UK basketball recruiting has not really picked up like I expected it to under Billy Gillispie. Yes, UK has signed Andre Liggins and Darius Miller, but I expected UK recruiting to be getting a lot more interest from some of the top McDonald's all-Americans by this time.
I noticed UK basketball recruiting has involved a lot of junior college players recently. Nothing against these players, but there is just not enough data to show these recruits pay off very often. I guess beggars can't be choosers sometimes. I have no doubt Billy Gillispie is trying to take UK basketball recruiting to the next level.
Nobody has really mentioned that UK basketball recruiting has been effected by replacing a black head coach with a white head coach. Now, this doesn't cause any concern to me. I know that Tubby Smith was treated like royalty at UK and he got the respect he deserved, but I have to believe there are many African American players that may not like the fact UK chose to hire a white coach after Tubby Smith left. I hope this doesn't effect Kentucky recruiting because it shouldn't.
Coach Smith definitely had an advantage with some recruits at UK because he was African American so we will see if Billy Gillispie and UK basketball recruiting can quickly regain some of the top recruits' attention at UK. I know he has already garnered the attention of a few top profile recruits, but this coaching change and its effect on the Kentucky Wildcats basketball hasn't been fully absorbed yet.
I believe Billy Gillispie will start to lock up all the top in-state talent because he works harder than Pitino as a recruiter and his down-home Texas style will be very appealing to many Kentucky high school players and their families. In addition, after watching the improvement of Crawford and Bradley under Coach Gillispie, players are going to soon discover they can elevate their games tremendously under Coach Gillispie who develops talent as good as any coach in America. This will also boost UK basketball recruiting.
Billy Gillispie could form some truly amazing teams at UK once he gets top talent at the University of Kentucky. This could be the best UK basketball recruiting we've ever seen.
Original Article:
http://ezinearticles.com/?UK-Basketball-Recruiting&id=1245577
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Kentucky Basketball Recruits
Kentucky basketball recruits are looking good so far in 2008. Andre Liggins and Miller are the stars of the class. In addition, it looks like UK may sign a player from Hampton, who has NBA potential. Kentucky basketball recruits will be treated just like all of Gillispie's other players. They will be expected to grow up in a hurry.
I expect to see many Kentucky basketball recruits transfer from UK in the future only because of Billy Gillispie's demanding style. He demands that players play with an unselfish attitude and he expects them to give total effort every practice.
That's a lot of expect from some of the pampered players coming into college from programs where they were a star and the focus of so much adulation.
Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of adulation in Lexington for Kentucky basketball recruits, but that adulation ends when they enter the practice floor for Billy Gillispie where they will run run run%u2026and run some more until they are sick.
Just ask Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley, who thought they were Seniors with a privileged status at UK. These Kentucky basketball recruits were quickly sitting on the bench during games where they were needed.
Billy Gillispie would rather lose playing the right way, than win playing the wrong way. That was his early message to his players. I actually like that's good to see SOME people in this world still have character and do things the right way.
Kentucky basketball recruits can expect to improve beyond their wildest dreams if they can stick to Billy Gillispie's plan. He put formerly underachieving players from Texas A&M into the NBA.
He made Joe Crawford into a star that wasn't even recognizable compared to the past few years. It may be painful, but Kentucky basketball recruits have a lot to look forward to at UK.
See Original Article Here
I expect to see many Kentucky basketball recruits transfer from UK in the future only because of Billy Gillispie's demanding style. He demands that players play with an unselfish attitude and he expects them to give total effort every practice.
That's a lot of expect from some of the pampered players coming into college from programs where they were a star and the focus of so much adulation.
Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of adulation in Lexington for Kentucky basketball recruits, but that adulation ends when they enter the practice floor for Billy Gillispie where they will run run run%u2026and run some more until they are sick.
Just ask Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley, who thought they were Seniors with a privileged status at UK. These Kentucky basketball recruits were quickly sitting on the bench during games where they were needed.
Billy Gillispie would rather lose playing the right way, than win playing the wrong way. That was his early message to his players. I actually like that's good to see SOME people in this world still have character and do things the right way.
Kentucky basketball recruits can expect to improve beyond their wildest dreams if they can stick to Billy Gillispie's plan. He put formerly underachieving players from Texas A&M into the NBA.
He made Joe Crawford into a star that wasn't even recognizable compared to the past few years. It may be painful, but Kentucky basketball recruits have a lot to look forward to at UK.
See Original Article Here
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
University of Kentucky Wildcats Sports
The University of Kentucky Wildcats sports teams are some of the most followed in the whole country. Kentucky fans are notorious for supporting their teams through thick and thin. It helps that Kentucky doesn't have any pro sports teams.
Kentucky fans have followed University of Kentucky Wildcats sports teams ever since Adolph Rupp and Bear Bryan coached basketball and football teams respectively. There was early success in those teams and it seems there has been relative success ever since. Many UK players throughout history are famous too. Many of them return to live in Kentucky or they visit the school often, which helps recruiting in the state.
University of Kentucky Wildcats sports teams have always dominated the majority of college fans in the state compared to the second biggest school, the University of Louisville. Kentucky enrolls many more students from rural areas compared to UL and therefore the school attendance is larger and so is the fan base. My parents are from Eastern Kentucky and they grew up as Kentucky Wildcats fans their whole life.
This fanaticism about University of Kentucky Wildcats sports was passed down to me so the cycle continues! I bleed blue and that's just the way it is...I love looking forward to the upcoming seasons and analyzing University of Kentucky sports teams recruiting classes. Rich Brooks has me really excited about the upcoming football season. The last two years, Kentucky football has won two bowls and the team just seems to be getting better every year.
Read the rest here:
http://ezinearticles.com/?University-of-Kentucky-Wildcats-Sports&id=1436127
Kentucky fans have followed University of Kentucky Wildcats sports teams ever since Adolph Rupp and Bear Bryan coached basketball and football teams respectively. There was early success in those teams and it seems there has been relative success ever since. Many UK players throughout history are famous too. Many of them return to live in Kentucky or they visit the school often, which helps recruiting in the state.
University of Kentucky Wildcats sports teams have always dominated the majority of college fans in the state compared to the second biggest school, the University of Louisville. Kentucky enrolls many more students from rural areas compared to UL and therefore the school attendance is larger and so is the fan base. My parents are from Eastern Kentucky and they grew up as Kentucky Wildcats fans their whole life.
This fanaticism about University of Kentucky Wildcats sports was passed down to me so the cycle continues! I bleed blue and that's just the way it is...I love looking forward to the upcoming seasons and analyzing University of Kentucky sports teams recruiting classes. Rich Brooks has me really excited about the upcoming football season. The last two years, Kentucky football has won two bowls and the team just seems to be getting better every year.
Read the rest here:
http://ezinearticles.com/?University-of-Kentucky-Wildcats-Sports&id=1436127
Friday, August 22, 2008
Interesting snippet below about Gillispie and the thought of getting a new UK basketball arena. Does UK really need new arena? Does Rupp Arena need to be replaced? Not sure...
________________________________________________________________
Gillispie called Rupp Arena “one of the most special places ever.” But, he added, “You’re not going to go backward. You see if you can improve upon the fantastic facilities you already have.”
UK baseball coach Gary Henderson looked favorably on a new baseball stadium.
“It’d be good for Kentucky baseball because a new stadium is commitment,” he said.
UK went public with its consideration of new basketball and baseball venues on Thursday when Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart asked the Lexington Center Corp., which operates Rupp Arena, to endorse a study into the feasibility of building a new arena in downtown Lexington.
“I think we play in the best arena in the world right now,” Gillispie said in reaction to the feasibility study. “Everybody knows that, and I really believe acknowledges that.
“But when you get a chance to look into the possibility of even improving on something of that nature, that’s pretty exciting.”
When asked how Rupp Arena could be improved upon, Gillispie noted that such facilities have a finite shelf life. He also mentioned “trends” in facilities, which would include an athletic department’s current affection for the money-making potential of luxury suites and priority seating plans.
Gillispie said that such bottom-line considerations leave only a “listen and learn” role for coaches.
“I don’t think it’s proper for basketball coaches to do anything but support the leadership of the city and the school and the administration of the school.”
As for baseball, Henderson sounded optimistic that UK would build a new stadium, probably across Alumni Drive from the Arboretum.
“No question, we’re going to have, in the near future, a new facility,” Henderson said.
Deputy Director of Athletics Rob Mullens said that the plan would have softball move to the existing baseball facilities at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
“Our facility has been plenty good for us to be successful here,” Henderson said. “But there are a number of new facilities and new changes in the conference. And we have to keep up.
____________________________________________________________
Read Original Article Here
Go Big Blue! Chad
________________________________________________________________
Gillispie called Rupp Arena “one of the most special places ever.” But, he added, “You’re not going to go backward. You see if you can improve upon the fantastic facilities you already have.”
UK baseball coach Gary Henderson looked favorably on a new baseball stadium.
“It’d be good for Kentucky baseball because a new stadium is commitment,” he said.
UK went public with its consideration of new basketball and baseball venues on Thursday when Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart asked the Lexington Center Corp., which operates Rupp Arena, to endorse a study into the feasibility of building a new arena in downtown Lexington.
“I think we play in the best arena in the world right now,” Gillispie said in reaction to the feasibility study. “Everybody knows that, and I really believe acknowledges that.
“But when you get a chance to look into the possibility of even improving on something of that nature, that’s pretty exciting.”
When asked how Rupp Arena could be improved upon, Gillispie noted that such facilities have a finite shelf life. He also mentioned “trends” in facilities, which would include an athletic department’s current affection for the money-making potential of luxury suites and priority seating plans.
Gillispie said that such bottom-line considerations leave only a “listen and learn” role for coaches.
“I don’t think it’s proper for basketball coaches to do anything but support the leadership of the city and the school and the administration of the school.”
As for baseball, Henderson sounded optimistic that UK would build a new stadium, probably across Alumni Drive from the Arboretum.
“No question, we’re going to have, in the near future, a new facility,” Henderson said.
