  Some have said that reaching 2000 first wasn’t a big deal.  They said that two others might possibly make the milestone this year.  To them I ask; Do you think anyone will get the pre-game coverage provided by ESPNU?  They showed the greatest comeback in history then did a documentary on the Comeback Cats before the game.  During the game they had long interviews with ex-players coaches and fans.  Coverage continued after the game as if UK had won a title.  Do you think anyone else will make that big of a deal over 2000?  The answer is no.  This wasn’t just a big deal, it was a huge deal.  And I would be remiss in not acknowledging the wonderful job ESPNU did on their coverage.  It was spectacular.

The players?  They were as prepared as I’ve seen.  Poor Drexel had zero chance in this game and that is exactly how it should have been.  The kids were focused and played with a sense of meaning like I’ve only seen in the truly big games.  UK was the Harlem Globe Trotters, and Drexel was the Washington General.  Drexel will live to fight another day and no one is worse for wear except maybe a little hurt pride.  But that was the price that was to be paid for the victim of 2000.  The UK faithful was able to celebrate every pass, every block, every steal and every basket as if it were scripted for their entertainment.  And that is how this game should have been.

After the game, Cal brought out Rupp’s son and Joe B.  I cried.  I cried because this team gets it.  I cried because Calipari gets it.  The team played unselfish fundamentally sound basketball until the eight minute mark.  And when they went to some show boating, Call pulled them and put the supporting cast in.  This night was forged on hundreds of players before and countless hours of planning, practice, preparation and sacrifice and there was no room for, “ME” on this night.

I’m only going to mention one player today, and that player is Liggins.  The main reason I’ll only mention him is because he deserves some time on the pedestal.  The secondary reason is because he could very well be the difference in how far UK goes in post season.  UK’s first seven or eight are as good as anyone else’s in the country.  The difference between UK and the two other top teams in their class is depth.  A Liggins playing like he did last night gives UK that ninth guy that would provide a zero drop in performance in a game where it may very well matter.  His pose and passing were perfect.  His spacing and shot selection were sensational.  His defense and demeanor were undeniable.   He knew what to do and he did it.  And he did it as well as anyone on UK’s roster.  It took a long road to get him to this point.  It took some tough love.  And to the kid’s credit, it took some changes and sacrifice on his part.  To Cal, I say another job well done.  To Liggins, I say congratulations on playing a game deserving of 2000.

2000 baby 2000

Celebrate Celebrate dance to the music. Its not just John Wall dancing tonight its the whole BigBlueNation dancing.  There wasn’t any doubt from the tip off that the Cat’s would win and they won 88-44.

That had to be the best first half the Cat’s played all year. Bledsoe, Liggins, Miller, Dodson and Wall played under control better than they have all year which bodes well for the future. The team pass and shared the ball well and 11 out of 13 players scored at least 2 points. I know, I know it was just Drexel but they played good.

Negative were few and far between till the final minutes when turnover climbed to 14 and sadly the Cats missed a couple of free throws which kept the from shooting 100% for two games in a row. They shot 54.3% and almost 70% from the 3 point line, had 20 assists,  8 steals and 6 blocks to go along with 42 rebounds

Just a few quick thoughts on the game. I cried during the post game show, got over it and cried again when they played My Old Kentucky Home and yes pukies real men do cry.

My apologies for sounding like Dukie V in the title. Go Cats!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lady Cats go to 10-0

The Lady Cats moved to a school record 10-0 after a 101-67 pounding of the Lady Cards. Forcing 38 turnovers and seemingly scoring at will  the Cats had four players score in double figures led by junior All-Southeastern Conference forward Victoria Dunlap’s game-high 27 points, eight steals, nine rebounds and four blocks. Point guard Amber Smith had a career-high 19 points and dished out a game-high five assists. A’dia Mathies had 15 points and Carlie Morrow added 12 points as everyone who played scored.

Add the lady Cats 10 wins to the Cats 11 and we are having the best start of any program in the nation.

Music City Bowl

Okay, I have managed to find myself a bit of pep. Realistic one, too. UK is very, very young. Our offense, in particular is still so young. Clemson, is pretty veteran. My assertion being that, really OUR team is the one that has the ability to make the leaps and bounds during these practice weeks. Morgan finally getting some good reps in, without having to squeeze in the practice week, in between games, with no real time to get comfortable, and get to know his receivers,.. things like that.

This whole season was really Clemson’s season to be at their best. They had the experience and depth, particularly at the skill positions on both sides of the ball, and they had their speed. They were supposed to be a 10 win team. They weren’t. And, they weren’t because they just aren’t.

