You knew this one was coming, right? Our Ol' Fishing Buddy Pete Thamel is back on tour. This time it is the Nerlens Noel Open, and Thamel is going to try and land that lunker again.

Much like his big time fishing counterparts like Bill Dance and Roland Martin, Thamel has loaded up his boat and is going after that trophy for his wall. And he has his eyes squarely set on nailing a record-breaking size Kentucky Bass.

Seems that the NCAA is making inquiries into some people who had relationships with Nerlens in his days as a grade school and high school player. They had a conversation with Everett High School Principal Louis Baldi. Seems Baldi was expecting the NCAA to come sniffing around.

"I didn’t get any sense," Baldi said when asked about the conversation’s tone. "It was a conversation, very collegial. That was really it. They didn’t ask me any investigative-type questions."

Somehow this conversation seems to have become an event for Thamel, and he has his own version of "Deep Throat" informing him (doesn't he always?)-

A person who has been briefed on the N.C.A.A.’s inquiry said the topics officials were planning on inquiring about included Noel’s relationship with Chris Driscoll, a former Providence assistant who is close to Noel. Driscoll was barred this year from campus at the Tilton School, the New Hampshire boarding school where Noel has spent the past two years and is completing his final year of high school

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I never cease to be amazed at you Big Blue Nation. Just when I think you have the world by the tail and your lives are right where you want them, you go and start looking like the psychotic fanatics everyone claims you are. And yes, I am one of you, but I am going to separate myself from this one, because frankly, I think you are off your rockers this time.

Coach Cal put up an article over at his website about what we can come to expect concerning the Cats' scheduling for a while. A2D2 has an article about it on the front page. Facebook has complaint after complaint from so-called members of the BBN concerning the loss of UK-IU, and possibly UK-UNC from our annual schedule. We have people who are now referring to him in less than favorable terms. On Dick Gabriel's page the following thread can be seen:

Mark Buerger: Ridiculous. about an hour ago · Like.

Dave Redden: Just play home and away and get it sorted! about an hour ago · Like.

Andy Seibert: Seems to me like he's trying to soften the blow over something else on the schedule (or not on the schedule) that he knows everybody is going to complain about. about an hour ago · Like.

Larry Gevedon :Total BS about an hour ago via mobile · Like · 1.

Scott Balling: Agree w/ previous comments. He's got his feather in his cap now and he thinks he can dictate the schedule on a yearly basis based on the talent coming in/going out. The cart is creeping up on the horse at this point. about an hour ago · Like.

Amanda Main Ferguson: King C*lip*ri thinks he can do no wrong in the eyes of the BBN. So far, he's been right. 57 minutes ago · Like.

Chris Herren: We need him to do our football schedule 44 minutes ago via mobile · Like

I particularly liked the one who suggested that Cal do the football schedule. Are you nuts??

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As I read the early week headlines, I looked as hard as I could at what is now being called "Farmergate". I mean, I voted for Richie Farmer in his quest to become Agriculture Commissioner, because, well, frankly, I knew nothing about the other guy. But I knew about Richie. He was a Wildcat. An "Unforgettable". Someone who stood for something when hope was supposed to be lost. One of the guys who had UK's back when we were down. I did not want to believe that when the time came for Farmer to move to Frankfort and take the next step in his political career, that I would ever see the day he would be in this position. But it seems that politics may not be well suited to the young man with a deadly 3-pt shot and the ability to run a basketball team with precision. This fall from grace has been coming over the last few years, and Richie was the only one who could have headed it off.

Now before anyone starts screaming "politics, politics" let me first say this. I said above I voted for the guy. I will also tell you that I voted against him in his last attempt at higher office as well. This article is not a political piece, but simply a chronicle of the events that lead Farmer to where he is. I make no political assumnptions, other than to comment on what I see as possible red flags for him along the way.

