Boil Boil Toil and Turmoil: Pitt vs Kentucky BBVA Compass Bowl

As I run this blog on my solo it appears these days, I know I'm late to hit on the BBVA Compass Bowl, but here goes nothing:

When I was in Vegas last month, the line of this game was Pitt -2.5... this on the exact Mike Hartline was arrested and then suspended for public intoxication. So when I saw the line and that it never shifted after the issue, I thought my money is on Pitt. Sure, Dave Wannstedt had just been fired but he was coaching the game. Sure, Pitt plays in the dismal Big East and we all know how they've done this season. But when you take the 2nd most efficient passer in the SEC and UK's quiet leader and move in backup Morgan Newton to the starter's role - that has to be a 2-4 point swing. I expected that spread to increase to Pitt by 4 maybe 5 points on Newton's new role alone. I was surprised when it didn't.

Well, earlier this week Wannsteadt declared himself ineligible for the BBVA Compass Bowl and coach Michael Haywood was arrested then fired due to domestic violence charges. The point spread changed. But to my surprise it went Pitt -3.5. I expected the last minute coaching challenges to sway the spread by the end of the week back to the -2.5... well it stands at Pitt -4.

So the question then becomes, who's turmoil will cause more trouble? Will the off field issues for the Cats bring on field issues on offense? Will the changing in the guys who never play, but call them cause Pitt to succumb to a pitfall or will they prevail?

My money is still on the Panthers - I'm a realist folks - but I think with the new regime Kentucky will cover the spread. Panthers by 3 31-28.

Projected Stats:
Randall Cobb: 7 for 35 rushing 5 for 45 receiving and 50 yards passing. 2 TDs total
Derrick Locke: 15 for 80 rushing 1 TD
Morgan Newton 15 of 25 passing 145 yards 1 TD

If one or more of these stars comes to play in Birmingham and Kentucky is +1 or better in the turnover department, Kentucky wins.

Go Cats - I'll be glad to be wrong in this instance.

RIP: Enes Kanter's UK Basketball Career

Enes Kanter (UK April 2010- January 2011).

It's finally final. The process has gone through two appeals, two decisions, and month after month after month. But Enes Kanter was officially not freed by the NCAA today.

The appeals committee, which has the final say, declared Kanter permanently ineligible. Kentucky had refiled after the Cam Newton case, but UK AD Mitch Barnhardt was

"informed by the NCAA that the flexible decisions made by the NCAA staff in other high-profile cases could not be used in case precedent and were not binding on the NCAA going forward...The University of Kentucky was very hopeful that our student-athlete might receive the same type of consideration afforded to these other athletes but that did not happen."

Kanter is no longer allowed to practice, play, travel, or participate with the basketball team. He can still receive financial aid to participate in school - but as Head Coach John Calipari put it:

"The silver lining is that Enes will always be part of this team. My job will be to prepare him for his entry into the NBA draft, which this decision by the [NCAA] will likely necessitate. Enes will always be a part of our family and I plan to be by his side in the green room whenever he is drafted."

The Cats have said however that Kanter will remain as an undergraduate assistant coach. He will be allowed to work with the team in a limited capacity. His role will be similar to Wayne Turner's when he was in the spot. He will assist pre- during and post- practice and is likely to work primarily with the big men.

We miss you already Enes's UK career... and we miss you Free Enes

Dana O'neil showing Wildcat Love

ESPN's Dana O'Neil has an article over on ESPN concerning the drama in the SEC. From Bruce Pearl, to Ms State's Renardo Sidney citation, to Free Enes love.

However, O'Neil quickly shows some affection to Josh Harrellson and his 7pts a game and 9rebs.

Early surprise: Josh Harrellson

Since August the entire commonwealth of Kentucky has had but one mission: to Free Enes. Desperate for a post presence, Cat fans have begun a grassroots mission to beg the NCAA to clear the Turkish big man.

But while the NCAA dithers on Kanter's status, Harrellson has been an absolute revelation. The senior is averaging 7.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, rock solid numbers for anyone. That Harrellson averaged 1.3 and 1.2 last season as he cooled his heels behind DeMarcus Cousins makes his production downright eye-popping.

There's no doubt that Kanter, a lottery pick regardless whether he ever suits up in a college uniform, would make a very good Kentucky team even better, but Harrellson's steady, reliable play has been a fantastic substitute.

She throws Brandon Knight in as SEC player of the year and the big three freshmen of Jones, Knight, and Lamb as Rookie of the Year candidates.

My favorite is that O'Neil picks Rupp as the best place to play and of her 7 must see games, 4 of them feature Kentucky... welcome back to the bandwagon.

