Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
“Soon.”
We knew going into this game that Kentucky were the underdogs this year. Heck, even the rankings would have told the most ignorant of basketball dilettantes as much. The Cards returned almost their entire Final Four team, while UK had Kyle Wiltjer as the sole Cat with any Louisville experience under his belt. Looahvull had the home-bucket advantage, tons of experience, and a chip-on-their should for motivation.
I’m not even gonna talk about the refs, because we had a chance to win it even the way they called it.
The loss, as we saw, was at least a hardfought one. Kentucky, like the Goonies, never said die. They lost, but they made a heck of a game out of what looked to be a blowout just a few minutes into the second half. The issue, though, was never one about how badly Kentucky needed to avoid losing the first game since B.C. (before Cal), as much as it was Louisville just needed to win one.
If they couldn’t win this year, well, they just can’t win it. Having already lost four straight has to be pretty demoralizing for a team, and for a fanbase. The talent Kentucky’s had over that span has been ridiculous (not “Russdiculous,” which I’m pretty sure is a slang word for “double-or-nothing”), and the talent next year looks to be just as good, if not better. If there was ever a soft spot in Kentucky’s armor, this year was it.
This was never Kentucky’s game to win; it was always Louisville’s to lose. And give them credit, they didn’t give it away even though they tried. But the very nature of the game, the motivations behind each mindset, paints a pretty clear picture of what this rivalry is, at least over the past few years: Kentucky’s playground.
This isn’t sour grapes. They won, fair and square, and played a great game. They legitimately look like a top-5 team. But let’s be real: this game was the exception that proved the rule. That this win “probably ranks as one of the top five biggest wins of [Russ Smith's] life,” according to the Junior guard himself, is pretty revealing.
This win was to Louisville’s entire program what Kentucky’s second-half run was to the game: a moral victory. A temporary solace that “at least we didn’t get blown out and made it interesting for a little bit.” Next year, Kentucky will be back to the hyper-talented dominance we’re used to seeing, and Louisville will be without Peyton Siva, who will probably graduate after 6 years or so, and several others. So let them enjoy this win. They earned it. But in the long run, it’s still #L1C4 in Cal’s tenure: Louisville – 1, Cats – 4. After last year’s Final Four victory, Kentucky has nothing to prove. Like the game tonight, the pressure is all on the Cards to show they belong. One victory isn’t going to change all that, even as well-played as it was.
So Louisville fans, at least for now, can claim that they’re the best team in the state. Considering their recent tournament losses to UK and Morehead, that’s a big deal for them. They needed it more than we did, so I ain’t even mad at ‘em.
I just wouldn’t get used to it.
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December 29th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Never like losing especially to the dirty birds but this team showed me something today
December 29th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
One thing I will say. I am happy the players and coaches seem to have more class toward one another. Each year since the 2009 game, I’ve seen more respect between the two programs.
December 29th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Wow, I’m not sure if this board is on meltdown mode, moral victory mode, or cry me a river mode.
December 29th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
U mad, bro?
December 29th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
3. How cute. You troll multiple UK sites. Saw that line, verbatim, elsewhere. This is why you are little brother.
This game was much like the IU game last year in that the tough road environment led to atrocious officiating. It will be a different story in March or April, if Louisville lasts that long (Pitino is prone to premature climaxes).
December 29th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
How many losses does the hillbilly team, I mean the domesticated cayuts, have now?
December 29th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
# 6
You won, golf clap, golf clap. For the 27th straight year, you won’t win a National Title.
December 29th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Ha. A UK fan is talking crap about Indiana. When do you play them again?
December 29th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
The game meant nothing for UK. LOSERVILLE plays in a mid major and we are the only quality team they play all year. UK plays Flordia and Mizzou plus the rest of the SEC, end of season our SOS will be top 10 and LOSERVILLE will be lucky to has a SOS in top 100.
December 29th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Hey all you Card fans, you may have won today, but mark my words we will win the NIT tournament in March.
December 29th, 2012 at 9:49 pm
“After last year’s Final Four victory, Kentucky has nothing to prove.” – what an idiotic statement. Completely different year and team, there’s a lot for Cal to prove this year.
December 29th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
Enough of the rationalizations, hand-wringing, whining about the refs, etc. It was a great game. The better team won today. The Cats showed everyone something by coming back, and should look great by March. Now move on. And the L1C4 quips were cute the first dozen or so times. Go Cats – get #9!
December 29th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Rick, the shame of it is this game didn’t even produce a “Best Play” ESPY contender. At least IU got to hang a banner for that. December victories and moral victories, it is all the same when your goal is a national championship (we just won number 8 this very year, in case you missed it).
But, congrats on winning your Super Bowl. Ours is in April.
