I just listened to some gurus talk about Cousins like they know this kid. The kid they were talking about WAS NOT the same kid that I watched all season! They talk about his bad temper and how he is uncoachable. How he doen't want to listen to anyone and how he will cost teams techincals! Yes this kid is intense and he doesn't always show his coach respect! But dadgummit.........he was awesome and HE DID CONTROL HIS TEMPER MANY TIMES! I mean this kid got hacked all season and with the exception of the UofL game he never EVER fought back! How is he portrayed as this monster that everyone thinks he is! UGGHH!!!! You go ahead and pass him idiots........then just wait till he kicks your little butts!  Come on Cuz, come to Memphis!

Yall I just came across the following article about Huggins going to the minor's families in West Virginia. How sweet of a gesture is this? This guy is West Virginia's version of John Calipari. A true good hearted man. It makes me forgive him for beating my Cats. West Virginians and Kentucians have much in common. Unfortuantely this situation in the coal mines is one of them. Have had family members working the mines and its truly a hard work to be in for so many reasons. I know my fellow Kentuckians will join my prayers for the families involved. Looking at this situation gives me great perspective on not getting so bent out of shape on today's events. Hope yall don't mind another coach's praise on here.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ap-mineexplosion-huggins

Watching Duke dismantle WVA tonight just left me feeling cheated. I wish we could have had a piece of them. Although if we had played like we did last week and Duke played like they did tonight......we would have had our butts kicked. Although if both teams brought their A game.......OH MY! What a game it would have been! I am starting a petition for Calipari to do a one and one series with Duke. Come on .........yall know you want it! Who is with me on this!?

Just watched our lady Cats beat a Nebraska team that went undefeated during regular season. They were a number one seed. YES! I was quite disappointed that I didn't see an open thread on here. I will forgive Ken and Tru since I know they are still in mourning, but come on Kentucky fans........your gals are getting it done. They looked terrific tonight. Fought for eveyrthing they had. They now play Oklahoma for the Final Four slot. How remarkable would that be for our Kentucky! Please lets support our gals!!!!!! They are just as important and we need to make them feel so :)

First let me say that I am so proud of my Cats and Calipari. I think he has muched improved his coaching while at Kentucky. Last night just wasn't our night. Although, I will say that umm next time.......after the third or forth three.....umm SWARM THEM and let them get the two's........we still would have been up by ten. But its demoralzing to have threes on you all night. Our interior defense was amazing and I think that has been lost in this loss.With all that said...I have watched Calipari through the years........his coaching has improved so much. Of course Memphis friends have told me "told you so", but that is not true. I was extremely concerned when he was hired at UK. Not just the NCAA stuff but his coaching. I am not concerned about that now. What I am concerned about is this......one and dones. I know all the talent stuff........it is amazing but it cannot win talent alone. Just listen to Wall last night, he said he wanted to win this for Ramon, Mark, and Perry. HIS SENIORS! Even though they weren't starters I know they had a big impact on our guys. Leadership is important. Yall if all these one and dones leave us ......we are toast because what senior do we have for next year?  NONE! We will have a couple of sophomores, a juinor......that is it. So while we brag about having the most talent this year...........it will be the detriment of this Kentucky squad next year no matter who comes in. We have no leadership!  This is where Calipari must come in and talk some of these guys into staying. He has to get out of the mindset of  letting them go pro after one year. I am sorry, but it works both ways........he helped mold them into great players and its time to return the favor on their part. We cannot build a program on this mindet.  Reality bites yall..........it will bite us if we lost five to six guys that we could have back.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the time has come. I am nervous and apprehensive! I have full faith in our abilities to win this game and do really well. Like times before though, I am nervous that we will fall short and this glorious season will come to an end. For so long we have used the final four as a measuring stick of coaches. Will Calipari reach that milestone in just one short season? I don't know but I am very anxious to find out. We are very blessed by this team and the excitement that they have brought to us this year. No matter what happens, I want it said that I am proud to be a UK fan. I know yall are too. Lets hope for a Final Four tonight!!! Go Cats!

