Wodie Crew - Global Edition

In the aftermath of the Kansas Jayhawks’ improbable comeback victory in last night’s thrilling championship game, I figured now was as good a time as any to take a look at my ten predictions going into the tournament and see how I fared.

1)The story of the first weekend of the tournament will be the Big East. Some of this is just simple math as the Big East has the most bids, so therefore it’s the conference most likely to send the greatest number of teams marching on. Expect the battle tested entrants from this conference to advance to the Sweet 16 en masse. I wouldn’t be shocked if as many as 5-6 Big East teams were standing on Monday. However, I’d be floored if more than one were to crack the Final Four. The league is solid and deep, but there is no great team in the bunch and the Big East won’t take home the big trophy.

Well, it looks like I overestimated the Big East somewhat. They did manage to get the most teams through to the Sweet 16 as predicted, but only managed to advance three total teams from the first weekend and lost a couple of heavyweights early. They had no team in the Final Four and aside from Louisville weren’t much of a factor after the opening weekend. I’m going to give myself credit for a correct prediction here. If you don’t agree with that, feel free to write your own blog and use it as a bully pulpit to point out how terrible I am. Score: 1-0

2) The conference with the best chance to send multiple teams to the Final Four is the Big 12. The Longhorns of Texas have their first round games in Little Rock, Arkansas. If they survive those then it’s back to the Lone Star State for the remainder of the tournament. The Kansas Jayhawks set atop the Midwest Regional as the number one seed. KU has bowed out short of the Final Four each season under head coach Bill Self. Please stand back and take cover as I invoke one of sports’ oldest and most tired clichés; they’re due. If the shoe fits…Talent. Depth. Experience. A number one seed. And bonus points for the Girls of KU Calendar they put out each season. .

The key here was I said the best chance to send multiple teams to the Final Four. Based upon the fact that the Big 12 was the only conference with multiple teams in the region finals I am going to award myself another correct prediction. Score: 2-0

3) The Louisville Cardinals will not be in the Final Four. I know they’re a trendy pick and a local favorite, but they’re facing too many obstacles in the East Regional to find themselves playing on that final Saturday of the college basketball season. If they manage to survive the first weekend, something they’ve only accomplished once under head coach Rick Pitino, then they’ll likely find themselves in the unenviable position of having to beat the Tennessee Volunteers in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is a mere 240 miles from Knoxville, TN and the heart of Vol Country. If the Cardinals do manage to send Chris Kentucky Didn’t Recruit Him Lofton off to the NBDL, then the team most probably standing in their way will be the Tar Heels of North Carolina. Distance from Chapel Hill to Charlotte? 140 miles. If the seeds hold, the odds certainly aren’t in the Cardinals favor of knocking off two top 10 teams in their own backyard. I certainly wouldn’t bet on it.

And the Cards while impressive in their win against Tennessee came up short against the Tar Heels in Charlotte. This one wasn’t that hard of a pick if you follow historical trends. UNC has lost but one game in the NCAA Tournament while playing in the state of North Carolina. Score: 3-0

4) Seth Davis will draw the ire of the Kentucky fanbase before the ink is dry on the first day’s results of the tournament. Hopefully for Davis’s sake he won’t have the audacity to actually pick Marquette, the favorite to beat the Cats. The guy has two strikes going against him without saying a word though; that smirk and he’s a Duke grad. Poor bastard doesn’t stand a chance against the Big Blue Nation. He’ll probably be cleaning out his inbox for the next six weeks.

I think I’m going to have to give myself a miss on this one. Davis actually picked the Cats to win and didn’t do anything to raise the blood pressure of the Big Blue Nation, at least on the first day of the tournament. Score: 3-1

5) The UCLA Bruins will not be taking home their record 12th national championship this season. Howland has a great squad and Love is a phenomenal player, but the Bruins' offensive woes will catch up to them. The Pac-10 champs may very well find themselves in San Antonio, but the competition they’ll face will be able to score on the vaunted Bruin defense. The problem is the Bruins won’t score enough themselves to overcome it. They also won’t be able to count on atrocious Pac-10 officiating to bail them out or at least I hope not.

This one played out almost to perfection. The Bruins did find themselves in San Antonio and when faced with equal or greater talent their defense was not enough to carry the day. The Memphis Tigers managed to put 78 points on the Bruins and they were unable to match it and were dispatched short of a record 12th national championship. Score 4-1.

6) Take everything I just said about UCLA and invert it for the North Carolina Tar Heels. They too won’t be taking home a fifth national championship or hanging a twenty-second banner in Chapel Hill, but for precisely the opposite reasons. The Heels can score in bunches. They also have a proclivity to give up points in bunches. Ultimately a more balanced team will be able to hold their high octane offense in check just enough to send them back to ACC country hat in hand. Their fans shouldn’t panic though as Psycho-T will likely take one more bite at the apple in college, before heading off for a career in the NBA as a journeyman backup power forward.

This one didn’t completely stick to the script, but it was the Tar Heel defense that failed them in that embarrassing loss to Kansas. The Jayhawks shot 53% from the field for the game and put up 84 points on the Heels. The vaunted Carolina offensive juggernaut was held firmly in check by a balanced, athletic Kansas defense that surrendered only 66 points. Thanks for playing Carolina. Another one in the win column for yours truly. Score 5-1.

7) And now I’m going to give you my absolute biggest lead pipe lock of the NCAA Tournament: Coach K.’s commercials will have a deeper run this March than his basketball team. What’s in his wallet? Hopefully tickets to the Final Four, because that’s the only way he’ll make it inside the Alamodome. I wouldn’t be shocked if Huggy Bear and the physical style of play of his ~~Cincinnati Bearcats Kansas State Wildcats~~ West Virginia Mountaineers overwhelm the perimeter oriented Blue Devils in the second round.

Was Duke even in this year’s tournament? The former media darling is slowly and quietly slipping into basketball irrelevance. I’m sure Coach K. and Tubby Smith will have fun over dinner rehashing that 1998 region final. Score: 6-1

8) Dwight Perry will not earn a second consecutive first round start.

Winner winner chicken dinner. Score 7-1

9) Chalk. It’s midnight for Cinderella and the double digit seeds this season. The selection process for the at large bids for this tournament was a veritable hot potato of teams passing the chance to crash the party on to the next less than deserving entrant. The theme of Championship Week 2008 was failure as major conference teams from across the country fell flat on their face as they limped toward the finish line. The mid-majors are mostly middling with no standard bearer standing out. So there’s a good chance that next Monday will see more top four seeds standing than any other NCAA Tournament this decade.

Well, here’s the thing. Chalk was the theme of the tournament as the first time ever all four number one seeds made the Final Four. However, Davidson did make it to the Elite Eight as a ten seed. Upon further review, I’m going to give myself a win here as the Davidson Wildcats were woefully underseeded. This team was clearly not a 10 Seed and their resume reflected as much. I’ll throw in the fact that a record 42 games were decided by double digits just to help my cause. Score 8-1

10) More Chalk. As in Rock Chalk Jayhawk. The Kansas Jayhawks will end a twenty year NCAA Championship drought and cut down the nets in San Antonio after surviving the Texas Longhorns in an epic rematch of the Big 12 Tournament Championship game. People tend to forget that this is the same Kansas team that knocked off last year’s champion Florida Gators in Las Vegas early in the 2006-07 season. Much like last year’s Gators, who dropped three of four late in the conference schedule, the Jayhawks seemed to undergo the February doldrums, and just as the Gators did, the Jayhawks came roaring back to capture their conference tournament championship. Kansas stands atop Ken Pomeroy’s computer rankings as well as his overall efficiency ratings for all NCAA Division I teams. They’re the only team that ranks in the top five in both offensive efficiency (1) and defensive efficiency (3). Come April 7th, it’s gonna be Rock Chalk on the River Walk.

Onions! Just ignore the part about the Longhorns as no one pays attention to the bridesmaids during the ceremony anyhow. It’s all about the bride. In this case, Kansas was the deepest and most balanced squad of the four teams that separated themselves from the pack and made the Final Four. It’s great to be a Jayhawk fan today and kudos to Bill Self for a masterful job of undressing Calipari in the closing minutes of that game. Final Score 9-1; Digger Phelps ain’t got shit on me.

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

The East Region Final that pits the Louisville Cardinals against the North Carolina Tar Heels makes this Kentucky fan envious of the poor bastard that’s trapped between a rock and a hard place. At least he can saw off a limb and possibly escape. There is no escaping from the fact that one of the Kentucky Wildcats’ arch rivals is going to find themselves in a place the Cats haven’t found themselves in a decade; the Final Four. Any self respecting fan most certainly practices the time honored tradition of rooting against their rivals in the event that their own team falters in the post season. Kentucky fans, particularly this one, are no different. I was a Mountaineer in the second round and briefly pondered torching my couch. Last week I found myself calling the Hogs. Hell, if my adopted Washington State Cougars could have shocked the world I wouldn’t even be writing this today. But here I am. Damned if I do. Damned if I don’t. It’s impossible for me to not choose sides in this game. It goes against my very nature as a sports fan. Neutrality is for the Swiss, not the die-hard, message board posting, blog writing, sports radio listening, tailgating, road tripping, hard core fan. I must cheer for someone to fail. The downside to that is by default, I must begrudgingly cheer for someone else to succeed. Now to make the impossible decision of adopting the Louisville Cardinals and their whore of a coach who left me for someone with more money only to return to date my younger, uglier brother or the North Carolina Tar Heels and the program that likely has the most legitimate chance to claim the mantle of greatest college basketball program from the University of Kentucky. Let’s take a look at the matchup and break it down from a fan’s perspective.

The Fans
Whine and cheese v. Look at me. Talk about an absolute contrast in styles in this matchup. The Cardinal fanbase epitomizes inferiority complex and you sure as hell don’t need Dean Smith’s nose to sniff the arrogance and entitlement of the Carolina fans. Both have substantial pockets of bandwagon fans. UNC fans seem to exist as a result of a brilliant marketing strategy and a marriage to the ESPN hype machine. Louisville fans came into existence as a brilliant marketing strategy with Kroger and the Courier-Journal hype machine. The Carolina fans have a holier-than-thou attitude about their program that grates on your senses like a Luke Whitehead album. Again, in contrast, the Cardinal fans have no shame as they quickly fell into rank and file behind Rick Pitino, the man who restored the Kentucky program to prominence in the 90’s, the same man they once loathed with every fiber of their being. That last nugget is what tips the scales in favor of the pompous Tar Heel fanbase. The Heel fans would never adopt Coach K. as the savior to their program. Advantage: UNC

The Coaches
As different as their respective fanbases are, the two coaches in this game have many similarities. Both coaches work diligently to cultivate the perfect public persona. Each coach had the perception at one point in their career of not being able to win the big one. Roy Williams has actually gone on record as stating he doesn’t give a shit about North Carolina. Rick Pitino has made it clear through his career path that he doesn’t necessarily care much for whatever university that he happens to be coaching at a given moment either. Roy Williams while at Kansas once ran the score up on Pitino’s Cats to the tune of 150-95 drawing the ire of the Kentucky fanbase. Rick Pitino often uses the media to take subtle and not so subtle jabs at the Kentucky fanbase. In the end though, this one is no contest. Roy Williams is not responsible for any national championships at the University of Kentucky. Roy Williams did not guide the Kentucky Wildcats to three Final Fours in five seasons. Roy Williams does not have his jersey hanging in the rafters at Rupp (although he probably does have 2-3 hanging in the rafters at the Dean Dome). Rick Pitino in a landslide. I like my hypocrites better when they’ve done something for me. I don’t give a shit about Roy Williams. Advantage: UofL

