The Big Game

[zx150]

I will take the Cards 77-72. Game is close throughout with lots of momentum swings, but experience wins down the stretch. Since Cal has been at UK, this is the hardest of these games to pick IMO. I am going to make one prediction that many may not agree with.

Regardless of who wins this game, I think the Cards go farther in the NCAA Tournament. The main reason I say this, is strictly experience, or rather NCAA Tourney experience. There is not a player on UK who has ever faced the pressure of playing in a single NCAA Tournament game and that is huge, because post season pressure is unlike what they face during the season. Louisville has a ton of tourney experience. Heck, Blackshear and Behannan have played in Final Fours every year they have been at Louisville and have a record of 10-1 in tournament games. Add in Russ, Hancock and even Tim Henderson and you have a battle tested team.

We need a like button.

[elnutsmalljaws]

C-a-t-s, cats! Cats! Cats!

[MrSplitshot]

And the CATS win...even though we can't hit a free throw to save our asses. I was pleased with the energy from my Wildcats today at home, though there were still plenty of mistakes to languish. We pulled it out. I get frustrated with our inability to pass the ball when we drive into traffic, but it is what it is at this point. I think Kentucky needed this one worse than Louisville did.

Let me say that I love the fight that Smith and Jones brought from the red side of the floor. Those guys are just ballers. Louisville really needs an inside presence and they would be a serious force. Even still, I think they have the experience to make a deep tourney run.

Fun game...

[kentuckykingfisher]

I'm surprised my cats won the way they did. They showed some real toughness today against a pretty good uofl squad. The inside presence was just to much for the cards to handle.uk really wanted the game more and uofl big men didn't show up. I expect both teams could make some noise come march. Or I atleast hope so.

[DJD]

I was impressed they played the way they did without Randle in the second half. Man he prolly would have had 30+ points if he could have played the while game.
Anyway I never counted UL out because they are good enough to streak past anyone. Yes they needed more inside game and at times it looked like they were waay out of sync with passes. Gotta hand it to UK they did what I didn't think they would do based on their past performances. I think the boys at UK grew up a lot last night and doing it without Randle in the 2nd half puts a lot more confidence into that team. Good Kentucky basketball...