Fire Tubby?

After what is mostly regarded as disastrous transcontinental/transoceanic road trip the Cats touch home base with a 3-2 record. As always, Monday brings new rankings. Kentucky has dropped out of the top 25 in both the ESPN and AP polls. The ESPN/USA Today Poll ranks them 33rd and the AP 31st. Also something else I like to take a look at is the projected draft for next year. It’s early, but so what. Kentucky currently has no players in the mock draft over at nbadraft.net. If it makes you feel any better, Duke only has one right now. All it takes is a few good games by someone like Jasper and he could easily jump into this list.

Changes are a comin’ though Tubby says. Never fear cat fans our savior(s) are here. Perry Stevenson who had a couple of Shagari Alleyne vs Kentucky Wesleyan performances (hereafter known as the Alleyne Indication) his first two games but has shown to be a little to weak against tougher competition will be replaced with either the returning Jared Carter or Sheray Thomas. I’m not saying Stevenson is going to turn out like another Alleyne, quite the contrary. It looks like Perry could be a hell of a player with his abilities. I just wanted to find a way to introduce something to be like the Sports Guy. He’s the coolest. See you tomorrow for the pre-game.

The rumors of our demise may not have been exaggerated.

I myself on this very page broke out the phrase “statement game”. They made a statement alright. They’re not very good right now. Apparently I missed the release from the University of Kentucky athletics department where Mike Archer has taken over the defensive coaching responsibilities. Oh how I miss the “ball line defense” of years past right about now. Memphis was able to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. It also didn’t hurt that they were singeing the nets in the second half.

As bad as this game was, I don’t want to head into Thanksgiving on such a sour note. Randolph Morris had a more than decent game. He wasn’t standing around as much and called for the ball quite often. He was quite effective when he got the touches and looked more like “one of the best big men in the country” that the commentators like to mention.

Update:: A small consolation prize for the night:
North Carolina lost to Gonzaga.

That’s all I’ve got for now. Have a good Thanksgiving everybody.

The battle for 3rd place in this year’s Maui Invitational tips off today in what I was hoping would be the match up for the championship game. Memphis got here by collapsing in the second half against Georgia Tech, and Kentucky rolls in after fumbling away a winning opportunity. The Cats are +3 according to Bodog. If you happen to be the gambling type and took the 4 1/2 points yesterday vs UCLA you are a none-to-happy camper today.

Ohhh those clever bookies and line makers, how do they get so close? Makes you wonder doesn’t it. The last two games have been within a half point of the final margin. Myself, I don’t gamble. Besides the occasional poker game, a Powerball ticket when it gets sufficiently high enough, NCAA tournament pool(s), and fantasy football league. Ok, I gamble. But not on a game to game basis. I do enjoy checking out the lines and guesstimating though. That’s why you see them in all the pregame posts. Here’s hoping we can enjoy the game. Even this early in the season, the game today feels like… Well you know. The old tried and true cliche:

A statement game. Go Cats.

The first thing that comes to mind after watching this game is a quote from Jay Bilas about Ramel Bradley in last nights DePaul game .

“He’s not necessarily a pass first point guard.”

I would like to add that I’m not sure he’s even a catch first point guard.

At least Duke lost to Wildcat killer Marquette as well.

You weren’t expecting a pre-game writeup early in the day were you? Good, ’cause some people have to work you know. Damn, get off my back already. According to bodog, the Cats are +4 1/2. To be honest I would have thought that it would have been around 7, so it seems like Vegas is giving Tubby and the team a slight bit of respect. Again, just my opinion.

You already know all about the history and championships between these two teams so I won’t regurgitate that same story again here. I’m sure UCLA will come in to the game with its taser’s set to stun so lets hope the Big Blue that started out fast last night shows up again.

Here’s an idea I’ve been throwing around lately. Come back here after the game win or lose (win) and in the comments write what you think will be the Herald Leader headline in tomorrow’s paper regarding the game. There may even be a prize if more than a couple of people respond. The HL is almost always good for a cheesy rhyming headline. See you after the game.

So I made it back in time to live blog this game. I’m surprised myself. I’ve got my beverage of choice, do you? Here we go.

9:05 - The Duke/Air Force game just finished up making the tip five minutes late. Screw you Duke. There, that felt good.