When Richie left UK, lo those many years ago, he went into the insurance business. I met him a few years back at a convention in Louisville for insurance agents. He was self-depreciating, polite, well versed in his subject matter, and very personable. A prime "candidate" for office, even back then. When he decided to run for Agriculture Commissioner I was not surprised one bit. Coming from ths hills of Eastern Kentucky, he had a strong base, and with his UK Alumni status, he was a shoe-in for the job. True to the circumstances, he was elected easily.

Unfortunately for Richie, that was where the easy part ends, and reality begins. If you are a "historical" figure in the history of UK, you can probably make the safe assumption that fundraising for a political campaign should not be an extremely difficult task. If you are the point guard of the "Unforgettables", your jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena, and you are more recognizable than the Governor of the state in some places, it is a given. Farmer was perfect, and he was being groomed for the highest office in the Commonwealth. As an up and coming young Republican, he was almost assured that he would be in the right place at the right time, as long as he surrounded himself with relaible people and took refuge in their counsel. But evidently, Farmer did neither.

He managed to clean up what was headed for certain disaster with the Tobacco settlement in Kentucky. Of course now, some are claiming that he was a part of the mess, but that remains to be seen. He then did something that I know he was advised against by some in the state, and decided to join David Williams in his doomed bid for Governor by signing on and becoming Williams' candidate for Lt. Governor, at a time when most of his friends and advisors felt that he should have been the Gubernatorial candidate instead of Williams.

And now we have an audit which brings to light claims of not just malfeasance, but a willful neglect of the office to which he was elected. Using actual state funds for personal gain. Rerouting state property to family and friends. Placing his mistress in a state job, and evidently using his position to try and influence people against his ex-wife concerning the matter of his mistress when he was still married. None of these thinga were admitted to by Farmer in the settlement with his wife, however, they may all be part of a very public record very soon.

This from WTVQ.com-

The audit claims Farmer had state employees take him hunting and shopping on state time, mow his yard and even chauffeur his dog. The audit said Farmer showered himself with gifts and office equipment and rewarded friends with jobs. The audit also said there was misuse of state resources and employees for personal benefit. There was an extravagant conference held on taxpayers' dime. There were also claims of questionable spending, time and travel concerns, personnel abuses and management issues. State Auditor Adam Edelen said he is going to refer the audit to four state agencies, including the Attorney General. The audit is also going to be referred to the Internal Revenue Service and the Inspector General for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Now the question becomes, "What will this do to Farmer's place among the UK Royal Family? Well, that still has to be determined. But you can bet, that in today's society there will be plenty of talk, and that is what we do best here at A Sea Of Blue. So speak out, where does this leave Farmer? And as I did in the piece above, hold the political commentary. This is not about Republicans or Democrats. This is about Wildcats.

Kinda mean isn't it? Well, it is not a literal translation, simply put, it means thast the time has come to accept the win, file it in the back of our minds so that we can refer to it every time someone who needs a little educating comes along, and get back to work. Calipari is not resting, and neither can we. We need to be doing analysis, review, breakdowns, and commentary on where the weak parts of last year were and how to correct them. Or should I say, figure out how Cal is going to correct them.

Of course, problem being that there will be 5 new faces on the floor next season. 5 new guys to train and mold. They are all premier players with premier pedigrees, so doing that job is going to be difficult, but it can be accomplished. We know that now. So bring on the stats, the player by player analysis, and most of all bring on the recruiting info we can get. The BBN needs to step up and prepare for the next war. The last one is over, then new one has begun!

From Wikipedia:

15 minutes of fame is short-lived, often ephemeral, media publicity or celebrity of an individual or phenomenon. The expression was coined by Andy Warhol, who said in 1968 that "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." The phenomenon is often used in reference to figures in the entertainment industry or other areas of popular culture, such as reality TV and YouTube. It is believed that the statement was an adaptation of a theory of Marshall McLuhan, explaining the differences of media, where TV differs much from other media using contestants.

