Call me neurotic or paranoid, but as a forty+ year fan, I have seen my share of "can't miss" NCs evaporate. There are 3 experiences that keep me concerned - but in the end, just do not worry me about this team.

1) the 1984 Semifinal in Seattle vs GT - UK dominates 1H and then comes out and goes 1 for 9 (or something like that). Cold shooting could always rear its ugly head, but I have to believe we have too many scorers for the entire team to go blank

2) 2003 - Our road to NO is derailed by Dwayne Wade - Of course, the Boggins injury hurt and so far - knock on wood - we have avoided the injury bug. Even with an injury tonight, I do not believe one player will beat us - nor will losing one player cause us to lose. of course, i do not want to test my theory...

3) 2010 - WVA winning in the regional final due to hot shooting and a zone. Several things. one, i don't see us giving up that many 3's in a half. two, our freshmen this year seem more mature and not as likely to let the refs get to them (i still say we could have won had cousins, etal not complained about how they were being ridden like a rodeo horse) and we have some upperclassmen to settle the team down. Three, after 3 years of seeing all types of zones, I believe Cal knows what to do against each one of them - more importantly, Miller has been with Cal every step of the way. Of course a triangle and 2 could be a new look - but still, i believe we have too many weapons.

FT shooting, not being able to shoot in a dome, foul trouble, etc all could rear their head. But I am not worried - concerned perhaps in how the team responds, but not worried.

Thanks for listening/reading - now to try and get some work done (ha!)

as with any lose and go home format (i figured one and done format might conjure up other thoughts) there is reason to be concern. one of the concerns that i stated earlier (that there might be pressure on the players to beat a die hard rival) was lessened as i realized the rivalry was between fans NOT the players. As if to drive that thought home, it appears the UK and UL players are friends in some cases. See:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/kentucky-louisville-players-rivals-court-close-friends-off-225630230.html

Hat tip: http://kybasketball.blogspot.com/

Doron Lamb went to dinner in NOLA with Russ Smith

Siva used to spend the night at TJ's house after AAU games

AD and Blackshear are "close as brothers"

To me there is only one conclusion: All the rivalry pressure is on the fans and not the players. Don't get me wrong, the players are pushing to beat their friends but I believe that is a positive motivation, not a negative one.

With all the hype around the UK-UL game, I have to admit to being concerned that the rivalry nature of the game puts more pressure on the players. However, I am quickly realizing that the rivalry is for the fans not the players.

Over on KSR, they reposted an interview at last year's MCD AA game with a couple of kids going to UL and our incoming freshmen (Kyle and MKG join toward the end). Although they talk "smack" with each other, it is clear, off the court, they are friends. To me, that will result in "good" pressure (wanting to have bragging rights with a friend) rather than "bad" pressure (fear of losing to a "hated" rival).

Enjoy (hat tip KSR) :
http://kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=109242#comment-1628829

Teaser: Teague makes an interesting prediction on this season...Anthony Davis shows he knows the recent history of UL in the NCAA tournament....

Now, onto finding other reasons to worry.....

I know it sounds absurd at this point of the season - and I do not want to sound like the UK fan who can never be happy - but I do believe the next few weeks have what could be must wins - especially if UK wants a number one seed.

Follow me after the jump....

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How many scholarships is UK using? Commercial Appeal acting like we are full. Could he be a mid-season add?

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gary parrish said on his show here in memphis that the birmingham news is reporting that mizzou will be number 14 in the sec.  auburn would move to the east with TAM and Mizzou joining the SEC West.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110920/NEWS/110929975/1291?Title=Reports-SEC-invites-Missouri-to-join-league

is a link to a story on the news from a paper in alabama.  some have expected this result and it looks like it is coming to pass

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/03/bob-knight-ohio-state-jim-tressel-ncaa-violation/1

Bobby supports Tressel as a good guy.   I do like the conclusion of the article....

