Well, it's not on until 11pm.  Not to mention it is on the same crappy channel WMYO 58.  The game is listed as being on FSS, but if you go to their website it is listed as being on at 4pm.  Not sure what the scheduling mix up is, but this better get fixed.  There is no reason I can't see the #2 team in the country live, in HD, and from my couch.  It's crappy enough I had to order the darn "sports pack" through Directv just to get FSS.  Why can't UK basketball be like ND or Texas football and be on TV every time they play??????  Are we not the craziest, most loyal fans out there??  Just ask Cal.  I guarantee people don't camp out for days for a ND or Texas scrimmage.

First let me start off by saying this is in no way a dig at OSU.  I think OSU basketball is great and I really like Matta.  I was taking a look at nbadraft.com and noticed that until last year, Cal really didn't have that many "1 & dones".  If you just look at 2007 - 2010, Cal leads Matta in freshman leaving early for the draft by 6 - 5.  Four of those coming for Cal in 2010.  If the NBA GMs weren't completely insane, Orton would never have been drafted, and they would be tied.  You will also notice that teams like UCLA, Ga Tech, K. State, and plenty of others have had freshman leave.  I didn't even take the time to tally underclassmen.  I think that would be very interesting since I don't believe Cal has had that many leave early (other than the freshman and PPat).

Matta had 3 freshman go early in 2007.  That's 1 less than last year, and for some reason I don't remember anyone calling for his head.  Knight wasn't accusing him of ruining the game.  Those other idiots at ESPN weren't taking every chance they got to get a jab in at him.

Anyway, comment as you would like.  Or not.  I just thought it was interesting.

UPDATE:
Since 2005 I looked at all underclassmen leaving for the draft and a few of UK's rivals to compare.  Below are the results.

Cal (UK/Memphis)           9  (5 from last year)

UNC                                   8

KY                                   7  (5 from last year)

KU, OSU & UCLA        6

UCONN & Texas             4

Looks like our friends in the baby blue aren't too far behind on ruining basketball.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news;_ylt=AqLqSGQvHH26q4pS7t.zHknevbYF?slug=jn-king_Liggins_driven_by_memory_of_late_brother_040111

Check it out.  Great read.  Very sad about his family, I had forgotten about all that he has had to deal with and overcome.  Makes you that much happier for the kid we got to see over the past few years grow into a man. 

It is amazing to me how much this team has grown over the past few months.  I take back all my doubts about Cal's coaching ability.  He is one of the best.

All, I have 4 SEC Tournament Books for Section 127, row 36.  The seats are together, and I am just selling them at face value ($1310 for all 4).  I can't get out of work so I can't go.  If anyone is interested, let me know.  I am out of Louisville, but can meet up anywhere.

Thanks, and GO CATS!!!!!!!!!

Darn 75 word minimum.  Oh well, how about we try this:  GO JORTS!!!!!!

Veterans. Those that have read my posts might consider me a cynical person. However, the old guys play like they did tonight, and we could walk through 3 games in the NCAA Tourney.  Miller has played with confidence and is finally playing like the athlete he has always been.  I have always said, even last year, he was top 3 in talent on the team.  Jorts currently has a letter in the mail betrothing my unborn daughter to him.  Liggins might frustrate all, but he is the frustrating like super glue, and he holds the team together.  Just re-watch the first 7 minutes of the game and see him put up 4 of his points when they were much needed.

They play like they should, like they did tonight, and we could have a great run.  They play like they are capable of......

Here's looking at you Banner #8.

All, long time...

First, I love you all for being BBN faithful, but anyone who expected this team to be great hasn't paid attention to our roster going into the year.  From day Orton I have questioned, pondered, and begged to figure out why Cal couldn't recruit a descent center.  We don't need a 5 star center.  I would give anything for just a big body.  Someone who is only responsibility is eating fouls (and Tolly Ho).  They were never going to go anywhere with only Josh.  Although, Jorts has been the biggest surprise of the year, by far.  He currently holds an open marriage proposal from me for my unborn daughter.  Without his transformation, this team would be NIT bound.

