Midweek Thoughts

One thing that stands out always about Kentucky basketball is the nicknames associated with different teams throughout the history of the program:

Some of the most famous:

Rupp's Runts: Named after the Baron of the Bluegrass himself. No starter on the team over 6'5, this team rode a 27-1 record before losing in the national title game to Texas Western. This team was significant for the fact that it also matched an all white starting lineup vs an all African American lineup, a first in the history of the game. If you want a better recap, watch Glory Road.

The Unforgettables: After a two year absence from postseason play, Kentucky made it all the way to the Elite Eight, losing to Duke in a game that still haunts Kentucky fans to this day. Three of the four starters, John Pelphrey, Richie Farmer, and Deron Feldhaus, were from small towns in eastern Kentucky and perfectly describe the work ethic that Kentucky fans have come to expect.

Some other teams include the Season Without Celebration, where Kentucky won the national championship in 1978, but there was so much focus on winning that nobody celebrated(and UK fans wonder why the media criticizes them). Some of the more recent include the Incredibles(96 championship team), the Unbelievables(97 runner up) and the Comeback Cats(98 championship team).

Some of the nicknames have been negative of late. The last two seasons under Tubby Smith have been called Team Turmoil and the Unwatchables, in that order.

My question is, if Kentucky finishes on a high note and does manage to make the NCAA tournament, what would you call this team?

My vote is for the Blue Collar Cats. The reason being the work ethic that is exemplified by the coach and the hard work being done by everybody, even those who had been sold short earlier in their careers. I don't see this team advancing far in the NCAA tournament if they even make it, but I do think they are playing with a different fire that was missing earlier in the season, especially against Gardner Webb and San Diego.

This Saturday against Georgia will determine how Kentucky will fare on every road contest the rest of the way. After beating Tennessee and South Carolina in the confines of Rupp, their renewed confidence will be put to the test on the road and how this team responds in a hostile SEC environment will ultimately determine how long this team plays in March. Kentucky can ill-afford another loss, even though I believe they will drop at least one against Vanderbilt or Tennessee. They need this win against Georgia to keep their slim NCAA hopes alive, but if the same team shows up that did against Florida and Mississippi State, it may be time to pack in the season.

Things will improve, but once Billy's recruits make it to the floor and his system has taken full stride, we will then see the full effects.

Cheyne

Tennessee/Random Thoughts

Chalk up another signature win this season for Billy Clyde Gillispie.

Last night's win over Tennessee at Rupp coupled with the double overtime win almost two weeks ago against a previously unbeaten Vanderbilt squad, I think it is safe to say the monkey is off Billy Gillispie's back.

For now.

It has taken into Southeastern Conference play for this team to start to mold into the type of team that Gillispie wants to put onto the court. This was a game that Kentucky really needed for a confidence boost that I believe will get them through the rest of the SEC schedule, assuming the win doesn't go to their heads. It is going to be a tough road to win the SEC and qualify for the NCAA tournament, but any rational basketball fan that watched the game last night knows that Kentucky is starting to turn the corner.

That being said, thoughts on the game:

The biggest weakness in Kentucky's lineup may have been filled last night with the play of Perry Stevenson. When Perry first committed to Kentucky to go along with Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks, I thought he had a potential of another Louisana product who had went pro that year in Tyrus Thomas of LSU. Instead, he played more like Sheray Thomas, who really never contributed much over his time at Kentucky. His problem over the past two seasons has been a lack of assertion in not stepping up his game, but the past two games against Florida and Tennessee, Stevenson has been absolutely fearless and has not been afraid to take the ball up. I think it is safe to say that Stevenson should beat out Mark Coury for the starting job.

For those knocking Tubby for not recruiting Chris Lofton, please consider the following. In 2004, Kentucky had the no 8th, 13th, and 15th ranked players in the nation coming into that season, along with another four star point guard from New York. Those recruits were Randolph Morris, Joe Crawford, Rajon Rondo, and Ramel Bradley. Chris Lofton was a 6'1 shooting guard, undersized for that position and possibly more suited for the point and was viewed as a bench player for Kentucky. With the exception of Mason County, if Kentucky would have offered Lofton a scholarship over any of these four AT THAT TIME, Tubby likely would have been rode out of the state quicker than he was last season. That being said, while I think Tubby was a less than stellar recruiter and unfairly judged talent, I cannot fault him for not offering the Mason County star a scholarship. Bottom line is, nobody, not even Rick Pitino(who also did not offer Lofton), knew that Chris Lofton would go on to break the SEC record for three's in a career and lead Tennessee from mediocrity to ranked in the top five.

