Quick Hitters: Cats Win Hawaiian Thriller

What a game and since it ended at 12:00am EST, this is going to be your quick hitters :

- Cats win 74-67 in a game that was closer than the final score showed. Kentucky was better rested in the second half and it was visible in the cramps and missed shots by the Huskies. A great early season win against a veteran squad on a neutral site.

- Last year Cal said he wished he could bottle up Deandre Liggins and squeeze his hustle into everyone of his players. This year, Cal would need a 5 gallon bucket. Liggins was everywhere tonight and goes 110% the entire time his on the court. His size, athleticism, and leadership showed throughout, including a technical he drew on Washington's Venoy Overton and just walked away without a glance. Bret Dawson of the Courier Journal said it best that if floor burns were a stat, Liggins would lead the country.

- After not receiving credit for his 22 rebound Blue/White game and asking for some recognition, Josh Harrellson deserves to be back on Twitter. Jorts scored 9 points and had 14 rebounds (7 offensive)against Washington and deserves word he gets. Kentucky's weakness will be their interior play but if they can get big minutes and hustle stats from Harrellson, they will out perform their high expectations.

- I expect the Doug Gottlieb radio show to be full of UK fans tomorrow. Before the game, he called out - OK berated - Brandon Knight in comparison to Washington's Isaiah Thomas and UConn's Kemba Walker. Knight came out and scored 24 points on 10-17 shooting. He struggled early with foul trouble and had 8 turnovers, but compared to Thomas' 13 points and 2 turnovers, I'll take it. Gottlieb, you can print this out and eat your words.

- Terrence Jones was all the hype before the game after his 29 point 12 rebound performance against Oklahoma. Package that with his Rick Pitino style UW commitment (he pulled out after about 15 seconds) and you practically had a made for ESPN 30 in 30 movie. Jones didn't disappoint and put up 16 points and 17 rebounds including a few critical free throws with under a minute to play. Jones will be the talk of this team the entire season and you can expect to hear the name Lamar Odom said frequently.

- The Cats play UConn tomorrow at 10:00 on ESPN in the Maui Invitation Championship game. Jim Calhoun's squad pulled off the upset this evening against #2 Michigan State and the small, fast Kemba Walker could give UK issues. Walker has scored 30 in 3 straight games and is, as Jay Bilas frequently stated, the early favorite for Player of the Year. I expect the larger Deandre Liggins to be stuck on Walker like glue and shut him down.

See you kids tomorrow, Go Cats!

Kanter's Appeal Heard Next Week

According to Andy Katz, John Calipari expects Enes Kanter's appeal to be heard next week. This would be the end of the SportsThat founded #FreeEnes road one way or another. If Kanter loses the appeal, Kentucky stands to lose their best chance at a Final Four appearance as their 5 spot guys just won't cut it against larger teams. If Kanter wins the appeal, well, who knows what happens.

Cat fans, cross your fingers, toes, eyes, and whatever other appendages you can cross without breaking something.

UT Football Week News of the Day:

It's the time of the year we all hate. It's UT Football week. If there was ever a streak to be broken, this is it. I will do my obligatory I Hate UT article later this week, but I'm not hyping this game up anymore than it will be. Kentucky has been far superior teams this year and probably lost to less than superior teams (Ole Miss and Mississippi State anyone?). With that, here is your news:


- 517 that is the number of points UK has been outscored by during the 25 year losing streak. Players, Coaches, and Media members are now on the take pride wagon. If that number is any larger than 517, expect tears, jeers, and a crappy bowl.

- John Wall injured his leg 5 games ago and has missed every playing minute since. The rookie phenom is expected to jump back into action in the next game or two as he is now traveling with the team again.

- Kentucky handled Oklahoma last night in their first game of the Maui Classic. Terrence Jones put up a stellar performance scoring 29 points and 12 rebounds, but I was most impressed by his Brett Favre impression showing off his great ball handling.

- Tonight the Cats are matched up against #11 Washington who beat a Virginia team 103 to a lot less. The Huskies will be the first major competition for the Wildcats and the first chance to see how 2010-2011 could go. Couple the UW skill and talent with the new founded hatred the Huskies have for the Cats (i.e. Terrence Jones debacle and Enes Kanter) and we should see how this team test outside the classroom.

