I am pleasantly surprised that when the chips were down tonight Cal went back to the lineup with the Guards and Z and it worked! Most important to this is that unlike bama, Miss State is a team that wanted to play inside and physical. Hopefully that is that break through that we needed and can build upon!!

I expect a win tonight. No reasoning other than maybe the team is tired of losing to inferior teams. Second prediction is DJ Wagner finally makes an open three. I believe it’s been 4 weeks since he’s hit a three (which is crazy) and finally knocks one down. If/when Wagner hits one it will be a sign that we’re gonna win.

Fat chance. Ten losses coming soon.

Damn! We really needed this game! Probably moved us up to a 4 seed, with a 3 still in play! Really want that 3 seed! Wanted to beat MSU badly!

What a night!! Every basket he made tonight mattered!!!

YOU DA MAN!!!

Welcome to the Official Kentucky @ Mississippi State SEC Regular Season Prediction Contest!

Follow the rules below and make your prediction. I'll publish the results after the game. You can put any comment you would like below your score prediction (put '***' after your prediction to make it easier to separate the comments) but try not to put anything above as my scripts may not be able to find your prediction. This is the 2nd of three prediction contests this season: the OOC Contest, the SEC Regular Season contest, and the Postseason Contest.

Whoever predicts the score closest to the actual score wins. I take the absolute value of the difference of your guess of the Kentucky score and the actual plus the absolute value of the difference of your guess of the opponent score and the actual. There is a penalty for picking the wrong winner. That penalty is the worst score among those who predicted the correct winner. In case of a tie, the tiebreaker is used. In case of a tie in the tiebreaker, we have more than one winner.

I will be awarding points for the first 10 places, including a 3 point bonus for a perfect prediction. I will track cumulative point totals and the number of games you make the top 10. This contest ends with the end of the SEC Regular Season.

Your post should look something really close to the example below. Remember the ":"s and the word "Tiebreaker:"! Do not!! use a "-" as a separator because some of our tiebreakers will be negative.

This game's tiebreaker is Mississippi State Rebound Margin.

Kentucky @ Mississippi State game:

--------------------------
Kentucky: 83
Mississippi State: 74

Tiebreaker: 4
--------------------------

Just cut and paste everything between the lines above into your reply and then modify the scores and tiebreaker as you see fit. If you don't know how to do that, type very carefully. Remember to type in the word "Tiebreaker:" so that I can find it. Anything my scripts can't figure out will not count.

Don't edit your post or try to post a score after the game has started.

BTW I really would prefer exact names for the teams, but will try to be accommodating as long as it doesn't create too much work for me. If we are playing Louisville, just about anything not obscene will be OK.

--------------------------
SEC Regular Season Basketball Prediction Scores - Kentucky vs Alabama (tiebreaker was 17 Alabama 3 Pt Attempts):

