You Know It’s A Great Year When…..

The Cats are 10-0!

John Wall is the Media Darling & 4 time SEC Freshman of the Week! <—- Eat your heart out Florida!
Dickie V is on the 1 & Done Warpath!
We’re in the Top 5!

Recruits are seriously eyeballing Lexington– Cal Builds, they will come! (:
The Haters are out in full force & Kansas is getting NERVOUS!
Louisville isn’t just stinkin up the place—they flat out SUCK!
Grumblings from discontented Tard Fans are getting louder & JANUARY 2nd is their equivalent to the Mayan Calender Prediction!
Liggins is finally playing & Harris is getting better, stronger, faster <—Bionic Man Style on the D… as if that were possible!
There is LEGITIMATE talk of a #1 Seed although the path to the dance might be less than desired!
Our beloved pets are running for Cover twice week!
Patterson has expanded his game & his bringin the 3 ball!
The 1st of the Border Wars  is nestled neatly under our Tree w/a BIG BLUE W BOW on top!

Yes, I’d say the Grinch does believe in SantaCat & has not only jumped on the Big Blue BandWagon, but has taken over the reigns steering us w/a vengeance into enemy territory to steal their GIFTS & feast on their Roast Beast! (:
HO HO HO Catland– The Dawning of the Cal~ Era never looked so good & I do believe it’s off to a BIGGER start than any of us would have ever allowed ourselves to imagine! TIS GOOD TO BE A CAT YES!

Over the past week, I’ve read several threads, thoughts & opinions regarding Next Season (not just here– everywhere) LOL— typical mindset of a Nation that has acquired the very bad habit of always looking to what next season brings. Time to drop it! (: HAVE FUN & ENJOY THIS SEASON… it’s going by fast enough as it is & is sure to leave us w/plenty to shmooze, oooh & aahh about over the long summer months! We’re on a RIP, ROAR & DESTROY Mission —- I haven’t had this much fun w/KENTUCKY BASKETBALL since the 90′s!! And I know ya’ll haven’t either. That old feelin of hangin on to the edge of your seat is BACK— Win or lose is not the ONLY important thing— THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION is BACK! DO YOU HEAR ME– IT’S BACK!!! And it’s wonderful!! I hate to Lose — Geez, do I ever! Yet still, to run the table in the College BB World now days is almost impossible. BUT, BUT isn’t it nice to once again find yourself wondering WHO CAN beat us? Snicker Snicker!

Besides—– Oh ye of lil faith… Who is our Coach?  The talent will be delivered season end & season out…. not all may be as talented as this bunch…… but it will be there—- and allow yourself to explore the possibility that Cal’s PURRFECT team has yet to emerge—- NOW  THAT’S A SKEERY THOUGHT! <—- never know, and it could be in year 3, year 6, year 8 —— NEVER KNOW! (:  YAY!~
Question?
Who’s got plans for Nashville??? I’m workin on gettin our condo for the SEC Tourney (Crossin Claws it all works out!) & I’m ready to throw down w/the Nation!
A lil years end predictions comin your way—–

1.We’re going to split w/Tennessee. But will have the last laugh in the SEC TOURNAMENT! Me thinks Mississippi St. gets us too <—– Hey Hey Hey, not a bad thing….Can you Say 96? TEE HEE.
2. WE WILL TAKE BACK THE SEC
3. Pitino will be OFFICIALLY dethroned January 2nd & his going out party is GOING TO BE UGLY! VENGEANCE IS OUR’S & SUCCESS IS ALWAYS ALWAYS THE BEST REVENGE!
4. Speaking of lil ricky— he leaves UofJail after this season.
5. The Selection Committee isn’t worried about a UK/memphis match up— they will GO FOR the UK/puke match up as both teams are up to their caliber this season setting us up for an all out WAR! We are on a COLLISION COURSE w/the bluedevils & I don’t know about ya’ll but 98 didn’t vindicate 92 fully…. for that matter, I don’t care how many tail whippins we deliver them (short of an embarrassing blow-out….) that revenge will be HARD EARNED!

