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!!

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.

LUVINTHOSECALICATS!

Good to see all aboard this mornin—- means no Cat died from stroke last night.
Cal~ has NOT been false advertising & tellin it like it is……. WE NEED WORK & most of the time it’s gonna look like “CHAOS” out there.
I’m not gonna type all that —– we all witnessed it & the same thing has been typed 9 million times over. KEEP IN MIND: “this is not the team you will see in March!”.
That game last night was Catastic as well as absolutely essential. Like Tone says— it’s not gonna be the last we see like that— but I ask you……..
WHAT KIND OF A TEAM IS THAT GONNA MAKE oh let’s say around Late February-March?!
1 WORD….
TESTED!
That 1st hill was a doozy was it not—- okay, show of hands—- who was brave enough to throw their hands in the air & enjoy the ride?
Think about tournament time—– what is the thing that comes to mind???
Who do you always see goin into the tournament a monster????
THE TEAM THAT BEGINS TO PEAK right around Late February that’s who…..
Would ya’ll rather see somethin like this now or a primed, oiled, tickin machine in November—- <---- Those teams usually burn my feline friends.......
This is going to be a wild wild ride for sure.

Eric tried to do way too much last night drivin & all HEY! HE'S A FRESHMAN! I don't haft to tell the majority of Cats on this board that he's gonna have a stellar OOHH AHHH performance one night & come out & just DUH the next...... WE KNOW THIS CATS!!!! REMEMBER THAT!

Defense is gonna haft to get goin----- a lotta those 3's shoulda been contested---- lost on defense..... but as I've typed before the pieces are there....it's just gonna take some time figgerin out where they go.

It's my opinion that we didn't play as poorly as the masses seem to suggest--- TO's were down ... what, 15?
The 1st half was a killer---- but our big men weren't----- they are going to haft to get down mean, nasty & play w/some fire in their belly.
Cousins---- awesome after the powwow w/Cal~ But I'm seein Magloire in this kid..... I think he played soft for worry of fouls in that 1st half. Is it just me or is there a bit of attitude there? Love to see that turned around & transformed on the court. We've got to get on the glass more----- Sure we out rebounded.... but I'd like to see a lot more. Those bigs --- need to play their size. That too will come w/time.

Ball handling needs to be comin along--- we are a way better passing team then what we seen last night.
But again.... it comes down to toughness.... And Folks they had it----
COME ON.... 18 down --- 2nd outing on the court w/youngins..... and we pull the W against a team that came into Rupp playin like a Power Big East team w/the finesse of ACC 3 point shooting. Give those kids some credit-----
I'm gonna tell ya right now--- I don't know how many top 10 woulda pulled off a W against that bunch last night........ they played phenominal. And ECC~ is right.... don't get too caught up w/Rider....... we aren't gonna see another team shoot that damn well again ....sure, they may get hot--- but that was just scary ridiculous shooting.
When the defense gets goin.... that will minimize a lot of that as well.

This was also a GET W/THE PROGRAM game--- stop believin you're unbeatable....... any team can beat any team on any given night.....I seriously hope that lesson was driven home last night.

This teams Talented, Tough & 1 Test under the belly--- WE PASSED!
ENJOY THIS RIDE..... and watch the improvements come....unlike the nightmare of 2 seasons..... I promise you WE WILL ACTUALLY SEE those improvements!

POG--- Gotta give it to Wall --- big time players make big time plays in clutch situation (and all this w/the loss of his Uncle friday night) Kid had a lot goin on last night mentally, emotionally...... and PLAYS W/HEART! -----> along side his talent— he plays w/heart and enthusiasm that we haven’t seen in YEARS! That’s awesome and will spread like wild fire…. Hell, even the Blue Hairs were wild last night…….. that fire, energy & emotion will take off w/the rest of the team….. This kid is gonna be a SENSATIONAL, FEARLESS, YOUNG FLOOR GENERAL! WOW JUST WOW.
Remember he’s human, young & will make mistakes— let’s be brave enough & confident enough to let him.

SHOW ROCKSTAR SOME LOVE THIS MORNIN—- he’s gonna come along just fine…. KUDOS DARIUS…OUTSTANDING EFFORT.

Work to be done for sure— but it’s FUN AGAIN.
I repeat ……
IT’S FUN AGAIN!
“Let them lead us where ever they want to go”

