2011 game vs Ohio State
- Thread starter Kentucky fan 1989
- Start date
Will always be the Harrison game to me... throwing the ball off Sullinger classic!
Harrison wasn’t on that team.
Harrellson. I’m assuming auto correct got you.
He did, but he did do some descent coaching that season, particularly in the tourney.
What sticks in my head is my then ten year old son and I going nuts when Knight hit his shot but then Ohio State swiftly got up court and got a decent, if rushed look…
My heart stopped. That shot by Ohio State’s Buford seemed to hang in the air about five minutes before clanging off harmlessly.
My heart stopped. That shot by Ohio State’s Buford seemed to hang in the air about five minutes before clanging off harmlessly.
UConn was very good that year. They were ranked 9th going into the tournament and were a 3 seed. Let's not revise history to make those losses something they weren't.
To me, if you want to blame anyone for that loss blame the NCAA for giving the Final Four to a venue that was like a man-made Grand Canyon in Houston. There was no depth perception for shooters —and Kentucky relied on Knight, Lamb, Miller and Liggins making some shots. It was a terribly played Final Four really by all teams. Kentucky just came up one shot short. Knight especially couldn’t get the range.
I remember it as the season the NCAA cheated UK and Cal with Kanter not playing. He plays, UK wins it all.
one of the worst venues i’ve ever seen for a basketball game
2 things:
#1 Loved Liggins taking Deibler off the dribble and then jawing at him.
#2 We need to get JORTS back to Rupp ASAP. Him, Knight, Jones and Liggins. Miller and Lamb have been back a lot recently but the other four have not and they need to know how much BBN appreciates them.
#1 Loved Liggins taking Deibler off the dribble and then jawing at him.
#2 We need to get JORTS back to Rupp ASAP. Him, Knight, Jones and Liggins. Miller and Lamb have been back a lot recently but the other four have not and they need to know how much BBN appreciates them.
That Ohio State team was far and away the best team in the country going into the tourney. Like many, I thought the Cats would have to play a near perfect game to win. This was one of my top 5 Cal era games.
Yup. Still the top 3 worst 3 point shooting games in final four history. And people don't realize that team was the best 3 point shooting team by % in UK history.
Jorts definitely the star of the game. Knight hit the winning shot but Jorts was tremendous vs Sullenger.
I love Thad Matta’s quote at the end. It makes me sick that that squad got robbed like like 2017. I loved both of the teams and both got screwed by ridiculous calls all game and especially late.
One of my favorite games of the entire Cal era. Forgot just how much Liggins balled out in that run. Damn, he wasn't JUST a pure defensive stopper. He was the ultimate X factor that could drive and hit pull up jumpers. That path to the F4 was brutal, but those guys pulled it off. And they only went 6 deep the entire way (I don't really count Vargas's spot minutes) - all 6 played in the NBA. In hindsight, a much better team than most gave them credit for at the time; it sort of baited us into the whole narrative of "wait til March for Cal's young teams."
Last edited:
Yep, I was there, too. I think Knight's first 3 was a foot to the left of the rim. Anyone who argues it wasn't that big of a deal need no further evidence. Also, Butler shot like 19% and they were GOOD shooters who looked like a high school team in the title game. Everyone was thrown off.
Back to UK, though ... I wasn't pleased with Cal drawing it up for Liggins to take a 3 when UK was down 2. If you wanted a 3, you had Lamb and Knight out there, and Miller. All better options. But I suppose he stuck with the guy who made the big one against UNC from the corner and generally on a good run in the tourney. Len Elmore was on the flight home in the row in front of me, and he kept going on and on about Calipari's poor coaching in that game, to only score 50 points in a Final 4 ... and he ranted about drawing up the 3 for Liggins, too .... ahh, for what was to come.
Last edited:
I lived in Ohio at that time , had my Kentucky flag flying on the porch all year , the entire neighborhood would have danced in my yard if Brandon Knight doesnt tell that little hack , that littler red faced hack , Aaron somebody , to ge the hell out of my face , and deliver the game winner . I actually took off on a dead run right down the street just screaming . One of my all time favorite moments . Yeah I know I looked like a lunatic ..... but it Kentucky Basketball . Blue blood runs in me . We do crazy things in support of our team . but yes , a great great win and this year I hope we beat them like we beat UCLA that one year , like 53 -18 at the half or something .
I was still a smoker at this time. I remember this game for Jorts playing dodgeball with Sullinger, I chain smoked an entire pack of cigs in the second half and ran around my yard shirtless after it was over. I might’ve been drinking that night as well. Lol