Deputy Director of Athletics Rob Mullens said that the plan would have softball move to the existing baseball facilities at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
“Our facility has been plenty good for us to be successful here,” Henderson said. “But there are a number of new facilities and new changes in the conference. And we have to keep up.
____________________________________________________________
Read Original Article Here
Go Big Blue! Chad
Monday, August 18, 2008
Check out some excerpts from the article below...It just shows the media has something against UK and coach Rupp.
"Don Barksdale was a pioneering athlete in the mid-20th Century. He was a member of the Gold Medal 48 Olympic Basketball Team and the Philips Oilers Championship Team.
In 1948, he was the first African American to play with the U.S. Olympic team. He
joined the team in Basketball at the 1948 Summer Olympics. He became the first Africa-American basketball player to win a gold medal in the Summer Olympics.
Barksdale, who had been playing with the Amateur Athletic
Union’s Oakland Bittners, was given an at-large berth from the independent.
“This guy fought, fought, and fought,” Barksdale said, “and I think finally the coach of Phillips 66 [Omar Browning] had said, ‘That son of a bitch is the best basketball player in the country outside of Bob Kurland, so I don’t know how we can turn him down.’ So they picked me, but Maggiora said he went through holy hell for it - closed-door meetings and begging.”
The 1948 Olympic team had five Kentucky Wildcats basketball players who had just won the very first Wildcat national championship in the 1948 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. The rest of the Olympic team, consisting of the AAU Champions Phillips Oilers, and the Kentucky team later scrimmaged on Stoll Field in front of 14,000 spectators, the largest crowd to watch basketball in Kentucky at that time. Barksdale became the first African-American to play against Kentucky in Lexington. He could not stay at the hotel with the rest of the team, but instead stayed with a black host family.[3]
“[Rupp] turned out to be my closest friend,” Barksdale said. “We went to London and won all 12 games and got the gold medal.” But he had to brush off indignities just about every step of the way. . . Later, coach Rupp told Barksdale, “Son, I wish things weren’t like that, but there’s nothing you or I can do about it.” Barksdale agreed. He lived by a very simple philosophy. He wasn’t interested in protest; he was interested in playing basketball. He had faced prejudice before, and he knew that he would face it again.
Does that sound like a racist. Why does the American Sports Press get away with deriding Rupp as a racist when to a man his contemporaries both black and white say the exact opposite? Look to Duke in 1966. All White Team as well. But somehow that fact is never mentioned in all of the talk of “walls tumbling down.” When will these media types start to deal in fact. Instead they lie and cheat and defame persons with innuendo, deception, lies and half truths.
There are hundreds of stories that attest to the lie that is perpetuated by ESPN and their crew of amatuers. Yet, they refuse to back down from their slander. All the while, they canonize a guy like John Wooden whose greatest booster openly paid his players. Paid for their clothes, cars and abortions. I’m not saying that Wooden doesn’t deserve his accolades. He won and won big. But his achievements are tainted with drug money. Neither ESPN nor the NCAA will go near those stories. Wooden lived in denial as Papa Sam paid for his rosters. Either that or he was complicit in the violations. Yet, Wooden will never be investigated. What is the difference between Papa Sam and his relationship with Bill Walton and the Reggie Bush situation or the recent O.J. Mayo “scandal.”
Speak to me of hypocrisy. These supposed professionals cowardly destroy the reputation of one man after his death based on fallacies and lies. "
See Original Article Here
This is a disgrace. UK should actively tell the media to get this story corrected.
Chad
"Don Barksdale was a pioneering athlete in the mid-20th Century. He was a member of the Gold Medal 48 Olympic Basketball Team and the Philips Oilers Championship Team.
In 1948, he was the first African American to play with the U.S. Olympic team. He
joined the team in Basketball at the 1948 Summer Olympics. He became the first Africa-American basketball player to win a gold medal in the Summer Olympics.
Barksdale, who had been playing with the Amateur Athletic
Union’s Oakland Bittners, was given an at-large berth from the independent.
“This guy fought, fought, and fought,” Barksdale said, “and I think finally the coach of Phillips 66 [Omar Browning] had said, ‘That son of a bitch is the best basketball player in the country outside of Bob Kurland, so I don’t know how we can turn him down.’ So they picked me, but Maggiora said he went through holy hell for it - closed-door meetings and begging.”
The 1948 Olympic team had five Kentucky Wildcats basketball players who had just won the very first Wildcat national championship in the 1948 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. The rest of the Olympic team, consisting of the AAU Champions Phillips Oilers, and the Kentucky team later scrimmaged on Stoll Field in front of 14,000 spectators, the largest crowd to watch basketball in Kentucky at that time. Barksdale became the first African-American to play against Kentucky in Lexington. He could not stay at the hotel with the rest of the team, but instead stayed with a black host family.[3]
“[Rupp] turned out to be my closest friend,” Barksdale said. “We went to London and won all 12 games and got the gold medal.” But he had to brush off indignities just about every step of the way. . . Later, coach Rupp told Barksdale, “Son, I wish things weren’t like that, but there’s nothing you or I can do about it.” Barksdale agreed. He lived by a very simple philosophy. He wasn’t interested in protest; he was interested in playing basketball. He had faced prejudice before, and he knew that he would face it again.
Does that sound like a racist. Why does the American Sports Press get away with deriding Rupp as a racist when to a man his contemporaries both black and white say the exact opposite? Look to Duke in 1966. All White Team as well. But somehow that fact is never mentioned in all of the talk of “walls tumbling down.” When will these media types start to deal in fact. Instead they lie and cheat and defame persons with innuendo, deception, lies and half truths.
There are hundreds of stories that attest to the lie that is perpetuated by ESPN and their crew of amatuers. Yet, they refuse to back down from their slander. All the while, they canonize a guy like John Wooden whose greatest booster openly paid his players. Paid for their clothes, cars and abortions. I’m not saying that Wooden doesn’t deserve his accolades. He won and won big. But his achievements are tainted with drug money. Neither ESPN nor the NCAA will go near those stories. Wooden lived in denial as Papa Sam paid for his rosters. Either that or he was complicit in the violations. Yet, Wooden will never be investigated. What is the difference between Papa Sam and his relationship with Bill Walton and the Reggie Bush situation or the recent O.J. Mayo “scandal.”
Speak to me of hypocrisy. These supposed professionals cowardly destroy the reputation of one man after his death based on fallacies and lies. "
See Original Article Here
This is a disgrace. UK should actively tell the media to get this story corrected.
Chad
Friday, August 15, 2008
Man, the Cats have their work cut out for them against UNC in basketball this year. Check out the quote below....
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/47611-kentucky-to-open-the-ncaa-bb-season-with-top-dog
"The Wildcats will open with preseason favorite North Carolina in Chapel Hill November 18 in both team's first scheduled game of the season.
The game time is a result of a growing football presence in the game's usual December spot due to conference championship games. To add interest, ESPN will pick up the coverage in part with an all-day college basketball extravaganza.
The Heels will bring back all five starters from a Final Four team a year ago along with bringing in three McDonald's All-Americans.
Kentucky will be looking to continue to improve from the 07-08 season where the Wildcats struggled early, but had a solid end to last season.
Kentucky will have to replace guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley along with having the possibility of Patrick Patterson not being up to speed after last year's season ending injury."
_________________________________________________________________
I'd rather we play a tough schedule though....This will benefit the Gillispie squad later in the year. Best to get the rough spots out early....
Chad
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/47611-kentucky-to-open-the-ncaa-bb-season-with-top-dog
"The Wildcats will open with preseason favorite North Carolina in Chapel Hill November 18 in both team's first scheduled game of the season.
The game time is a result of a growing football presence in the game's usual December spot due to conference championship games. To add interest, ESPN will pick up the coverage in part with an all-day college basketball extravaganza.
The Heels will bring back all five starters from a Final Four team a year ago along with bringing in three McDonald's All-Americans.
Kentucky will be looking to continue to improve from the 07-08 season where the Wildcats struggled early, but had a solid end to last season.
Kentucky will have to replace guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley along with having the possibility of Patrick Patterson not being up to speed after last year's season ending injury."
_________________________________________________________________
I'd rather we play a tough schedule though....This will benefit the Gillispie squad later in the year. Best to get the rough spots out early....
Chad
Monday, August 11, 2008
This is what Travis Ford recently said about getting in shape at OSU...
"Ford, OSU's new head basketball coach, is a former point guard at Missouri and Kentucky. When Ford transferred to Kentucky, coach Rick Pitino advised Ford to lose weight, or else. "I came in at 160 and he wanted me at 150," Ford said during a Friday interview at his basketball camp in Jenks. "I didn't think I could play at 150. I didn't think it was possible. I was like, man, this is the SEC and I'm not big to begin with. But once I got down to 150, I realized what a difference it made for me.
It allowed me to play longer. I didn't get as tired as quick, so there was a difference and that's what I'm trying to convince guys like Byron of." Eaton and his teammates will have to be lean because Ford, who uses an up-tempo style, is picking up the pace of play in Stillwater. "That doesn't mean you don't need to be in shape to play other systems," Ford said. "But I know in this one you cannot survive unless you are in the best shape of your
CM8ShowAd("336x280");
life."
Ford said his players, Eaton included, have done a great job of getting in shape this summer. Eaton, who has struggled to stay svelte in three seasons as a starter, weighed 243 pounds in early June. "Which is absurd," Ford said. "Whether you are playing basketball or not, that's too much for a 19- or 20-year-old kid to be weighing in at 5-9, 243. And here he is trying to make the NBA."
Read Original Article Here
________________________________________________________________
I gotta agree...If you're going to play Division I, every pound of fat that you can shed is going to make a difference in your ability to press through fatigue. I think Travis will be a great coach at OSU.
Chad
"Ford, OSU's new head basketball coach, is a former point guard at Missouri and Kentucky. When Ford transferred to Kentucky, coach Rick Pitino advised Ford to lose weight, or else. "I came in at 160 and he wanted me at 150," Ford said during a Friday interview at his basketball camp in Jenks. "I didn't think I could play at 150. I didn't think it was possible. I was like, man, this is the SEC and I'm not big to begin with. But once I got down to 150, I realized what a difference it made for me.
