Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
After an ugly first half that saw them score only 16 points and go into the break with a 10 point deficit, the Kentucky basketball team came out with a fire that fueled them to a 21-point second half advantage and a Las Vegas Invitational championship. I’m far too tired to go all-out on a recap, but I can promise you that Matt and everyone else will break it down from every angle tomorrow. In the meantime, here are a couple of my thoughts on the game.
- Jodie Meeks: 3-11, still a star. Jodie Meeks had a rough night from the field, shooting 3-11 and hitting only 1 of his 3 three point attempts, but he made up for it by doing what big-time scorers do. He got to the free throw line and put points on the board. In fact, Meeks knocked down all twelve free throws he took and finished with 19 points despite the poor shooting effort. That’s more big-time play from a guy who’s producing every single night. Oh yeah, he was also named MVP of the tournament.
- Patrick Patterson. Another double-double. No big deal. But, what was nice to see, was that Patterson was getting touches inside. It looked like a focus of the game plan - especially in the second half - to attack the fronting of the post by WVU and lob into Patterson, Stevenson or Harrellson. Far too often, they weren’t able to finish but it was a solid strategy and Patterson got his touches, which is never a bad thing. He’s looking better and better each game.
- DeAndre Liggins. What a second half for the young man who may or may not have done a Scottie Pippen impression yesterday. Liggins played masterfully in relief of Michael Porter (4 TO’s in 13 minutes) and played almost the entire second half (maybe the whole half, I was fading in and out of sleep at the beginning). Sure, he made four turnovers (Cats had 23 overall), but he looked confident and calm and completely unfazed by yesterday’s controversy. The best part, though, had to be late in the game when the Cats were starting to jump out to their lead when he pulled everyone in and started giving instructions to everyone - including Patterson and Meeks. That’s what you want out of your point guard.
- Give me fuel, give me fire. I don’t know what Billy Gillispie was dishing out in the locker room that made his team play with such passion and with a mean streak, but I hope that the guy gets it bottled. It’s a long season. The aggressiveness that we saw in spurts against Kansas State was back tonight for Kentucky and it’s basically what won them the game. They were all over the place defensively and made West Virginia uncomfortable on offense and used defensive toughness to win on a night where they shot only 39% from the field and made only 1 of 6 threes. Theis feistiness is what carried them on the 12-4 run in the SEC last year and it’s nice to have it back.
Their are countless examples in the second half of Kentucky displaying a mean streak, but the defining play was with UK up 2 and inbounding the ball under the WVU hoop, Patrick Patterson tried to get position and some muscling and jawing ensued. The refs broke it up, but Huggins’ boys wanted to keep running their tongue. Right before the ball was thrown in, the camera showed Da’Sean Butler look at Patterson and call him that “p” word that you can’t say in front of a lady. Ball comes in, Patterson gets it and goes up between three players for an “and-one” bucket. The game was never close again.
- Give ‘em the leg drop! The way the Cats finished off the Mountaineers was really a thing of beauty. With the game tied at 41 and 5 minutes to go, both Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson had four fouls and things looked troubling. But, with resolve that Francisco Rodriguez would admire, the Cats nailed the door shut and ended the game on an 13-2 run - and they did so by attacking the Mountaineers and getting to the free throw line. This is the type of killer instinct that we’ve been missing for awhile and, even if it lasts for just one night, it sure was nice to see the Cats go for blood when they smelled it.
- I watched the game with non-UK fans and they confirmed my pre-season suspicions. Ramon Harris does look like Doug.
- This is a little off subject of the game, but it deserves to be mentioned. I noticed during the game that a friend of mine from college was visible in the crowd multiple times and this man was wearing……a pink shirt. Can someone explain to me why a human being would fly to Las Vegas, go to the arena, root for the Cats and do it all in a pink shirt? Trick question. There is no answer. And if you tried to defend him just now, you’re just as wrong as he is.
Well, that’s it for now. Check back tomorrow when Matt runs down his thoughts from this big resume-building win. The Cats next game will be Wednesday against Lamar, who I think was my middle school bus driver.
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November 30th, 2008 at 1:06 am
if we ever get off to a hot start we will be awesome
November 30th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Is there any doubt as to the starting lineup and rotation. The only surprise was how much better Harrelson looks than Stevenson.
Starting Lineup:
Liggins
Meeks
Patterson
Harrelson
Miller
Bench Rotation:
Porter
Harris
Stevenson
Harris
Galloway
Stewart
November 30th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Our help offense is really needing some serious work.
The guys who don’t have the ball NEED TO COME TO IT WHEN IT’s PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Porter “stabilized” the bench very well in the 2nd half.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:20 am
what is wrong with this site
November 30th, 2008 at 1:21 am
I know the first half play was bad but it was sad to read all the people that gave up on the game and the team tonight. I hope they wait a little longer next time before giving up….
