bamaboy89

I had no idea the kids at Central didn’t want to play for their Coach. Wow. I thought they liked him.

Well considering since he waited until after classes started in the second semester. He won’t be playing any games for a year and a half at least not at the college level.

 

Also I don’t think it is Coach Cal not thinking there is value in him. It just simple he is not ready to be playing over other guys on this roster.

Exactly my point. He tried his hand at UK, it didn’t work out. Let him go somewhere he would be more appreciated and valued. Cal has plenty of Khalil Whitneys hanging around or begging to come in next year. He’ll essentially sit out a semester and probably be eligible. Cal will bring in another 5 star next year....win win for everyone.

Why is UK fans somehow taking this move as some personal attack on Cal or the program. It happens everywhere.

This is no one’s fault and there’s no one to blame. The kid thought he could come in and get playing time at the highest of levels. It didn’t work out for him. Times have changed, he didn’t want to have to wait til his Jr season to see lots of playing time. Let him go on to a coach who maybe sees more value in him where he can play. WHO wants to just be on the team and not play. Best decision for all involved I think.

Kids want to play. There’s no millennial non work blah blah thing going on. Theses kids work hard and they want to play. Basketball is not like football where you might get 35 or so kids some playing time. There’s only so many that can get playing time on the court. The kid took his chances at a dream school, it didn’t work out. Let him go somewhere where the Coach might let him play more. Win win for everyone, it’s not rocket science.

JH’s success is predicated on pressuring the ball and creating turnovers. E’town has really good guard play and most importantly they attack after breaking the press. There is great familiarity between the kids and coaching staffs, so there is no element of surprise. If I’m not mistaken, McCurry played for Haire at Etown. It has always been difficult for JH to win at Etown, I’m not suggesting cheating or anything, it’s a difficult place for them to play. Most home teams tend to get a better whistle. This was JH’s 5th game in 8 days. I think the region goes through these 2 teams still.

What were the keys to the ETown win?

Playing at home.

I wouldn’t put all my eggs in that basket. I think Bardstown and Marion county have a lot to say about that. I honestly wouldn’t Count our Larue County.

Are you referring to Bowen or the championship?

Elizabethtown played without one of the Sherard twins who is a starter and John Hardin has a 6’4 transfer who is from Hardin County but moved away in 7th grade that has now returned named Anthony Bowen. When Bowen becomes eligible he will add another division one player to their lineup.

 

These two teams will meet three more times this season.

Bowen was next level when he left. He could flat out play; don't know what he's like now but when he left he was a baller. This will be scary for the state.

John Hardin has all the tools, but this loss just goes to show that any team can lose on a given night. One of the things that makes Kentucky basketball great, there is a lot of parity.

I automatically thought that we all assumed this. JH was never head and shoulders above the state, they were just undefeated. I don't want to shower on Etown's parade because they deserve alot of credit for the win; but I just don't see this as this huge upset. Maybe it's because I'm familiar with this rivalry.

Nobody picked Elizabethtown, therefore an upset. They will meet again in the regular season and probably in the district championship and regions. So a long way to go in this rivalry.

You’re from Hardin County I assume, so you know this is not an upset; nonetheless it is a great win for the kids at Etown.

If you’re a John Hardin fan you already know this, but for those not familiar with this rivalry; this is no upset. It is very difficult to win at that gym for various reasons. Always has been for JH. Good win Etown.

John wins BIG.

1. Clemson-Trevor Lawerance is the #1 reason...if they win at Notre Dame, playoffs here they come again.

2. Ohio State-Justin Fields Heisman campaign will be in full swing as the Bucks try to atone for the loss to Clemson.

3. Alabama-QB??? Mac, Tualia or Bryce Young need to step up...defense needs to return to years past or Bama isn't this good.

4. LSU-Life after Burrow. Will the coaching staff stay? The defense may be better, it all comes down to the QB play.

5. Georgia-Too High!!! will finish out of the top 15 by the end of the season.

6. Oregon-Never trust the Ducks, they'll stay in top 10 because PAC stinks though.

7. Oklahoma-See above insert Sooners for Ducks and Big12 for PAC.

8. Notre Dame-New year same story...OVERRATED. Will lose to Clemson and Wisconsin and somehow remain in the top 10.

9. Penn State-I HATE Jame Franklin, I hope they lose every game.

10. Florida-Will be in SEC title game may be in the running for the playoffs. I think UK and LSU both at home will be their toughest games.

11. Auburn-You never know, but I think they end up between 15 and 20 with 3 or 4 regular-season losses.

12. Minnesota-Gophers will probably make the B1G title game and end the season in the top 10 going into the bowls.

13. Texas-I think they are a dark horse to win the Big12. At LSU in game #2 will tell us about both teams.

14. Wisconsin-Notre Dame game at Green Bay will tell the tale about them...I think they finish behind Minnesota.

15. Michigan-Washington, Wisconsin and Penn State will all beat them before the leaves change colors.

16. Texas A&M-Could be a surprisingly improved team. They were better than their record last season and with a few breaks could make a jump in the SEC West.