Second, the DDMO is kinda like Obama Health Care.  Everyone is super afraid of it, no one really knows anything about it, and to this date, we haven't really seen it work.  Last year we had the best team in the nation.  Beating a dead horse here, but we had our best chance to win a NC last year and the loss to WVU was a horrific knife to the heart for my fandom of Cal.  (For those of you that don't know, our coach believe in coaching his team, and they only review other teams game film the day of the actual game)  This year, you have one of the best shooting teams in the nation, no depth to your physical big men, and think it is wise to drive and drive the ball constantly.  Definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome".  Kinda rings home with UK this year.

So I here Lamb can only shoot off screens, then FXXXXing screen him.  I hear Jones can only go left, then give him the ball and force him to pass it back out.  Cal can play his role as politician all he wants, and I know these games are mostly won and lost by the players.  Games lost by 3 or less though, are lost by the coach.  That is ALL except one of our road losses.  Everyone it talking about how Josh was open and Liggins should have gotten the ball to him.  No one is talking about the fact that the game was tied, and we took two 3s at the end of regulation.  All you need is a made foul shot, and we decided to shoot two long ones.  That is beyond me, and is ultimately a Cal loss.

Third, how was Lambs D worse than anyone else allowing layups at will?  The team never put together a descent defense for more than a few minutes.  Maybe, just maybe, that's because he only plays 6 guys.  Forgive me, but I would rather lose to Washington, and anyone else at the beginning of the year so that we could figure out our rotation.  I find it hard to believe that had Hood, Poole and even Polson gotten more playing time, they wouldn't be able to get in some QT when needed.  This unfortunately leads us to our final point.

Cal is as arrogant and blind as we all are when it comes to UK basketball.  IMO he thinks the SEC doesn't matter other than seeding.  He pretty much said as much last year.  The reality is that we are losing games that we shouldn't.  We are winning at home to better competition, and losing on the road to far lessor.  That comes down to coaching.  I am not asking for the pitchforks to be raised, or for Cal's job.  I just want others to hear my frustration.

I am re-watching the awesome game last night on ESPN360 (by the way it is on ESPN2 at 2am if you didn't DVR it) and the freaking announcers basically call KY a backwoods, bumpkin, hillbilly, redneck state and then give us credit for having 3 African America coaches.  They don't mention that the three coaches are at the biggest 3 state schools or anything of the sort.  I am so sick and fu@king tired of this sh!t.  You want to see some racism, go to NY and ask someone at the bar what they think of the guy that drove them their in the cab.  Kentucky is one of the best places to live in the country!  It drives me crazy every time I hear some ignorant @ss person talking about KY and how it's legal to marry your sister or how backward thinking the state is compared to others. 

Thank you for letting me rant, but I am sick and tired of this crap.  Have a great rest of your day.  Go do something redneck like buying a clunker and putting it in your front yard as a testament to how backwoods we are.  God Bless!!

09-10 Cats to the 10-11 Cats.

First, long time no speak.  Hope everyone is doing well. 

1.  Pitino is stubborn and arrogant.  Had Cal not come to UK, he would NEVER have hired a shoe agent to come in and help save his program.  He would never have wanted to share the credit (save lil rickey).  What will end up hurting Rick and his ploy for talent is the fact that he is so arrogant and stubborn.  His system is a good one, but it takes too long to master.  He needs guys that are going to stay 3 - 4 years to be successful.  Wait till you have a guy like Bello or Miller sitting the bench and that will be the last year he gets a top 20 recruit.  He refuses to change, and that is why I think the game has past him.  The recruiting class UL gets in for 11-12 will rival UK's in talent, but that will be the last time it ever happens. 

2.  Why is there so much comparison to the 09-10 team and the potential for the 10-11 team.  All it does is cheapen them both.  Last year's team resurrected a dynasty that was quickly sinking into the Basketball Abyss of Irrelevance (cough UCLA).  UK might never have guys like Wall, Boogie, or Patterson again.  They were truly special.  I am sorry, but who gives a rat's @ss that we lost 5 guys in the first round and now we have to replace them?  We have the best recruiting class for the second year in a row and the makings of pulling a 3peat in 2012.

