Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
photo: Charles Bertram, Herald-Leader
Tonight, was rare. Sure, Kentucky has fought tooth n’ nail to reclaim their status as an SEC contender, but tonight there was certainty. On the sleeved wings of Joe Crawford the Wildcats flew, deftly dismissing a decent effort out of the Gamecocks, 71-63. Refreshing more than anything, to have post-season stakes rolled out onto the floor, then seizing it as if you’re offended by the belated offer. Leading throughout? How I missed thee.
–Huge night for Kentucky’s Seniors, as Joe Crawford continues to deepen his imprint on this program. Crawford’s 35 is the most from a Wildcat since Tayshaun’s 41 point barrage against Tulsa in the ‘02 tourney.* Likewise, Ramel Bradley’s 20 points and overall game management was superb. As if their combined 55 points wasn’t enough, their intense defense night in/out has been equally as impressive. Veteran moxie we haven’t seen since the days of Erk, Cleeuf, Jurld, Keef, and Chook. Joe and Ramel, there’s a nice ovation coming your way.
*fact not checked
–Every night is Senior Night for Mark Coury.
–I’m buying what the Razor is selling these days. Devan Downey has managed to get his on just about every opponent this season. With the urging of Ramon Harris’s smothering defense, Downey was left with 9. It’s pretty obvious there’s been a spike in the Razor’s mojo (even if CBC wastes a 30 just so he can dog cuss you), and the results speak for themselves.
–I’d like to think of Ramel’s homespun 3-pointer as a symbol of our season. Digest…
–Happy Trails, Dave Odom. You are now free to play 36 holes, concoct world domineering ideals in your evil laboratory, begin your book I Coached Tim Duncan: And Some Other Things as Well, and wait for that David Hobbes-like job to open up.
Standing O
This rag-tag band of Cats surely deserves one. Brand new management. Early season embarrassment. Devastating injuries. And yet, here we are, poised for second place in the East and a first round bye in Catlanta. After the Vandy debacle and amidst the injuries, this team has had every reason to call it a day and wallow in their bath of misfortune. Most teams would have, I have no doubt. But this is what we envisioned that day last April when Gillispie shook on it. Tough minded basketball with an utter refusal to quit.
Playoff in Rupp
As I tell my secretary what to type, Florida is giving the Vols all they can handle. Though a Florida loss would be ideal, it’s ultimately going to come down to Sunday’s rematch in Rupp to determine who’s going to fill the 4th SEC slot in the dance. Last year’s contest in Rupp was quite the spectacle, but this year’s discount version has the literal implication of a single elimination tournament game. Clock in, Cats.
Finally, dead horse be damned, there’s just no reason for Raycom to not offer a high def broadcast. I’m not really sure what they’re about on the corporate end, but they sound just generically branded enough to be legit. If you’re not going to give us SEC TV, at least give us 2008. 2000?
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Crawford needs to go off again Sunday. 25 points for Crawford and 20 for Bradley and we are dancing.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Great write-up. Great night for Crawford.
Are we sure Sparks never eclipsed 35? Who knows…
March 5th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Ramon is improving a LOT- bodes well for us next year for sure. It was awesome when Coach got on him, I love the intensity.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Vandy win moves the RPI up to 46
March 5th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Harris shutting down Downey was a huge difference maker…now Calathes needs the same treatment
March 5th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Guys. If we had beaten Tennessee, we could very well be SEC Champions.
Holy ****ing sh*t.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Great win. I like the momentum we have, lets keep it rollin. Patterson being out has light a fire, I want the seniors to get to the dance… and what top seed wants to play UK in the first round?….
March 5th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Fitch scored 37 Thanksgiving weekend in 2003 at Rupp
March 5th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
*lit
March 5th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I hope Coury knocks the lines out of Parsons and Calathes hair. Freakin punks.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Vandy win helps our SEC draw IMO. If Florida can hold on over UT, it looks like our SEC tourney draw will include Tennessee, Vandy and Arkansas on the other side of the bracket. A win over Florida Sunday OR an appearance in the SEC Tourney final will put us squarely in the Dance. Had Vandy lost and Florida won, they very well could have swapped spots in the standings putting Vandy between us and the SEC final.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I heard the BCG stated that Porter dislocated his shoulder or elbow in the first half! BCG and the coaching staff didn’t know about till after the game. Billy asked him why he did tell them Porter said that they were in foul trouble and the team needed him!!!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I think the perfect scenario is to beat Vandy in the SEC tourney to make up for the beating they gave us.
