Kentucky vs Arkansas random thoughts

Another down the stretch thriller for the ‘Cats, including a little twist at the end.

I thought Perry Stevenson played one of his best all-around games ever. He did a fine job, coming up with some big plays. He may of found his favorite shot with that little jumper.

The ‘Cats started off a little sluggish, it seemed. Arkansas got off some open threes early. (We’ve allowed this to happen way too much this season.)

Ramel Bradley loves those dipsy-do type shots down the lane. Memories of the Brooklyn playgrounds, perhaps?

Is it me, or does Joe Crawford get called for a charge every game? It seems he’s always doing that inside drive to the basket and runs over someone every time.

I thought Patrick Patterson would get setup early, but it didn’t happen. Either they couldn’t get him the ball or wasn’t looking for him.

Arkansas came out more aggressive to start the second half. They started knocking down their shots and grabbing some offensive boards. Sonny Weems caught fire knocking down shot after shot. They also started controlling the tempo, which is a no no.

It was a good back and forth battle. Kentucky stepped up their defense and didn’t allow the Hogs a FG over a good period of time. As it’s been, the clutch free throw shooting paid off again.

I thought the seniors did a good job down the stretch, they made the plays when it mattered most.

The Twist

I’m sure that CBS was flooded with many lovely emails this evening. How nice was it for the game to cut-out with under a minute to go? Not only does it go to another game, it was the dUKe game. I had a few choice words myself, most of which weren’t that pretty. Let more of the conspiracy theories begin!

Anyway… 

This was another (must) big win for Kentucky. We now stand at 15-10 overall, 9-3 in SEC play.

Next up for the ‘Cats…Ole Miss on Wednesday at 8:00 pm EST.

Kentucky vs Georgia random thoughts

There sure are no easy wins for Kentucky. Another close one indeed.

You couldn’t of asked for a better start in this game, too bad it didn’t last. Joe Crawford caught fire early knocking down those big 3’s. We balloon the lead up to 16 points, just to see it slip away.

This team just can’t keep a good lead it seems. We always struggle, shooting ourself in the foot. Where’s the killer instinct? We definitely need one! Having more guys able to step up would help.

I thought Joe Crawford did a terrific job out there. He had his shot going early, probably should of looked more to score in the first half. We built that lead and all the sudden it looked like the ‘Cats stopped doing what got them it in the first place.

Patrick Patterson also did a fine job, just missing a double-double. Should of probably had a better second half though.

Ramel Bradley had a bad game offensively, that’s been rare lately, especially in the second half of games. He did grab some huge boards for us going down the stretch. Missing those two straight free throws should of told you something was off with him.

I guess the good news is that we won and now only 2 wins away from 10 in SEC play. They haven’t been easy and we’ve surely earned them. (Who would of thought that? Yeah I know…kinda surprised myself with the start we had.)

Up next is Arkansas. I expect this game to be another tough one for the ‘Cats, it usually is anyway.

Kentucky vs LSU random thoughts

I hate these close games! That good free throw shooting sure has payed off this season.

We struggled in the first half of this game. I thought LSU was quicker and came out more aggressive. They’re a very long and athletic team, their future does look bright.

We had a shot to tie or take the lead just before the half. The execution was just terrible and we blew it. Need to do a better job next time.

I thought we stepped up the defensive pressure in the second half. We started altering and limiting their shots, trying to contest everything.

Our seniors came up big again for us. I don’t know what we’d do without Bradley and Crawford this year.

We did get sloppy at times and made some poor decisions with the ball. Bradley’s erratic passing when he should just go up with a shot etc. He did cap it for us in the end with the free throws. (He’s had a knack at doing that this season)

This was a very good road win for us. Coming off the debacle, this is just what we needed.

Next up for the ‘Cats are three straight home games against Georgia, Arkansas and Ole Miss. These are all games we can win, but the Arkansas game will no doubt be a tough one. Those games will of course lead up to the huge rematch with Tennessee in Knoxville on March 2nd.

It’s definitively going to be an important test the next couple of weeks.

Kentucky vs Vanderbilt random thoughts

I’m kinda of shocked and at a loss for words right now. This was just very embarrassing and quite unexpected.

It was a nightmare and exactly what the ‘Cats did NOT need. I think any realistic shot for Kentucky making the Big Dance ended tonight in one huge thump.

Vanderbilt came out ready to play, firing on all cylinders and totally took it to us. Kentucky simply had no answer, nada, nothing. It looked like everything was a turnover waiting to happen.

It was over in the first half…these stats tell it all.

First Half

Kentucky

• FG% 3-15 - 20%
• Points: 11
• Turnovers: 12
• Assist 1
• 2nd chance points: 2

Vanderbilt

• FG% 15-26 57.7%
• Turnovers: 1
• Assist: 11
• Points off turnovers: 16
• Defensive Rebounds: 11

I thought that Kentucky could somehow come out the second half and keep it somewhat respectable, but it didn’t happen.

We looked dreadful out there in every aspect. Vanderbilt just dominated us, no matter how you look at it.

I hand it to Vandy, they kicked our butts and deserve the praise for their performance out there tonight.

For us it’s back to the drawing board. Hopefully, we can take a positive out of this somehow and finish up strong.

Kentucky vs Alabama random thoughts

It looked as if it was going to be a repeat of the last game. A very sloppy and ugly beginning from both teams.

The officiating was off in this game, but from both ends. We did benefit from a couple calls, though overall it stunk. Just seems it’s terrible all over this season, the reason to that I don’t know.