I am so sorry guys. I have put up two fan post today. I am going to go ahead and put up a third. Not trying to dominate things, I most likey will take the Duke/Cal one down. Just wanted to share this really horrific story about Murray State's guard's mother who was killed in a car crash today. Please think about this sweet college kid. Pray if that is what you do. Murray State is my cinderella team this year even before this happened. They are only about an hour and half from us and we have tons of kids going there from here. So this hits close even to a Tennessean like me.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ap-murrayst-motherkilled

Brackets just realeased for the women's tourney! Kentucky is a four seed and playing Liberty this weekend. Liberty you ask? Well I had never heard of it till our football coach left to teach there :). Its near Roanoke, VA. I hope that our lady cats do well. Lets please give some props to a great team who has improved so much this season. I am so proud of them. They did it with alot less then our mens team did (talent wise). They worked hard and showed that with hard work you can achieve anything. GO LADY CATS!!!!



http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/basketball/ncaa/men/2010/ncaa_tourney/brackets/tourney_w.pdf

Gasp..........I am rooting for Duke to win the ACC tourney! Why, Cuse just went down....and IMO they just lost the preferred seeding of going down South. If Duke wins, then I think they go number one seed in the East. Kentucky gets South, Kansas gets Midwest and Cuse goes West. I know I will get lots of boos on this but the South will be much easier place for the Cat fans to get to and plus well my parents live in Beaumont,TX not far from Houston so I will maybe go down there :)......lets go Dukies.......who are still worthless in my opinion :)

I will be traveling to Nashville on Friday morning to secure a ticket for the SEC game against whoever on Friday morning. This is the first time I have ever gone to a game without tickets in hand. Have any of you ever done this before? If you have what is the going rate for a single ticket you think? Someone told me not to wear UK stuff when I buy the ticket because they will jack up the price. Any advice will be appreciated. I just cannot let them be two hours away without getting to see them play.

 I saw the following article from my favorite sportswriter Mike D. from sportingnews.com.  Its an article talking about Patterson and his feelings about the fans reaction to the South Carolina game. This article just brought tears to my eyes. I don't want any Kentucky player to feel underappreciated or loved by Big Blue Nation but especially Patrick Patterson. I love this kid. He like any other non freshman on our team, have been through so much the last few years. We must be careful about what we say and do with our boys. I really don't see any regular ASOB fans writing Patrick on his facebook and saying what they did. I do want to encourage you to write some positive thoughts to him though. If you have a facebook page, please just send him a message. You don't have to be a friend to send him a message. He does accept anyone, but I haven't requested him.....to me its just not my thing to request someone I don't know. Still though, I sent him a message a few weeks ago when this happened, praising him. I really hope that yall do the same. Please think about it and do it. To many times we are quick to fuss about things but we don't praise when praise is needed. Always think about what you say. :)

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Just caught the article about Coach Cal saying winning the title means nothing. Now, I will have to strongly disagree with this statement. It means alot. Maybe when he was at Conference USA it didn't mean anything but in the SEC its means alot. Especially when you are considering what we have been through the past few years.  Still love the coach. I just have to disagree with this statement. :)

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When Tennessee's senior day was coming up last fall, there was a heavy debate on whether Eric Berry would be allowed to do senior activities since he was all but going to the NFL. My stance was NO! He wasn't a senior and shouldn't be allowed to do it.

Okay, now that Patrick Patterson is facing this in two weeks, I want to examine this question. My take on this is yes, Pat is a senior, albeit not a four year senior but a three year senior. To me that means even more. He has forgone many normal young man stuff to get his degree and he will be earning a degree for the university.

I think he should get to do the senior stuff on senior day. Just because he didn't go to UK for four years doesn't mean he should be penalized for it. He is getting a degree and deserves to get the recognition. He has meant a lot to the University of Kentucky. Not many athletes of his caliber even get a degree much less do it in three years. I think he should get to do it. Now of course there is still the question of whether he comes back, but honestly ... he doesn't need to.

[Added by Truzenzuzex]

I think Tenken makes some very good points here, and this subject is worth debating.  After the jump, I will lay out the arguments for and against.

