October 24, 200619 yr It has been nine years since Kentucky's last Final Four appearance, the longest drought in UK history. Kentucky lost 13 games last season. Kentucky finished sixth in the SEC. Under Tubby Smith's watch, Kentucky is no longer Kentucky. Kentucky is Kent State. So Smith did something serious. He fired somebody you've never heard of, and replaced him with somebody else you've never heard of. And it worked. Kentucky's not going to the 2007 Final Four, but the Wildcats will be markedly better this season. It won't make sense, because Kentucky was mediocre last season ... and then lost point guard Rajon Rondo to the NBA, power forward Rekalin Sims to a transfer and starting guards Patrick Sparks and Ravi Moss to graduation. Smith brought in a recruiting class devoid of star power. Kentucky wasn't even going to be Kent State in 2006-07. Kentucky was going to be Ken-yucky. "Kentucky is going to be bad," according to one acerbic member of the media. "Kentucky will need a friendly non-conference schedule just to be an NIT team." OK, that was me. I'm the acerbic member of the media. That's what I wrote in February. I didn't know about Scott Holsopple. Nobody did. Not yet. Smith hired Holsopple from Marquette in May. Five months later, Kentucky has changed. The players are the same. But their bodies are different. "As far as being in shape and being able to go harder, it's night and day from last year," says Kentucky senior forward Bobby Perry. "I definitely see an improvement in everyone's game. People are doing things I've not seen them to do before." Looking good in uniform, for one. Last season Kentucky was physically unimpressive. Half the team wore T-shirts to cover up their bad bodies, and you know who you are, Patrick Sparks. When he transferred from Western Kentucky in 2003, Sparks had that hard, lean look of a gym rat. http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/9751583/1
October 24, 200619 yr Great article....let's see if it comes to fruition, I do like hating UK when they are real good than when they are average.
October 24, 200619 yr What's the going rate for a college strength coach? Maybe UK should triple Holsopple's salary, and lock him up for twenty years.
October 24, 200619 yr "Bradley has gained 20 pounds of muscle. Perry and Thomas have biceps. Obrzut looks like an actual athlete. Freshman wings Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper look like outside linebackers. Freshman center Perry Stevenson, whose emaciated high school body reeked of Tayshaun Prince, has gained 30 pounds since reporting to campus.":eek:
October 24, 200619 yr "Bradley has gained 20 pounds of muscle. Perry and Thomas have biceps. Obrzut looks like an actual athlete. Freshman wings Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper look like outside linebackers. Freshman center Perry Stevenson, whose emaciated high school body reeked of Tayshaun Prince, has gained 30 pounds since reporting to campus.":eek: Yeah, I hear they installed a new water filtration system at Wildcat Lodge. What are they putting in the water down there? :sssh: :lol:
October 24, 200619 yr Author "Bradley has gained 20 pounds of muscle. Perry and Thomas have biceps. Obrzut looks like an actual athlete. Freshman wings Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper look like outside linebackers. Freshman center Perry Stevenson, whose emaciated high school body reeked of Tayshaun Prince, has gained 30 pounds since reporting to campus.":eek: HGH...
October 24, 200619 yr "Half the team wore T-shirts to cover up their bad bodies, and you know who you are, Patrick Sparks." Ouch!:lol:
October 24, 200619 yr Kentucky's not going to the 2007 Final Four, but the Wildcats will be markedly better this season. I thought this was a great article except for this part. He shouldn't say they aren't going to be a final four team already. I mean nobody ever would have thought Florida or George Mason,etc would have been last year. So thats the only part that I dont like, because he should have just said probably not a good chance, instead of just not because he dont know for sure...I know though that I believe this team can do it!
October 24, 200619 yr Except me??? Ha true but I dont think that you made that prediction before the season like them, it was after you saw them play a couple of times. But I must say you did call it early on, which was pretty good. :thumb:
October 24, 200619 yr Probably the best article Ive read all season. I'm glad to see Doyell back in the fold with some good info (despite popular belief). The best quote in the whole article............... Smith needs to win this season, and Kentucky needs to be fun to watch. If it doesn't happen, though, Holsopple's hiring won't have been in vain ... all those muscular basketball players can help Smith pack.
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