Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
There was no question that this was a heavyweight fight. From the week of cartoonish media hype of the rivalry between the players and the dissection of the genuine dislike between Rick Pitino and John Calipari, to the UK mascot coming out in trunks, gloves and a robe, the message was clear. This was going to be a fight between two brawlers. The only question to be answered was whether it would be more Ali-Frazier or Tyson-McNeely. Credit the Louisville Cardinals too because they made it interesting through that strange little bit of whatever it is they do to keep games close.
And that’s exactly what the Cards did. Everytime you felt like Kentucky was going to pull away, the Cards would claw back. They’d take a charge or force a turnover. It was never like the Cats were playing poorly. It was just Louisville had that infrared voodoo magic working. But while Louisville was able to keep Kentucky on the ropes for the first 37 minutes of the game, National Player of the Year Anthony Davis delivered the final knockout punch with a putback dunk that put the Cats ahead by seven points with only a minute to play. Davis’ dunk gave the Cats an insurmountable final minute lead, but it also served as something of a one-play summary of where these two teams have been this year, where they were Saturday night and why Kentucky walked away with a win.
When the two teams faced at Rupp Arena earlier this season, Kentucky manhandled Louisville on the glass, out-rebounding the Cards, 49-28. Saturday, the Cards fought to stay in the game with a UK team that was turning the awful Louisville shooting into transition buckets and did it in the most simple way. They hit the glass. Louisville won the battle of the glass, 37-32, and pulled down an astounding 16 offensive rebounds – the only reason a team that shot 34% from the field kept battling with a team shooting 57%. But when the game was still there for the taking, perseverance, fundamentals and talent came calling again with a series of critical defensive stops, rebounds and dunks. And Davis’ killer putback was the exclamation point on them all.
The freshman forward was Kentucky’s brightest star, finishing with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks – one short of the Final Four record – in his first national semifinal game. Senior Darius Miller scored 13 off the bench, including a clutch three-pointer that put Kentucky ahead by seven with five minutes remaining. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Terrence Jones, whose stat lines weren’t anything that would jump out and impress you, also found their stride late by continuously attacking the rim, no matter how many charges Doug Shows called.
And when it was all said and done, the Cats stood alone as the state’s top team and only one game away from the prize they’ve chased from day one. This was never about the Final Four and it was never about Louisville. It was about another step in the journey to a national championship. And as Anthony Davis said afterward, “This is my stage!”
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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March 31st, 2012 at 10:03 pm
First?
March 31st, 2012 at 10:05 pm
P;ease, I am begging those same Louisville fans that were on here this whole week to not be cowards. Man up and come on here. Tell us how you got screwed. Tell us how you would’ve beaten us if Siva hadn’t gotten 2 early fouls. PLEASE……….. Nothing?……. at all? So you’re telling me that you talk all this trash, and then don’t back it up when you lose?……. You really are like the little brother.
Que the one UL fan that pretends like this loss wasn’t a big deal anyways because they will be better than us next year in 3…..2…..1…..
March 31st, 2012 at 10:06 pm
I understood him to say ” This is my state” I like that even better
March 31st, 2012 at 10:09 pm
ricky now 0-4 vs cal/cats. 4-8 vs the cats. ouch.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:12 pm
If it wasn’t for that whorish Tyler Thompson and her overbite, we would have won! Let me tell you all a secret… Just because a girl (Tyler Thompson) blogs on a website with a bunch of other dorks, doesn’t mean she is hot! She wouldn’t even be attractive on a two year deployment to Iraq!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Love the pic
March 31st, 2012 at 10:15 pm
We should have won that game by 15+. If we shoot free throws as pootly Monday as we did today, we could be in trouble. We missed a bunch of 8-10 footers, shots we usually nail. We missed our threes. Frankly, this was our worst game in a month. I imagine we come out MUCH better Monday and put a beat down on OSU.
By the way, that one f***ing ref called us for FIVE charges by himself. What a PoS ref. Clark Kellog stated several times he thought the calls should have gone the other way.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:16 pm
#4 takes it up the ass nightly from a big Bull Queer named Ricky Five Stacks
March 31st, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Somebody hates themselves enough to hang around an opponent’s blog after a beatdown. “Please sir, could I have some more punishment!”
March 31st, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Did anyone see ADs shirt on the halftime interview ??
March 31st, 2012 at 10:18 pm
ANyone wonder why Wiltjer didn’t get more playing time in the 2nd half?
March 31st, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Was that Steve Kerr or Bobby Knight? His announcing was horrid. One negative after another on Kentucky. Even my wife was asking what his problem was in relation to Kentucky.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Cal to Davis: “Come back next year and you can play some point”. Haha! Yes, Please!!!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:20 pm
WERE GOING TO THE TITLE GAME GO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:20 pm
I hate this rivalry. Louisville played great, and respectably and we should applaud them for their effort against a much much more talented team. None of that Swopshire kicking Boogie crap from a few years ago. Congrats to them for a great run. I hope we can win with class. No reason to kick them after we win. That said, the Cats are frickin awesome and are simply better at basketball. So far in this second game, I’ve learned that Kansas is terrible at basketball, to the point that I don’t know anything about OSU. It is easy to look good against a terrible team. I’d be thrilled if OSU shits the bed in the second half and we get to face KU by default.
