While it was a messed-up deal to begin with, it clearly was a lane violation under the rules. While it is true that the ball was not in the shooter's hand when Thomas left the lane, it was in his hand while Thomas was out on the floor, but still below the free throw line extended. No one can be below the foul line other than those lining up in the lanes. Now.....if Thomas had kept going down the floor and not tried to go back to the lane, maybe the refs would have let him go. (Maybe not, but we'll never know). On the other hand, the ref should have been decent, stopped play, said he made a mistake, and let the shooter take the free throw. I think he CAN do that in those type situations, but is not obligated to do so.

 

It looked as though he tried to call some type of official timeout when he saw where Thomas was at, but I think that the Miss St. coaches reaction caused him to call a violation instead.

Ugh...

 

Gotta be honest.

Tubby, should have called a timeout on the last possession of overtime to design something.

 

I have to agree with this post. They had plenty of time to get at least two posessions, and I knew JC would milk it to the very end. Two big chances down the stetch were the key, Sheray's error at the line, and Meeks missing a shot he makes 90% of the time.

This team can simply be called the Chokeables.

My theme song after watching this team is "Comfortably Numb".

I feel like Im watching reruns of UK football endings.

This team's IQ is befuddling.

Bobby Perry a good free throw shooter, passes to the worst one on the floor, Randolph Morris.

They allow Jamont Gordon to drive up court on the left side, without any impedement.

Morris in the paint guarding the basket on the shot.

 

Lane violation. Are you serious. Jodie Meeks is a 125% FT shooter, and you get a lane violation?

Plenty of blame to go around there. Tubby for waving him off. All he has to do is stand there or should have been instructed after the first make.

Sheray for at lesat not having any awareness to notify official.

The official for not being in the lane getting things set.

I have officated, and if I'm the one inbounding the ball to shooter, I step in and say, "two shots, relax on the first". On second one I step in and say, one shot play it off the rim or from the release" The official was under the basket. Gave little or no instruction during a key point. In my opinion they should have reset it, because what would have been the call if Sheray kept going down court? They would have reset it because he left before the ball was in the shooters hands. I think even a MSU player moved in as well, thinking there was a timeout.

Besides the point, they had chances but snapped defeat from the jaws of victory.

Frustrating....

I think UK is now a 10 seed.

 

I forgot about the pass to Morris that sent Dolph to the line, as a SR you have to know that's not a good decision. Would a 10 seed be better than a 8/9? This tournament is up for grabs, I'm not really sold on any of the potential 1's, I'd think the 2's may be a better fit if we could beat a 7.

They just made Tubby and Sheray look bad on Sportscenter. They highlighted Tubby waving Sheray off the line and then highlighted Sheray doing as he was told.

 

There was a lot of craziness at the end of this game. I personally would have fouled the MSU player before he could get a 3-pointer off and took my chances with Morris getting a rebound. I probably would have also made sure Morris got some touches in the OT period. I would have also called a timeout to set a play instead of allowing Crawford the opportunity to force the issue - which everyone in the country knew was going to happen.

I'm more anxious to see what's going to happen after the season than what's going to happen in the tournament. I'm playing for next year.

I'm more anxious to see what's going to happen after the season than what's going to happen in the tournament. I'm playing for next year.

 

Barnhart will make Tubby make staff changes. That should pretty much clear up what's going to happen in the off-season.

Reggie Hanson, I hate to say this, but: "na na na na. na na na na. hey hey hey, goodbye!"

Reggie Hanson, I hate to say this, but: "na na na na. na na na na. hey hey hey, goodbye!"

 

Rigot will be right behind him...

God I just hate listening to Gottlieb.

 

I think my favorite moment of Gottlieb's comparison of UK and Missouri State is how Mizzou State had that win over Wisconsin and that's bigger than any of UK's wins (true), and pretty much discounted any of UK's early season wins because they were "early in the season". Missouri State beat Wisconsin in like the third or fourth game of the year.