It allowed me to play longer. I didn't get as tired as quick, so there was a difference and that's what I'm trying to convince guys like Byron of." Eaton and his teammates will have to be lean because Ford, who uses an up-tempo style, is picking up the pace of play in Stillwater. "That doesn't mean you don't need to be in shape to play other systems," Ford said. "But I know in this one you cannot survive unless you are in the best shape of your
CM8ShowAd("336x280");
life."
Ford said his players, Eaton included, have done a great job of getting in shape this summer. Eaton, who has struggled to stay svelte in three seasons as a starter, weighed 243 pounds in early June. "Which is absurd," Ford said. "Whether you are playing basketball or not, that's too much for a 19- or 20-year-old kid to be weighing in at 5-9, 243. And here he is trying to make the NBA."
Read Original Article Here
________________________________________________________________
I gotta agree...If you're going to play Division I, every pound of fat that you can shed is going to make a difference in your ability to press through fatigue. I think Travis will be a great coach at OSU.
Chad
Sunday, August 3, 2008
This article was recently posted at UK Wildcat Country discussing the strength of UK's upcoming basketball schedule. You can read the original post here:
http://www.ukwildcatcountry.com/2008/08/quick-glance-at-2008-09-kentucky.html
"I thought it was an absolutely brilliant scheduling strategy to have the VMI game come immediately before the North Carolina game. I wouldn’t dare compare the two, but in case you didn’t know, VMI plays an insanely fast-paced style of ball that leads the country in scoring every year. There can be no better preparation for the North Carolina style than playing a team that plays even faster than Carolina.I’m a little surprised that the team is playing consecutive games in December against Miami and MVSU, mainly because that’s usually reserved for the preseason tournaments like the one in Vegas in November. It will be a good challenge for the guys because the Hurricanes will be a preseason top 15 team, possibly even top 10. Frank Haith is a Rick Barnes disciple, which means he’s a recruiting terror. I think that by the end of last season, Miami was playing better than any team in the ACC other than North Carolina. They closed the season well and it should carry over into this coming season. Having to play MVSU the next day is fine because if you’re going deep in the tournament, you’ll have to play on short rest, and that’s exactly what will happen.The stretch that concerns me the most is the five games after the conference opener where a home game against Auburn is sandwiched in between two road trips. It won’t be easy to come away with a win against any of those teams, even Georgia, who is expected to have a down year. Do you think Dennis Felton will switch to a style that is higher risk and could potentially lead to his Bulldogs being blown away? I didn’t think so."
He makes note of the Miami Hurricanes being a game to really watch besides the North Carolina game. I totally agree because the Canes will be tough this year and if my memory serves me right, I believe Leonard Hamilton is still coaching at Miami? I think the Cats will be improved this year under Gillispie.
Chad
http://www.ukwildcatcountry.com/2008/08/quick-glance-at-2008-09-kentucky.html
"I thought it was an absolutely brilliant scheduling strategy to have the VMI game come immediately before the North Carolina game. I wouldn’t dare compare the two, but in case you didn’t know, VMI plays an insanely fast-paced style of ball that leads the country in scoring every year. There can be no better preparation for the North Carolina style than playing a team that plays even faster than Carolina.I’m a little surprised that the team is playing consecutive games in December against Miami and MVSU, mainly because that’s usually reserved for the preseason tournaments like the one in Vegas in November. It will be a good challenge for the guys because the Hurricanes will be a preseason top 15 team, possibly even top 10. Frank Haith is a Rick Barnes disciple, which means he’s a recruiting terror. I think that by the end of last season, Miami was playing better than any team in the ACC other than North Carolina. They closed the season well and it should carry over into this coming season. Having to play MVSU the next day is fine because if you’re going deep in the tournament, you’ll have to play on short rest, and that’s exactly what will happen.The stretch that concerns me the most is the five games after the conference opener where a home game against Auburn is sandwiched in between two road trips. It won’t be easy to come away with a win against any of those teams, even Georgia, who is expected to have a down year. Do you think Dennis Felton will switch to a style that is higher risk and could potentially lead to his Bulldogs being blown away? I didn’t think so."
He makes note of the Miami Hurricanes being a game to really watch besides the North Carolina game. I totally agree because the Canes will be tough this year and if my memory serves me right, I believe Leonard Hamilton is still coaching at Miami? I think the Cats will be improved this year under Gillispie.
Chad
Saturday, August 2, 2008
UK goes to North Carolina, welcomes Indiana to Rupp Arena and visits Louisville in Freedom Hall on Sunday Jan. 4. Those are the highlights of Kentucky's second basketball schedule under coach Billy Gillispie.And, of coure, the Wildcats also make a trip to Las Vegas on Thanksgiving Weekend, the same trip U of L made last year and Western Kentucky made two years ago. I went to Vegas last year. Highly recommend it.Although I'll warn you about one thing: The arena is attached to a casino.-- the Orleans, which is about a mile West of the Strip. The games are not played in the 18,000-seat arena where UNLV plays. The Orleans is nice, but it only seats about 6,000 people. Better start looking for tickets (as well as rooms and flights) quickly if you plan to attend.Here is the complete 08-09 UK basketball schedule.
Date Opponent Live TV Time
Nov. 3 (Mon) MISSOURI - ST. LOUIS [Exh.] / 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 (Fri) TBA [Exh.] / 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 (Fri) VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE / 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 18 (Tue) at North Carolina 9:00 p.m.
Nov. 22 (Sat) 1 DELAWARE STATE / Noon
Nov. 24 (Mon) 1 LONGWOOD / 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 28 (Fri) 2 vs. Kansas State 11:59 p.m.
Nov. 29 (Sat) 2 vs. West Virginia/Iowa TBA 7:30/10:30 p.m.
Dec. 3 (Wed) LAMAR 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 6 (Sat) MIAMI (FL) 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 (Sun) MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 3:00 p.m.
Dec. 13 (Sat) INDIANA 4:00 p.m.
Dec. 20 (Sat) vs. Appalachian State (at Louisville) Noon
Dec. 22 (Mon) TENNESSEE STATE / 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 27 (Sat) FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3:00 p.m.
Dec. 29 (Mon) CENTRAL MICHIGAN 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 4 (Sun) at Louisville 1:30/4:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 (Sat) • VANDERBILT 2:00 p.m.
Jan. 13 (Tue) • at Tennessee 9:00 p.m.
Jan. 18 (Sun) • at Georgia Noon
Jan. 21 (Wed) • AUBURN 9:00 p.m.
Jan. 24 (Sat) • at Alabama 3:00 p.m.
Jan. 27 (Tue) • at Ole Miss 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 31 (Sat) • SOUTH CAROLINA 3:00 p.m.
Feb. 3 (Tue) • MISSISSIPPI STATE 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 10 (Tue) • FLORIDA 9:00 p.m.
Feb. 14 (Sat) • at Arkansas 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 17 (Tue) • at Vanderbilt 9:00 p.m.
Feb. 21 (Sat) • TENNESSEE 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 25 (Wed) • at South Carolina 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 28 (Sat) • LSU 2:00 p.m.
Mar. 4 (Wed) • GEORGIA 8:00 p.m.
Mar. 7 (Sat) • at Florida 2:00 p.m.
Mar.12-15(Th-Su) 3 SEC Tournament
Click Here to Read original Article
Date Opponent Live TV Time
Nov. 3 (Mon) MISSOURI - ST. LOUIS [Exh.] / 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 (Fri) TBA [Exh.] / 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 (Fri) VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE / 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 18 (Tue) at North Carolina 9:00 p.m.
Nov. 22 (Sat) 1 DELAWARE STATE / Noon
Nov. 24 (Mon) 1 LONGWOOD / 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 28 (Fri) 2 vs. Kansas State 11:59 p.m.
Nov. 29 (Sat) 2 vs. West Virginia/Iowa TBA 7:30/10:30 p.m.
Dec. 3 (Wed) LAMAR 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 6 (Sat) MIAMI (FL) 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 (Sun) MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 3:00 p.m.
Dec. 13 (Sat) INDIANA 4:00 p.m.
Dec. 20 (Sat) vs. Appalachian State (at Louisville) Noon
Dec. 22 (Mon) TENNESSEE STATE / 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 27 (Sat) FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3:00 p.m.
Dec. 29 (Mon) CENTRAL MICHIGAN 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 4 (Sun) at Louisville 1:30/4:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 (Sat) • VANDERBILT 2:00 p.m.
Jan. 13 (Tue) • at Tennessee 9:00 p.m.
Jan. 18 (Sun) • at Georgia Noon
Jan. 21 (Wed) • AUBURN 9:00 p.m.
Jan. 24 (Sat) • at Alabama 3:00 p.m.
Jan. 27 (Tue) • at Ole Miss 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 31 (Sat) • SOUTH CAROLINA 3:00 p.m.
Feb. 3 (Tue) • MISSISSIPPI STATE 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 10 (Tue) • FLORIDA 9:00 p.m.
Feb. 14 (Sat) • at Arkansas 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 17 (Tue) • at Vanderbilt 9:00 p.m.
Feb. 21 (Sat) • TENNESSEE 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 25 (Wed) • at South Carolina 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 28 (Sat) • LSU 2:00 p.m.
Mar. 4 (Wed) • GEORGIA 8:00 p.m.
Mar. 7 (Sat) • at Florida 2:00 p.m.
Mar.12-15(Th-Su) 3 SEC Tournament
Click Here to Read original Article
Friday, August 1, 2008
Kentucky Spending Money on Recruiting
This isn’t the first time in my life that I’ve tried to find a way for Jay-Z’s lyrics to correlate to my life and I promise you that this won’t be the last, but it seems as if Jigga might have been onto something when he uttered the above line in 2001. In the world of college athletics, it seems that money talks - whether under the table or out in the open - and big programs are spending more and more in an effort to get a bigger piece of the cash cow that is TV deals and endorsements.