On a somewhat lighter note, what do you get when you mix blue and orange? The answer is Maysville, Kentucky. I had read that in a blog last year and it definitely stuck last night when they showed at I believe Wal-Mart a Kentucky section with a little bit of Tennessee orange apparel in the back of the room. Of course, this is the same state that made Bruce Pearl a Kentucky Colonel, even though Buzz Peterson recruited Lofton to Tennessee.

One thing I will say about Bruce Pearl, while I don't particularly care for his attitude, especially last night with letting the players wear earrings during warmups and letting his players get into a pissing match with the Kentucky fans, he is a coach that is not only good for the SEC, but also college basketball. He is a players coach, and I do believe that he as well as Pat Summitt would coach for free if it were financially possible. Kentucky fans may find him obnoxious and jump him for crossing the state border to find talent, but I doubt you will find Billy Gillispie(much less any of the players) covered in body paint at a girls game in the near future.

As I mentioned, I had faulted Tubby for not being a judge of talent. He did not pursue Corey Brewer, who likely would have committed if offered, because he thought Brewer wasn't physical enough to play in the SEC. Billy Donovan thought otherwise and offered him, and the rest is history.

If you want to consider how far Kentucky has fallen, consider that we are fighting to keep our own talent in state. For the first time that I can remember, Kentucky is generating top high school talent capable of playing on the Division I level. We had to hire Tracy Webster away from Illinois in order to land Darius Miller, the other Mason County star who will provide instant depth next season for the Cats. Scotty Hopson, who is ranked 11th in the nation by Scout.com and is from Hopkinsville, verbally committed to Mississippi State early in the recruiting process but has yet to sign and is being heavily recruited by Tennessee. Bud Mackey, the top senior point guard from the state champion Scott County and outdueled OJ Mayo last season, committed to Indiana before the whole cocaine incident. Even Dakotah Euton, the Rose Hill product who has eased the loss of OJ Mayo from people in Ashland, said that before Kentucky hired Gillispie, he was considering Florida and Duke, and he was a Freshman in high school!

I know people are saying Hopson is a headcase and most everybody in the state knows what happened with Mackey, but bottom line is, if you are a perennial power, you have to keep the quality in-state talent in state playing for the state school. Now, Hopson may prove to be uncoachable and Mackey will likely never play on the major college level, but a proven coach would have been after these kids early in the recruiting process instead of letting our neighbors beat us to the punch.

Another reason I am for local talent is the tradition of Kentucky basketball. I do believe that Billy Gillispie, a man from the Henry Iba coaching tree, has respect for the traditions and considers it a true privilege to coach this team. Patrick Patterson is another one who I think shares in that as growing up in Huntington, he is close enough to the state to understand what this team means to the state. I do not believe players like Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley, even though they are seniors, understand that it is a privilege to play at Kentucky and are playing just to make themselves look good. Players like Darius Miller and Dakotah Euton are going to play hard because they understand and respect the program and I don't see that in many of the players on this team.

That about wraps it up,

Cheyne

NFL Mock Draft 1.0

Figured I would try my hand at this. I look for Miami to trade the pick, possibly to New England. They have no problem parting with draft picks and the Dolphins need all the help they can get. Look for the no 7, a 2nd, 3rd round pick, and a first and second rounder to go to Miami for McFadden.

*1.New England(from Miami)-Darren McFadden(RB-Arkansas)
2St. Louis-Jake Long(OT-Michigan)
3Oakland-Glenn Dorsey(DT-LSU)
4.Atlanta-Andre Woodson(QB-Kentucky)
5.Kansas City-Ryan Clady(OT-Boise St)
6.New York Jets-Chris Long(DE-Virginia)
7.Miami (from NE via San Francisco)-Sedrick Ellis(DT-USC)
8.Baltimore-Matt Ryan(QB-Boston College)
9.Cincinnati-Keith Rivers(LB-USC)
10.New Orleans-Mike Jenkins(CB-USC)
11.Buffalo-Malcolm Kelly(WR-Oklahoma)
12.Denver-Kenny Phillips(S-Miami)
13.Carolina-Brian Brohm(QB-Louisville)
14.Chicago-Sam Baker(OT-USC)
15.Detroit-Vernon Gholston(DE-Ohio St)
16.Arizona-Derrick Harvey(DE-Florida)
17.Minnesota-Reggie Smith(S-Oklahoma)
18.Houston-Jonathan Stewart(RB-Oregon)
19.Philadelphia-Jeff Otah(OT-Pitt)
20.Tampa Bay-DeSean Jackson(WR-Cal)
21.Washington-Kentwan Balmer(DT-North Carolina)
22.Dallas (from Cleveland)-Felix Jones(RB-Arkansas)
23.Pittsburgh-Duke Robinson(G-Oklahoma)
24.Tennessee-Early Doucet(WR-LSU)
25.Seattle-Rashard Mendenhall(RB-Illinois)
26.Jacksonville-Calais Campbell(DE-Miami)
27.San Diego-Quentin Groves(DE-Auburn)
28.Dallas-Limas Sweed(WR-Texas)
29.San Francisco (from Indianapolis)-Mario Manningham(WR-Michigan)
30.Green Bay-Aquib Talib(CB-Kansas)
31.New York Giants-Leodis McKelvin(CB-Troy)