GO Cats. You make us all proud.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:22 pm
I saw that shirt. UofL has the same one at Outfitters, and I liked it there. It is fun. But since UofL has the same one, feels too corporate since they just change the colors. Just cause it is blue doesn’t make it a UK shirt. COurse, AD wearing it maybe does.
So happy right now.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:22 pm
#10 that shirt is sick http://www.finishline.com/store/catalog/product.jsp?sourceid=shopping&productId=prod703004&NIKE%20TEAM%20SPORTS&cid=42&CAWELAID=1289782394
March 31st, 2012 at 10:23 pm
#5 you continually rant about MTT under different names.For what reason? WHATS YOUR POINT? You act like a classless prick.Go find a Bobby Knight site for your useless B.S.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Dammmnnnnn, Cal knocked pitino the fuuuuccckkkkkkk out…
March 31st, 2012 at 10:24 pm
The refs screwed us over!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:25 pm
I, for one, find it cute that Cards fans actually thought they would win this game.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Good game Cats. We played a hell of a game, but you guys are the better team this year. Good luck on Monday. Bring one home.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:25 pm
#5 – I bet pitino would hit it, hell, he gave a good 15 seconds to old azz Karen Sypher…
March 31st, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Jones said “he was thinking too much” as the reason he was absent for first 34 mins. of the game….huh???…still hard to understand. Think maybe he thought he was back in Bloomington.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:26 pm
49 all with 7 minutes to go … they could have won that game. BUT, we play at a much higher level than either of these teams playing right now.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Go blue! One more! Bring it home! Tyler Thompson is a Skagg!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:28 pm
I apologize if I am coming off as argumentative. I am feeling great about the Cats and the Cards are firmly in the rear view mirror.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:28 pm
11) I wondered the same thing. I thought Wiltjer played really well and was playing loose. The guy can shoot the freakin ball.His 3 stopped a pretty good run by UofL. I just think he doesn’t get enough playing time. I’d like to see him come in and get 5 or 6 shots up and see what he can do.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:29 pm
We are such sore losers that we actually go post on the other teams site! We are all three such morons.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:29 pm
#20 Loserville had the calls the whole game just ask Barkley
March 31st, 2012 at 10:29 pm
18. Will never applaud UL Tards! Had they won do you think hey would do the same. Btw i think UK will be playing KU Monday.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:30 pm
22, thanks
March 31st, 2012 at 10:31 pm
And congrats to the new dad.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Mike, 95% of your post are negative toward UK which is probaly about the same percentage of negative comments about your from people who know you. Eat it! We won fool! Jones did all he needed on both ends to seal it! Dumb azz!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Quit complaining. WE WON! Enjoy it for once and stfu
March 31st, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Welll…at least you guys have more gonads than HOO HOO…I still haven’t read any of his crap lately. And I’m telling you now, I’m not looking forward to playin’ UL next year…you will be tough.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Pity the fools.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:44 pm
UK could be even better next year. Geez. Recruiting isn’t completed yet and there’s still a chance we get one or two players to stay. Plus we are winning our third title Monday since UL won their last in ’86!!!! Who gives a chit about playing UL next year much less afraid of them.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:45 pm
Aaron Craft is one tough hombre. I still wouldn’t trade him for Teague though.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:47 pm
@22 good game – looking forward to next year!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Ya know… UL led by a wide margin in offensive rebounds, but they shot 24-69 (34.8%) for the game, while UK shot 28-49 (28-49) for the game… so they had 24 more opportunities for offensive rebounds.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:52 pm
41. And UK won. Celebrate.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:54 pm
41: Or they got those offensive rebounds which prolonged the possession which led to putting up 24 more opportunities? I see what you’re saying, but the only way a team to get 24 more shot attempts in a game is to get the offensive rebound or turnovers.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Pitino changed UK colors from blue and white to denim for about half a season in 1996. Now he has changed UL color from red to orange for a game. Kinda odd.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Seth and Hubert Davis can suck it!!!
Keep picking against UK, one of these games, they will get it right.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:57 pm
38…besides Wiltjer…who’s gonna stay? Maybe I’m missing something.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Just rewatched the game, it’s always so much fun to beat these clowns. They’ll do anything the refs let them get away with because they don’t have the talent to play you straight up… reach, flop, grab, hold… anything and everything and it still didn’t matter.
Also just found this quote from Ricky P,, aka Mr. 15 seconds from the Chicago Tribune, that I thought some might find interesting…”To tell you the truth, I haven’t always liked some of the Kentucky teams. I’m not going to lie to you.”
My response? “Well Rick they were still good enough to beat your happy-ass year after year!” LOL. Now slink back home to Louisville and go eat at Porcini’s.