UK, on the other hand, came into this season with many of us debating whether this team was even a six win team. Most of us fell between 6 and 8. Yea, lo verily, we got 7. But, we never anticipated a true freshman QB winning three conference games. Not for a minute. And our receivers are still a group of young guys who, even though we’ve played a season, still haven’t gathered that much experience. We’ve had to run the ball so much (and it was good) that none of these guys, even Cobb, posted number like they could have if we had a more experienced and confident QB.

Well, now we will. I think this pause and practce will be take alot of pressure off Morgan. I think with the time to ONLY have to watch film on one team, and having the luxury to take 5 days a week to throw all the reps he can to all his recievers, learn their timing, get to know their speed, I think UK may well emerge a different team for this bowl game.

I think Clemson will be good, but they have ONLY the lowest level of performance of our team to look back on and reflect. They really, truthful, CAN’T possibly know how to scheme for this team because there has been so little game footage of this team getting to play well as a unit. The only thing they will definitely know is that our O-line is really good, top ten good, but that really only tells you you may have send extra people, to get pressure. They are only gonna know Locke is fast, and Cobb is dynamic. Beyond that, they have no idea as to the capabilities and potential of the rest of our offense.

–I’m starting to like the idea.

Finals Sludge?

And then there was Austin Peay.  This could have been a real trap game for mortal teams.  As we look around the Nation, we see several that got caught in traps and some of our SEC brethren are among them.  You can say that finals week shouldn’t matter.  You can say that all the teams are going through it so it should be neutral.  But I think the HOME team is at the disadvantage here as they get to travel and get in game mode since they are way from the school environment. And I also see a team that plays several kids who went through it for the first time so I felt this was certainly a chance to not see the best basketball of all time.  Hints came this week and I thought Call handled it very well, just as I feel he’s handled almost everything well.  To the teams credit, they did just enough to stay 10 points up, and put their foot on the peddle when Austin Peay tried to make a run.  You could see this was like a cat toying with a grasshopper.  And Austin Peay is a very good team. 

Many say that we have parody in college basketball.  Many think there is a defined line between the statuses.  I think there is parody until you reach the elite.  Up to that point, a USC can knock off a UT on any given night.  A GW can knock off a non-elite UK.  But if an elite chooses to impose their will, even in finals week, an elite team can pretty much name their score against a mid major like Austin Peay. 

 

I thought all the Cats had fine moments.  I thought all the Cats had moments we would like to instantly forget.  I thought Liggin played more consistently than any of the Cats, but his consistency is a tad rusty at this point.  He barrowed minutes from Harris, and I thought that was a great plan.  It isn’t that Harris played bad because he led the team in rebounds when he left the game in the first half.  But this team needs to learn to do it on the D end even if he isn’t in there and they need to knos that some other non-post guy is going to have to crash the boards.  Liggins didn’t d that, but Austin Peay will provide a win and tape where they can see.  Liggins did a ton right.  He didn’t force, he actually ran the called plays and was in the right spots.  This is huge stuff.  I remember watching the live practice last year.  Coach drew up a full court play on his board.  Porter ran it first.  Then Liggins ran something that had everyone on the floor scratching their head.  Porter ran it again, then Liggins totally went off the play again.  Yesterday I was sure that things had sunk in with him.  His three was a good three even though it missed.  He needs to hit the boards better, but as this was his first real game actions, SO WHAT. 

 

My last point before closing has to do with Wall.  What the hell is he thinking?  Why was he out of control and risking a season ending injury at mid court for a loose ball against a team that UK could name the score on??  I was seriously pissed at him.  It’s ok to go for the ball but control yourself!!

 

I am very please with how this team has progressed.  I am pleased the staff is getting through.  You can see it in the interviews when the players, like Boogie, echo Cal’s thoughts.  You hear them say they need to get better, then you see them actually do it even if they didn’t play as well as many would like.  You see Boogie maturing right before your eyes and you’ve already seen potential that is out of the arena.  You see an already mature beyond his years Orton, improving his skills on the floor.  You also know that the post presence can not be matched anywhere when they, combined with Patterson, play to their potential..  And then there is Wall..

Knight Integrity

When Bobby Knight speaks, people listen.  They listen in the same light as they rubber neck when passing a wreck.  They don’t want to, but damn it, they have to because there’s just something about a wreck that makes you want to look.  With Knight, you know there’s going to be a wreck.  Let’s face it, everything he’s ever done, said or been a part of has turned into a wreck.  Sure, he got IU where it mattered, but the cost was overwhelmingly not worth it in the big picture. 

