Region2 Hype Man

Union took the air out of the ball and slowed the pace of the game down. UHA is not well coached enough to play in the half court when an opposing team can discrate the pace. Problem for Union, they just didn't have the talent to compete for 4 quarters with the Blazers. The team that can dictate the pace tomorrow will win the game. Christian starts 4 seniors and has a coach that hasn't lost a Region 2 tournament game since 2008(big gap in between haha) and looking for his 4th straight Region 2 title victory as coach of CCHS(7th overall). CCHS is the favorite, but nothing is a given against the best player in the state.

Really impressive win against a solid team for the Cols. Madisonville is young and talented, but too young for these type of games. They'll learn and be back the next 2 years as a region contender.

The region was at Hoptown and Madisonville every year alternating between the two. They didn't have to clear the gyms for those games. Other schools said is wasn't fair, but to be honest I only remember Hoptown winning Region at home in 03, 13, 17 and I don't remember Madisonville winning at home in the last 15-20 years. Those are the only gyms that can hold it because we don't have a college gym in the region. I do like making the trip to other gyms and seeing other schools get a shot, but I don't like the clearing the gym aspect of the semi final games.

Tandy doesn't have the team/coaching around him that Mack did, Mack was also a senior. Tandy has offers from Florida, Oklahoma, Cincy, Tennessee and it looks like Kentucky is about to take interest. And he's only a Junior. Mack had offers from Akron and Butler. You are right, Mack ended up underrated. But at this point Kyky Tandy is way ahead of where Mack was at this point in high school. I don't know how Kyky's junior year record has anything to do with Mack's senior year team.

Not saying he did not end up great, but I am talking about prospects in state that had big offers early on in their careers. Kyky is a Power 5 prospect who has offers from schools in the top 25 and who have made Final 4's recently. Shelvin really didn't have Power 5 offers like Kyky has right now. He had mid-major offers. Kyky is far ahead of where Shelvin was at this stage in recruiting. I was just trying to think of in-state guys outside of Louisville that had offers from big programs.

This times 1,000 A lot of the time Kentucky has kids that are D1 level good, but just not elite enough to compete with the best of the best. Dom Hawkins was good and all, but he was heading to Morehead State before he picked up offers late in his senior season. Tandy already has Oklahoma, Cincy, Florida, Tennessee, etc. all considering him a high priority already. He is good enough and can play with any top program, and he's in your own backyard. Probably the best non-Louisville prospect since...Darius Miller? Chane Behannan? Scotty Hopson? Goodin? I think he's on the level of those guys for sure and I know all of those guys proved to be great college players.

Yes and he is the FULL PACKAGE. Can handle the ball, has generally unlimited range, insane athleticism, and a high motor. Such a good attitude too where you never see him mouth off or get dumb technical fouls. He's probably the best since Greg Buckner, and honestly even Greg wasn't doing this stuff as a Junior. Hopson had more upside because he was 6'8, but Kyky has way more skill. He's on another level than Anthony Hickey was and its not even close.

Hot take Kyky Tandy is the best player in the state

I wouldn't consider Christian Co. a factor. They lose their all-time passing leader QB(4-year starter), their best player Trice is going to Purdue, and their leading receiver graduates as well. South Warren brings back a lot of Seniors this year and they were a really tough team last year. For some reason I just like rooting for the Spurrier QB because of his grandfather. I know BG returns their QB, but I'm not sure about the rest of the squad.

The Boro looked like a top 10 team the first game I saw them this season, but as the season went on it looks like they regressed as a team. Were injuries a factor?

Big win for Grant Shouse. Has had a lot of criticism, but this was the biggest win of his career. He's a hard worker and a good guy, and the odds fell in his favor tonight. It's a sad end for this groupnfor Hoptown and he end of an era of those Qualis Matlock teams(Johnson and Cager brother played with him their freshman year). They looked like a state title contender at the end of last year, but so many changes. Jalen Johnson leaves then comes back, Cager ineligible then returns mid January. Nicholas hurts his knee and gets healthy and then gets hurt again right before district. They get Govan back and he then doesn't end the year with the team. Burks comes out of nowhere to be a top scorer and then is out for the last 3 weeks. Toliver hurts his hand and hinders his season. But they finally got healthy and hit their stride last week, and then they lose Nicholas he day before district after he set his career high with 30 last week. With so much roster turnover and no time to practice, it was just too much for Tim to overcome. This team will go down as a what could have been. When I mean the end of an era, I just don't see a lot of talent coming up. Tim has made Hoptown a top 10 team in the state he last 6-7 years and it was one of the best runs in Region history, but I think this may be the end of that run. Maybe another group will com through, but he Majors/Edwards/Matlock/Johnson/Cager teams were fun to watch. Heights now has a big win under their belt, now they have to take out the big dog in CCHS. County has pushed them around and has their number, but it takes one game to change fortunes. Heights has the region on lock for 2019, but winning region this year would be a big jump to being a state contender next season.