I included that definition just to show how the world has changed since Andy Warhol made his famous statement back in 1968. Tonight John Calipari showed just how much it has changed. For 15 minutes the University of Kentucky was once again center stage in the world of college sports, and pretty much even sports in general. In short, Calipari got a free 15 minute infomercial for UK Basketball in primetime on ESPN during one of the slowest sports weeks of the year. That's several million home visits for John Calipari without even leaving the office. More and more I learn just how smart the man is.

Any other coach in college basketball get that? Nope. Any other school get the world wide sports authority to come to their institution and turn their cameras on to their students. just so they can say goodbye? Not even close. Ladies and gentlemen of the Big Blue Nation, call your nearest Indiana relative and laugh. Then hang up. Then call back and laugh again. When they finally figure out what you are laughing about, next year's press conference will be on TV. That is how far behind they are. They are going to stay behind as long as John Calipari is at UK, too.

More and more we see just how innovative John Calipari can be. He has ESPN in his hip pocket, he has CBS singing his praises, and he has the rest of the world fighting over the chance to call him every ugly name in the book. And he is riding that horse just as far as it will take him. He proves to the rest of the world of college basketball that it is his sandbox, and everyone else is just playing in it.

How far is this thing going? The truth is that it just got started. But if there is one thing we have learned from John Calipari, it is that he doesn't like long goodbyes. And sometimes he doesn't like long hellos, either. The players are going in and out of UK faster than a New York Subway Terminal. And it just keeps getting sweeter everytime. UK now has sent more players to the NBA than any other school in the last 5 years. And they aren't going to sit on the bench either. We are sending #1 picks, big time players, and immediate contributors in our groups of young men. You hear that? GROUPS. We are a defacto NBA Farm team. And the sound of that no longer bothers me. Let's face it, this is the world we live in, and John Calipari is making his time in it count. Parents respect him. Players love him. Coaches loathe him (if they don't have any more sense), and the media, once his worst nemesis, is now eating him up with a spoon.

My only wish is that I could find a way to guarantee these kids success in their future endeavors. Because they have guaranteed UK success in it's future for sure.

OK, I am going to sound like the town crier here, but I am not going to let this go down without at least pointing out what I see as a wrong. Not some affrontery to our sense of who we are, but to the world as it exists today.

Glenn wrote a really good piece that analyzed another pretty decent piece about the media and their activities at the Final Four. Yes, the same Final Four that Glenn attended as a guest of some of our advertisers around here ( I make that distinction in an effort to make sure this article seems totally unbiased). His account is on the main page and Wild Weasel has another here. The truth of it all is that the media, for all it's pomp and circumstance, whistle-blowing, and self-inflated ideas of it's abilities, is just like the rest of us. Some good, some bad, some right, some wrong, some well-intended and some mean and spiteful. But all with one common link. They all have something to say. What they say is not always important, and sometimes it's not even worth reading, but they say it anyway. For crying out loud, it's exactly what I am doing right here.

In Glenn's piece he basically places himself outside the equation because he is not a "journalist" by his own description. My problem with it all is that I don't agree with his assessment. Yes, there are all kinds of ways to define what someone is, or is not. And make no mistake, this is not a criticism of Glenn or his work, quite the contrary. We discuss morals and ethics on here quite regularly. At a surface glance, this is nothing more than a "Whistle Stop" for the BBN and other Kentucky faithful. But when it is observed and analyzed closer, there is much more to it.We are what I consider to be the premier UK Sports information site, because if for no other reason, we put what is going on above other things which are secondary. We have a good sense of what is pertinent around here. Not to mention some really intelligent people who are good at what they do.

We have our quirks, much as any media outlet does. I bring the "voice of the fanatic" to life much more than is probably necessary, using less than stellar grammar and far too many words than necessary most of the time, but I am not a journalist. A2D2 protects the women's side of the equation along with BSC, without coming off as feminist fans, they bring a different view sometimes, while remaining true blue to UK and what they love about it and the people involved, but they are not journalists. Guys like FortyYearCatFan bring the stats until we can all quote chapter and verse, and the entire blog contributes in one way or another to almost every story out there, but they are not journalists. I can name 100 people who have given something to this blog that was pertinent in the last seven days, even now that the craze of the tournament is over. But we are not journalists.