December 29th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Dem’s some sour grapes
December 29th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Wiltjer gets 19 minutes and Mays gets 35. And people wonder why we lost. Or blame the refs. Or blame Poythress. Or blame WCS free throws. Blows my mind. I repeat; Wiltjer gets 19, Mays gets 35. Case closed.
December 29th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
@ 15
41% free throw shooting cost UK the game. End of debate.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
@15 case closed on what?? Who else plays? Wiltjer was horrendous in every other aspect. He is a spot shooter and we codnt create anything. 20 min may be all ul get from him considering his defensive liabilty
December 29th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
This blog is spot on. The Cards had to win this and win big. They have all the experience and the home court advantage. The Cats have the weakest team in Cal’s tenure and Pitino had his strongest UL team yet. When the score was 51-34, I’m sure the Card fans as well as some CBS analyst were expecting the score to balloon out to something like 80-40. That didn’t happen. The Cats kept fighting and for the last 8 minutes of this game, the Cards almost had a major meltdown. This is a big time moral victory for the Cats. This game should not have been this close. The Cats are getting better. The Cards have basically peaked. I hope we can meet again in March on a neutral court.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
seriously, you dips are reaching. how you have a show is ridiculous.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Now we are going to win the sugar bowl and beat the team you rednecks couldn’t beat in 26 years. Maybe uncle wes will buy more ready made pros next year and the cayuts will be better.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
@20
You will not win the Sugar Bowl. UF will not only cover the spead, they will win by nearly 20.
UofL will not win a National Title in basketball either.
UofL fans wonder why Uk fans poke fun at them. Simple, like IU, you brag about a December game. Kind of like how you made shirts claiming “four” National Titles earlier this year. I’m sure those were made in China.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Looks like we need to bring in Kyle Macy to teach free throws. Kyle shot them similar to Steve Nash only he bent his knees and crouched down further.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Just finished watching the game. We made a number of freshmen mistakes. Poor decisions that led to turnovers, translating to 20 fast break points for UofL. This combigned with horrible free through shooting led to a loss that should have been by a far greater margin. UofL is a veteran team, ranked 4th, playing a home against the unranked interstate rival that knocked them out of the final four with zero returning starters and won by three points. The up side for UK is far greater than that for UofL. UofL is the better team as of today, by a very slim margin. I liked what I saw today. I was pleasantly surprised. GO BIG BLUE!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
@ 22
Finally someone agrees with me. UK could (should) have won this game by simple basketball 101 – hitting free throws.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
#21. Do you know why Card fans poke fun at UK? Because more than half your fans (your Eastern Kentucky following) can’t read past an 8th grade level. Therefore we must keep our responses simple and phonetically spell Cayuts.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
@ 21
Actually Kentucky fans make up 119 out of Kentucky’s 120 counties. Rich counties such as Butler, Shelby and Oldham make up some of Kentucky’s fanbase, all richer counties than Jefferson County (Card Nation) with much less crime.
Jefferson County, where 95% of Louisville fans live, is the crime captial of Kentucky with a failing school system, hence why so many people have left Louisville for other counties in recent years.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:22 pm
well said!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Last year’s Final 4 Louisville team beats this year’s team by a dozen points. Those guys become scary good (ask Mich State, Florida, all of the Big East tournament).. it took a GREAT UK team to beat them, and not easily. This year, we’ve been embarrassed by Notre Dame and baylor (at home), but took Louisville to the buzzer.
Ville fans should be worried.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:30 pm
@mburks. I live in Shelbyville. This is NOT the economic high ground. I grew up in Louisville. We carry the state, economically. Where the hell do you live?
December 29th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
It was a good game and UK made a great run in the 2nd half – but why does Cory insist on talking about the officiating.
It was Louisville who had three guys with 4 fouls. Had they not been in such foul trouble, they may not have needed to relent a bit on defense that made UK’s rally possible.
Also – why does everyone suggest UK is going to be a preseason Top 5 team next year. Didn’t this season teach us anything – you can’t rely on the hype of freshmen.
We were preseason top 3 this year – and it was quickly revealed to be way overranked. It’s simply unreasonable to put all your hopes on a group of kids who right now are padding their high school stats mostly against guys who will never play competitively again after they graduate from H.S.
Noel, Goodwin, Cauley-Stein and Poythress are not underperforming as many have suggested. They are simply playing like freshmen who for the first time in their lives – are playing guys as or nearly as big, quick and talented as them.
It will be no different next year. The Harrison twins are not facing any competition this season on a regular basis 30 percent as good as what they’ll see every game next season.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
How did Dieng’s parents afford to fly to Louisville? I just checked and the cheapest round trip ticket I found (on United and other airlines) was $3800 a person. Plus lodging, food, etc. Where did they come up with $10,000 for that trip?