Florida Florida Florida— PUHLEAZE….. ya’ll that have been stuck on the I HATE Florida bus, need to get off now—– Go down 2 streets, make a right turn onto 8th Avenue & hop on the KANSAS HAS GOT IT COMIN Bus! Cats, we owe them more whippins than Santa has Elves.
All you Karma in the game believers— let’s play that card for a moment shall we……
Go back & Listen to Cal’s MM Speech— I did & found myself pondering w/a grin— how prophetic!
The winning pieces of the puzzle are FINDING A WAY to fit PURRFECTLY into place. Kansas SOS is far from <— STRENGTH & they also don’t have a skeleton key named JOHN WALL. I credit Self but the Karma pendulum is starting to drastically swing our way. Think of all the beat downs we’ve suffered over the years from them!  EMBARRASSING!!! Every Hawk has it’s day & it’s rapidly approaching.
YOU JUST GOTTA BELIEVE!
We’ve been embarrassed, WHOOPED (yes I said it!), Beat Down, LAUGHED AT & Forgotten.
NOW
Right Hear, Right Now
WE ROAR! WE’RE BACK & Rupp help whoever tries to stop us!
KENTUCKY-kansas is going to happen! The media heads are already doing their exorcist head spin @ the possibility <— The Committee will oblige them. They will snub us & give kansas the Overall 1 <— LET EM!
JUST PUTS MORE FIRE IN THE BELLY!
What a redemption for PAT PAT… Not in ability, not even close (Pat is head & shoulders above him) but his character, his resolve— you know who that brings to my mind?? Reggie Hanson. HE STAYED through the nightmare & made the best of it for not only HIM but the nation. A Final Four <— whadda a reward, huh! (: If so, he deserves it & I will pulling all the way for him to attain it!
Last week I wrote of seeing glimpses of the 96 Cats.
Will the SEC stand up & play its part in building the 2nd Beast? I’m hoping so….. because in order for that Chemistry & Character to be built, we are going to haft to rely on the SEC Curs to bring it, give it & battle us in every aspect of the game. A good SEC will reap the benefits of the freshmen evolving into men, the basketball smarts enhanced & the will to WIN tearing at our chests to be released! This will also add the most critical element to a successful tournament run by not allowing us to peak in January!
MERRY CHRISTMAS CATLAND!
ENJOY THE RIDE!

SNOWMAN POOP in Cryin Roys stockin for the episode w/the fan. You’re a professional — ACT LIKE ONE!
REINDEER DROPPINGS under Self’s tree for actin like Roy & cryin about Xavier’s lack of media attention.

Hmmm…. must be a kansas thing, ya think?

Title 8 is being built at the North Pole ….. will it be ready for a March Delivery?

SantaCat I swear I’ll be good & I’ll never stick gum in the Blue Hairs Seats again…..(crossed claws behind my back!)
LUVTHOSECALICATS!

Ol’ Roy and I don’t mean dog food

Roy Williams had a Presbyterian fan thrown out of a game Saturday night during a close 103-64 victory over Presbyterian. Apparently the little gym was real quiet when the Presbyterian fan yelled something like “You’re gonna miss it, Deon” while Deon Thompson was shooting free throws. Roy the media-titled guru of college basketball took offense and had the fan escorted out of the mosh pit thats named The Dean Smith Center.

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/voices/blogpost/6605643/
http://www.wralsportsfan.com/unc/video/6605651/

Now I’m just guessing but if ol’ Roy the guru of basketball coaching had this fan thrown out for yelling while his player was shooting free throws then he might have just violated this fans civil rights of free speech and equal representation in the house that Dean built.

I’m hoping that this fan who as far as I can tell so far did nothing that the NC fans weren’t doing takes this to court where it might result in nothing or it could if taken to the end result in fans not being allowed to yell during free throws or wave things or behave like a fan does.

Way to go ol’ Roy you might have opened up a bag of dog food you cant finish. Its going to be fun to see how the media spins this or if they even bother.