The Programs
Well, here we have one program that is truly among the elite of the elite in college basketball and another that likes to fancy itself as being on that same plane. The truth of the matter is Louisville probably heads up the list of the second tier programs just below the Mt. Olympus of college basketball. They’re running a bed and breakfast about two thirds of the way up the elevation, saving their money and hoping to invest in a penthouse at the mountain’s peak. At this point, they’re drawing dangerously close to being able to make that move. Louisville basketball is the proud owner of 2 national championship trophies and has been a part of 8 Final Fours. One more trophy and they’re sticking out a for sale sign and moving on up like George Jefferson on a ski lift. North Carolina is already there. They aren’t going anywhere. Kentucky’s status as the best of the best will certainly be put to the test in the coming years as the Heels add to an already impressive resume. However, as Kentucky fans we shouldn’t sit back and idly hope that others help us maintain our spot at the top. The Kentucky program has always been able to maintain its status as the best by getting it done on the court. I have faith that will again be the case, sooner rather than later, and Kentucky will defend its place at the top. In that same respect, it’s crowded at the top and no one likes new money moving into the neighborhood and devaluing their property. Advantage: UNC

The Verdict
For one night only, hide the women and children, put the old people to bed, and have your pets spayed or neutered, because I’ll be cheering for the Tar Heels. I’m sure as hell not going to don that sissy shade of blue or pray at the altar of St. Dean Smith, but in the interest of insulating myself from dealing with a fanbase that would equate a Final Four appearance with the moon landing on the scale of importance in human history I’ll be hoping for a Tar Heel victory. Yes. This is a humiliating and emasculating endeavor, but that which does not kill us makes us stronger. I should be pretty damned strong on Sunday, because this is almost killing me. I’ll grit my teeth and bear it holding onto the fact that I’m certain that Kentucky Basketball is once again on the fast track to the Glory Road and the days of being on the outside looking in of the greatest weekend in sports are fast coming to a close.

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

As far as numbers go, the 2007-08 basketball season goes down as so-so in the UK record books. When young Wildcat fans open future editions media guides and notebooks and look up the past they will see an 18-13 record and ask their parents what happened to a seventeen year streak of 20 win seasons and a twenty year streak of NCAA first round victories. The parents will look their children in the eye and tell them that was the year of the Most Valuable Seniors. A season salvaged because Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford saved themselves and in so doing became a part of UK basketball lore.

During a tumultuous start the UK seniors played like two men at the end of their rope. Bradley and Crawford looked as though they were biding their time while UK played to 6-7 in the non conference season. It was easy to understand their indifference. Both players were maligned for three years and had been abandoned by the man that recruited them as part of one of the most underachieving UK classes in some time. The pair simply had no place else to go. Neither player could transfer to a Division I program due to their senior status, so it was either gut it out under Gillispie or wallow in Division II obscurity. Their choice to man up under a new head coach proved to be rough going through the first half of the season, but unbelievably rewarding when they chose not to quit.

Both players shared a room at Wildcat Lodge. Perhaps it was one of several late night discussions where the topic of their UK legacy emerged and the light came on, Is this how we are going out? Are we going to be the worst UK team ever? The Hell with it, we aren’t going out like that! Whatever was bantered about in their private time was for the better as the attitude and demeanor of Bradley and Crawford changed once SEC play began. The UK seniors played with a new understanding of how they would be remembered. They finally played as if each game would be their last.

Bradley and Crawford improved in every facet of their game and the rest of their comrades followed. For the first time in what seemed an eternity, the University of Kentucky Wildcats played better as the season progressed. Thanks to the leadership of their Most Valuable Seniors, UK successfully challenged the notion of, “you are what you are.” The pair shed their disappointment monikers and stepped up their game in victories over supposed conference betters. Their team thrived with previously unseen energy and toughness as they won 11 of their last 14 games while suffering devastating season ending injuries to key players. All of a sudden in miraculous fashion, the Wildcats had gone from out of everything losers at 7-9 to an improbable NCAA berth at 18-13.

The moment that Bradley and Crawford decided to lead from the front not only provided immediate impact on 2007-08, their enlightenment also left an indelible mark on the fabric of Kentucky Basketball. The foundation they laid after dedicating themselves to a new system and a new way of thinking will be the impression that lasts. A slew of new faces enter their first season of Wildcat Basketball next year. Those helping and leading the young players on their way are a core of juniors that were part of the revival led by Bradley and Crawford. A group steeped with an understanding of tradition, toughness and work ethic and how that pertains to Kentucky Basketball. A team that knows how hard it is and what it takes to win at the highest level despite any discrepancies thanks in part to the bond shared with Bradley and Crawford as they sang their swan song.

The hardest two steps of a long journey involve choosing the right path and taking a confident first step. For the University of Kentucky, those two steps came in the form of Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford. They proved to the college basketball world they were capable of trailblazing the right road to success during their senior seasons. The curtain fell on their enigmatic careers at Kentucky on Thursday, but their watermark will be seen on future editions of Wildcat Basketball. The value of Bradley and Crawford’s final season will prove immeasurable as victories and championships mount while Kentucky Basketball continues down the road its Most Valuable Seniors of 2007-08 paved.

On the eve of the 2008 Men’s NCAA Tournament, I thought I’d impart some of my vast basketball knowledge on to the general public in the form of ten iron clad NCAA Tournament predictions. I’m personally guaranteeing that at least two of them will prove to be completely accurate, which would automatically make me more reliable than your local meteorologist. Hopefully, if anyone is fine tuning their bracket for the office pool in hopes of knocking off last year’s champion, the hot secretary in the green sweater, these predictions will prove to be enough ammunition that you can sneak up from behind and conquer her.

1) The story of the first weekend of the tournament will be the Big East. Some of this is just simple math as the Big East has the most bids, so therefore it’s the conference most likely to send the greatest number of teams marching on. Expect the battle tested entrants from this conference to advance to the Sweet 16 en masse. I wouldn’t be shocked if as many as 5-6 Big East teams were standing on Monday. However, I’d be floored if more than one were to crack the Final Four. The league is solid and deep, but there is no great team in the bunch and the Big East won’t take home the big trophy.

2) The conference with the best chance to send multiple teams to the Final Four is the Big 12. The Longhorns of Texas have their first round games in Little Rock, Arkansas. If they survive those then it’s back to the Lone Star State for the remainder of the tournament. The Kansas Jayhawks set atop the Midwest Regional as the number one seed. KU has bowed out short of the Final Four each season under head coach Bill Self. Please stand back and take cover as I invoke one of sports’ oldest and most tired clichés; they’re due. If the shoe fits…Talent. Depth. Experience. A number one seed. And bonus points for the Girls of KU Calendar they put out each season.

3) The Louisville Cardinals will not be in the Final Four. I know they’re a trendy pick and a local favorite, but they’re facing too many obstacles in the East Regional to find themselves playing on that final Saturday of the college basketball season. If they manage to survive the first weekend, something they’ve only accomplished once under head coach Rick Pitino, then they’ll likely find themselves in the unenviable position of having to beat the Tennessee Volunteers in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is a mere 240 miles from Knoxville, TN and the heart of Vol Country. If the Cardinals do manage to send Chris Kentucky Didn’t Recruit Him Lofton off to the NBDL, then the team most probably standing in their way will be the Tar Heels of North Carolina. Distance from Chapel Hill to Charlotte? 140 miles. If the seeds hold, the odds certainly aren’t in the Cardinals favor of knocking off two top 10 teams in their own backyard. I certainly wouldn’t bet on it.

4) Seth Davis will draw the ire of the Kentucky fanbase before the ink is dry on the first day’s results of the tournament. Hopefully for Davis’s sake he won’t have the audacity to actually pick Marquette, the favorite to beat the Cats. The guy has two strikes going against him without saying a word though; that smirk and he’s a Duke grad. Poor bastard doesn’t stand a chance against the Big Blue Nation. He’ll probably be cleaning out his inbox for the next six weeks.

5) The UCLA Bruins will not be taking home their record 12th national championship this season. Howland has a great squad and Love is a phenomenal player, but the Bruins' offensive woes will catch up to them. The Pac-10 champs may very well find themselves in San Antonio, but the competition they’ll face will be able to score on the vaunted Bruin defense. The problem is the Bruins won’t score enough themselves to overcome it. They also won’t be able to count on atrocious Pac-10 officiating to bail them out or at least I hope not.

6) Take everything I just said about UCLA and invert it for the North Carolina Tar Heels. They too won’t be taking home a fifth national championship or hanging a twenty-second banner in Chapel Hill, but for precisely the opposite reasons. The Heels can score in bunches. They also have a proclivity to give up points in bunches. Ultimately a more balanced team will be able to hold their high octane offense in check just enough to send them back to ACC country hat in hand. Their fans shouldn’t panic though as Psycho-T will likely take one more bite at the apple in college, before heading off for a career in the NBA as a journeyman backup power forward.

7) And now I’m going to give you my absolute biggest lead pipe lock of the NCAA Tournament: Coach K.’s commercials will have a deeper run this March than his basketball team. What’s in his wallet? Hopefully tickets to the Final Four, because that’s the only way he’ll make it inside the Alamodome. I wouldn’t be shocked if Huggy Bear and the physical style of play of his ~~Cincinnati Bearcats Kansas State Wildcats~~ West Virginia Mountaineers overwhelm the perimeter oriented Blue Devils in the second round.

8) Dwight Perry will not earn a second consecutive first round start.

9) Chalk. It’s midnight for Cinderella and the double digit seeds this season. The selection process for the at large bids for this tournament was a veritable hot potato of teams passing the chance to crash the party on to the next less than deserving entrant. The theme of Championship Week 2008 was failure as major conference teams from across the country fell flat on their face as they limped toward the finish line. The mid-majors are mostly middling with no standard bearer standing out. So there’s a good chance that next Monday will see more top four seeds standing than any other NCAA Tournament this decade.

10) More Chalk. As in Rock Chalk Jayhawk. The Kansas Jayhawks will end a twenty year NCAA Championship drought and cut down the nets in San Antonio after surviving the Texas Longhorns in an epic rematch of the Big 12 Tournament Championship game. People tend to forget that this is the same Kansas team that knocked off last year’s champion Florida Gators in Las Vegas early in the 2006-07 season. Much like last year’s Gators, who dropped three of four late in the conference schedule, the Jayhawks seemed to undergo the February doldrums, and just as the Gators did, the Jayhawks came roaring back to capture their conference tournament championship. Kansas stands atop Ken Pomeroy’s computer rankings as well as his overall efficiency ratings for all NCAA Division I teams. They’re the only team that ranks in the top five in both offensive efficiency (1) and defensive efficiency (3). Come April 7th, it’s gonna be Rock Chalk on the River Walk.

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

Tipman Book Club
The Kentucky Wildcats’ offseason will certainly be starting sooner rather than later. In that time the coaches can unwind somewhat and relax a little as the pressures of the day-to-day grind of the season are no longer present. Most people like to use their time off to read a good book. I don’t know if Coach Gillispie is an avid reader or not, but one book I might suggest is the NCAA Rule Book. Reading it and being familiar with the current rules may prove to be the difference in another first round flameout at the SEC Tournament and actually advancing beyond the last place team in the league.