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I remember the talk at the hiring of Coach Calipari. We all thought this first year was going to be a little tough but we would still be sweet sixteen contenders. Now, some of are saying final four bound with a real shot at the National Championship. I think that for me, I just wanted to get into the dance with a decent seed. With all the success that we have had I think some of our original thoughts have changed even from the beginning of the season. You could tell that by the loss that we had at South Carolina. There were some negative post and commentary by fans about the Cats after that. Not saying that on ASOB it happened as much but it was there at other places. I would like to know based on half of our season being played, what do you think a successful season would be at this point. I will go ahead and say..........sweet sixteen is for sure anything less and I will be disappointed. So yes even my expectations are up. They are just too good to do anything less. I will say though that regardless this team wlll always live in my heart because they made us relevant again. So while I might be disappointed at an early exit, the heart will only remember that they gave us a great ride :).

Yesterday after the win, I began looking around the internet and seeing what they sports pundits were saying...I saw this article by Pat Forde who I generally really like.  Since Cal has been hired I think I have heard that Forde dislikes Cal and all that. I didn't think that was true until I saw this article. At first, it seems that he is really happy for Kentucky but then then slides in some negativity. Maybe I am being to senstive though, but watching ESPN last night, I still don't think these Cats have gotten the attention they deserve. After saying last week that the Cats were for real, Katz went on to say "they haven't beaten anyone", then one dude said "did you see what they did to Arkansas" and Andy goes "Its Arkansas", and well no one mentions that this Arkansas almost beat the press favorite Texas. Hmmm. Just really maddening. Cal is a coach that everyone loves to hate......jealousy. He is the best recruiter in the nation. He is a reallly good coach as well. Kentucky, well she is the best program in the country. She has the most passionate fan base in the world. She has all the wins to prove that she is the best too............Cal plus Kentucky-a marriage made in heaven but the most hated marriage I have seen in years. I think that is why we may never get the respect from the media that we deserve.  Anyway, here is the link to the article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4852173&sportCat=ncb

To my suprise today, I found out that UK women are ranked today. They are number 25. I am not sure how this happened with a loss to South Carolina but they did it. They derserve it. I hope to see some more exposure of our lady cats in the realms of  Kentucky press...Lets go Big Blue!
ok, it just said I had to type more words so I am doing it just so it can be posted. I am not sure why this rule is here but it is :). Go Big Blue )

We have talked about our kittens being tested all season. Would it be against North Carolina/ Would it be on a neutral court against UCONN? Once they passed those test, it became the Cardinals. Could the newbies really understand the distinct hatred for the Cards and provide the fans with a win? They passed that test. On to the next test..........SEC play. Georgia gave us a scare and then on to our nemisis Florida at Florida. Our kittens also passed that test. Well friends, this next game will be our greatest test in my honest opinion. Why, you ask? Well, I think that for the next four days our kittens will be going to class getting high fives for being the last unbeaten and the natural number one team if we beat Arkansas and I am sure everyone assumes that we will. In the meantime Cal has to keep his guys grounded and get them ready for Saturday.  Can they take the pressure? Can they take the expectations? Texas couldn't. Texas is better then they played yesterday or even Saturday. They were incohesive last night. KSU is a good team, but Texas SHOULD HAVE dominated them. I am glad though. This gives our kittens a test they truly need on Saturday. They need to be able to handle the pressure and the egos and get the win. Arkansas has played many teams hard and we will not be an exception. I am going to be nervous all week and I don't play the game. I know they have to be too!

Our Lady Cats just pulled off a big upset by beating the Lady Commodores! They should be ranked after this in my opinion. They took an undefeated Georgia team to the wire and has played very well this season. I am very happy for them. Here is the link to the story..............GO LADY CATS!! Maybe we can pull of an upset win against Tennessee this year. I really hope they do well!

http://www.kentucky.com/kentuckysports/latest/story/1089956.html

I may  have to turn in my big blue card for saying this but I am glad Florida got back into the ranking today. I am ready for the SEC to be relevant again in NCAA basketball. I think that its important to Kentucky and our conference. I was a little irate by Vandy getting tossed out though. They lost to a very good Cincinatti team.MSU is apparently  a pretender. Getting beat twice by no name teams is not a good sign.  Anyway, glad to see Florida back in the polls. I am wondeirng how many more SEC teams can make it. I think Ole MIss can do it too.