The latest update has Yahoo calling ol’ Roy out on it.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Roy-Williams-kicks-out-heckling-fan-at-the-Dean-;_ylt=Akb6eTteuXOhebKduQCd9RTevbYF?urn=ncaab,208335

The Other Side Of The Wall

Everyone that has a keyboard who follows sports is writing about one thing: Wall. Being the UK fan that I am, I felt it was time to do the same (Again for I don’t know how many times). After all, us UK fans were writing and talking about Wall before it was the thing to do.

We all know what Wall brings to the table. He brings everything but rebounding. I’ve got no problems with the lack of rebounding because rebounding goes against his job. But there is another thing, besides everything, that he is bringing that no one is talking about. UK fans can never get enough of UK basketball. But the coverage on UK has become so far beyond insane that even I can’t keep up with it. Wall and UK are everywhere. Little old lady’s who don’t even watch sports are standing in line at the grocery doing the Wall dance.

In the middle of all this exposure; great exposure; lies another little tid bit. Even the non-Walls on the team are getting 10 times the exposure they would have had last year. UK plays in MSG and the whole world stops to watch. NBA teams rush through first halves so they can catch some of the game at half time. (I made that up, its called embellishing to make a point). Everyone knew of Patterson before, but now they also here, “He’s really expanded his game” (I did not make that up). People see Bledsoe, they see Harris, they see Big Cuz.

You can be sure there is another group that is watching and that is recruits. Guys who think they are the next Wall are watching. Guys who could be the next Patterson, or Bledsoe or even the next Harris are watching. And you can bet they are taking notes because they understand that much of getting to the next level in anythig is being seen. Some are probably beating themselves in the head for signing with another team for next year. Some haven’t signed and may not have been looking at UK. Some were probably considering UK. I would think there will be a flood of both interest and recruiting movement as the year goes on and UK will probably be able to have its pick. It gets much tougher now that UK has to manage scholarships again. It’s not really known how many will open. Wall loves school so I’m probably of the minority (or maybe even the only one) that thinks there are some scenarios where even Wall returns. Just as it’s a good idea for the cream to wait until Spring to choose a school, UK is now in a position where its best interest also lies in waiting until Spring, unless it’s a no brainer.

Some probably think this is Wall’s 15 minutes of fame. I could seriously see this frenzy lasting all year if Wall is on the floor. Oh, and he and the team? They are actually gonna get better.

RAGS TO RICHES~

I was fully prepared for the ending scenario when Walker hit that jumper. With complete confidence, I announced this would be a good L to build upon. Boy, am I TICKLED BLUE they made a liar out of me! (:

The Cats are finding the way to WIN & they’re not doing it quietly. Their youth brings  2 dangerous elements to the game in sheer athleticism, which negates many of the DUMB FRESHMEN mistakes that are expected & the absence of the common sense factor— what I mean by that is … they don’t have enough sense to respect & fear players that command said respect such as Dyson. Ya gotta love it! As nerve racking & hair pulling it is… we haven’t had a legitimate reason to be this excited since the mid 90′s. I cried during the Carolina game & I’m not ashamed to admit it— those of us that have been w/UK since birth/life long UNDERSTAND completely what we’ve been craving and missing for oh so long.
Well….
Crave no more & get your seconds at the buffet. The feast is upon us & the company couldn’t be better. For all you newcomers & bandwagon jumpers straighten up & pay attention…… you’re getting ready to witness KENTUCKY BASKETBALL full throttle, no holds barred, no mercy,  total domination of a fever frenzied BIG BLUE NATION tanked up on FRENZY FUEL being pumped out by this team—  just waiting to explode. THIS IS KENTUCKY BASKETBALL & THIS IS WHAT WE LIVE FOR, THRIVE ON & EXPECT!!!
Thank Rupp we finally hit rock bottom (shaken, not stirred). Through our failures we have learned the toughest of all lessons how to triumph when the deck is stacked against ya in every aspect known to the game.
I have been rather reserved in allowing comparison to our revered 1996 Cats, mainly because that was & is the greatest college team ever assembled. The reservations are slowly starting to raise to comparison. Make no mistake…. these Cats aren’t there yet—-far too many lessons to be learned, but the GLIMPSES OF GREATNESS the clinic passing in the 1st half between Bledsoe & Wall w/Wall on the finish— FREEZE! SNAP SHOT THAT FRAME… REWIND—-> THERE IT IS!!! DO YOU SEE IT???
It’s okay— go ahead trust your instincts “COUSIN” seein is believin! Proof was in the finishing points.
I’m officially shmoozing over this bunch. Can’t call it love just yet & it’s gonna take an awful lot more than these past couple of games to end my love affair w/Derek Anderson & Company but BOY do I ever eat up the flirts & come hithers that this team is giving.
Last night, I gave props to UConn & with good reason. We haven’t faced competition from the likes of which they gave till last night. Fellow Felines THAT TEAM HAS GAME & they brought it & SHOULD BE RANKED HIGHER THAN 12!! The important thing is we weathered the storm w/o Wall & that is going to be absolutely critical down the stretch. Producing w/o him on the floor—– When he went out w/2 fouls I figured that Cal~ was gonna let UConn have their run as long as it didn’t reach double digits, saving Wall for the 2nd. It wasn’t pretty, but they indeed weathered the storm & hung in their like warriors. Especially w/the Zebra’s gettin whistle happy—- which, I believe is one area we’re gonna get better in as the season continues. Fouls are just as much a part of the game & learning how to incorporate them comes w/time. Daniel’s foul out — was an example of a GOOD HARD FOUL & it paid off. LMAO—> although I firmly believe he didn’t aim to do commit it! Still, sent em to the line where 1 was the result rather than a HYPER deuce to blow the roof off the Garden. UConn had to work for those shots…. which is exactly what we want. Make em work, ware em down & then move in for the kill!
We get beat in Rebounding & Assists add to that the momentum was clearly swinging UConn way & STILL FIND A WAY TO WIN…. WALL WALL WALL — Oh whadda a difference a premier point guard makes (anyCat still hittin the sales pitch for Porter? LOL) and although he did it down the stretch establishing himself as our GO TO CAT. Let’s not forget what it took to get there— A SOLID TEAM EFFORT that was turned in by HARRIS (damn that kids brings D!), COUSINS, ORTON & last but never ever least PATTERSON!
One of the greatest things about Wall that is going unmentioned is ——-
HE ELEVATES THE WHOLE TEAM & brings the I BELIEVE’S into their HEARTS & MINDS. I wonder— really wonder …. our we seeing the next MJ coming to the NBA in the form of a ALL SMILES, WELL ROUNDED, INTELLIGENT, EXCEPTIONAL Phenom known as the GREAT WALL of KY?
That’s a big a brag to be sure… but then again… I allow myself to believe & dream ….. and WHAT IF—-
AND BETTER YET…. this one didn’t come outta Carolina— but BIG BLUE NATION & I’m proud to call him ours! (:
Ya’ll I urge you to enjoy this season and embrace it w/everything you’ve got. It’s going to be over in a blink of an eye— it’s already flying by & I don’t wanna miss a thing.

I can’t say enough how much we deserve this. But you know what—- OUR WILDCATS deserve it even more… especially our returning players who suffered through Hell & Humiliation— WIN OR LOSE, in the end…. they indeed have the HEART OF A CHAMPION & our capturing ours with every tick of the clock.
WE ARE KENTUCKY HEAR US ROAR!
Ms.Cats~

Numbed By The Wall

I’m still a little numb.  Sure, it helps that I had to drive in this frigid cold this morning, but I was just as numb when I went to bed and through the night as I am now.  The final horn last night was a sound that made you sit back off the edge of your seat for the first time in two hours and go, “Whoh”.  It was that kind of game.