NCAA Tournament
Despite the aforementioned choke job in the waning minutes against a terrible Georgia team in Atlanta, the Cats miraculously received an at large bid to the NCCA Tournament. Something tells me that the Cats should pack light. The 11 seed that the Cats entered the tournament at is the first double digit seed the Cats have gotten since probation. Coach Tubby Smith’s Cats never received worse than a 9 seed while he was at the helm. Coach Pitino’s Cats never dipped below a 3 seed. No team seeded 11 or below has ever won the NCAA Championship. The lowest seed to ever win the tournament was the number 8 seeded Villanova Wildcats in 1985.

Bubble Bursts for Minutemen
Last week we took a look at the way the University of Kentucky bought their way out of a likely loss to the UMass Minutemen in December. Now the Minutemen at 21-10 have in fact been left out of the NCAA Tournament field. I don’t think it’s any stretch to believe that a win over a name opponent like the Wildcats on a neutral court would have been enough to get Travis Ford’s team over the hump. Instead, for $50,000.00 the Cats were able to in effect purchase an at large bid from the Minutemen. That’s a pretty good deal by any standard with the exposure and payout NCAA Tournament teams receive. It also calls into question which team deserves that exposure and payout; the team that tried in vein to schedule a quality non-conference opponent on a neutral court or the team that cowardly bought their way out of the game in fear of a loss and ensuing backlash against their struggling head coach. Again, a nice lead in to this week’s mail bag dealing with the NCAA Tournament selection process and its inequities.

Tipman Mail Bag
Dear Tipman:

I follow the NCAA Tournament selection process very closely, and I have to say that the decisions made by the Selection Committee this year are some of the most baffling that I've ever seen.

A lot is being made about Arizona State getting left out, and rightfully so. The Committee apparently focused on their RPI (82) and supposedly "weak finish" (5-10 in the last 15 games), but in my estimation, those are two completely arbitrary and irrelevant metrics that have no bearing at all on whether a team should get a bid or not. What truly matters is whether a given team passes the "eye test," i.e., whether -- when you watch them -- they appear to be one of the 34 best at-large teams in the country. When you apply such a pragmatic standard, the Sun Devils clearly deserved a bid.

Another team that unfairly got left at home was Dayton. Their RPI was 32, which in and of itself should have qualified the Flyers for the Big Dance. They also dealt with injuries this season, which you must consider if you want the process to be completely fair.

Add Virginia Tech to the list of teams who should feel slighted. Not only did they finish on an uptick by narrowly losing to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament (proving that they are CURRENTLY one of the 34 best at-large teams in the country, which is the standard that should be used) but they also posted a winning record in the ACC, and any team that finishes above .500 in a power conference should be given the benefit of the doubt. And spare me the talk about their 1-7 record against the RPI top 50, as there were several close losses included in that mark, for which they must be given credit.

On the other side of the coin, Kentucky must be thanking its lucky stars that a tornado hit Atlanta this past weekend (the Committee admitted not giving much credence to the results of the SEC Tournament, due to the unique circumstances), or else they'd be at home. Which is exactly where they should be. How can a team that lost to Gardner-Webb and San Diego even be considered? Getting beat by those squads should automatically remove a team from consideration, in my view. Also, their RPI was 59, Tipman. 59! That's 27 spots worse than Dayton. The RPI is an objective, quantifiable tool that is invaluable in this process, and it completely removes the prospect of human error from the equation, of which there was plenty in this case. Want another reason why Kentucky should not have gotten an invite? They only went 4-7 against the RPI top 50, and all 4 of those wins were decided in the last minute. And speaking of close wins, they had a bevy of those this season, for which they should be penalized. Also, I don't want to hear about their "strong finish" (9-3 in the last 12), either. Why is the last 12 games more important than the first 12 games? It's just another random metric applied in a random fashion by people that never played the game. I also don't care about their several last minute losses (at SEC West Champ Miss. St. by 5, at Florida in OT, at #1 Tennessee by 3, vs. SEC Tourney Champ Georgia in OT). A loss is a loss, no matter the margin of defeat. Speaking of which, this team lost by 41 points to Vanderbilt! Anyway, it's a good thing for Kentucky that Mike Slive is on the Committee, because I have a feeling he pulled a couple of strings to make sure that the SEC's favorite son didn't get left out.

Anyway, I love your work, Tipman. Keep it up!

Jay

Bristol, CT

Tipman Responds
Those were all excellent points and you won’t get any argument from me that the teams you listed were more deserving than the Kentucky Wildcats for an NCAA Tournament at large bid. I think the thing I find most interesting is the role that Mike Slive likely played in all of this. As commissioner of the SEC, he wields enormous influence and power. It was mentioned by the Chairman of the Selection Committee later that the games in Atlanta at the SEC Tournament were given no weight in the selection process. I submit to you the inherent unfairness of that ploy. If that were the case, then I’m sure there are several teams in the country that would like for the committee to blatantly ignore losses on their record, especially to teams with an RPI in the 100’s. Mike Slive clearly played the role of the Wizard of Oz on the Selection Committee and was successful in getting the other members to pay no attention to the man behind the curtain—the SEC Tournament.

Ticket Refunds
The Southeastern Conference may not be the only one refunding tickets to the league’s tournament in the coming months. Jeff Carter, father of Kentucky reserve Jared Carter, may be joining them. The elder Carter was recently indicted on charges related to the selling of SEC Tournament tickets that he allegedly failed to provide. This is not the first time that scandal has encircled a Kentucky player’s father. Kenneth Azubuike is still serving time in a federal facility over a scam he orchestrated in Oklahoma.

Want your letter published? Email me at Tipman’s Mailbag

The unintentional comedy of how a situation changes over a year’s time rears its head yet again.

Last year the University of Kentucky’s fan base writhed with apathy and division. Several sequential ten plus loss seasons and Thursday game dates in the SEC Tournament had severed the emotional attachment fans had with the University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball team. The only passion within Wildcat Nation was the ferocity of debate between supporters of Tubby Smith and those who wanted him gone. The seemingly endless array of slings and arrows in the form of statistics supporting Smith and historic recruiting miscues finally quelled with the announcement that Tubby was leaving for the browner tundra of Minnesota. The collective shudders of shock and sighs of relief quickly became a wellspring of mania over who would become the next Head Coach of Kentucky Basketball.

Billy Donovan instantly became the coveted object of desire for Wildcat Nation. Billy D’s ties to the University of Kentucky as an assistant under Rick Pitino and tutelage of “Unforgettable” John Pelphrey were surely the kind that bound Donovan to Kentucky in the eyes of Cat Fans. Speculation reached a national fervor as every talking head in America lampooned UK Fans for their expectation that Billy Donovan would depart what he built in Gainesville. At the time Coach Donovan was the reigning National Champion and a solid favorite to replicate his greatest triumph. He and his Florida Gators were a story of togetherness and belief in each other. Donovan had forged an unheralded recruiting class into a core of four juniors with bright NBA futures. The University of Florida basketball family ignored the gorilla in the room as they easily repeated as National Champions and the Top Flight Juniors collectively announced their departure. Soon after, Billy Donovan stated he had no desire to leave the University of Florida. Then he promptly accepted an offer to coach the Orlando Magic only to tear up his contract a week later citing that he had a strong foundation and a bright future in Gainesville. No one blamed Coach Donovan, a second consecutive National Title and a number one recruiting class would implore one to think that way. Nonetheless, a brief period of reeling by Cat Fans followed Donovan’s spurning.

All lament ended with the coronation of Billy Clyde Gillispie as new Wildcat Basketball Head Coach. The new coach immediately won hearts over by landing the program’s number one recruiting target Patrick Patterson. The Patterson signing was UK’s first victory over Billy Donovan and Florida of any kind in nearly four years. UK fans tired of laziness emoted by the previous regime admired the hungriness and tireless work ethic of a basketball crazed Gillispie. Excitement in the UK program reached highs unheard of in the past half decade as Coach Clyde added highly touted Oak Hill shooting guard Alex Legion and the near legendary “Boot Camp” workouts began in the off-season.

Then the season began in rather unstellar fashion for Gillispie’s Wildcats. Injuries mounted as Derrick Jasper struggled to recover from microfracture surgery; Jodie Meeks was hampered by a groin injury; senior Joe Crawford developed plantar facitis; and Patterson sprained an ankle. After UK hobbled to a stunning blowout home loss to Gardner Webb questions about Gillispie inevitably surfaced. Fans frustrated at early season maladies stirred over pre game practices. Wildcat Nation began to fracture yet again with a faction insisting that Gillispie was too hard on players. There were murmurs that several players were going to transfer in the wake of Legion’s departure after six regular season games. Billy Clyde’s loyalty was questioned with the knowledge that he was working under a Memorandum of Understanding as opposed to a signed contract with the University. Coach Gillispie’s lifestyle was also questioned as rumors of Caligula-like exploits circled. UK ended their non-conference schedule with additional detrimental home losses; road miscues to Conference USA also rans; and a record of 6-7.

Foul moods ruled the day as conference play began. Billy Donovan his new Gators were riding high at 13-2 while UK was limping toward the SEC schedule with hobbled stars and players that fans felt didn’t belong at Kentucky. Conference play opened well for the Cats as Vanderbilt marked UK’s first victory over a ranked foe in nearly two seasons. However, another on court loss at Florida sealed a 1-2 SEC start for Kentucky and an overall record of 7-9.

At this point fortunes began to turn. The play of the vaunted first year players got more frazzled with each SEC game played. The cords tying together Donovan’s basketball family began to fray as the Gators unraveled within the rigors of conference play. Losses mounted for the Gators as they traveled to hostile SEC venues. Billy Donovan’s frustrations with his players began to mount as he watched the Gators slip to fourth place in the SEC East.

Conversely, UK only lost two more times after traveling to Gainesville on their way to a 12-4 record in conference. Critics and fans united in praise of Coach Gillispie citing that his players finally began to play the way he wanted, lockdown defense with guts and determination for forty minutes and unrelenting faith in each other’s abilities on the court. The Wildcats toughness bonds grew stronger with each victory culminating in a 2-1 finish after losing SEC Co-Freshman of the Year Patrick Patterson for the season, an end to the season that included an on court streak breaking triumph over Florida in the season finale.

The onset of the SEC Conference Tournament completed the programs’ transition. Kentucky enjoyed a refreshing Thursday evening off as Florida toiled against Alabama. Florida’s loss to the Crimson Tide ended their microscopic chances at a three-peat. The toil of Donovan’s first season without his Forged Four seemed to tax the Florida coach. Donovan expressed his lack of enthusiasm for next season in last Thursday’s post game press conference. He threw his highly touted recruits under the bus saying that his current group doesn’t have what it takes to win and he doesn’t know if another year will necessarily mature them. The Florida basketball family, invariably fractured, now faces the daunting task of shedding the disgrace of playing in the NIT as the first National Champion that failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in twenty years.

What a difference a year makes. That phase has been cliché for centuries. The furnace of Wildcat Nation had been re-lit. The Kentucky fan base, united behind Coach Gillispie and a team battle hardened by fighting through close games and tough times, will undoubtedly travel in mass to Anaheim, CA to insure life is horrible for their opponents in the NCAA Tournament. With the lack of excitement at a potential trip to New York on the horizon, the Florida fan base has shifted its focus on to Spring Practice just as it has every previous March save the last two. Florida Basketball is reeling in the shadow of a monster football program once again and Kentucky Basketball has a coach and a team who care deeply about what it means to wear the name on the front of the jersey. It looks like UK got the Billy they wanted after all.

Well, Southeastern Conference officials huddled in a conference room in the bowels of the Georgia Dome for hours tonight and emerged with a solution to the SEC Tournament Conundrum. The show must go on. Kentucky will play Georgia at noon at Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum, the location for all the remaining games. Tennessee will face Arkansas at 6pm on Saturday and the Kentucky/Georgia winner will face Mississippi State in a night cap at 9pm. Sunday’s championship game will be played as scheduled at 1pm. On CBS. And that last bit of information is all anyone needs to have to understand why the decision was made to continue the tournament in this fashion.

