How Do You Spell Spurrier?

Don’t you just love the way the mainstream press constantly takes a little dig at coach Calipari. In their minds he will always be remembered because one of his players at U Mass took improper benefits, read bling. Another took a test or did he and coach played him after the NCAA cleared him to play

Now South Carolina has basically admitted that 10 football players took improper benefits, playing played 4 ineligible players in 2009 and other assorted no no’s. Today they self imposed penalties on themselves before they visit the NCAA to discuss there fate. For playing ineligible players alone they should get games forfeited, if the NCAA is honest.
http://www.gogamecocks.com/2011/12/14/183812/ggf-usc-acknowledges-ncaa-violations.html

Just by looking at the numbers, 10 to 1, it seems like the old balls coach is 10 times dirtier than coach Calipari. It also looks like he was no more involved in what happened at South Carolina than coach Calipari was at U Mass and Memphis.

In the future when national media writers talk about Steve Spurrier, will they add a little comment about having had games forfeited, probably. Will they mean any thing by it, probably not. After all you can’t sully a honest mans name, unless its spelled Calipari. Now how do you spell Spurrier?

UK vs IU

I remember Rick Pitino saying if UK doesn’t lose to Vanderbilt in 96 the Cat’s wouldn’t have won the NCAA tourney that year.  I feel that statement was appropriate then and also now for the present team.

I do want to give credit to a good IU team.  I am surprised how good they are and that Zeller kid is the best of the Zeller kids.  I just hope he will be gone after this year, ha!

Having said that, IU had some extra friends in the game especially in the first half.  Pundits say bad officiating doesn’t win games for the other team, but that is a farce.  First of all every no call or bad call gives the other team a chance to score more points, but the larger thing is that it gives a club impetus to impose their will on the opponent.  Those same calls or lack of them allows the surging team to be loose.  They feel they can do no wrong and can’t miss shots.  That scene unfolded before our eyes today.  During the entire game especially in the first half officials allowed IU to mug UK on both ends of the court.  The lack of calls in UK’s favor were basically absent and IU got loose real loose so they win.  During the 2nd half the calls were better, but IU pushed the UK players with their free hand on every drive and were never called for it.

Now to tell the truth Jones forgot to show up for this game.  For some reason he just wasn’t there.  Miller was tentative and passed up some open shots to drive and miss.  During the 2nd half he improved and I feel if he makes the three with 2 minutes left UK wins that game.  It was obvious Wiltjer was really nervous and unsure of himself.  He passed up shots that he should have been ready to take.  He definitely will not be a one-and-done.  I like him and he will be a good player at UK.  Davis absence for most of the game was probably the deciding factor in the loss, but that will change.  I know that Teague will improve greatly and I was proud of the way he picked himself up and played a heady 2nd half.  If we have that same player in the 1st half UK wins the game.  Finally, if Doron Lamb doesn’t show up and play a hard game UK loses by 20.  Gillie-the-Kidd played well as usual and it is unreal how he plays so mature at his young age.

The good part is all of those things that went wrong today can make the team even better so like Ricky said in ’96 perhaps the loss will propel this team to a championship.  They won’t be #1 next week and don’t deserve it yet anyway, but I feel they will be there again.

My reasoning is that they will not face a more hostile crowd that they faced today.  They now know they have to listen to coach and that every shot won’t always go in for them.  I think UK may not lose another game this year.  I mean that because they will improve so much from that loss.  Let us understand those are young players starting for the Cat’s.  Three freshmen and two sophomores take the floor.  They have so much to learn and they will.  By the time March rolls around this team will be awesome.

Don’t get me wrong, because I am severely disappointed in the loss.  I never want UK lose, but sometimes every team loses a game they should win (yes UK should have won) and goes on to greatness.

Will this be one of those teams that rise from defeat determined to be the very best or will they fall into mediocrity?  They will become great, because of their youth, their drive to be better, their individual superb talent level, their learning how to win as a team and finally because of one of the best coaches in the land.

Revel in the win IU while you can.  You deserve the win, but in the end you are going to get run over by a superior team in March.  Hope to see you there in our bracket.

Down Goes Duke

How about the Lady Cats. They took down #5 puke 72-65 in front of a record crowd of 14,508 at Rupp. If you’re keeping track of the Lady Cats you know that’s two top 10 teams back to back. If you’re not keeping track of the Lady Cats you should. A’dia Mathies had 23 pts, Bria Goss had 19 pts and freshman Azia Bishop had 12 pts and 11 rebounds off the bench.

BBRules Week 1 SEC Rankings

Their has been enough play for me to see all the teams a few times. Here is week ones SEC Rankings.