So, it came as no surprise that when the Chronicle of Higher Education released a report of school’s recruiting spending for the 2006-2007 that almost half of the programs in the country had doubled or tripled their budgets in the past decade. Kentucky found themselves ranked 20th overall in spending and the orange-clad inbreds from the south finished first. It should be noted that these figures are for all sports, both men’s and women’s, but you can assume the majority of the funding went to football and men’s basketball. Here are the exact figures and the top 20 rankings:
1. Tennessee - $2,005,7002. Notre Dame - $1,758,3003. Florida - $1,451,4004. Auburn - $1,374,9005. Kansas State - $1,316,7006. Georgia - $1,284,0007. Nebraska - $1,275,0008. Arkansas - $1,259,7009. Duke - $1,245,30010. Ohio State - $1,236,80011. Illinois - $1,203,50012. Texas - $1,156,80013. Syracuse - $1,121,20014. Oklahoma - $1,120,80015. Virginia - $1,112,00016. Georgia Tech - $1,111,90017. Michigan State - $1,098,80018. West Virginia - $1,094,20019. Oregon - $1,077,30020. Kentucky - $1,056,100
You can argue all you want about whether or not Tennessee validated itself in spending that sort of money, but you have to admit that with a top football team, a basketball team that rapidly rose in stature and a women’s team that recruits all over the country, that their spending might be justified. Feel free to debate that statement below. But, I’m a little surprised that Kentucky isn’t ranked higher because of their cross-country basketball recruiting and their need to spend in hopes of competing with the SEC football powers. It’s all just water cooler conjecture really. But, I thought it might be interesting to see what Tennessee could have purchased with that chunk of change instead of targeting recruits. Here is what they could have spent their money on:
- 80,388 boxes of TrimSpa chocolates for Phil Fulmer
- Bruce Pearl could have purchased 100,335 copies of Girls Gone Wild: Dorm Room Fantasies
- They could have bailed out roughly 573 players arrested for misdemeanors. About 133 for felonies.
- Pat Summitt could have had surgery to turn into a man. Then back to a woman. Then back to a man. Woman. Man. Woman. Man. Woman. Man. Woman. And so on….for about 20 times. I’ll save you the counting on your fingers. She ends as a woman.
- The managers could have stocked up on 286,938 sticks of Gillette Clinical Strength Advanced Solid Anti-Perspirant for Pearl
- According to WikiAnswers, Duke Crews and Ramar Smith could have purchased 8,022 ounces of weed
- They could get 9 more years of the Buzz Peterson era
- Bruce Pearl could have purchased 45,594 Olympus WS-100 digital voice recorders for the next time he wanted to record conversations with a recruit to bring down an opposing coach
All in all, the Vols did ok I guess with what they spent. But, I think next time around they might want to church it up a bit and make things interesting. I know I would. Or, at least get some of that prescription anti-perspirant. Dude sweats WAY too much.
[link]
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24 Responses to “Getting recruiting bang for the buck?”
looking4number8 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:43 pm
With it being for all sports its hard to tell what is really what. It is no surprise to see Tenn. #1 being good in at least three teams, don’t keep up with really any of the others…
Our football team seems to stay fairly local, majority of guys from the east side. The top four on that list are all football powers. Football has a lot more guys to recruit.
We know BCG is everywhere but at the same time he has been reported to be stopping at fast places like McDonald’s so he isn’t spending the big bucks on fine dining all the time.
Don’t we have our own private jet now? I know many programs including UT do not, so spending money on flights is not as much with having your own plane.
ale8one Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
It’s obvious Kansas St. does not spend their money wisely.
UKchrisb Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:46 pm
That was when Tubby was recruiting 2006-2007
Forrest4Three Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:46 pm
YEa Tubby’s last night. Barely over a Mill..
I bet we are moved up on this list now.
Forrest4Three Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I bet the football team spent more than Tubby did that year. It was Tubby’s last year…. just mailed it inh.
The 5 Star Dribbler Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I can’t wait til Ol’Bruce gets busted for stalking the co-ed’s.
Marcs Minge Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Funny funny stuff
SeoulCat Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Excellent Beisner–one of your best postings yet!
The Pat Summitt bit had…has…me rolling, hilarious!Keep up the good work!
(p.s. I share your condolences on Griff..it wasn’t supposed to have ended this way..now I’ll cry myself to sleep)
The 5 Star Dribbler Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Any exact $$ figures on the amount of Super 8 Motel suites shared by Pat and Bruce during recruiting trips?
Marcs Minge Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Summit could buy enough studio time to queef a cover to Stairway to Heaven.
GummyBear Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I,as well, share in the condolences of the Griffey-less Reds and rejoice in the general jackassery that is Bruce Pearl.
JKW1974 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:40 pm
My guess is that when they do the next list, we will have moved up quite a bit. My sense is that Billy G. is spending a lot more on recruiting than Tubby did. Plus, I would bet that the football program and other sports have kicked it up a notch….
The 5 Star Dribbler Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
The picture of Pat’s make-over is nasty.
payne Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I am amused.
Deebo Says: July 31st, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Ooops Memphis…I hope this FedEx bullshit (amongst God knows what else) they have going on over there does that slimeball Calipari and his program some real damage. Gotta kinda play by the rules better when you start to get noticed Johnny.
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/8399474/NCAA-to-investigate-Memphis -booster’s-phone-call
ConcreteCat Says: July 31st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Thanks for the “ridiculous manner”, very funny!
sortleader2 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Please tell me Transy out spent Centre?
jr braddy lives Says: July 31st, 2008 at 6:58 pm
2)That’s just how much it cost to get Beasley.
kermie18 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Where does Louisville rank?
sortleader2 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 7:22 pm
How much of Duke’s money was spent recruiting defense lawyers for their Lacrosse team, and “entertainers” for the aquittal party? Historically, the NCAA seems to always get ‘lost’ navigating “Tobacco Road” for recruiting violations. Hmmm?
bluemeaway Says: July 31st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
poor Notre Dame, all that money and nothing to show for it
bigdinky Says: July 31st, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Summit should have one of those addadicktomys. Pearl already has obviously.
scfcats Says: August 1st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
No UCLA, and no Southern Cal surprised me a bit.
ransmith Says: August 1st, 2008 at 1:07 pm
The issue is not that UT is ranked number 1 and UK number 20, but rather the fact that UT ($2,005,700) is spending double what UK ($1,056,100)is.
UK is not spending enough!
UK probably should be spending in the $1,250,000 to $1,500,000 range. That would put them in the Ohio State, Duke, Arkansa, Georgia, Auburn and Florida range.
As for value, I would have to say that Florida at $1,451,400 is getting better value for their money spent than UT at $2,005,700.
Read the Original Article Here: http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=6817
So, it came as no surprise that when the Chronicle of Higher Education released a report of school’s recruiting spending for the 2006-2007 that almost half of the programs in the country had doubled or tripled their budgets in the past decade. Kentucky found themselves ranked 20th overall in spending and the orange-clad inbreds from the south finished first. It should be noted that these figures are for all sports, both men’s and women’s, but you can assume the majority of the funding went to football and men’s basketball. Here are the exact figures and the top 20 rankings:
1. Tennessee - $2,005,7002. Notre Dame - $1,758,3003. Florida - $1,451,4004. Auburn - $1,374,9005. Kansas State - $1,316,7006. Georgia - $1,284,0007. Nebraska - $1,275,0008. Arkansas - $1,259,7009. Duke - $1,245,30010. Ohio State - $1,236,80011. Illinois - $1,203,50012. Texas - $1,156,80013. Syracuse - $1,121,20014. Oklahoma - $1,120,80015. Virginia - $1,112,00016. Georgia Tech - $1,111,90017. Michigan State - $1,098,80018. West Virginia - $1,094,20019. Oregon - $1,077,30020. Kentucky - $1,056,100
You can argue all you want about whether or not Tennessee validated itself in spending that sort of money, but you have to admit that with a top football team, a basketball team that rapidly rose in stature and a women’s team that recruits all over the country, that their spending might be justified. Feel free to debate that statement below. But, I’m a little surprised that Kentucky isn’t ranked higher because of their cross-country basketball recruiting and their need to spend in hopes of competing with the SEC football powers. It’s all just water cooler conjecture really. But, I thought it might be interesting to see what Tennessee could have purchased with that chunk of change instead of targeting recruits. Here is what they could have spent their money on:
- 80,388 boxes of TrimSpa chocolates for Phil Fulmer
- Bruce Pearl could have purchased 100,335 copies of Girls Gone Wild: Dorm Room Fantasies
- They could have bailed out roughly 573 players arrested for misdemeanors. About 133 for felonies.
- Pat Summitt could have had surgery to turn into a man. Then back to a woman. Then back to a man. Woman. Man. Woman. Man. Woman. Man. Woman. And so on….for about 20 times. I’ll save you the counting on your fingers. She ends as a woman.
- The managers could have stocked up on 286,938 sticks of Gillette Clinical Strength Advanced Solid Anti-Perspirant for Pearl
- According to WikiAnswers, Duke Crews and Ramar Smith could have purchased 8,022 ounces of weed
- They could get 9 more years of the Buzz Peterson era
- Bruce Pearl could have purchased 45,594 Olympus WS-100 digital voice recorders for the next time he wanted to record conversations with a recruit to bring down an opposing coach
All in all, the Vols did ok I guess with what they spent. But, I think next time around they might want to church it up a bit and make things interesting. I know I would. Or, at least get some of that prescription anti-perspirant. Dude sweats WAY too much.
[link]
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24 Responses to “Getting recruiting bang for the buck?”
looking4number8 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:43 pm
With it being for all sports its hard to tell what is really what. It is no surprise to see Tenn. #1 being good in at least three teams, don’t keep up with really any of the others…
Our football team seems to stay fairly local, majority of guys from the east side. The top four on that list are all football powers. Football has a lot more guys to recruit.
We know BCG is everywhere but at the same time he has been reported to be stopping at fast places like McDonald’s so he isn’t spending the big bucks on fine dining all the time.
Don’t we have our own private jet now? I know many programs including UT do not, so spending money on flights is not as much with having your own plane.
ale8one Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
It’s obvious Kansas St. does not spend their money wisely.