The Fans
Here’s the best part, the fans, you know, the people that put these athletic programs on the map by paying for multimillion dollar practice and playing facilities and attending these events, well, they’re shit out of luck. The only folks who will be allowed to attend the game are the players families and members of the media covering the event. What, you drove six hours from Lexington paying well in excess of $3.00 a gallon for gas? Well, that’s nice, but you don’t have a contractual right to show the SEC Championship Game. Sorry. The Eye has it. CBS takes precedent. They’re entitled to a game and they’re going to get it. As a fan, well, I guess you’re entitled to the same as Carmella Soprano. I’m sure there will be ticket refunds, but that’s probably little consolation to those who have booked hotels, paid for travel, and taken vacation days from work.

The Teams
Well, sorry Georgia, sorry Kentucky. If you want to win this thing you’re going to have to do the improbable (impossible?) and win three games in about 27 hours. Good luck with that. Kentucky is the big loser in all of this. The hard work and dedication to finish second in the SEC East has been pretty much neutralized by the scheduling of the games. Clearly the best interest of the players weren’t at the heart of the decision to play this ridiculously grueling schedule over the next day plus.

The Bottom Line
That’s it. The bottom line. That’s what’s important. The CBS television contract is one of the most lucrative assets the SEC has. The decision to continue this tournament in an absurdly taxing format and without the fans is clearly in the interest of television. Having a two hour block of programming to generate advertising revenue on Selection Sunday is paramount to the health of the student athlete and the interest of the fans. It’s a nice reminder of what college athletics are really about amidst all the hyperbole of fans and student athletes that is rampant this time of year.

Apologies if this isn’t my best effort. It’s late and I’m frustrated.

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

The Anti-Pearl Crowd Reveals Itself – Brett Hait

Urschel’s Response
Great article. I mean, the other SEC coaches hate Bruce Pearl so much that they actually voted him Coach of the Year. Wow. The whole thesis of your argument keeps ringing in my ears, and I just can’t even begin to make heads or tails of it. They despise him. They’re annoyed by his carnival-barker antics, are envious of his leadership ability, and so they collectively show their disgust by……voting him SEC Coach of the Year?

Like Joe Miller, Denzel Washington’s character in Philadelphia – I’m going to ask you to explain this to me….like I’m a 3 year-old. Because I just don’t get it.

We can argue semantics all day long – your gripe being that, boo-hoo, he has to SHARE the award. Instead of chasing after stories of jealousies and deceit, hatred and back-stabbing, can you bring yourself to actually admit that maybe, just maybe, Kentucky Coach Billy Clyde Gillispie actually deserved the award, too? Call me crazy, but I think they both deserved it, and what do you know? They both get a fancy little trophy to put up on their mantle. I’m still searching for the scandal in that, and I’m not coming up with much.

The bottom line is, both coaches deserved it, and they both got it – they just happened to earn it in different fashions. Bruce Pearl came to Tennessee 3 years ago to take over a program that had suffered through years and years of mediocrity, and quickly turned them into a national power. Despite his impressive coaching resume and boundless energy, nobody expected the Vols to be a #2 seed in their first season under Pearl, make the Sweet 16 in the second, and be poised for a possible #1 seed in their 3rd. But Pearl didn’t step into an unwinnable situation, with the SEC’s all-time leading 3-point shooter in Chris Lofton leading the charge for the run-and-gun Vols. This year, All-American transfers Tyler Smith and JP Prince fell into Pearl’s lap, the former somehow convincing the NCAA to waive the mandatory 1-year waiting period because his transfer allowed him to move closer to his Pulaski, Tennessee home to be closer to his cancer-stricken father. Pulaski is 250 miles from UT’s Knoxville campus.

As far as Billy Gillispie is concerned, the guy can flat-out coach. In fact (I’m sure you already know this, but I’ll throw it out there anyways), he’s won the Coach of the Year award 5 consecutive times – in 3 different conferences. Must be the most popular guy in town. Either that, or he knows his X’s and O’s. I’ll let you decide. Yeah, you can certainly argue that he dug his own hole early in the season – beginning SEC play with an ugly 6-7 record. However, I’m fairly certain he didn’t ask to be left with a depleted roster and varying injuries throughout the year to each of his top 7 scorers. Patrick Patterson suffered a stress fracture that ended his season after the February 27th Ole Miss game. Point guard Derrick Jasper missed nearly half the season after having microfracture surgery over the summer. Jodie Meeks has missed 18 games and won’t be back this season. All-SEC guards Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford each missed a game. And so on.

Even through all the turmoil and injuries Kentucky has faced, do you happen to remember the head-to-head record between the Co-SEC Coaches of the Year? One win apiece. And conference records of 14-2 and 12-4 for Pearl and Gillispie, respectively. Taking all factors into consideration, it’s pretty difficult to put one’s resume in front of the other’s. Gillispie has had to transform his team to fit the style of play he insists upon, fight through injuries, roster challenges, and NCAA Tournament-like pressure for 16 straight games just to get his team on the proverbial Bubble. Pearl, on the other hand, has in 3 short years taken Tennessee to #1 in the AP poll for the first time in school history, and built the team into a true national power. Personally, I can’t think of two better coaching jobs this year – and they both deserve the recognition they were awarded. Now, if you insist on digging for idle rumors and slander, perhaps your talents would be better served writing for the National Enquirer or Globe. Until then, I suggest you stick to what you know best – Kenny Chesney and abstinence.

Senior Day Leftovers
Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford managed to eek out a win against the mighty Florida Gators in their Rupp Arena swan sang despite combining to shoot 12 of 29 from the field. Bradley also added to the less than stellar performance by missing several critical free throws that nearly cost the Cats this important win. Coming into Kentucky in the fall of 2004 Crawford probably never thought he’d see the day when he’d burst through that hoop and be honored as a senior Wildcat. Of the Rivals top 10 recruits in his class Crawford is the lone holdout still playing college basketball. The remaining nine players now receive a paycheck for their efforts out on the court. Which leads me to this week’s entry from my mail bag…

The Tipman’s Mailbag
Tipman - I've been a Kentucky basketball fan for many many years, and I have to say I have a few concerns about what I'm seeing with this present team, and in particular, the coaching staff. Specifically, I'm talking about the ability of this staff to get their players ready for the NBA Draft. I've been looking at the projections and predictions of all the so-called "experts," and NONE of them seem to think that either of our two seniors -- Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley -- are ready to play in the NBA.

Why is that? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we've won a few games lately (even if it wasn't against great competition), but kids nowadays are more concerned with their chances to play in the NBA than they are their chances to beat Auburn.

What's the reason that the seniors aren't projected to get drafted? Are the scouts concerned about the injuries these guys have had? If so, maybe they don't need to playing so many minutes. Or, do the experts think that no player who loses to powerhouses like Gardner-Webb or San Diego (or by 41 points to Vanderbilt!) can possibly compete in the NBA?

Whatever the reason is, the bottom line is that this coaching staff has had almost a whole year to get these players ready for the next level, but so far, they haven't done that. (And before anybody points to Acie Law as evidence that this coaching staff is capable of developing players and getting them ready for professional basketball, let's not forget that Law was actually recruited by the previous Texas A&M coach!)

Anyway, every time I see names like Prince, Mohammed and Magloire in NBA boxscores, I can't help but wonder whether Crawford and Bradley would see their names on those draft lists if Tubby Smith were still here, since he didn't seem to have a problem developing players into draft choices.

Don't get me wrong, Tipman. I haven't given up on this staff yet, even if they really haven't given me any reason to be optimistic about our ability to get kids ready for the NBA, or for that matter, even get to a Final Four.

Keep up the good work, and Go Big Blue!

Stancil Willoughby
Ashland

Tipman Reacts
An excellent observation from a true blue fan. In today’s college basketball environment getting players to the NBA is very important on the recruiting trail. High school kids will take notice when no Kentucky players are drafted in this summer’s NBA Draft. I don’t know if there is any correlation between Gillispie’s lack of getting his seniors to the NBA and the Cats accepting a commitment from junior college point guard Kevin Galloway, but it would be easy to make that connection. A junior college shortcut is a quick fix when things aren’t going as well on the high school front.

Clock Ticking on the Minutemen
Former Kentucky point guard, Travis Ford’s UMass team is planted firmly on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. UMass currently sits at 21-9 and they’re 40 in the R.P.I. A quick look at their resume reveals that their non-conference slate is somewhat lacking. Ford and his Minutemen did travel to Nashville and play the Vanderbilt Commodores. They managed to keep the game 32 points closer than Gillispie’s Cats, but it still wasn’t enough for a signature non-conference win. This isn’t from a lack of trying though. The Minutemen were originally slated to face the Wildcats in Boston, but Kentucky backed out of that commitment and instead opted to exercise a $50,000.00 buyout clause at the eleventh hour. I assume that the thinking of the current regime is that the modern day 30 pieces of silver was a small price to pay if it ultimately leads to the Cats being selected as an at large team and Travis Ford is left out in the cold as a result of Kentucky’s betrayal.

Winning Without Patterson
Much has been made about the Wildcats play lately with freshman phenom Patrick Patterson sidelined with injury. With Patterson down and Legion long gone, Kentucky is now winning games on the backs of players that were recruited soley by Tubby Smith. According to the over-zealous fan base, particularly those that frequent the cess pool of fan message boards, Smith’s recruiting was lacking and a large reason why he was practically ran out of Lexington. Now that it’s time to make a statement and win basketball games, the same recruits that Wildcat fans did not believe to be up to Kentucky’s standards have put the Kentucky team in a position to receive an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Certainly these fans will recognize that Tubby Smith may have been a fairly good recruiter after all as Billy Gillispie is winning with Tubby Smith’s players.

SEC Tournament
The SEC Tournament returns to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome this season. Kentucky has failed to win the tournament the past three seasons. If the Cats fail to win the tournament this year it will mark the first time in the post-probation era that a Wildcat senior class has come through the program and not won at least one SEC Tournament.

Want your letter published? Email me at Tipman’s Mailbag

It all started 4 years ago in Austin, Texas. Kentucky was playing Utah and their All American center Andrew Bogut. Our defense was frustrating the hell out the future player of the year when he decided to pick on the smallest guy on the court. Little did he know Ramel "Smooth" Bradley would not be intimidated by the 7' Aussie but he was also 150% Brooklyn…. "Do something, Do Something" was Bradley's response. He is extremely proud to be from the streets of New York City as we have all learned over the last few years. He pays tribute to the borough and local superstar rapper Jay-Z when he gets an opportunity by throwing up the rock. He was asked by Billy Gillispie to tone that particular celebration down this year with the intention of focusing on a team atmosphere. He obliged but the fans didn't, any time he steps to the free throw line or hits a deep three you can see thousands of fans honoring Bradley with their hands raised high in the air in the shape of a diamond. Was there any doubt this kid from New York City would be a fan favorite for the next 4 years? His attitude and energy are infectious. You can tell he is having a blast and feels blessed to wear the Kentucky jersey every day.

Ramel?
There is no doubt Ramel has been a joy to watch since he has arrived but at the same time he is one of the more frustrating players I can remember in a Kentucky uniform. The last two years seem as if Bradley has been trying to force the issue and is exemplifying the stereotypical selfish New York City street baller that he is. The number of ill-advised shots and errant passes has literally taken years off my life. Even this year with a noticeable improvement in both leadership and contribution on the court he still has those moments when I can say nothing but….. "RAMELLLLLLLL!!" I have come to realize that he is so consumed with helping the team that he is not being selfish at all but the exact opposite, he is trying to shoulder the responsibility on his own and he is doing an unbelievable job this year.