Comments:

• I know the Andre Woodson pick sounds like homerism, but the fact that he is working to improve his stock while Brian Brohm and Matt Ryan sit out I believe will have an impact. In my opinion, Woodson will overtake Brohm as the second best QB and possibly overtake Matt Ryan as well.
  
• As a Bengals fan, I would love to see Keith Rivers or Sedrick Ellis in stripes next season. However, if Ryan Clady were to fall, the Bengals would have to seriously consider using a first rounder on the Boise St. product. Willie Anderson isn't getting any younger and the running game was abysmal due to the line collapsing. Cincinnati needs defense, but they need to take the best player who can help them right away on either side of the ball.
  
• I have the Patriots trading up for McFadden, which is sad given the rich will get richer. The Patriots showed last year they have no problem parting with draft picks to get the players they want, and in two cases it paid dividends by getting them the 7th overall pick this year, plus netting Randy Moss for a 4th rounder. That being said, I will be surprised if Bill Parcells decides to keep the 1st overall pick with so many holes to fill, especially if New England and potentially Dallas offer more picks to get them out.
  
• Speaking of Dallas, they have some issues on the offensive side of the ball I could see being addressed. Jerry Jones may not get McFadden, but Felix Jones isn't likely to disappoint if he is there late in the first. Terry Glenn is older and Terrell Owens is starting to head past his prime, and if Jessica Simpson doesn't leave Tony Romo soon, there could be turmoil in Dallas considering TO's history with QB's(Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb say hello).

I will have comments on the Kentucky-Tennessee game sometime Wednesday hopefully.

Cheyne

Florida Game Thoughts

A couple of thoughts.

On the positive: One thing that is different from this years team compared to last year is the hustle. It has taken some time for the players to buy into Gillispie's system and his workout routines, but he is demanding their respect and they are busting their asses for him. Last year's team would have given up and likely would have been blown out by the second half, and there are still signs of it, but nowhere near on the same level.

Once this team gets some quality depth and another big man to complement Patterson, I believe that Kentucky will be on the rise again not only in the SEC, but also nationally.

Now for the negative: Last night's Kentucky-Florida game was the tale of a veteran laden Kentucky squad versus a rebuilding Florida team that featured no seniors and seven freshman. In these types of battles, senior leadership generally wins out. Not at Kentucky. When two of your top senior leaders are playing like freshman at times(not just this game, but the entire season), you will not win many games.

Injuries have been crucial, especially since Jodie Meeks, Derrick Jasper, and to a lesser extent, Patrick Patterson, haven't been playing at 100% health all season. However, if Kentucky is ever going to win on the road in the SEC, they are going to have to learn to accept the adversity and the home-cooking that comes with SEC road games. I'm not making excuses for the Florida and Mississippi State losses, and if the games had been played at Rupp, fans of the said schools would have been claiming worse.

That being said, I do believe Florida is a year or two away from being dangerous again. I do not think we will see anything similar to the "Band of Brothers" again (btw, nice to see Joakim Noah getting some "brotherly love" from his teammates in Chicago), but Florida has the pieces to make a deep title run in a year or two. Nick Calathes I believe will eventually go down as one of the most hated Florida players by Kentucky fans in the same category as Noah and Matt Walsh.

One thing that I am optimistic on, I do believe that the losing streak to Florida will end on Senior Night. Florida will not get the same calls that they got last night in Gainesville and the stakes are going to be too high for Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford to let the crowd down at Rupp. The youth of Florida will show up at Rupp Arena and I look for Kentucky to come out on top.

Cheyne

Defending the Kentucky Fans(Tubby Smith's Departure)

This is quite a bit overdue, as the non conference schedule is past and we are into SEC play, but there is an issue that has still been bothering me.

On March 22nd, 2007, four days after being eliminated 88-76 by Kansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Orlando "Tubby" Smith decided to resign as head coach of the University of Kentucky and accept a "new challenge" as he called it, rebuilding a Minnesota Golden Gopher program that was decimated by the recruiting antics of Dan Monson. Immediately on Sportscenter that evening, the very first person interviewed was Dick Vitale, who immediately praised Tubby for winning five SEC titles and averaging 26 wins a season. In addition, Vitale called out Kentucky fansfor their expectations, comparing them to the Yankees in baseball.