My point here is this. Glenn may not be a "journalist". None of us may be. We make mistakes in grammar, we get information wrong, we are not always first in what we do, we are biased, and we support our team through thick and thin. But we also search for the truth, we allow all sides of a point to be discussed, we have standards and morals without imposing a belief system on anyone. And we do all of this in an effort to inform, analyze and even sometimes entertain UK fans as well as others. But, wait, isn't that what a news outlet does?

I don't want my UK news any other way. And I have a feeling that most of you out there don't either.

Well, now that you have sat back, took a deep breath, and let out that huge exhale that comes after a season long ride like the Cats gave us for basketball, how about some football? Football?? Do we still have a football team? Haven't they all graduated, transferred, or been kicked to the curb by Joker Phillips? Why are we worried about football when the Texas A&M Aggies and the Missouri Tigers have joined the SEC and sunk us deeper into the pit of mediocrity in the lower middle of the SEC? Well, Joker Phillips says all is not lost, and that the fans need to be patient and give the staff time to turn this group of Wildcats into something. What you ask? Let's see.

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The season is over. The Off-Season begins. The world moves on. As the reports of John Calipari's vindication are spread throughout the galaxy, other reports begin to surface which start putting more light on the darker "gray areas". And even as the media has begun to report that the newest Aerosmith CD, when played backwards, makes a distinct sound of "Robert Montgomery Knight is the devil", it seems that the real cheaters are starting to come to light.

Anyone who knows me, knows I stand for one thing above all else in college athletics. Transparency. It is the trademark of John Calipari. When combined with honesty (which you cannot avoid if you are being transparent) it leads to all good things. The critics, while no less loud, have nothing to criticize unless you are losing. The fans can celebrate openly and scoff at those who "just don't get it", and your players and staff can revel in their newfound place in the world, because they simply trusted you and followed your guidance. So what happened to everyone else?

Well, let's just do a quick run through and see what happened as soon as the last buzzer sounded in the Big Easy.

First off, (and this one goes back a ways)UCONN isn't going to be dancing next season. Not a surprise to anyone who has been following their plight closely, but nonetheless, completely avoidable. And for all of you who claimed the UK guys didn't go to class (I am talking to you, Robert Montgomery Knight), this is what happens when your guys don't go to class. This did not happen to Kentucky.

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OK, the dust has settled. #8 hangs proudly from the rafters. The songs have all been sung, the bourbon has flowed like it had not been seen in many a day, John Calipari is no longer a red-headed step-child, and Bobby Knight has been eating a solid diet of humble pie made with nothing but crow since his midnight snack on Monday night. But that's just on the Men's side of the street. What about those "other" Wildcats who occupy The Joe Craft center?

No, I am not going to try and convince you that the UKHOOPS squad has completed the same feat of magnificence that the men did, but in their own way, the women took an even bigger step for their program, their coach, and their new place in the Women's Basketball hiarchy.

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Well, you knew it wouldn't take long didn't you? The NCAA is beginning it's investigation now into the law of physics. Seems that the world was supposed to stop spinning last night and it didn't happen. Hmph, serves them right.

This one is for all of them. Every last stinking detractor who has championed lesser men in the hopes of pushing John Calipari's buttons. For every sportswriter who said it couldn't be done. For every "expert" who claimed that Kentucky was "too talented". For every last foul-mouthed jerk who has claimed that the NCAA is going to be knocking on our door the minute the trophy is hoisted into the air. So now all of you can have it, the world's biggest......................................Thank You!

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The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the Naismith winner on Sunday. Anthony Davis, winner of several other POY awards has now pulled down the big one. The Naismith Player Of The Year Award. Davis was also named winner of the Wooden Award on Saturday and The Associated Press Player of the Year on Friday.