 

And we should expect that type of game at Kentucky.  We deserve that type of game.  What made it that type of game was a very tough and talented UConn team.  This was a game where you win, but you have to tip your hat to the other guys and say, “Damned well played”.  Kentucky made it that type of game.  OK, let’s be perfectly honest for a second.  John Wall made it that type of game.  He almost single handedly kick started UK to a 12-0 lead and he almost single handedly carried UK down the stretch.  The start was fools gold at its finest.  Getting cheap baskets is great.  Getting cheap baskets is a must.  But you can’t get cheap baskets the entire game and you can’t win by relying on cheap baskets.  Wall had some help making it that kind of game from Harris.  I’m not sure if many understood as it was happening, but without Harris’ defensive team work on Dyson UK loses this game going away.  The guy was killing UK and the combo if Wall and Harris switching to him effectively took him out of the game and he eventually went to the bench for good.  To all of those that said Harris would never be a player, its time for crow because the kid’s got game.  He may not score a bunch of points, but he has been a positive difference maker in every game and I don’t see that changing.  Orton and Stevenson also helped make it this kind of game, although the rebounding for all but a few stints was horrid and I did not see one block out by a Cat.  Note to the Cats:  Giving up three offensive boards on one possession will lead to bad things PLUS a foul; every time. 

Things missing were Miller, which isn’t much new.  His failure to execute plays called for him and failure to rotate on defense were major contributors to UConn’s success.  Patterson got 16 points, but was pretty much missing when you consider Patterson is Patterson.  Stats to note: 4 boards, 0 assists, 0 turnovers, 2 blks (blked twice himself).  Those are pretty mundane numbers for Patterson.  Big Cuz was a difference maker in the second half but the liability on the board fundamentals negated most of what he did positively in the game. 

 

The question MUST be:  Where would UK be without John Wall?  I really don’t even want to think about the answer.  He was huge to start the game and over life sized down the stretch.  The kid looks to get others involved, but lets be honest in that he wasn’t getting much help on the offensive end and the two assists says more about his team mates than it says of his game.  Cal is right, this TEAM is not very good at all.  Wall has his own areas he needs work on.  He doesn’t understand tempo, or maybe better said, he doesn’t know how to play well at different tempos.  But knocking Wall for anything is like knocking a super model who has a small birth mark on the back of her thy.  Last night I said that UK is exactly two points better than anyone they play.  What I should have said was Wall is two points better than anyone UK plays.  I think the staff needs to seriously give Wall a week off and MAKE this team learn how to do it without him.   Hold him out of practice, games, the whole bit.  At this point this season may very well come down to whether Wall is in the game at the end or not, and it isn’t fair to Wall to have to lose because of it.

 

While the wall show didn’t get the sort of help he deserves, part of that has to go on UConn and the Refs.  I don’t usually complain about officiating but those guys were horrid on both ends and the more ugly the game the more it favored UConn.  Charges called blocks, blocks called charges, goal tending calls on blocks, blocks called goaltending moving picks on both ends, a UConn player taking four steps with the ball and no call.  I’ve played in games like this and it’s really hard to do anything when there is no consistency in the calls. 

 

Having said all of this, I wouldn’t have traded my numbness for anything in the world.  This is a great numb compared to the bad numb going back to 2003.  I’m ready for more!!

The Boring Bowls

When I read something starting out with “Is it just me” the first thing that crosses my mind is yeah its probably just you buddy.

Having poked a little fun at one of my favorite lead in lines. Is it just me or is this going to be another bowl season where the incidental bowls are going to be a lot more fun to watch than the BCS bowls.

There was a small chance that we were going to get to see if a non BCS team was worthy of playing for the national championship. Instead we get a Texas team that hasn’t shown much against anyone but patsy’s. A team who lucked by a Nebraska team who’s offense has been lost in limbo all year. The only thing Texas playing Alabama is going to show is that Texas isn’t a championship team and Alabama is.

The major bowls look like this.

Orange Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
Sugar Florida vs. Cincinnati
Fiesta Boise State vs. TCU
Rose Ohio State vs. Oregon

Lets start with the Rose Bowl’s stance on Pac 10 vs Big 10. Going by that premises they shouldn’t be considered a major bowl anymore since the Big 10 reminds most fans of the MAC. Wouldn’t everyone rather see Oregon play Boise St. again rather than perennial flop Ohio St.

On to the Orange Bowl where people get to watch Iowa vs Georgia Tech. Wouldn’t it be more fun to watch Ga Tech vs Pittsburgh rather than another big boring team.

The Sugar Bowl at least has some exciting football possible with Cincinnati going against Florida.

