Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
If you’re one of the proud that still refused to acknowledge tonight as an official part of the NCAA Tournament and were fortunate enough to escape watching Glee with your significant other, you might have been lucky enough to catch the Roast of Donald Trump on Comedy Central. It was a high-brow affair featuring a collection of roast regulars and oddballs like Larry King and The Situation all paying tribute to Trump in a very special way. The star of the show, though, was Snoop Dogg, who launched a hilarious stream of barbs not suitable for print here, but certainly worthy of a search on YouTube. They were obviously written by someone whose head is slightly less cloudy than Mr. Dogg’s, but they were excellent nonetheless. And it helped you forget the NCAA’s ridiculous mistake. We can all support that.
Now onto a few UK notes…
- Over the course of the past six games, the Cats have built a large amount of confidence thanks to not only winning basketball games, but finding solutions to some of the problems that plagued them throughout the SEC slate. They finally closed out some close games. They broke through on the road. They fought back against a physical team and ran them out of the gym. They were able to throttle one of the nation’s best teams with outstanding team defense. Basically, they finally developed into what Coach Cal said they could be all year. If they’re going to take that final step into being a real threat for the Final Four and possibly beyond, they’re going to need Terrence Jones to step forward and add yet another dimension to the offense. Kentucky’s offense has clicked during their six-game winning streak and guys like Doron Lamb, Darius Miller and even Josh Harrellson have supplied buckets. As a team, the flow has never been better. For Jones, though, the six-game streak has brought about different results. In those games, the star freshman has averaged only 11 points on 26 percent shooting from the field and has struggled to find rhythm. To me, it looks like a mental issue, almost like he’s afraid to make mistakes at times instead of just playing. When he has played his best basketball, he’s played loose and emotionally, allowing buckets to snowball and his confidence to build. I expect Calipari to try to get him going early against Princeton and if he can sustain some momentum over the first weekend and finally find rhythm within the offense, this team becomes even more dangerous offensively and can easily give Ohio State fits in the Sweet 16. That’s a long way off still and it all starts for Jones and, conceivably, the entire team Thursday against the Tigers.
- If you’re looking for another reason why the Cats can make a push in the NCAA Tournament, look no further than the improved team defense. The Cats held every one of their last six opponents below their season average for points. The improvement comes from individual players like Doron Lamb and Brandon Knight putting more emphasis on their defensive performance and guys like Josh Harrellson being able to stay out of foul trouble. Even Terrence Jones has taken his defensive game to a new level, giving the Cats as close to a shot-blocking presence inside as they’ll get with their thin and oddly pieced roster. Gettin them to commit to the other end of the floor was a priority for Coach Cal all season and his team bought into it just in time. Against a Princeton team that has struggled against BCS teams and a West Virginia team that has its own offensive struggles, that defensive commitment could be enough to advance alone. They learned how to win a game with defense Sunday in Atlanta. At some point, they’ll have to do that in the NCAA Tournament. Based on the last six games, you have to be optimistic of their ability to do so.
- The only thing close to news Tuesday was the report that Doron Lamb is in a walking boot this week after spraining his ankle in Atlanta. Lamb will play this weekend and, even if his ankle is still bothering him, shouldn’t be too limited. It shouldn’t affect his jump-shooting too much and it didnt’ seem to affect his defense to a great degree Sunday. He’ll likely be short of 100%, but there’s no reason to expect him to be hobbled. Get your goggles ready.
- If you’re in Tampa, don’t forget UK’s open practice starts at 1:30. It will be at the St. Pete Times Forum. Make sure you go. And if you see me lugging around my kids, feel free to volunteer to babysit or something.
- Also, if you’re in the city of Hulk Hogan, individual session tickets are available for those of you who want to attend the game. The tickets are $77 each to see two games, but that at least allows you to avoid buying a book. Not great news for those of you who wanted to dump your tickets to the non-UK session for a considerable chunk of change. You can purchase them through Ticketmaster or at the St. Pete Times Forum.
- If you enjoyed the Michigan trash-talking of Duke in the Fab Five documentary Sunday, you may or may not like Bobby Hurley talking some trash back to Jalen Rose. The way this thing is going, the only way this can come to an end is with a rematch at halftime of the NCAA Championship game in Houston.
