Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
On Wednesday morning I left Louisville for Charlottesville, Virginia…..arrived seven hours later….went to the UVA-Duke game…..did lawyer stuff today….and have just gotten back to Louisville after another seven hour drive, just in time for a snow storm. Good times! So we will leave it a bit short tonight…..
— The Florida game looms large on Sunday and I for one cant wait for the event. Leave aside the fact that there may be 6-8 inches of snow on the ground, but the game has a lot of interesting subplots. First, and most importantly, it may be an elimination game for the tournament for Florida and a “Win and You’re In” game for Kentucky. Florida has now won an astonishing 7 straight in the series and it is time for that streak to end….and with a tournament berth on the line, what better time. Then you add the subplot that it is Senior Day for a twosome that Kentucky fans have truly embraced this season….then you add the fact that Billy Donovan is returning to Rupp for the first time since he turned down the Cats this past fall…..then you add the fact that Jai Lucas will hear his name for the first time in Rupp since his decision (will he get booed?….I hope not, or at least not any more than the other Florida guys….my guess is Calathes gets it the worst)….and it is quite the event. Lots of national writers are planning on being in town as this game has once again proven to be a great season-ender for college basketball in the SEC.
— By now you likely have heard the story about Michael Porter and his shoulder from Wednesday night, but if you havent, it bears repeating. Porter knocked his shoulder out of socket during the game, but did not come out. He told Coach Gillispie that he knew with UK’s foul trouble that they needed him out there and he had to fight through it before getting the shoulder popped back into place. An extremely tough performance for Porter and one that he definitely deserves praise for fighting through.
— As far as the future goes, three quick notes. Scotty Hopson played tonight in the regional tournament and both Billy Gillispie and Bruce Pearl were reportedly in attendance. These two may be the finalists coming down the home stretch for a late-choosing McDonalds All American….great subplot to the continued building rivalry. And I was told today by someone close to the staff that the Bud Mackey option is a real one….potentially as a walk-on….should be interesting to watch. Finally, June Buchanan star Clark Stepp will be visiting for the UK-Florida game on Sunday. Coach Cox is calling him regularly and there is a lot of interest in having him join the team….he doesnt have a scholarship offer yet, but apparently is of high interest to the UK staff. Three in-state kids all concievably still on UK’s radar…..interesting indeed.
— Joe Lunardi (of Bracketology fame) now has the Cats in the Dance for the first time this year. Listen here to Tom Leach’s interview with him today. Great stuff….
More throughout the day, including a bit more on the Clark Stepp story, some info on what to expect Sunday in Rupp and the report on the UVA-Duke trip. Remember on Sunday, I will be doing the show in Lexington on 1300 AM from 9-11 AM. I will have Gregg Doyel in studio with me for the last hour and it should be great. Until then, watch Rondo absolutely POSTERIZE Jason Maxiell….
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March 7th, 2008 at 1:40 am
first.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:43 am
All opposing players get booed…I doubt Lucas would be any different.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:52 am
thats actually not true…..most opposing players dont get booed….Brian Smith actually got a warm hand hen Ole Miss played
March 7th, 2008 at 2:11 am
jai lucas means nothing to me, boo him!
can’t wait to get this win and get into the tourny!
….tubby sucks.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Nice Joe Lunardi find! It shows there is no way to emphasize enough the importance of a cats win on Sunday! Cant you just feel it happening though? Ramel and Joes Senior Night, Bitter Rivalry, 7 game losing streak, Billy Donovan and Jai Lucas Return, NCAA hopes on the line!!!! We’re due for Victory! What excitement!! I’ll be the first on a prediction. UK 73 UF 70…Ramel has 22 Joe 21 Meeks returns with 15
March 7th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Oh Yeah and Ramon holds Calathes to 11…Capeesh
March 7th, 2008 at 2:29 am
*Razor Ramon
March 7th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Rondo is awesome!
Dude, a class with Liggins, Miller, Hopson, Mackey, and some big that Billy pulls out of his ass would be great.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Carter comes in and puts up 10 and 8 and 3 blocks. GO CATS
March 7th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Great vid of Rondo, but just like him to miss the free throw. Bradley and Jasper should post jai everytime down the court… and if they zone then hopefully Bradley’s hitting jumper’s and just shoots over the little guy.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:44 am
we could a great roster next if all the pieces fall into place. Jai will get dominated Sunday and I see Perry having a solid game. Joe and Ramel will be the show of course. Sunday is an opportunity to restore power in the SEC.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:51 am
By the way Georgia is crazy if they go through in firing felton
March 7th, 2008 at 6:13 am
I hate the booing of the opposing team’s players. It’s completely classless and unsportsmanlike. I wish more fans in Rupp would catch on to that. Respect the other team - they’re student athletes just like our guys. Who cares if other teams do it? Do we want to be in the same camp as Duke and UNC?