Must-see gamesJan. 8: Kentucky at Georgia
Jan. 13: Mississippi State at Ole Miss
Jan. 22: Tennessee at Connecticut
Feb. 8: Tennessee at Kentucky (Bruce Pearl's first game back from suspension)
Feb. 12: Kentucky at Vanderbilt
Feb. 26: Florida at Kentucky
March 5: Florida at Vanderbilt

Kanter Decision pt 2: A Change of Heart?

Well, our good man Jeff Goodman has reported that Enes Kanter apparently lost his appeal before UK resubmitted it to the NCAA appeals committee with "new information".

What does that mean for UK? The entire hopes now weigh on the NCAA's Cam Newton decision. To put it in terms that most of our audience will understand, UK is the nerdy ugly guy saying "Hey, I know I've asked you out before, but since you went out with that ugly guy... why don't you go out with me?" The Cats and their faithful following are just hoping the NCAA has had a change of heart.

But let's be honest. If the NCAA had a heart to begin with, they'd ruled Kanter eligible at the beginning.

John Wall Billboards

SportsThat fell in love with the John Wall Song last May. With clever lyrics, cameo's of the John Wall Dance, the only thing better is if it was based out of Kentucky instead of North Carolina.

Well, our boy Beisner over at KSR has spread the word that the people outside of Big Blue Nation have actually put this song on the charts. Troop 41 is coming in at #93 on the charts and we need to see it move higher!

Call your favorite pop or rap station and get them to do the John Wall...John Wall...John Wall... John Wall!

Where's the antenna, cause Cables Out in Oakland

Al Davis has been the owner of the Raiders since 1972. I was born 10 years post-Davis ownership. I've been a Raiders fan for my entire life. The transitive property teaches us that I have been a Raiders fan the entire time Al Davis has been the owner.

Robert Fulghum wrote that everything I needed to know, I learned in Kindergarten. Well, everything you need to know about Al Davis is here: Al Davis is crazy, looks like the Crypt Keeper, and is the majority owner of my favorite football team.

Only once have I seen my team make it to the Super Bowl and it was likely mere luck since the coach that put that team together (John Gruden) was the head coach of the team that beat them in the Super Bowl (Tampa Bay).

In the last 8 years, I've seen two college coaches (Bill Callahan , Lane Kiffin), a second stint coach (Art Shell) and a coach that went to another division rival (Norv Turner). I've seen Randy Moss traded for and away, Darrius Heyward-Bay drafted so high he makes Lindsay Lohan seem sober, and so many quarterbacks I'd be a rich man if I actually received a nickle back for every starter. Chaos = Raiders.

But until this year, I had not seen a non-losing season since Callahan left for greener pastures of Nebraska. How does the owner repay the coach that brought them back from laughing stock to mediocrity and the brink of winning? Silly rabbit, By not picking up his 2 year $5 million contract, that's how.

Sure, Cable went 17-27 in his 3 seasons as interim coach/head coach of the team. But he also increased wins, chemistry, and the fans ability to watch the team.

In 2006, just a year and a half prior to Cable's arrival - the same team went 2-14. Those 16 games included only 2 games where the Raiders scored 20 or more points. That season and the next, the Raiders finished last in offense. This 2010 season, the Raiders finished 3rd in the league in the same category. They not only beat the Chargers for the first time in 13 previous tries, they swept the division. They showed signs of life, filled a crumbling 40 year old Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

As a grandson, you expect your grandparents to do crazy things. They tell stories that can't be true, they forget to do important things, and sometimes you just want to put them in their chair, hand them their sweet potatoes, and turn them towards the TV while you eat at the grownup table.

But as a Raider fan, you come to expect the unexpected. You come to expect losses and dumb decisions by an old man. A few years ago, I read an article that said as a Raiders fan, you should get to pick a co-favorite team and claim that team until Al Davis turns the reigns over... Let this be notice that I am looking for suitors.

Hey New England, how you doin?

He Kant play buy Kan take a good photo!

And I'm BACK!!! On a mission these past couple weeks to enjoy life, vacation, and time away from the blogosphere. What brings me back you ask? Well, I've got big Enes news. He is free! Is he clear to play basketball? No. Is the picture I took of Curry Flurry and he at the UK/Charleston Southern game finally off my camera and free of memory stick purgatory? YES!

We're all on the same page still with The UnderKanter's likelihood of playing ball with... I'm a little more optimistic than most and I'm only giving him a 10% chance to play. Why so high? Because Cam Newton will win the national championship and the NCAA will feel the need to divert attention off their money horse in football and throw some darts and questions at the redheaded stepchild - NCAA basketball. Besides, it will give those guys on Around the Horn something to talk about for the next 2.5 months.

Until then, feel free to throw print the picture out and throw your own darts!