The State of UK Basketball for 2011..

[elnutsmalljaws]

and beyond is not very good if you ask me. I call a spade a spade and last year's squad was a team that I thought would win it all based on the talent and leadership. This years team is not so fortunate in that they won't win either the SEC regular season or SEC tourney title, especially finishing at the bottom of the Eastern division as they are heading and having to play 4 games in 4 days in the SEC tourney to win it with only 6 players. I never thought that Patrick Patterson was the biggest loss that they would have from last year but his leadership is HIGHLY missed. We absolutely get NOTHING from the upper classmen on this team that it is pathetic. Johnny C says he will take Talent over Experience everyday. Well it looks like you can't teach Experience and Leadership and you have to have this on every team to win the NCAA Title, which is EXPECTED by the Big Blue Nation ANNUALLY. With being 1-4 in the SEC on the road with games against Vandy and Tennessee left on the road and home games against these same two plus Florida left and at the bottom of the SEC East, the outlook is not very good. After this week they may be a 10 seed and even then it will be generous and if they lose 4-5 more games before then may be NIT bound.

Johnny C better find a way to get "Talented One and Doner's" plus some solid talent that will stay 4 years EACH and EVERY year or The Big Blue Nation will turn on him just like they did on Tubby. If he thinks that there won't be "Get out of town", "For Sale" and "Go Home" signs in his front yard on Richmond Road he is sadly mistaken. I know it has only been 2 years and he inherited a terrible team from Boozin Billy, but he has to find a way to Teach Leadership as well as Talent. If he does not learn to do this and with the constant who is going pro after the season, who is staying, Freshman with growing pains and no experience in playing on the road in the SEC, they will NEVER win another NCAA Title under Johnny C. With next years class of the #2, #3, #8 and #15 rated players in High School coming in, it will be the same talk about who is a One and Doner and who is not. Between now and then, he better learn to teach Miller or Liggins to be a leader, and good luck with that. I sure do hope Knight loves being a student as they say that he does for I hope he comes back for at least one more year to try and get an undergraduate degree or something for I don't think he will stay the full 4 but 2 would be nice. I think Lamb will be back for 1 more year maybe 2 more. Jones is gone for sure. With next years class of the #1 PF in Anthony Davis, #1 SF in Michael Gilchrist, #1 PG in Marquis Teague and #5 PF in Kyle Wiltjer all signed you have the Top rated class in america. All 4 are rated in the Top 15 prospects in the country. Anthony Davis is an ABSOLUTE man and a guaranteed one and doner. Davis is averaging 32ppg and 22 rpg right now. This kid is a STUD and a guaranteed starter next year for Kentucky whether Jones stays or not. Even with these kids coming UK still needs to find some Leadership in a bad way.

On a side note: My wife and I went to the Louisville Improv Comedy Club last night to see Tim Wilson, which was even better for we were compt free tickets getting in VIP seating at Table 406 - the table that we like the most and our dinners and appetizers were free as well. I know what your saying, "Woody in Louisville" trust me I drove 100mph into the city and 100mph getting out of the city. But during the show, Tim Wilson, who is this country bumpkin from Georgia does a little singing and guitar playing. One of his songs is "Jeff Gordons Gay, Jeff Gordons Gay", funny in its ownwright, but he then went into "Pitino's Gay, Pitino's Gay" and the crown went wild applauding and whistling. I was applauding and whistling myself and thought I would get the crap kicked out of me for doing so until I realized that everybody else was too. So Wilson went into "Callipari's Gay, Callipari's Gay" and he was dang near booed off the stage. Tim said "What the hell, I played in Lexington a month ago". Based on a crowd of a couple of hundred Rednecks I came to the conclusion that either the majority of the people in Kentucky Hate Pitino or the majority of the White Rednecks that visit the Louisville Improv Comedy club hate Pitino and/or the University of Louisville.

[Panfish Man]

I am a lifelong UK fan, and understand every program goes through transitions, and down times. I like Cal, and say that he is the best at getting talent hands down. But, I'am very discouraged at the way he's coaching this team. I don't expect this team to be like last years, but at this point in the season, you can see how talented last years squad was and how goo they made Cal look. I blame the last 3 losses on coaching, you can not expect a team that young to pull through close games without coaching. How can you not call timeouts and set up plays with the game on the line?? When a team needs a basket to close out a game, they need a coach to tell them what to do. The Ole Miss loss and the Florida loss, could have went the other way, if a set play was ran. If a shot was missed, then it was missed, but at least CALL A PLAY!!! The bench is thin, and with young teams you have to expect losses. But I think this team you have avoided 3 or 4 of the losses on the year.