- The NCAA Tournament got underway in Dayton (a great city) Tuesday and it also marked the basketball debut of TruTV. The coverage was decent enough, but the commericials are truly awful. In fact, the only way they could get worse was if they just had people saying, “I am TruTV”. Yes, I’m getting fired.
That’s it for now. Make sure you stick around all day as we get all of the Princeton coverage going and finally have some news to report from UK’s open practice and Coach Cal’s statements about the Tigers. As ususal, the fun will get going with Matt Jones on Talk Radio 1080 at 10am. Make sure you check it out. In the meantime, bask in the barrel of handsome that is a young Oscar Combs.
See you in a few…
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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March 16th, 2011 at 12:08 am
Loved the trash talking of Duke! Made the film 100x better!
March 16th, 2011 at 12:10 am
no mention of kyrie irving and billy g back?
March 16th, 2011 at 12:14 am
Mayhaps the offense is clicking BECAUSE Jones isn’t touching the ball as much?
Fewer turnovers, fewer shots blocked, fewer ill-advised threes.
All I’m sayin, I’m just sayin.
March 16th, 2011 at 12:16 am
totally agree 3.
March 16th, 2011 at 12:22 am
2) kyrie irving is going to disrupt the chemistry duke has built the last 3 months.
March 16th, 2011 at 12:23 am
I’m in Tampa…Where can you buy the individual sessions for $77 each?
March 16th, 2011 at 12:24 am
5- kyrie irving is back?
March 16th, 2011 at 12:27 am
I think #3 and 4 are the same guys who said Josh Harrelson was a waste of a scholarship.
March 16th, 2011 at 12:27 am
7 according to http://www.kentuckysportsonline.com he will play in their opening game
March 16th, 2011 at 12:43 am
I’m envisioning a game-winning shot by Darius Miller to beat Ohio State. There’s nobody in this tournament (except Duke) that I want to beat more than the Buckeyes.
March 16th, 2011 at 12:49 am
We got Mansbach/Svendsen announcing the game on thurs. Not incredibly excited.
March 16th, 2011 at 12:50 am
forgot to post the link to the announcers.
http://filmpopper.com/ncaa-mens-basketball-championship-first-and-second-round-schedule-and-announcers/
March 16th, 2011 at 12:50 am
It’s easy to start worrying about your mistakes especially when in early foul trouble. A player ends up backing off on defense but also offense.
Jones gets looser throughout the game. He just needs to come in loose and he will be fine. Personally I think him coming off the bench a couple minutes in is an interesting move, but probably not happening with Lamb’s ankle. Go cats!
March 16th, 2011 at 1:30 am
if we play west virginia FYI TO COACH: huggins will play 1-3-1 zone, just so you know…. go cats
March 16th, 2011 at 1:33 am
14…difference this year is that we have shooters to counter it
March 16th, 2011 at 6:21 am
Bring on the 1-3-1!!! Lamb, Knight, Miller, and even Liggins will shoot them out of it.
March 16th, 2011 at 6:41 am
I`m ok with Jones in a more conservative role. Sure there`s room for improvement but this team is clicking! As far as a 1-3-1, ANY ZONE is what we want to see!
March 16th, 2011 at 7:10 am
Everyone needs to get off Jones’ back. He responsible for at least half the blocks we get in every game. While he’s been in an offensive funk he’ll now be playing against non conference teams that won’t have his every move down pat. I look for him to have a good tournament.
March 16th, 2011 at 7:18 am
RIP Nate Dogg!
March 16th, 2011 at 7:21 am
Isn’t is possible, even probable, that the reason UK’s offense looks better is because Jones has less of a role in it? Or to be kinder, has come to better understand his role in it? Whatever has happened why on earth would Cal suddenly try to change it? I do agree that teams will not have played Jones but due to the miracle of this thing called “tape” they will be able to watch his prior games and therefore will know his strengths/weaknesses just like other SEC teams do. My point is that we have played our best basketball of the season over the past 3 weeks – why tinker with that?
March 16th, 2011 at 7:28 am
Gin and tannquray, yeah toe down now. It’s hard tryin’ be snooop d-o-double gee.