That said (wow, sorry, soapbox), I’m super hyped for Sunday’s game. I think we can really give it to the Gators and it would be a great way to end that losing streak and send out two seniors with a lot of heart the right way.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:48 am
NO BOOING!!!! Lets just kick some A$$ cus we got a heck of lot saved up!
March 7th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Can’t wait til Sunday. Florida has a beating coming, I hope. Regarding Scotty Hopson, does anybody know around when his high school season should be over? I’m anxious for this recruitment to get a move on, he would be a great addition to UK!
March 7th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I will be there, I will boo, it will be joyous for all.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:07 am
BCG said “Hey Jai, you tell Billy D that the Cats are comin, and Hell’s comin with us you hear, HELL’S COMIN WITH US!!!!”
March 7th, 2008 at 8:09 am
i love in the video how you can read Rip’s lips saying “there was nothing i could do”
March 7th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I know for sure that Jodie wants to play, but I don’t know if he can. It’s sounds like he’s going to give it a shot though.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I say we boo them to no end. Honestly, have you ever seen the way we get treated down there? Make Billy D, Princess Calathes and Fairy Lucas feel the HEAT!
Bring it, Rupp!
March 7th, 2008 at 8:30 am
If UK could get Bud Mackey and Clark Stepp to walk on, that would be awesome. Stepp will be an interesting one to follow. He’s one of the typical high-school stars in that he gets all the shots he wants during any given game therefore scores the most points. But then again he had 1000 assists (I think) in his high school career. I say interesting because I’d like to see what he is like as a role player when teams don’t concentrate on him. I think he could be a great slasher and outside threat. We’ll see. Go Cats.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Rupp will be ROCKIN!!! Cats need to win in a BAD WAY! Eddie Munster is no longer welcome!
March 7th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Mackey would be huge for the Cats as a walk-on. He would have a scholarship before his time is up with the Blue and White.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Isn’t it ironic that someone nicknamed “Bud” got caught with a crack rock instead of a bag of weed?? Hopefully things turn out well for him and he really is trying to turn it around. If that’s the case, I’d definitely allow him to walk-on. Getting a player of his caliber in a walk-on status under Coach Gillispie and his toughness could be a great situation for all involved.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:36 am
[...] Oh, and Bud Mackey might WALK ON at UK. [...]
March 7th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I know that Lunardi feels that the Cats are in. Yet ESPN is showing Florida as one of the last teams in and the Cats as one of the 1st teams out. We have to have this win. Cats will roll the Gators come Sunday.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:39 am
KY players are making a highlight reel at Maxiell’s expense. Anyone remember when Shagari thunder-dunked on him during the tournament game.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:42 am
By the looks of Maxiell’s foul I guess it is true what “they” say. You can take the kid out of Cincy but you can’t take the Cincy out of the kid. A little Huggie Bear special.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I’m still mixed about this whole Bud Mackey thing. Am I the only one that thinks that this is potentially a chemistry-disaster waiting to happen? It seems like this team is really buying into the whole “family” thing and Mackey might serve as somewhat of a distraction.
I dont know the kid or if that’s even the case, but from an outsider’s perspective, it seems like this team’s chemistry is it’s biggest strength right now and the whole Mackey thing might throw a wrench in it.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I have a feelin Jasper is gonna posterize Calathes this Sunday.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:59 am
29 Not really much of a gamble if he is a walk-on. No investment really. If he is a problem he can quickly become Dusty Mills.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:02 am
#31 is right. Plus if he wants to earn a scholarship in the future he’s going to have to do what it takes.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:08 am
29, I am not going to speculate about whether bud mackey has learned his lesson. I do know that if he comes in as a walk-on and has patterson as his role model, he will keep his nose clean (pun intended). I am all for Mackey as a walk-on and as an image rebuilding process at UK. I think that if he came to UK and made it two years with no issues, that he will be more than worth a scholly in his Jr year. That’s just my opinion.