UKchrisb Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:46 pm
That was when Tubby was recruiting 2006-2007
Forrest4Three Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:46 pm
YEa Tubby’s last night. Barely over a Mill..
I bet we are moved up on this list now.
Forrest4Three Says: July 31st, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I bet the football team spent more than Tubby did that year. It was Tubby’s last year…. just mailed it inh.
The 5 Star Dribbler Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I can’t wait til Ol’Bruce gets busted for stalking the co-ed’s.
Marcs Minge Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Funny funny stuff
SeoulCat Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Excellent Beisner–one of your best postings yet!
The Pat Summitt bit had…has…me rolling, hilarious!Keep up the good work!
(p.s. I share your condolences on Griff..it wasn’t supposed to have ended this way..now I’ll cry myself to sleep)
The 5 Star Dribbler Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Any exact $$ figures on the amount of Super 8 Motel suites shared by Pat and Bruce during recruiting trips?
Marcs Minge Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Summit could buy enough studio time to queef a cover to Stairway to Heaven.
GummyBear Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I,as well, share in the condolences of the Griffey-less Reds and rejoice in the general jackassery that is Bruce Pearl.
JKW1974 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:40 pm
My guess is that when they do the next list, we will have moved up quite a bit. My sense is that Billy G. is spending a lot more on recruiting than Tubby did. Plus, I would bet that the football program and other sports have kicked it up a notch….
The 5 Star Dribbler Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
The picture of Pat’s make-over is nasty.
payne Says: July 31st, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I am amused.
Deebo Says: July 31st, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Ooops Memphis…I hope this FedEx bullshit (amongst God knows what else) they have going on over there does that slimeball Calipari and his program some real damage. Gotta kinda play by the rules better when you start to get noticed Johnny.
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/8399474/NCAA-to-investigate-Memphis -booster’s-phone-call
ConcreteCat Says: July 31st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Thanks for the “ridiculous manner”, very funny!
sortleader2 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Please tell me Transy out spent Centre?
jr braddy lives Says: July 31st, 2008 at 6:58 pm
2)That’s just how much it cost to get Beasley.
kermie18 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Where does Louisville rank?
sortleader2 Says: July 31st, 2008 at 7:22 pm
How much of Duke’s money was spent recruiting defense lawyers for their Lacrosse team, and “entertainers” for the aquittal party? Historically, the NCAA seems to always get ‘lost’ navigating “Tobacco Road” for recruiting violations. Hmmm?
bluemeaway Says: July 31st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
poor Notre Dame, all that money and nothing to show for it
bigdinky Says: July 31st, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Summit should have one of those addadicktomys. Pearl already has obviously.
scfcats Says: August 1st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
No UCLA, and no Southern Cal surprised me a bit.
ransmith Says: August 1st, 2008 at 1:07 pm
The issue is not that UT is ranked number 1 and UK number 20, but rather the fact that UT ($2,005,700) is spending double what UK ($1,056,100)is.
UK is not spending enough!
UK probably should be spending in the $1,250,000 to $1,500,000 range. That would put them in the Ohio State, Duke, Arkansa, Georgia, Auburn and Florida range.
As for value, I would have to say that Florida at $1,451,400 is getting better value for their money spent than UT at $2,005,700.
Read the Original Article Here: http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=6817
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
UK Basketball's Summer Report
It has been an interesting day around these parts as we completed the last ever Matt Jones Show (the new Sports Night on ESPN Radio starts Monday, August 4th), found out another great story for the next “Kentucky Cat Trivia” post and saw an unexpected surge in Rob Bromley popularity. Combine that with the fact that I am still getting over a weekend playing golf at the Cardinal Club (Louisville’s home golf course) while wearing a UK shirt and getting taunted by the Card masses, and it has been a difficult few days to wrap one’s head around. But we must go forward…..looking for something interesting to say during the dog days of late July and early August.
With that in mind, we start today off with a UK basketball summer Player report. Over the past few months, I have had a number of conversations with people who have been able to watch the guys play during the off season and have even be able to see a couple of games myself. In addition, I have had emails from fans who have been privy to the famous “pick-up game reports” and have been able to talk to a couple of those around the program who are involved in the summer projects. What has been interesting to note is just how consistent most of the reports are. When you get past some of the bias (from those who say that every player is doing amazing), certain themes emerge and are generally consistent from report to report. So what follows is somewhat of a summary of UK Summer Reports player by player:
Jodie Meeks:
Possibly the most important player on the team next season, Meeks is showing signs of fully recovering from the injury problems that plagued him last season. He is gaining back his trademark jump shot and is still considered the best pure shooter on the team. There is some concern that his explosive athleticisim is only around 80% at this time, but most believe it will return. The overall feeling around Jodie is total optimism….a huge change from last season.
Patrick Patterson:
Not really playing at this point, but most assume he will be ready when the action begins in earnest in October. Patrick has become fully dedicated to maximizing his physical shape and has been as dedicated as anyone on the team physically. There is no game report for obvious reasons, but from a physical standpoint, no one on the team looks better.
Ramon Harris
The MVP of the summer without a doubt. Ask anyone that has spent significant time watching these guys play and they all will rave about what they see from the Razor. One former player told me, “if he isnt the most improved player in the SEC next season, I will be shocked.” He is without a doubt the best perimeter defender on the team and has made it a priority to take the ball to the basket on offense. Still not the best shooter, but scoring at will in the one-on-one setting. Will he be a summer legend (a la Carrier/Camara) or will he be an improved player just showing his talent (a la Daniels/Estill). We shall see.
Perry Stevenson
Most comments I hear about Perry suggest that his game is very similar to where it was last year…..good at challenging shots, nice outside jumper but still needs a lot of work handling the ball. He will be pushed for minutes this season and word is that when his biggest competitors for minutes are on the floor, he steps up his game. I expect a lot of the same from Perry, but with the year seasoning that he needs. Still no real change in body type.
AJ Stewart
Probably second in line for “Most Improved” in the summer. Those who watch AJ this summer describe his game in a way that harkens back to his time in high school…..energetic, athletic, ready to attack the rim and constant movement. Still struggles from time to time trying to do too much, but much more confident and seasoned on the court. Finding minutes will be tough for AJ and he has to come out swinging. I expect to see marked improvement this year.
Jared Carter
There is no player who gets wider ranges of reactions in descriptions than Carter. Half of the reports say there is no change and he wont see the court. Half then say they think he has seen the light and he looks better. His trip to Africa seemed to be a success, but the one game that was seen by a person who I really trust suggested that little had changed. Jared is the one player I havent laid eyes on all summer. I wish him well but have little expectations at this point.
Michael Porter
The first “WOW” moment of the year will be at Midnight Madness when the fans get a load of Michael’s new physique. He is seriously ripped even more so than in the past and is looking more and more like the star football player that USC wanted (if you believe the constant talk by television broadcasters). He still is having trouble with his ball handling and decision making and any game you watch showcases these facts. But he is likely the third best shooter on the team (behind Meeks and Krebs) and can find some minutes….and may have to, depending on the Galloway/Liggins resolution.
Josh Harrellson
Everyone who watches Harrellson play always comes to the same comparison: Scott Padgett. A good outside shooter and a good passer, Harrellson shares some of Scott’s traits. However he is a bit bigger, likes to bang inside more and is a step or two slower. I think he will end up playing a lot like a typical second tier European big man in America. Spends time on the perimeter, gets in the mix down low and contributes good minutes in the right situation. Because of his shooting however, he is very valuable, ESPECIALLY on this year’s team.
Darius Miller
Will be a consistent, very good four year player at Kentucky. Think Gerald Fitch, but a bit taller and more athleticism. I liken him to a guy with Fitch’s work ethic and Antwain Barbour’s frame. He will play a great deal this year and looks good in pickup games. I am told his weakness so far has been his defense, and this has especially shown itself in his frequent matchups with Ramon Harris, who has taken the ball to the basket on him with ease. But everyone likes him and the sky is the limit at this point.
Kevin Galloway
More questions than answers right now. Like Jared Carter, opinions on him are all over the map, but with much less back story to compare him with. He is certainly athletic and a good defender….but his shot selection is poor, his range not deep and some question his decision making. He is good at taking the ball to the basket, but I had one person tell me “he just isnt a point guard.” I dont know if I believe that (and he may have to be either way), but at this point it is hard to get a true read on Galloway…..will be an unknown likely until practice begins.
DeAndre Liggins
Like a ghost from another realm, Liggins is rarely seen and little is known about his whereabouts. I have yet to see him, but havent really been around since he arrived on campus. Few that I have spoken with have seen him and no one has commented to me on his game. I think Liggins has LOADS of talent…..the question is just whether he will be eligible. If he is, I think he likely starts. We shall see.
OTHERS
I was speaking with someone close to the program a few days ago and I mentioned that I thought there was room for a shooter to come off the bench and get some minutes, due to the lack of overall shooting ability on the team. The person agreed and told me to watch out for Mark Krebs. He is likely the second best shooter on the team, has dead-eye range and could be perfect for that role of three point shooter in a spot role. I have also heard that Landon Slone has had a decent summer, although I personally know little about the kid. Buddy Halcell (”Turtle”) also has some athleticism and a good work ethic and could be in the mix if Coach Gillispie looks further down the bench for guys to come in and play hard.
So there is the report from what I have heard so far. As with all of these types of things, this should be taken with a grain of salt, but represents a decent look at the team from what I have been told this summer. We will have more stuff throughout the day, including my first look at the SEC schedule breakdowns……
Read the Original Article Here:
http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=6804
With that in mind, we start today off with a UK basketball summer Player report. Over the past few months, I have had a number of conversations with people who have been able to watch the guys play during the off season and have even be able to see a couple of games myself. In addition, I have had emails from fans who have been privy to the famous “pick-up game reports” and have been able to talk to a couple of those around the program who are involved in the summer projects. What has been interesting to note is just how consistent most of the reports are. When you get past some of the bias (from those who say that every player is doing amazing), certain themes emerge and are generally consistent from report to report. So what follows is somewhat of a summary of UK Summer Reports player by player:
Jodie Meeks:
Possibly the most important player on the team next season, Meeks is showing signs of fully recovering from the injury problems that plagued him last season. He is gaining back his trademark jump shot and is still considered the best pure shooter on the team. There is some concern that his explosive athleticisim is only around 80% at this time, but most believe it will return. The overall feeling around Jodie is total optimism….a huge change from last season.
