UK Detractor Bozich Votes UK #2 on his AP Ballot, But

[Smashcat]

points out Sagarin numbers project UL beats UK Dec. 26.


rickbozich ‏@rickbozich 2h2 hours ago
ICYMI -- UK, U of L, Purdue, Xavier gain on my AP college hoops Top 25 ballot, which includes 5 new teams. http://bit.ly/1Umwj7k

 

[John Barleycorn]

After watching all of the U.K. games and 4 UL games, I hate to say it but they can score and we can't defend. Initially, I thought UK would win this game easily. Seems like a toss up at this point. Damien Lee will score at will on us.

Hopefully, we shoot a good percentage that day and rebound. If not, could be a loss.

 

[trinity45]

Until it happens will not believe any of that hype, UofL has played a shameful non conference schedule and they hang their hat on the Cards playing one good half against MSU.

 

[spotter34]

After watching all of the U.K. games and 4 UL games, I hate to say it but they can score and we can't defend. Initially, I thought UK would win this game easily. Seems like a toss up at this point. Damien Lee will score at will on us.

Hopefully, we shoot a good percentage that day and rebound. If not, could be a loss.

Our perimeter defense is pretty good, at least better than any UL has faced so far this season. Being at Rupp I still have a hard time seeing UL beating us.

 

[lawrencekash]

We will wear the Cardsdownand win a close game.

 

[dlh331]

After watching all of the U.K. games and 4 UL games, I hate to say it but they can score and we can't defend. Initially, I thought UK would win this game easily. Seems like a toss up at this point. Damien Lee will score at will on us.

Hopefully, we shoot a good percentage that day and rebound. If not, could be a loss.

We can't defend? Tell Allen of Duke that

We are all the way down to #8 in the nation in defense per Pomeroy

Darryl

 

[BlueBomb]

Louisville game makes me very nervous. But I just can't see Cal allowing Creeptino to beat him. Cats by about 5.

 

[brianpoe]

This guy isnt playing for them..

This guy is playing for us...

 

[caneintally]

After watching all of the U.K. games and 4 UL games, I hate to say it but they can score and we can't defend. Initially, I thought UK would win this game easily. Seems like a toss up at this point. Damien Lee will score at will on us.

Hopefully, we shoot a good percentage that day and rebound. If not, could be a loss.

LOL you do realize we are on of the better defensive teams in the nation? and our strength is stopping 3's? UL is not a good team at all. UK 78-UL 61.

 

[WeWant9]

This is a game where Poy should just demoralize ULs front court. I don't know who they could put on him. Who knows, this could be a breakout game for Skal. UL is pretty thin framed in the 5 as well. Would love to see him drop about 20 pts on them.

Find a way to slow their guards down and they have nothing else. That Mich St game their guards scored particularly all of their points. Briscoe and Ulis will need to have their defense strong.

 

[FiveStarCat]

LOL you do realize we are on of the better defensive teams in the nation? and our strength is stopping 3's? UL is not a good team at all. UK 78-UL 61.

We're still going with this? I thought all of the preseason talk about Louisville being a "joke" this year would've died down already? I know they've played a joke of an OOC but they've destroyed those teams they should have and played the #1 team in the country to the wire on the road. They are good this year. It's yet to be determined how good but they aren't an NIT team like so many of our fans were hoping for, that's for sure.

 

[Crankdatmustard]

Florida also played MSU down to the wire in E Lansing, does that make them good?

 

[Clive Gollings]

UK will shut down Damon Lee and the rest of UL will fall like a poorly built card house. UK by 12.

8-1.

 

[preacher_tom]

Geoff Grammer’s AP Top 25 for Dec. 14
Rank, team (record through Sunday)
1. Michigan State (11-0)
2. Kentucky (9-1)
3. Duke (8-1)
4. Kansas (8-1)
5. Oklahoma (7-0)
6. Purdue (11-0)
7. Maryland (9-1)
8. Xavier (10-0)
9. Virginia (8-1)
10. Iowa State (9-0)
11. North Carolina (7-2)
12. Arizona (9-1)
13. Villanova (8-1)
14. Louisville (7-1)
15. Baylor (7-1)
16. Miami (8-1)
17. West Virginia (8-1)
18. Providence (10-1)
19. Butler (8-1)
20. SMU (7-0)
21. UCLA (7-3)
22. Connecticut (6-3)
23. Cincinnati (8-2)
24. Wichita State (5-4)
25. Florida (6-3)
IN: UCLA, Wichita State
OUT: Vanderbilt, Gonzaga

 

[CharlieT71059]

I predict UK by 7

 

[kats23]

It will be a battle. UL is much better than advertised. Glad this one is at home, that's for sure.