By the way Chuck Hayes having a nice game tonight 9 points 11 rebounds 5 assists
March 5th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
#12 if thats true that is amazing, these guys are the greatest! please, please, please let us win on Senior day for Joe and Ramel!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
If that’s true about Porter, my respect for him just went way up. Loving the sacrifice.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
RPI is going to jump again if Tennessee beats florida. We might be around 44 by the end of the night.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
If Florida that will put then well into the rpi top 100 and that will be a better win for us on Sunday. Which would inprove our SS to top 10 and RPI maybe into the high 30s. Man is that a big game. I think the only thing that can get in our way is our own excitement.I just hope Ramel and Joe don’t try to do too much because of how much this game means to them personally. But if we can control ourselves and the game the way we have the last few games it shouldn’t be a problem. The crowd should be crazy.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I hate to jinx this but Florida is just not that good right now. Rupp should be a mad house on Sunday after the way we have played lately.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
UT is full of thugs.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
“fact not checked”
LOL.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
That Loften kid looks pretty good. Isn’t he from Kentucky? Wonder why we didn’t go after him.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
ok…if tenn loses and then we both win out…who wins the east??
March 5th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
tenn still has one less loss than us.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
22, Tenn would still be a game up.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
If Tennessee loses out and Kentucky beats Florida, they tie but the Cats would get the #1 seed in the tourney because they would have a better East record.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
why is it that florida always has that one player that everyone hates, calathes this year, noah last year, so on. I want one of those annoying guys that we love but everyone hates. I think porter has that potential if he ever catches fire.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Porter….Uh no.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
raycom in HD would be nice…
raycom being able to display the correct score would be even better
March 5th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Scotty Hopson could fit that bill pretty good I think.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
27. I’m talking if Porter ever got good, that’s an if. Right now=Hell no
March 5th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
wow, how do you let that happen?
March 5th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
maybe other teams think of Ramel that way?? who knows
March 5th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I’m waiting on Dakatoa to be that guy.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Dakota?
March 5th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
ya he has the look. Jon Hood would fit that description. I hate to say it but Hood looks like a Duke guy.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Crawford is a stud.
Porter is a man.
#21 is a punk.
Great win Cats!
March 5th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
“Dakotah
March 5th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
21 is a punk? I was just replaying what the media has played for 4 years. I can’t wait until I don’t have to hear that crap anymore.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Vols win vols win
March 5th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Tennessee Vols are officially your 2007-2008 SEC Champions!
word.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
gay.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
After watching that game and Uk tonight and the game on Sunday I think the gap between UK and UT is very very small.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
First of all congratulations Payne and Macon_volfan where ever you are…
Just wondering Payne did you type that on a Vols website first or did you come straight here?
March 5th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
enjoy it…try not to flame out in the tourney….again
March 5th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Payne-You’re gay! Get a life!
March 5th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I have “been on here” for a while tonight. I can’t wait until we lose on Thursday next week.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
oops. That should be lose on Friday. I am just used to losing on Thursday.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I think Raycom looks like you turned the color about halfway down. It’s like one of those small town religious stations started broadcasting sports.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Enjoy your win. And hope you don’t lose to Florida or you will have to play the Vols a lot sooner than you want to next week.
Oh and good luck with the 11 seed. You finally can stop worrying about making the big tourney.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
We’ll take the 11 seed over the 8 or 9 all day long.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
NEWSFLASH: Gillispie is one hell of a coach.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
(50) I agree.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
thats not a newsflash, that’s an old story that was discovered around the time SEC play started.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
On a completely different note, has anyone seen this recent clip from our good friend OH Napier were he gives props to kentuckysportsradio.com here is the link. He says it at the end. You gotta love the Great Houdini OH Basketball Sorcerer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yziSuA1Tn3Q
March 5th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
# 49…until YOUR team can ever accomplish anything in the post season, youneed to go back to the Vols site and dream about being like KENTUCKY with everyone else on there. GO CATS!!
