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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-21-2014, 07:01 PM:

Saturday at 2 PM is going to be huge.

A clear pattern is emerging with Kentucky, isn't it? For one thing, venue doesn't matter. Arguably the Wildcats' two "worst" games (ha), against Buffalo and Columbia, both occurred at home. Conversely, in neutral-site games against the blue-chip likes of Kansas and UCLA, John Calipari's men have outscored their opponents by an average of more than 35 points per contest.

In a few days, UK will play its first true road game, at Louisville, and if the pattern described above is any guide, the Cardinals can expect to get the Wildcats at their very best. And if Kentucky does indeed prevail in that game, there will be a good deal of talk to the effect that the path is now clear for Calipari's team to run the table against a lackluster SEC.

The Cats do indeed have the best chance of running the table of any team we've seen since, well, Wichita State last season. But I have a request: If Kentucky reaches March with a "0" (or for that matter a "1") in the loss column, don't chalk the team's success up to talent alone. Calipari does have the most talented rotation in the country, but it's what he has chosen to do with that talent that has set his team apart in 2014-15.

Link

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-21-2014, 09:11 PM:

The Louisville game will not even be close to the UCLA game but if we just can win no matter what the score is we will truly have a chance to do something very special this season.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-21-2014, 09:59 PM:

I'm hoping these boys come back from Christmas ready to focus on the last game for the year 2014!

THe only team that can really beat this team this year.......
IS THIS TEAM!!!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-21-2014, 10:39 PM:

The next game is special, no doubt about it and I'm sure the players know it too. I would bet the coachs will have them ready to go against our arch rival. The thing I worry the most about is Pitino and know he will do everything he knows to get his team ready to beat us. I can't stand the man but he is one coach that makes his team better every season and would do any thing in his power to take us down.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-21-2014, 10:45 PM:

If you watch "This is Kentucky Basketball" the weekly show that WKYT puts on, Cal commented in his pre-game locker-room speech he tells the boys I know you guys are thinking about an upcoming game but I've been thinking about nothing but today!
That tells me that these boys know the importance of next weekend!
Coach Payne can tell them how important next weekend is and he played for the other team then!

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 12-22-2014, 09:16 AM:

I will say it here first. I think UK goes into the Yum! center and absolutely emasculates the cards. We win by 25+ going away.

It is nearly impossible to prepare for the type of defense that UK is playing. And if you think the Cards will be up for this game, imagine how much Cal and UK wants it as well.

UK 75, UofL 49.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-22-2014, 11:18 AM:

I hope you are right, Tip. I'll take a win any way we can get one!

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-22-2014, 11:20 AM:

THis game Saturday is going to be a foul fest. The refs will be watching this game closely after what UL did last Saturday.
We must hit our free throws to win on Saturday!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-22-2014, 12:06 PM:

The good thing is we have a lot more depth than the Cards.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-22-2014, 12:07 PM:

I hope Tip is right but playing them in their house isn't going to be easy. Personally I'd be happy with a 1 point win.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-22-2014, 12:33 PM:

I'd take that 1 point win as well, CMD!

Posted by Old Norm (Member # 1482) on 12-22-2014, 01:43 PM:

That would be a moral victory for them, but I'd take it!

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-22-2014, 02:09 PM:

It'll be a moral victory for Louisville if they can stay within 10 points of us!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-22-2014, 02:56 PM:

I don't even want think about that game. It gives me the hebejebes.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-22-2014, 03:36 PM:

Well, it's not looking ahead now, because ready or not, it's next!

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-22-2014, 03:53 PM:

MAtt JOnes was talking about how RP wasn't even letting his boys go home for Christmas this year!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-22-2014, 03:54 PM:

2 PM Saturday Cats vs the Cards at the Yum Center. ESPN 2 Go Cats!

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-22-2014, 04:11 PM:

You're like me, if we were in the Louisville area we'd get to watch some pre-game shows just like the Super Bowl!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-22-2014, 07:44 PM:

If I were in Louisville we would watch all these games together!

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-22-2014, 08:06 PM:

That would be fun too!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-23-2014, 12:27 AM:

Maybe some day we can make it happen.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 12:48 AM:

I'm looking forward to it!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-23-2014, 09:47 AM:

I bet tickets to Saturday's game I bet are going at a premium price if you can even find one.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 03:07 PM:

I had tickets offered to me for $775/per. I told them I'd pass.
A co-worker who's daughter is in gymnastics said his daughter had a meet on Saturday and another family was skipping the meet because they had paid $2500. Not sure if that was each, or for the pair.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 03:56 PM:

I've seen a lot of game that KY's played in my day. I was even in attendance when the Admiral Dave Robinson went off for 54 points against us in Rupp. BUT.... I'VE NEVER BEEN IN ATTENDANCE OF A UK/UL GAME! or UNC for that matter.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-23-2014, 04:41 PM:

I'm betting on 2500 hundred for the pair but in today's times you never know. I went to the store today with my bride and she bought a small package of hamburger meat and it was 9 dollars!!! It was 6.50 a pound. Yikes!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-23-2014, 04:44 PM:

MH, I really hope you get the opportunity to get to see a UK vs UL game. It's special.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 05:45 PM:

Oh I believe I will. I just have to be willing to turn loose of the money one day in order to do it!