10 1 . truckbrandon : 19 points, tiebreaker=27
9 2 . kywildcatsfannumber1: 19 points, tiebreaker=31
8 3 . Roe07 : 19 points, tiebreaker=34
7 4 . kennyskywalker34 : 22 points, tiebreaker=40
6 5 . BlueWorldOrder74 : 25 points, tiebreaker=37
5 6 . Blueisbest : 27 points, tiebreaker=36
4 7 . docholiday51 : 28 points, tiebreaker=35
3 8 . Hargyt13 : 30 points, tiebreaker=36
2 9 . kybloo92 : 32 points, tiebreaker=33
1 10 . Hang_Time_2 : 34 points, tiebreaker=32
.. 11 . cat888 : 35 points, tiebreaker=22
.. 12 . cat tat2 : 35 points, tiebreaker=33
.. 13 . jrm693 : 36 points, tiebreaker=30
.. 14 . TexKat : 37 points, tiebreaker=25
.. 15 . $Z71$ : 37 points, tiebreaker=27
.. 16 . blubo : 37 points, tiebreaker=33
.. 17 . UKCatWoman : 37 points, tiebreaker=35
.. 18 . *CatinIL* : 38 points, tiebreaker=26
.. 19 . Bigblueincincy : 38 points, tiebreaker=30
.. 20 . pappy52 : 39 points, tiebreaker=30
.. 21 . kyfanrob : 41 points, tiebreaker=29
.. 22 . M4CAT : 42 points, tiebreaker=29
.. 23 . RMorris33 : 43 points, tiebreaker=26
.. 24 . maysvilleky : 43 points, tiebreaker=27
.. 25 . North Carolina Blue Wildcat: 43 points, tiebreaker=31
.. 26 . _Rooster : 44 points, tiebreaker=25
.. 27 . Kycatspaws : 46 points, tiebreaker=26
.. 28 . Lovebaskelball : 46 points, tiebreaker=29
.. 29 . Chad Rock : 46 points, tiebreaker=32
.. 30 . thedahc : 47 points, tiebreaker=29
.. 31 . warrior-cat : 48 points, tiebreaker=25
.. 32 . BlobUK : 49 points, tiebreaker=33
.. 33 . WalterTheHippo : 54 points, tiebreaker=26
.. 34 . onearmedjesus : 54 points, tiebreaker=33
.. 35 . OldEvilleCat : 57 points, tiebreaker=25
.. 36 . Wildcat_In_Florida: 57 points, tiebreaker=29
.. 37 . dynastydreamuk : 71 points, tiebreaker=26
.. 38 . the nail at the foul line: 100 points, tiebreaker=29
.. 39 . ThreeHogNight : 100 points, tiebreaker=36
.. 40 . ORCAT : 105 points, tiebreaker=32
.. 41 . YardCat : 105 points, tiebreaker=33
.. 42 . AFSTALLION13 : 107 points, tiebreaker=30
.. 43 . howercat : 108 points, tiebreaker=29
.. 44 . Dontworryboutit23 : 109 points, tiebreaker=34
.. 44 . Rideordiewildcat : 109 points, tiebreaker=34
.. 46 . ukfan041 : 109 points, tiebreaker=35
.. 47 . number8please : 110 points, tiebreaker=26
.. 48 . Bilrus61 : 111 points, tiebreaker=22
.. 49 . rivercatinfl : 113 points, tiebreaker=33
.. 50 . coolfred : 113 points, tiebreaker=36
.. 51 . yes_takeaside : 117 points, tiebreaker=24
.. 52 . Old_Red : 117 points, tiebreaker=32
.. 53 . kywildcat41086 : 121 points, tiebreaker=32
.. 54 . UK Cats1 : 128 points, tiebreaker=20
.. 55 . drew_ukfan : 129 points, tiebreaker=35

Those who picked the wrong winner: the nail at the foul line, Rideordiewildcat, AFSTALLION13, number8please, YardCat, rivercatinfl, drew_ukfan, ORCAT, coolfred, yes_takeaside, ukfan041, howercat, UK Cats1, kywildcat41086, Bilrus61, ThreeHogNight, Dontworryboutit23, Old_Red

SEC Regular Season Basketball Prediction Contest Leader Board:

35 : drew_ukfan
34 : kywildcatsfannumber1
34 : UK96GOAT
30 : howercat
23 : kennyskywalker34
22 : docholiday51
22 : number8please
21 : truckbrandon
19 : kybloo92
19 : Roe07
19 : ThreeHogNight
19 : UKCatWoman
18 : cat888
18 : coolfred
18 : Hang_Time_2
17 : RMorris33
17 : WalterTheHippo
16 : Chad Rock
15 : Bilrus61
15 : M4CAT
15 : ORCAT
15 : Wildcat_In_Florida
14 : Bigblueincincy
14 : MidseasonTweak
14 : TexKat
14 : wfm101981
13 : Jamal Mercer
13 : yes_takeaside
12 : *CatinIL*
12 : lyngz
12 : TNCatfanforever
11 : blubo
11 : kyfanrob
11 : Smashcat
10 : BlobUK
10 : kywildcat41086
10 : Old_Red
10 : UK Cats1
9 : Jperry1987
9 : jrm693
8 : JFCats22
8 : North Carolina Blue Wildcat
8 : TOMCATS1990
7 : Ima Alien
7 : SWVA WildcatFan
7 : _Rooster
6 : BlueWorldOrder74
6 : warrior-cat
5 : Blueisbest
5 : GoBIG BLUE
5 : LogicalCat
5 : Lovebaskelball
5 : Oldbluefart
5 : ukypug
4 : Hargyt13
4 : OldEvilleCat
3 : Dontworryboutit23
3 : Jazzycat
3 : Rideordiewildcat
2 : dynastydreamuk
2 : Kycatspaws
2 : onearmedjesus
2 : YardCat
1 : $Z71$
1 : cat tat2
1 : ukfan041


