Runt with a rare "started" thread post this year....

[runt#69]

Haven't found much to start threads about this year, but I will break my largely content and silence "enjoying the ride" progress our team is making by starting this ONE.

Without further ado, here are my random post Kansas game thoughts....

We're good. We are. It's that simple. If you would've said we would've played this well against KU in Lawrence right after the Auburn game, I would've thought you were on drugs and said "give me some too." hehe

With no 100% dominant team out there, the NCAAT is as wide open as anytime, and I love our chances on neutral courts in the tournament this year. The remainder of the schedule has plenty of more opportunities to get stronger, tougher, smarter. We're gonna have to, or enter with as many losses as the Knight team that made it to the Final Four.

It's all good, I still say we have the highest talent ceiling to reach before March arrives of any other NCAAT team.

Nobody is going to want to see Kentucky in their region. Be prepared for plenty of moaning and groaning (remember Ohio State and UNC*** that year?) and those other teams saying "Why did we have to get Kentucky in our region??? And I'm already grinning at the tears someones gonna be crying.

Big 12 still seems .... " suspect " in my eyes. Like how they flamed out in the NCAAT last year. SEC gave Big 12 teams a good test when everyone else thought it would be MUCH more lopsided than it was. We shall see.

Watching Tyler Ulis play is worth the price of admission (or the time taken to watch on TV) this year, I know that for certain. That young man is a BALL PLAYER, he just cannot do it all on his own.

Instead of a board meltdown, we take the loss with a snarl, and a lingering sensation of this...

Other teams are continuing to make this team play balls to the walls flat out hard to beat them, and we're learning. We are. I'm reminded of the words Admiral Yamamoto said after Pearl Harbor :

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

Runt says "let it be ... and .... Go Big Blue !

PS - It could be worse. Much worse. For God's sakes, I could've been born in Louisville and become a Cardinal fan. Just remember that, for the grace of God, there goes I.

 

[runt#69]

More thoughts on the game and some more "Telling comments" on the game.

"We've gotta learn how to play without fouling," Poythress said. "It's been something we've been struggling with all year." - Alex Poythress.

"I didn't have many openings. Forced a few things late," Ulis said. "Those late turnovers weren't needed. I should have just gave the ball up late."

Poythress said of Ulis, "He's not the reason we lost."

"I'm still hacked off that we lost," Calipari said. "I'll probably think of something that was good. When you hve a chance to win like we did. You choke it. Every play is a winning play. And it's not just about missing free throws."

Yeah, you could say college basketball had a successful Saturday. This was an end-of-the-month exclamation point to college basketball having an incredible January. (quote from the CBSSportsline.com article on the KU-UK game from Matt Norlander. (I'll concur)

this from ESPN : College hoops could use more games like Kansas-Kentucky. (I'll concur on this thought, too)

PS - I loved the little kid dressed up like James Naismith. That was a nice touch. Very nostalgic. Also kudos for ESPN showing that old pic of Naismith, Phog and (then player) coach Adolph Rupp. VERY cool to see that one.

The bottom line and *almost* final words I'll stick with for the rest of the night on this awesome game .....

Think about it this way :

Kansas had all the experience and talent they usually have. They are a legit blue blood even if they have far fewer titles than Kentucky. (even counting those 1922 - 1923 "helm's" titles they think so highly of to hang a banner for in their rafters....

It was also at Allen Fieldhouse.

They got the second most free-throws to make against Kentucky as any team we have EVER PLAYED - and they needed every bit of it and a career night for Seldon that went all crazy (giving him the random p[layer that goes nuts on Kentucky award for the year - so far).

I'm fine with it, still losing is never fun, but as far as "enjoying the rides" are concerned, this season has just been getting better and better for us UK fans.

To put it in a different way, we have a team full of inexperienced freshmen for the most part, all playing critical and KEY roles for us, very talented too, but never having faced quite that kind of environment.

Our ceiling is higher than anyone else. KU is at - or near the top - of their ceiling in that game. And we almost walked away with that win. In fact, we out-played them for long stretches of that game (almost the whole game) until the fouls and free throw disparity eventually, inevitably - took their toll.

And they barely beat us. In OT.

Let all that sink in. It's cause for much more enthusiastic outlook for our team than they should have for their team, at least from my point of view. And I've been watching Kentucky games for 40+ years.

I'd just love to get another crack at those guys on a neutral court come trournament time, that's all.

Besides, we 're now : Kentucky - 22; Kansas - 7 in head to head matchups. 11-7 at Allen fieldhouse, right? I could be disingenuous as hell about it and say that we had to give them a pity win after last year's thrashing where Bill Self openly asked if that bottle of water was vodka, cause' he needed a stiff drink after last year's UK beatdown. Or how they really needed to win after the 12' title game. (personally, I said last year that our win was finally a makeup of that embarrassment in 88' when they beat us 150 - to whatever the hell it was for us.

Plus, They get to come play at Rupp next year. I'm grinning wildly at the thought of that return game.

Just one last thing. can we get to shoot 46 or 47 or whatever the hell how many free throws they shot to our 22 when we get the return game next year?

Just wondering in advance.....

 

[runt#69]

Perspective. It does a Kentucky fan GOOD.

 

[Ugoff]

Thanks, runt. Post more please.

 

[runt#69]

Hey, thanks Ugoff. I appreciate it.

I'm strangely having fun with it tonight, after this loss. I thought I'd be needed (after the Auburn game) to be on here after the loss talking people down from the cliff and bridges after another classic RR meltdown.

(Funny, it didn't happen and wasn't necessary on my part.)

I usually try and make sense and be positive at all times. Trying to survive brain cancer that has come out of remission now for the last few years forces me to take things a little easier on myself.

But for some reason, I just haven't posted as much this year - as I have in the past few days on our board. You all know that, and how I genuinely love all the old timers two-cents worth.

Hey, speaking of which, where's Wildcat Don? I'm missing his input on tonight's game. Please tell me he hasn't joined AG in big blue heaven. I know somewhere, AG is looking down and not sad at all at our performance. Wish he would've been here to see this one (maybe he had the best seat in the house after all ...)

Sometimes us regular posters (and not to forget all you new folks) make it a good place to be to talk hoops.

Very occasionally, of course.

I keep thinking of how awesome people would've been if BCG or one of the late Tubby teams could've done like this back then, and how spoiled we are now.

for some reason, not sure why. Proud of my BBN tonight. Stand tall and proud!

Go Big Blue !

 

[Ugoff]

I always appreciate your insight. I'm proud of this team as you are; good things are in store for us IMO. As far a Don goes I heard he was around, maybe in the Paddock occasionally. Wish he would return. My thoughts are with you and wish you the best in your struggle. You can beat it, you have the heart of a wildcat.

 

[runt#69]

Glad to stay up late and make some posts and talk some hoops with my friends. You're definitely one of them my man !