March 5th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Payne why don’t you post on the Vols site you CHODE!
March 5th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Payne….also I would put our 43 SEC titles up against your 9 (now, I think) any friggin’ day. So until you can reach that status..shut the hell up
March 5th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
for an annoying sidenote, unless minnesota can pull off 2 more victories, tubbys streak of 20 win seasons will end. Im not the biggest fan of the mans coaching, but only Olson at Zona has a longer active streak (don’t know if this season counts or not).
An impressive streak that spans some time at UGA and all of UK and now possiby minnesota (my guess is they win enough during NIT)
right now, a healthy UK team is just damn scary, impossible, but scary. Fully healthy, this team could tear up a region in the tournament
March 5th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
#8 - Fitch had 36 in that game in 2003.
JoeJoe’s 35 is special on this night. Hopefully he can see the rim that large several times more for us.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Let’s not get real high on Razor. Last two games have been good for him but also made several mistakes in both games that did not show up in the stats. He’s no Trajon Langdon for sure and wouldn’t even get a sniff of the UK starting lineup from 1990-2006. Regardless, I’m happy that he is stepping up and let’s just hope BCG keeps him in situations where he can succeed. Go Big Blue!
Who is payne? Have not seen him on here before. Lots of insight on the 49 post.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Payne is a Tennessee fan who generally makes good posts when he is not trying to argue.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
on GameNight, Lavin just made a big case for Gillispie as SEC CoY
March 5th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
greenwell… let’s not get real high on Ramon Harris? The guy shut down SC’s best scorer Downey. in a game that was critical to our post season.
Individual defense doesn’t have a place on the stat sheet. He is our best defender, and was placed on Downey for a reason. I understand your cavalier approach to calling him out as a non-typical conributor, however to me, it just shows your lack of understanding of his value to THIS team. Without a solid 5 or what KY became use to in the Pitino year (a solid 10) we have to have role players until BCG can rebuild the roster.
I think your comment shows your lack of real interest in this team. You must not be watch the game like a KY fan, but like everybody else. It’s ok, there’s a bunch of your kind just south in Tennessee.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Hard to argue against Stallings or Pearl but I told several guys today, “How can you leave out BCG as CoY in the SEC????”
March 6th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Randolph Morris had a good game for the Knicks tonight. 12 minutes, 7 points and 7 rebounds. Also, Rajon Rondo flat out made Jason Maxiell look like a fool with a wicked dunk.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:04 am
If we would have not got screwed against Miss.ST and Florida we wouldnt be sitting here worring about it. Come to think of it I think the refs werent to kind in the tennassee game either. We should only have one SEC loss. GO CATS
March 6th, 2008 at 12:05 am
As worried about it.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:11 am
There’s no reason to worry about what the refs have done in the past. Our seniors have got us in the position to get in the tournament, and IMO have redeemed themselves from all past mistakes. This team has more heart than any NCAA team I’ve seen in the past. If you don’t love this team then there has got to be something wrong with you as a true blue fan. Let’s ride these boys as far as they can go, cuz they’ve surely given us reason to. I’d take the heart and fight these boys have shown, over outstanding talent any day. Joe and Ramel have gotten my pick as two of my favorites ever this year because of their will and fight alone. Sweet sixteen is what I have planned, and I don’t think these guys have anything less in mind, even if it’s only one game at a time. GO CATS!!!
March 6th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Splat…a few good points but no facts. Did Downey just have an off night? Any reason why his five lowest point totals of the season came against us, NC State, G Mason, Georgia and LSU. Defensive specialists on those teams?? NO.