9:06 - The game isn’t in HD. Screw you again Duke. They got the HD cameras for the night. Seriously ESPN if you’re going to have two HD networks don’t you think you could spring for a couple extra cameras?

9:08 - Cats shoot out to an 8-0 lead. Nice.

9:10 - Tubby sporting a not-so-Hawaiian shirt but still but looking better than some of those Dawhares scorched camel brown jackets.

9:15 - After coming out and looking extremely smooth and effective, DePaul battles back to trail 18-14 at the first tv break.

9:17 - Woo checks in scores on first possession. Good night for Woo; if he does nothing else for the rest of the night.

9:20 - First defense of Tubby tonight by Jay Bilas after showing that Kentucky lost 5 games at home last season. “Tubby is not a good coach, he is a great coach.” Also, Woo just threw one down. Woo 4 points 0 turnovers.

9:33 - So, they just showed a commercial for Avodart. A prostate medication. It says women shouldn’t even handle the medicine since it can cause birth defects. Thanks doc. Cats 33 - DePaul 25.

9:35 - Jay Bilas regarding Ramel Bradley. “He’s not necessarily a pass first point guard.” Really, I never noticed.

9:36 - DePaul’s Wesley Green’s father is in prison in Florida on “drug related issues”. This seems like something that should be in the pop-up video edition of the the game.

9:40 - UK 34 - DePaul 31 Bobby Perry and Randolph just had a couple of powder puffs smacked away. Where are those freshmen?

9:42 - With this lineup on the floor consisting of four returning players we look and play exactly like last years team. Slow, sloppy, no urgency. Right now it seems like we will be seeing a lot of freshmen playing time.

9:46 - I know they will never say, but what do you think Sheray got suspended for? You know you’re curious as well. 41-36 Cats.

9:50 - Halftime. Kentucky 43 - DePaul 38. Such a strong start then to let it trickle away. I would have loved to see them keep the heat on throughout. We’ll see how the second half goes. Back in a few.

John Clay is also live blogging court side as opposed to my couch side analysis.

2nd half

10:08 - First score of the half is Joe Crawford with a layup. He’s been quiet.

10:12 - UK 47 - DePaul 46. Randolph Morris foul. Where are the freshmen?

10:16 - DePaul takes a short one point lead off the Randolph Morris foul. Then trade baskets back and forth. 50 - 49 DePaul.

10:18 - From the ESPN ticker. Jason LaRue has been traded by the Reds to the Royals for a PTBNL. So long, “Country Boy Can Survive“.

10:26 - Ramel taking control of the game a little bit. 59-52 Cats. Randolph looks comatose. His personality reminds me of Marvin Stone. It seems like he doesn’t even care to try sometimes. No emotion.

10:39 - A little more comfortable off a turnover and easy layup, 71-62 Cats. 7-1 UK run.

10:41 - “You don’t have to have your feet on the ground to travel” -Bilafucius

10:49 - Just noticed Randolph had a mouth guard in. Must be to keep him from getting his teeth chipped by the other players jock when they dunk on him.

10:53 - Ok, ok. Morris probably didn’t deserve that. He put together a string of good plays the last few minutes.

10:55 - 1:30 to go. UK 82 DePaul 76. Sloppy pass from Bobby Perry turns it over. 82-77. Ramel fouls after free throw and they give it to Randolph. His 4th.

10:59 - 53.2 to go 82-77 UK. My drink is empty and my hands are sweaty. The Cats are killing clock.

11:03 - UK 87 - DePaul 81 Final. Much like our bowling football team UK allowed DePaul to score a season high point total. But also like the football team, we got the W. Speaking of W, Woo wasn’t a liability tonight for a change. I think that wraps it up from my end tonight. See you tomorrow.

Well, well, well, I know you are all surprised that I could grace the pages of firetubby.com again but it’s time for some pre-game action. Kentucky is -6.5 if you would like to contact your local friendly bookie. Hmm, wonder what a parlay between this game and taking the points vs Tennessee this weekend would pay. Hmmm indeed.

Well, I’m really not coming up with anything else clever to say right now so lets leave it here for now. Wait I’ve got an idea. It seems like the cool thing to do nowadays is to do a live blog during the game. Maybe I’ll try that tonight since I’m coming to you from COURT SIDE in MAUI. Well at least it will seem like it since we have ESPN2 in HD here in Lexington. Thanks Insight. So I’ll see you cool kids with laptops on their couches back here at 9pm.