November 30th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Big Win! Helps reduce the sting from the football game. 24 years and counting. Hope I live long enough to see us beat UT.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Harrellson can play both ends of the court. Stevenson struggles on the offensive end.
Miller can play both ends of the court. Harris struggles on the offensive end.
Liggins can play both ends of the court. Porter struggles on the offensive end.
Kentucky struggles on the offensive end when Stevenson, Harris, and Porter are in the game at the same time. It’s basically 2 vs. 5 with Meeks and Patterson as the only ones comfortable with the ball in their hands.
The first 6 games is clear proof of our offensive woes because of the personnel on the court combined with poor help offense as I stated earlier.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:29 am
4, too much traffic right now….it’s been ridiculous since the football game.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Has anyone else noticed that we hardly ever set screens on offense. Instead, we just spread the floor and stand in spots while the ball handler dribbles. We seldom seem like we are running “an offense.” I wish we would set some ball screens and screen some cutters to get guys open.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:31 am
thank god he stuck with liggins.
anyone else see the play with about 4 to go where meeks had patterson WIDE OPEN, then drove and threw up a double pump crap shot. they have got to get that man the ball!
great win, 2nd half was really enjoyable to watch.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:34 am
I thought BCG was going to play him some Galloway???
November 30th, 2008 at 1:37 am
“hey skeeter”
“hey doug …. honk honk”
haha
November 30th, 2008 at 1:38 am
number 10 i saw that too, i was yelling out of my seat when it happened.
much better all around play with that line up then the starting one, (game performance>>>>>practice performance)
OOO C-A-T-S CATS CATS CATS!
November 30th, 2008 at 1:38 am
UK audio feed (through cstv gametracker linked from UKathletics site) cut out right before Gillispies interview. bastards.
Anyone know where to stream it? WLAP feed is still in the “standby” loop online.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:40 am
I hope Huggins gets the dry heaves tonight!!!
November 30th, 2008 at 1:41 am
I thought Liggins looked pretty good..at least he got some minutes and looked comfortable. He can actually take his man off the dribble and penetrate making the defense shift..something Porter hasn’t done since probably 6th grade.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:43 am
We saw the team begin to click. We got Harrellson tonight battling and doing the scrappy work that Stevenson is not physical enough to do. Harrelson forced WV to guard him and block him out, and this freed up Pat to score. If Liggins continues to play 27 min. he will cut down on his TO’s and gain the confidence to make some more passes to Pat like we saw in the 2nd half. Same with Miller. He just needs some set plays on O, cut out the silly foul on D and time. If these three can gain some chemistry together and find their role — rebound, scrap, play that tough D, and mainly set up Pat and Meeks — this season might become a pleasant surprise.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:49 am
looks like we found our best 5… meeks, patterson, miller, liggins, harrelson. sub in porter, harris and stevenson and it’s a decent rotation. miller and liggins will get better and better, and i think the team will come together. the key to the season is liggins, he must keep learning and be the pg we need for 30 minutes a game, because porter just can’t do it. every game is going to be a physical battle, but i’m encouraged by the hard-nosed play and defense in the second half of both games. i’m really looking forward to seeing how we do against miami, a team i consider a real threat in the tournament.
November 30th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Whats the real mans threshhold for old refridgerated pizza? How old until is it consumable without causing health problems from sausage going bad etc
November 30th, 2008 at 2:41 am
Is it me or did Erin Andrews still give a sixth grader something to wrap a sock around tonite in Knoxville?
November 30th, 2008 at 2:53 am
#19
6 days. If you are Chuck Norris, there is no threshold ” for anything”.
November 30th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Tonight was the hottest Erin Andrews has ever looked!
OUTstanding!
I can’t wait til we stop these streaks against, Tennesse, Florida and Spurrier.
GO CATS!
November 30th, 2008 at 3:41 am
I was sitting next to him,gotta go slots are calling!!!
November 30th, 2008 at 4:06 am
I can’t remember the last time we won one of these non-conference tournaments before this, ne one know? I loved the fire from Pat when him and Butler were jawin at each other, i was up yellin at my tv.
November 30th, 2008 at 4:07 am
I’m not sure who was a bigger spark plug tonight: Liggins or Jorts??? The chemistry of the team is not there because we can’t find 5 on the floor to play together without turning over the ball. But I think that Liggins, Meeks, Miller, Harrelson, and Patterson resembled some sort of team that could win games. I also think that it’s time for BCG to just let Liggins learn on the job and give him the reins. Do it now and I think that come SEC time we are rolling. Porter turns his back to the basket too soon to even watch a play start to develop and he can’t beat anybody off the dribble. Liggins on the other hand faces the play and is more aggressive off the dribble. That’s what we need.