Is next year's team going to dominate like they did last year on the glass and batter opponents in the paint?  I think I have a better chance of rekindling my relationship with Heidi Klum.  No they aren't going to be like last year's team.  Common sense tells you that when you look at the roster and see that we only have one guy over 6 10.  When you go from being the biggest team in the country (09-10) to only having 1 true center, the teams are going to look different.  I think there is a pretty good chance this year we will get to see a team that will have more of a resemblance to the 96 team.  I think they will run-n-gun, press, trap, and smother teams with their speed.

 Anyway, wasn't trying to argue or start anything.  Just haven't been on in a while, and wanted to share my thoughts.

Hey, does anyone know anybody that has an extra parking pass for sale?  Last year we got our blue lot pass from this guy we share tickets with, but he wants $650 for it this year.  I do pretty well, but $650 for a parking pass is absurd.  We might be able to get an orange lot pass, but I would prefer one closer.  Anyway, thanks in advance.

I also was wondering if anyone knew how hard it would be extra tickets for a game this year.  We have 4 season tickets, but I wanted to take my dad and brother to a game this year.  I didn't know if I should try Craig's list or maybe Ebay.  Any advice would be much appreciated.

Let me first say hey to everyone at ASOB.  It’s been a while.  I have been reading but have been so busy, I haven’t responded much if any.  I got married in May, thanks in advance. The wedding was great, the reception was a blur (no dad, not because of how much I had to drink, but because it went by so quick).  I apologizes in advance for the length of the post, but I don’t think this can truly be addressed in a few sentences.

Why UK has supremacy in fans. 

While on our honeymoon, in Riviera Maya, Mexico, I had the pleasure of running into a UNC fan.  Now, I run into UL fans everyday at work, running around Louisville, and then once a year in Lexington (reason #l why it should be voted the greatest city in the US).  I don’t however run into UNC fans that often. 

I walked up to a bar at the hotel and was waiting for a drink.  The guy next to me looked over after I ordered and said, “Hey, American? where are you from?”; so I told him.  I asked him, and when he said NC, I asked if he was a Puke or UNC fan.  He acted offended (off course), then said he was a UNC fan.  The conversation was brief but the highlight was when he asked how UK would deal with having 2 players leave to go to the NBA.  I proceeded to explain that we were losing 5, that Cal would recruit more, but that ultimately, no one can replace PPat and we won’t see another two in college basketball as talented as Wall or Cousins for a number of years.  

He laughed and said that sucks.  Me, being the ambassador that I am, asked how he thought his team would do next year and what he thought about the transfers and the new recruits.  This is where it gets funny.  The only person on the team he could name was Davis, and he had no idea who they had recruited or lost.  I didn’t poke fun at his “fandom” or lack there of, I kept quiet.

This was no college kid, he was my age (mid twenties - early thirties).  He had no freaking idea who his team consisted of or who he rooted for watching the games.  The reason I find this funny is because it kinda goes back to the UNC arena being empty this year because they sucked.  UK had a few bad years before Cal came.  I’m leaving it at that and not going further.  But, I could tell you every player that was blessed enough to wear the uniform.  I find it absolutely absurd that a team like UNC could have such pathetic fans.

Next rant, Why our junior college to the north is secretly jealous.

Living in Louisville and being a UK fan has been great the past year.  I don’t hear sh!t from those bad people that wear the red and black.  When I moved back after graduating from UK two years ago, I HATED seeing all there freaking red and black.  That kind of thing, as I mentioned above, is simply not allowed in Lexington.  I started work at a local firm and almost everyone I worked with was a Card fan.  All I heard every freaking day was how the Cards were going to kick the sh!t out of us in this and that.  I had no real argument (other than history, pride, and reasonable arguments which we all know those people don’t understand).  So I sat back and kept my mouth shut.  Then that September we beat them in their house.  I watched as those pitiful fans, that threw beer bottles at my family and cussed us out for wearing BLUE, fled their stadium because they knew that UK was going to win.