17. Oklahoma State-Who knows what the Mullet will do?

18. Utah-yawn...

19. Louisville-Really? Seems a little high when looking at the # of players they lose. This ranking is based of the respect for Coach I'd imagine.

20. Cincinnati-I know zip about UC except it's in NKY somewhere.

21. North Carolina-Never count the old coach out. Mack will have his boys ready each week and probably pull an upset or two.

22. Arizona State-See #21 insert Herm!

23. Virginia-Umm No, I don't think they will be a top 25 team by the end of the year.

24. UCF-Seems about right for them.

25. Boise State-see #24.

 

No respect for Kentucky? I think the Cats could possibly end up second in the east, I've put UGA on upset alert.

Now that was good.

Love it. Lots of basketball to be played though. Good luck to all. That Etown and JH game coming up is gonna be massive.

Are you from Alabama? Oxford, Alabama here.

I'm from Lincoln; very familiar with Oxford. Haven't lived there in a while though.

They are different from years past. They have a deeper bench, and their defense is relentless. Good win Dawgs

I met Preston Murrell..JH 6'9 big man and his father on the Aau trail this past summer..liked both and root for them..class acts. You might remember JH was undefeated last year until Campbell County beat them in a great sweet 16 game. Preston hit a potential game winner but their coach had called time out a second before he shot it. Does Preston know where he is going next year?

He doesn’t know yet. But you’re right great kid.

I have seen 13 of the top 20 teams play and I know 3 or 4 of them are really good at this point.

Not being funny but which 3?

That is a great point in the NFL, when someone else is in charge of your schedule. After last season's situation, I would have thought they'd call Male, CovCath, Trinity, and the like to see if they'd be interested in an early season tilt to see where they were, much like CovCath and LexCath did this year.

 

Beat MNH and you'll certainly have a lot of the "wait-and-see" folks, of which I'm one, fully on-board with JH. No doubt, their toughness won't be questioned by anyone.

Are they the number 2 team? I don't know that, I haven't seen all the top teams play. I don't think so. I do think right now they are getting the wait and see look in some part due to their last two performances at Rupp. if we're being honest; who do we know is a really good team at this point in the season?

Like most upcoming teams; UT is a quarterback away from having a really good team this year. They have really good young talent on defense. They could have easily won that BYU game and probably should have won it. The Georgia State thing was a head scratcher though.

in fairness, they can only play the teams that are on their schedule. I think it's more of an indictment on the talent and teams across the state. The Moore team that they played yesterday looked like a really good JV team. With that being said, they are a very good defensive team. They are going to pressure the ball. They have athletes and they attack the rim. I don't know if they shoot it well as a team but they are ok at it right now. Bottom line is you better have a dude that is willing to fight and scrap with Matthews and Harris all night. They are bullies and they play hard the entire game.

Well usually good coaches know when to switch a philosophy up that just doesn’t really work anymore. Realized the whole just pounding the ball on offense may win a good amount of games every year, but wasn’t going to having them playing for titles anymore doing that.

 

You are right they have always had talent and even had talent at WR through the years, but always decided to just pound the ball. I think you are under selling how a year like this does change things. They already get the talent, and now have finally adjusted to how great offenses are today and opened it up themselves. It is going to make it a place where top QBs also truly want to go. Plus players seem to love playing for coach O.

 

Their offense may not set the records like they are this year. However, their offense also isn’t going to go back to the Stone Age either.

No I agree; the offensive philosophy will stay the same. I just don't think LSU fans realize what JB is doing this year. This is not just a system change; this is a QB that is reading defenses and making plays at an extremely high level.

They were usually close to be in the conversation even when they literally had no offense. Now will the offense keep setting records after this year, no. Will they still be a spread team and no longer just run the ball every play, yes. This is going to get QBs to want to come there more now. I know Bama people won’t want it to happen, but LSU is going to be an even bigger threat on a yearly basis now.

I'm a Bama guy; I've always known who our real competition in the west was. it's LSU. But I don't think LSU fans want to believe that JB is making things look a lot easier than they really are. A historically good LSU offense beat a historically bad Bama defense by 6 points. I saw the plays that he made against us and they were phenomenal. I also think Coach O is getting a lot of credit for being a really good Coach; I think the jury is still out on that. Recruiting has never been a problem for LSU. They don't have an in-state rival to compete with for in-state talent. Coach O is a great recruiter, but is he a good Coach?

Another good question is can Clemson sustain this success if they begin to lose coaches.

The only assistant that Dabo can't afford to lose is Venebles(sp). Anyone else is easily replaceable IMO.

I asked this question to NKY by mistake in another thread. If you haven't watched the LSU-Bama game; go back and watch it. JB is playing on an historic level right now. It easily reminds me of Cam Newton and the magical season that Auburn had in that one year. If the question is if LSU is about to make a Clemson or Bama type run; then that answer is no. JB makes plays period, and they no system around can duplicate what he is doing. Are they gonna be in the conversation for the CFP? Yes they are; but they are pretty much always in the conversation.