 

[FiveStarCat]

Florida also played MSU down to the wire in E Lansing, does that make them good?

Actually, Florida is another team who could be better than we thought preseason but it is too early to tell. They have 3 losses to teams with a combined record of 30-1 and a 20 point win over a decent Richmond team.

I'm not saying Louisville is a juggernaut, just that I rolled my eyes a bit when I read all preseason that Louisville was going to be terrible this year. I think it's foolish to double down on the "Louisville is terrible" talk at this point when Louisville has done everything you could ask out of their schedule to prove otherwise. I know their schedule is awful (I even started a thread about how embarrassing it was preseason) but they haven't had a win yet less than 20 points and their average MOV is over 30 points, best in the country. That's not the MO of a bad team.

 

[Crankdatmustard]

Actually, Florida is another team who could be better than we thought preseason but it is too early to tell. They have 3 losses to teams with a combined record of 30-1 and a 20 point win over a decent Richmond team.

I'm not saying Louisville is a juggernaut, just that I rolled my eyes a bit when I read all preseason that Louisville was going to be terrible this year. I think it's foolish to double down on the "Louisville is terrible" talk at this point when Louisville has done everything you could ask out of their schedule to prove otherwise. I know their schedule is awful (I even started a thread about how embarrassing it was preseason) but they haven't had a win yet less than 20 points and their average MOV is over 30 points, best in the country. That's not the MO of a bad team.

Don't listen to the tribe.

Louisville is staring double digit losses square in the face this season.

 

[FiveStarCat]

Don't listen to the tribe.

Louisville is staring double digit losses square in the face this season.

Ten losses I could see. I'm not arguing that they are going to be a shoe-in for the Final Four. I'm arguing that they aren't terrible and they aren't an NIT team. My guess is they go something like 23-8 in the regular season and are in the 4 to 6 seed range.

 

[2Adulterers]

It will be a battle. UL is much better than advertised. Glad this one is at home, that's for sure.

ESCORtino will start trying desperate measures and uavel will struggle.Cal has beaten Lil Brother 7 outta 8 there is a reason..

 

[Blueisbest]

Coming into the season I thought UK would roll UofL by 20. After watching several games I, like some on here, think that UofL is a little better than we thought and that UK isn't quite as unbeatable as we thought they would be.

I still think UK will win on the 26th but it could turn out to a very tense, nail biter.

 

[poppycat]

Until it happens will not believe any of that hype, UofL has played a shameful non conference schedule and they hang their hat on the Cards playing one good half against MSU.

They have literally buried those opponents also.

 

[ThroughBlue]

Glad to see our whole board drinking the red kool aid. What top 150 team that the dirty played are you guys basing your crap on?

 

[sluggercatfan]

After watching all of the U.K. games and 4 UL games, I hate to say it but they can score and we can't defend. Initially, I thought UK would win this game easily. Seems like a toss up at this point. Damien Lee will score at will on us.

Hopefully, we shoot a good percentage that day and rebound. If not, could be a loss.

How many players on our roster did Benedict recruit? Now how many players does Benedict have that you think Cal recruited?...why should this game even be close?...Big time nba draft picks vs a team made up of players nobody has ever heard of...amazing...why is this?

 

[Blueblood22]

So refs and a stupid computer system is going to be their excuse Dec. 27.

Cute.

 

[FiveStarCat]

Glad to see our whole board drinking the red kool aid. What top 150 team that the dirty played are you guys basing your crap on?

I could argue the opposite with you. You think Louisville sucks because of what evidence? The evidence I see says they have been dominating everyone they've played (30.6 margin of victory) outside of a road game against the #1 team. This doesn't necessarily mean they are a great team, but I'd say at worst it says their ceiling is TBD.

 

[Bkocats]

Definitely not sanguine about our game on the 26th.

I will feel more comfortable if our OSU game goes as follows:
Ulis' 3 pt shot starts to fall, I think his elbow is still bothering him a bit and it's affecting it. A week off should help finish off the healing; he doesn't need to take more than a few, but it'll help pull defenders out of the paint.
Murray finds his rhythm; he's been just off enough to miss - confidence maybe?
Briscoe starts hitting free throws - would be good if he could hit half of what he's missed
Poythress continues in beast mode
Lee keeps on being Lee
Skal - God Love him - something to start rebuilding his confidence; he is in a huge mental slumpow
Willis and Matthews - well, you all know what we need them to do
Humphries - be the big man he is
Wynyard - mystery - wonder if he'll contribute positively right away?

