I'm on a two week hiatus from BGP while I finish some big exams and get some clients tax work finished up before the April 15th deadline, but couldn't resist logging in to share some observations:

 

1. UK has grown tremendously and finally seem to be playing for one another. I think a play which perfectly exemplifies this is Randle bulling down the lane, spinning into a double and (instead of doing what he'd have done every other time this year and going up with it) kicks it to Aaron Harrison in the corner for a wide open 3.

 

2. There were some really questionable calls each way really late in the game. I thought Randle had a perfectly clean block on the foul call with less than a minute to go, but I thought UK got away with mugging the Louisville player who drove (Hancock?) 1-2 possessions before that. Also there was one of those, "it's late and we'd normally call that a foul, but won't now because it's late... and the ball went out of bounds off the Louisville player, but since we let UK away with the foul, we'll just give Louisville the ball and call it even". Know that's a mouthful, but basketball aficionados will know exactly the play I'm talking about.

 

3. Very physical play. Great game to watch. It's a shame one of these teams had to go home early. This would have been an awesome Final Four game, and it being in the Sweet 16 was a disservice. Louisville was not a #4 seed and Kentucky was not a #8 seed, I don't care what anyone says.

 

 

Best wishes to the Cards fans, you have nothing to hang your heads about and I'd have been for you going forward if you'd have eliminated Kentucky. I really like Mathiang and Agau as two big guys that Pitino will do his big man thing with and transform into diamonds by the end of their career. Blackshear is solid, and Harrell will be vicious (if he's back next season). Jones and Rozier will keep getting better, and while Russ will be a lot to replace, I think Louisville will probably be favored when the two teams meet next year in the Yum! Center.

There were so many huge plays that made a difference. However the one play during the game that I said right after it happened that it may have kept our chances alive. Was when UL went back up 7 with 6 minutes, andI believe Matheing (sp.) had a shot at point blank range under the basket that would have put them up 9 and the ball went halfway down and came back out. We ended up getting the ball and going down to score. If that basket goes in, I don't know if we overcome it because UL was gaining momentum at that time.

 

Go Cats!

I believe one of the biggest plays of the game was when UK finally tied the game, and Russ Smith came down and launched a quick 3 from the top of the key. Smith and UofL had so much success all night driving to the basket. I thought that was such an ill advised shot.

How many free throws did Louisville miss?

 

How much did they lose by?

 

So what you're saying is they shot like UK had been all year, but the Cats stepped up and made their shots from the stripe last night.

I'm on a two week hiatus from BGP while I finish some big exams and get some clients tax work finished up before the April 15th deadline, but couldn't resist logging in to share some observations:

 

1. UK has grown tremendously and finally seem to be playing for one another. I think a play which perfectly exemplifies this is Randle bulling down the lane, spinning into a double and (instead of doing what he'd have done every other time this year and going up with it) kicks it to Aaron Harrison in the corner for a wide open 3.

 

2. There were some really questionable calls each way really late in the game. I thought Randle had a perfectly clean block on the foul call with less than a minute to go, but I thought UK got away with mugging the Louisville player who drove (Hancock?) 1-2 possessions before that. Also there was one of those, "it's late and we'd normally call that a foul, but won't now because it's late... and the ball went out of bounds off the Louisville player, but since we let UK away with the foul, we'll just give Louisville the ball and call it even". Know that's a mouthful, but basketball aficionados will know exactly the play I'm talking about.

 

3. Very physical play. Great game to watch. It's a shame one of these teams had to go home early. This would have been an awesome Final Four game, and it being in the Sweet 16 was a disservice. Louisville was not a #4 seed and Kentucky was not a #8 seed, I don't care what anyone says.

 

 

Best wishes to the Cards fans, you have nothing to hang your heads about and I'd have been for you going forward if you'd have eliminated Kentucky. I really like Mathiang and Agau as two big guys that Pitino will do his big man thing with and transform into diamonds by the end of their career. Blackshear is solid, and Harrell will be vicious (if he's back next season). Jones and Rozier will keep getting better, and while Russ will be a lot to replace, I think Louisville will probably be favored when the two teams meet next year in the Yum! Center.

 

No chance Louisville is favored. They lose too much. Only way I could see it is if UK loses everyone.

UL will be without Russ, Hancock and Harrell next year with SVT also leaving. That's a big chunk of everything they do...

Another huge moment in the game is when Randle was quadruple teamed at the free-throw line and he kicked it to Aaron and he knocked it down without hesitation after a rough night of shooting from behind the 3 point line for all the Cats.

I thought another big moment was when Hancock fell down and looked at the ref with his palms pointed toward the sky for the 12th time.

 

Or when Harrell took out his mouthpiece for the last time.

So what you're saying is they shot like UgymK had been all year, but the Cats stepped up and made their shots from the stripe last night.

 

People dont mention it much but uk has been shooting free throws better since the sec tournament. That has been huge in their*development too. Hopefully it continues (knock on wood)

I thought another big moment was when Hancock fell down and looked at the ref with his palms pointed toward the sky for the 12th time.

 

The Harrisons have bothered me all year with their whining to officials, but neither of them hold a candle to Luke Hancock, who is easily one of my least favorite UL players in recent years.

The Harrisons have bothered me all year with their whining to officials, but neither of them hold a candle to Luke Hancock, who is easily one of my least favorite UL players in recent years.

 

It's literally every play

It's literally every play

 

I think Hancock took the shot that led to the play that was reviewed forever at the very end. He missed the shot & it was literally a fade away in the paint. His worst shot of the night, he missed it really badly, & he cried about not getting a foul call on that one too.

A Big 10 team beats the Wildcats. Not a good sign.

I thought another big moment was when Hancock fell down and looked at the ref with his palms pointed toward the sky for the 12th time.

 

Or when Harrell took out his mouthpiece for the last time.

 

It seemed like when Poythress began guarding Hancock, he spent most of his time on the ground because Alex got physical with him and he did not like that one bit. So he resorted to whining.

UL will be without Russ, Hancock and Harrell next year with SVT also leaving. That's a big chunk of everything they do...

 

No doubt, the Cards are back to rebuilding.