November 30th, 2008 at 6:39 am
why hasnt there been any coverage of this game nationally? no tv time on espn and just a lame write up from AP.
November 30th, 2008 at 7:05 am
I think we saw the beginning of the BCG era in the second half last night, four of his players and Meeks. Not knocking the other guy, just say’en. There was more intense hardnosed defense played in that game than any I have seen in a real long time.
That length of the court pass from Liggins to Pat, over everybody, was amazing.
Is Huggins a total jerk on the sidelines or does BCG just make him look that way?
November 30th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Hey #2 I completely agree I posted it last night. Same line up. That line up shows the best chemistry and most athletic.
November 30th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I don’t remember seeing the pink shirted guy, but maybe it was on of the “Real Men Wear Pink” UK shirts the AGR fraternity designed and sold as a fund raiser for breast cancer research a few months ago. A friend of mine who is a UK alum and AGR bought a few in support of the cause.
November 30th, 2008 at 8:48 am
#29. Beisner must be Pro-Cancer.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:38 am
#24. The last time UK won an early season tournament was the 1996 Great Alaskan Shootout.
#26. The game was on ESPN2, what else do you want?
It still amazes me that folks still complain about anything and everything. Relax, enjoy wins over two teams that made the NCAAT last season. WVU was in the Sweet 16.
People that bitch before a game is over, just show their butt!!!
UK football is still UK football.
Why am I not surprised that a Matt Jones “friend” had on a pink tee shirt at the game in Vegas!!!
November 30th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Sorry Matt…….a Beisner “friend!!
November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am
32) I bet he had a popped collar as well.
November 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Popped collars are ground for random killing sprees…
November 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I would like to thank Pitino for his input on how he would deal with Liggins. (Interview on WHAS. He would kick him off the
team.) However, he would keep Caracter unconditionally?
November 30th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Why is this site acting like Jai Lucas has announced going to the Cats. Like kige, Very sloooowwwww……
November 30th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Great weekend for the basketball Cats. It is only November but three new players are definitely helping. Harrellson, Miller, and Liggins are only going to get better and better. This team will be allright, just cut down on the turnovers and we can play with anyone.
The fans that give up early do not understand basketball, this team is working out the kinks and they are improving. IT IS ONLY NOVEMBER.
Keep up the good work Cats!
November 30th, 2008 at 10:18 am
From Tiptons article:
When Liggins stepped to the line to shoot a one-and-one with 5:54 left, a fan could be heard yelling, “C’mon, ‘Dre, we need you, baby.Woo I love Nutter Butters! Put Richie In by gawd”
http://www.kentucky.com/818/story/610554.html
November 30th, 2008 at 10:29 am
A few of my favorites from last night…Great fans they must be.
WildcatTRUEblue Says:
November 29th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
we suck….im so tired of talkin about it…but its kiling me…i had such good expectations for this year and i just cant give over that we SUCK!…last year i wasnt that heart broken because i knew we would have trouble..but this year should be a lil diffrent and its total oppisite…i cannot believe im sitting up watching this!!!..hahahah
WildcatTRUEblue Says:
November 29th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
haha WVU beating us??..could u guys ever imagine WVU beating a UK team??…i cant wait to hear billy g make up excuses on the Big Blue Line Monday night or whenever it is!!!….
gillispiesflask Says:
November 29th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
man, this team is simply horrible…nothing less than horrible
WildcatTRUEblue Says:
November 29th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
and u know Billy G seems like he has no intrest in the game…he’s not up and yelling and tryin to teach these dumbass kids on what they are doin wrong…or is just me?
gillispiesflask Says:
November 29th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
patterson = foul prone..already 2 fouls..jesus christ. pathetic.
What is really sad is that most of their comments disappeared when the Cats were making their comeback. It drives me crazy when these guys are more interested when we are losing than when we are winning.
November 30th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Liggins gave me hope for the first time this season. I think if he gets his minutes we may make something out of this team.
November 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am
forgot the best one:
WildcatTRUEblue Says:
November 29th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
#139…..if ur goin to waste ur time and keep hoping we are goin to win then ur wasting ur HOPE and just to help u out and make u live a little longer give up on HOPING with this horrible UK team!
November 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am
WildcatTRUEblue, masongill called … they want their douche back(you).
November 30th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Wow 41, Got nothing else to do by going back and searching through old posts looking for stuff to cut and paste?
Looks like we got us a blog Nazi. Better watch what you say boys.
November 30th, 2008 at 11:04 am
43)Sorry, his name and comments offended me.
November 30th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Come get your Meat Bundles
http://www.boonesbutchershop.com/meatbundles.html
November 30th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Good win last night guys!! I think Coach G finally realized that Liggins is better in the game that on the bench!! I know liggins is young but porter is not the player we need with the ball in his hands!!! i have all the faith in the world in coach g…i just hope he keeps porter on the bench! GO CATS!!!!!!!!
