Fire Tubby?

Ah, Big Baby.

Some of you might remember Glen Davis playing weatherman for the SEC Media Days late last year. His predictions reminded me of Ollie Williams from Family Guy.

For Kentucky, he predicted “Ninety-percent (chance of) rain… and then thunderstorms, man.” Somewhat correct, much to our chagrin. For Baton Rouge, he forecasted “Sunshine… Nice 75 (degrees) and a cool breeze blowing.” But that was way off; his season has been more like Hurricane Katrina. (Maybe the LSU Alums can start blaming Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco.)

For Gainesville, he forecasted, “Hot… They’ve got five guys there coming back, so it’s going to be hot. Real hot.” I think he meant Joaquim Noah’s temper, but I guess it also applies to the whole team.

I’ve been looking forward to Big Baby coming to Rupp ever since his forecasts. Not only is he a stellar player, but a worthy adversary. As a cold-front moved into Lexington, affecting our team’s shooting and overall quality of play, I thought LSU had a real shot at giving us another L.

However, the AP is reporting that the weatherman stayed home due to injury. LSU has been inconsistent with Davis in the lineup; without their star, it will be difficult to contain our Almost Famous Wildcat.

And if you look in the skies above Rupp, you might see a break in the clouds.

Well, it’s almost here. What’s that you ask? “The Defining Stretch of the Tubby Smith Era“, as some would say. In reality is that the case? Considering this game alone, probably not, but a win tonight will do a lot to soothe the sting of the Vandy loss. Georgia is the favorite at -2 1/2. My personal opinion (and hope) is that the Vanderbilt game was somewhat of a fluke and that it will serve as a kick in the ass to get back on track. I’m going to predict a 10 point UK win tonight. Clearly I drank the Kool-Aid. If UK gets thrashed, you can come back and tell me what a jackass I was in the comments.

Now on to something I like to do whenever UK plays Georgia, which is bring up our old friend Joey Waldrop. Sadly, the uncoordinated looking former Bulldog turned actor is no longer on the team. It also appears as if his website has fallen into disrepair. It also pales in comparison to our own Jodie Meeks‘ site. That doesn’t stop me from reminiscing about the game in Rupp where I got to see him laboring up and down the court looking like an Olympic race walker where you can’t pick up one foot until the other touches the ground. Good times. Go Cats!

For me, UK vs. Indiana has always been “the” game. I (unlike the real Gimel) grew up on the shores of the Ohio River, across from the Hoosier State. On both sides of the river UK fans and IU fans would live peacefully until the end of November, as fever for “the game” rose on both sides. Bets are made, smack is spoken, analysis is vomited throughout the region.

The aftermath of the game is felt for almost the whole year. When the Hoosiers win, you see a whole heck more IU stuff running around Kentucky cities, and vice versa. After a streak of wins are broken, the amount of school colors is often blinding. Back in ‘91, when the Unforgettables upset Knight’s squad that featured Alan Henderson, I never felt much prouder running around Tell City in my UK Starter jacket.

Even in such a volatile area, somehow fans of the opposite teams can find love together. In our county, one such couple erected a flagpole in their back yard (that faced US-60). Flying on the pole from bottom to top were — if I remember correctly — the US flag, the flag bearing the insignia of the loser of that year’s IU vs. UK game, and then a flag of the winning school. I always thought that was cool, especially when Pitino’s and Tubby’s streak of beating IU from 1994 to ‘98 kept that Big Blue flag on top.

Last year UK tried to 3-point the Hoosiers to death, and failed miserably. This year’s Indiana team is young but extremely athletic. They gave Duke everything the Dukies didn’t want; the only thing that saved Duke’s non-conference win streak was the Hoosier’s poor shot selection throughout the game. Needless to say, I’m a little concerned for our Wildcats; athletic pressure D is Kentucky’s Achilles Heel, and a flowing motion O can find some open looks against our D.

With enough pressure and some senior/junior leadership (and another monster game from Morris), UK will have a good chance to capitalize on that poor shot selection and win. I’m sure everybody south of the Ohio is hoping the same. Go Cats!

Tonight the Cats make one of their yearly trips to Freedom Hall for an away-home game. This for all intents and purposes should be an unadulterated blowout. Not speaking for anyone but myself, I want to see a game that ends up with a margin near double the current line.

That line is a hefty -16 1/2. So, I would like to see Kentucky win by around 30. I don’t think that’s to much to ask seeing as how Florida beat them by 49. I’m not looking at match-ups here. I can’t name one of their player’s, I haven’t even looked at their roster. Why such the strong stance? This article in the HL. In that article Tubby says there will likely be another lineup change to improve ball handling. What really stands out is the quote by Ramel Bradley.

“If we don’t turn the ball over, and make the right play at the right time, we win those games,” he said yesterday, “and we’re easily the No. 1 team in the country. We feel we’re the best team in the country, and we’re going to show it.”

I was amazed when I read that. I know Ramel may be a little cocky, but does he really believe that? Go back and reread that quote. He didn’t say that they could be ONE OF the best, he said they would easily be THE No. 1 team.

Then, two paragraphs later comes Tubby’s quote about the game against UT-Chattanooga.

“There are a lot of things we need to improve to intimidate anybody,” he said. “We know we have to play one of our better games.”

Who do you believe in this instance? The savvy veteran coach or the cocky veteran player. Myself being the eternal optimist will go with Ramel on this one. If we really do need “one of our better games” to beat UT-C it could be a scary season. See you after the game. Go Cats!

This is a game I look forward to every year. For several reasons. Games against the Duke’s, Indiana’s, North Carolina’s, and to a lesser extent the UCLA’s of the college basketball world represent benchmarks. In much the same way that the University of Kentucky as a whole compares itself to other benchmark institutions regarding employee health benefits, the basketball team can get a reading of where they are or where they want to be.

On the other hand, I had a buddy in high school who was a huge, obnoxious, ass of a Carolina fan. I’m sure some of you can relate when a friend or family member roots for a team that just happens to be one of the biggest rivals on the schedule. All out verbal war ensues in the days leading up to these games. From whatever the hell the spot on Rasheed Wallace’s head was to how Roy Williams still hasn’t won a championship since he did it with Matt Doherty’s players. Hmm wonder where I would have ever got a crazy idea like that?

Go Cats!

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.

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.

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.

The Trogdor’s face Kentucky in the first round tonight. Kentucky is -3. Go Cats!

Game 3 of four coming up. Got to stay positive, right? The Cat’s are -3.5. Take a look at this thread on the HL forums. Somewhere in there you will see people that say that:

A - SEC Championships don’t really mean anything.

B - If it meant Tubby staying at UK they would rather not win another championship with him.

How can you possibly call yourself a fan of the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team if you agree with the second point? It’s beyond me.

Go Cats!