Digital Wilderness

Here’s my bracket for the 2010 NCAA Tourney…for now at least. Still have several hours to drive myself nutty and change my mind…

Let’s go Big Blue!

Old news by now…Calipari takes Kentucky job, will be nation’s top-paid coach.

How do you feel about the hire? I’ve never been a fan of Calipari, he just rubs me the wrong way, but I hope it’s something I can get over and instead enjoy the style of play, the recruits and everything else he will bring to the program. I will admit I’m very excited about the potential regardless of the misgivings.

I do wonder about the quickness of the hire, though. Didn’t the AD Barnhart and UK Pres Todd say they were going to take their time and do it right this time? Granted, Calipari’s reputation proceeds him and he has tons of experience, but still…

Also, Calipari is expensive! That, coupled with what the school could potentially owe Gillispie…well, that will make a bunch of professors and other staff very unhappy. Re-affirms how much UK has made athletics a priority.

I’m just glad the madness is over…all the media reports – many false, many just stabs in the dark – were making my head spin!

Here’s to a new era in UK basketball!

Rumors have been flying all day (week…month…year…whatever) about the status of UK’s head basketball coach.

Kentucky.com is reporting at this hour (as is ESPN and a number of other sources) that Gillispie is out as Kentucky coach. There will be a press conference at 4:30pm today to announce the news. What will be most frustrating to fans, especially after all the rumors about Donovan being in town, is “They are not planning immediately to announce the hiring of a new coach.” I don’t want a repeat of two years ago with the transition…

Will Meeks stay? Will Patterson stay? Can they land Donovan while he has a window in his contract? Will they look to Travis Ford? Can they bring Pitino back? How will the $6 million dollar buyout of Gillispie’s contract be handled by the students and staff of a school short on funding? Oh, the questions…

I particularly like this article from Mark Story that discusses the situation: Gillispie situation not about winning at all costs.

Oh, the drama! KY Secretary of State Trey Grayson had this to say on Twitter early today: “We may need a stimulus package for KY if no Billy G announcement is made shortly. I can’t imagine much productive work is taking place.”

Just when it seemed that UK was turning the corner and pulling things together to make a run for the tournament – they go and get THRASHED at Vanderbilt. I didn’t think UK would win this game against a revenge-minded Commodore team, but I didn’t expect to get WALLOPED by 41 points. I certainly didn’t think they’d be down by 30 at the half – while only scoring 11 points! UK had more turnovers than points in the first half! Ugh… I know UK isn’t a great team this year, but are we really that bad?!? Apparently so… Remember the days when Vandy was the doormat for UK teams? Those memories are getting hazy…

Ummm…go Xavier! :-/

Wow! Woohoo! We won! Instant classic! How’s this for a Blue Grass Miracle!

#17 Kentucky upset #1 LSU 43-37 in triple overtime Saturday.

Read more on ESPN. I gotta go jump around and shout “we won” some more.

Pics from ukathletics.com

Friday night was Big Blue Madness, the first practice for the UK basketball team for the 2007-2008 season – and the start of the Gillispie Era. It seems so long ago that Gillispie was named head coach, but at the same time, it feels like it was just yesterday. The first exhibition game is in a few weeks – Oct 31 against Pikeville college.

This year, UK not only has a new coach, but a very young team – only 2 seniors and 1 junior – and we’re missing an inside presence. Let’s hope the freshman Patrick Patterson can step up and Perry Stevenson can hold their own while our guards run circles around the rest.

I’m not sure what to expect from this team yet, so I’ll try to avoid setting any expectations until a few games are under their belt.

Gillispie Era Begins With Madness

Yay for college basketball season!

Got this joke from my dad:

Four football fans go rock climbing one afternoon – a Kentucky fan, the Louisville fan, a Tennessee fan, and a Georgia fan.

They had been arguing all the way up the mountain about who among them was the most die hard fan. Upon reaching the top of the mountain, the Tennessee fan proclaimed to the other three “This is for the Volunteers!” and promptly threw himself off the mountain as a form of sacrifice, screaming “Rocky top” as he fell to his death.

Not to be outdone by the Tennessee fan, the Georgia fan jumped up and shouted “This is for the DAWGS” and threw himself off the mountain barking “Woof..woof, woof, woof!” as he crashed on the rocks below.

Refusing to be out done by the Tennessee and Georgia fans, the Kentucky fan rose to his feet and yelled at the top of his lungs “This is for THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS!” and without hesitation, pushed the Louisville fan off the mountain shouting “Fly Cardinal Fly!”

I like how it says “the” Louisville fan… Go Cats!

The UK football team did what many thought was the unthinkable – they beat in-state rival and #9 ranked Louisville last night 40-34! Go Cats! It was an awesome game, back and forth the entire time, but thankfully the ‘Cats came out on top in the end. This was the first time in 30 years that UK has beaten a top 10 team, and what better team to do it against than your in-state rival! It’s good to have something to cheer about and root for as I anxiously await the start of the college basketball season! I think there’s another bowl game in UK’s future.

Go Big Blue!

UK’s 2007-2008 Men’s Basketball Schedule has been released. Oh, yes, bring on the madness! Whatcha got in store for us this year, Mr. Gillispie? Better a deep run into the tournament and a good showing in the SEC!

This year’s schedule doesn’t have many surprises. There are the typical cake walks during the early season, and the matchups with traditional foes, such as:

December 1 – North Carolina
December 8 – Indiana
January 5 – Louisville

Bring on college basketball! Go cats go!

I got this via email from my grandparents and couldn’t pass up posting it.

One day, Rick and Tubby decided to get together and play a round of 18 holes. Later in the round, the two finally reach the 14th hole. Tubby taps in his putt and suddenly, without hesitation, grabs his ball, bag, and begins to walk back to the clubhouse.

Pitino stands at the 15th hole, puzzled and wondering why Tubby just quit playing and left.

Curiously, Pitino yells to Tubby, “Where are you going? We aren’t finished playing yet?!?”

To which Tubby replies, “Rick, you know I don’t do the final four.”