November 30th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Here’s what’s not being mentioned: FREETHROWS. 23 for freakin 25; 92%. When is the last time the CATS did that?
November 30th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Turned out to be a well-coached game by BCG, loved the way he subbed. DeAndre definitely helped emmensely. Will be glad to see Mike (Porter) get a chance to play some at the position he is more comfortable (no need to throw a team player under the bus) as in spelling Meeks at wing. Agree with you guys about those five guys…Ppat, Miller, Meeks, Harrellson and Liggins being a great defensive group, but I doubt if that will be a starting rotation but will definitely see a lot of minutes!! Go CATS!!
November 30th, 2008 at 11:44 am
#41- i know people get on here and say some things that isnt very smart..but i dont think ur the Blog president or nothing…i think its called a blog because u can type whatever u want to and voice your opnion!! i do not agree with what WildcatTRUEblue said but it was a tough game to watch….and its hard to see your Wildcats play like they was….but u gotta stay true to them…but anyways if thats all u have to do is copy and paste other people posts then u need to get a job or something better to do…GO BIG BLUE!
November 30th, 2008 at 11:51 am
49)I’m sorry. I need to stop chatting during the games because I get more frustrated with the negative fans than the actual game. These fans drive me crazy because they just say absolutely horrible things when we are playing bad but have nothing to say when we are playing well. Seems very strange to me. I guess I need to learn to ignore them and just enjoy the Cats.
I am optimistic because it is only November and we have three key players that are just starting to contribute.
The line up should be Meeks, Liggins, Miller, Harrelson, and Patterson.
Substitute Harris and Stevenson for defense when needed and Porter can spell Meeks or Liggins for small stretches but that line up should see the majority of minutes.
November 30th, 2008 at 11:53 am
liggins should remain at the point, and porter should go play for the football team intead.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
#50- yea ur right man..just ignore what people say…there is gonna be negative people every where u go….but everyone gets negative every once in awhile…just let it be…but yea i agree with u about the starting line-up…as long as porter isnt gettin more minutes than liggins then i think we should be fine!!!…Porter has trouble running the point…(which liggins does too but he’s young and he will get better)…and stevenson doesnt look his self…so that means harrelson will take his spot over…harrelson is a team player and is scrappy….GO BIG BLUE!
November 30th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
no love to harrellson in this post??? other than one or two rookie mistakes he was a beast getting offensive boards and put backs and can and will score at will if he goes up strong with it
November 30th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
50. I got tired of splitting my attention away from the game, I haven’t been here during basketball games since the NC loss. I must say I enjoy the games better now. Nothing against this site or others but basketball game blogs don’t work for me. While typing I miss something on the screen. It’s different in Football and thanks for calling out the idiots, I don’t need their opinions either. See you after the games.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
47- Hey man… I agree. Our free throw shooting was great in this tourney. And we are going to need to score a lot this year with the clock stopped if we want to have any success in the SEC. We need other teams in foul touble
November 30th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Harrellson should get a lot of love. Him and Patterson in the game together is a good combination. Yeah Perry can play D and get some blocks, but he’s just too weak. Harrellson is a big body out there and he’s scrapping. I’m glad to see him already starting to play like this cuz we need it. And I agree with 39, I’m tired of these band wagon fans who knock on UK all the time. No matter how bad they play I dont start screaming they suck, true UK fans dont do that.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
39# They are prolly just a few 12 year olds, inmature prepubescent wads….. But then again we all have free speech so let them say what they want. I like laughing at them when the make asses of themselves almost every game
November 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
my middle school bus driver was named amos. he was later fired for peeping through the stalls in the girls bathroom.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
i love this site. real fans running it interacting with other real fans and letting us express our opinions. the guys at ksr give us a lot of stuff, FOR FREE, and expect nothing in return. hell, we even bash most of the contributors worse that we do porter. this site spoils me. with all of that being said, there were 2 HUGE games that happened yesterday, along with liggins’ mutiny the night before last and evidently no repercussion from cbg, plenty of other stuff to report on, oh and just for matt, a new clinton to be named to the white house, and it is past noon and no new posts??? come on ksr staff, i know you arent at church. where are the posts???
November 30th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
oh, and i would love to hear bobby perrys take on the liggins refusal to go in. i know we have not heard the entire story, but that still blows my mind.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Lamar is undefeated. Let’s get it to 3 straight wins over undefeateds!
November 30th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Told u guys never to give up on gillispie!!!
November 30th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Yeah, we beat them rednecks JK, Im so happy UK won and i can’t wait to shove inn everyone’s face at school!!!!
November 30th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
http://tastybooze.com/2007/05/douche-bag-definition/
nailed it on the pink shirt.
November 30th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
# 31 actually i missed he game and just wanted to catch some highlights. is that too much to ask?