Patrick Patterson:
Not really playing at this point, but most assume he will be ready when the action begins in earnest in October. Patrick has become fully dedicated to maximizing his physical shape and has been as dedicated as anyone on the team physically. There is no game report for obvious reasons, but from a physical standpoint, no one on the team looks better.
Ramon Harris
The MVP of the summer without a doubt. Ask anyone that has spent significant time watching these guys play and they all will rave about what they see from the Razor. One former player told me, “if he isnt the most improved player in the SEC next season, I will be shocked.” He is without a doubt the best perimeter defender on the team and has made it a priority to take the ball to the basket on offense. Still not the best shooter, but scoring at will in the one-on-one setting. Will he be a summer legend (a la Carrier/Camara) or will he be an improved player just showing his talent (a la Daniels/Estill). We shall see.
Perry Stevenson
Most comments I hear about Perry suggest that his game is very similar to where it was last year…..good at challenging shots, nice outside jumper but still needs a lot of work handling the ball. He will be pushed for minutes this season and word is that when his biggest competitors for minutes are on the floor, he steps up his game. I expect a lot of the same from Perry, but with the year seasoning that he needs. Still no real change in body type.
AJ Stewart
Probably second in line for “Most Improved” in the summer. Those who watch AJ this summer describe his game in a way that harkens back to his time in high school…..energetic, athletic, ready to attack the rim and constant movement. Still struggles from time to time trying to do too much, but much more confident and seasoned on the court. Finding minutes will be tough for AJ and he has to come out swinging. I expect to see marked improvement this year.
Jared Carter
There is no player who gets wider ranges of reactions in descriptions than Carter. Half of the reports say there is no change and he wont see the court. Half then say they think he has seen the light and he looks better. His trip to Africa seemed to be a success, but the one game that was seen by a person who I really trust suggested that little had changed. Jared is the one player I havent laid eyes on all summer. I wish him well but have little expectations at this point.
Michael Porter
The first “WOW” moment of the year will be at Midnight Madness when the fans get a load of Michael’s new physique. He is seriously ripped even more so than in the past and is looking more and more like the star football player that USC wanted (if you believe the constant talk by television broadcasters). He still is having trouble with his ball handling and decision making and any game you watch showcases these facts. But he is likely the third best shooter on the team (behind Meeks and Krebs) and can find some minutes….and may have to, depending on the Galloway/Liggins resolution.
Josh Harrellson
Everyone who watches Harrellson play always comes to the same comparison: Scott Padgett. A good outside shooter and a good passer, Harrellson shares some of Scott’s traits. However he is a bit bigger, likes to bang inside more and is a step or two slower. I think he will end up playing a lot like a typical second tier European big man in America. Spends time on the perimeter, gets in the mix down low and contributes good minutes in the right situation. Because of his shooting however, he is very valuable, ESPECIALLY on this year’s team.
Darius Miller
Will be a consistent, very good four year player at Kentucky. Think Gerald Fitch, but a bit taller and more athleticism. I liken him to a guy with Fitch’s work ethic and Antwain Barbour’s frame. He will play a great deal this year and looks good in pickup games. I am told his weakness so far has been his defense, and this has especially shown itself in his frequent matchups with Ramon Harris, who has taken the ball to the basket on him with ease. But everyone likes him and the sky is the limit at this point.
Kevin Galloway
More questions than answers right now. Like Jared Carter, opinions on him are all over the map, but with much less back story to compare him with. He is certainly athletic and a good defender….but his shot selection is poor, his range not deep and some question his decision making. He is good at taking the ball to the basket, but I had one person tell me “he just isnt a point guard.” I dont know if I believe that (and he may have to be either way), but at this point it is hard to get a true read on Galloway…..will be an unknown likely until practice begins.
DeAndre Liggins
Like a ghost from another realm, Liggins is rarely seen and little is known about his whereabouts. I have yet to see him, but havent really been around since he arrived on campus. Few that I have spoken with have seen him and no one has commented to me on his game. I think Liggins has LOADS of talent…..the question is just whether he will be eligible. If he is, I think he likely starts. We shall see.
OTHERS
I was speaking with someone close to the program a few days ago and I mentioned that I thought there was room for a shooter to come off the bench and get some minutes, due to the lack of overall shooting ability on the team. The person agreed and told me to watch out for Mark Krebs. He is likely the second best shooter on the team, has dead-eye range and could be perfect for that role of three point shooter in a spot role. I have also heard that Landon Slone has had a decent summer, although I personally know little about the kid. Buddy Halcell (”Turtle”) also has some athleticism and a good work ethic and could be in the mix if Coach Gillispie looks further down the bench for guys to come in and play hard.
So there is the report from what I have heard so far. As with all of these types of things, this should be taken with a grain of salt, but represents a decent look at the team from what I have been told this summer. We will have more stuff throughout the day, including my first look at the SEC schedule breakdowns……
Read the Original Article Here:
http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=6804
Monday, July 28, 2008
Rupp the Legend
One of the most successful coaches in the history of college basketball was Adolph Rupp. In 41 years of coaching, Rupp won 876 games, making him the third winningest coach in history after Bobby Knight and Dean Smith. He coached at the University of Kentucky from 1930 to 1972, and the state of Kentucky loved him.
Dubbed “Baron of the Bluegrass,” Rupp took 80 percent of his players from Kentucky. Demanding and expecting excellence, he became a master of developing talent. His teams were known for sticky man-to-man defense, which resulted in their fast break offense. Time and time again, teams were beaten into submission.
Under his leadership, the Wildcats won four NCAA championships (1948, 1949, 1951 and 1958,) one NIT title in 1946 at a time when the NIT was a highly regarded tournament of national contenders. They appeared in 20 NCAA tournaments and captured 27 Southeastern Conference titles.
The Baron was selected as “Coach of the Year” four times as he established a winning tradition at Kentucky. This tradition is carried on and expected to this day by the loyal and loving fans of the Big Blue. Twenty-four of his players earned All-America honors, seven won Olympics gold medals and 28 played professional basketball.The mandatory retirement age in 1972 was 70 for Kentucky state employees. That year, Rupp was forced into retirement. Can you imagine what the Baron might have added to his incredible list of achievements had he stayed? He was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame on April 13, 1969.But it seems only UK fans remember the titles and accolades. What the world remembers occurred on March 19, 1966 when Kentucky once again fought for a national championship after defeating Duke in the Final Four. After overcoming Kansas, Texas Western moved on to face the number one team in the tournament, the Kentucky Wildcats.No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Texas Western – nothing strange about that set up. But remember, it was 1966. Kentucky put five white players on the floor while Coach Don Haskins went with his best lineup, which happened to be five black players. The movie, “Glory Road” implies that Haskins only chose an all-black starting five for that game; however, these five starters had been Haskins' regular starting lineup all season. This was the first time a team started an all-black lineup in an NCAA title game. The Miners defeated the experienced and powerful Wildcats, 72-65, before a televised audience. Coach Rupp gave Bobby Joe Hill credit for the inevitable “turning point of the game.” Hill, a 5-foot-10 junior guard for Texas Western, dropped in some of the biggest shots of the tourney and scored 20 points. He also was a demon on defense, often taking the ball away from Kentucky players. Even though the final horn blew, the game would never really be over. It is still talked about, debated over, written about and even a topic of a major film. It was great for college basketball but would forever label Rupp a racist. He was very aware of this and answered his critics. “Don't call me a racist. You didn't know me, and neither did those who offer one-liners about my life as basketball coach at the University of Kentucky from the Great Depression to the first Nixon administration,” he said. “I knew (African Americans) could help my program and wanted them to, and anyone who says I didn't is wrong. How badly did I want? Not enough, I concede, to become a civil rights leader and take on the whole south and lots of other areas too. We played in the Southeastern Conference. Look around. Who else in our conference had (African American) players at the time? No one! In fact, SEC schools generally refused to schedule home games against opponents with even one (African American). I was ready to take care of that. Twice I petitioned the league to integrate. That brought fire from college presidents, athletic directors, regents, boosters and fans.”There are those who believe Rupp is not a racist and tell stories about his constant attempts to recruit black players and severely chastising a group of boosters who tried to stop him. One of these is a former member of “Rupp's Runts,” who started in that most talked about title game, Pat Riley. Riley, as we all know, has gone on to be a very successful NBA coach. These are some remarks from Pat Riley about that game and Rupp.”I look back 37 years later, at a time when there was a lot of pain in losing. But now, when I look at it from the blue-sky standpoint, the best thing happened for society. It was a breakthrough game,” he said. “Most people that have done something absolutely significant in their industry can often be misunderstood. He was the greatest coach at the time. He was the John Wooden, the Bobby Knight, the Dean Smith and he was bigger than life.“There were a lot of perceptions about him that absolutely took on a mythical thing. Something he would say, all of a sudden would be something else 10 years later,” Riley continued. “The best thing that ever happened to me in my life was to go to the University of Kentucky and play for a man, who was disciplined, organized and when I left there I thought I was a better person for it. So all the misconceptions about him from the outside world weren't true.”The movie, “Glory Road,” concerning the 1966 championship was released on January 13, 2006. Director Jim Gartner stated that Rupp would not be portrayed as racist. Draw your own conclusions from the movie’s portrayal of him. Rupp set the standard for excellence and winning. Someone once said to him, “When the one Great Scorer comes to write against your name, he marks not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.”To this, Rupp replied, “Well now, I just don't know about that. If winning isn't so important, why do you keep score?”Rupp died at age 76 in Lexington on December 10, 1977. That night his beloved Wildcats defeated Kansas in a game promoted as “Adolph Rupp Night.” The Baron of the Bluegrass listened to the broadcast of the game from his hospital bed before finally succumbing to a battle with spinal cancer and diabetes.