1st Team All SEC
Before you shun the notion hear me out. Ramel Bradley is the most important player on this team and has been all year. Wow, in 2004 I would have never dreamed this high school kid from NYC that spent a year prepping in Florida before becoming a Wildcat would be the most integral piece of the puzzle. He was over shadowed by 3 McDonald’s All American classmates and never showed an ounce of jealousy. Finally in 2008, this is his team. With all the injuries and ailments, a coaching change, and a losing record in January he did what any great leader would do and put his team on his back. Over the next 8 games he averaged more than 40 minutes per game. That's insane. Bradley wheeled off 6 straight 20pt games (breaking Jamal Mashburn's record) and ended up with 7 of 8 games over 20pts before getting knocked out (literally) by Georgia center Dave Bliss. Even after suffering a concussion and already having a viral infection Ramel tried to re-enter the game in the second half much to the dismay of the coaching staff. While other injured players in the league are joyfully eating popcorn on the bench, Ramel was trying to convince the staff he was ready to go and for good reason… the team looked lost without its leader on the court for the next 3 halves. UK persevered and Ramel got better.

His leadership and importance to the team are only two intangibles, but he is flat out getting it done on the court. He is the leading free throw shooter in the SEC at 84%, averaging more than 16 pts, 4.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 40.2% fg, and 39% from 3pt. He has clutch shot after clutch shot starting with a fall away jumper against Vandy to seal the first victory over a ranked opponent in the past two season and the first glimmer of hope this year for the UK faithful. Ending, for now, with a deep 3 last night that rattled around the rim and finally went down to put a nail in the coffin of Dave Odom. Not only is he getting it done on offense but the kid from NYC is averaging almost 2 steals per game. He has two teammates that are also worthy to be in the All SEC discussion but in my humble opinion Bradley is the team's Most Valuable Player and the most valuable player to his respective team in the SEC.

My Old Kentucky Home
I'll be one of the loyal fans watching while holding back tears as Ramel "Smooth" Bradley is introduced for the last time in Rupp Arena. When he breaks through the paper I'll be holding up the rock and cheering as loud as possible. This is certainly one Wildcat that we are all going to miss but remember for years. Thanks for the memories Ramel.

Comments? Email me at anth@wodiecrew.com

Remember in “Rocky IV” when Rocky goes to Russia to fight Drago and in the final scene the Italian Stallion enters the ring to a raucous crowd of communists booing him unmercifully? Then, as Rocky proceeds to take the mammoth Russian all 15 rounds on nothing but pure guts (and as we know now, HGH), the crowd slowly starts to cheer for him and by the end of the fight the crowd is chanting “Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!” Finally, Rocky proceeds to give what might be the single greatest victory speech of all time…”during this fight, I seen a lot of changin. The way youse felt about me, and the way I felt about you…” Well, Joe Crawford might as well put on a pair of American Flag shorts, because he has pulled a Rocky Balboa with so many Kentucky basketball fans this year.

Early Struggles
Crawford came to Kentucky as a decorated high school All American in what was celebrated as being Tubby Smith’s greatest recruiting haul. He was dubbed a high flying, high scoring, two guard the likes of which Kentucky had not seen since the days of Derek Anderson. He – along with Rajon Rondo, Randolph Morris, and Ramel Bradley - were going to come in and dominate the college basketball world, and in the process throw some ice on that ever warming Kentucky coaching seat that Tubby Smith had occupied. Well, that’s the way it was supposed to go.

The talented freshman was lost his first year. Crawford wasn’t used to sitting the bench and getting mop up minutes. He got frustrated, home sick, and those “handlers” who so often attach themselves to basketball stars began to get into his ear. So Joe quit. He quit on his coach, his teammates, the University of Kentucky and its fans. To Crawford’s surprise, however, he didn’t find D1 coaches lining up to take a kid who had thrown in the towel on his team in just a handful of games. Crawford returned to Lexington, reluctantly.

The next couple years Crawford would rack up a lot of minutes and a lot of stats, but they were mostly empty. The team was struggling, Joe was out of shape, he showed the basketball IQ of a grapefruit, played defense as if he were allergic to the notion, and he pouted when things were going south. He may have worn a Kentucky jersey, but he didn’t play Kentucky basketball. Of the class that was supposed to save Tubby Smith’s job, Joe Crawford became the poster child for the class that lost Tubby Smith his job…fair or unfair.

Sweet Redemption
Enter Billy Gillispie. All indications were that it pained the new coach to watch Joe play basketball every bit as much it did most UK fans. Gillispie refused to start the senior, he nipped at him in the media, and scowled at him during games. In fact, for a while, one would have sworn that Billy G was trying to run Joe Crawford out of town…only this time for good. But, Crawford - the one time quitter and pouter - responded like he was made of Teflon. He busted his ass to get in shape despite some nagging injuries. He suddenly began taking better shots, making the extra pass, and using his talent on the defensive side of the ball. By the time conference play rolled around UK fans were beginning to see a new side of the much maligned high school All American. He was hitting clutch shots, he was leading, he was becoming the guy we thought we were getting when he signed out of Michigan 3 years ago. All the sudden, it became easy to cheer for Joe Crawford, not just because he was wearing a Kentucky jersey, but because he was finally playing Kentucky basketball.

Maybe nothing truly changed with Joe. Maybe he just finally got the right coach to push the right buttons. But, I like to think it was a little more than that. I like to think that the preverbal light went on for Joe Crawford at some point. That, as he saw his career at UK winding down he figured that this place was more special to him that just a stop gap before going to the NBA (which he has to realize might never happen). That he realized it was a privilege to play basketball for the University of Kentucky. That he decided he was going to bust his ass and adjust his game because of those things. After bitching about him for 3 straight years and yearning for the day he graduates, I feel myself sad to see his career coming to an end. It’s too early, he was just getting it! There are a boat load of Kentucky basketball fans who feel the same way. Joe has won us over in Rocky Balboa fashion. About the only thing left for him to do is grab the microphone on senior night in front of 24 thousand cheering cat fans and scream “if I can change…and you can change…everyone can change!” Hey, it’s not single handedly bringing down the USSR, but it would make for a hell of a sign off, right?

Patrick Patterson
Despite the fact that freshman sensation Patrick Patterson was leading the team in minutes played at 38.9 on the season when he went down with injury (the correlation in minutes played and the nature of this injury likely being more than mere coincidence) Patterson was only third on the team in field goal attempts per game. Patterson’s 11.5 attempts per game trailed Joe Crawford (12.6) and Ramel Bradley (12.2) on the season. The 11.5 attempts per game was also well below the 15-20 shots per game that Patterson was promised on the recruiting trail. Patterson’s deficiency in field goal attempts is another example of over-promising and under-delivering by coaches in recruiting.

Chris Lofton
The senior guard from Maysville, Kentucky, who was famously snubbed by the University of Kentucky was honored prior to Sunday’s game in Knoxville by the University of Tennessee with a tribute video. Lofton is the career three pointers made leader in the history of the SEC. Several of those three pointers were made in three career wins against the Wildcats. Lofton is regarded as one of the biggest gaffes on the local recruiting scene in recent memory. However, he could quickly be supplanted from that title if Bryan Station standout Shelvin Mack has the type of career at Butler that some speculate.

Numbers Game
With yet another defeat on the road Sunday, the Kentucky Wildcats missed their final opportunity to record a quality victory on an opponent’s home court. So far this season, the Cats only three wins on the road have come against sub RPI 100 competition. The lack of a quality road win is a glaring omission on the Cats tournament resume. Unfortunately, the home record is less than stellar as well with losses to Gardner Webb and San Diego, which begs the question, if the Cats do miraculously receive an at large bid will it be deserved or will they receive it because it says Kentucky on their jerseys? Makes you wonder.

Potential Conflict
When the Cats fail to make the NCAA Tournament and receive a bid to the N.I.T. they will be unable to host games at Rupp Arena. The KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16 has already booked the arena for the same dates that the first rounds of the N.I.T. would take place. Tickets have already been sold and everything has been put into place for the Sweet 16 to take place in Rupp. At this point, there is no way feasible to move the Sweet 16 to an alternate location. This conflict was a rather unforeseen one as the Wildcats hadn’t played in an N.I.T under former coaches Tubby Smith or Rick Pitino. A preseason top 25 ranking this year certainly suggested it wouldn’t be a problem under new head coach Billy Gillispie, but apparently that may not be the case. It may be wise for the KHSAA to look into alternate plans if this trend continues into the future.

Where are they now?
NBA player and former Kentucky guard Kelenna Azubuike’s father Kenneth is still in prison. The younger Azubuike could not be reached for comment.

Comments? Email me at tipman@wodiecrew.com

Nearly every Kentucky fan that has grown up in the Commonwealth has at one point or another hit a game winning shot for the Kentucky Wildcats to defeat the Louisville Cardinals, or maybe the Duke Blue Devils, or perhaps even the Tennessee Volunteers. Every one of those same fans has hit buzzer beaters to clinch NCAA Championships for the Wildcats. They may have hit them in their driveway. They may have hit them in a musty old high school gym. They may have hit them on a dilapidated rim affixed to the side of a barn somewhere in rural Kentucky, but every one of them has done it. They’ve all dreamed of wearing the blue and white. They’ve all dreamed of leading the Wildcats to another national championship.

The fans love this program unconditionally and have an undying passion for their beloved team that is second to none. In March of 1992 an entire state mourned as if they’d lost a close family member. The hopes and dreams of millions of Kentucky fans rested on a scrappy bunch of players who became known as The Unforgettables. Those hopes and dreams came to a heartbreaking end at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when Duke’s Christian Laettner hit one of the most famous shots in college basketball history. Duke went on to win the national championship. The Wildcats returned home to Kentucky defeated, but received a hero’s welcome from the fanbase.

A Misperception
Walk into any bar in Lexington and conduct a straw poll of fans over the age of 25. Ask them what Wildcat team was their favorite team. The results may surprise you. Those same 1992 Cats that failed to reach the Final Four will beat out the juggernaut of 1996. The 1992 team will win out over the 1998 champs, the 1997 runner-ups, and even Kentucky’s Final Four team of 1993. Why is that? All those other teams achieved greater success. They each went on to college basketball’s Holy Grail; the Final Four. If the mentality of the fanbase is how it’s portrayed in the media, then the championship teams must be the most revered of all as they won more games. Isn’t that what’s of paramount importance, winning?

According to most everything you see on television and read in the newspapers or the internet winning is all that matters to Kentucky fans. The national pundits would have you believe that the Kentucky fanbase is comprised of an unreasonable, unruly mob of nut-jobs that possesses a single-minded win at all costs mentality. So if that’s the case, then why would most fans undoubtedly pick a scrappy team of overachievers who failed to scratch the Final Four as their favorite team? Occam’s Razor: All other things being equal, the simplest solution is best. The simplest solution in this case is that the national perception of the Kentucky fanbase is wrong.

Kentucky fans do value winning. They do expect to see their Cats in the hunt for a championship year in and year out. However, winning isn’t the only thing Kentucky fans value. In fact, despite what ESPN would have you believe, winning isn’t even the thing that Kentucky fans covet the most. The Kentucky fanbase cares about their program. A lot. They live and die with each jump shot, with each possession. No other place in sports do the fans live vicariously through the players on the team quite like Lexington, Kentucky. The passion for and love of the program by the fanbase is something that can’t be accurately described to an outsider. The fans expect the team to love the program. To love the jersey. To know that it is a privilege to adorn yourself in those colors and take the court for this university. That’s what matters most to Kentucky fans. The fans want the team and the coaching staff to care about the program as much as they do.