That leaves me with the Fiesta Bowl where if it was up to me Texas would be playing. I’m one good team short of having someone to play TCU so I guess the team would have to be Penn St, Ohio St or Iowa so the big boring fans don’t feel to bad.

Wouldn’t a eight team playoff be more fun to watch than what looks to be a boring week of football.

So The Cats Have It

So the Cats have it.

 

I was nervous about this game.  I am sure all the BBN was as well, but this year was a little different than the last few years in that there was another group that was just as nervous and those were in the form of the powder blue fans.  And they were right to be nervous because UK was simply unbeatable for a stretch in the first half.  The game started as I thought it would.  UK’s young guns needed some time to figure out the ins and outs of playing a UNC type game and UNC took full advantage by jumping out to a nine point lead.  There was no panic in the players, staff or fans because we all new it was just a matter of time before the Cats found them selves.  And when they did, it was a thing of beauty!  The Cats ran on UNC and there was absolutely nothing UNC could do about it.  The Cats ripped apart UNC’s man to man defense and there was absolutely nothing UNC could do about it.  The Cats started defending with pressure out front and all UNC could do was turn it over and watch UK run.  When it was all said and done, the run was 28-2.  But it wasn’t all said and done.

 

There was another half to play.  But things started turning with a few minutes left in the first half.  The first rule UK needs to learn is when you have your foot on the throat do not let up until someone fat and female is humming, “My Old Kentucky Home”.  This is especially true when you are playing a fellow elitist.  Loosing John Wall early in the second half didn’t seem to help much at the time.  But in my mind after ie was all said and done (this time for real), it helped much more than beating UNC by 30, which probably wouldn’t have happened anyway.  UK had to figure out where they stood when there was no Wall and, to their credit, they did.  UK had to figure out how to win a close game against a top team down the stretch and they did.  UK had to figure out who they can go to at money time and they did.  UK had to figure out how this team would handle adversity against an equal team and they did.  Many, including (or especially) me, thought this game would come down to experience and they would be right in doing so.  What many, including (or especially) me, failed to consider was the experience that UK relies on for roles on this team.  And at the end of the day, when Wall can’t be a factor, when paint point come out close to even, when back court play comes out close to even, the defining X factor is Harris, Stevenson, Miller and Dodson.  Their defense, rebounding, knowing to get the ball to Patterson for key shots and abundant “do whatever t takes to win” define the difference in this game.  Also throw in a major growing up experience for Bledsoe and this was the perfect game with the perfect outcome and the perfect learning experience these Cats needed.   Who’s Next?

How the Grinch Stole CatMas!

Ho Ho Ho Catland! (:
Tis the season to be Jolly …….
Well isn’t it????
Apparently not.
What’s the matter Ms.Cats~? The Cats are off to a PURRFECT Start & Pickin up momentum @ the speed of light w/every practice & game. So why are you in such a BAH HUMBUG Mood this season???
I’ll tell ya why w/1 word.
NEGATIVITY.