[elnutsmalljaws]

One thing about last night, somewhere in the huddly Johhny C should have used these words "Boys there is a fella on the floor named Chandler Parsons. He is the bushy headed #25 and he is absolutely KILLING us on the boards. Somebody better get a body on him on every shot that Florida throws up over the zone" If not for Parsons and his offensive rebounding UK wins the game hands down. UK 3 offensive rebounds for the TEAM, Chandler 3 offensive rebounds by himself and 6 total for Florida. Harrelson back to form from the past couple of years, 3 rebounds TOTAL and 5 fouls. Eloy Vargas, YES, Eloy Vargas and Doron Lamb had as many rebounds 7 in their combined 42 minutes on the floor as did Harrelson, Liggins and Miller combined in their 80 minutes on the floor, unbelievable. You can't blame last nights game on only playing basically 7 players, minus Hoods and Paulson's combinded 4 minutes. Because Florida only played 8 players taking away 2 of their players combined 4 minutes. Our 7 versus their 8 of those that played significant minutes and even then our 2 not significant players that played out scored theirs 2-0 thanks to a John Hood sighting with .6 seconds left in the first half.

[DJD]

You know it would be a different story if Kanter was playing. Don't you think?? They would have prolly won most of those close games that Harrelson couldn't handle or played in foul trouble.

UK is an easy team to have a game plan against because they have almost no game if the outside shot ain't dropping. If the other players make the outside shot and keep the floor spread properly then Harr. can play better. Miller can drive and do that little jump shot or Jones can drive and dunk on folks. Harr. doesn't have the skills to be the man in the middle....poor dude. He tries but it's just not there day in and day out.

I would say UK will be fine. The hardcore fans are too dang smart for their own good. If the season doesn't go well and folks start talking about getting Cal out of here I'll be very disappointed. Uk can quickly become the job that NOBODY will want if they chase Cal off.

The dude was brought here to fix a program that was broke! (He didn't break it. Thank the AD for that!) He is doing that but it takes time. Sure kids will use him and UK as a vehicle to get to the NBA but there will be those guys who will stay for their own reasons. So UK fans should enjoy the turn around, be patient, support Cal and not be so quick to stick a fork in the program....JMO.

[elnutsmalljaws]

You know it would be a different story if Kanter was playing. Don't you think?? They would have prolly won most of those close games that Harrelson couldn't handle or played in foul trouble.

UK is an easy team to have a game plan against because they have almost no game if the outside shot ain't dropping. If the other players make the outside shot and keep the floor spread properly then Harr. can play better. Miller can drive and do that little jump shot or Jones can drive and dunk on folks. Harr. doesn't have the skills to be the man in the middle....poor dude. He tries but it's just not there day in and day out.

I would say UK will be fine. The hardcore fans are too dang smart for their own good. If the season doesn't go well and folks start talking about getting Cal out of here I'll be very disappointed. Uk can quickly become the job that NOBODY will want if they chase Cal off.

The dude was brought here to fix a program that was broke! (He didn't break it. Thank the AD for that!) He is doing that but it takes time. Sure kids will use him and UK as a vehicle to get to the NBA but there will be those guys who will stay for their own reasons. So UK fans should enjoy the turn around, be patient, support Cal and not be so quick to stick a fork in the program....JMO.

First of all, the NCAA and it's rules committee is about as inconsistent as J Lo's hairstyles on American Idol. Cam Newton's Dad wanted almost $200K for his son's signature on a letter of intent to Mississippi. NCAA rules Cam ineligible one day but then suddenly found enough reasons to rule him eligible the next. Seems to me that all the investigation that it took to find him ineligible was a big bunch of non-sense if it took less than 24 hours to clear him. "Well we talked to Cam and he said he knew nothing about it, (wink wink) so we thought he should be cleared". Are you telling me that Cam knew nothing of his fathers action. Come on fellas. Ohio State Football has 5 stud players sell jerseys, rings, autographs and who knows what else for tattoos, money and who knows what else but the NCAA lets them pay the money back (the amount that they said they sold the stuff for) and then let them play in the Bowl Game. Big Enes takes money a couple of years ago that he did not think was going to jeopardize his college status, his "DAD" turns down a contract for MILLIONS not a couple of hundred K but MILLIONS to keep his college status ok but the NC "Double Azzholes" rules him PERMANENTLY ineligible, are you kidding me.

If Kanter was playing the Big Blue is undefeated or at least very few losses. This team would be totally different if it had an inside presence. If Cousins had stayed this team would be undefeated. Last years team could not throw it in the ocean outside 10 feet and this years team can't throw it in the ocean from inside 10 feet.

