scorekeeper

43-43 at halftime. Six ties and eight lead changes. Frenetic pace with both teams sizzling from the floor. McDavid has been a monster underneath--particularly on the offensive boards. Maynard hit a couple of long-distance 3's. Both Ferguson & Timmy Knipp saddled in latter part of 2nd quarter with 2 fouls.

Final. Elliott advances to Monday night championship vs. Ashland.

Maybe to get more subs in? I don't really know.

48-30 with 1:58 to go; Russell calls timeout.

Russell starting to clear the bench now; they trail Elliott 48-27.

46-27...Elliott running away now; 2:19 to go.

44-27

42-27 Elliott; Timmy Knipp leads scoring for Elliott. 3 1/2 left to go.

40-27 Elliott; Timmy Knipp with 11 points off the bench.

Austin Blair fouls out with almost 4:00 left to play; Elliott leads 38-24.

36-24 with 4:32 left to play.

36-21 Elliott County.

Elliott leads 34-21. Russell in some foul trouble.

It is on WUGOH online (Grayson/Olive Hill).

32-21 Elliott

Elliott leads 29-21 with 6 minutes to go.

Elliott leads 27-21 after three quarters of play.

East rallies from 16 down and takes 1 point lead with 5 minutes to go in 4th. Had opportunities, but couldn't capitalize. Ashland hits FT's down the stretch.

I guess that's where we disagree. I judge a season's success based on the Final 4. This is because I'm a UK fan, and Final 4's are a part of our history. It would be no different if I were a fan at Duke, North Carolina, UCLA or Kansas. Understand, I never stated that making a final four EVERY OTHER YEAR was the measuring stick. I just cited Pitino's record as one example. Tom Izzo would be another example. He's got a title and several final fours. Was he down last year? Yes. Is he down this year? Yes. But again, he's coached in three, maybe four more final weekends than Tubby. It's all about final fours with me. If Tubby had taken UK to the final four in 03, 04, or 05 we would not be having this conversation right now (though others would probably be bashers).

It's not unrealistic, because as I said, I was happy in the 1990's.

On this we agree. While Gottlieb is right that UK hasn't really beaten anybody, his argument of "beating the bottom-half of the conference" falls terribly short. If Missouri State played our conference schedule, they wouldn't have beaten the bottom half of the conference. Yes, we've both failed to beat the elite in the conference, but the conferences are vastly different.

Not true, because I was satisfied in the 1990's (including Tubby's 98-99 seasons). Up until the UAB loss in 04, I was a staunch defender of Tubby Smith. I still believe he would be a great coach for a Georgia-type of school (mid-major type team in a major conference).

My point is that Tubby Smith has eroded University of Kentucky basketball. And who cares if we beat Louisville (three years; not two)? The fact is: Pitino brought UK back to its rightful status as a college basketball giant. Tubby Smithhas taken us back to mediocrity.

No, my argument is not that he won it w/ Pitino's players, because I don't think Pitino would have won it in 98 had he stayed. Tubby did a good job coaching those players. However, I cited Pitino's numbers as evidence of "contending with a degree of regularity." Half of Pitino's NCAA-eligible seasons resulted in FINAL FOUR appearances. THAT, not what Tubby is doing, is "contending with a degree of regularity."

If Rick Pitino had stayed at Kentucky, do you seriously believe we would have lost 10-plus games five out of the next ten years? But look at Pitino's overall tenure. He went to three final 4's (93, 96, 97). He was runner-up once (97). He was national champion once (96). Two of the other seasons were final 8 seasons (92 & 95). Then the other was a second-round loss (94). Overall, that's a pretty good run. And yes, that type of a LONG-TERM run can be maintained. It would be almost impossible, as you said, to maintain or improve on the 96-98 years. But overall, looking at an 8-10 year time-span, a solid coach could certainly contend with regularity. Tubby is not doing that at all. It's simple logic really...