As Friday night is winding down I have to admit that the excitement over the Kentucky game is at about a 9. A big road win is needed at this time in the season and the win over Tennessee could provide the spark that was missing for a few games. The game against Vandy is as big of a road game as the Cats have played all year. A win on the road against a ranked team with an identical record is big time.
If Florida loses to Tennessee and UK pulls off a victory, then the SEC East crown is within reach. This is the biggest game for this team of this season so far.
Keys to the Game:
-The Cats need to get going fast in order to keep the mystique of that God awful Gym out of their heads.
-Liggins must stick like glue to John Jenkins, a guy putting up 19 a game for Vandy. He is the best player they have by far. Shut him down and good things will happen.
-Speaking of DeAndre, he needs to continue his aggressiveness at the offensive end of the floor. Tuesday night was beautiful.
-Assert yourself Jorts.
-Knight had a fantastic game against the Vols. He seems unstoppable at home but the road has some type of effect on him and it's not a good one. Stay out of foul trouble young man and start scoring early and often.
-Just give me 4 points, Eloy. Just give me 4.
-Terrence Jones...as you were.
I am calling this one for the Cats 68-60. Close one throughout, but the Boys in Blue figure out how to do it on the road.
And now for the Dirty Birds. Before I even begin with how I think the game will fall out, I must ask a favor: Louisville fans and Rick Pitino, will you PLEASE STOP CRYING ABOUT THE TECHNICAL FOUL AGAINST KYLE KURIC! They are acting like this is on the level of the Kennedy assassination or something. Jeez, we get it. It was a bad call, it sucks, the kid isn't hurt, he is still playing basketball and I'm sure he will have dunks like that in the future so please MOVE ON.
Glad that's off my chest. Now, Gorgui Dieng and Rakeem Buckles are both returning to the Cards from long absences due to injuries. I am curious to see how Buckles will play since if he hadn't have been injured against UK, Louisville would have won by 50 according to most Louisville fans.
But I digress. Buckles is a huge contributor and makes the Cards tougher on the interior. The problem is that he will be out of basketball shape. Dieng doesn't do much for me. He could be good in a year or two but some people act like he is the second coming of Shaq and his numbers don't reflect that (6 points per game and 4 rebounds). He gives good effort but Buckles could be a key for this team.
The Rickster has owned Jim Boeheim as of late. The Cards won both games against Syracuse last year, including the last game at Freedom Hall. The Orange have seriously been struggling losing 5 of their last 7. They are still #12 for some reason. This game means a lot to both teams in a jumbled middle of the pack in a crowded Big East.
I think the Cards get one more against Syracuse 72-65.
That about does it for me. Until later, go Cats, Boo Cards, and yes the Troop 41 "Do the John Wall" video will be posted in the morning. We gotta keep this baby rolling.
P.S. Marquis Teague (formerly of the Dirty Birds. I still get a kick out of that), Michael Gilchrist, Anthony Davis and Kyle Wiltjer have all been named McDonald's All Americans. We get to see these future Cats in action very soon.
P.P.S. The Cards had 2 players named McD's All Americans, Chane Behanan and Wayne Blackshear. Their first to have 2 play in this game since 1987. Awwwwww...isn't that cute!
If Florida loses to Tennessee and UK pulls off a victory, then the SEC East crown is within reach. This is the biggest game for this team of this season so far.
Keys to the Game:
-The Cats need to get going fast in order to keep the mystique of that God awful Gym out of their heads.
-Liggins must stick like glue to John Jenkins, a guy putting up 19 a game for Vandy. He is the best player they have by far. Shut him down and good things will happen.
-Speaking of DeAndre, he needs to continue his aggressiveness at the offensive end of the floor. Tuesday night was beautiful.
-Assert yourself Jorts.
-Knight had a fantastic game against the Vols. He seems unstoppable at home but the road has some type of effect on him and it's not a good one. Stay out of foul trouble young man and start scoring early and often.
-Just give me 4 points, Eloy. Just give me 4.
-Terrence Jones...as you were.
I am calling this one for the Cats 68-60. Close one throughout, but the Boys in Blue figure out how to do it on the road.