Players Who've Made the Top Ten at Least Once:

6 : number8please
5 : drew_ukfan
4 : howercat
4 : kywildcatsfannumber1
4 : MidseasonTweak
4 : UK96GOAT
3 : *CatinIL*
3 : Bilrus61
3 : cat888
3 : coolfred
3 : docholiday51
3 : Hang_Time_2
3 : kennyskywalker34
3 : kybloo92
3 : North Carolina Blue Wildcat
3 : Old_Red
3 : ORCAT
3 : RMorris33
3 : Roe07
3 : TexKat
3 : ThreeHogNight
3 : TOMCATS1990
3 : truckbrandon
3 : UKCatWoman
2 : Bigblueincincy
2 : BlobUK
2 : blubo
2 : Chad Rock
2 : Hargyt13
2 : Jamal Mercer
2 : Jazzycat
2 : JFCats22
2 : Jperry1987
2 : kyfanrob
2 : Lovebaskelball
2 : lyngz
2 : M4CAT
2 : Rideordiewildcat
2 : Smashcat
2 : SWVA WildcatFan
2 : TNCatfanforever
2 : WalterTheHippo
2 : wfm101981
2 : Wildcat_In_Florida
2 : yes_takeaside
1 : $Z71$
1 : Blueisbest
1 : BlueWorldOrder74
1 : cat tat2
1 : Dontworryboutit23
1 : dynastydreamuk
1 : GoBIG BLUE
1 : Ima Alien
1 : jrm693
1 : Kycatspaws
1 : kywildcat41086
1 : LogicalCat
1 : Oldbluefart
1 : OldEvilleCat
1 : onearmedjesus
1 : UK Cats1
1 : ukfan041
1 : ukypug
1 : warrior-cat
1 : YardCat
1 : _Rooster


Total Players:
Kentucky @ Florida : 67
Kentucky vs Missouri : 65
Kentucky @ Texas A&M : 67
Kentucky vs Mississippi State : 62
Kentucky vs Georgia : 64
Kentucky @ South Carolina : 67
Kentucky @ Arkansas : 61
Kentucky vs Florida : 63
Kentucky vs Tennessee : 61
Kentucky @ Vanderbilt : 62
Kentucky vs Ole Miss : 60
Kentucky @ Auburn : 68
Kentucky @ LSU : 58
Kentucky vs Alabama : 55

Season Average for Players: 62.9


SEC Regular Season Basketball Prediction Champs:
Kentucky @ Florida : ORCAT: 2
Kentucky vs Missouri : UK Cats1: 1
Kentucky @ Texas A&M : truckbrandon: 27
Kentucky vs Mississippi State : kybloo92: 1
Kentucky vs Georgia : cat888: 11
Kentucky @ South Carolina : howercat: 16
Kentucky @ Arkansas : blubo: 31
Kentucky vs Florida : UK96GOAT: 11
Kentucky vs Tennessee : kywildcat41086: 12
Kentucky @ Vanderbilt : kennyskywalker34: 11
Kentucky vs Ole Miss : M4CAT: 5
Kentucky @ Auburn : Smashcat: 19
Kentucky @ LSU : UK96GOAT: 10
Kentucky vs Alabama : truckbrandon: 19

@Deeeefense

…BBN Tonight, and all the other radio and TV programs hosted by our nutless media. Maybe then they will stand up for the fans and run CCC out of town.

Put Z on there to craft havoc.
If he was coach in 92, we have 9.

For next season this is how I think it’ll play out for players returning

Rob, DJ, Reeves, Edwards: NBA
Reed: 50/50
Adou: Returns
Big Z: Returns
Ugo: Returns or Transfers
Burks: Returns
Bradshaw: Transfers to USC

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Let's get it on...