No need to argue over Razor’s role….it’s just that he’s a fine player for the talent we have to work with right now but not what a lot are making him out to be. That’s all.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:16 am
It looked like Razor had some blocks and deflections. He is a decent rebounder for us too. He definately is a great defender. He has turned into way more than he would have if Tubby was still coach. GO CATS
March 6th, 2008 at 12:16 am
That’s it. I’m naming my firstborn Intern.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:23 am
I think that Kentucky should retire the seniors jerseys. The way they turned this season around is something NO ONE SAW COMING! They deserve something special and in my opinion that is what should happen
March 6th, 2008 at 12:37 am
No banner talk, please. We need to make a tournament before you start getting crazy worm. Remember, the last jerseys that came from feel good accomplishments (and not typicaly required excellence) were the unforgettables. Those guys did the impossible and we’re 2 seconds from the Final Four if I’m not mistaken.
We’ve got a way to go to get to that level of the game. If you want, bring that up if we get there. It would certainly be met with more agreement than now IMO.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:37 am
From John Clay’s article in the LHL.
Afterward, Gillispie relayed the news that reserve guard Michael Porter had his shoulder pop out during the game, but the sophomore didn’t tell the training staff until after the final horn.
“I asked him why, and he said, ‘Coach, we were in foul trouble,’ ” said Gillispie, shaking his head, adding that the anecdote demonstrated how close his team has grown.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:17 am
I would just like to send a shout-out to Billy Gillispie for making it fun to be a Wildcat fan again.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Amen #75 Amen
March 6th, 2008 at 1:51 am
69# One thing you seem to be forgeting is that Ramon Harris is essentially still a freshman. He came here last year after the season started, and played I think like 12 mins the entire season. He (just like all of our players) has improved greatly under BCG. So how about we wait and see what he looks like next year. Not everybody can be great out of the gate as a freshman.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:16 am
[...] Handlin’ they business [...]
March 6th, 2008 at 6:21 am
How is it you can win anything with just two proven scorers?
Must be the hair….
March 6th, 2008 at 7:28 am
I see why Intern won as “Favorite/Best Poster”. Fantastic Write-up…
“Happy Trails, Dave Odom. You are now free to play 36 holes, concoct world domineering ideals in your evil laboratory, begin your book I Coached Tim Duncan: And Some Other Things as Well, and wait for that David Hobbes-like job to open up.”
Brilliant!!!
March 6th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Looks like the cats are going to be playing on Friday at the sec tourney.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I posted this the other day but it was late and not sure if anyone read it…..
This team (especially the seniors) deserves a name. How about “The Scratch Cats”?
scratch = to scrape or dig, collect with difficulty or by effort, to make a living by hard work and especially through irregular means and sacrifice.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Anytime a guy with Harris’s size can hold a point guard of Downey’s abilities to not only 9 points but not very many drive and dishes, you have to give him credit.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Intern.. KY and FL should be playing for the fifth NCAA tourney spot from the SEC, not the fourth. Unless they lose this weekend, AK should be in along with the guarantees, Tenn, Vandy and Miss St.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:59 am
I dont think ARK is a lock.
Ramon Harris is terrible. He turns it over anytime he has to dribble more than twice or dribble at least once and then pass. Did he ever play basketball before he came here???
March 6th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I’m not a big Ramon Harris fan, but you have to admit that he’s stepped it up offensively the last few games. And his defense has been fantastic all year.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Raycom is like a bunch of amateurs. Replays of previous plays instead of the controversial call that just happened. Cutting to graphics over gameplay. Cutting to commercials during gameplay. Wrong scores, wrong foul counts, bad commentary, and horrible on-screen graphics. I’ve seen better YouTube productions. When the drink got spilled on the commentator, he wouldn’t quit talking about it all night, and didn’t even mention the game when Holland had a headset for about 10 minutes. There’s my rant…and I’m done.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:06 am
85… He’s far from terrible. He’s got a slight turnover tendency, but other than that, he’s a lockdown defender and has been improving his slashing ability and has great off the ball movement. He’s not a superstar, but that doesn’t make him terrible.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Harris is key to us continuing this inspired play. If you can’t see that you must be a tenn. b-ball fan. His defense is stellar and hes learning to finish around the basket pretty well. He needs to work on FTs and developing a 10-15 ft jumper.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:18 am
84 ARK is far from in their only key win this year is over Vandy at home. I think they will def. have to win this weekend and maybe one in the tourney. Their loss to us does not help them, and if we beat Florida on Sunday and FLA and ARK play first round of the tourney, that will be the 5th spot.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Ramon is only going to get better. Remember this is essentially his freshman year.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I love Ramon Harris! He is a hard worker and always gives 100%!
