Original Rookie

On another note, basketball is turning into football with short pants.

Credit Pitino for taking advantage of this but Louisville is prime example for how bad it is. At times it looks like they employ the "foul so much they can't call everything" strategy.

1-3 years

I'll say no, and the refs were bad both ways, but the bad calls against Michigan were much bigger IMO.

Burke picking up his second foul on Luke Hancock jumping towards the baseline to shoot what would have been a 3 from behind the backboard was AWFUL.

Hancock's fourth foul was given to Harrell which allowed Luke to stay in the game and subsequently pick up McGary's fourth foul on a similar three point foul.

(As for the plays mentioned above, Hancock walks a tight line on being crafty and drawing a foul vs flopping and not really playing basketball. The one on McGary was a foul IMO but the call on Burke in the corner is all kinds of bad.)

The Burke block on Siva at the rim was big for momentum.

Hmmm... why is everyone so quick to place UK at number one in the preseason??? I believe most of UL and Michigan's teams are made up of underclassmen. If these programs are not hit hard by early exits to the NBA they have to be considered as favorites at the start of next season. Didn't UK start out the year preseason ranked number 3... perhaps we should see how next year's UK players actually handle the transition from high school to prime-time college basketball before proclaiming them number one.

UK was also highly ranked the three previous years and that worked out okay.

Burke is leaving. Louisville loses Siva, Dieng, Smith and possibly Behanan.

I bet some of the players are glad they don't have to.

Looks like Dieng and Smith are gone, if Behanan leaves also then Louisville is not a Top 10 team IMO.

Pretty sure he had four fouls at that point.

Dunk was at 9:31

Dieng had a foul at 6:36 and another at 2:24. Couldn't have had four at the time.

Pretty sure he had four fouls at that point.

I don't think so. It happened with about 10 minutes left.

One of the things the NBA guys talk about Russ Smith is his ability to get to the foul line. With the NBA rules of no hands on the point guard when they drive from out front I can see him causing some problems. That rule has really helped smaller guards. My concern would be what was said earlier can he defend bigger guards? Hardaway posted him up easy with only 7 secs on shot clock.

His biggest problem is that he defends with his hands and like you said he is small. Defense will be his biggest concern at the next level early on.

...was not as good as Montrezl Harrel dunk.

Both were nasty. Harrell reminded me of Anthony Davis last year against UL when he caught it behind his head. Dieng wanted no part of contesting Hardaway.

Hardaway Jr dunk... YOWZA

Depending on who returns for Michigan, they can easily be a top 3 team next year. I had no idea how young they were. UK will be fun to watch. Would like to see next year's UK team play the 2011-2012 team.

Maybe people will get over the "can't win with freshman" stuff. The loss of Burke will be HUGE, I don't see them as a title contender.

The man is 60 years old and he still coaches like he is in his 40's. There are a lot of younger coaches out there that would love to have his energy. I would think the pressure of winning a national title and coaching in the final four is a little hard on you. The way he prepares he probably hasnt selpt much at all. I bet he's in NOLA tonight to support the woman. He never stops.

What in the world does that mean?

Discuss.

RIP

Is it just me or did anyone else get the impression that Clark Kellogg couldn't hide his Big 10 bias last night with his game analysis. It seemed to me he was openly pulling for Michigan.

In my opinion CBS could do a lot better than Kellogg in their high profile games.

I honestly didn't notice it. I thought him and Kerr were a little more openly critical of the officiating than they are suppose to be. These guys sure beat the heck out of Billy Packer.

I wouldn't mind that at all.

I don't think it would be very popular with most of the fans but I'm with you, he would do well there.

I just don't see Russ being successful in the NBA...

Spark plug off the bench type guy. Nate Robinson, Eddie House.. that sort of mold.

Man, how good is Pitino? Hard not to appreciate what he has done for the college game.

Max Smith. He is better than most people think.

For the record, UK has to be the favorite, but in a single elimination tournament against Louisville, if everyone came back? I'd like our chances. Pretty battle tested group.

No doubt, but I don't think that is happening.

Pitino in his post game comments said all of them: Smith, Behannen, and Dieng should enter the draft and test the waters. This may sound crazy but I think Harrell would go before all of them. He has that potential and athletic ability that the NBA likes to take a chance on.

Weird, only a couple of weeks ago he said that isn't why "his guys" play the game.

He gone

I have a hard time thinking they could get Donovan.

No, I am saying me being a naysayer by pooh poohing Behanon going pro.

Gotcha. He thought about going last year. Big performance in a championship game may push him over the edge.

Two turning points in the second half for me....

1) Burke has it on fast break down two, Siva steals takes it to the other end and scores

2) Hancock's fourth foul given by mistake to Harrell. Hancock draws McGary's fourth shortly after.