Oh, is anybody else less and less convinced of the dire need of a big man in this class?? Stevenson is going to become an all-SEC player. Watch!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:09 am
process should be “project”, sorry.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:11 am
The local news in Western Kentucky showed Gillispie and Pearl talking to one another and cutting up at the 2nd region tournament game featuring Hopson and UHA. I say get Hopson on board and let BCG straighten him out if there are any character/ego issues.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Please don’t offer a step a scholly. You folks who have seen him play no what I’m saying.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Mackey scenario:
Take him as a walk-on with 2 strikes (any screw ups, late to practice, miss a class, etc…gone). He earns a scholarship after one year of staying clean and an elevated GPA (3.0 or better). Random drug tests (which will be part of his probation) to boot.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:13 am
And I meant know instead of “no” . My bad folks!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:15 am
33 I would just like to see us add another big for depth. BCG can probably easily do that in the JUCO ranks. Plus PPat probably won’t be here past next year and Stephenson and Harris will be juniors. If we’re truly going to get back to “contend every year” status then we need to be adding depth all the time a la Pitino.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Mackey as a walk-on!!! Why would he do that??? Schools are offering him a ride - I don’t believe the kid is a die-hard UK fanatic and must play for Coach BCG.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Other possible good news for this weekend: Jodie Meeks posted on his facebook page that he “is ready to be on the court Sunday”
March 7th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Meeks getting back HEALTHY…..would be a great 2-3 game tune-up before post season. He could be our third scoring option we are so desperately gonna need.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:32 am
He won’t even have to be 100% conditioned the way we are running our offense now….slow paced and we have been winning without him…spark plug off the bench.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:38 am
This sutton kid would be a good fit, you have to think that Cousins (UAB), Mayo (USC), Beasley(KSU), Jordan(TAMU, Derozan (USC), and the a lot of the 5 star players like these are going to second tier programs where they know they can go and play good teams, but be a big fish in their small pond. These top notch 5 star players that are only looking to go to school for a year or two want to go somewhere they do not have to play second fiddle to juniors and seniors. Dont get me wrong, I will take all the talent we can get, but down the road sometimes it is better to get the overlooked kids who want to be here to win championships. (This is in reference to everyone fretting of cousins, and hopson)
March 7th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I love the Porter bit -this is Team Triumph, period.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I dont know how meeks would fit in to our new “princeton” style offense, but I sure would like to find out!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Team Turnaround is my vote.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Team Triumph if they make the FF
March 7th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Hahaha of course he shorts the free throw…..
March 7th, 2008 at 9:43 am
although in all fairness he did get his skull bounced off the ground like a tennis ball
March 7th, 2008 at 9:44 am
48, ‘Team Holy Shit’ if they make the FF.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Well I think we can reach into the hat of previous nicknames and come up with a sequel to the “Comeback Cats” the nickname for this team would be in reference to a season rather than a game.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:45 am
17 thanks you so much for that classical Tombstone reference…..god I love that movie
March 7th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Team Triumph makes me think of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog…I guess that would be a good name. Example…Yes, Florida has a great team and a great coach…..FOR ME TO POOP ON!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Wow, that Porter story makes me feel bad for having this screen name.
Although, he does wear that gay t-shirt under his jersey. So that
kinda evens things out.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:09 am
This was not done by myself, but I thought it was worth sharing: Listed are those teams with AT LEAST 2 losses to teams rated over #90 in the RPI. You might be surprised at how well respected a few of these teams are nationally. A surprising amount of NCAA tournament worthy teams suffer more than 1 inexplicable loss.
* UK - (47):
Gardner-Webb (203)H
San Diego (110) H
* Michigan St - (14):
Iowa (183) A
Penn St (155) A
*Drake - (15):
Bradley (93)H
Missouri St (122)A
* Arizona - (24):
Virginia (113)H
Washington (103)A
*Pitt - (25):
Rutgers (225)H
Cincinnati (90)A
* Kent St - (31):
Detroit (283)A
Toledo (221)A
Bowling Green (189)A
*Purdue - (32):
Missouri (102)A
Wofford (205)H
Iowa St (157)Neutral
* Ohio St - (54):
Iowa (183)A
Michigan (180)A
Minnesota (91)A
March 7th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Everyone should really go to Beezner’s blog and read the UF cheerleader story.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:52 am
If we somehow pull Hopson and Mackey in here to play for the CATS we would then have 7 players who were in the top 50 of rival150 on our team . Billy can get it done with that kind of talent.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Triumph the Comedy Dog: “Billy Donovan should have came to Kentucky. So I could POOP on him”
March 7th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
In response to booing Lucas. I was at the UK / UF game this year and they saved the worst of the boos for Patterson and Coach G. However I do not think there will be that type of reaction for Lucas, and i agree that becuase of that Non-called flagrant by Calathes he deserves some heat, and of course the biggest boos should go to donovan, but really who cares, Im glad we got Coach G.
Anyone ever noticed how Donovan and Calathes both look like eddi munster?
March 7th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
there’s no doubt Calathes is gunna hear boos from the crowd every time he touches the ball for that hard foul in Gainsville…just like Bliss.
i don’t think there’s any way mackey will walk on for UK when he could get a scholorship somewhere else…for him to be wearin blue and white next year we’re gunna have to offer him.