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 05:47 PM:

My oldest girl wanted to go to see the Lion King play at the Aranoff Center in CIncy. She'll be 22 the day after Christmas. SO I went to their website and found the cheapest tix were $275

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 05:48 PM:

She decided she didn't want to go that badly. I'd love to take the family but were talking $1500 to take the family! GOOD GRIEF

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-23-2014, 07:12 PM:

It's tough now of days the way prices have skyrocketed on most anything from entertainment to groceries.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-23-2014, 07:13 PM:

The only break we have gotten in a while is the price of gas. can't believe how the price of gas has come down.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-23-2014, 07:15 PM:

MH, I thought you were younger but hearing you have a 22 year old daughter tells me otherwise. [Wink]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 08:24 PM:

Let's just say Rex Chapman and I are the same age. We were at UK at the same time!

Posted by Old Norm (Member # 1482) on 12-23-2014, 09:47 PM:

I bought gasoline down near Fort Campbell today for $1.999. Lowest it's been in about 6 years!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-23-2014, 09:49 PM:

Wow, 1.99 that's unbelievable. I got at 2.47 and thought I had hit the jackpot.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-23-2014, 09:52 PM:

MH, did you ever have any classes with Rex? You sure went there at the right time as that was some good years with Rex.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 10:04 PM:

No but I had classes with Richard Madison, Ken Lock, and James Blackmon. I also had an English class with Ashley Judd. Although I really didn't know who she was at the time.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 10:05 PM:

I must say that the English Professor knew who Ashley was though!!

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 12-23-2014, 10:09 PM:

Hey, MH, I was at UK at that time as well.

Ah, the memories... [Smile]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 10:13 PM:

We actually had a few good teams in that era.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 10:15 PM:

The name keeps escaping me. What was the name of the player that transferred to Florida State after leaving KY in that era. I had a Psychology class with him.

Posted by FlaCatz (Member # 925) on 12-23-2014, 10:25 PM:

M Hamilton, Oliver Simmons transferred to Florida State,, 96/97 time frame

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-23-2014, 10:37 PM:

It was Irving Thomas. I had to look him up. I ran into him a couple of years later he was traveling with the Ball team and we flew with them to Florida. Back when Fla St. was playing againt UL in the metro conference!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-24-2014, 09:45 AM:

That was a good era and a lot of good basketball and a good time to be a UK student.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-24-2014, 09:47 AM:

I have grandson who will be graduating from UK this year who really picked a great time to be there.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-24-2014, 09:49 AM:

He worked in the athletic department for a couple of years and did odd jobs for them at all the home games and got to watch the games courtside.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-24-2014, 01:59 PM:

It doesn't hurt to get your foot in the door at a Program like KY. Even if it is just assisting the equipment manager

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-24-2014, 02:28 PM:

My grandson has been fortunate and will be working in Cincinnati for a company named Deloitte and then goes back to Kentucky to finish his final semester next year. He is majoring in accounting and Deloitte I understand is a world wide Company.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-24-2014, 02:29 PM:

Wow, that's fantastic. We have a lot of engineering students that work with us at KY Utilities!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-24-2014, 02:44 PM:

Kentucky is great with all their students and the advice and help he has received has been fantastic. I get to pick him up tonight in Orlando airport and spend some time with him and his twin brother. Life is good!

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-24-2014, 02:50 PM:

Oddly enough several of our kids are UL students.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-24-2014, 02:50 PM:

Enjoy them, CMD!!! [Big Grin]

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-24-2014, 03:11 PM:

No way is a sibling of yours a Louisville fan, NO WAY!!!! Just kidding it must be your wife's blood that tainted them. It sure couldn't have been yours. [Wink]

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-24-2014, 03:14 PM:

The other grandson, is a twin to the Kentucky one goes to Wake Forrest but he bleeds blue just like his brother, dad and grandfather. [Smile]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-24-2014, 03:19 PM:

Way to raise them up right.
I had a Salvation Army bell Ringer ask me today if my entire family were KY fans. I said, no other color belongs in my house!

My future son in law is a Georgia fan. He doesn't even care for basketball!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-24-2014, 04:59 PM:

I guess it's only in Kentucky that basketball is king. Living down here in Florida football is all they talk about. It's funny because their basketball gym only holds around 12,000 fans and they rarely fill it. When I first moved down here we always got tickets to the Kentucky game and we had more fans there than they did, that's a fact. Now however they have changed the rules that makes it harder for UK fans to get tickets.