March 6th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Its no secret the the Razor shoots poorly, but lets focus on how someone 6′6 is able to keep up with devin downey, sundiata gaines, jajuan smith/chris lofton, and beverly.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Anybody in here live in Lex with Direct TV HD? Do you all get the local channels in HD (uk basketball games)?
March 6th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I imagine Ramon will also be assigned to that pretty-boy Calathes on Sunday.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:56 am
whats the rpi look like right now?
March 6th, 2008 at 9:57 am
94…My parents have it, and as of two weeks ago they did not have the locals in HD through the dish yet, just through the off-air antenna. (Which cuts out fairly often)
March 6th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I cant believe as large of a market as that is we dont get locals in HD.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:02 am
98. Don’t feel too bad, because when the cats are on locally it usually through Raycom who tends not to offer HD …
March 6th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Say what you want about Michael Porter, but you got to love his toughness. This from the Courier Journal today,
“The coach said his team’s tenacity was typified by backup guard Michael Porter, who played despite what Gillispie later learned might have been a dislocated shoulder.
Gillispie said that when he questioned Porter about not informing him of the injury, the sophomore responded, “I wasn’t going to shoot it, Coach.”
Great Win Last night!
March 6th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Is Raycom doing the game Sat too?
March 6th, 2008 at 10:12 am
85 - Have you been watching the last two games?!?
March 6th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Shan Foster pretty much wrapped up SEC player of the year last night with his 42 points against Mississippi State.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:25 am
HANDLIN’ THEY BIDNESS
March 6th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Floriduh game is Sunday at 12 noon on CBS.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:35 am
103) I think it should go to Jamont Gordon. He can score points too, but he can also rebound better and he’s a better passer. Not to mention the fact that he’s playing out of position. Shan Foster would be a close second.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Hands down Shan Foster.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:04 am
My ALL SEC TEAMS.
1st - Ramel Bradley, Devan Downey, Shan Foster, Jamont Gordon, Richard Hendrix
2nd - Joe Crawford, Dwayne Curtis, Chris Lofton, Tyler Smith, Marcus Thornton
3rd - Sundiata Gaines, Charles Rhodes, JaJuan Smith, Marreese Speights, Sonny Weems
Frosh - Nick Calathes, A.J. Ogilvy, Patrick Patterson, Anthony Randolph, Chris Warren
March 6th, 2008 at 11:08 am
how would you not have Chris Lofton on the first team all sec?
March 6th, 2008 at 11:14 am
My question is how is PPAT not on any of the first 3 teams???
March 6th, 2008 at 11:17 am
109) Two reasons. One, each of my 1st team members are averaging more points than Lofton. Two, each of my 1st team members are more important to their respective teams than Lofton is to Tennessee. Tennessee would still be dangerous without Lofton. It would be hard to say that about any of my first teamers’ teams.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:20 am
110) I didn’t put any freshmen in the first 3 teams. This is out of respect for the seasoned SEC players. I realize this is not how the SEC votes. I think PatPat is good enough for second team.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:30 am
The National Association of Basketball Coaches came out with their all district teams today. Hendrix, Gordon, Foster, and Lofton all made first team along with Marcus Thornton from LSU. The only UK player to get a mention was Patrick Patterson and he was second team.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Let me just say this second half of the season is the most fun I have had watching UK play basketball in the last couple of years. They are definitely not the most talented bunch, but they play with heart. I think that was something Tubby’s teams the last two or three years had been missing, I didn’t see a whole lot of desire on those teams. I say you give Gillespie two or three more years and we’ll have a top 10 team year in and year out, just look at the success he’s had at other programs with much nowhere near the prestige Kentucky has. If you would’ve asked me after the loss at San Diego, if I would have felt this way in a few months, I would have called you crazy. Keep up the good work Cats.