Hard to believe this is the same guy that criticized John Calipari more than a year ago for the current Kentucky coach's problems at Massachusetts and Memphis.

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After the Ole Miss loss and then again within a week, I posted some what ifs on the math after those loses.  Even though some of us felt the season was over, the bottom line was that if we won out, we could still be the number 2 seed next week.  We did not win out, but as Vandy and UGA lost the math is simple on becoming the #2 seed -- follow me after the jump....

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I hate losing as much as anyone.  The Florida loss would not hurt as much if it was not right after the Ole Miss game.  However, it is only the first time since Cal has been here that we have lost 2 in a row.  How quickly we forget how lucky we have been over the last season and a half.  In addition, I can think of 5 games last year where the result could have quickly gone the other way.   It did not, but you have to admit that last year, the last second shot went our way and this year (so far) it has not.

The list of the 5 games that could have gone against us in the last 10 seconds from last year are after the jump - Can you recall them before you cross the jump?

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Although usually a glass half full guy, the loss tonight really puts our team in a tough spot.  In fact, there is little room for error.  The good news - I guess - is that what happened to us can happen to anyone so that some of the scenarios may not unfold as one would expect.  Anyway, I go through some back of the envelope math of the loss after the jump - math that is not all that encouraging given the rest of our SEC schedule.

Here is the summary of my thoughts:

1) RPI impact not that big a deal (I don't think)

2) Looks to be a bad loss unless Ole Miss builds on the win

3) Getting to 10 wins in SEC will not require a sweep of UT, Vandy, or Florida - unless we lose at Arkansas or at home vs Miss State or USC

4) Getting a first day bye in the SEC Tournament may require us winning out.

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I have been traveling a lot since the beginning of the year, but the Memphis Tiger fans are quickly becoming frustrated with Josh Pastner, the coach that took over at Memphis.  The honeymoon is clearly over - it is so bad that fans are questioning if the fact that he does NOT cuss is an indication that he is a bad coach...The bottom line is that watching Cal at UK the last 2 years versus what has happened at Memphis has greatly raised my opinion of him as a coach.

More after the jump, but the paper and airwaves are in full meltdown over the Tiger program...

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Sorry if I missed this story in one of the threads, but it appears the reason Pearl confessed lying to the NCAA was that they had a picture in their possession that shows recruits at his house during an unofficial visit.   Originally, he lied about it but then fessed up...Some quotes from the below article after the jump

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/sep/16/actions-by-pearl-give-lie-to-sincerity-of-recent/

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I am not sure if it is enough to make us favorites, especially since the game is in Oxford, but Masoli was just ruled ineligble by the NCAA: 
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/aug/31/ncaa-rules-rebels-quarterback-masoli-ineligible-ol/

Also, one of their projected starters on the DL has been found to have an irregular heartbeat - which you hate to hear.  More after the jump....

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Last year, I posted the same poll.   My introduction is the same - especially for the Ole Miss fans:

Living in the heart of SEC country, there is clearly some football in the air.  As usual, most ole miss fans believe their team will go 9-3 - they ALWAYS do, but may get it right this year!  The Alabama fans have their swagger back and the UT fans - well, they are still obnoxious.  The Arkansas fans are looking for some direction and the Miss State bulldogs are still lost.    The Florida fans are quietly confident - understandably so.  The LSU fans and UGA fans are hopeful.  Not sure about Auburn fans.  Even the Vandy fans are excited.  Now this is based on all the fans in Memphis (and yes, my son came home yesterday and even said there was a South Carolina fan at his school!) - so we have it ALL in Memphis.

So - what say you - How many wins will we get?

I guess I have become a full blown Cal apologist.   Will Barton - a great kid on all accounts - will not be allowed to play because he took 2 months longer than the required 8 semesters to graduate HS.  The rule is the rule and Barton got some bad advice somewhere.  To me that is partly Memphis' fault as once he committed (and he committed early) they should have worked with him. 

