True Blue Kentucky

AP preview of today's game, courtesy of ESPN.com:

Kentucky has won 25 SEC tournament titles, but coach John Calipari isn't so much concerned with adding to that already impressive total this weekend.

With their coach eying a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, the second-ranked Wildcats take on Alabama in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament in Nashville on Friday.

Despite dominating the SEC tournament in previous years -- Alabama is second with only six titles -- Kentucky (29-2) last won it in 2004. While he recognizes the significance of winning the tournament, Calipari, in his first season at Kentucky, sees this weekend as more of a stepping stone to the NCAA tournament.

"Well if you're going to be in a tournament, you want to win it," Calipari said. "But our whole thing is that it's bigger and it's more important than winning. We've got to get ourselves prepared for that next weekend and that's what we'll do. Basically everything we do is based on how and where we finish the season."

The Wildcats closed the regular season with a 74-66 win over Florida on Sunday. The Gators cut an 18-point lead to three midway through the second half, but Kentucky held on. Eric Bledsoe and Darius Miller each scored 14 points to lead five players in double figures."

I am just glad that it is over. I just wanted it to end," Calipari said of the regular season. "I have never coached a team that worried about a conference championship or a tournament championship."

The Alabama Crimson Tide looks to avenge an earlier season loss as the face the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the SEC tournament.  Behind double-doubles from John Wall and Demarcus Cousins, the Wildcats defeated the Tide 66-55 on February 9 in Rupp Arena.  Alabama was led by Tony Mitchells 13 points that night. 

 Alabama made it to the second round of the SEC Tournament by defeating South Carolina 68-63.  Down by 18 midway through the second half, the Alabama Crimson Tide locked down on defense to fuel a 25-6 run.  Mikhail Torrance led the Tide with 17 points, and Justin Knox chipped in 16 points and 7 rebounds.

After facing the SEC leading scorer, now Bama's attention turns to the SEC player of the Year.  Brett Dawson talked to the Crimson Tide in his latest piece for the Courier Journal.  Here are some comments. 

 As the Tide surged, South Carolina and star point guard Devan Downey struggled. He finished with 21 points but shot just 7for21, including 3for13 in the second half. 

It was the sort of defensive effort the Tide hopes to apply to John Wall and the Wildcats on Friday.

“That effort right there, we're going to have to play it the whole 40 minutes,” forward Justin Knox said. “You can't go out there slacking. You have to bring your ‘A' game against Kentucky

Click read more for more comments and insight about Friday's quarterfinal game from Brett's article. 

Add comment (0)

Finally it is gameday! Lets get this post season rolling...

• SEC is more than UK
• Today’s game live streaming
• Bama/Cats preview
• Onuaku adds injury to insult
• Wall’s numbers don’t do him justice
• More on Today’s game
• Post season will define these young Cats
• Tasmin Mitchell thinks we can do it
• If the 76ers keep their coach, he’s gonna have to play Jodie more

 

Bruce Pearl had some nice comments about UK today following Tennessee's win over a struggling LSU.  Courtesy of ESPN.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl never hesitates to stoke the rivalry with Kentucky.

Both on and off the floor.

Following Tennessee’s woeful shooting performance in its 59-49 victory over LSU on Thursday in the first round of the SEC Tournament, Pearl found a way to bring the Wildcats into the conversation during his postgame radio show on the Vol Network.

Wayne Chism and Brian Williams combined for 10 offensive rebounds against LSU, prompting Pearl to chortle, “There were plenty of them to be had, way too many offensive rebounds to be had because we were 4-for-23 from 3, 17 percent from 3.

“We looked like Kentucky out there launching those things.”

Consistency.  It is something that every team strives for and every coach demands of his players. John Calipari has had the luxury of consistency from certain players all season long.  Whether it was the tremendous gaurd play of Wall and Bledsoe, or the dominating inside game of Cousins and Patterson, Coach Cal knew what he was getting when he put them out on the court. 