Well we better make that a few words to accompany the first. CRITICAL, SERIOUS & SKEPTICAL. By reading some of the comments across CATLAND it appears that many Cats have forgotten or chosen to ignore the real meaning of the SEASON & instead are nestled in their bunkers awaiting the arrival of 2012 (now showing in theaters $10 per ticket)
What gives???
Can we not ENJOY & APPRECIATE this machine in the making that Coach Cal~ is working at?
Never in all my life have I seen such a bunch set on doom & despair.
What? Afraid to dream??? Because that dream may not have the ending that would make for your idea of successful season, which I might add— NoCat completed the assignment & Big Fat 0′s have been handed out.
Where did our backbone & swagger go? Are we supposed to buy into the theory that if we allow ourselves to expect the worst, that the BEST will happen?! I don’t know who started sellin that stock, but I ain’t a buyin it as it’s gonna be dumped quickly.
Look….. we are on track to have one of the better seasons that we have seen in YEARS… IN YEARS CATS!!!
Raise your hands if you were listening when Coach Cal~ told us all that the beginning of the season it was gonna look UGLY & DISORGANIZED for the most part. The man didn’t lie. But yet the team is finding a way to win. Call it escape, call it luck, call it whatever you want but the end result is still the same w/the same approach —–> FINDING A WAY TO WIN!!! An ingredient shared by the 98 team. Admit it, how many times did you count that bunch out? Weren’t you glad to be wrong?!
Now, I’m not sayin this team is gonna win the National Title, but I will guarantee you this —–> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE HELLUVA RUN!
So I’m callin on CATLAND to stop w/the negativity, the doom & gloom, the criticism & ENJOY THE RIDE, LET THEM LEAD US WHERE THEY WANT TO GO! If you don’t, you’re going to miss History being made!!! And won’t have a moment to cherish of it!
CAT FANS BE THANKFUL, EMBRACE THE NEW ERA, BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS TEAM. I CHALLENGE YOU TO SEEK OUT THE POSITIVE & BUILD UPON IT!
Negativity breeds Negativity. Success IS NOT truly success w/o tasting the bitterness of failure, when that failure comes— relish in the dessert awaiting us. If you can’t do this, don’t be a Scrooge & Bah Humbug the rest of the Nation’s CATMAS. We’ve waited a long long time for something like this & don’t deserve to have our DREAMS shattered by a bunch of DOOMSDAYERS!
& keep in mind—-
GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN IF YOU JUST……
BELIEVE!

Now I’ve got MY BIG BLUE SUNGLASSES ON & YES, I DO WEAR THEM AT NIGHT!!! If you lost your’s, please let me know & I’ll make sure you get a pair STRAIGHT AWAY!

ON PATTERSON, ON BLEDSOE, ON ORTON, &  HARRELSON,   ON MILLER,   ON  HARRIS,  ON HOOD  & STEVENSON

TO THE TOP OF THE PORCH

TO THE TOP OF THE WALL

NOW DASH AWAY DASH AWAY ALL!!!
& I heard Cal~ exclaim & he WON out of sight…..

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL & TO ALL A GOOD FIGHT!~

ONWARD UPWARD!
Ms.Cats~

The UK-UNC Breakdown

UK hosts UNC for what is arguably (or not) the biggest scheduled non conference game of the year. UK and UNC are number one and number two in all times wins, respectively, and are both in a foot race to 2000. Both teams have elite type talent and the whole world will be watching to see how Wall plays against the home state team that didn’t want him. I usually do not break games down, but this seems to be a special occasion and we all know special occasions call for special measures.  So my quest today is to break down the individual parts of the game then put it all together for the possible outcome.

Both teams are big and talented underneath. UNC has more long bodies than UK but hasn’t really gone to all of them. UK has Patterson. That alone says enough but UK also has Cousins who can go off for 12 in a very short time, can bring a solid Orton in and also has vets in Stevenson and Harrelson at its disposal. Advantage: UK

Both teams are fast and talented out front. UNC is young. UK is younger. UK has the Wall factor. The Wall factor is magnified when you consider that this is against UNC and he was built for games like this. Is he ready? I’m not sure but I think he will rise to the occasion under the white hot lights. My real question is with Bledsoe, as I seriously doubt that he is ready and UK’s options after Bledsoe are Dodson and Miller. Advantage: Even

But unfortunately the individual parts of a team do not define it as a whole. When you consider that all the players who will get time for UNC played in at least one title game, you have to give them a huge team edge. Most think this game will come down to post play but I think it will come down to the team that can provide the most pressure out front. The absolute best way to negate a post up team with man to man is to pressure the passers out front. Minimizing good passes in to the post means minimizing good post plays opportunities and keeping your big guys out of foul trouble. I feel strongly that UNC is better prepared for this than UK. I also think (hope) the game comes down to the final 8 possession series of the game. But, again, in that situation where talent is almost equal you must give experience the nod.

In the end, I think the UK players want to want this game more, but at this point they seriously do not know how to want it more. UNC makes its free throws down the stretch and wins by 8.