December 29th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
@ mburks. Lexington has more crime per capita. It is the drug smugglers crossroads.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
#20 do you actually believe you can beat Florida? i say uf 48 ul 0. As far as your ready-made pros comment, do you actually believe that Pitino would not take any of them, if he could get them? Didn’t you guys want Marcus Teague? Good luck with your Sugar Bowl game.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:40 pm
@31. Cal paid their way. He had extra Nike money.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
I don’t know about Lex, but I do know that Lou averages 1 murder per day!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Pitino would have extra money if he wasn’t paying off silence money to keep women quiet!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Well..I for one think Louisville is a very nice city. It’s home to a rather large contingent of our fan base.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
@33 I’m realistic , we won’t beat the Gators, but at least we are there to collect all of that bowl $!!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
@Sugar Bowl. I’m looking for some action on bowl game. You in? 5K? If so we can meet near middletown
December 29th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
so that’s what you’re reduced to tonight – arguing about crime rates in Lex vs. Louisville? Pathetic
December 29th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
This UK team wasn’t expected to win this game, we are coming back from a National Championship, we lost all of our starting five plus 1, going into this game we were heavy underdogs, Pitino had to win this game, JC did a very well job preparing this team, “HELL” we had a chance wining(minus free throws and other BS) our team is improving, UL is a bunch of 3 and 4 year players and we took them to the wire at their home arena, JC is the greatest coach in my eyes, look at UL cause u damn sure aren’t going win next year and the year after, looks pretty tough, I’m so glad we have JC, “RP good luck crapping out in the sweet 16, cause after this year t”hats it for u, this is your year and u know it.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
UL fans should be concerned their team almost gave up a 17 point lead at home to a bunch of freshmen. That UL team isn’t winning any National Championship!
I’m curious if we go into let down after this game. We should be concerned about Alex because this kid just doesn’t have it or just isn’t interested.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Didn’t have to pay her , bigcat! Her extorting ass is in jail!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
#32 Lville has 3 major interstates going to thru it & Lville metro narcotics all over it. Lex doesn’t have anywhere close to the crime of Lville.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:49 pm
World Wide Wes just tweeted he paid for Gorgei Dieng’s parents to fly to the game!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
#44 – yep, wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that Louisville’s about 10 times the size of Lexington would it? Don’t even compare Louisville and Lexington as places to live – it’s not close and even the UK folks I know here would tell you the same.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
44 I lived in Lex and you are dead ass wrong ! I 75 , I 64 , Bluegrass Pkwy. MAJOR drug arteries ! Ask the DEA!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
I had a little brother growing up, he never beat me up when we were kids. Lets be honest, we got beat. It’s over. Lets quit coming up with catchy one liners and what ifs to make ourself feel better. They won, we lost. Move on. This site is so sad right now.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Someone told me that Rick was drinking goats milk given to him by Dieng parents.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
42) They blew a 17 point lead because the refs started making bs ticky tack calls that were not made the first 30 minutes. It put uofl’s top 3 players on the pine. If not for uk getting those calls, the game is a rout.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
31. Quit living under a rock. They’ve had stories all week on this. Gorguis host parents paid for them to come. They are also the host parents to Andrew wiggins.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Jason , they have nothing else, nothing!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
this site has more excuses than a priest’s daughter on prom night
December 29th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
@26…failing school system…um ok. Pretty sure the top high schools n the state are in louisvill
December 29th, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Everyone here posting from a trailer park, please raise your hand.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Why is Cal so fat? Is he just lazy?
December 29th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
UofL won, UK loss…period. We’ll be hearing from both teams in March. As for the Sugar Bowl…Go Cards! It’ll be a tough challenge, but I believe in our team and Coach Strong.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
What’s the point in insulting the city of Louisville? It’s mostly Blue there too anyway.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
When I was growing up, if I didn’t let little brother win every once in a while he would refuse to play. Little brother has to win every once in a while. 20% of the time isn’t too bad of an average!
December 29th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Louisville schools out performed by 76% of schools in state. That’s true 54. You can look it up. Go to any Louisville’s news channels website to look it up.
There is nothing wrong with trying to suppress the obvious, Louisville as a city sucks. I would much rather live in Lexington, but I have class. I do like my chicks on the skanky side, so Louisville has it’s advantages.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Here’s an excuse for you: UL’s freethrow defense was better than KY’s. There’s the difference in your ball game!
December 29th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
61) Keep telling yourself that hillbilly. If the refs didn’t help uk out, it is a 20 plus point beating.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
I must confess. UL’s freethrow defense was BETTER than KY’s. There you got me to say it.