Yet there is one spot that has been an uncertainty for the Wildcats this season.   John Clay looks at the importance of the play of Darius Miller and Darnell Dodson in his latest article for the Lexington Herald Leader.  Both Miller and Dodson may be the X Factor as UK moves toward the goal of a NCAA Title.  Here is a short exert from Clay's article. 

Dodson suffered through a seven-game stretch in which he made just two of 21 three-pointers. The last two games, however, Dodson has made five of eight threes, and scored 21 points in 32 minutes.

Miller, the 2008 Mr. Basketball in Kentucky, had strung together 11 straight games of single-figure scoring outputs, and temporarily lost his starting job along the way. He did not shoot the ball well at Georgia last week, but did do a good job guarding the Bulldogs' athletic Travis Leslie. Sunday in Rupp, Miller did shoot well from outside, and even grabbed a rebound and threw down a jam inside.

More exerts of John Clay's article can be found by clicking read more below.

Add comment (0)

In case you didn't watch last night...Louisville is the hardest team ever to figure out

• Cards become the first upset of the Big East Tournament
• Cal is the guy for 1 year wonders
• Is Vasquez better than Wall?...Say what?
• Cats are back on top
• Cousins is answering
• Cats looking for 2 wins

 

We are right in the heart of basketball season, with the SEC tournament underway and Selection Sunday just a few days away. But it is easy to forget that for our football Cats, this time of year is equally crucial, as they jockey for draft position and try to show off their skills for the scouts.

After the NFL combine wrapped up earlier in the month, a few UK players were hungry for a second chance, as the combine was not kind to several of them, Micah Johnson in particular. He was clocked at 4.99 in the 40-yard dash, perilously slow for a linebacker. So Wednesday's Pro Day was particularly important for him and those who did not receive an invite to the official combine.

While the results of the drills are not made public, Chip Cosby has a great article up detailing how some of the Cats did. Apparently Micah improved his time in front of the scouts, running in the 4.7-4.8 range. Also performing well were Alphonso Smith (apparently running sub 4.3) and Corey Peters (4.8-4.9).

Several UK underclassmen also worked out for the scouts, as Derrick Locke was also able to clock an impressive time at around 4.3 in the 40.

Cosby also has some quotes from UK's coaches, including this gem from Rock Oliver on why he prefers to see guys in Spring practice rather than in drills at the combine,

"I want to see them at spring ball and see them at (fall) camp," Oliver said. "If I wanted to look at something pretty I'd go home and look at my wife. I want to know who can play."

If you didn't lock Rock before, surely you do now. Check out the rest of Cosby's notes here.

Objective

Sunday, the 'Cats look to take back The SEC Tournament Title.

My, my. Just how long has it been?

Kentucky has not won the tournament title since back-to-back wins in 2003 and 2004. Kentucky has 26 Conference Tournament Championships which ranks #1 in the NCAA.  After a 6 year absence, it's hard to deny the importance of this tournament.

Wait, the Circus is going to be in Nashville, too.

The Wildcats could possibly meet Devan "One-man-circus-show" Downey for a third time this season, in their first tournament game on Friday. Should they get past Anthony Grant's Crimson Tide..

Downey ended the hopes of an undefeated season for the 'Cats and also recorded South Carolina's first win over a #1 ranked opponent.  Downey's Gamecocks blitzed back to put Vanderbilt away (on their home floor) in their last outing of the regular season.

Jason Horowitz and Clark Kellogg discuss the upcoming SEC tournament in Nashville:

Check out some of today's most popular topics on the TBK message boards:

• UK PG recruit Josh Selby to announce college decision April 17th.
• KACAT has another great update on spring football , this time for the LBs and DBs.
• SEC Tournament roll call . Who's going?
• Vote for John Wall for National P.O.Y.
• playerjoe1414 has a nice recap of what Joker Phillips had to say at the Sports & Social Club.
• Some tidbits on Coach Cal's most recent recruiting trip.
• New Josh Selby video - Welcome to My World.
• Quincy Miller - The Young Truth video.