Davis is the first player from Kentucky to win the award and the second freshman, joining Texas' Kevin Durant in 2007. He is the first Naismith Trophy winner from the Southeastern Conference since LSU's Pete Maravich in 1970.

If Anthony and his cohorts can pull off the win tomorrow night against the Kansas Jayhawks, It will cap what will have been the most successful season for a Freshman in the history of the NCAA. The Wildcats will be hard pressed to find anyone who can fill this young man's shoes come next season. Anthony Davis, Wildcat For A Season, Wildcat For Life!

I thought about looking up every profanity-laced commentary by a Cardinals fan and sticking it right in here. I have watched the mindless ones rant and rave for days. I go to a Cardinal fansite and it makes me want to puke. Why has the English language been abandoned for this basketball game?

I know we probably go farther here than almost anywhere else to keep this blog at a PG rating, but that is one of the things that I take a lot of pride in. I can have one of my daughters go onto the site, and not worry that some moron from outer mongolia has laced an entire thread with F-this, and F-that, and having every other word be something out of the bronx based version of Daniel Webster's dictionary. In the old days, if you wanted to use language that was not considered "fit for mixed company" you simply stepped into another room, or stepped outside as it was in my Grandmother's house and said what you had to say and moved on with it. And handing down what I consider to be one of the best parts of my life to my children is one of my most important priorities. However, sending them to a site filled with the worst language ever used by any sailor worth his salt, is not my idea of responsible parenting.

Now I am not naieve enough to think that I can protect my kids from the world and all it's little quirks and oddities, and I am also not going to sit here an preach to those who have no use for it, however, common decency ought to come into play at some point. Use your education, people, assuming you have the ability to do so. Are there UK fans that can't form complete sentences without completing a diatribe from a rap video? Sure. But no one should have to look at a site and request a rating from it's author to determine if it is fit to read. Perhaps our friends over at Card Chronicle ought to think about that. Seems they have no desire to be gentile and informative without being crass and rude. Or at least their commentators don't.

So, when the curtain falls Saturday night, and the dust settles, let's see if we can continue the high standards we have set for ourselves here at ASOB, no matter the outcome. Then again, we know what that outcome is going to be.

OK Folks, we have two contributors in New Orleans, and maybe more including ASOB faithful, and since I know it is going to be hard for Glenn to keep up, here is what we are gonna do. I will put up daily open threads today,tomorrow, and Sunday for whatever topics anyone feels free to talk about. There is too much going on, and too many links out there to try and track it all, so if there is something that catches your eye, link it up. If you want to talk about a coaching move, let'er rip. If you have more to add to the Final Four discussion feel free to do so. ESPN has been showing UK interviews all day, AD has talked about his knee, and there is more than enough stuff to discuss for fun and more. I cannot start a countdown clock, so feel free to interject a timeline as you see fit as well. I don't want to usurp any authority here, so no one claim I am pulling an Alexander Haig. It is just too hard to search every article to keep up with the stuff that's being thrown in.

When the story of the UKHOOPS 2011-2012 Season is written, people are going to ask what happened at the end. They are going to want to know why UK fell. And when the question is asked there can be only one answer, execution. No, they were not executed on the court, they could not execute their game. When the chips were down, they could not make open shots, and they could not take advantage of opportunities. Oh, they had a great year. That should not be discounted. However the transition they wanted to make was just within their grasp, and it slipped away. And short of pointing fingers, there is one player that UK always turns to when they are in need, A'dia Mathies. And tonight, she just couldn't answer the call.

More after the jump.

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NCAA Tournament

(2) Kentucky vs. (1) Connecticut

Tues., Mar. 27 - 7:00 p.m.ET Kingston, R.I.

TV: ESPN2 ESPN

Radio:IMG

Internet: ESPN3

**** Note: The game has been bumped to ESPN's Flagship so ESPN it is.!!! ****

I have days where it is a chore to continue to write about every game that the UK women play. A have days where it is sheer delight to do this. You can guess which one today is. Tonight at 7PM the UKHOOPS squad plays the biggest game of their entire existence to date. The only question is, will anyone in the Big Blue Nation know it? In the midst of what amounts to the biggest week in Men's NCAA Basketball, will anyone remember that there is another side to this whole equation, and if Matthew Mitchell has anything to say about it, it is going to continue that way for a long time to come.