And now for the Dirty Birds. Before I even begin with how I think the game will fall out, I must ask a favor: Louisville fans and Rick Pitino, will you PLEASE STOP CRYING ABOUT THE TECHNICAL FOUL AGAINST KYLE KURIC! They are acting like this is on the level of the Kennedy assassination or something. Jeez, we get it. It was a bad call, it sucks, the kid isn't hurt, he is still playing basketball and I'm sure he will have dunks like that in the future so please MOVE ON.
Glad that's off my chest. Now, Gorgui Dieng and Rakeem Buckles are both returning to the Cards from long absences due to injuries. I am curious to see how Buckles will play since if he hadn't have been injured against UK, Louisville would have won by 50 according to most Louisville fans.
But I digress. Buckles is a huge contributor and makes the Cards tougher on the interior. The problem is that he will be out of basketball shape. Dieng doesn't do much for me. He could be good in a year or two but some people act like he is the second coming of Shaq and his numbers don't reflect that (6 points per game and 4 rebounds). He gives good effort but Buckles could be a key for this team.
The Rickster has owned Jim Boeheim as of late. The Cards won both games against Syracuse last year, including the last game at Freedom Hall. The Orange have seriously been struggling losing 5 of their last 7. They are still #12 for some reason. This game means a lot to both teams in a jumbled middle of the pack in a crowded Big East.
I think the Cards get one more against Syracuse 72-65.
That about does it for me. Until later, go Cats, Boo Cards, and yes the Troop 41 "Do the John Wall" video will be posted in the morning. We gotta keep this baby rolling.
P.S. Marquis Teague (formerly of the Dirty Birds. I still get a kick out of that), Michael Gilchrist, Anthony Davis and Kyle Wiltjer have all been named McDonald's All Americans. We get to see these future Cats in action very soon.
P.P.S. The Cards had 2 players named McD's All Americans, Chane Behanan and Wayne Blackshear. Their first to have 2 play in this game since 1987. Awwwwww...isn't that cute!
Just a small correction, but it isn't the first time that UL has had McD's All American since 1987, it's the first time since '87 they've had TWO in there at the same time. Siva, E5, Samardo, all 3 were burger boys...
ReplyDelete"In ten years at Louisville, Rick Pitino has had ten McDonald's All-Americans, counting Behanan and Blackshear. The other players include Carlos Hurt (2001), Marvin Stone (1999), Sebastian Telfair (NBA), Amir Johnson (NBA), David Padgett (transfer from Kansas), Earl Clark (2006), Samardo Samuels (2008), Peyton Siva (2009).
Note Louisville actually had three players on the 1990 McDonald's All-America team, but Clifford Rozier signed with North Carolina before transferring to Louisville, and Anthony Cade never played for the Cardinals. Dwayne Morton was a three-year starter for UofL"
Thank you for pointing that out. I have corrected the mistake.
ReplyDeleteAnd can you really count Telfair and Johnson? Those guys never put on a Cardinal uniform, let alone practiced with the team. So in reality Ricky P has had eight during his tenure at Louisville. And come to think about it, Marvin Stone was a transefer fom UK, so Pitino didn't recruit him. But he is listed as going to Louisville on the McDonalds All American official website, so you guys can have him.
Calipari has already had 7 in his two years at Kentucky. DeMarcus Cousins, Brandond Knight, Doron Lamb and the 4 I mentioned in my post. Calipari again eclipses Pitino, just like he has done in every other way since coming to the Commonwealth, on the court and off of it.
I don't really count those, hence the quotations around them. I forget which site I pulled that off of. I wouldn't say cal has eclipsed Pitino in every way possible since coming to KY, but you gotta put the UK spin on things.
ReplyDeleteUK DID have a better season than Louisville last year, congrats. I'm not at all going to say Cal is a better coach than Pitino, not even close. In fact, if you can be totally honest with yourself, Rick has done a spectacular job this season, especially in comparison to Cal (then again that's probably my bias shining through). Cal has enjoyed recent success, especially since the rules changed mandating kids have to go to college for a year before turning pro. He found something that works for him, like Rick did when the 3 point shot was instituted. I'd still much rather have Pitino on the sidelines, just personal opinion.
You and I will never come to agreement on Cal and Pitino. And that's your a UofL fan and I'm a UK fan.
ReplyDeleteAnd honestly Cal has done a very good job despite having five players drafted from our team last year, only really 6 players and our best player ruled ineligible.