Uk Handles Portland, Just Like I Said. But Worse.

This monster dunk by Kentucky's Terrence Jones pretty much sums up the night the Cats had against the Portland Pilots last night. Kentucky was just too big, too strong and too fast. Portland never had a shot. The 79-48 score was a lot worse than the 75-68 score I predicted, partly because of the fact of the youth of the Cats and partly because everybody was talking up Portland. I think the last spread I heard was down to 5 by UK. I wish I would have bet.

Smack Talkin' Jared Stohl was limited to 9 points thanks to the lock down defense of DeAndre Liggins. He has a chance to be the best on-ball defense in the NCAA this year. His scoring will come but there will be plenty of that to go around. I love his defensive tenacity. I am glad Stohl got all of those fans to come out and watch him suck it up. The Cats aint the West Coast Conference little buddy.

Brandon Knight was electric again, scoring three's lay ups, jumpers, free throws and a dunk. Terrence Jones started off slow but ended up doing a nice job. Josh Harrelson pulled down double digit rebounds for the Cats and Eloy Vargas looked more aggressive as the game progressed. I think we will see a completely different player in him by March.

That was a good road win and now on to Maui where some real challenges await. Let's see how the Cats measure up against tougher competition. I have a good feeling about this trip.

Kentucky Basketball Knightcap

A full slate of basketball was played yesterday. The Puerto Rican Classic, Kentuckys Layover in Portland, and the a few other early season tournaments tipped off.

The interesting games started off with #8 North Carolina being upset by Tubby Smith and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. North Carolina, was an awful team last year and they have been given the same grace as the Florida Gators... top 10 ranking after a NIT season, but way overrated.

The nightcap was the Kentucky v Portland Terrence Jones Homecoming game. The Pilots were simply outmatched in this one. Kentucky dominated every line and aspect beating up UP 79-48.

Darius Miller filled the stat sheet with 15 Pts, 5 Reb, 4 Ast, 5 Stl, 4 Blk on 6-7 shooting. The fantastic freshmen duo of Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones scored 21 and 12 respectively while grabbing 3 and 5 boards.

A nice start to what should be a tough road trip ahead. Kentucky will play again on November 22nd at 5:30EST against Oklahoma in their first Maui Invitational matchup.

Watch Kentucky vs Portland. A lesson in resourcefulness

If you're cheap like I am, you don't feel the need or desire to pay for ESPNU. However, since you're reading this blog you are likely a sports fanatic also like me. When the cross between sports fandom and thriftiness meet, you get resourceful or you just don't get what you want.

Thus I present you a lesson in resourcefulness. Those of you looking to watch a little ESPNU for tonight's UK game can complete the following steps:

1. Download StreamTorrent and install it.
2. After installation, right click here then select Copy Shortcut.
3. Open StreamTorrent and click Edit > Paste Link
4. Click the new link in your list and be patient. The stream will load in another window. Ensure your firewall allows the program access to the internet.
5. Grab a brew and your friends and huddle around your PC to watch the game!

These instructions will only work for tonight's game as the stream changes every day. However, we will reference these instructions as the Cats, Cards, and other games of interest will be on ESPNU throughout the season and you know you will want to watch without paying for all those other crappy games.

Questions or issues? Leave them in the comments section and I'll see what I can help with.

Bruce Pearl Just Got Effed in the A

Bruce Pearl has already been in trouble with his employer and now is in trouble with the SEC. The league has suspended Pearl for the first 8 conference games of the season for lying to the NCAA about recruiting violations that range from having high school recruits at his house for a party and for excessive phone conversations with recruits.

Pearl lied about having the recruits at his house until the NCAA showed him a picture of a recruit at his house. Ooops. These are the games he will miss: Arkansas, Flordia, Vandy, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss and Alabama. Guess which game is his first back? That's right, UK. No way is the SEC going to miss out on the cash cow that is Pearl Vs. Cal/UT Vs. UK.
While he misses those 8 games Pearl will not be allowed to do anything with the team at all. No practice, no meetings, nada. This is as close to a firing or a ban someone can get. And to make matters worse the NCAA itself has not come down with a ruling. It's going to get worse before it gets better. Pearl better start checking the want ads.