Is there room at UK for two equally successful programs to compete at the very top of their sport? Surely so, I mean it isn't the 1950's anymore. Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart has preached about this and nudged and prodded and cajoled everyone in Lexington in an approach to try and make UK a balanced and well run COMPLETE athletic department from top to bottom. This is his dream. But is it the dream of the entire Commonwealth? Will every TV be tuned to ESPN2 tonight with rabid fans dressed in Blue and White, anxiously screaming and throwing things in an effort to push their UKHOOPS squad over the top as they take on a team that has won the National Championship so many times that they have a permanent spotlight fixed in the room where it sits year after year?

Well, I am not going to kid myself and say I know that Kentucky is going to support this team as they do their beloved Wildcats. After all, there is no Anthony Davis blocking shots for UKHOOPS. There is no Michael Kidd-Gilchrist running through sagging defenses and making his opponents look like they are standing still in Memorial each game night. No, this is different. Much different. If you want a look inside what makes UKHOOPS such an amazing squad, then follow me after the jump. Just don't say I didn't warn you, because I am going to challenge your fanhood, and maybe even make you fall in love with a group of girls who do not know the meaning of the word quit.

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Well, you knew it was coming. We cannot allow this auspicious occasion to pass without memorializing it in song. Our thanks to the immortal Johnny Horton for providing us with the tmeplate for this #1 hit in the bluegrass.

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Attention Big Blue Nation: We Got Ourselves Some Ball Players At UK!!! Just in case you didn't know it. UK's Women's Squad just thumped Gonzaga and their heavily touted offense like they were red-headed step-children. On the same day the Anthony Davis and Co. got over the hump and put UK back into the Final Four, the UKHOOPS squad just put themselves back into the Elite Eight for the second time in three years.

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NCAA Tournament

(2) Kentucky vs. (11) Gonzaga

Sun., Mar. 25 - 7:00 p.m. ET

Kingston, R.I.

TV: ESPN2

Radio: UK IMG

Live Video via WatchESPN

Oh yeah, there is another tourney going on this week. UK takes on Gonzaga in the Round of 16 for a spot in the Elite Eight. What to expect, and who to expect it from we shall see after the jump.

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Hello sportsfans and a big welcome to all of the members of the Big Blue Nation. Dick Vitale here with an interview that I know you are just going to love. One of the winningest Head Coaches in all of the history of college basketball, the General himself, Mr. Robert Montgomery Knight. This is going to be super scintillating and spectacularly special folks. I sat down with Bobby Knight and we discussed all things related to the college basketball scene as it exists in the world today, and specifically about his favorite subject, the University of Kentucky Wildcats and their amazing Head Coach John Calipari. So, let's get right into it.

I must tell you that this is a candid and unedited look into the man that is Robert Montgomery Knight, so there is some language that might be considered questionable for our younger viewers.

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Some games just defy explanation. How does a team go into halftime up by 17, and end up giving up the lead in the last 5 minutes, only to regain it with less than 1 min left and win the game? UK defeated Green Bay 65-62 in their second round game, but for the life of me I don't know how. I find myself in one of Glenn's conundrums concerning the game ball, because to be truthful, there are a lot of factors that I would like to take time to decipher before I give it out, but I can't.

I'll break down the choices after the jump.

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NCAA Tournament

(2) Kentucky vs. (7) Green Bay

Mon., Mar. 19 - 9:45 p.m. ET

Ames, Iowa

TV: ESPN2

Play 'em one game at a time. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day. That's why they call it March Madness. That uses up just about every cliche' I know when it comes to early exits from the Tournament. Just ask Duke(FWIW, I am planning on copyrighting the "just ask Duke").