Hoptown has played UHA, CCHS, Owensboro, and McCracken in their last 4 games. That's 3 ranked(at the time) teams and maybe the best player in the state. They were the region 2 favorites and defending champs, but injuries and suspensions kept them from being full strength all season. Hoptown looks to be peaking at the right time, but they are facing a TOUGH matchup in the first game. UHA has had a GREAT season. They pretty much handled Hoptown the first time around. Not the toughest schedule in the world, but they look the part of a team that can make it to Rupp. It starts and ends with Kyky Tandy. As good as Hoptown is as a team talent wise, they have NOTHING that can match Tandy. At the same time, UHA is completely reliant on Tandy. If Tandy does not score 30-40 points, they will be in trouble big time. Hoptown has the large advantage in talent, depth, and coaching. But, they just have not looked locked in until the last week of the season. The more games they play together, the better they get as a team with their HIGH ceiling. UHA has probably improved over the season more than any team in the region this season and are playing better as a team. A tough call to make as far as a prediction. Ric Flair said "to be the man, you gotta beat the man" and Hoptown is the man right now with 5 of 6 region titles. Grant Shouse needs this game to get his critics off his backs, but a loss would not be good for him and the program. A big opportunity for the Blazers tonight.

I really predict the buzz for him will rise this summer. As word has spread, his rep continues to grow. Every time a team watches him, he get an offer. He is passing the eye test. People worried about his size and him being a 2-guard, but his ballhandling skills have shot way up this year and he will be able to be a good combo-guard at the next level.

If you go watch Detorrian Ware for Christian County, you know you're seeing something special. He casually can get 30-50 in a game and it looks so natural to him. Colleges are starting to catch on and he's seen an uptick in interest over the last two months. I think being in WKY and not having preseason hype has hurt him, but he has set so many records at Christian County high school, a school with a rich basketball history. Kerry Stovall said he's the most athletic player he's ever coached, and that's a man that coached Anthony Hickey and Keith Tandy.

The core group of Johnson/Cager/Nicholas have all played in Region title games the last two years. Hoptown has 4 starters from a team that went to Rupp last year. Cager and Johnson have played at Rupp twice. Tonight was their 10th game with everyone back. They're 7-3 in that time, but all 3 losses in the district. They've also beaten Graves, Owensboro, and McCracken over that period. At full strength they are the favorites just on talent and experience, but will they get to full strength? Will the chemistry be there when it's all said and done? They better get ready because Kyky Tandy is a man on a mission and they better be ready for him.

Scoring wise he seems fine, its hurt his defensive positioning the most. But I think his injury is just one the more he plays, the better it will get. 6 of Hoptown's 8 rotation players are good 3-point shooters. I think their issue with consistency has just been the chemistry still not being there from just not playing together. They get in scoring droughts just passing too much looking for a 3-pointer instead of driving or just being aggressive. They have been way too passive compared to past HHS teams. Hoptown has played UHA, CCHS, Owensboro, and will play McCracken tomorrow. They've really played a tough slate going into the tourney. Playing CCHS and beating Owensboro after last weeks stinker against UHA has to be good for confidence. Outside of the 105 points against CCHS, they've played pretty good defense since the Cager return. UHA beating Hendo, CCHS beating Muhlenberg, and HHS beating Owensboro really shows how all 3 teams are playing good basketball going into next week. Anyone could win it and another team could take the region.

Kyky and this team are reminding me of he 2004 Blazers that shocked everyone and beat the heavily favored Hoptown Tigers. Kyky Tandy is playing a lot like Josh Mack from a perspective of carrying a team. Tandy has more skill than Mack, but Tandy needs to go "Josh Mack" and will their way to a title. But they have to win the first one next week, which will be a fun game.

Add that into the fact that Region's 7 and 11 (#1 Scott County) will play in the first round, a lot of top teams will be out by the Elite 8.