Again, I kinda kept my mouth shut (talked a little sh!t to those deserving, and collected in full on those lunch bets won).  Fast forward 7 months to Cal joining the ranks, and all I heard was “recruiting violation” and “vacated final fours”.  I sat back and kept quiet.  I watched our team have a successful year.  It certainly wasn’t “the greatest moment in UK history” kinda year, but I’ll let Cal run his ads whenever he chooses.  In one season, UK went from being a legend about to be dethroned, to the next king of top 100 recruits nation.  Again, I kept quite.

Then this past week TMZ or whatever they are called released the story about UK being looked into by the NCAA.  A couple of guys I work with started giving me grief and talk sh!t about Cal being the worst person in college basketball and how our fans are blind to his treasonous acts.  For this I can no longer be quite. 

As pointed out above, we have the best, most passionate fans there are in this nation.  If I thought Cal was steering the helm wrong, I would protest.  The “one-and-done” is not a thing of the past or a product of Cal.  It is simply a product of the current rules and regulations.  Those rules and regulations have cleared Cal on accounts.  I therefore have nothing to be upset about.

Cal might not be the most honest guy when it comes to all his intentions or motivations, but he is pretty clear on a few things. 
He deeply cares about his players.  There isn’t another coach in the entire nation that would have to Cousins to leave if he wanted to stay.
He gets UK.  Wipe the drool off your chin every time he speaks and you will understand what I am saying.
He is a philanthropist.  The man has actually gone to Haiti.  Most presidents can’t claim that.
He has never been found guilty of anything by the NCAA.  The OJ, “if the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit” saying comes to mind.  But unlike OJ, I truly believe Cal is innocent.

In closing, to our junior college brothers, and those UNC fan sisters (please ladies don’t be mad, this is just too easy), HATE all you want.  The proof is in the wins.  We will beat you.  We will take your recruits (hope Rick is sleeping well tonight knowing Teague is in good hands).  We will exceed expectations.  We will win.  We will never be conquered. 

Winner’s log, dated 7/3/10

For those of you that don't know, my dad and I are pretty big fans of the CATS.  I decided tonight to invite the family over to watch the game and grill out instead of sitting in my routine zone and watching the game with myself (or with just my fiancee).  They got here and I joked with my dad that he might never be invited back if things go wrong.  Funny enough, he had said that he was thinking the same thing.

Well the game started and it really never felt right.  This team was a few 3s away or some free-throws away from winning.  But they didn't get them.  As my family was leaving I told him that he wouldn't be welcome back again (jokingly) and that I wouldn't be on here again for a while so I could process the cataclysmic event that just happened to our team.

It took me about 30 minutes to calm down and process what I was so upset about.  Really the only thing I can pin it too is that this team is too dang talented to let that happen.  Then I looked at what they had accomplished.  I climbed back off the ledge and snagged my laptop.  What this group of players accomplished was amazing.  They were all freshman when you think about having a new coach.  They inspired us, confused us, but most importantly brought the pride of wearing a UK jersey back after its hiatus.  We, as fans, will no doubt take a lot of flack in the days to come.  I will be wearing my blue and white the entire time.  I also joked with my dad that I have this UK flag that I have been meaning to hang up, but haven't found the time.  Today I had the time, but didn't want to mess with the routine more than I already had.

It will go up tomorrow.  This has truly been an amazing ride.  I appreciate the boys and Coach Cal for taking me on it, and to all of you for riding with me.  I look forward to the weeks to come so that we can see how next year will unfold.  We will get to see new recruits come in, and our boys, that have become men, decide to leave to make their careers.  Just take a second and think about where we were this time last year, or any March as of late.  It should take too long to bring a smile to your face. 

So to all BIG BLUE NATION, I say raise your glass and say farewell to one of the most exciting and lovable teams we have had in many years!!! We wish them the best.     Wooohhhoooooooo.................. C.......A.......T........S.......CATS, CATS, CATS.  Go big blue!!!!!!

What do the players consider to be a success for the season?  This will determine how far our Cats will make it in the tournament.  I think this is definitely a top team in the country.  I think they are definitely one of the younger teams in the country.  I think they definitely could and should make it very far in the tourney.  But what matters is what they think. 

