Log Mountain Boy

This is a sad situation. I really hope the ruling gets overturned. Ive met him. Hes a really good kid and considering the fact that hes done nothing wrong in the last few years and being the athlete he is I really think the rule should be overturned.

Because if Tubby could win the National Championship with that team Pitino could have won the NBA Finals with them.

Statements like that makes reasoning with you a waste of time.

You can say what you want about what Coach Smith has done lately, but the job he did coaching in 98 was a great coaching job on his part. If you look at how he coached that team and the adjustments he made, you can see he did a great job.

The loss of Rondo is the best thing that has happened so far. The real loss will be the clutch shooting and gutty play of Patrick Sparks and Ravi Moss.

I understand where your coming from, but its yet to be seen how much the Rondo loss will help. We will miss Sparks and Moss though.

But to try to put a positive spin on it, Jasper and Meeks are more athletic than Sparks and Jasper. Who knows, Im excited about next season though. Morris, Crawford, and Bradley hafa put points on the board!!

I think people are making too big of a deal about the losses. The only really good player we have lost is Rondo. The rest we can definitly do without. Sure a lot of us have this dream of Shagari really making a difference, and he has helped us win a select few games get wins. But now it will allow Carter to play much more. Im not saying we are going to be a great team this season, but the losses won't really hurt that bad, except a little bit with interior depth.

I would have really liked to had got Smith. Hes a great athlete from what I understand and according to Rivals he had improved his stock in the rankings. But I think we will be okay without him. And now UK fans can just hope the next class will see us land a Gary Johnson or another top notch prospect.

As for this class, it appears Phil Jones is the only guy left that we still may get. If Morris was to turn pro after next season Carter would be our only center so getting him maybe very important for us down the road. Even though he may not qualify academically.

I think that the muddy field excuse is often overused and is just an EXCUSE expressed by outsiders. Seriously how many programs do you think has a coach that tells his coaching staff to get the field as wet and muddy as possible in order to give themslef a better chance?

The fact is, that in Eastern Kentucky, to whom you are referring suffer from lack of facilities. Often there isn't a businessman/woman or grant to fund a school a new $500,000 turf field. Also, these rural schools have 1 field in which to play/practice on and sometimes that may also include the little league teams, you'd be surprised how much damage 7-8 year olds can make when there are about 5 games played the field back to back.

I just get sick and tired of people saying that we Eastern Kentucky FOLK simply water the field down to eliminate the Northerns speed.

By the way, why woudl Bell County want to eliminate their speed? They were probably faster than HHS in 04'. Secondly, why would they waste money to buy a tarp to cover the field if they wanted to just water it down.

It does rain and the elevations in the mountains are HIGHER, therefore making it more damp and wet, especially at night.

Say that Bell County admitted to watering their field down, who are you or anyone else to say that is wrong. It is their field and it is their homefield advantage. So why would it be so wrong if they wanted to. It is simply your word against theirs saying it is either right or wrong.

Its really sad that they have to make up all these excuses about the field. A matter of fact the field wasn't all that bad that night. We have to constantly apologize for not being a rich school and have a big nice turf field.

Its Highland's only comeback for having an illegal player score both their touchdowns in that game.

I think Morris, Crawford, Perry, and more than likely Bradley will all be starting next season. I can't really see more than 1 freshmen starting, atleast not until later on in the season.

Just as comical as seeing two or three clips and claiming they will save the program...

It definitly goes both ways! There is no way of saying they won't be great or that they will be great next year.

I would think that based on what Ive heard and the reports I have seen, Jasper and Meeks will be ready to play and play pretty well more so than Stevenson or Porter will be.

Don't get me wrong... that '98 ring is Tubby's. I'm just saying, if the '99 season were his responsibility, then so was '98. You can't have it both ways.

I agree with you. I do not blame Pitino for anything that happened negative that happened at UK after he left (which is very little). Pitino was great for UK! I will forever love him as a coach for what he did.

If that's the case, Ricky gets the credit for 1998.

Ive always felt like had Pitino been coach in 98 we would not have won the National Championship. I really felt like the style Tubby played that year was better suited for that team than Pitino's. Tubby did a great job coaching in 98.

Pitino is an awesome coach and Im not trying to knock him at all. We dont know what next year holds, but I think Tubby and Rick will both be much happier.

Yeah I look for us to lose some games early, but I think we will really improve. Having Morris for an entire season will be nice. He gives something to build around. Now if he can just solve his foul trouble issues I think he will be really tough this season.

I think a lot just depends on how the freshmen are too. I do believe that Jasper and Meeks will contribut right away. Hopefully Perry Stevenson can because we could use an athletic shotblocker in the game some at the 4 spot.

