Andy Lyons - Getty Images
Has Marquis Teague turned the corner?
Today is just another manic Thursday around the Bluegrass. Kentucky is getting ready for their next SEC opponent, Kevin Stallings is whining again, and the "Blarge" is discovered in the CAA rulebook, (combination of "block" and "charge").
As an aside, the "blarge" is more properly called a simultaneous personal foul, or a double foul by the official NCAA rulebook:
Rule 4 Section 29 Article 2(d) - Double personal foul. A double personal foul occurs when two opponents commit personal fouls against each other at approximately the same time.
Manamana.
Today's news:
At Auburn, TJ got his offense going after he made a couple of steals. Against Arkansas, he was fierce in attacking the boards from the outset and the offense eventually came. Now, things are starting to click.
I think this is right.
Teague was a pass-first point guard from start to finish and that hasn't been the case to this point. He was magnificent in setting up teammates and in recognizing how to control the tempo like great point guards do. The shots he took were late in the shot clock when his ability to take his man off the dribble becomes a key asset--one that is especially important to have in March, when the games tend to slow down and defenses get better the deeper you go into the tournament.
Former Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen and future UK quarterback Patrick Towles are going to be teammates — in a pizza eating contest.
The Last Great Game - CSMonitor.com
The book offers a strong reminder that the game was great throughout, not just for its finish. There were nine lead changes or ties during the last five minutes of regulation and Kentucky led four times in overtime. Laettner, in the opinion of some, should not have even been in the game to win it. Earlier, he stepped on a Kentucky player and drew a technical foul. Says Elmore: "My honest opinion of Christian Laettner? I thought he was kind of smarmy in some ways."
Just a little teaser for you.
SEC Hoops Power Poll Results: 1/15-1/21 // Garnet And Black Attack
SLAM ONLINE // Duke Spends Most Money on Basketball in D1
The top five in expenses are Duke, Louisville, Kentucky, Marquette and Arkansas.
Kentucky, Anthony Davis could shatter blocks records – USATODAY.com
If the Wildcats, who block 15.6% of opponents shots, keep this up, they'll likely break the NCAA team record of 315 in one season. Connecticut, which won the 2004 national title, set that record.
BBL: Top four SEC women teams square off tonight // John Clay's Sidelines
The process for Alabama hoops: Anthony Grant takes a page out of Nick Saban's playbook // al.com
Alabama spent $6.85 million in total men's basketball operating expenses in 2010-11, according to the university's latest NCAA financial report. That's up 28 percent from Mark Gottfried's final season but ranks seventh in the SEC.
"I understand all of the reasons that Big Blue Nation curls into the fetal position whenever anybody mentions that game or Christian Laettner’s shot," Wojciechowski said. "I get that. I’m sure I could have sold a lot more books if Christian Laettner’s picture wasn’t on the cover. I’ve heard people say they’d rather vomit than read about that game."
I don't get that. I'm as invested in that game as the next UK fan. I spend hours a day on UK-related stuff. I watched the 1992 game, listened to Cawood afterwards, watched every retrospective, cried a bucket of tears, mourned for over two weeks. In short, there is no experience anyone went through that I did not.
But I made my peace with this game long ago. If you haven't, I think you should, soon, for your own sanity.
Pitino Says Allen Fieldhouse Is Most ‘Overpowering’ // ZagsBlog.com
"I don’t think the [Syacuse home court] Joyce is any more difficult than any other place, to be honest with you," Pitino said. "The only place I’ve found [is Kansas] and that could’ve been I was playing with four walk-ons and lost by 50 points, so maybe that was the reason I felt that way."
Good reason.
A'dia Mathies shooting more, and that makes her coach happy // Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky Sports Radio // Julius Randle Likes UK
Good. C'mon down!
Heh. Weird.
0 recs | 39 comments
I dont care if I never hear another word about Duke-UK 1992
Don’t get me wrong, I can handle it, that’s not the point. But it does me no good whatsoever to go back and rehash that game over and over…..yes, I believe it was the greatest game of all time, yes, I can accept that someone had to lose, yes, I accept that Duke had more talent than UK that year. However, I also accept that it was a bad idea to marry my first wife, but I do not wish to read about it again, nor do I need to come to grips with it……lol……I like my pain….I don’t want it taken away, it’s a part of me and I am who I am. Having Gene Wojowhoever tell me all about it again is not going to help me put it to bed.
Greg Alan Edwards - January 19, 2012
Well ...
… This is stuff that you didn’t know, and makes the entire game more rich and interesting than it already was. Even if I stopped right now, before I even get to the game, it would have been worth the price of the book just for the inside look at the recruiting processes of Kentucky, how Kentucky handled the awful NCAA punishment, how the Unforgettables got to be where they were.
There is a lot more to it than was commonly known, at least to me. The book also talks about the rise of Coach K, how he was nearly fired, and how he was absolutely not a fan favorite for several years. In fact, the Iron Dukes tried really hard to get rid of him and the AD, and the push was quite similar to the worst part of the Tubby Smith tenure.