LUVINTHOSECALICATS!
Ms.Cats~

Just What These Cats Needed

What a wild ride! Most may not see the value in this game and hardly any average fans thought this type of game was possible. The very first thing you have to do is tip your hat to Miami. UK wasn’t ready for a perimeter game, and hasn’t been in any game so far, and Miami took advantage. They did a whole lot more right than just hit some shots. They laid the blue print on how to guard Wall and Bledsoe. Get back, try to keep them in front, funnel to the middle where help comes out in front of the basket or funnel to the sides. They boxed out well and limited the passes into the post, which is what UK wanted to do from the start. It seemed like the Cats all had their own things going on and no one was working together. That was especially true on D. I know I’ve been on Bledsoe about his defense but it was on full display last night. He just doesn’t want to play weak side defense and that is just as important, if not more important than on the ball D. The ball reverses, Bledsoe gets sucked into the lane, and in one case all the way across the lane, his man is free to roam to an open spot, the ball reverses to his guy, he’s no where to be found and a forward is stuck with two guys, his guy being the hot hand. This team wasn’t killing UK in the lane and the post simply didn’t need his help. This has to stop and now. BUT, there was a lot of good in this game. UK was seriously on the ropes. Dodson came in and provided good shooting and decent defense and UK began to cut into the lead. The guys started playing more together and started limiting the open looks. I had hoped to cut the lead to eight by the half and they did even better than that. But UK continued to do one good thing, then one bad thing the rest of the game. I again have to give Miami credit for not going away. They fought and took advantage of almost every UK mistake. I seriously question coach’s choice down the stretch and think he needs to do a much better job of understanding the personnel on the floor versus what he has on the bench. This has always been the knock on Cal and it was on full display last night. UK has the ball and a two point lead. Miami is going to foul, UK will get two shots and UK needs both of them. Wall is an all but automatic 1 for 2 at this point. Krebs is in his pocket and coach doesn’t pull him out. Krebs is a much better percentage at getting both free throws and if he gets one for 2, you put Wall back in. Krebs hits both shots and the game is over, and lets face it, UK was darned lucky to hit the shot and even more lucky they didn’t call a foul on Wall, which three free throws wins the game for Miami. I don’t think we will see the same team Thursday. I think we see a more timid team. We will see a team willing to jab and spar some instead of going for the knockout with one punch right out of the gate. Wall and Bledsoe swung wildly at nothing for a good part of the game. Much of that is our fault for thinking, and making them believe, they could over talent anyone. They also have to learn what they can and can not do at this level, and even higher than last night. I’ve been uneasy from the get go with having so much inexperience on the floor at one time. We’ll simply have to live with a lot of up and down play, and this team will probably lose to some lesser teams, and that’s OK. Wall seems to learn fast and the first thing he will learn is he will need help to be able to do the things he’s used to doing. He’ll learn that teams are going to try to take away his path to the rim and he’ll need to counter to make them pay. THEN the rim will be there. And as for Big Cuz, he gets my MVP award because he seemed to grow up right before our eyes last night. He was stellar, aside from his one late bone head, which turned out not to cost UK and may have helped use enough clock to shorten the game enough to get UK the last shot.

All in all, I think this was just what these Cats needed.  Oh, and they got the win..

Observation from Section 39

Fellow Cats a CAT FAN was born again last night & I have been put on notice—-
“Mommy, you’re not goin to another game w/o ME!” Me’s so proud!!!
Last night was HER night & it took everything in me to keep from sayin— Shush, let me watch this game in peace w/o all the d*mned question….. (we had basketball 101 last night). <---- That's okay, how else is she gonna learn.

Boy it was bad fer a time----- cheered like the Coach w/No Name coached--- LMAO she was screamin Defense when we're on offense ---- I got that straightened out QUICK FAST & IN A HURRY! Wanted to know all the players----- Her favorite is PSquared and she's lovin Bledsoe. Not bad taste huh! When Coach Cal came out --- Top of her lungs ---- LOOK MOMMY IT'S COACH CAL!!! (: She was a real section pleaser!

Still diggin on the seats---- and the feller that has them is gonna give me 1st dibs on em for any games he can't make --- there's 4 of em so keep a weather eye out CATS.... last minute on that kinda stuff, ya know.

Now on to what ya'll wanna hear:
I haven't had time to read Boo's write-up....that's what I was gonna do for my piece this week but since he beat me to the draw...... I'll just give my thoughts right cheer! (:
OUR TALENT is masking our ball handling skills or lack thereof----- it's okay, I think a lot of that will be diminishing as they learn the DDMO. We shoulda been on the glass more --- our bigs got lazy for lack of a better word---- So overall, I think what we witnessed there was something Coach Cal~ will haft to address in that good ol fashioned class of Maintaining a HUGE lead---- they slacked off is what it looked like to me. Man o Man--- we're gonna be super wicked nasty in the back court when Wall joys Bledsoe--- I expect to see better ball distribution then as well. Glimpses of greatness is cause & effect w/this squad when one gets on it... it is actually motivating the rest --- I CAN DO THIS! ----> something we haven’t seen in a long long time. THEY HAD FUN!
COUSINS worries me—– no, not that bad…. but did we just get a preview of HABITUAL FOUL TROUBLE…. he’s gonna haft to get that gargantuan size of his under control. We’re gonna be BEAST in the paint—-> THAT’S OUR TERRITORY & TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT ON SIGHT!
DODSON—> where are the critics now?! And dare I say…. he’s got the maturity and leadership skills to Co-Captain, if you will, along side of Pat…… Mr. Cool Calm & Confident he is…..
Liggins has disappeared—- The Kool One and I discussed this briefly and I can’t help but wonder if it’s attitude or lazy work ethic—- the jury is out. I hate this for him & my cat senses find it hard not to blame that Coach w/no Name.
Gotta get the lanes cleared ——