I know - not asking much

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

We're still going with this? I thought all of the preseason talk about Louisville being a "joke" this year would've died down already? I know they've played a joke of an OOC but they've destroyed those teams they should have and played the #1 team in the country to the wire on the road. They are good this year. It's yet to be determined how good but they aren't an NIT team like so many of our fans were hoping for, that's for sure.

Sorry but I dissgree. We're better at every position IMO. They DID play Michigan State tough but that happens to all good teams on occasion. The thing I see is that the other teams they played (at home of course) were some of the worst of the worst teams in college basketball. Rivalry game, at Rupp, just when everyone's saying we're not as good as advertised. I like our chances.

 

[ThroughBlue]

I agree, 5*

Im just saying that this is a pretty new team by Louisville standards. A lot of those guys havent seen length and athleticism like we have on our roster.

I could argue the opposite with you. You think Louisville sucks because of what evidence? The evidence I see says they have been dominating everyone they've played (30.6 margin of victory) outside of a road game against the #1 team. This doesn't necessarily mean they are a great team, but I'd say at worst it says their ceiling is TBD.

 

[John Barleycorn]

How many players on our roster did Benedict recruit? Now how many players does Benedict have that you think Cal recruited?...why should this game even be close?...Big time nba draft picks vs a team made up of players nobody has ever heard of...amazing...why is this?

I didn't say we were going to lose, I said we could.

If we shoot a terrible %, which we have shown we are capable of that, if we don't rebound well, which we have shown we are capable of, if we play soft, which we've shown we are capable of doing, Lewis and Lee will score...it could be a tough game. UK is not as good as we all thought we'd be and UL is better than people thought they'd be.

I think UK wins by 6 to 10 points but UL could get hot and make it a game. This game will not be a 20 point blow out, I'm hope I'm wrong because I'd love nothing more than for that to happen.

 

[ulismyman]

Wait til Cal gives the team off 4 days for xmas after this weekend...this board will go nuts

 

[FiveStarCat]

Sorry but I dissgree. We're better at every position IMO. They DID play Michigan State tough but that happens to all good teams on occasion. The thing I see is that the other teams they played (at home of course) were some of the worst of the worst teams in college basketball. Rivalry game, at Rupp, just when everyone's saying we're not as good as advertised. I like our chances.

I like our chances to win too. I'd probably put some money down (if I was a gambling man) on Kentucky to win by 5-6ish. I'd love to see Louisville collapse more than anyone but I just don't see it this year. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[kat57]

The game is played at RUPP this year. I think that everyone that is predicting a uofl win is forgetting that.

 

[westerncat]

Definitely not sanguine about our game on the 26th.

I will feel more comfortable if our OSU game goes as follows:
Ulis' 3 pt shot starts to fall, I think his elbow is still bothering him a bit and it's affecting it. A week off should help finish off the healing; he doesn't need to take more than a few, but it'll help pull defenders out of the paint.
Murray finds his rhythm; he's been just off enough to miss - confidence maybe?
Briscoe starts hitting free throws - would be good if he could hit half of what he's missed
Poythress continues in beast mode
Lee keeps on being Lee
Skal - God Love him - something to start rebuilding his confidence; he is in a huge mental slumpow
Willis and Matthews - well, you all know what we need them to do
Humphries - be the big man he is
Wynyard - mystery - wonder if he'll contribute positively right away?

I know - not asking much

All the BBN hope you get your wish. Skal start playing defense by staying on his feet and not going for every head fake would do wonders. I say we will beat UL by double digits.

 

[Tannerdad]

I don't think UL is 16th but then again, I don't think UK is anywhere close to being the 2nd best team either.

The UK-UL game will be typically awful. Ugly, fouls, bad shooting. Whoever has the better bench that day will likely win.

Would not shock me if we lost, especially how we are playing now.

 

[brianpoe]

Pitino, possibly underranked, good shooters.... who knows?

They are 100 points better than us from 3. They also have 20 more turnovers vs worse competition.

Its all about Lee, Lewis and Snyder. Of course they can say the same (Ulis, Murray, and Briscoe).

 

[kat57]

KY isn't playing Michigan States schedule. KY plays on Saturday and doesn't play again for a week until they play Louisville. They won't be flying in from the west coast.

 

[ulismyman]

We are blowing teams out as well...go check the schedule and see how many games we have won by simgle digits...ASU saturday was a blowout...71-48...thats a blowout...we coasted last 5 monutes

 

[LetsHang#9]

They have literally buried those opponents also.

 

[rolaid]

It comes down to UK making shots...if we make shots we will win game...if we don't it will go to the wire.

UofL has skilled veteran guards ... His freshmen are above average and he has 28' of size on the front line. They have a really nice squad built by the back end one and done. Both of those kids can make plays. UofL is a top ten team and I expect them to be in elite 8 or final four this year.