Climbing the Wall

I’m impressed.  And it takes a lot for a freshman to impress me.  But to have four of them impress me at one time is impossible.  Or at least it was.  The UK basketball team was on full display last night and the changes were monumental.  This has been the most horrid defensive fundamental team I have ever seen in blue until last night.  Last night they played like one of the best defensive fundamental teams that I have seen.  The stats do not always show what really happens in a game.  UK has won without playing very good defense largely based on the missed wide open shots of the other team.  UK has won big on the nights the other team missed most of the wide open shots and won close on the nights the other team made most of the wide open shots.  The key has been wide open shots.  The reasons for the wide open shots come down to a total lack of fundamentals that cause numerous breakdowns on any given play.  Many times, the guy who has scored wasn’t defended by the guy who started the breakdown with poor play.

All of that changed last night.  Wall and Bledsoe both played back court defense like seasoned veterans.  Off the ball they had one eye on their man and one eye on the ball, players communicated, switches were timely and seamless. 

 But that isn’t what impressed me.  Wall impressed me.  I’ve been fighting it tooth and nail but at some point you have to simply tip your hat to the kid.  He isn’t the best freshman in the land simply because he can run faster and jump higher.  He’s the best because he is always thinking and he is always, and I mean always, looking for ways to improve.  The knock on he and Bledsoe has been outside shooting, but they both seem to have very good form, rhythm and focus on their shots to me.  Both are a legitimate threat to score if you leave them open on the outside which is what this team needs.  It goes beyond basketball.  He is trying (and I assume he is on course) to make all A’s this semester.  That is NOT the sign of a one and done.  That is a sign of a kid who wants to do everything right.  Folks, getting all A’s and also carrying a top division one basketball load is very hard to do.  Let’s face it, the only stat that really showed all the mistakes he was making early on was his turnover stat.  He was not in control much at all.  Some were calling for him to go to the bench but he is much more of a learn on the fly type of player and it’s showing.  It sometimes takes kids three years to learn what they can and can not do when you go from a high school court to a division one court.  He is figuring it out in a hand full of games.

 Bledsoe Impressed me.  He was the absolute worst defender I have ever seen in the first few games.  I used to play with a guy like him.  Fast as lightening but didn’t think they were playing defense unless they were guarding the ball.  This guy frustrated the wholly crap out of me because he would leave his guy wide open under the basket to go guard the ball, which was already being guarded, at the top of the key.  Bledsoe wasn’t that bad but he was very close.  But there he was last night, one eye on his man and one eye on the ball.  Textbook defense and UK had very few breakdowns because of it.  But I think back to when he signed with UK.  I thought it was a load of blue crap when Cal convinced Bledsoe that he and Wall could play together.  Two point guards at one time?  That seemed quite stupid to me at the time.  But here we are and Bledsoe has been the consummate off guard/Combo guard.  It takes a lot of skill to be able to adjust to the change from high school to college, but to also have to adjust to a position change?

  Big Cuz impressed me.  The guy just plain looks mad when he plays.  And I, for one, am ok with that.  His issue has been HAVING a chip on his shoulder versus PLAYING with a chip on his shoulder.  His issue has been understanding what he can control versus what he can not control.  But I thought he went a long way in understanding those things last night.  He is probably the most gifted player in college basketball, when you consider his size, speed, quickness, touch and ball handling.  But he feels that playing basketball is like going to war and I, for one, can understand that mentality.  I also can understand that it’s the edge he has used to hone the skills that he possesses.  Playing sports is our modern day form of war games.  Maybe the world would be a much better place if conflicts were decided on the basketball court versus a battlefield, but that’s another topic for another day.

Orton Impressed me.  The guy has been a rock every time he has stepped on the court.  I get the sense that he goes to war when he steps on the court as well, but he does it in a more quite, subtle way.  He isn’t as quick as Big Cuz and he doesn’t have the refined skills but he is just as deadly around the basket.  I honestly think the team plays better with him in most of the time because he has been much more sound fundamentally from day one.  I haven’t seen a time where he wasn’t playing within himself. 

  Some might say that you can’t really tell much from the game because it was against UNC-Asheville.  But these are things that matter in any game.  Things get tougher now.  These kids will have to learn what they can and can not do all over again once the competition stiffens.  But to have already come as far as they have fundamentally goes along way in climbing that wall.  I am impressed, and you should be too.

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