It wasn’t the losses the past few seasons that irritated the fanbase the most. It wasn’t even the missed opportunities on the recruiting trail. Kentucky fans can ultimately deal with losing, so long as they know that the team gave everything of themselves out on that floor and was in their locker room hurting just as profoundly as the fans were hurting in their living rooms in the wake of a loss. It’s not just about losing, but rather how you lose.

At Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday the Kentucky Wildcats may have come up short on the scoreboard, but it wasn’t from a lack of trying, a lack of caring, or a lack of preparation. The Cats were just outmanned, out-talented, and lacked the depth to finish off the Vols on their home court. The effort and pride on display from the Wildcat team was reminiscent of that 1992 squad. On Sunday, the Kentucky Wildcats played with the same heart and passion that every kid in the Bluegrass has each time they drain a three-pointer to propel the Cats to another NCAA Championship win. That’s what is most sacred to Kentucky fans. Not winning or losing, but playing the game the way they would play it if they had the honor of suiting up for the University of Kentucky.

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com Gillispie's Speech to the Team Today

Are You Ready For Some Football; A Monday Night Party?
Apparently, if you’re Mitch Barnhart (and presumably Rich Brooks) the answer is no. There will be no Monday Night Football for the Bluegrass State next fall and I’m fine with that. They’ve earned the right to say thanks, but no thanks at this point. These guys have proven that they know how to build a winning college football program. As Herm Edwards once famously stated, You play to win the games. That’s it. That’s the list. A cushy Monday night timeslot might get you some additional exposure, albeit the difference in a Sunday primetime slot and a Monday primetime slot is probably negligible, but college athletics isn’t about exposure. Sure, that’s part of the equation, but it’s not the be all end all. Winning is the ultimate end game and that, along with running a clean program, should always be the top priority for the head football coach and the athletic director.

But It’s Only Norfolk State
I’m sure Michigan probably thought they were only playing Appalachian State last season and no doubt saw it as an automatic W on the schedule. How’d that work out for them? Playing in the always loaded SEC means the Cats have to maximize their non-conference schedule moreso than teams from other leagues. It’s obvious that those in charge of UK Athletics don’t want to hedge their bets against a decent 1-AA team. Why play this game with four days to prepare if you don’t have to? The simple answer is you don’t. There are a lot of questions to be answered on offense in the fall and a lot of guys who will be asked to carry an increased load next season. Why make the situation any more difficult on players trying to adjust to those new responsibilities if you don’t have to? Again, you don’t.

Chicken or the ESPN
Does winning beget television or does television beget winning? It’s obvious that the two sides have dissentient views on this issue. It’s clear that the powers that be at the University of Louisville believe that television exposure is paramount to success in college football. If one isn’t convinced, all it takes is quick glance at their 2008 schedule for definitive proof. The Cards have two Friday night games, a Wednesday night contest, and a more traditional Thursday night tilt. Each one of those games is an ESPN telecast. Those are also the only national telecasts for the Cards next season.

The perspective of the University of Kentucky is quite different than that of the Cardinals. The Kentucky Athletic Department can rely on the lucrative television contract of the SEC to gain exposure. The Cats can afford to miss this opportunity and gain a better one later. As an added bonus it keeps their archrival off of television. SEC games are televised in a pecking order. CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, and Raycom Sports all typically broadcast SEC games each week. Three straight weeks on CBS last season proved that if the Cats can keep winning it won’t go unnoticed or untelevised. So with that in mind, why shouldn’t Kentucky place winning above all else?

Pissing Contest
The larger motives are probably for the best interest of the respective programs, but there is definitely an element to the debate that’s just a good old fashioned pissing contest between the athletic directors. Kentucky couldn’t get Louisville to budge on the opening weekend date at Papa John’s and Louisville couldn’t keep Kentucky from changing it in Lexington. Now, Louisville wants to play the game on a Monday night, but Kentucky holds all of the Cards. In an ironic twist of fate it is now the Kentucky program that is refusing to move the game from the first weekend to cater to the Louisville program. The contract dictates that they have to play the game on the first weekend of the season. Monday doesn’t exactly qualify as a weekend. This forces the Louisville Athletic Department to seek approval from the Kentucky Athletic Department to move the game. It’s not likely that either athletic department is going to bend to the other at this point on any issue much less the most divisive of them all; when to play football.

So, Who Is Right?
This issue isn’t black and white. It’s blue and red. On the blue side they have a definite formula for success in place. The men in blue aren’t going to deviate from that successful formula to cater to their nemeses in red. On the red side they also have a definite formula for success in place. They aren’t budging either. In the end, both programs are clearly justified in their respective positions. Kentucky wants to protect itself in the non-conference before beginning an SEC slate that will undoubtedly leave the Cats broken, battered, and bruised by November. They aren’t as concerned with exposure. They shouldn’t be. Just win and the television will take care of itself.

Louisville wants as many opportunities to sell their brand of football on television as possible. There won’t be numerous opportunities presenting themselves during Big East play regardless of how much they win. They have to fight for their exposure now. The Big East isn’t the grind that is the SEC. In fact, the Big East schedule is only seven games as opposed to the eight game SEC gauntlet. The Cards can afford to take more chances with their non-conference slate. Both sides are doing what they believe is in the best interest of their respective programs. Both have proven successful in the way they do things. They aren’t going to change. They shouldn’t. They’re both right.

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

Dissecting Duke - Stewart Mandel

Great read about how Duke seemingly fades down the stretch each year about this time. Interesting fact from the article: Duke has played TWO Non-conference road games since 2004.

Props to Century Cat for finding this excellent piece.

Louisville Cardinal cornerback Rod Council was arrested early this morning for knocking off a convenience store in his native North Carolina. No word yet on whether Petrino has inquired about a possible transfer.

Thanks to Herrmdawg for the exclusive picture.

If anyone else has any pictures from the scene just email them in and we'll post them.

Out played. Out coached. Out hustled. Out toughed. There is nothing positive to take away from last night’s game if you’re a Kentucky fan. That was easily the most embarrassing non-probation SEC loss in the history of this program. The worst part; the whole world was watching. Beat downs linger. 41 point, wire-to-wire you’ll bend over and you’ll like it ass whippings stick in people’s conscious as bubble teams are being assessed for those precious last four in bids to the NCAA Tournament. You can’t spin this. You can’t polish this. It is what it is. Last night’s loss could very well be the iceberg that sinks the NCAA Tournament hopes of this team.

Going in, I wasn’t among the crowd that thought the game was a must win game. Granted, a win would have been monumental in the Cats’ quest to secure an at large berth on Selection Sunday, but it wasn’t a necessity. A loss to a top 15 RPI team on the road is not a bad thing. Of course, a loss is going to Vandy, giving them a bit of a scare, maybe making a run and losing by less than 15. You lose by 15-25 and you can chalk that up to an amazing shooting night by the home standing Dores. Losing by 41 cannot be rationalized. It cannot be reasoned. And it certainly cannot be forgotten.

At this point a 12-4 finish will damned near be a necessity and that still may not be enough. NCAA Tournament teams don’t lose games by 41 in mid-February. Last night Jimmy Dykes mentioned over and over…and over and over the fact that no team from the Southeastern Conference has been on the outside of the NCAA Tournament looking in if they managed to win 10 games in conference. I challenge anyone to find a team on that list that had a losing non-conference record, had no road/neutral wins over the RPI top 100, and lost a conference game by 41. I haven’t actually done the research myself, but I’d wager that particular team does not exist. Being crushed by Vanderbilt last night will be 1a to the Gardner F. Webb loss’s 1 on the Cats’ tournament resume in the category of reasons why they’re sitting at home on their ass watching it on TV. It’s not impossible to still make the tournament as an at large team, but it damn sure got a lot harder.

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

For the Cats to receive an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament they still have a lot of work to do, but based upon their recent surge it is not ridiculous to think that they may have what it takes to finish the job. When I began to compile the numbers for this piece the Cats stood at number 88 in the RPI and were 12-9 on the season with a 6-2 SEC mark. While there are several factors that the Selection Committee weighs, the RPI is certainly one of the more prominent pieces of the puzzle. It isn’t necessarily definitive, but it is very useful in gauging the quality of opponents that a particular team has faced. Scanning the internet, I came across a piece by Seth Davis last March that discussed the selection process. He had included in his article a link to the team sheet for the UCLA Bruins. The team sheet that he had linked is the actual data that the selection committee has in front of them when they hunker down into what they call a bunker and begin the arduous task of selecting and seeding a 65 team tournament. With a little research and a lot of help from Real Time RPI and Ken Pomroy’s rankings, I’ve managed to replicate to the best of my ability that sheet for the Cats as it would look right now. I went ahead and plugged in the remaining regular season games leaving the scores TBA and using the RPI rankings as they were when I compiled this on Sunday. Here’s what the Cats’ Dance Card looks like right now:

Due to a clerical error the Overall Record against RPI 1-50 is transposed and should read 2-4.

Losses are highlighted in red, non-conference games in teal, home games in green, and road games in yellow.

The Good
Trends count in the eyes of the Selection Committee and the Cats are certainly trending upward. The wins over Vanderbilt and Tennessee were a tremendous shot in the arm. In fact, without both of those wins, there’s probably no point in analyzing Kentucky’s chances at an at large bid today. Playing Vandy again tomorrow at their place will be another big time positive for the Wildcats. Win or lose it will help the overall strength of schedule and it will fall as either a “good win” or “good loss”. The theme of the remaining regular season slate is opportunity. In a rather fortuitous turn of events the Cats finish the season out with games against five teams in the current RPI top 50, three of those being teams ranked in the top 25 of the RPI. If they manage to win three or more of those games that would give them five wins against the RPI top 50 on the season. That would certainly be a distinguishing characteristic that would reflect well against would be tournament entrants from non-BCS conferences who would not have faced or beaten that level of competition.

Receiving a bid isn’t all about numbers though. Just like some things don’t show up in the box score at the end of the game, there are things that don’t show up on the Cats’ final sheet. Of course I’m talking about the numerous injuries this team has suffered as well as early season struggles to adapt to a new style of play. The Selection Committee will give weight to those injuries and the early struggles implementing a new system. That doesn’t necessarily make the non-conference a non-issue, but it does give the Committee something to hang their hat on should the Cats find themselves dancing.

The Bad
A few things jump out after looking at this. The first is the absolute dreadful nature of a handful of Kentucky’s non-conference foes. There are five teams on this card with an RPI greater than 280. Replace those teams with others in the 101-200 RPI range and the Cats would probably finish the season with a top ten schedule. The Gardner-Webb loss also jumps right off the page. It’s like a zit on prom night and it ultimately may mean the Cats don’t get lucky on Selection Sunday. I was curious to see just how greatly that loss affected the Cats’ numbers so I removed it when factoring the average RPI of the losses and it caused a spike from 69 to 49. That’s huge. The Gardner-Webb loss also cost the Cats a chance to go to NYC for two guaranteed games against non-conference RPI heavyweights. While they likely would have resulted in two more losses, winning Gardner-Webb and losing to Memphis and another quality team would have produced a net positive affect on the overall picture.