Two down years by UK standards and everyone is throwing a hissy fit. Tell me this, how many championships did UK win between 1958-1978? NONE! Between '78-96? NONE! Look at Duke, another top program having a down year. It happens. The Cats will be fine. The people who call for Tubby's head obviously no nothing about the game of basketball. As many bashers say they want whats best for the program. And I do too, and right now, Tubby is whats best for the program.

 

Tubby is what is "best for our program?"

 

In what way? We've lost twenty-five games...TWENTY-FIVE GAMES... the last two seasons (counting this year's soon-to-be NCAA loss). We've played on the first day of the SEC tourney for the past two seasons--for the first time since the league went divisional. Half of Tubby's UK teams have lost double-digit games (00, 01, 02, 06, 07).

 

And what about next year? What do we have coming in to replace what is going out? I'll grant that Perry, Thomas, & Woo aren't much, but here is what they are: OVER 6'5" TALL! A fourth possible hole to fill will be the big one in the middle--Randolph Morris. Should he decide to sign with an NBA team, that leaves us with who in the middle? Jared Carter? Perry Stevenson? Think about how badly we look without Morris for a long stretch in one game. But think about how bad we'll be without him for an entire season!

 

I cannot believe you seriously think Tubby is "best for the program."

 

One question: Has the University of Kentucky basketball program IMPROVED, REMAINED ABOUT THE SAME, or DECLINED in the ten years since Tubby Smith took it over? (not the first two years, nor the last two years--but the entire ten years put together...IMPROVED, SAME, DECLINED)

Tubby is what is "best for our program?"

 

In what way? We've lost twenty-five games...TWENTY-FIVE GAMES... the last two seasons (counting this year's soon-to-be NCAA loss). We've played on the first day of the SEC tourney for the past two seasons--for the first time since the league went divisional. Half of Tubby's UK teams have lost double-digit games (00, 01, 02, 06, 07).

 

And what about next year? What do we have coming in to replace what is going out? I'll grant that Perry, Thomas, & Woo aren't much, but here is what they are: OVER 6'5" TALL! A fourth possible hole to fill will be the big one in the middle--Randolph Morris. Should he decide to sign with an NBA team, that leaves us with who in the middle? Jared Carter? Perry Stevenson? Think about how badly we look without Morris for a long stretch in one game. But think about how bad we'll be without him for an entire season!

 

I cannot believe you seriously think Tubby is "best for the program."

 

One question: Has the University of Kentucky basketball program IMPROVED, REMAINED ABOUT THE SAME, or DECLINED in the ten years since Tubby Smith took it over? (not the first two years, nor the last two years--but the entire ten years put together...IMPROVED, SAME, DECLINED)

 

Well to answer your question, it has obviously declined. Just as it would have had Pitino stayed or any other coach took over. Where UK was 10 years ago was a state that is impossible to maintain or improve. The only way to go is down. Simple logic really....

Agree, UKMustang, the bar was set way too high for most fans. UK goes 18 years without a title and all of a sudden we are a buzzsaw come tournament time and many expect the same thing every season. The game has changed a bunch in the last decade or so, just a down cycle and all programs go through this but it's rough.

I say the 8-9 game against guess who the Duke Blue Devils. I pray that is our first round opponent.

Me too, brother...

Agree, UKMustang, the bar was set way too high for most fans. UK goes 18 years without a title and all of a sudden we are a buzzsaw come tournament time and many expect the same thing every season. The game has changed a bunch in the last decade or so, just a down cycle and all programs go through this but it's rough.

 

I agree....What a lot of people IMO don't realize is it's 2 years! If UK has two "down" years every 10-15, and their down years are years that they win over 20 games and make the tournament I can live with it.

The head of SEC officials stated that the ball has to be in the shooter's hands for it to be a violation...............and it clearly was not. I find it hard to fathom that the officials did not get together and get the call right.

the NCAA rules state that the ball becomes dead upon the referee addressing the ball towards the "free-thrower"