However, Calkins has this nugget buried in the article (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/aug/08/ncaa-blows-the-call-on-this-tiger-player/):

Tell me: If you were on an NCAA committee, and a player asked for a waiver, wouldn't you find it easier to say "no" if you knew the player was headed for Memphis?

"I don't believe that," said Pastner, but what was he going to say? That he's suffering because of the sins of John Calipari, because Memphis used to be the academic Wild West? Or that the whole system is bogus, starting with the rule that forces kids like Barton to go to college in the first place?

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Earlier today, the chicago sun-times published an article claiming UK had bought 2012 recruit Davis for $200,000.  The guys over at Kentuckysportsradio.com are all over it.  Normally, i would not post a link to another site, but this story is getting big, fast.   it is quite unbelieveable and i would have to say the paper was acting worse than a blog...

Here is the letter UK's lawyer's sent... http://kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=57533

It goes without saying, but hat tip to kentuckysportsradio.

Here is the story:
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2010/07/18/wall-leads-all-tournament-team/

A little more after the jump....

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But, alas, the 3rd double was 10 fouls.   Cousins actually went 0-10 from the field in the 1H but then came back (1 pt and 8 rebounds in 1H) and had 16 pt and 12 rebounds (and fouled out with 10 fouls).  Interestingly, Cousins posted up against Joey Dorsey, the former Memphis Tiger that was the 5 when the Tigers lost to KU in the finals.  Box Score here: http://www.nba.com/summerleague/games/20100716/TORSAC/gameinfo.html

Wall probably took the lead as the best player in the summer league last night (in my mind Cousins was ahead of Wall until last night).   Am going from memory, but I believe the Wizards were down 14 in Q3 when they went on a 16 or 18 - zero run (recap says 18) -- Wall scored 14 of those unanswered points to put them on top.  Q4 was back and forth.  One interesting comment was made by Mike Fratello (sp?) as he announced.  Wall drove and finished on the left hand side of the goal but with his right hand.  Fratello made some remark about Wall needing to develop his left hand.  I smirked to myself know how he loves to dunk with his left hand and hoping that Wall would do so.  Within several minutes, Wall stole the ball in back court and finished with a thundering left hand dunk.  Got to tell you I was pumped as Fratello is not one of my favorites and had to eat his words almost immediately. Game info:  http://www.nba.com/summerleague/games/20100716/WASNOH/gameinfo.html

Wall has a game today.  Bledsoe and Cousins play today and tomorrow.

I miss these guys.....

Maybe I am biased, but the NBA Summer League has had a decidedly Big Blue tint to it.  If the cable companies in Kentucky were smart (false premise?), then they would all have NBATV as an alternative.  Thanks to the heat in Memphis (and TiVo), I have found myself almost glued to the set watching the Summer League.  As I said earlier, I have watched more NBA this summer than all last season combined.

Of the five UK players, I would have to say that Cousins has been the biggest star.  Clearly Wall and Patterson have been solid to very good and Bledsoe has shown that he belongs in the league.  Orton was drafted as a project and it will take time to see if that bet pays off.  That being said - Cousins has been a beast...Links and more after the jump...

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Well, the big guy picked up where he left off getting 14 points and 10 rebounds in his NBA summer league debut.  See the box score here:  http://www.nba.com/summerleague/games/20100712/SACDET/gameinfo.html

He got mugged the entire game but kept his composure.  Looks like that will be the opposing teams modus operandi until he proves his maturity (which we all know he has).  I will say he did look a bit flat footed on defense with his legs straight.  That being said he played more minutes against NBA level competition so you have to give him a break.

Patrick started last night and got 25 mins - about 6 more than the night before.  he only had 6 points (going 3-11 from the field and missing all 3 3pt attempts).  However, he did get 8 rebounds vs only 2 the night before.  Was glad he got the start and showed his rebounding ability - plus, cannot expect to go 8-9 from the field everynight.