1. Kentucky. No way the Cats drop from this spot all year.

2. Florida. Good guards but could use some depth around the rim.

3. Alabama. A tough, tough team that will be hard to beat at home.

4. Vanderbilt. Same old Vanderbilt. Looks to be a tad overrated.

5. Mississippi State. Their wheels are sure to fall off but for now might switch positions with Vandy soon.

6. Tennessee. If Pearl could only have gotten his teams to play this hard. Still not enough talent on the floor but it looks like Tenn got a good coach.

7. Mississippi. Not sure if they are better or just luckier than Georgia. One of those teams that will go up and down the bottom of the SEC rankings.

8. Georgia. They lost to much talent from last year. With Mark Fox as a coach expect them to improve but not win to much.

9. Arkansas. Lot of talent there but still looks like a Arkansas team.

10. Auburn. Might surprise some people when conference play starts.

11. LSU. Their offense smells like a fish market. Enough said.

12. South Carolina. Even beating Clemson can’t get them out of the cellar, only LSU can.

BBR Top-25

Well most all of the games have been played now, the conference champs have been set and the Bowls will be announced later this evening, Here is our Top-25
01 LSU
02 Alabama
03 Oklahoma St
04 Southern Cal
05 Oregon
06 Stanford
07 Arkansas
08 Wisconsin
09 South Carolina
10 Boise St
11 Kansas St
12 Michigan
13 Michigan St
14 Clemson
15 Baylor
16 TCU
17 Georgia
18 Va Tech
19 Houston
20 Oklahoma
21 Nebraska
22 Southern Miss
23 West Va
24 Cincinnati
25 Florida St

It has been a great season, and looking forward to all of the Bowls now, but looking more forward to some UK Basketball GO BIG BLUE

What A Great Day

I’m not sure its possible to have a better day, or a better couple of Sundays in a row. Talk about being wound to the max, that’s me. Beating Tennessee was down right awesome, then following it a week later with a beautiful, hard-fought, well coached win over a real good NC team is an unbeatable feeling. Thank you all you athletes who have given us a couple of Saturdays to remember for the rest of our lives.

To top this wonderful morning off, not one spammer tried to register last night. The fear of being blocked by Davis is working. He’s now our official spam blocker.

FREAKING WOW HUH!!!

FREAKING WOW HUH!!! (I promise….I am now sober). Random thoughts this mornin as I bask in the glory delivered from the witnessing one of the best games where we actually didn’t get the sh*t end of the stick for once……..

A team shoots what 60 some % from 3 pt. land and we prevail? What’s that tell ya? I know what it tells me…..poor guarding or virtually non-existent and we still pull out the W? Holy Smokes Batman—-this team won’t be a beast ….it already is a BEAST. Can some Cat please please tell me why we didn’t get a hand up in those mugs? Anyway……..

LAMB—- TALKED THE TALKED & WALKED THE WALK!

HEY HEY—— How bout Eloy’s quality minutes?! He is being forgotten by most——— so SHOWIN ELOY SOME LOVE HERE!!!

Patience and Poise was TopKnotch! It wasn’t in my house, but on the court it was exemplified! I thought we would NEVER get over that 7 pt. hump <------- on paper that was more like a 15 pt. mountain to climb! I will say it gave me confidence that only once unc increased it to 9. Battle of the heavyweights??? Every time we'd punch (see the LOB that was SUPPOSED to be non-existent) they had a CLUBBER LANG counter. D*mn! No, I would define this as the 2 RIGHTFUL POWERHOUSES of basketball demonstrating why we will be remembered in History while the others (including ucla, YES I believe it) are merely a footnote. It don't get much better than this folks.

I rarely say this--- but honestly, there was no winner. Of course the W has to be logged somewhere and it's PURRFECT that sits in OUR Column not theirs!

Newfound respect for Roy Williams. The Tipton jab will forever live on in UK lore. WTG Roy--- you have a much nicer way of sayin Jerry, you're an a**hole than we do!

Semi Kudos to Rupp---- the bluehairs show that they can indeed do their job, but there's a lot of work to do.... huh beavis you don't let up when we have the ball <---- YOU DO THIS EVERY POSSESSION. I know if I would've spent that kind of money for those tickets......I wouldn't have needed a seat, I would've needed a new pr. of vocal chords! Potential is there, but I have the better solution------ THANK RUPP a reno is coming---- move them blue hairs up into some luxury seating w/their full bar and stock monitors. (after all they pay the bills) and let the OBSESSED, MENTALLY QUESTIONABLE, Louder Loonies down around the court. Problem solved and everybody WINS! YAY!!!!

Team effort but hands down w/no question Kid-Gilchrist..... saved this game! Love me some Kid-Gilchrist!!!
Cal~ was savy in having Teague hug Davis (Can you imagine if that block hadn't happened......it would've set Teague back a good 5-6 games in confidence) Kid has heart and talent but he's got a LOT to learn yet. Patience is an optimal word here........ we have gotten spoiled here over the last couple of years and you know what........he's not bad, he's an excellent point guard -----just on a normal level than what we have been accustomed to. WALL KNIGHT and then there was Teague <------ Let's all show him some love. He will come along quite nicely. He is a great 2-3 yr. player but if Orton can get drafted....... I REALLY LOVE Teague's chances. I think it benefits us & him to stick around a couple of years.