If Kentucky wants to avoid the "Duke Penalty" in this Tourney, they are going to have to step it up against a Wisc. Green Bay squad that does not like to lose.

Let's break down the game in detail after the jump.

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You can call it anything you like, call it opening round jitters, call it an off game, call it a fluke. Just don't call it UKHOOPS basketball. Kentucky survived their encounter with McNeese State in the Women's opening round yesterday and that's about the best word I can use. Survived.

It just seems as though UK cannot enjoy a good seed in the tourney. The last three years, facing a #13, #13, and a #15 seed, the Cats have won each game, but by a margin of no more than 6 points. It's like they forget themselves the first game of the tourney every year. I'll go into more detail after the jump.

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NCAA Women's Tournament

(2) Kentucky vs. (15) McNeese State

Sat., Mar. 17 - 4:20 p.m. ET

Ames, Iowa

TV: ESPN 2 Radio: IMG

So, your brackets are in the tank, your wildest dreams came true when Duke took and early exit in the first round of the Men's NCAA's, and You have got your mind on the UK Vs. Iowa State game at 7:45 tonight. But not so fast my friends and fellow members of the Big Blue Nation. There is another game before that one. No, not the Vandy game against Wisconsin which will finish sinking your bracket into depths that Neptune himself could not reach. No, not the Syracuse game against Kansas St. where they may find themselves booking early flights home as well as Duke. No, that Iowa State game is not the only game today folks. The Cats also play today against McNeese St. at 4:20 the Lady Cats, that is.

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Well, no one else has done it, so I shall. Here is your thread to discuss all games today, the good, the bad, and the ugly. They ugly has already started as Texas has only scored 1 basket in the first 10 minutes of their game against Cincinnati. not the auspicious start Coach Rick Barnes was looking for from the Longhorns.

So, blog away, let everyone know your innermost thoughts and secrest as we head into day 2 of the Wildcats and their return to another NCAA Championship. With #8 looming, I can imagin we will have more than the normal amount of lurkers out there as well, so c'mon in, have fun, discuss what you like.

I believe we are in for a day fo good basketball, good fun, and a whole lotta shakin going' on. Let's see how many folks have their brackets crushed in today's action. As if some of us are not crushed already.

Yeah, I know, we are bumping up against the guideline about no politics on the blog. But, as I am inspired by Caoch Cal and his ability to navigate the NCAA waters which consume and destroy so many ships, I have faith that this falls outside that parameter.

As we do not have too many followers of yet, I am going to approach this tournament as I would the season. One game at a time. But today on ESPN, President Barack Obama selected UK Hoops to reach the elite eight and a showdown with the women from UCONN and their inimitable coach, Geno Auremma. Now far be it from me to argue with the President's selections (even though I know he got the finals of the men's bracket wrong), I would be pleased to find UK sitting anywhere inside the top 10 for the season when all is said and done. If, and only if, it were any other team in that final 8 I might be able to go along with that quietly. But, alas, he did not, and you know me, I have to have an argument in there somewhere. And here it is.

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I saw this comment from someone on a Yahoo article about Western Kentucky being loveable losers in this year's NCAA Tourney.

If a team wins its conference tournament and regular searson title it is unfair to put them in a 'play in' game. MVSU did this. I don't care how bad their conference was they deserve better from NCAA.

- Yappinmutt

Well, I got to thinking about it, and it does pose a question. should Conference Champions get guaranteed slots after the play-in game? I mean, Western won the Sun-Belt too, so does it not follow that they should also get to go to the second round automatically? Should the play-in games be played at the 7-12 level where teams who are good, but just not good enough to be at the top, go to struggle their way in? Does say a 12 seed play in make more sense? You do not want to upset the bracket guideline that higher seeds should get easier paths to the championship, do you? If being in a conference is worth nothing to teams at the bottom of the strength and money charts, would the game be better served by disallowing the conf. champions' exemption completely?