I see 13 hungry guys that are ready to break a paw off in some teams.  IMO Patterson is going to go nuts in this tournament.  First time in three years our lottery pick is going to get to play in the dance.  I see Miller is rapidly gaining in much needed confidence and hopefully will be this years Mills.  I see Wall and Cousins having great games, both struggling at times, but always there in the clutch.  They are both the best in the country at their position (at any level) and will be looking to prove this on a national stage.  Bledsoe will make some mistakes - as will they all.  But when the team needs a spark, he'll be there to answer.  Hopefully Dodson will still have his shot, Liggins his tenacious D, and Orton his amazing timing on blocks.  Look for Perry, Harris, and Krebs to go out in style.  Perry knows no other way.  I hope to see Harrellson get in for some much needed minutes.  I haven't seen his sh** eating grin after hitting a three in far too long.  And maybe we'll finally be able to see Hood become the sharpshooter he is supposed to be. 

The point is, this team is too darn good not to beat most.  They are too talented not to win the close ones they let fight back.  And I think they are too hungry to lose to anyone but a better team.  Well hopefully they feel as I do, and that there isn't one.  I know this is sports and they might get beat by some other team's "best" game.  But if this team finds a way to play their "best" game, there isn't a team in the nation that can hang. 

May they find it in March!!!!  GO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do the players consider to be a success for the season?  This will determine how far our Cats will make it in the tournament.  I think this is definitely a top team in the country.  I think they are definitely one of the younger teams in the country.  I think they definitely could and should make it very far in the tourney.  But what matters is what they think. 

I see 13 hungry guys that are ready to break a paw off in some teams.  IMO Patterson is going to go nuts in this tournament.  First time in three years our lottery pick is going to get to play in the dance.  I see Miller is rapidly gaining in much needed confidence and hopefully will be this years Mills.  I see Wall and Cousins having great games, both struggling at times, but always there in the clutch.  They are both the best in the country at their position (at any level) and will be looking to prove this on a national stage.  Bledsoe will make some mistakes - as will they all.  But when the team needs a spark, he'll be there to answer.  Hopefully Dodson will still have his shot, Liggins his tenacious D, and Orton his amazing timing on blocks.  Look for Perry, Harris, and Krebs to go out in style.  Perry knows no other way.  I hope to see Harrellson get in for some much needed minutes.  I haven't seen his sh** eating grin after hitting a three in far too long.  And maybe we'll finally be able to see Hood become the sharpshooter he is supposed to be. 

The point is, this team is too darn good not to beat most.  They are too talented not to win the close ones they let fight back.  And I think they are too hungry to lose to anyone but a better team.  Well hopefully they feel as I do, and that there isn't one.  I know this is sports and they might get beat by some other team's "best" game.  But if this team finds a way to play their "best" game, there isn't a team in the nation that can hang. 

May they find it in March!!!!  GO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am only 27.  My first real memory and childhood hero was Mashburn.  I may be too young to understand a lot of the tradition that goes with Senior day and for that matter the GREATNESS that is UK basketball.

That said, you would be hard pressed to find a truer fan.  Maybe PPat doesn't deserve Senior day, maybe he does,the fact remain he is the best athlete/person this university has had in recent memory.  Argue all you want, you would be wrong.  I can't recall a better student, athlete or person playing on the court in Rupp.  I never read articles about another athlete befriending a terminal patient on facebook and visiting their hospital room.  He has done what most can't in four.  Hell, it took my 5 years to get a business degree while juggling partying and, well, partying.  He has done that in three.  I think the best course of action for Cal would be to honor Pat for all that he is.  He is simply one of the last great people to play the game.  The NBA died as far as I was concerned when guys like Iverson and Artest took over for Miller and Jordan.  There is no class left in the professional sport.  Well ladies and gentlemen, welcome back the class in the NBA.  Maybe Cal should dedicate the season to Pat.  He is to me what I hope others see in UK basketball and what I have always felt it should mean.  A certain class and swagger that comes along with wearing the blue.

THAT SAID.  Quit taking away Senior day from the rest of them.

