What is wrong with Kentucky?

Great point. Having a 12 deep lineup is all well and good, but a basketball team at any level needs continuity. Continually shuffling players seems like a fine idea in theory, but how often does it work in actual practice?

Shuffling players like this just tells me that the coach doesn't have enough faith in his starters to give them the most minutes. I don't remember any team going far that didn't have a solid rotation of 7-8 players that got most of the minutes. Coaches have to trust that the players on the floor can get the job done, and the players have to know that the coach trusts them. Players don't play well when they have an eye on the scorer's table wondering when they're going to get pulled from the game.

 

Rumor is getting very strong about Tubby also bolting and going to coach the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA.

Many of those same names are rumored to take over. Unfortunately, Davis has already made it official and the Tubby story is just a rumor.

 

We actually get the UK SC game today on HDTV...

If we don't win this game today, I think it is NIT bound if we even except that bid.

 

Good win vs SC on the road. We actually look and play better without Rondo.

However, 3 of the next 4 games are versus LSU, TN, and FL... We will then know where we are going and if we will present a challenge to the top teams in the tourney...

 

Tom Crean should jump if he gets the chance, but at IU I can't imagine it will be anyone other than Alford. Rumor is Iowa will pursue Bruce Pearl.

UT athletic director Mike Hamilton has already offered a huge raise and extension, but Pearl wants to wait until the season is over to keep from distracting our boys from their run to the final four. Yes, I'm serious.

 

Fan support of collegiate athletics is not a zero-sum deal. There is enough passion to go around. Remember, there is a reason the basketball arena holds 25,000, and it isn't the Lady Vols. The arena is putting 32 luxury boxes in effective two seasons away. They are all already sold.

Also, you forget that Tenn has a solid basketball history. Only Kentucky has more success in a number of categories. I'm old enough to remember when 20 win seasons and NCAA appearances were standard fare, and that was prior to the NCAA being a field of 64. You can win a national title at Tennessee and make seven figures. I'm not going to pretend that UT is UNC, Duke, UCLA, or Arizona, but I reject the premise that UT is a second-tier stopping point.

UT's athletic program is self-supporting. It is one of only a handful of programs that receives no monies from the university. Actually, UT's athletic dept gives money back to the university. Unheard of.

 

UK 80 Ole Miss 40

Are we peaking at the right time?

If we can win 2 of our last 3, I think we are deifinitely in the big dance; maybe only 1 of 3.

Imagine a team like UConn, Nova, or even Duke looking at a possible UK matchup in the 2nd round. I think it is possible...

Remember the name Preston LeMaster. He is probably our best outside shooter and he is finally starting to play some. He hit 4 three pointers in tonights win.

 

Don't look now but I am getting my hopes up again. I like the new starting lineup. I would rather see these guys play with heart than the stars play with...whatever it is they have been playing with.

 

Very true SBC and that is our problem. We are playing better ball without our best players even starting. But there is no way we can beat a solid team in the tourney without our stars Rondo and Morris playing at their very best. It should be interesting at least and I still think a team like Duke or UConn will not want to see a team like UK as early as the 2nd round...

 

UK is in the dance. They'll win 19 or so, with 9 wins in the conference. I hope they beat LSU Sat so we can have the outright regular season crown. Hopefully, next Wednesday's disappointing trip into Thompson Boling arena where Eastern division champion Tennessee will pot-hole UK's road to the tourney will not dismay the UK faithful too much By the way, let this sink in: Tennessee has clinched the eastern division crown, and Kentucky is trying to play its way into the tourney. Back in September, I would've been delighted if that had been reversed (UT wasn't supposed to even make it to the field of 65).

Pastor SBC, the old bromide about not being able to have good football and basketball programs doesn't pan out. First of all, what are we using to define success? 20 wins in basketball and 9 wins in football in the same year? What about making a bowl and the tourney in the same year? It's a nebulous concept. Second, you don't have protracted success in ANY sport, so we'd have to suspiciously look at what is meant by "year in and year out." Third, the evidence is just not there to support the claim. Tennessee won a national championship in 1998-99 in college football and won the SEC regular season crown in basketball, a feat repeated again in two years. Tennessee has competed for national titles in men's sports and women's sports, which to me is harder given Title IV. Tennessee men's baseball team has made regular trips to Omaha. As for other teams, Virigina, Georgia, Louisville, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Indiana (in the 80s), North Carolina (also in the 80s), Florida, Florida State, UCLA, USC, Syracuse, Arizona, Miami...the list is quite long. Fourth, it's hard to parallel football with other division I sports because there are almost triple the number of division I teams in other sports as there is in football (Div. I-A). NCAAB has 300+ teams, vs. 117 or so in NCAAF.

I firmly believe fans use this bromide as an excuse. It's usually one we hear from UK, Duke, and other fans who can't get it together. Will football always be king in Tennessee? Sure. Football is the sport here in the south. But basketball isn't far behind. Once again, fan support is not a zero-sum affair, unless you're a UK fan or Duke fan.

 

Hey now, Kentucky has a very good fan base in most of its sports. As bad as their football team has been, they still fill up the 65,000 or so stadium every Saturday.

 

Oh, you asked about Bruce Pearl and offers from other schools. Could be. But he seriously believes this team can run deep into the tourney. The family loves Knoxville. He's as popular a figure in the state as there is right now. The money will be comparable to anything anyone throws at him. Bruce Pearl will still be wearing orange suspenders and ties next season.
One other thing - he was passed over for many jobs. He feels a lot of loyalty to UT AD Mike Hamilton and former UT legend Ernie Grunfeld, who were instrumental in Pearl getting the chance other schools wouldn't give him.

 

They must be disguised as empty seats UT fans have long been able to walk up and buy tickets. According to UK's AD website, there hasn't been a sellout at Commonwealth Stadium since the Florida game in Sept of 2003, and there hasn't been a capacitiy crowd since. It does not list 2005, though. I'd think the Louisivlle game would be a high draw. Looks like they have averaged about 62,000 or so since the rennovations.

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for UK football. I hope they turn things around. Rich Brooks is not the man to do it. You guys have a good OC in Randy Sanders. I hate that we don't have him anymore, though Cutcliffe is probably a better OC than Randy. I think Randy would make you guys a good head coach. Your AD has to start taking football seriously. There are some good coaches out there, much better than Rich Brooks.