I posted today about rethinking my want of JP to come to Kentucky, then mr Pitino just had to come out and say these things and I have to say that I totally agree with him. Although I don't like Ford as I think he is a younger version of the hotheaded BG. But this statement by Pitino is spot on and very good. Notice how he talks about Billy.  He knows we want him and he is telling us to take a chance on one of these guys. I love it yall. Its a great idea. We are going to have to face the fact that Kentucky is not very likeable right now. We are not going to get a top tier coach or second tier coach is just isn't going to happen. As I said months ago you bring JP in and he is an instant love of fans. Anyway here is the link........

http://new.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=16386

Hey everyone, I wanted to share an email from Coach that a fellow Kentucky fan received.  She is a dear sweet lady and I trust her. I have actually met her at a Kentucky game before. Anyway here her post from the AOL board and coach's email to her.

I sent an e-mail to our coach an actually got a response, even though it was a form letter. I got no response from the AD's office, none at all from the e-mail I sent to him.

My sentiments have changed 360 over the past few days. I can't stand to see someone ridiculed. I love KY basketball, but I love human beings more.

The way our administration has let this drag out, IMO, has been cruel and mean. They either want him, or they do not, black or white, no gray in this you all.

If they want him, they could have said so and if not they should have fired him several weeks ago.

I do not like the way he coaches, but I like the way he has been treated a LOT less.

Maybe with a mediation, with an uninterested party, each one could give some. Coach could agree to mix it up. UK could agree to let an asst. coach do half-time interviews and coach after the game ones. , ETC.

This entire thing has been insane!!!!!!!!!!!!

From:     billy.gillispie@uky.edu
   Subject:     Thanks for your support!
   Date:     March 26, 2009 2:22:55 PM EDT

Thank you very much for taking the time to voice your support for me!  I’ve never concerned myself with myself, only sometimes worry about my players, assistant coaches and their families.  We spend all of our time thinking of how to help others and working and no time in worry about things beyond our control.  I have a very strong belief in how to go about living life and coaching basketball—a belief that has been based on strong and sound fundamentals.

I’ve received more blessings than most people could ever receive in an entire lifetime.  I believe in seeing the glass is half full rather than half empty and will continue to do so.  Don’t worry about me, just keep supporting Kentucky Basketball!

BCG

P.S.  Not many have ever gotten me down, none have ever kept me down and I’m not about to start letting that happen now!

Here is the link to Tipton's article about BG tonight.  I am very proud of these guys. Maybe there is something to this whole season that we can take.......they have matured before our very eyes and have the chance to put a banner up at Rupp! I am so proud of them.  Many teams would have given up by now but they didn't even when we gave up on them. I am happy for this team.  Also, I love Perry Stevenson's humor. He cracks me up!  Anyway here is the link:

http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/736754.html

I found this under an Al.com article. Its some perspective.....that i think we all need to understand. Interesting to me to say the least. Its from some reader with user name ziptag(to properly give him credit)

The problem at UK is not unlike the problem Bama faced after the Bear retired. UK can't seem to find a Bball coach that they can unanimously support thus they are heading into the same wilderness that Bama football experienced.

.

this is my first experience as a Cat fan watching the Cats play the NIT. It has been surreal to not look for them in the tourney.  You know what though, today I found myself happy knowing that they have a good chance of winning some more games and getting this fanbase behind them again. I don't think we would have made it very far in the tourney but the NIT we have a chance. I am hoping that Memorial was a good start for us.  Billy said he expected a turnaround in the NIT and I am starting to believe it.  Many fans of other teams are disappointed today and will be tomorrow, Sat, and Sun, but I know I get to see my boys play on Monday night and have a good shot of winning. I am so proud that I get to do that. So I no longer see this as bad thing.  Do I want to be here again? NO! But I am going to enjoy this ride while it last.  Lets go boys!