Overall…… B- with an A in effort and that is for the hustle after the ball and you can actually see these Guys learning—– it’s gonna take a group effort and that includes us gettin behind them. Ya know 23 TO’s is a scandalous affair to be sure, but what I seen w/those TO’s wasn’t stupidity—but learning & catching themselves…. Harrellson for instance…… pointing at his chest…. as in “OH SH*T, yeah that was me & Yeah, I know what I did.” SUCCESS through Trial & Error will be our’s. Lots of work to be done between now & Carolina. Our ranking might be a lil high right now— but I’m not fussin bout it.

BECAUSE IT’S THERE—- JUST HASN’T ALL COME TOGETHER JUST YET.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT————

IT’S GONNA & THAT’S THE FACTS JACK!

Wall Cleared to Play

A big worry for Cat fans is no longer a worry. The NCAA in what could be considered a record time for them cleared freshman John Wall to play.

He has to miss the first exhibition and the first regular games and pay $787.58 to the charity of his choice. He has picked the Hope Center a charity that provides food and shelter to the homeless in Lexington.

I was watching the W Va-USF game when they announced that Wall will miss the first 2 games because of some recruiting indiscretions. Leave it to the media to use the word indiscretions which generally means when used by the media that he knowingly did something. Seems like half the time anymore I smell something on my slippers after ESPN says something about the Cats.

Blue White Game

Boy was that fun. The blue white game just finished and a Realtor came to show the house I’m in to a nice couple. She is from Louisville and we had fun dissing each other. Next to the game and her nose ring it made my day.

How do you start to describe the potential this team has. I haven’t seen the final stats yet but #8 could happen this year if things go right.

Start with Patrick Patterson. If he isn’t first team All American this year there should be a lynching at some news outlet. He did everything in this game. Faced the basket, made the outside shot, rebounded, played with his back to the basket, ran the break and dunked for a total of 24 points.

The competition between Wall and Bledsoe was fun to watch. Both look to score or make sure someone scores every time they touch the ball. The only person thats gonna stop them is themselves.

Josh Harrellson prove again that the coach with no name was out of his frickin head not to use the kid. He made 3’s, rebounded on both boards and proved hes going to be an asset to this team. He simply plays the game the right way considering his physical abilities. He finished the game with 13 points and 14 rebounds and wont have to sit in the bathroom this year.

Darnell Dodson showed us he can shoot, run the floor and will thrive in coaches offense with 23 points. He needs to work a little more on his penetration but hes gonna score the points outside to keep teams honest.

Darius Miller was quiet in the first half but showed he will do what is needed on defense. He came alive at the start of the second half using his shot game well.

Jon Hood missed most of his 3’s but he sure has a beautiful floater on the drive and is gonna be hard to keep on the bench.

Harris shot his 3’s with confidence and played good defense. He still looks a little clumsy on his drives but will see some playing time.

Cousins and Orton can clog up the middle against big teams, have the ability to score on both the run and on the drive. They combined for 30 points and several nice passes. Both their weaknesses seem to be stopping Wall and Bledsoe on the drive but who’s gonna do that.

Mark Krebs showed he can shoot and looked a lot more comfortable than he did at midnight madness. Did Perry Stevenson play?

And finally DeAndre Liggins had to have fouled out twice but looked a lot more in control than last year.

Defensively this team is going to be real good with the press. The starting Blue team showed they will be the same in the half court game.

The second half showed that these players are able to play togeather no matter who is in the game.

John Wall and Eric Bledsoe are gonna be important to this team but the key player is still Patrick Patterson.

UK Goes to The Wall!

What does John Calipari do with his # 1 ranked class in the country to enhance his recruiting season? Well, he goes out and lures the #1 player in the class to UK. Late last night, Slam Magazine confirmed that John Wall had selected UK among Miami, Florida, and Duke.

I can’t begin to express how ecstatic the UK fan base is now, what with the job that Calipari has done already in recruiting, and now landing Wall. Described by Dave Telep as, “The nation’s single most unguardable player”, Wall joins a class already loaded with 5- star recruits, Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton and DeMarcus Cousins. I foresee us fans talking UK basketball all summer.

There were some who believed that our signing Eric Bledsoe recently would affect John’s decision. It appears it had nothing to do with it. ““I’ve been thinking about it for the last couple of weeks. I sat down and prayed and thought about it. Last night we had a meeting and I just came out and told Brian “(Clifton).

It hasn’t been that long since some of the SEC coaches have said that UK’s dominance of the league was over…Well, that is about to change and change very quickly.

Next Page »