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There’s just something special about March Madness. So many intense college basketball games come right down to the wire. This year’s SEC Tournament was anticipated to be the most competitive it’s been in quite some time and, so far, it’s lived up to expectations.
Four of the tournament’s first six games were won by the lower seed, but that leveled back off on Friday when Alabama, Missouri and Texas A&M took care of business to advance to the semifinals. That left Kentucky in the final game of Friday’s schedule to knock off Vanderbilt and set the semifinal matchups for Saturday.
But the Wildcats didn’t take care of business. In fact, there was nothing special about the team’s performance against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Kentucky flopped in their SEC Tournament opener by losing to Vanderbilt, 80-73.
It was a discouraging performance that mirrored so many frustrations Kentucky fans witnessed during the regular season. In what was a troubling display of offense, the Wildcats missed nine free throws and 19 three-point attempts. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt made 40% of their three-point shots and 90% of their free throws.
There was that large of a difference in just a seven-point game. So, theoretically, if Kentucky could have just minimized a few of their mistakes then it’s possible they leave Bridgestone Arena Friday night with a win.
But that was far from the case. Kentucky was just puzzling at both ends of the court with no sign of correction in sight. They now will have a few days of extra prep for the NCAA Tournament next week, but will they do anything with that extra time? Kentucky has had an entire season to improve, yet Friday night’s game had a lot of the frustrations fans felt during the team’s loss to Michigan State back in November.
Could the Wildcats pull off a deep run in the Big Dance? It’s absolutely possible. But, based on what we’ve seen from this team, it’s also rational to say that’s unlikely. Either way, fans will find out soon enough.
7 Responses
How do we let a guy who averaged 9 points/game go off for 25? And 2 other guys who averaged 11 and 12 points a game score 18 each? How do we lose twice to a bubble team who is missing their best player in the course of 10 days? Well, let’s see. We play a stagnant offense, don’t play defense, and miss free throws and lose twice to Vanderbilt on Senior night and again in the SEC tourney. Vandy did not do this with OAD players but with juniors and seniors. OAD players have produced only ONE national title in 14 years…that’s right; there is no miracle run left in this bunch. Calipari’s brand of basketball is not working for Kentucky. We have gone from the gold standard of college basketball to the gold plated standard. Calipari needs to retire or move on to another school like Texas. Kentucky needs to move on in a different direction with a new coach. Rick Pitino is looking for one last chance to redeem himself. I would be in favor of giving him a 3 year deal to do so and then replace him with his son, Richard. It’s time for a change…starting with Barnhart. Dr. Calipouto, please take charge of this mess and clean it up.
I don’t even see the glimmer that gold plating might provide.
He latches onto a phrase, and he wears it out. "these kids are not robots" or the newest, "refuse to lose"
As for the "ups and downs" that is the way the game of basketball is for everyone, not just this team, or not just UK teams. One day, people will learn to understand this principle and look at teams for what they are on average over the course of time rather than trying to hang onto hopes based on individual games, or even 2 to 4 game sequences of games embedded within the full season’s body of work. Those average levels of performance can also establish a trend for a team. The average level of performance of one team relative to other teams defines each teams’ strength. It is not a difficult concept but it flies in the face of the common belief that "my team" is better than "your team" because ….. (you fill in your explanation).
There has been no turnaround. There has been no structural change with this team. It has been a team floating in the range of #20 to #30 all season. It entered last night’s game at #21 and it woke up this morning at #26. That is a second-round team. It has been a second-round team all season long. As it floats between #20 and #30, it either flirts with advancing to the Sweet 16 or falling in the first round again, but fundamentally, this is a second-round quality team.
This has been the case since this team first established its character in November to the present. That has been my message here and at other venues consistently since November.
I am not happy about this. I only point out what the data indicate. I want UK to compete for championships, and it has not for too many years, will not again this year, and will not again so long as this fraud occupies the head coaching seat.
It is people like you that call our coach a fraud that is hurting the UK basketball program. How many top players do you think are going to go to UK to play with fans (?) like you? You have already hurt out program more than you know this year. You are the fraud, not a fan!
I wish I could influence the direction of this program because if I could it would not be floundering from mediocrity. In 2023, the long-term slide continues with no end in sight.
Only ONE SECT win and ZERO NCAAT wins since the lifetime contract.
This is the worst stretch of KY basketball in my lifetime. Worse than the probation years.
This isn’t KY basketball.
It is a fraud.
It is what a fraud delivers
Hey Mitch, Rick Pitino is on the market to be hire.