The NCAA did a great job this year in my estimation. Kentuckians however are going to have some mixed emotions come 6:30 tonight when the President and his entourage join the folks at University of Dayton Arena (A place near and dear to my heart, my HS graduation was held there). So, should this game be occurring this way in this format at all??

The NCAA Tournament: The Gift That Keeps On Giving. That's my new theme. The UK HOOPS program today got another high mark and a level of respect which had eluded them for most of their history. For only the second time in their existence, they managed to get a #2 Seed in a bracket that while it has some stumbling blocks, to me, gives them the Top #2 seed.

Not to be outdone too much by the guys, the women picking up that #2 seed is impressive when you look at the last two weeks of the SEC season. A Three game losing streak is not the kind of thing that inspires pundits, but in the end was not enough to scare off the Selection Committee. Let us look deeper into the crystal ball.

Poll

Where do you see the Hoops squad ending up their season?

0%

1st Round Exit: I Told You They Were Overrated

1 votes

3%

2nd Round Exit: Too Bad they Were Not Ready

9 votes

13%

3rd Round Exit: Hey, This Was What I Expected

36 votes

34%

4th Round Exit: Elite Eight- Now That Is Something To Build On

93 votes

14%

5th Round Exit: Final Four? Are You Kidding Me???

39 votes

33%

Win It All: Kentucky IS The Basketball Capital Of The World!

90 votes

268 votes | Poll has closed

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So, now we know where and when. We do not yet know who, however, that will have to wait until Western Kentucky decides how badly they want to continue in this dance. Up to this point, their feats have been something of legend considering how auspiciously their season started. Until then, let's break down the matchups that we do know about, and I will give my usually less than stellar predictions.

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This should be really easy and straightforward to do right? Tell that to Miss. St. who screwed up my bracket so bad I want Rick Stansbury's family's phone number.So, before you think you know "for sure" what is going to happen today, have a peek.

First game, UK Vs. LSU. OK, this one IS that simple. We win. there will be beating and banging and wailing and gnashing of teeth that may sound like they are of Biblical proportions, but we win. Anthony Davis is going to enjoy the Big Easy folks. Which means we will as well.

Game two, which plots the Crimson Tide against Florida would have been an awesome game with the likes of Yeguete suiting up for Florida. However, as we all know, he is not. Anthony Grant and his high standards are going to present a problem for Florida, and I believe more problem than they are prepared to handle. Billy D. and Co. go down early to Bama, and Anthony Grant has his personnel decisions validated. Bama gets to face off against the Cats in the Semi-Final tomorrow at 1PM. Some prize, eh?

Ole Miss meets Cuonzo Martin, Jarrell Stokes, and Skyler McBee's mustache in the first evening contest. Ole Miss exhausted most of their best efforts last night against Auburn with several members of the FBI looking on, just waiting to pounce, should the need arise. Let's hope Ole Miss' victory was a clean one, because for a while there, I didn't think anyone wanted to score much. Tennesse with Stokes is just too much for the rebels. The "feel good" story continues.

Mark Fox and Georgia have the privelege of facing off against Vanderbilt in the nightcap. This is the one that just plays with my mind. Is Georgis really good enough to beat Vandy, or did Miss. St. beat themselves last night? Is that group of 12th year Seniors at Vandy finally ready to take their game to the next step and actually win this Tourney? I honestly have no idea which way this one will swing. I am going to take Vandy solely because they are the higher seed. They give me no confidence whatsoever, but it is all I have.

So, UK / Bama tomorrow, followed by Tennessee/ Vandy. That is all.

So, it's Thursday. Day 1 SEC Men's Tournament. #8 LSU and #9 Arkansas kick off things at 1PM. The winner to face our beloved Wildcats tomorrow at 1PM. Should UK win When UK wins each game progressively, they will play at 1PM each day.

Bama and S. Carolina finish the early set today and Ole Miss and Auburn start the evening bracket at 7:30 followed by Mississippi State and Georgia.

More tournament notes and other interesting tidbits after the jump.

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