See the box score: http://www.nba.com/summerleague/games/20100710/DALHOU/gameinfo.html

As if there were any doubt, Patrick Patterson was "money" in his NBA Debut today.  I just watched the tivo of the game (Comcast in Memphis carries the NBA channel) and was so proud.  I have tried to find an article to link but cannot.  The following is from memory.

I believe he went 8/9 from the field and had 2 rebounds in around 14 or 15 minutes.  He did not start but given each quarter was 10 minutes, he got some good time.

His first basket was on a pick and roll which he finished on a dunk.  I believe his second goal was around a 15 footer and his 3rd goal was a 3 pt shot.  He made 2 three pointers in the game.  He also faced up his defender and made a short jumper and had a couple of good moves to the basket- one with his left hand, I believe.  All in all, it was impressive.

He seemed a step slow on defense but I would imagine the game gets much faster at the next level and I am sure he will make the adjustment over time. He was constantly setting picks and screens for his team.

One thought I had as I watched was it was clear staying 3 years allowed him to hit the ground running (ie, he has an outside shot).   Although I have been a defender of Orton going this year, after watching PPat tonight, I may have to change my tune.

Memphis APR  came out - sorry if there has already been a comment but I have been hit or miss around here for a while.

If I am reading it correctly, it looks like the Memphis basketball team was higher than UK over the past few years.  Given my opinion that Tubby and BCG took academics seriously, it would appear by the results at Memphis that Cal did as well.

Watching Cal up close while at Memphis, it was my opinion that he did care about getting the kids to class.  That is why the GPA of the team this year sort of surprised me.

Of course, the rolling off of Tubby's last two years and the Orton experience will probably hit the APR in the short run, but I believe we will be fine in the longer  term. 

Below is the link to Coach Cal's facebook page with video of the Cats landing.  It is dark and you cannot see a thing.  There is some description of what is going on...

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1384287417265

The last time I really sobbed was when my grandmother died - just watching this tape and hearing the love of the fans for these young men almost made me sob, but my eyes did tear up.

What a season....

Hat tip: KSR

I guess I should have known when I was not totally distraught last night that a night's sleep would not make it better.  I have to admit, the more I think about the team and the time I invested in them, the more I hurt with them.  Add to that the fact that I believe this team is the most talented in my life time (I truly believe there will be more NBA All-Stars off this team than any before - maybe fewer NBA players, but more All-Stars).  Anyway, I have some thoughts, mostly positive, but I do believe there are some things that we should not forget the next time we are downing the koolaid.   Maybe its too early for an attempt at an impartial look, but follow me after the jump and feel free to tell me if I am out of line....

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http://espn.go.com/espnradio/player?rd=1#/podcenter/?id=5017632&autoplay=1&callsign=ESPNRADIO

the interview starts around the 23 min market and runs 10 mins.   Gottlieb and Cal actually spar a bit over how to play Cornell (surprise).  Cal finally says he will put in a 1-3-1 zone for the game as "you (Gottlieb) probably know what's best"

Cal also has some interesting comments on his pre tournament preparation and what he talked to the team about.

enjoy....

Just saw this - sorry if it has been posted:

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/1897/calipari-led-telethon-will-benefit-haiti

You can say what you want, but Cal is getting involved and trying to make a difference.

Also, did anyone else hear that Dickie V on the UF broadcast said that in two years, his charity would recognize both Roy Williams and Cal in the same year.  Bet that will be a big ticket....

Set to hit newsstands today is a cover story from Sports Illustrated on John Wall:

http://images.si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1164564/index.htm

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Was looking at John Clay's blog and he has just posted the following:

http://johnclay.bloginky.com/2009/12/30/outside-the-lines-to-focus-on-calipari-cleaning-house/

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Doyle writes the following article:

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/12672975/hoops-dream-coach-cal-wall-d

He says he would love to see UK go undefeated and win it all - he is NOT predicting it, just saying he would like to see it because the media would hate it.

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