As it stands, the Cats have but two road victories and no wins on a neutral court. Those road wins came against the pedestrian Georgia Bulldogs and an Auburn Tigers team that is ranked nearly 60 spots lower than San Diego in the RPI. Every year the committee chairman inevitably comes onto CBS to butt heads with Billy Packer, who may or may not make a jackass of himself, and explains the importance of winning on the road. The lack of road wins is a tremendous Achilles heal at the moment.

The Ugly
In a rather unfortunate situation Wildcat fans find themselves in the irritating position of having to cheer for their archrivals to keep winning. Indiana’s comeback win against Illinois last week, though painful was a win for the Cats. UNC and their ridiculous number of free throw attempts holding off lowly Clemson was another win for the Cats. And what is probably the most egregious injustice of them all; Louisville’s upset of number 7 Georgetown on Saturday was also a win for the Cats. Yes, as a Kentucky fan it sucks to watch these particular schools achieve this level of success as our beloved Cats are mired in mediocrity, but it is for the greater good. Win or lose, the Selection Committee places special emphasis on non-conference games against quality opponents as it encourages teams to seek out competition as opposed to loading up on cupcakes. Right now UNC is 3 in the RPI, Louisville 17, and Indiana 29. It is not out of the realm of possibility that all three will finish in the RPI top 25 and that the latter two could finish in the RPI top 10.

Outlook
A win tomorrow night against Vanderbilt would be a tremendous boost to Kentucky’s tournament resume. A Vanderbilt win would give the Cats that big win on the road that they currently lack. Later on in the week the Cats face LSU, a team that is by far the worst in the SEC as far as the RPI is concerned. They cannot lose to LSU. Just so there’s no misunderstanding, the Kentucky Wildcats must defeat the LSU Tigers. Honestly, this may be the one game on the schedule that they simply can’t lose. A loss to a team with a near 200 RPI in mid-February would be devastating. South Carolina and Georgia would be bad losses, but could be forgotten about if the Cats manage a 12-4 SEC record.

In my not so humble opinion getting an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament is going to take 19 wins. That’s the magic number. If the Cats are sitting at 18-13, then they’re just one upset in a mid-major conference tournament from staying home and may stay home regardless. The most reasonable path to 19 wins is to finish up 5-3 in conference and pick up 2 wins in the friendly confines of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. A 19-13 Kentucky team with 11 conference wins will not be left at home on Selection Sunday. Everyone says that the committee doesn’t take into account the name of the team, but let’s be honest, they’re human. The drawing power of the Big Blue Nation and the publicity that would be generated surrounding the turnaround of the season would be too much to ignore. That will ultimately be enough to tip things in the Cats favor if they reach the 19 win plateau.

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

Another SEC game, another gritty win. The Cats stumbled out of the gate somewhat flat and seemingly out of synch against the Crimson Tide. To further complicate matters, they were also ice cold from the field to start things off, missing on their first seven three point attempts. Some of this can probably be attributed to the returning Ramel Bradley getting back into his playing groove, but you have to believe the lack of Richard Hendrix played a role as well. No one on the team will admit it, but it’s only human to breath a sigh of relief at the news that one of the SEC’s best players won’t see the floor. At any rate, eventually the shots started to fall for the Cats and they made enough defensive stops to close out the Tide and notch a fifth consecutive SEC win. Just win baby. The phrase made so famous by Al Davis can certainly be applied to this Wildcat team. There are no style points in basketball. It may not always be pretty, but it’s effective. Last time I checked the only thing that counts in basketball is the final score and the Cats are finding ways to come out on top in that category. This win improves them to 12-9 on the season, 6-2 in the SEC, and sole possession of second place in the SEC East which would result in a critical first round bye at the SEC Tournament.

Bama Game Quick Hitters

~Perry Stevenson continued his recent streak of excellent play finishing with 8 points and 9 boards.

~Ramon Harris’s injury is being described as a hip pointer and early speculation indicates he could be ready to go on Tuesday at Vanderbilt.

~If the Cats can pull off the win at Memorial Gym, it will be their longest SEC winning streak since starting 9-0 in conference during the 2004-05 season.

~The Cats returned to form at the charity stripe hitting 20-26 for 76.9% and more importantly hit them when it counted by making good on 18 of their final 20 free throws in the game.

~Coach Gillispie wore a blue tie.

The Gottfried Technical
I was sitting directly across from the Alabama bench during the game and had a great view of the ball going out of bounds and the ensuing technical. The ball clearly went out of bounds off of Bradley, but the intitial call was that Kentucky would retain possession. This happened on the Alabama end of the court and Gottfried had a clear view of the play and was livid with the obviously incorrect call. He pranced up and down the sideline and waived his arms in the air. The official came over to the Alabama bench to calm him down and then conferred with another official near the scorer’s table. Ultimately they decided to reverse the call, but before they had a chance to make the signal, Mark Gottfried ripped off his jacket and threw it at his own bench. At this point he had already been warned and one can only assume the officials felt his further shenanigans were unwarranted and a blatant attempt to show up the official so he was T’d up. Kentucky shot the technical FT’s and Alabama was awarded the ball out of bounds. This is because the rule surrounding technical fouls is that they do not result in a change of possession any more. Since the call had been reversed it was actually Alabama’s ball at the time of the technical. In the end, the officials got this one right on both counts, the technical and awarding Bama the ball. Gottfried is the one who overreacted and was unable to control himself.

The Stevenson Hard Foul
This particular play took place late in the second half of the game. Perry Stevenson had gotten free in the paint and was presumably poised to throw down an emphatic two-handed slam when the Alabama defender grabbed him from behind and prevented him from going up for the dunk. The Bama player was clearly behind Stevenson and made no attempt at the ball. Gerald Boudreaux gave a detailed explanation about the significance of the defender being behind the offensive player in order to warrant an intentional foul. According to Boudreaux, the head of SEC officials, if a player is behind the play in the manner in which the Bama defender was in this case it should be an intentional foul. The officials most certainly missed this call by not assessing an intentional foul on the Alabama defender. It will be interesting to see if this particular call is explained away in some other manner or if Boudreaux will actually admit that his officials missed the call. My money is on the former.

Up Next: Vandy
I like the Cats chances against the Dores on Tuesday night, but it’s still too early to come out with a prediction. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to which players for the Cats will be available to play and how much they can go. With the way this season’s gone I wouldn’t be shocked if Lachlan McLean breaks a story Monday night about Perry Stevenson being eaten by locusts at Wildcat Lodge. If there are enough healthy Wildcats, Vanderbilt is a good matchup for them. I’ll have thoughts and wild ass predictions (missed today’s margin by 1) on game day. Check back tomorrow or Monday for an in depth look at what it will take to get a bid to the Big Dance. Late.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/James Crisp

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

Bama comes to town in a game that the Cats must win in order to keep inching toward the bubble. A win over the Tide coupled with an upset in Nashville next week would catapult the Wildcats into the national discussion of potential NCCA Tournament teams despite what Jay Bilas might think. If Bradley can go and be Ramel Bradley, not a shadow of himself, the Cats should take home the victory. No doubt Rupp will be rocking as an appreciative fanbase should turn out en masse to support one of the gutsiest teams to suit up for Big Blue in several years. The wins at Georgia and Auburn were huge. There are a few teams in the SEC that Kentucky can still afford to drop a game to, but those two teams weren’t on that list. Hendrix should get his tomorrow and will present a matchup problem, but the Tide are still coached by Mark Gottfried and his overall road record at Bama, according to redass in GYERO Friday, is an abysmal 26-66. John Brady thinks that’s terrible. I fully expect the Cats to win. As Anth stated last week, having that confidence again is a great feeling. My pick: Cats 74 Tide 63.

Signing Day
I really don’t follow the day-to-day workings of recruiting be it football or basketball and have expressed my disdain for the conjecture and rumor mongering promoted by self styled insiders on the internet to the frothing masses, but I will speak on this. As has become tradition, I was in the house for the signing day function at Sal’s in Lexington earlier this week. The excitement and satisfaction that the staff had for this class was palpable. As he had in the media earlier in the day, Coach Brooks stressed the importance of the athleticism of this class and talked about the incredible amount of speed this class possesses. Brooks pointed out that while many were drafted to play quarterback in high school because they were the best athlete on their team, that doesn’t necessarily mean any of these guys will see time under center for the Cats. Overall, the energy surrounding the program was totally positive and everyone was convinced (rightly so I might add) that this program is still on the right track. One bit of scoop….Coach Brooks informed the room that Micah Johnson will get the start at middle linebacker next fall and Braxton Kelley will slide over to the outside.

Final Thoughts
I’m heading to Rupp to take in the game against the Tide. Hopefully, I’ll have time to sit down on Sunday and give my thoughts on the game and analysis of such important things as the color of Coach Gillispie’s tie and Jared Carter’s facial expressions on the bench. They’re going to honor the 1978 National Champions at half time, so if you’re heading out, hold off on the ice cream until the Beasman and his boys have been shown the proper respect. 30 years. Damn. I bet that makes some of you feel old. I hadn’t even been conceived.

Phyllis from Mulga > Optimistic John

Sawyer’s > Wendy's in the Civic Center

Expecting to Win > Hoping to Win

Lewinsky’s Semen Stained Dress > Steroid Syringe From Roger Clemen’s Ass

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

What a difference a year makes. The Kentucky Wildcats made the annual trip to Athens, Georgia to face the Bulldogs for a rugby scrum on the hardwood and came away with a hard fought, emotional victory. Quite the opposite of last year’s trip which saw the Cats squander a 17 point first half lead and fall in overtime to Felton’s Dawgs. In 2007, Georgia utilized a 19-5 second half run to take a 57-55 lead with 5:33 remaining in the second half. In 2008, Georgia took a 54-53 lead with 5:19 remaining in the second half. That’s where the similarities end. Let’s take a look at what did transpire in those two contests against the Georgia Bulldogs.

2007
In 2007, the Cats never regained the lead during that final 5:33 or at any point in the overtime period. After a Crawford layup to tie the game, the Cats failed to score during the remaining 2:21 of regulation, but did commit two turnovers. In the overtime period, they managed two field goals and only one turnover, but they allowed Georgia to score 13. The loss was the second in the row for the Cats and moved them to 4-2 in the SEC. They finished the SEC slate at 5-5 and limped into the SEC Tournament.

2008
In 2008, the Cats regained the lead on the very next possession with a Crawford three pointer. Unfortunately, it was his last opportunity to play hero as the senior scorer was forced to the bench due to a flare up of his plantar fasciitis or possibly cramps. At least he had company, as fellow senior Ramel Bradley was already forced out to join him alongside Jodie Meeks who wasn’t even available to play. The remaining Cats were able to put the clamps on Georgia allowing only one field goal, an inconsequential three pointer with 0:27 remaining in that final 5:19 and come away with the victory.

The Difference
The difference starts with the fact that the current Cats physically are better conditioned than their 2007 counterparts, but it goes beyond that. Gillispie’s Wildcats are also in superior psychological condition. Therein lies the greatest difference in the two teams. That’s why when faced with similar situations one team loses going away in overtime and the other regroups to deliver a haymaker to the most physical team in the Southeastern Conference.

A psychological advantage in sports cannot be overstated. When teams are rather evenly matched from an athletic and physical standpoint, what’s going on in their heads may be the difference in the outcome of a ballgame. The winning mentality that the Cats have developed in 2008 gives them the confidence that they can and will finish off their opponents in these close situations. The Wildcats no longer play tight down the stretch in games. Their actions on the court are now more fluid and instinctive. Knowing that you have the go ahead to hoist an open jump shot on the offensive end without fear of repercussion may be the difference in having it rim out because you hesitated slightly or tickle the twine because you reacted to the situation and made a play.