Fellow cat fans, this is truly a test of unchartered waters. Our flagship is in the middle of a hurricane right now. We are taking on water and see no end in sight. The next few weeks will be key to the future of our flagship and we steer our way through the hurricane. It will test our loyatly and our stewardship. I feel comfortable in our Captain Lee Todd and our co captain Mitch Barnhardt. They will make the right decision for our beloved ship and clear her to the blue skies and sunshine. We must be sure though not to let our precious ship sink by getting down on each other. With each water that comes on to our ship we must collectlively take a bucket and get it off our ship. We must work together though and not create a mutiny that makes us weak and vunerable to the waves or we shall surely sink.  We did it in 88 and we shall do it again. Stay strong and when we see the sun again we shatl celebrate this together. Peace to my Cat brethern. Tenken

I was lurking around this morning and found an article from the Chicago Sun Times talking about Alex Legion.  I don't know how to link it but its from yesterday's paper. It basically talked about that Legion is in the same predicament as he was at Kentucky.  He is going to have to prove himself at Illinois.  Weber isn't giving him a free pass.  He is sitting the bench.  Weber said he would have to prove himself in practice.  Does this sound famaliar?  Grass is not greener on the other side, Alex, huh ? 

My fellow Kentucky fans, its time to trust coach. All this lack of playing time, sub patterns, and such are at best maddening to us fans.  Something is telling me though that its for the best of those kids with Kentucky jerseys on and its best for the overall Kentucky program.  The one thing that I don't like is kids coming in and thinking that they are bigger then Kentucky basketball.  Its never a good thing to feel that way.  I have a feeling that Liggins felt that way. Hence starting Porter. Has Porter cost us some games? I do think he has GREATLY contributed to some losses at the beginning.  If coach can get Liggins ego down a little then maybe just maybe Liggins can start and be what he is meant to be.  That will never happen if coach doesn't take him down a notch.  When you think that you are better then everyone else, you are selfish and often make stupid mistakes.  It makes for bad team chemistry-on and off the court.  I played with Stacey Reed(our starlet from Laurel County and UK womens bball player) and Stacey played varsity in eight grade. Helped us win state in EIGHTH GRADE. She was a phenom from the time I remember competing against her in tourneys.  Stacey though was a team player. Everyone loved her. She encouraged the terrible players(yours truly).  I am telling you it makes a huge difference. 

Its important that coach has good chemisitry on his squad.  Its good for Kentucky basketball.  So when we question why our future stars are not playing then lets remember Alex Legion.  Coach has a reason for it and we are just going to have to trust him.  Its for the betterment of the team and the program.  That is why I still to this day will say that when he answered Edwards question at Ole Miss, he wasn't being rude to her, he was saying to BBN and to his team "This is not University of Jodie", This is Kentucky and there is a team not just one player.  Something tells me that there may have been some green eyed monsters on the team and some bad chemistry was going on and he took that opportunity to say WE ARE TEAM!!. Jodie was becoming a distraction(not brought on by himself, but by media) and it needed to stop.  Its hard having a star/starlet on your team.  Its important for the coach to nip it.  So I say he has made good decisions.  I am willing to trust him.

South Carolina down and TN losing to Ole Miss.  What is up with the SEC?  Are we  this competitive or are we this bad.  I honestly don't know.  Auburn kicked some tail tonight.  Vandy played lights out last night.  I am just wondering now if we are really this bad or are we really this competitive (not using good, but competitive).  I am very disappointed in Tennessee who is playing like us : Good one day and horrible the next.  Hopefully the latter on Saturday.  What do ya'll think about this craziness!?!

I was watching ESPN News tonight and I heard that Florida was on the Bubble BEFORE the loss to Georgia.  That just made  me flip my lid.  Ok I like hearing Florida being on the bubble because well I just don't like them, but I heard today that Kentucky is on the Bubble.  I don't understand this. Are they projecting some future losses in there?  Lets say we base our case on our record now. Why wouldn't we get in?  How in the heck are we on the Bubble.  How is Florida on the Bubble?  Someone has to explain how all this work when there is so much season left.

How also do get a number 11 seed.  Are they basing losses that are in the future?  Someone pleae help!!

that Bobby Knight is intererested in Georgia?  What impact could that have on SEC basketball????? He is a good coach and we would have to face this guy not only once a year but twice a year?  Could he turn around the Bulldogs and make this an even talent heavy SEC East?  I shudder to think about it.  What thoughts does everyone have about this.  I have to admit I am shaking in my boots a bit?