[Tim_T]

First of all, the NCAA and it's rules committee is about as inconsistent as J Lo's hairstyles on American Idol. Cam Newton's Dad wanted almost $200K for his son's signature on a letter of intent to Mississippi. NCAA rules Cam ineligible one day but then suddenly found enough reasons to rule him eligible the next. Seems to me that all the investigation that it took to find him ineligible was a big bunch of non-sense if it took less than 24 hours to clear him. "Well we talked to Cam and he said he knew nothing about it, (wink wink) so we thought he should be cleared". Are you telling me that Cam knew nothing of his fathers action. Come on fellas. Ohio State Football has 5 stud players sell jerseys, rings, autographs and who knows what else for tattoos, money and who knows what else but the NCAA lets them pay the money back (the amount that they said they sold the stuff for) and then let them play in the Bowl Game. Big Enes takes money a couple of years ago that he did not think was going to jeopardize his college status, his "DAD" turns down a contract for MILLIONS not a couple of hundred K but MILLIONS to keep his college status ok but the NC "Double Azzholes" rules him PERMANENTLY ineligible, are you kidding me.

If Kanter was playing the Big Blue is undefeated or at least very few losses. This team would be totally different if it had an inside presence. If Cousins had stayed this team would be undefeated. Last years team could not throw it in the ocean outside 10 feet and this years team can't throw it in the ocean from inside 10 feet.

There is no comparison to be made between Cam newton's dad and Kanter.

#1 The NCAA didn't suspend him, Auburn did and the NCAA ruled that he was okay to play so Auburn reinstated him. Kanter was ruled inelgible on two different occasions and after the first ruling was "Permanently inelligible."

#2 There is zero proof that the Newton family recieved any money from anyone, only proff that his dad was shopping him around. That is why the dad was punished but not the son or the team. If they find out later that he indeed took money (the investigation is ongoing from what I understand) then Aubusrn will forfiet the title and all their wins in which he played and will get a nice healthy probabation.


Kanter did take money, they didn't deny it, they didn't even deny that he took $30,000 more than was allowed. The whole case was "He didn't mean to break the rules."

Calipari caused this mess when he kept recruiting him when everybody else stopped.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Kanter did take money, they didn't deny it, they didn't even deny that he took $30,000 more than was allowed. The whole case was "He didn't mean to break the rules."



So the Ohio State Buckeye 5 football players that did take the money, whatever that amount was (which we will NEVER know how much it really was), who also "didn't mean to break the rules" even though they sold championship rings, jerseys and awards plus received improper benefits from up to 2 years ago were allowed to pay back "X" amount of money and were suspended NEXT YEAR is showing consistency???

As far as Cam goes, if he and his father are as close to each other as Cam says they are I have a hard time knowing that Cam knew nothing of the shopping of his services. Besides, whether Cam knew or not, I have a neighbor across the street that is an assistant coach for the Kentucky State Football team and he said that whether Cam knew or not that the NCAA could still hold him accountable for having his services "shopped" by a family member.

[Tim_T]

As far as Cam goes, if he and his father are as close to each other as Cam says they are I have a hard time knowing that Cam knew nothing of the shopping of his services. Besides, whether Cam knew or not, I have a neighbor across the street that is an assistant coach for the Kentucky State Football team and he said that whether Cam knew or not that the NCAA could still hold him accountable for having his services "shopped" by a family member.

It doesn't matter if his dad was shopping him around, they have to A.) Prove that Cam knew and B.) prove there was actual money that changed hands. They were unable to prove either, but as I said the investigation is still going from the last I heard.

Kanter was a professional athlete who took money to play basketball, that is the bottom line.

[Fishin is life]

I'm a huge UK fan but even I can't argue with them ruling Kanter inelegible....He received benefits beyond a set amount and at that point you lose your amateur status...agreed....Cam Newton never received a dime that anybody has proven....Even though his father was shopping him around he never got anything...He still has his amateur status....agreed....The OSU players received a helluva lot more than Kanter did....How in the hell do they still hold on to their amateur status...I just don't get it...Josh Selby, the KU freshman, took $5,757.58...Is that not over the "permissable" limit?...He had to sit out nine games...The NCAA is about as consistent as the weather in KY....If you're not gonna take away all of their amateur status's then let them all play....It's a buncha political BS....If Selby played at UK do you honestly think the same decision would have been made?

[Tim_T]

If Selby played at UK do you honestly think the same decision would have been made?

Yes, it would be just like last year with Wall, who had to sit out a few games and pay back some money. The rules on foreign professionals are very clear and they differ somewhat from the high school/AAU rules in the U.S.

[Fishin is life]

Rivals.com has KY's recruiting class at 2,3,6, and 25....No. 9 DeAndre Daniels has it narrowed down to KY and Kansas but leaning towards Kansas....My only question is when is Cal gonna start recruiting some size...Davis goes 6'10 but he's only 220....gonna be hard for him to body up with the big boys....Eloy Vargas is awful....Who is gonna be UK's big body in the future?...Also what happened to Stacey Poole....did he transfer?

[know1]

I think the NCAA is inconsistent as well, but I can't argue with the Kanter ruling either. For me it comes down to - he was paid to be a professional basketball player.

I'll still take Cal over our last 2 coaches, but he definitely doesn't walk on water when it comes to bench coaching and in-game coaching.