Turnovers continue to plague us, thankfully we did a better job in the second half.

Having Ramel back was key to this win. He showed why we need him in there. Only 29 minutes today, some well deserved rest for a change.

We shot 49% from the field, but did terribly with 3’s, going 4-13. Three of those were from Bradley, one for Jasper. Alabama didn’t do any better from 3, so that was good.

We started off slow from the free throw line, but recovered very well going 16-18 in the second half. I believe this is key to us winning close games down the stretch. It’s an advantage that’s nice to have.

Perry Stevenson is still continuing to play well and just misses a double-double. This is a good sign.

How we continue to win these games is a little crazy, considering everything that’s happened with injuries etc. This team is gutsy and finds ways to win, something you would of not said early on in the season.

Next up…a rematch with Vanderbilt on Tuesday, who we upset back on January 12th. I know their looking for revenge and they’ll have home court this time around.

Kentucky vs Alabama Pregame Thoughts

This one will be interesting.

Which Alabama team will show up? The one who has been struggling, or the one that should be capable of playing well?

We are playing at home, this should help us out.

The Patrick Patterson and Richard Hendrix matchup is intriguing.

Some Keys

Get to the Free throw line. We shoot them well, they do not.

Rebounds are going to be important. We will need to hit both ends well.

Keep the turnovers to a minimum. We’ve had out struggles this season, so this can’t get out of hand.

Having Bradley back is key, we sure did miss him. Having his experience and leadership goes a long way.

Prediction

This is another win we need, can’t afford a loss at home on this one.

I expect the ‘Cats to have a nice game and pull out the win.

Kentucky vs Auburn Random Thoughts

Some random thoughts from the game.

That sure was indeed one ugly game. I didn’t know if turnovers or foul trouble would hurt us first.

Auburn gave it a fight, they didn’t let down…that’s for sure.

I thought we looked lethargic out there in the first half. Something I haven’t seen from this team in awhile. I don’t know what it was…strange.

Turnovers, most of them silly, killed us in this game. Luckily, we survived there at they end.

We manage to shoot 66.7% from the field and barely escape with the win. We should have won this alot more easily, but kept shooting ourself in the foot.

We did a poor job at executing, handling their double-teams etc. Very sloppy play, combined with letting them hit the boards.

We missed Ramel Bradley out there tonight.

We should of have gotten to the free throw line more than we did.

Patrick Patterson did have a nice game, but I thought he could of had an even better one. He should of got the ball more down low. I did notice a few times he was open and they just missed him.

Joe Crawford put up some nice numbers, minus the 6 tornovers he had. Most of which were silly mistakes on his part.

It was a nice win, one we definitely needed. We just really need to get healthy right now. Ramel should be back soon, most likely Saturday. Jodie has been a different story, hopefully some good news about him soon.

Next up…we’re back at home to take on Alabama this Saturday. My birthday is Sunday, so another win would make a nice early present.

Gerald Boudreaux Speaks

SEC coordinator of officials, Gerald Boudreaux, spoke out on the hard foul Georgia’s Dave Bliss committed against Kentucky’s Ramel Bradley on Saturday.

His comments were quite comical. He believes the officials made the right call by not calling it an intentional foul.

Boudreaux recalling the intentional called on Derrick Jasper against Tennessee…

“If there’s any difference that sticks out, he’s clearly behind,” Boudreaux said Monday about the intentional foul on Jasper. “There’s no side action. No reaching in. All the contact, all the action is clearly from behind.”

As for the foul on Bradley…

“the Georgia player was reaching in from the left side,” Boudreaux said.

Ok let’s be honest now. Was he not behind Bradley, catching up, then reaching over him and committing the foul?

Was he blind in not seeing that?

I thought this foul was clearly more intentional than the one that Derrick Jasper was called for against Tennessee.

Lets look at what Boudreaux said previously on that.

“It was not anything hard,” Boudreaux said of Jasper’s contact with Smith. “Nothing flagrant. But in a number of situations where the defense is behind, any contact can jeopardize the safety of the shooter.”

And the foul on Bradley…did it not jeopardize his safety?

A defender can contest the shot from the side, but not from behind.

So what advice would Boudreaux give the defender stuck in Jasper’s position? “If I don’t catch up, I need to let him go,” he said.

Clearly something that Bliss should of done.

Boudreaux talked with Coach Gillispie by telephone Monday.

“He had no problem with the play being called a normal foul,” Boudreaux said of the Bliss foul of Bradley. “It was a tough play. Unfortunately in the game of basketball, there are a lot of tough plays.”

What did you expect him to say? Gillispie isn’t just going to complain about it, so he can get into trouble over it.

Intent has no bearing on judging an intentional foul, Boudreaux said. The position of the defender in relation to the offensive player on a breakaway is key.

Comical…

“I have no problem when a play’s missed saying the play was missed. I’ll always have an honest answer, but it might not be the answer everyone agrees with.”

Wrong answer…

I don’t normally like to bash anyone, but Gerald Boudreaux clearly has no idea of what he is talking about.

I know officials can’t always get it right in the heat of the moment. Bad calls will be made, some calls will be missed. That’s just the way it is. Just don’t insult our intelligence with this nonsense.

Don’t go out there and say things like…”The position of the defender in relation to the offensive player on a breakaway is key” and “A defender can contest the shot from the side, but not from behind.”

It’s evident he says one thing and sees another.

Update:

For comparison purposes…I’ve found some screencaps of the Jasper foul. They’re not the best quality, but you get the point.

Thanks to barryn2000, for the caps.

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