bugatti

For context, five of those came in the goofy COVID season. I’ll never pretend that year was legit for anyone. Then of course this year there are what, 3?

I think it is time to extend Payne. Let’s go!

Slept on this game for my next day reaction. I know UK is practically down two starters (which accounts for something), but that sucked.

Good for him. And as I’ve alluded, if there is a year to make the jump, it is this year as the draft class - especially from the college ranks - might be historically bad. There will be more names called on draft night from other countries and the G-League than we are accustomed.

No it hasn’t, and these large deficits are draining to come back from.

This is what most people ignore every year when they say, “this isn’t even a tournament team.” Yeah, they’re not good, but nobody else is. It is not like teams 30-50 are surging. The schedule does stay tough so it’s not out of the realm.

No matter who was at fault on the failed lob play, I have no doubt if UK scores they were still going to give up an easy basket at the rim and lose 🙂

It was though he maybe wasn’t looking for his shot. He just misread it.

I would say it was more about personnel and maybe the wrong people executing the play (blame Calipari for that). The chances UK hasn’t practiced that look (or similar action) in practice is zero percent. That was about as basic as it comes.

I actually agree with this. Super low bar to hurdle. It’s the action at the rim that’s so disturbing.

I guess shame on Cal for drawing up the play he did (Onyenso cluttered it all) but we’re just going to continually praise Sheppard’s decision making yet act like he is incapable of seeing that wasn’t going to work in the moment? If the lob wasn’t there it was supposed to go to Reeves at the top of the key.

Jay Wright was a tough listen talking over the other guys continually. I’m sure he’ll improve but it’s a skill set you don’t just pick up and do well.

Yep. The rigidity today kept Dillingham on the bench the second half. Granted, they were scoring, but if you’re not stopping them anyways, might as well have your best scorers on the court.

Thought it was fitting UK went to a zone on a BLOB and Edwards left his guy in the corner open by about 15 feet. They missed the open look but it led to the easy putback.

It’s horrifying how little UK gets out of the 5 position, sans a few blocks Onyenso is sometimes able to get. I still think UK should go weird. Play 4 guards and put Thiero at the 5. What are you losing?

That's some great trivia. Thinking of other multi-winning MVP winners and their schools (Super Bowl era, believe Unitas only had one in the SB era): Texas Tech, California, Michigan, Southern Mississippi, Tennessee, and Notre Dame. Counting pre-Super Bowl era we have Syracuse (Jim Brown), but my trivia brain isn't large enough to know where some of the old-timers went. Just looked, and it seems Otto Graham would be the only other. He went to Northwestern.

Like the MVP, I have no idea what this award is supposed to be about. Found this from an old NFL.com article: By definition, the CPOY Award is given to a player who "shows perseverance in overcoming adversity, in the form of not being in the NFL the previous year, a severe injury, or simply poor performance."

Interesting. I googled it and the voter had Lamar 3rd behind Allen and Dak. LOL. He at least had the courage to defend his position, where some of these voters hide. His decision was statistics-driven. Of course, you can cherry-pick stats and the W/L record is the ultimate trump card. In fairness, Lamar's stats compared to his unanimous MVP season are nowhere close. But numbers across the board are down. They should rename the MVP award to "Top QB for a Competing Team Award." That is all it has become, which I am fine with.

Congrats to Lamar and the Baltimore Ravens. All the pieces are in place to bring home the trophy which I believe they will.

Who was the other first-place vote? CMc?

The SEC-BIG 12 Challenge has been it the last several years. But UK has a history of randomly playing games during conference play that I can remember from years' past (ND, 'Nova, etc).

The NBA - for better or worse - has become a "be there" sport like hockey or baseball. The fan experience at NBA games is quite entertaining. If anything, it is over-stimulating. It does not translate well to television nor does their supreme talents as they make it look so easy.

Well, now would be a good year for you to 😄 That is exactly what happened to me. Once I latched on to the Timberwolves and caught every one of their games, you put on a college game and it is like stepping back in time. It is brutal to watch. I genuinely believe the worst NBA team would throttle a great team like UConn or Purdue this year by 70 and it would not be that close.

I suppose all those things are true, but these are negotiated deals by both parties. I'm just always fascinated with how these things unfold. Seattle has always been a sneaky city for basketball talent.

That part is a given.