Will not be a first round district game in the state with more on the line than Hoptown and UHA. UHA has become dangerous with Kyky Tandy figuring out how to lead his team to victory while the rest of the team feeds off him. Hoptown seems to be still getting their chemistry right after their roster has been decimated all year. Still have a lot of talent and basically the same team that won Region last year. But, Christian County has Ware and he brings it every single night. He scores his points, while he rest of the guys play their roles to perfection. Cory Trice, Brody, and Mathis are just amazing the way the can pressure the opposing guards. They are the favorites. Should be some fun basketball in the Region the next 3 weeks!

But the key word is his personality. Other coaches are more low key, but there have been discipline issues with other schools over the years players over the years. Those coaches is just smart enough to keep them in-house. And I have some good stories from my alma-mater that would make the public schools raise their eyebrows. But again, kids mess up. To the college situation, Stovall never had a kid sign division 1 until his 10th and final season at County. Keith Tandy of course played NFL, but that was more on Keith himself and Coach Whitaker getting him to WVU. And yes, Haworth was top dog. But you can't say that that 2015 Henderson team and the Frankie Smith coached Colonels were not really good teams the last 3 years. And let's not forget that when Marty Cline left UHA is when Stovall began his run of dominance in the region...HHS and UHA don't have great coaches during those times either. (Though Randy McCoy is VERY underrated) I'd also like to point out that I can't even recall the last Hopkinsville Tiger player to sign Division 1 in the last 20-30 years. Definitely not since 2000. There also hasn't been a football player sign D1 at HHS since Curtis Pulley. So it's not like D1 athletes (outside of baseball) are just walking down the halls. To get players to play college basketball, you have to have kids that are special talents. Maybe some signed and didn't last, but 90% maybe more of kids who go NAIA quit after maybe a year. Again, that's not a Tom Haworth issue. Being the District 8 need I am(haha) I tried to research where the kids are playing now. I believe Jordan Majors is at a good Division 2 school and is a class act on and off the court. Josiah Patton. Qualis Matlock and Tra Edwards both graduated 3-4 years ago and are still playing college basketball. Darius White was playing NAIA ball until his college closed and sent him home. CJ Hennagan is playing D2 basketball. Josiah Patton was playing Juco this season. Kourtney Ware is in his 2nd year of juco. And there may be more I missed, but it seems like that's several kids he's gotten to play college basketball. Some didn't make it, but again I can name off several Stovall players who didn't make it either. I don't want to be a Haworth apologist, because I know why he isn't liked and understand. But it's similar to the critiques on Calipari. And no I'm not comparing the two at all. But, all the time I hear that Cal wins because he has good recruits or he racks up wins in the weak SEC or he doesn't know X's and O's or he lets his players like Rose/Camby run wild. And people are quiet about it when Kentucky wins, but when Kentucky is struggling like this year you hear people say "Cal's 1 and done act must be over and the fans have to be tired of it because it isn't working". And of course, Calipari's personality makes people hate him too. Is Haworth the best coach in the state? No, but that doesn't mean he isn't a great coach. I'd take him at UHA in a heartbeat and I know every other team in region 2 other than CCHS would trade for him in a heartbeat. You are what your record says you are, and HHS isn't good his year but Tim's overall record says a lot.

I am a UHA guy, and though unpopular with my fellow fans I can't critique the job Haworth has done from a strict basketball perspective. Now yes his act of being a "tough guy" and other ways he acts in public, but he's done a good job. I don't see how they could be tired of going to state 5 out of 6 times and being top 10 consistently over that time period. I know we have the Kentucky Basketball fan mindset where its title or bust every year, but one struggling season doesn't erase the success over his tenure. Im not a huge fan of Tim, but I think he gets way too much undeserved criticism. You walk in that gym and you see 4 region title banners from 1969-2003, the only ones they ever won. Then next to them you see 5 banners from Tim that he won in the last 6 seasons. He's also probably 1-2 seasons aways from being their all-time leader in wins. He hasn't won a state title, but a lot of great coaches around here didn't win either.

Kyky Tandy is showing why he is a rising 4-star athlete game in and game out. He is worth the price of admission. See him in person if you can!

What about Todd Adler at Logan County? He took a team that traditionally struggles and led them to an 11-1 season in 4A. He seems to have the energy and passion to take on a big job like BG.

I know the coaches were very high on him coming into the season. Said that once he realized his potential you could see some big games out of him. Brody and Mathis together are a defensive force.

A COMPLETE team victory for the guys going down the stretch. Scoring was spread around and everyone did their job on defense. They need to do this every night, but its always a good sign to be playing your best ball at the end of the season.