Tennessee 84 Kentucky 77

That I agree with. Which even though Cal is not a guy who likes playing zone. I think after a game like this even he will now realize that they can't play defense the normal way he likes. So I think we will see him start trying to use zone more.

But those Uconn teams had solid big men. U.K. Doesn't have anything close on the inside.

Titles are a wash. UK wins every other important category. More FFs over the last 7 years. Head to head, don't even remember what UK is under Cal vs Pitino, a lot to 1. One program is recruiting at an alltime level, one program has been caught cheating and couldn't even remotely pull the same type of players.

As for UK bringing in #1 classes and not winning, when you play with freshmen you get what you get. A UK season is usually fun, interesting, difficult to watch because of inexperienced play, and every year except one has ended very deep in the post season. Look at that how you will, but often the best team doesn't win it all in college basketball. UK was the best in 2012, and ha a great argument last year and in 2008. Didn't work out, but that's just the way it goes. You've watched enough basketball to understand that.

There is something about when U.K. plays at Knoxville, through the years I have watched some really great teams struggle at U.T.. At any rate there is absolutely no stinkin' excuse for blowing a 21 point lead against anyone, let alone a bad basketball team. I don't know if this is a case of still feeling the letdown after the Kansas loss (letting the Kansas game beat you twice) or not. Obviously no one played with any effort after getting the big lead. Officiating, especially starting a little past midway of the first half took over. All the calls disrupted the flow of the game not letting either team get into a rythym, that was advantage UT. So yes, I thought the officiating was terrible but that did not cost the Cats this game. Letting up, not moving the feet lead to not getting position on defense. No going after loose balls, rebounds/rebound positioning and just not playing hard or with any desire to regain control of the game imo was the reason for this loss. Cal even seemed not to be into this one as much. I know that he was looking at different combinations, substitution patterns and all but this team just didn't seem inspired or "just weren't ready to play and some of that has to fall on the coaches, imo anyway.
I am sure that there will be some hard practices before Saturday and hopefully the Cats can get back on track. As we saw tonight again, everyone "brings it" and plays over their head against U.K. and that intensity has to be matched. U.K. should beat the Gators but will they rebound to lay like they can ? I do think that we will see an extremely different team level of play this coming Saturday. At least I hope so.

Which it took those guys inside until about March to learn how to play their roles for their team to play its best in tournament time.

This UK team and Cal has a month to figure out the best way this team can play. This team has shown it can play with anyone but unfortunately can lose to anyone.

Oh, titles don't matter now? Because UK doesn't have more in the stretch we're talking about?

You can keep your last seven years, and I'll keep mine. It's not as lopsided as you want it to be. If you want me to pretend for your sake that I care more about losing to UK than I do, I can. I'm that cool of a dude.

As for the Skal and Lee. Someone has to step up and ask them if they car. As of right now, after tonight's game it was pretty clear they didn't.

Those UConn big men didn't play their role that well during the season and why they didn't look to good and differently not championship good all season. Come tournament time they put it all together. Will UK do it exactly like UConn no, it will have to be their own way of putting it all together.

As I said this team has shown it can play with and beat anyone. They have also shown they can lose to anyone. At the end of the day though it's about playing your best in March. That's why when there is still a month to play its hard to make reactions for the outcome after a single game while in the moment of that game.

I agree with all you have in your post. As for the bolded I had thought the same and was the point of my "let Kansas beat you twice" comment .

Well I would say there is only one year during this time when UL fans probably enjoyed their season more than UK fans. The level of excitement for UK over these years is a lot higher. From the 2010 team to the 2011 team going on that final four run to break the final four dought, 2012 was great for both UK and UL but obviuosly UK fans got to enjoy it more, 2013 sucked lol, 2014 title game run as the 8 seed and the way they won their games and then last year almost going undefeated.

So yes the end result both winning one title is the same. But overall in the last 7 years most fans bases would easily trade for the level of excitement throughout these years have brought.

It's lopsided. That's not sayin. Louisville hasn't been good. I'd rank them 4-5th the last 6-7 years, but they haven't been close to UK. Hard to say they are when UK has dominated them in the regular and post season. Remove that and it's probably pretty close, but if you throw out head to head, what other numbers could give you a better picture.

As for you caring about U of L losing, I don't personally know you. I saw your post and thought it seemed that way. I don't see how any Louisville fan could reasonably throw stones at UK. Both teams will likely be middle seeds and lose we before the Final Four this year. Had U of L lost last night, Louisville would be just as unproven and untrustworthy as UK.

@NotJerryTipton: Getting beat by Rick Barnes should count as 2 losses.

It sounds like a team that needs to play zone.

I'm still trying to figure out what got the post you quoted taken down. I don't even remember what I was laughing at at this point.

Frustrating.

I really thought we'd get something from Charles Matthews this year. He's been basically non-existant this year.