 

His rant this time: integrity and the moral fabric of NCAA basketball.  He rightfully admits that he was a part of it, he knew it and he did it anyway.  But he qualifies himself by saying that he was alone in actually making the student part of,  “student athlete” actually relevant.  Here’s what we know.  Bobby knight has been delusional since the day he exited the womb or was hatched.  Bobby Knight is a hot head.  Mix those two together and its as lethal a combination as ammonia and bleach. We can’t really fault his integrity for that.  You can be a delusional hot head, pull most of the stunts he pulled, and actually still have integrity.   All you have to do is say, “my bad” and go on with life.  But when you consider how he bullied, lied, cheated, pulled strings and bullied his way out of taking responsibility for those actions, we have a real case of pot meets kettle.  Time and time again he did whatever it took to get out from underneath his messes.  Most of the time it worked, sometimes it didn’t.  All the while, the adoring fans of IU thought he could do no wrong.  He could do no wrong until he didn’t win the games he used to win or take IU to the places he had in the past.  At that point, Knight could do no right and had to go.  THIS was the audience for THIS integrity speech.  It’s more like Pot makes speech in front of kettle when you think about it.

 

The main aim of this latest rant was toward Calipari.  A modern day coach using the system Knight helped create.  Calipari isn’t the saint many UK fans think today.  He wasn’t the integrity-less demon that most of those same UK fans thought he was when he was at Memphis, and this includes me.  UK and its fans have their own integrity issues, but at least we aren’t making delusional speeches condemning it.  The issue at hand is how someone from within the coaching ranks who should know much more than fans could be so delusionally wrong on a topic?  What he doesn’t know Calipari has shown as much or more interest in making sure the Student is the key part of Student athlete as he ever was.  Cal has never hit or shot anyone that I’ve heard of.  Cal has never bullied his way out of trouble that I know of.  From what I’ve read, Cal did the right thing with the Camby situation and the NCAA did what many consider to be the wrong thing with eh Memphis situation.  At first I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out why he would take shots at Calipari.   Why would knight do this?  Then it hit me!  There is timing here, my friends.  Take a look at what will happen very soon at UK.  UK will hit a milestone no other program has reached and Calipari will be the coach that does it even though he only plays a minuscule part in it.  I am certain that in Bobbie Knight’s delusional mind, HE has had a larger hand in it based on his losses to UK so he deserves more credit than Calipari. 

 

This is how this man thinks! It’s ok to choke players and get away with it.  It’s ok to shoot people and property with no recourse.  It’s OK to verbally abuse people for not calling you Sr or Mr. Knight.  All of this is OK if your name is Bobby Knight. 

 

At this point Knight will take his little integrity rant, put it in his back pocket as being yet another OKism, and go back to making more money from the very thing he spoke out against. Now that is Knight Integrity at its finest.

Team of Destiny

Cross my fingers. Make the signs in the air. Knock on wood three times. Apologize before you hypothesize. But, am I the only one out there who gets the “team of destiny” feeling from UK?

I mean, I know Kansas is good, but… they just aren’t capturing the heart and mind. Even as much as I HATE UNC, you just knew, last year, that they were on a mission and there was almost no one who was going to stop them? Ya know? I get the same feeling here. Not for the same reasons, of course. Not for having a group of seniors stick to it, and pledge to come back. But, kind of a feeling that the basketball universe WANTS to be righted again. UK is rebounding back to it’s place with an immediate gusto that will be repayment for several long years of tedious mediocrity.

Look at ESPN. Look at their top headlines. Out of all that’s happened…. “UK moves up to number 3″. That tells me that even THEY are watching and waiting. I get the sense the entire basketball world is watching UK come back to the top, and have only ranked them below the top so that the program will have somewhere to go, to create the story. To create HIstory.

I’m not saying they won’t lose… I’m saying it feels like they may not. And, I can be one of the biggest doubters in the world. But, I don’t think this team will lose big games. I don’t think they will fail to be up for them. The only games I’m worried about are trap games like Vandy, or USC. I would be willing to wager heavily, today, that this team (barring things I won’t mention because they don’t exist in this world) will beat Florida and Miss St. I think they will be longing to punish UT. That’s a personality game, and the players can see, will know, that they are playing for their coach’s hunger there.

I just get a weird feeling. I won’t say I even remotely think it’s probable,…but I do think it’s it’s possible. We may be looking back on an undefeated season.

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