Beis, I will be at the game. If you need me to babysit I can. Are your kids miller or bud fans? By miller and bud, I mean the beer, not the players. And are they allowewd to cuss? Need to set general ground rules so you aren’t mad when they give you the “middle finger” after hanging with me.
March 16th, 2011 at 7:44 am
I’d rather see the trash talking end with Rose and Hurley in a cage match at half time of the final four, with Rose smacking the F*** out Hurley while holding him down and forcing him to smoke a pack of kools while Marvin Gay music played in the background.
March 16th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Here is a god article on Enes Kanter. Talks a little about him tearing up when the Cats are losing, because he is not able to help out his team.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-kanternba031611
March 16th, 2011 at 8:08 am
#20 I agree they’ll have scouted us well, but tape and actually doing it are completely different. I think the games he struggled the most were when we played teams the second time. I think he’ll be fine.
March 16th, 2011 at 8:10 am
I’m in Tampa, I am seeing ticket pricing starting at $200 and going up to $699 each…. Wow
March 16th, 2011 at 8:11 am
I have to admit I really do not understand the anti-Jones crowd. He may not be as impressive to the untrained eye as he was early in the year, but you have to keep in mind that opponents adjusted to him. If he was as bad as some suggest, Calipari would sit him. He is an impact player without a doubt. Even when his offense seems lacking, he always makes big defensive plays, etc. He is the reason the others have improved as the season moved on.
March 16th, 2011 at 8:12 am
******BREAKING NEWS******
Carolyn Halbleib is single on facebook.
I hope Matt is ok at this tough time in his life.
I will hang up and listen.
March 16th, 2011 at 8:15 am
I agree with you #26, but Cal cannot sit him for to long, because the bench is not deep. Riding the pine is the best motivator and Cal hasn’t been able to use it like he would have liked.
March 16th, 2011 at 8:16 am
what a slick product placement by RC coler
March 16th, 2011 at 8:22 am
How about Nate Dogg news and views “hey hey hey smoke weed everyday” RIP to the King of the hip-hop hook! I’m all for TJ stepping his game up let’s just do it in the flow of the offense! I say we run more sets for D Miller! If he has some weak defender on him clear it out and let him do work!
March 16th, 2011 at 8:26 am
Daniel Tosh is doing a contest of best college videos. Winner gets tosh to come do a live performance at the college. We need to win the contest and Kige would be a major help since they have already met lol
March 16th, 2011 at 8:29 am
fast break, score 80+, play good D
March 16th, 2011 at 8:31 am
Jones is still shooting 15-18 shots a game, he is just making 3-5 of them. So, he seems to have confidence, maybe he needs to play smarter(like what is a good shot & play better defense).
March 16th, 2011 at 8:32 am
Ky had the orig Fabulous Five, those guys dont hold a candle…
March 16th, 2011 at 8:52 am
TJ is a 20point 10rebound threat every night. Not a lot of those out there. Its ok if he shoots when he gets it as long as he plays great defense and bangs down low for the rebounds. I think Coach sees it the same. Shoot when ur open, drive the lane, defend, and rebound. That’s the key to TJ being effective. And I hope we get West Virginia and Syracuse. Their zone will be eaten up fast with guys who are ready to shoot. Harrelson is the key to our tourney hopes IMO. He has to stay out of foul trouble , rebound, and get his putbacks. If Liggins,Miller, and Josh can come up with 38 PPG, 22 RPG, 9 APG between the 3 upperclassman…..WE WON’T LOSE.
March 16th, 2011 at 8:54 am
In last nights games between unca/lra, did clark kelloge say BOUNCEABILITY,
that would be simple amazability
March 16th, 2011 at 9:06 am
Last nights games should tell everyone what an outstanding job the committee did. The two teams that actually earned their way in went to overtime, and one of the head scratcher at larges is blown out by 18. They sure know their basketball.
March 16th, 2011 at 9:13 am
Little too early to talk about it I guess, but I am PUMPED thinking about next year’s team :0
March 16th, 2011 at 9:18 am
Just got my tix to Saturday’s game!!!!!!!!!! $154 total for 2, behind the basket!!!!
GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!
March 16th, 2011 at 9:21 am
????
March 16th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Looking at that picture, if they ever make a movie with a young Oscar Combs, I suggest Oliver Platt!