Mark Liptak
March 31st, 2012 at 10:59 pm
44 You are correct sir! Both times I think the change kinda sucked!
March 31st, 2012 at 11:00 pm
#46. I think it’s pretty clear Teague isn’t ready for the next level and it wouldn’t surprise me if his brother told him the same thing.
Mark Liptak
March 31st, 2012 at 11:00 pm
44- they’ve worn those jerseys all post season
March 31st, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Don’t look now but this OSU-Kansas game just got very interesting.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:01 pm
All glory is fleeting…enjoy while you can!
March 31st, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Teague could stay. Lamb might stay. Get Shabazz and Nerlins and boom goes the dynamite. Winning #8 should be the focus. Number 9 won’t be too far behind either.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Gotta admit I’m so tired of refs falling for the flop!…I think Snow is/was a tool…wants to be part of the game too much.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Hey Dust in the wind. Need I guess who you’re pulling for in the OSU Kansas game?
March 31st, 2012 at 11:11 pm
You may be right on Lamb…but I doubt it if we win Monday…And I’ll be giving points at work. Say maybe 3
March 31st, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Nope..you don’t have to guess….I don’t like Craft either…he’s good..but I hate floppers…and as much as I liked to hate Pearl at TN..that little prick caused the wreck I heard. Were he and his parents even invited to Pearl’s house? A friend of mine said they crashed it…And don’t get me started on Thad Motta…Big Ten’s version of that Whiner at Vandy..Stallins
March 31st, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Looks like we’ve got Kansas. GET IT DONE UK!
March 31st, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Sullinger to stay ANOTHER year?
March 31st, 2012 at 11:21 pm
Monday night, Naismith showdown!
March 31st, 2012 at 11:21 pm
Go Kansas…I’d like to kick bill self’s ass
March 31st, 2012 at 11:21 pm
**** everyone in Kansas. **** the mascot, **** the coach and the players, just **** Kansas, and **** their fans. We will destroy you Monday.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:23 pm
UK is stacked next year. Let’s win this title now and next year will be a piece of CAKE. Right Chane????
March 31st, 2012 at 11:24 pm
That big white Kansas center pulled another Jorts on Sullinger. He can’t deal with beefy white guys.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Wildcat wildcat, uk ku,both are blue, crazy. Uk is better no doubt
March 31st, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Louisville played a great game and didn’t sacrifice their integrity. Wish we could say the same.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Thanks to Kansas for giving us Rupp, but you are going down to Chinatown Monday night!!! Go Cats!
March 31st, 2012 at 11:33 pm
The Louisville Lip went down and T Robinsons tattoo says he was born to lose . Thats all I got to say abnout that.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:34 pm
66 u suck.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Great game Cats!
March 31st, 2012 at 11:44 pm
I really really really hope we have new refs come monday. I have never seen anything like what I saw tonight. In two games.. TWO .. I didn’t see one blocking call all night. I counted 10 charges total in the two games combined. That is 10/10 for taking what should be the hardest foul to get in basketball. I think they just liked doing the charge hand gestures. It was pathetic. I think these are the refs duke hires to do their home games.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:48 pm
66… what the hell are you talking about. Stop posting on here if comments bother you that much. It is a rivalry and UK fans are doing what they should be doing. Waiting until after a game is over to talk smack instead of talking smack all week leading up to the game (except Matt Jones) isn’t that right Chris Smith? I find it hilarious he ran his mouth all week and his @$$ was on the bench in the last 4-5 minutes when it mattered most. I don’t really remember seeing him in the game much at all. The way he talked I thought he was one of their best players. I almost forgot about him until I saw his ugly mug walking off the court with his head held down. I feel for kids when they get so close and lose like UK last year… but not when you talked smack all week and got what you deserved. Holla playa. Tune in Monday. LEGGO!!
April 1st, 2012 at 12:05 am
Just think of all the poor kids in some 3rd world country that get brand new “Lousiville Cardinals 2012 National Champions” t-shirts! Line beards rule!
April 1st, 2012 at 12:25 am
65. Are you saying UK and KU have the same mascot? Cause you would be wrong.
April 1st, 2012 at 12:26 am
Haters going hate.. BBN enjoy this Monday cant come soon enough
April 1st, 2012 at 1:24 am
Q. Anthony, can you just clarify, at the end of the game after you threw the ball in the air, did you holler over and over again, This is my state, or, This is my stage?
ANTHONY DAVIS: I said, This is my stage. We’re from Kentucky. We built for this. We come out, go hard in practice.
COACH CALIPARI: Did you say that?
ANTHONY DAVIS: Yeah. We go hard in practice. We go out there to have fun. The emotions, I’m just glad to be here, national championship as a freshman.
COACH CALIPARI: Don’t ask him a follow‑up. He doesn’t know why he was saying that (laughter).
April 1st, 2012 at 12:12 pm
is that chris smith trying to pull down AD’s shorts in that pic?