It talks about what a madman Rick Pitino was, and I mean that in the most endearing way possible. It describes training techniques that can no longer be used. The insight into recruiting alone is thoroughly fascinating, even two decades old. Even John Calipari comes into the story, almost a foretelling of the future.
There is a lot in there that is worth knowing, at least to me, and really helps complete the tapestry of that great game to a level that renders my previous knowledge, despite living it, almost superficial. For those who crave understanding, clarity, and love not only Kentucky basketball but college basketball, it is a must-read.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.” That’s good advice, and I lost my bitterness about this game a few years back. I regret I carried it that long.
Glenn Logan - January 19, 2012
I understand what you mean, sometimes the backstory is better than what actually happened in public.
And I only let the hate out when we play Duke, or anyone else does……lol
Greg Alan Edwards - January 19, 2012
In this case ...
… the backstory is arguably as interesting as the game itself, since it was played out over years, not hours.
Glenn Logan - January 19, 2012
Reminds me of everything behind Bear Bryant and his path to Bama.
I guess if anyone ever sat down, told the truth about everything that they know about the world of college athletics and named the names and gave out the dates, it would play out like watching Charlton Heston in the Ten Commandments……
Greg Alan Edwards - January 19, 2012
You've convinced me
I pretty much knew I had to have the book when I read the ESPN excerpts (see my Fan Shot). But, now I want to download it to my Kindle right away. Got a bunch of books in the queue, so it’ll wait a little while.
What do you get when you cross a few backwoods Kentucky boys, a former Indiana high school star, and a bona fide New York street kid with a Damn Yankee coach and a down-trodden, yet still rabid and hopeful fan base?
You get one helluva journey and a great story!
wingke6 - January 20, 2012
I used to like Kevin Stallings-
Used to… And, I’ll take Jared Lorenzen in the pizza eating contest…
iam4ukintn - January 19, 2012
Heh.
My money would be on Hefty Lefty as well.
Glenn Logan - January 19, 2012
Stallings is galled by this scheduling fiasco and I can't say that I blame him
But what comes around goes around, we’ll eventually be a little bitter by that too in years to come.
KansasUKCat - January 19, 2012
Come tourney time
and back to back games, Stallings might be glad his team has faced this challenge.
kywineman - January 19, 2012
I'll give Vandy some credit - they smoked Alabama last night - had a 20 pt lead at one point in the game
Either Vandy has improved a lot or Bama really stinks on offense and are over-rated on their defense – probably both.
KansasUKCat - January 20, 2012
Stallings has only himself to blame
It’s all about television scheduling. If Kevin Stalling’s teams didn’t consistently embarrass the SEC in the NCAA Tournament year in and year out and if he consistently put out teams that competed for national championships he wouldn’t have to whine about scheduling. ESPN would be putting them on TV every Tuesday night. He’s already putting out his excuses for losing at Mississippi State this Saturday.
chicagoblues - January 20, 2012
Pitino's game in Allen Fieldhouse
I remember that game very well and was amazed that Rick kept our press on for the entire game – man did we get smoked and rightfully so. We did wind up beating them the next year at Rupp but nothing like the beat-down we took.
KansasUKCat - January 19, 2012
Cool lookback at how the 3 point shot has been used in D1
Over at Basketball Prospectus John Gasaway revisits a topic from the 08-09 Season Prospectus since the line was pushed back.
And for the record, I’ve got the 08-09 Prospectus too, which I bought 2 years after that season ended. Yes I’m a dork, but you already knew that.
JLeverenz - January 19, 2012
anyone know where we can see the Hoops squad tonight???
cannot find any TV listing anywhere
Greg Alan Edwards - January 19, 2012
UKAA only has Gametracker, no TV coverage.
Everyone also needs to read the updated Community Guidelines, especially #20 concerning the viewing of games.
a2d2 - January 19, 2012
I would have settled for "legal" links......lol
Greg Alan Edwards - January 19, 2012
Thanks for the link a2d2-
I bookmarked the Guidelines, to be able to refer to them as needed…
iam4ukintn - January 19, 2012
How do you know it's an illegal link?? are the broadcasters are speaking a foreign language??
ukcris - January 19, 2012
I started to mention that but I left it alone.....lol.....
Greg Alan Edwards - January 19, 2012
I have a fanpost ready to go on that ...
… but I was asking for some further clarification before I actually drew people’s attention to it.
But it’s good that you did. I think I’ll go ahead and put that fanpost up.
Glenn Logan - January 19, 2012
Sorry, I figured you were planning on it. It seemed like a good place to introduce it.
a2d2 - January 19, 2012
leave it to me to start a problem.....lol
Greg Alan Edwards - January 19, 2012
HAH!
a2d2 - January 19, 2012
UK-Duke book
I agree with Glenn, completely. I’ll not recount the 12 stages of loss (or is it 6) that I went through, as did all Big Blue fans. And, I’ll yell out a “Fook Dook!” with the best of them. But, once I got over the immediate sense of loss, I simply became very proud of that team, that game, and even the result. Remember, we weren’t even supposed to be able to keep up, but we did much more than that. They were supposed to go through our press like swiss cheese, but we got to them. And, most importantly, we didn’t do it by making the game ugly, we did it the right way. We played our style, put Duke on their heels, to such an extent that their best player was reduced to an immature, unsportsman-like act that should have gotten him thrown out of the game. Not even that fazed our team; they soldiered on and nearly knocked off the prohibitive favorites.