Vitale is right on some points. The expectations at Kentucky are very high, but with those expectations come some of the greatest benefits in college basketball:

• Being able to coach at the winningest program in college basketball history (second to UCLA in NCAA tournament titles).
  
• The ability to recruit the top players in the nation.
  
• A top notch brand new on-campus practice facility.
  
• Being able to follow in the steps of coaches such as Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, and Rick Pitino. Yes, Sutton shamed the program and Pitino is a traitor, but their records speak for themselves.
  
• Being able to play in a downtown arena that leads the nation in home attendance.

In addition to these benefits come the most passionate fans in all of college basketball. Former coach Rick Pitino called Kentucky fans the "Roman Legion of College Basketball". However, with those passionate fans come the expectations, sometimes unrealistic, of leading a team to prominence. Inheriting a roster led by Wayne Turner, Jeff Sheppard, and Scott Padgett, Tubby Smith did just that and took the Wildcats in his first year to their 7'th NCAA Championship.

So what went wrong? Well, as much as people back then would have become furious for even mentioning it, Tubby Smith won that championship with Pitino's players. It sounds like an excuse, but the players that Pitino had left over were still very impressive, just not as much as the 1996 and 1997 teams.

Tubby did have success with his own players, most notably in the 2002/2003 season when his team went 32-4 and went undefeated in SEC play, and would have likely made the Final Four if not for the efforts of Dwayne Wade and an injury to top scorer Keith Bogans. Two years later, Kentucky would again make it to the Elite Eight, losing in double overtime to Michigan St.

Tubby is a successful and accomplished coach, but while his winning is well noted, there are several flaws to Tubby Smith while at Kentucky:

1. Recruiting: You cannot deny the impact that the NBA has made on recruiting. In the day and age of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tracy McGrady, top teams were forced to adapt constantly to the changes being made and Tubby decided instead of going after players who were only going to be there for one year to pursue lesser players who would fit his system and would stay all four years. While Tubby did not go after the one and done players, the players he did recruit did well. Gerald Fitch, Chuck Hayes, Cliff Hawkins, Erik Daniels, Derrick Jasper, and Jodie Meeks are all talented players and three of the first four players have seen time in the NBA. The one recruiting class that consisted of four top recruits, Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, Rajon Rondo, and Randolph Morris, eventually ended up being Tubby's undoing.
   
2. Style of Play: Tubby's style of play, known around the state as "Tubbyball", focused primarily on slowing down the tempo of the game on offense and pressuring the opponents on defense. This was a major turnoff for Kentucky fans who loved the up-tempo style of play that Rick Pitino made popular. Because of this style of play, the scoring distribution was fairly even with no single player dominating a game. Top players that Tubby did pursue nationally began to spurn Kentucky, most notably Tyler Hansborough and Brandan Wright, who committed to North Carolina and cited Kentucky's style of play as a reason for not committing.
   
3. Conditioning: This is something I believe that Tubby needs to address if he is ever going to be truly successful with "his" players at Minnesota. Whether it was because he substituted freely and the players didn't have the motor to compete, or that the death of John Stewart (a commitment who collapsed and died during a high school game) possibly could have affected him in how hard he pushed his players, Tubby Smith teams constantly appeared out of shape and could not play against more physical teams. If you want proof of this, check this years team with Coach Gillispie versus last years team.

These three things led to an overall decline of the Kentucky program in the last two years. Another reason that fans were not too fond of Tubby, unfortunately, is race. I personally do not share these views, but people in the state of Kentucky were not too thrilled to learn that the person coaching in "The House that Rupp Built" was black. You may not find many of these people in Lexington, but get further away from the central part of the state and you will find it still lives.

In closing I leave you with this. Living in West Virginia, people are still bitter over the messy divorce involving Rich Rodriguez leaving WVU for the Big Ten and Michigan. However, the administration at Kentucky is not doing the same insane things that WVU has been claiming since Rodriguez left. It seems like every week something new is surfacing, and whether true or not, some people need to just let go and move on. I wish Tubby the best at Minnesota, and I think his style of play will work well there. I just hope that he adjusts his conditioning, or he will run into the same problems there that he fell into at Kentucky.

Thank you for reading.

Cheyne

First Post

A little bit about me and this blog.

I am currently living in Parkersburg, WV after spending the first 18 years of my life in the great state of Kentucky. It was in Kentucky that I discovered my first true love, the sport of Kentucky basketball.

This blog will cover primarily sports concerning the University of Kentucky, but primarily basketball with a little football thrown in between. Also, I may decide to cover other news in the professional, collegiate, and possibly high school sports world depending on the nature of the story, but this blog will primarily deal with the Kentucky Wildcats.

Thank you and I hope you find the thoughts on this blog somewhat enlightening.

Cheyne S.