I really think we will be much better next year. I think you look at what we have coming back and you have to think a lot of guys will improve and get more consistent. I think we have 4 guys I think will be solid in Crawford, Perry, Morris, and Bradley. I look for Thomas and Carter to get better and improve their game.

If some of the freshmen can step in and play right away that would be a huge boost for our team. I look for them to be a very athletic class.

He really poured out tonight. I felt bad for him, but at least he went down swinging, playing the whole 32 minutes and scoring 17 despite a tough shooting night. I know it's probably tough right now, but be proud of how hard you fought, Sanders. :thumb:

Ive played Mens league's against him, pickup games, and early season, and Ive scrimmaged with the team several times and I always enjoy competing with him because hes so competitive. But he is always a good sportsman about and he just knows how to handle hiself.

This also marks the end of Jeremy Sander's career. He was a 4 year starter and a great player. He really kept things together this season so to speak. As a freshman he hit back to back game winning shots, to win a district against Redbird and to upset Clay County in the region. As a sophomore he went toe to toe basically with Aaron Cash before fouling out and losing.

He is also an exceptional kid. I have loved playing pickup games with him and watching him play the last few years. Hes a great player, but an awesome person.

This game was a perfect example of why — while rolling up a flashy record looks good at first glance — it does no good to fatten up against your weak sisters, and it usually costs you come tourney time. This game, and the whole 13th Region tournament for that matter, should get the message out to 13th Region teams that they need to hit the road and play some tough teams.

 

I expect Barbourville to be the next team to learn this lesson the hard way. Why they haven't already is beyond me.

Usually Coach Whitaker will try to schedule better competition if he feels like we have a good team. If we have a weaker team he will play a little lighter schedule. With expectations not being high Bell didn't really play anyone. When I was in highschool we played a lot of good competition, particularly my senior season.

As for this season for Bell. They played really well for the most part and worked hard. The team never got healthy. As soon as Bell got Ryan Whitaker back from an ankle injury, which he was out 2 months, they lost Trey Goins, who had a really good season.

I don't think Corbin can be ahead of Clay. Clay beat them by 6 without their best player. But I agree anything can happen in this region.

If that was the case you could say there is no way Clay could be ranked ahead of Bell County. Bell beat Clay with Ryan Whitaker out with a broken ankle.

I think there is 5 teams who all have an argument for being the 2nd best team.

Why do they wait until Sunday afternoon to draw? When do the first round games start?

I'm not for sure why they do that. I know when I was in highschool we would always practice on Sunday at like 4 or 5, whenever the coach got back and we found out our opponent.

Hes a very good shooter. He handles the ball pretty good. Is not a penetrator. Will rarely shoot inside 15 feet. He does have a lot of range and is a hard worker. Hes listes as 6-1. Hes 5-11 tops. Athletically he is not athletic enough to play at UK or UL. I would say hes a little smaller version of LeMaster. Hes probably a better shooter. Great highschool player, but never played on a good team. His team had a losing record this year. Hed be interesting to take as a walkon.

Dont know where you been but Pineville is no longer a region contender after last night. I do agree the region would be wide open without South.

Yeah, Im in Lexington and I had no idea what Pineville did last night. This is a shock to me. Ive been really impressed by them. I hated to see them lose this soon.

I think the toughest thing about all the new changes is South Laurel coming into the region. They are a great team. So winning the region would be a huge upset for anyone other than them. Had it not been for them moving in we would be talking about Bell, Clay, Corbin, Bville, and Pineville I believe as the main contenders this year.

The move made sense geography wise, but anyone else winning is going to be extremely hard.

Wow, a couple years ago this thread would have been several pages long. Now it just has 4 posts!

I like the Bobcats in this one!

Same ole story.

 

Miller will score 30+, but Bell will win convincingly IMO.

 

I think Goins is out, but I could be wrong.

Yeah thats what I had heard too. I hate to see him get hurt. Hes made a lot of sacrifices to play at Bell County. Sitting out a year had to be tough, and now to get hurt.

Its always a rivalry. They had a very close game at Bell High earlier in the season. That being said, Bell now has Ryan Whitaker back, and I think that creates big matchup problems for Middlesboro. I don't know the status of Trey Goins, but having him in the lineup would be huge for Bell.

This is going to be the last game for either Stuart Miller or Jeremy Sanders. Both these guys have started all 4 years. Miller has had a lot of individual success and been a great talent.

Sanders has been a winner all 4 years. Hes hit several game winning shots and has done an excellent job.

Sound like it was a good game. Congratulations to Middlesboro on their win. I am really excited to see Daniel Griffin play well. Hes a great kid and a good basketball player.

I think Bell missed the regional tournament in 1997. They won the last eight 51st District titles, I believe.

That is correct. Im now in my 5th year in college and we have not lost a District since I was in 8th grade.