Login to view embedded media

Of course Reeves and Mitchell will be done (5th years). Reeves mid-range game has gotten so good, I think he will be a 2nd round pick & make a team. Mitchell best case is playing in Europe or G-league.
1% Dillingham (I would say 0%, but as a statistician I'm trained to think nothing has probability of 0% or 100%. And I actually think he may be a combo of Iverson / Chris Jackson. And is my pick for 2025 NBA ROTY)
25% Wagner (he could blame it on injury(s), but really it's probably more related to shooting, but whereas a month ago he was an early 2nd round pick, he's becoming closer to not getting drafted. So I could really see him return like the Harrison twins did, who were also top 5 recruits)
25% Bradshaw (each game his odds are going up from what was once 1%. He simply is not strong enough. Can he add muscle & bulk, and how will that change his game. Plus what is he really good at, I'm not sure. He could explode next year if he returned and be what everyone except me expected him to be this year, or he could struggle once again like Collins did. But he is becoming closer and closer to not draftable. And if drafted there is 0.1% chance he wouldn't spend next year in G-league)
30% Ivisic (The offensive skills looks like are there (shot, passing, court awareness, a few post moves). So he is at least a 2nd round pick now. If he shows he can grow and improve (defensively) the next 4-6 weeks, he could move into the lottery. But I think if he is projected as early as early 2nd round pick then he won't return. Also as an international player, I assume on a student VISA, if he can't earn NIL that may be a factor too.)
40% Edwards (Before Bama game I thought he was not draftable. But that game may put him back on the map. If he can play his way to early 2nd round I think he is gone (like Livingston). If he reverts to his first 26 games, then I don't think he can leave.)
40% Sheppard (I know some say if lottery pick he has to go or without a doubt will go. But the objective is not to get into the league, it is to STAY in the league AND maximize the value of that 2nd contract. Physically he's not ready yet. He's also not a "go-to" scorer yet, almost always the 3rd or 4th option on offense (can he get a bucket when you know it's up to him to do it). So even if he goes in lottery, I think he would spend rookie year either at end of bench or in G-league. And I think there is a good chance he just wants to be a kid for one more year, to enjoy the college experience, and him and his parents may even want him closer to getting a degree.)
40% Onyenso (word is his handlers wanted him to transfer last summer. Does him playing more this year change that, or will they again push him to transfer? He might go late 2nd round, is that good enough for him? )
75% Burks (I think he returns, and will be better than any FR forward we bring in. But if he expected to play a lot more this year and is disappointed then he could transfer.)
75% Hart (I also think he returns, that there is no way he thought he would play much this year. I think he just needs to get stronger, so could contribute next year. So won't transfer.)
90% Theiro (He doesn't have the jumpshot to make the NBA yet. But I think he could explode for us next year, and maybe be a 1st round pick then.)

Also, I don't think there is much chance that more than one 7-footer returns, so whichever one announces first he is returning probably affects the decision of the other two.
So, if I had to bet, I would go Theiro, Hart, Burks, Sheppard & a 7-footer. Then we need to go out and add a Knectcht/Reeves/Sears level 3pt shooter transfer.

Sold

Let's get it on....

Login to view embedded media

That was the excuse for losing to Kansas earlier this year. Now we have our 3x 7-footers. Why are we still getting dominated in the paint?

Just saying …..

Login to view embedded media
Alabama isn't physical like some other teams but in that clip alone Z made about four different plays I've never seen Ugo or Bradshaw make. Z is the better shooter, passer and finisher bar none.

He's the only 7 footer we have with mobility who can catch passes and finish at the rim consistently. He shoots 60% from 3 and 80% from the line on limited attempts. Had 3 blocks in 16 mins against Georgia and 4 blocks in 20 mins against Alabama. He also has great court vision and finds open shooters. I get that he's raw, he gets lost on defense and he needs to play more physical but you can say the same about Bradshaw and Ugo. Z starting and playing 25-30 minutes a game with Ugo coming off the bench as the back up center would make the team better in my opinion. #FreeBigZ

Just want to say we're not as good as we think. Prepare for five losses. It's all about defense and rebuilding. If we escape out of Florida I will be surprised. Yes we have great players but there are deficiencies and you know as well as I do what they are

I know a 29% shooter hit 2 threes but Miss. St. was bothered.

Can we just start them for a game and see what happens? Pretty please? It seems we break away in the big games we win with about eight minutes left in the first half.

Will Cal start the nuclear lineup or D.J. and Ugo?

Defense Coach, are you blind

UK now up to +170? Hmmm......very interesting.