Carolina played spectacular ---- us, great but Man <---- the weaknesses were exposed. That lack of offensive rebounding throughout the 1st half liked to destroyed my house. And here's the kicker that we all know........ WE STILL WON!

How wild that game totally flip flopped from what we were all calling?????!!!! GOD, I love college basketball! You never know what you're gonna get!

Prepare yourselves for part 2 in March/April ......the ncaa took notice yesterday and will go above and beyond to make sure we have another epic encounter. I just hope they have the commonsense to set it up for all the marbles. <---- I'm not holding my breath though and look for it to occur in the elite 8. TYPICAL nazi's at their best ------> we’ve all witnessed their hypocrisy and idiocy when it comes to putting those brackets together. Any takers that puke will once again get a high seed and the easiest road???????

Hey, Ohio St. still think your decimation of duke is relevant or worthy?! Take notes you jackasses there was a clinic in Lexington yesterday that you all should have attended. I promise you….. you ain’t hangin no double deficit loss on either powerhouse—- so get over yourselves—- no better yet, keep buyin that b.s. the media is sellin you—– it’s job security for someone and validates your BIG 10 Basketball as being Beast (laughing as I typed that!) But I’m here to be your DebbieDowner—– YOU AREN’T AS SCARY AS YOU LOOKED……… duke is NOT a top 5 team by no stretch of the imagination and there RANKED opponent wins came at the expense of Tennessee and Michigan——- still think you’re special. Oh you’re good, but you ain’t beast!

ONE STEP CLOSER TO EIGHT MY FELLOW FELINES, ONE STEP CLOSER!
WE WILL NOT BE DENIED!!!

& of course it’s fitting to end this ramble with…………………………………….

BOW TO THE BROW!

Instant Classic

Yesterday’s game, UK vs UNC is an instant classic.  Two great teams not giving an inch to the other and battling to the end in a game decided by one point is one for the ages.  That is doubly so with perennial powerhouses going at each other at high noon on Saturday.

The game was marked by every real basketball fan as a must watch.  Games like that have even the most seasoned writers and prognosticators scratching their head and stuttering a few unintelligible words trying to pick a winner.

Even though UNC lost to UNLV most people still picked them to beat the  talented youthful Cat’s.  Most people thought the home court win streak was going to end yesterday for the Cat’s.  All of the elements were there for an upset at the hands of the hated baby blue uniforms with a hated coach at the helm.

UNC has great, great talent with youth mixed into an already seasoned talented team with veterans running the show.  UNC had a revenge motive from the NCAA loss to UK last season.  They had a bounce back motive from the loss at UNLV.  They needed to beat UK to gain a game in the overall all time win column which I believe burns in Old Roy’s belly.  Two blue bloods going after each other, but UK was going down because of their youth and the talented front court from UNC.

However, don’t tell that to the precocious youth at UK.  Don’t tell Gillie-the Kidd he can’t get the job done who played like a man possessed all game long while rebounding from the foul plagued game against the quick St. John’s team.  Don’t tell that to Terrence Jones who put his game face on and brought his lunch with him.  Don’t tell the senior Darius Miller they were going to lose.  No sir, Darius does what a super talented senior does best, put the team on his shoulders and do something to steady the team be it a rebound, deflection or some points by willing the ball in the basket.

Don’t tell that to anyone off the bench.  Losing was not an option to the young UK team with 4 freshmen.   Don’t tell it to Davis who played a heady game.  He played like a veteran against a bigger older 7 foot opponent in the middle without fouling out.  He was tired, but with the game on the line he had the quickness and energy to block a 6′ 11” guy with long arms shooting from the side.   Henson wasn’t his man, but he did it anyway.

Those guys are coachable and they like each other.  They are becoming a feared team already in early December with a yet huge upside to them.  Coach drives them to be the best and is the reason they came to play for Cal. They know what he is going to do to and for them.  They know he is going to drive them to limits they never dreamed they could do, but in the end they will have a shot at the NBA.  They know he drives a hard bargain, but they also know he cares about them so they play together and win.

In the end, however, the question is how did UK win the game, really!

The answer has already been posted in another post or two so it shouldn’t be any surprise.  It was also spoken by Cal in the early part of practice.  The answer is speed.  The cartoon character Road-Runner can out run, out quick anybody that is until this brand of cat pastes him all over the floor and in the end gets stuffed into the basket along with the ball by one mister Davis.  Yesterday John Henson was the Road-Runner.

No team is ready for the length and quickness of this brand of Cat, nobody.  UNC found out yesterday and they are good, real good.

Instant Classic, you bet!