Read Original Artical Here
http://www.williamsondailynews.com/articles/2008/07/28/sports/doc488d13e67aedb604117754.txt
The Baron was selected as “Coach of the Year” four times as he established a winning tradition at Kentucky. This tradition is carried on and expected to this day by the loyal and loving fans of the Big Blue. Twenty-four of his players earned All-America honors, seven won Olympics gold medals and 28 played professional basketball.The mandatory retirement age in 1972 was 70 for Kentucky state employees. That year, Rupp was forced into retirement. Can you imagine what the Baron might have added to his incredible list of achievements had he stayed? He was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame on April 13, 1969.But it seems only UK fans remember the titles and accolades. What the world remembers occurred on March 19, 1966 when Kentucky once again fought for a national championship after defeating Duke in the Final Four. After overcoming Kansas, Texas Western moved on to face the number one team in the tournament, the Kentucky Wildcats.No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Texas Western – nothing strange about that set up. But remember, it was 1966. Kentucky put five white players on the floor while Coach Don Haskins went with his best lineup, which happened to be five black players. The movie, “Glory Road” implies that Haskins only chose an all-black starting five for that game; however, these five starters had been Haskins' regular starting lineup all season. This was the first time a team started an all-black lineup in an NCAA title game. The Miners defeated the experienced and powerful Wildcats, 72-65, before a televised audience. Coach Rupp gave Bobby Joe Hill credit for the inevitable “turning point of the game.” Hill, a 5-foot-10 junior guard for Texas Western, dropped in some of the biggest shots of the tourney and scored 20 points. He also was a demon on defense, often taking the ball away from Kentucky players. Even though the final horn blew, the game would never really be over. It is still talked about, debated over, written about and even a topic of a major film. It was great for college basketball but would forever label Rupp a racist. He was very aware of this and answered his critics. “Don't call me a racist. You didn't know me, and neither did those who offer one-liners about my life as basketball coach at the University of Kentucky from the Great Depression to the first Nixon administration,” he said. “I knew (African Americans) could help my program and wanted them to, and anyone who says I didn't is wrong. How badly did I want? Not enough, I concede, to become a civil rights leader and take on the whole south and lots of other areas too. We played in the Southeastern Conference. Look around. Who else in our conference had (African American) players at the time? No one! In fact, SEC schools generally refused to schedule home games against opponents with even one (African American). I was ready to take care of that. Twice I petitioned the league to integrate. That brought fire from college presidents, athletic directors, regents, boosters and fans.”There are those who believe Rupp is not a racist and tell stories about his constant attempts to recruit black players and severely chastising a group of boosters who tried to stop him. One of these is a former member of “Rupp's Runts,” who started in that most talked about title game, Pat Riley. Riley, as we all know, has gone on to be a very successful NBA coach. These are some remarks from Pat Riley about that game and Rupp.”I look back 37 years later, at a time when there was a lot of pain in losing. But now, when I look at it from the blue-sky standpoint, the best thing happened for society. It was a breakthrough game,” he said. “Most people that have done something absolutely significant in their industry can often be misunderstood. He was the greatest coach at the time. He was the John Wooden, the Bobby Knight, the Dean Smith and he was bigger than life.“There were a lot of perceptions about him that absolutely took on a mythical thing. Something he would say, all of a sudden would be something else 10 years later,” Riley continued. “The best thing that ever happened to me in my life was to go to the University of Kentucky and play for a man, who was disciplined, organized and when I left there I thought I was a better person for it. So all the misconceptions about him from the outside world weren't true.”The movie, “Glory Road,” concerning the 1966 championship was released on January 13, 2006. Director Jim Gartner stated that Rupp would not be portrayed as racist. Draw your own conclusions from the movie’s portrayal of him. Rupp set the standard for excellence and winning. Someone once said to him, “When the one Great Scorer comes to write against your name, he marks not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.”To this, Rupp replied, “Well now, I just don't know about that. If winning isn't so important, why do you keep score?”Rupp died at age 76 in Lexington on December 10, 1977. That night his beloved Wildcats defeated Kansas in a game promoted as “Adolph Rupp Night.” The Baron of the Bluegrass listened to the broadcast of the game from his hospital bed before finally succumbing to a battle with spinal cancer and diabetes.
Read Original Artical Here
http://www.williamsondailynews.com/articles/2008/07/28/sports/doc488d13e67aedb604117754.txt
Saturday, July 26, 2008
So, thought of the day....I was talking to someone who has been following the recruitment of Ames star basketball recruit Harrison Barnes, and he says that Kentucky feels that they are in the lead for Barnes.
One has to wonder why Kentucky is now at the center of everything relating to ISU basketball these days.
There's one connection.
Jeff Bergstrom, former Iowa State walkon, is a graduate assistant for Billy Gillispie and the Wildcats. His only real qualification to play at ISU was the new indoor football practice facility that just happens to share the same name. It certainly wasn't his 11 points per game in high school. Needless to say I was a bit surprised to see him as part of the UK coaching staff.
It's an odd connection between two schools that almost ended in one Cyclone basketball player ending up a Wildcat, and may have the top Cyclone recruit landing there as well.
Read Original Article Here
http://www.clonechronicles.com/2008/7/26/579841/question-of-the-day-harris
One has to wonder why Kentucky is now at the center of everything relating to ISU basketball these days.
There's one connection.
Jeff Bergstrom, former Iowa State walkon, is a graduate assistant for Billy Gillispie and the Wildcats. His only real qualification to play at ISU was the new indoor football practice facility that just happens to share the same name. It certainly wasn't his 11 points per game in high school. Needless to say I was a bit surprised to see him as part of the UK coaching staff.
It's an odd connection between two schools that almost ended in one Cyclone basketball player ending up a Wildcat, and may have the top Cyclone recruit landing there as well.
Read Original Article Here
http://www.clonechronicles.com/2008/7/26/579841/question-of-the-day-harris
Friday, July 25, 2008
Louisville vs. Kentucky Football
We are beginning to seriously approach the kick-off to the 2008 football season, and over the next few weeks, we are going to be taking a very in-depth look at the first game of the season -- our arch-rivals, the Louisville Cardinals. But before we start talking players and numbers (Ken still isn't done looking at the Kentucky depth chart yet), I just wanted to make a quick comparison of the moods of Kentucky and Louisville football fans and programs.
Coming into 2007, both U of L and UK fan bases were expecting big things from their respective teams. Louisville was coming off a big BCS game victory in a 2006 season which found them at one point in the national discussion for the BCS title game. Folks, it doesn't get any bigger than that, and with all the experience and talent they had returning, Cardinal fans can be forgiven for having dreams of grasping the brass ring. Kentucky was coming off it's first bowl appearance since 1998, and returning a powerful offensive machine, but nobody expected much more than a middling bowl out of the 'Cats (which is exactly what happened).
But something happened on the way to the coronation. Bobby Petrino, in my opinion the most ethics-challenged coach not under a "show cause" order from the NCAA, departed Louisville, and Tom Jurich quickly hired Steve Kragthorpe, former coach of Tulsa, to be the next Cardinals football coach.
What followed, in a nutshell, was a shock for Cardinal fans. Despite a lot of national hype and expectations, the 2007 version of Louisville was a dismal disappointment. The first sign was coming into Commonwealth Stadium undefeated -- and then this:
The loss to Kentucky was a season-ruiner, but the Cardinals could have still come alive and had a good year. We all know how history turned out, though. The low point came when Syracuse, then 0-3 coming in to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, defeated the Louisville team 38-35 in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score. Mike Rutherford of the SBNation's excellent Card Chronicle, normally a voice of reason and sanity among an increasingly restive fan base, found that loss a bridge too far:
Somebody asked me last week how I felt about the growing "fire Kragthorpe" movement, and I half-jokingly said that if this guy can invent a way to lose to Syracuse then I'll be all for it. Now I'm not for firing a coach before the end of his first season, and I'm not going to let this site become one where we focus on how much we dislike the head coach more than we do supporting the team, but my God, name ONE positive thing this guy has accomplished since Aug. 30.
Despite this outburst of frustration, Mike has never honestly suggested that Kragthorpe should be fired, and despite the kind of provocation that had some Kentucky fans and others calling for Gillispie's head early last basketball season, he and most of the sane Cardinal fans managed to get through the season over on his blog. Apparently, not so much at other Cardinal on-line sites, according to Mark Story's article today.
In the interregnum since, Louisville has struggled with attrition, losing some 21 players to early draft entry, dismissal, transfer, academics and medical issues. Hype and hope have been replaced by a lowering of expectations and talk of "rebuilding" over the next two years.
So that brings us up to date with Louisville, so now it's time to look at UK. Despite losing almost all of it's storied offensive skill players, Kentucky returns an experienced defense, an experienced offensive backfield and an improving offensive line. While football expectations in the Bluegrass are never through the roof if you don't count the early part of last season, Kentucky football fans are arguably in the happiest mood since the days of Derrick Ramsey and Sonny Collins. UK is clearly a football program that is improving, even though in the hyper-competitive SEC, that improvement may not translate into many more victories anytime soon.
Back in 2005, I remember lots of calls for Rich Brooks' head, and as recently as early 2006, through the magic of SBN 2.0's search feature, I recall JL Blue's comments heading into the 2006 season:
As I have previously admitted in these pages, I am not much of a Kentucky football fanatic. While I dutifully check the cross-country scores in the paper on Sunday mornings and will watch a game on the rare occasion it's not national television, like many Kentucky fans I'm nervously pessimistic.
That's what decades of losing will do to a fan.
Indeed, and it has jaded the perception of most Kentucky fans. To say that we are satisfied with less success in football than the Cardinal fans is an understatement -- Kentucky fans are used to losing,and losing a lot. With that reality has come the understandable reflex of low expectations. In that same 2006 season, those reflexes were again validated against Louisville, who swamped the 'Cats in embarrassing fashion 59-38, prompting this comment from JL:
This loss was ugly, and on national television. It showed very little progress from last year, and if the Cats want to make strides, quite simply, they need to play way over their heads.
