From John Clay’s blog:
Yes, said Tubby Smith, UK’s final shot was designed to go to Sheray Thomas down on the right block. Smith said he thought Thomas would be open because LSU would be keying on other UK players. Smith said he thought Thomas hesitated too much before taking the shot, which went over the rim.
I guess Tubby went with the John Paxon option. I understand the call, if Sheray makes the shot he looks like the hero, and Tubby makes what looks like a fantastic call because all the defensive pressure would be on Patrick/Randolph. That being said, I don’t agree with the call in the least. If Patrick takes the shot and misses you feel like you at least you had one of your better players with the ball in his hands. Patrick has proven in the past he can make the big shot why not give him the ball.
In the end it’s just a missed shot, I understand that. Sheray missing the shot is not what cost us this game. It’s the result of sloppy play coming down the stretch that put the team in that situation.
February 25th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
Tubby was right….LSU would lay off Sheray…..because they knew he wouldn’t make the freakin shot. I like Sheray. He surprises me with his mid-range jumper. But you DO NOT go to him in that situation. Work it to Morris, draw the double, and kick it to Ravi or Sparks for the 3.
And Baby Big Boy strips Rando in the open court? Oh my. That was like watching the Queen of England burn Snoop in a rap-off. Good gravy.
Cat’s don’t make the tourney. Tubby hangs on for another year. Cats win 16 next year. Write it down.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Cats will still make the tourny, still an 8-9 seed will drop no lower than a 10 seed, could be an upset of a #1 seed in the second round if we indeed fall into that 8-9 game and survive. And I wont even coment on that last shot by Sheray Thomas!
February 27th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
I believe the LSU loss may have been the nail in the coffin on post-season play for KY. Unless they at least split the final two and win 2 in the SEC tourney, I think they’ll be watching Mash reruns in Wildcat Lodge….or helping Rando pack his bags for a transfer.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
I would venture to guess that even if we lose the next two games we will still make the tournament.
February 28th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
If we lose the next 2, we will need 1 SEC tourny win or its NIT bound. There is to many other bubble teams with better quality wins out there for us to make it in without 1 more quality win
February 28th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
I dont belive Rondo will transfer. Or atleast we hope not things are not looking to good fore the cats or Mr Smith I cant belive that Kentcucky the most storied program in all of college basketball is looking like this. Lets face it if Tubby sticks around another year wich Im sure he will he better hope things get better not worse I dont care what you have done in 8 years not going to the NCAA tounament and lossing 10-12 games a season is not Kentucky basketball. I look fore Smith to be around another year but if things are like this next season he will resighn or get his walking pappers.
March 1st, 2006 at 11:25 am
All of this Assumes UK doesn’t get the automatic bid.
I’m pretty sure UK’s magic number of Regular Season Wins is 19. that means win 1 of the next 2 and we should be OK. If we drop both, we are looking pretty mediocre and should start prepping ourselves for a new NIT Champ Banner.
That said, there are 2 things about the LSwho loss which turned my stomach. First, there is no way Rondo should be cleanly stripped by Davis at the arch. That just shows lack of concentration. Nor should a final play be called for Sheray Thomas (regardless if you know he will be open). He was 0-4 in the half, including late clutch which let Davis get back to block him. Sparks was on Fire and Morris was having a solid game as well. Go with the hot had
I don’t buy into Perry’s, “we shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place” argument. LSU is one of the top rated teams in the country and we were playing on their home court. What positition did he expect us to be in? Being in that position is what makes college basketball college basketball. Winning everygame comfortably is not what makes a team great. It is how you overcome adversity and win the close games which is measure of a team’s character.
Unfortunately, our boys only seem to win the close ones against lower rated opponents this year. But then again, we know what happened after the last year Tubby and Cats had like this. . . three of the gutsiest greatest seasons in UK history.