The psychological mindset of this team has come full circle. No longer are they content to sit on a lead and not attack on offense. Playing not to lose is not an option. The Cats play to win. On every possession. In every game. The scoreboard is irrelevant. The same effort and tenacity are displayed in the final five minutes of a nail biter or in the first half of a blowout. This team doesn’t quit. As a fan there was no point Saturday during the game when I felt like the guys in blue weren’t going to find a way to win the game.

The Cats have taken on the mentality of their head coach and it’s a joy to watch them compete out on the court. They ooze desire, hustle, and determination; qualities that any sports fan can appreciate. The 2008 version of the Kentucky Wildcats may not end their season with a berth in the NCAA Tournament, but you can damn sure bet that they won’t go down without a fight. If fans can’t get behind this team after Saturday’s effort, then perhaps it’s time for some to evaluate whether they’re fans of this program or just fans of a particular coach.

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You know why I’m great?

You want to know what makes me so fucking great?

It’s how modest I am. That’s right. I’m the most modest person I’ve ever met. In fact, I may be the most modest person this side of the Gandhi. I mean I could easily go on and on about how I’m a great cook – sorry, master chef, or how easy it is for me to meet the ladies. That’s just part of my extraordinary charm that I exude from every pore of my immaculate body – groomed to perfection to go along with my winning smile and Rico Suave dance moves. I just can’t help it. I don’t have control over it.

I could talk at length about my achievements in high school and college. Like this one time I placed second in the state golf tournament behind Jim Starky (who I still swear was cheating), or the time hit for the cycle my senior year at Clay County in the regional finals. Or my 4.0 GPA. Or even the time I beat Melissa La Salle in the State Spelling Bee.

But, I’m not. I’m not going to boast about my achievements. Because it’s senseless to point out how I always beat my friends at Street Fighter II; and how I finished Guitar Hero III, on expert level, the very first time I played it on my new Nintendo Wii. It’s not my style to talk about how, if the rest of the team would just feed me the ball in the post during our city league basketball games, we’d win every time. Undefeated - that’s right.

But that’s not me. I’m not one to brag. I’m much more humble than that. For example, the time I saved those three children from the vicious German Sheppard with a severe case of rabies. I didn’t want to go on the news and tell the world my story of unremarkable heroism and extreme valor. My modest self didn’t want to tour all the local schools, telling young souls of my courage, and sign autographs, but I did. I simply couldn’t escape my greatness, due to the overbearing news coverage and the exclusive interview in People Magazine.

So, as you can see my greatest trait amongst my many great traits, is my modesty and humility. It’s something I don’t even work on, it just comes naturally.

Rewind to early November on Election Night when the University of Kentucky Wildcats were getting manhandled and completely embarrassed by the Mighty Gardner Webb Bulldogs. Looking on at that time seemed helpless and as I sat there completely stunned I thought about the last time I was just blown away by a loss. I guess you could say I was pissed last year after the MSU debacle in Atlanta. That was just ridiculous but this was a different level. That MSU team was talented and even though we did everything imaginable, literally, to help them out it was still an SEC team. I stumbled up the stairs pretty much speechless and walked out of the arena without saying a word to anyone. Searching for any justification to what I just witnessed.

I returned to Rupp, although I was not happy about it, for the UK vs. UL game this year and I could have predicted the game walking in the Hyatt Lobby. I much preferred to watch the game from the comfort of my couch where I could turn my phone off and ignore calls from UL fans after the impending victory. I guess it hurt more when I heard UL chants while walking out. Especially, when considering the fact that Earl Clark didn’t even play in the game. When was the last time I walked in Rupp thinking we didn’t have a prayer? To Louisville nonetheless. Never. I had never been 100% positive that we were going to get beat by a team when I was going to a game. I guess you can spin by how much it says regarding the success of our program but to hell with that. We’d lost to UAB, Houston, Garner Webb, San Diego. My faith in the program was at an all time low. So low I basically passed on offers to attend the UT game. Obviously I am kicking myself now for that decision but hey why go back and watch another rival pummel us?

Fast forward to Saturday at 11:00am. I am walking into the Hyatt with my head high and laughing under my breath at the 5-10 USC fans that braved the trip from Columbia. I once again knew we were going to win when I walked in the building. No doubt in my mind. Even midway through the 2nd half when we were trailing by 7-8 pts I knew the swing was coming shortly. Several times in the past few years we’ve found ourselves in this situation and I just kept waiting for the turnover or blown opportunity to remove us from the game. For whatever reason I unconsciously didn’t go that direction this time. This game I was looking for the big play out of the Big Blue. I don’t what the difference is in the team, is it swagger, is it the hustle, Stevenson finding his groove, Jasper and Meeks being healthy? I’d say it’s a combination of all that and most of all the team buying into Coach. Whatever it is I feel a lot better when I am walking into Rupp Arena, one of the most legendary arenas in the Country, and expecting a victory. So we have a long way to go before we are ”Kentucky” again but I tell you what it sure helps when you can walk in your own building with confidence.

Comments? Email me at anth@wodiecrew.com

The second losing season since 1927 doesn’t seem like quite the inevitability that it did in the aftermath of the loss to San Diego. One month later and the Cats are 500 on the season and a game out of first place in the SEC East. With a week to rest up for a depleted Georgia squad followed by winnable games at Auburn and Alabama in Rupp things are certainly looking up around the Bluegrass State. If the Wildcats can complete that stretch with an unblemished 3-0 mark that will move them to 6-2 in the SEC, 12-9 overall, and firmly into the discussion of bubble teams for the NCAA Tournament. A 6-2 SEC start is not yet a reality and there’s work to be done, but to finish the first half of the conference schedule with that type of record would position Kentucky to make a run at a bye in the SEC Tournament by finishing at least second in the east. Since the SEC expanded to 12 teams only in the last two seasons have the Cats not earned a first round bye. It’s still early, but at least the thought of not playing on Thursday can be entertained without having someone suggest you should be committed.

Late Game Push
A theme is developing for this Kentucky team in conference play. During the last 5-10 minutes of each contest the Cats make a run at their opponents. They manage to outscore them and/or shut them down for extended periods of time. South Carolina scored on a Frederick lay-up with 5:54 to go in the game and did not hit again from the field until an inconsequential lay-up by Downney with 0:35 remaining and the game out of reach. Against Tennessee, Ramar Smith hit a jumper with 10:45 remaining in the game and the Vols did not score again from the field until another Smith jumper at the 4:54 mark. Those two field goals were their only baskets in that final 10:45 save the two garbage time three pointers by Lofton. Florida managed only four field goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation in Gainesville and Mississippi State managed but two field goals in the final 8 minutes in Starkville.

At the end of each game the Kentucky Wildcats have been able to turn up their intensity and defensive pressure on their opponent. Each time the opponent has suffered serious droughts from the field as a consequence of that pressure. The preseason boot camp and rigorous conditioning regimen that was met with skepticism by the fanbase has begun to pay dividends. Only Florida in an overtime period wrought with Wildcat foul trouble has been able to make a significant push late in conference play against the Cats. The advantage at the end of games should only widen as the team continues to get healthy and becomes more comfortable playing in Gillispie’s system.

I for one am ecstatic about the return to the run producing trademark pressure defense that allows the Cats to close out games. This was a staple of the Pitino Era of Kentucky Basketball that had waned in recent years under Tubby Smith. Pitino’s teams used their defensive intensity and superior conditioning to push the advantage out from a comfortable margin to a ridiculous margin late in games due to the depth and talent of those squads. I am confident that this will again be the case after Billy Gillispie has been afforded the time to assemble a complete roster of his own talented recruits to add depth to the program. Give Gillispie a solid 8-9 man rotation of legitimate SEC caliber players that are threats to score and Kentucky basketball will pull away from the field like Secretariat at the Belmont.

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

Did you hear it? I was certain I did. I had to listen closely, but I heard it. It was coming from the south. It was faint, but clear. Last night around 11:15 p.m. if you listened closely you probably heard it too--a collective gulp from the other eleven institutions of the Southeastern Conference. The mighty Vols, the heir apparent to the Florida Gators, limped out of Lexington, Kentucky defeated.

To the nation this will register as a mere upset of a top five team on the road in conference. The nation will talk about how difficult it is to win on the road in conference. The nation will no doubt employ the tired cliché of parity to explain this defeat. Those will certainly be the prevailing themes across the national college basketball landscape. It will be nearly universal. Nearly.

More Than An Upset
In the basketball village known as the Southeastern Conference the talk will be much different. These villagers recognize that the game in Lexington last night was much more than a mere upset. The villagers of the Southeastern Conference know that a giant resides in Lexington. The villagers fear this giant. This giant has spent the better part of the past fifty years wreaking havoc on their hamlet in the south. The talk today in their corner of the basketball nation won’t be of an upset, but rather of an awakening. Is the slumbering giant awakening from its comatose state? Can it be that the demise of this juggernaut was greatly exaggerated? With uncomfortable laughter some might dismiss the events of yesterday evening as an unfortunate occurrence for the Tennessee Volunteers. Others however will recognize that last night’s win by the Kentucky Wildcats is the first sign that the giant is beginning to stir.

The two finest fighting forces the village had to offer were dispatched to take care of the giant in its lair. Both limped back home in defeat. There are still six more Southeastern Conference foes slated to venture into the domain of the giant. None of the six are as formidable as the first two. The likelihood that they too will return home in defeat grows with each passing day.

There’s Still Time
The giant is bleary eyed from its deep sleep. The giant is stumbling around trying to gather its bearings. The fog of several years of slumber has not yet lifted. The giant remains vulnerable when it strays from the friendly confines of its lair. The wounds of previous battle have not fully healed. It has not fully regained its strength. The villagers still have time. There’s still time for them to taunt the giant; to poke at it and kick it as it struggles to regain form. They can still get their licks in if they act quickly.

Time is of the essence though. The blows from the villagers become increasingly hollow with each fight. Each time they are less effective against the giant. With each encounter the giant grows stronger. The villagers that inhabit the Southeastern Conference realize that it is inevitable that the giant will once again reign over their homeland. The defeat of the Tennessee Volunteers sent a sense of urgency reverberating throughout the conference. The time of the giant is drawing near again and there is nothing that can be done to thwart it.

Picture Source: Andy Lyons of Getty Images

Comments? Email me at mattox@wodiecrew.com

Rack Bozich's Tubby Take

This is one of the more objective, well-written pieces of journalism we here at WodieCrew.com have seen to date on the Tubby Smith situation. Great Read.

With Kentucky basketball there is probably no such thing as a moral victory, but there were plenty of signs of life on the court last night for the Cats. The defensive intensity that had been lacking in many of the earlier games has become much more consistent. The rotation that had many fans scratching their heads and throwing their arms in the air has become much tighter. Players are starting to settle nicely into their roles on this team. However, injuries and lack of scoring options are still tremendous road blocks on the road back to college basketball relevance. For last night, you can also add a rather friendly home court whistle to that list. The Cats didn’t pull out a victory in Starkville, but they didn’t regress either and that’s certainly a sign of hope on a cold, dreary January day in Central Kentucky.

Joe Crawford
No player since Rod Rhodes wore the blue and white has frustrated the fanbase more than the enigmatic senior from the Motor City. The relationship with the Kentucky fans and its senior swingman has been troubled since Crawford’s ill-fated attempt to transfer his freshman season. I’ve been a rather vocal critic of Joe’s on message boards and now blogs. This being America, the land of equal opportunity, I am now prepared to heap praise on Crawford for his recent performances on the hardwood.

In the last two outings i