All in all, a dispiriting start to the 2006 season, and one which better motivate Brooks and his staff, or they will be seeking new employment next offseason.
How far have we come since then? Pretty far, but it looks even more impressive if we take the last 10 years or so into consideration. As Louisville has been rising on the national stage over the last 10 years, up until 2006 the Kentucky program has been mired in futility, scandal, and disappointment. As of the time of JL's posts above, UK football had managed to get to .500 on the year only three times since 1994, and above .500 only twice. That is two winning seasons in 11 years, no matter how you count it. Louisville, in that same time frame, had exactly two losing seasons and nine consecutive bowl appearances. But over the last five years Rich Brooks and his staff have slowly, but steadily and with purpose, set out to change both the perception and the reality.
The shoe isn't exactly on the other foot now, but Kentucky is no longer a sure victory on the Louisville schedule. Two straight winning seasons with post-season bowl victories against traditional ACC powerhouse programs have radically improved the perception of Kentucky's football program everywhere but inside the SEC, where it has generally received only a tepid acknowledgment. I have read somewhere (but I cannot seem to find it) that UK is only a three point underdog to Louisville in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in the pre-season prognostications for this year. Given a Louisville team only one year removed from a major BCS bowl victory, that says something about the sea change that has taken place in the perception of these two teams.
But how about the coaches? Well, no doubt their situation could not be any more different. Brooks is now seen as the Great Rebuilder of the Kentucky football program, and Kragthorpe is, to say the very least, on the hot seat at Louisville after only one year as head coach. The Mark Story, in the article I linked above, puts it this way:
In all my years following sports in the commonwealth, I've never seen a fan base turn against a coach as dramatically and vociferously as (many) Louisville football fans turned on poor Kragthorpe in 2007.
Folks, that says it all. Hot seat? I'm not sure the temperature of Kragthorpe's chair can be accurately measured with current technology.
Kentucky, up until mid-2006, expected to lose -- to almost everybody. We didn't like it. We groused about it. Most of us actively hated it -- but we knew what we were -- a moribund football program at a basketball school. Is that changing? Yes, but gradually. Kentucky fans are still leery of getting too excited about football for at least two very good reasons: History and the conference we play in. There is no comparison between the Big East and the SEC, top to bottom, in quality. None. Which means that even if UK were able to go to bowls every year, the odds are it would be doing so without ever having a winning record in the SEC. Winning the conference, even the Eastern division, still looks like a pipe dream to all but the most radical Kentucky fan. All you have to do is look at this earlier post to see how this fact is mirrored in UK's football recruiting.
So as we go into the Governor's Cup game this year, the big subplot will be waiting to unfold. Lose this game at home, and the cries for Kragthorpe's head will be deafening, perhaps even irresistible. Brooks, on the other hand, will barely hear any recriminations for a loss at Louisville this year. Of course, if the rest of the season takes a nose-dive there will be some grousing, but it would take a complete implosion to something like 2 or 3 wins to cause even a few of the UK faithful to gather up pitchforks against Brooks & Co. There is a completely different feel to these two teams, and Louisville is on very, very thin ice.
How quickly things can change in college sports.
Read the Original Article Here on Sea of Blue
Coming into 2007, both U of L and UK fan bases were expecting big things from their respective teams. Louisville was coming off a big BCS game victory in a 2006 season which found them at one point in the national discussion for the BCS title game. Folks, it doesn't get any bigger than that, and with all the experience and talent they had returning, Cardinal fans can be forgiven for having dreams of grasping the brass ring. Kentucky was coming off it's first bowl appearance since 1998, and returning a powerful offensive machine, but nobody expected much more than a middling bowl out of the 'Cats (which is exactly what happened).
But something happened on the way to the coronation. Bobby Petrino, in my opinion the most ethics-challenged coach not under a "show cause" order from the NCAA, departed Louisville, and Tom Jurich quickly hired Steve Kragthorpe, former coach of Tulsa, to be the next Cardinals football coach.
What followed, in a nutshell, was a shock for Cardinal fans. Despite a lot of national hype and expectations, the 2007 version of Louisville was a dismal disappointment. The first sign was coming into Commonwealth Stadium undefeated -- and then this:
The loss to Kentucky was a season-ruiner, but the Cardinals could have still come alive and had a good year. We all know how history turned out, though. The low point came when Syracuse, then 0-3 coming in to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, defeated the Louisville team 38-35 in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score. Mike Rutherford of the SBNation's excellent Card Chronicle, normally a voice of reason and sanity among an increasingly restive fan base, found that loss a bridge too far:
Somebody asked me last week how I felt about the growing "fire Kragthorpe" movement, and I half-jokingly said that if this guy can invent a way to lose to Syracuse then I'll be all for it. Now I'm not for firing a coach before the end of his first season, and I'm not going to let this site become one where we focus on how much we dislike the head coach more than we do supporting the team, but my God, name ONE positive thing this guy has accomplished since Aug. 30.
Despite this outburst of frustration, Mike has never honestly suggested that Kragthorpe should be fired, and despite the kind of provocation that had some Kentucky fans and others calling for Gillispie's head early last basketball season, he and most of the sane Cardinal fans managed to get through the season over on his blog. Apparently, not so much at other Cardinal on-line sites, according to Mark Story's article today.
In the interregnum since, Louisville has struggled with attrition, losing some 21 players to early draft entry, dismissal, transfer, academics and medical issues. Hype and hope have been replaced by a lowering of expectations and talk of "rebuilding" over the next two years.
So that brings us up to date with Louisville, so now it's time to look at UK. Despite losing almost all of it's storied offensive skill players, Kentucky returns an experienced defense, an experienced offensive backfield and an improving offensive line. While football expectations in the Bluegrass are never through the roof if you don't count the early part of last season, Kentucky football fans are arguably in the happiest mood since the days of Derrick Ramsey and Sonny Collins. UK is clearly a football program that is improving, even though in the hyper-competitive SEC, that improvement may not translate into many more victories anytime soon.
Back in 2005, I remember lots of calls for Rich Brooks' head, and as recently as early 2006, through the magic of SBN 2.0's search feature, I recall JL Blue's comments heading into the 2006 season:
As I have previously admitted in these pages, I am not much of a Kentucky football fanatic. While I dutifully check the cross-country scores in the paper on Sunday mornings and will watch a game on the rare occasion it's not national television, like many Kentucky fans I'm nervously pessimistic.
That's what decades of losing will do to a fan.
Indeed, and it has jaded the perception of most Kentucky fans. To say that we are satisfied with less success in football than the Cardinal fans is an understatement -- Kentucky fans are used to losing,and losing a lot. With that reality has come the understandable reflex of low expectations. In that same 2006 season, those reflexes were again validated against Louisville, who swamped the 'Cats in embarrassing fashion 59-38, prompting this comment from JL:
This loss was ugly, and on national television. It showed very little progress from last year, and if the Cats want to make strides, quite simply, they need to play way over their heads.
All in all, a dispiriting start to the 2006 season, and one which better motivate Brooks and his staff, or they will be seeking new employment next offseason.
How far have we come since then? Pretty far, but it looks even more impressive if we take the last 10 years or so into consideration. As Louisville has been rising on the national stage over the last 10 years, up until 2006 the Kentucky program has been mired in futility, scandal, and disappointment. As of the time of JL's posts above, UK football had managed to get to .500 on the year only three times since 1994, and above .500 only twice. That is two winning seasons in 11 years, no matter how you count it. Louisville, in that same time frame, had exactly two losing seasons and nine consecutive bowl appearances. But over the last five years Rich Brooks and his staff have slowly, but steadily and with purpose, set out to change both the perception and the reality.
The shoe isn't exactly on the other foot now, but Kentucky is no longer a sure victory on the Louisville schedule. Two straight winning seasons with post-season bowl victories against traditional ACC powerhouse programs have radically improved the perception of Kentucky's football program everywhere but inside the SEC, where it has generally received only a tepid acknowledgment. I have read somewhere (but I cannot seem to find it) that UK is only a three point underdog to Louisville in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in the pre-season prognostications for this year. Given a Louisville team only one year removed from a major BCS bowl victory, that says something about the sea change that has taken place in the perception of these two teams.
But how about the coaches? Well, no doubt their situation could not be any more different. Brooks is now seen as the Great Rebuilder of the Kentucky football program, and Kragthorpe is, to say the very least, on the hot seat at Louisville after only one year as head coach. The Mark Story, in the article I linked above, puts it this way:
In all my years following sports in the commonwealth, I've never seen a fan base turn against a coach as dramatically and vociferously as (many) Louisville football fans turned on poor Kragthorpe in 2007.
Folks, that says it all. Hot seat? I'm not sure the temperature of Kragthorpe's chair can be accurately measured with current technology.
Kentucky, up until mid-2006, expected to lose -- to almost everybody. We didn't like it. We groused about it. Most of us actively hated it -- but we knew what we were -- a moribund football program at a basketball school. Is that changing? Yes, but gradually. Kentucky fans are still leery of getting too excited about football for at least two very good reasons: History and the conference we play in. There is no comparison between the Big East and the SEC, top to bottom, in quality. None. Which means that even if UK were able to go to bowls every year, the odds are it would be doing so without ever having a winning record in the SEC. Winning the conference, even the Eastern division, still looks like a pipe dream to all but the most radical Kentucky fan. All you have to do is look at this earlier post to see how this fact is mirrored in UK's football recruiting.
So as we go into the Governor's Cup game this year, the big subplot will be waiting to unfold. Lose this game at home, and the cries for Kragthorpe's head will be deafening, perhaps even irresistible. Brooks, on the other hand, will barely hear any recriminations for a loss at Louisville this year. Of course, if the rest of the season takes a nose-dive there will be some grousing, but it would take a complete implosion to something like 2 or 3 wins to cause even a few of the UK faithful to gather up pitchforks against Brooks & Co. There is a completely different feel to these two teams, and Louisville is on very, very thin ice.
How quickly things can change in college sports.
Read the Original Article Here on Sea of Blue
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