Fire Tubby?

The always updating Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog links to Larry Vaught’s Danville Advocate-Messenger article, which asserts that UK needs Joe Crawford needs to step up his game in order for the Wildcats to succeed. Joe’s averages are not terrible, but the team (especially Morris) needs him to be a consistent threat from outside and on the drive to keep defenses from crowding down low. Here’s a quote by Joe from the article:

I understand I can’t force the offense, but if teams are going to try and shut down Randolph, I have to be able to help make them pay for that. I have to pick my game up more in the big games.

Vaught’s suggestion is to be like Keith (Bogans); take the ball inside to fire up his shooting touch. It will be interesting to see if Tubby allows this type of game plan for Joe. I think all UK fans want him to step up his game and be more of a consistent threat like Bogans, and — as my friend Jeb put it during lunch today — less of a inconsistent threat like Kelenna Azubuike’s time at UK.

But perhaps Joe should be more like the new and improved Kelenna.

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For me, UK vs. Indiana has always been “the” game. I (unlike the real Gimel) grew up on the shores of the Ohio River, across from the Hoosier State. On both sides of the river UK fans and IU fans would live peacefully until the end of November, as fever for “the game” rose on both sides. Bets are made, smack is spoken, analysis is vomited throughout the region.

The aftermath of the game is felt for almost the whole year. When the Hoosiers win, you see a whole heck more IU stuff running around Kentucky cities, and vice versa. After a streak of wins are broken, the amount of school colors is often blinding. Back in ‘91, when the Unforgettables upset Knight’s squad that featured Alan Henderson, I never felt much prouder running around Tell City in my UK Starter jacket.

Even in such a volatile area, somehow fans of the opposite teams can find love together. In our county, one such couple erected a flagpole in their back yard (that faced US-60). Flying on the pole from bottom to top were — if I remember correctly — the US flag, the flag bearing the insignia of the loser of that year’s IU vs. UK game, and then a flag of the winning school. I always thought that was cool, especially when Pitino’s and Tubby’s streak of beating IU from 1994 to ‘98 kept that Big Blue flag on top.

Last year UK tried to 3-point the Hoosiers to death, and failed miserably. This year’s Indiana team is young but extremely athletic. They gave Duke everything the Dukies didn’t want; the only thing that saved Duke’s non-conference win streak was the Hoosier’s poor shot selection throughout the game. Needless to say, I’m a little concerned for our Wildcats; athletic pressure D is Kentucky’s Achilles Heel, and a flowing motion O can find some open looks against our D.

With enough pressure and some senior/junior leadership (and another monster game from Morris), UK will have a good chance to capitalize on that poor shot selection and win. I’m sure everybody south of the Ohio is hoping the same. Go Cats!

The Blue/White game was this past weekend. For some post-public-practice analysis, check out A Sea of Blue, Brett Dawson’s Blog, and KSR. And be sure to review Part the First for info about Shagari, Preston and Ravi. After the jump, uh, everybody else who’s gone.

Sorry this post is so long, but I do have 5 people to talk about.

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Since we’re closing in on the Blue/White game on Saturday, I thought we would take a quick overview at the players who either graduated or are no longer playing with the team this year. Join us, after the jump.

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It was a most interesting event, as viewed from the rafters. If you want a complete summary, Matt Jones over at kentuckysportsradio.com liveblogged the event. Let me take a few moments commenting on what I noticed.

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I can tell by looking at the site statistics today that you can hardly wait to see what I have to say about the Cat’s seeding. Well boys and girls wait no longer. They got a tough draw. But they deserved it.

I’ll go ahead and say what I’ve been thinking most of the season. If Tubby can take this team to the final four he should be offered a lifetime contract. Not only would this move be justified but hopefully it would drive away some of the people who call themselves fans (and occupy the good season ticket seats).

No, of course not. Yes it is disappointing that we are having such a bad year. Yes, I know we haven’t won a championship since 1998. It was with Pitino’s players huh? Ok, so wasn’t Roy Williams’ championship at UNC more or less with Matt Doherty’s players? Of course it was. Would Carolina have won the championship with Doherty still at the helm? No one can say for sure. Not to belabor the point but if Pitino get’s the credit for Tubby’s first year success then Buzz Peterson should get credit for everything that Bruce Pearl accomplishes this year.

Now that that’s out of the way, let me say that I by no means agree with everything that Tubby has done, is doing, and will do. His style is slow and monotonous occasionally but I can also admit that it is thrilling basketball when the defensive pressure gets cranked up and the 3’s start to fly.

Tubby isn’t going anywhere right now unless he decides to act on some of the rumors of previous years and leave because of all the pressure/expectations. Other than that, it would be insane for UK, Mitch Barnhart, or most importantly for the fans with some sort of agenda besides winning to try to run him out of town. I think most people understand that this is simply a blip on the radar screen of Kentucky basketball and not a trend. Go Cats!