Razor Ramon and Perry deserve our deepest respects and honors.  3 coaches in 4 years, lots of losses in three years, starting last year, benched this year, a national championship (hopes) - priceless.  The seniors this year deserve a medal for what they had to go through.  Tubby was a GREAT man that left in their first year.  In steps Billy "Too Drunk" Clyde for two years.  He might possibly be the Lindsey Lohan of coaching.  Hopefully they both get help.  Anyway, we all know what the last 4 years have been like.  Not really much else to say.  I think we all need to take a moment and thank them all for their effort.  That is what senior day is for.  In those regards I agree with the people that wouldn't want PPat to join senior day.  If Jodie had stayed that wouldn't even be discussed as you wouldn't want to cheapen what they have been through.

That said, I declare March 1st PPat day.  May we all wake up a little better than we were the day before.  May we all make those around us better.  May we all make our parents proud for making the right decisions.  And may we all be a little bit better people for having been fortunate enough to have Patrick influence our lives.

GO CATS and Thanks to Pat for being who your parents raised you to be.

a CATS fan.  I am not sure how many of you check out rival blogs, but I happened upon the Cardinal blog the other day.  It made me smile.  In terms of hated players I would have to rank them as Noah, Sosa, and then the Dukie that plays for the other team (not that there's anything wrong with that.)  I loved going to their blog and reading complaints about the guy they would have given the key to the city last year.  The lucky bastard hits a last second three to beat UK a year ago.  At the time he was in dire straits with Ricky.  After that shot, he was shitting gold.  Fast forward a year, the thug is being berated by his beloved fans for missing 4-5 free-throws in the last 1:30 against Pitt.  I hate the guy, so I am not going to bat for him,  but I think this loss for them proves what we all knew when Ricky was here; Hell of a recruiter, shitty game coach.  Good riddance.  Then you have all the UL faithful complaining about next year.  You have this new arena, that they couldn't fill if Ron White was having an open bar comedy special.  They won't stop complaining about how Duke is to be their first game.  How bad they might be next year without some great recruits. 

It brings a tear to my eye to see UL fans worried about their glorified community college of school's basketball program.  Hey, at least for those of us that have to live in Louisville and put up with the UL fans, we can expect some better concerts in the years to come.  Go Ricky, I wanna see ACDC with my dad and brother again.

I agree that the team has made great strides in the past few years to legitimize themselves in the toughest conference in the country.  I agree that 3 SEC road wins is a feat that we should be very happy about.  What I don't agree with is letting our coaching staff off on making mistakes that cost the team games.  What I don't agree with is how 3 SEC road wins can possible trump 2 SEC home losses that could have been won.  I think we have a good (not great) coaching staff.  They are certainly better than the coaches they have at that glorified community college in Louisville, and they have turned UK football into something to get excited about watching. 

That said, I had season tickets this year for the first time since I was a student.  You know what I saw all year watching my CATS play at home?  Well it wasn't anything to get excited about.  Quite frankly other than tailgating with my friends and family, I had more fun watching them win those road games at home.  I saw them try their hardest to give UofL the game early in the season.  I saw them get beat by two of the best teams in the country in Alabama and Florida.  I saw them beat down on two teams that didn't really make for much of a game in EKU and Louisiana-Monroe.  I nearly froze to death to watch my CATS choke in the 4th quarter (mainly because of coaching) against MissSt.  Lastly, I had to stand there a watch as a win streak almost as old as I am was kept alive by a poor coaching decision against UT. 

Now I know I don't have all the facts.  Joker said that "they don't have a two minute drill" for Cobb.  Cobb and Locke both might have been so tired that they couldn't move and were receiving oxygen on the sidelines.  Joker could have been having a stroke that interrupted him screaming to anyone and everyone with a freaking brain to put Cobb into the game.  What I do know is that when the game was on the line (MissSt & UT), our coaches gave the ball to a freshman instead of the most explosive player we have on the field (Cobb).  Unless that freshman's first name is John, last Wall, and he's playing indoors with a different ball, this is simply unacceptable in my book and I think our coaches need to answer for it.

By the way, I having nothing but love for our players.  I don't in anyway think that we should do anything but cheer our team on as they go to a bowl game for the 4th year in a row.  I just hope that it doesn't come down to the 4th quarter in the redzone.