I can see why these UL fans here aren’t in a very good mood tonight. This is the youngest team KY has ever had and yet they took a returning Final Four squad to teh wire when UL should have been clearly favored playing before a HOME crowd! I’d be upset too if my team got exposed like that!
December 29th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Refs help UK out? you mean like calling a travel on Noel rather than Deing’s 5th foul. Yeah I’d say that was to our favor. OR maybe the goal tending on WCS shot . That was inour favor too! MORON!
December 29th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
Who cares what Cal’s record is? This isn’t about Calipari.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
All the Royal Crown and Colt45 sold out in 10 mile radius of Yum Center.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Ha…good 1 @60… jus go to bed. The best hs is in jefferson county period. As are 5 of the top ten
December 29th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Congrats. That’s the largest sour grapes article I’ve ever read. Ever.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:48 pm
This is a terrible article. Why was this even posted?
December 29th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Matt Jones made the comment that UL fans can celebrate this win by getting more neck tattoos. Hey Matt, have you noticed the classy looking “UK” Nerlens Noel has on the back of his neck? Seriously, you make fun of the UL fans and you have a player with that. Come on!
December 30th, 2012 at 12:03 am
If I were you big toothless nation, I’d stop looking for moral victories, or excuses…and start worrying about why AP was a no show in one of the biggest games of your season?? If you can’t get up for your hated arch rival…all the potential, but no desire…he’s the second coming of Tim Thomas.
December 30th, 2012 at 4:02 am
#29. This bashing of Eastern Kentucky bothers me. I grew up in Eastern Kentucky where crime rates are lower than in the bigger cities. For your info, Eastern Kentucky coal is the economic engine that keeps this state going. Coal severance tax dollars have financed road and infrastructure projects all over the State for years, when it should have went to prop up other industries in eastern kentucky. So when you drive down theses nice roads, thank a hard working eastern kentucky coal miner. Also, kentucky enjoys some of the lowest power rates in the country. Again, thank an eastern Kentucky coal miner. Some of the best doctors and richest people in the state are from eastern kentucky. As a doctor myself, I am sick of this bashing. Educate yourself about our area before you lean on stereotypes. At least we don’t have gangs running through the streets . Go cats. Hope we meet in March.
December 30th, 2012 at 4:05 am
Bottom Line: 1) UL won. They were supposed to win. However, they were supposed to win by 7.5. They won by 3 which is Sagarin’s home court advantage. 2) UK could’ve quit when 17 down. They didn’t and closed the gap. 3) UK lost on Turnovers and Free Throws. 4) Mays and Poythress bring nothing to the table. 5) This has become a rivalry once again. 6) Refs, especially Shows, sucked at both ends. 7) UL fans did not rush the court like IU and Notre Dame, so they do have a modicum of dignity.
That’s all I have on this game. Both teams can walk away with some degree of satisfaction. UK improved, but UL won. UL won, but it wasn’t as easy as supposed.
Pretty simple in my mind.
December 30th, 2012 at 9:11 am
If the refs called every foul,,,,the game would still be on. However,,,that mugging and no call Deng put on Noel at the end of the game was big. You have to call obvious fouls like that before someone gets hurt. If the basketball thing does not work out for Deng,,,the WWF is an option. He already knows the arm bar.
December 30th, 2012 at 9:23 am
We would love for Peyton Siva and Russ Smith to pick up their award in person this year at the annual ball. Congrats guys, your the best!!
December 30th, 2012 at 10:05 am
Oh UK Freshmen; whatever would we do without your brilliant, original posts here? Wish you were coaching the Cats. You seem to have a constructive, positive approach that players would respond to. Any chance of your coming on board as an assistant coach or team motivator? I’ll hang up and listen…
December 31st, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Amazing all the talk about “moral” victories. I was at the Final 4 last year, and the all-pro team only beat UL by 8 points – 4 Baskets or the multiple combinations of free throws and 3 pointers. Even in the regular season it was an 8 point game. In the grand scheme of things – one could say that the UK wins against UL were a major letdown as they were so much superior above all. A win is a win. Earlier this year UL took a 3 point win against Illinois St and a 5 point against N. Iowa. Learning to win close games is far more beneficial than playing teams like Lipscomb. From a basketball perspective – I hate to see UL leave the Big East as the competition blows away most conferences, and Calipari has a lot of fond memories of Big East – think West Virginia in 2010 and UCONN in 2011. We destroyed Missouri earlier this year by 23, and I suspect that UK will struggle against Missouri. During the game on Saturday, while we had Dieng back, it is very apparent that his timing is off, and that there is some injury rust in his game. If Calipari were faced with the issues that Pitino has had on injuries – his teams would fall flat as he has very few pieces of value on the team beyond his 4-5 “All Americans”.