Go Cats!
wingke6 - January 19, 2012
+1
Well said.
Glenn Logan - January 19, 2012
I was there that night
Fourth row, right behind the bench, with Wendall Ford in front of me and Joanne Pitino behind. Before tipoff, I did not expect UK to win the game. Duke was the defending NCAA champ with almost everyone back. We had beat UMASS on Thursday night in a very good game. This was to be the swan song (in my mind) of players I had watched for every home game the last three years. What I did not expect was exactly how far these guys would rise to greatness. The game was enthralling. It seemed to move so fast, with so much action, that it all was difficult to take in. I merely watched as thousands screamed when Laettner stomped on Timberlake. I was just trying to keep my senses to keep up with all that was occurring. I had absolutely no visions of UK winning the game
- until- Woods hit the runner in the lane. At that point, I turned to my buddy, and in giddy elation, said, “We’re going to win this thing.”Alas, it was not to be. But I harbored no bitterness whatsoever. As we walked out of the Spectrum into the rainy night, I simply marveled at the greatness of what I had just seen. The visions are still vivid to this day.
jdogblue - January 19, 2012
Great Post jdog-
I remember that game like it was yesterday. My wife and two daughters became Wildcat fans that night. It was truly an epic game. I was on my knees, pounding the floor, screaming we are going to beat Duke. Moments later when what’s his name hit the game winner, I was numb all over. I have never felt that good about any loss since. Absolutely, the greatest game ever played…
iam4ukintn - January 19, 2012
Indeed.
I was really sad, and had a tendency to join in the whole group bitterness thing for a long time. But I’ll never forget Krzyzewski’s words to Cawood, and sitting there on the couch with tears in my eyes, unable to dislike him.
As UK fans, we must remember this loss, and as a blogger, it frequently becomes fodder for blog posts in the sort of back-and-forth with Duke. My dear wife still claims to hate Duke and never has a good word to say, but for the most part, I only dislike Duke fans.
Even Laettner has redeemed much of my former loathing for him. After time, his stint as coach of the Villains, and Ken’s interaction with him, about the only regret I have left is The Stomp, and that is mostly directed at the officials, who wrongly allowed him to stay in the game, in my view.
Others disagree, and that’s fine. There is a lot of subjectiveness in officiating college basketball, and even if Laettner had been heaved, the outcome may have been no different, and it might have transformed it into just another game.
But all that is beyond speculation, it’s just daydreaming. After 20 years, regrets are almost meaningless, and being part of that great game, and what it eventually led to at Kentucky, is a beautiful thing.
Glenn Logan - January 19, 2012
Did you know about the snafu on the Big Blue Radio Network that night?
We were camping that weekend, but we spent those two hours in the car listening to the game.
Time out was called with 2.2 seconds left. Radio guys went to commercial.
When they came back on the air, the game was over, and Cawood was doing his best to explain to the radio audience what had just happened.
It was brutal. I have never watched that game.
bob in bg - January 20, 2012
I threw up for two days afterwards.
It nearly killed me. It does make beating them from time to time even sweeter.
kywineman - January 19, 2012
bad batch of wine ??? lol
Bluehound - January 19, 2012
Just saw a clear cut example
of the referees concentrating on the charge/block line. In the UNC/Va Tech game the Va Tech player went in the air for a shot and was fouled from behind. The force of the foul helped propel him into the defender that had set to take the charge. If not for the foul, the contact would not have happened. There was a great angle for the replay that showed the ref looking at the feet of the set defender and not at the action going on in the air up above where the foul occurred. Therefore a charge was called instead of the obvious foul on the shooter from behind. The NCAA is going to have to do something about this.
kywineman - January 19, 2012
Very interesting.
Compelling anecdotal evidence of why the problem seems to exist.
Glenn Logan - January 19, 2012
The explanation by the head official
about the feet being set further defines the problem. With the refs now looking feet first, they are going to call charges in cases where the upper body is still obviously not in position because they are not looking at that. The feet will always get there first even when the offensive man has left his feet to begin the shot. If they move the line out a little further, at least the charges will occur while the offensive player still has his feet on the ground, thus less likely to result in injury.
kywineman - January 20, 2012
It is impossible to watch the body movements of two players going for the same spot
and to separately watch the second players foot position, period.
Greg Alan Edwards - January 19, 2012
+1 for Muppets reference.
I won’t be able to help but see officials in their Muppet alter-egos when I watch the next ridiculously called game.
GriffinRC - January 20, 2012
ukcris - January 20, 2012
+1
I got a belly laugh out of that one.
Glenn Logan - January 20, 2012
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