The Big Blue Lowdown

Although they received a much tougher test than anyone expected, the UK Wildcats withstood a stout challenge from Old Dominion this afternoon in a 62-52 win that ran the Cats' record to 4-0 on the year and claimed the Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament championship.  Give ODU credit-they played the Wildcats tough, but in reality most of Kentucky's struggles were of the self-inflicted variety.  UK struggled offensively against the ODU zone defense, which, given how the Cats looked against ODU, I...

Through two games, Kentucky has shown a trend to come out wild and lacking discipline in the first half, and then emerges after half time as an NBA team.

Vs. Kansas:

1st Half- 28 points, poor shots, 12 turnovers

2nd Half- 47 points, better passing and ball rotation, 7 turnovers (still a little high)
 
1st Half Teague- O assists, 5 turnovers and out of control

2nd Half Teague, 4 assists, 1 turnover, much better control
 
Kansas is down this year but no slouch. They have young...

It wasn't always a thing of beauty, but Kentucky beat a decent Kansas team 75-65 tonight in Madison Square Garden in New York.  While the Cats slugged though the first half, good defense and a few timely threes by Doron Lamb allowed the Wildcats to break open a tie game at the half and build as much as a 17 point lead on several occasions in the second half.  The game was not as close as the score would indicate.

On a side note, congratulations to Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski who passed...

Tonight is the official tip-off of the 2011-2012 season, and what is not to be excited about?  This edition of the Wildcats should be strong contenders to not only win the SEC, but make a push toward the Final Four in New Orleans.  Kentucky is in a small group of truly elite teams this season that includes North Carolina (who will visit Rupp Arena on December 3), Ohio State, and UCONN.

First up, however, is the Marist Red Foxes, who will invade Rupp for tonight's opener.  I confess to not...

It's hard to comprehend tonights' beat down of Morehouse College.  Of course it was expected to be lopsided, but who would have ever expected the Cats to take a 74-13 lead-at intermission!  I've seen some dominating performances by UK over the years (see UK vs Tennessee in the SEC tournament in 1993) but I don't think I have ever seen a team on the college level lead by 63-6 in the first half. 

Another amazing statistic is that the UK starters were a perfect 24-24 from the field during the...

Kentucky coach John Calipari released a statement today on his  #website that  sends a clear message to other, unnamed college coaches about dirty recruiting tactics.  While I certainly have no inside knowledge of what coaches or programs the message is intended for, I think its a great message to recruits, their families, and even the other coaches.

Basically, Calipari is saying that other coaches will tell a recruit anything he wants to hear in order to get his signature, while at...

According to an article in today's Herald Leader, Stacey Poole is considering a transfer-or, actually, Stacey Poole's dad is considering a transfer for Stacey Poole.  Jerry Tipton quotes the elder Poole as being the "driving force" behind the discussion about whether to transfer after watching Stacey play in the Blue-White game.  Apparently, Poole's father is concerned because "he's just all focused."  Yeah-that's right, Stacey Poole's dad is concerned because his son appeared "focused'...

The Blue-White scrimmage is in the books and one word comes to mind-WOW!  This team is good-really good, with the chance to be great.

It's early and certainly one doesn't want to read too much into a intra-squad scrimmage, but here's a few random thoughts on the action tonight.

1.  This team is deep, fast, and relentless.  While previous teams under coach Cal have been deep down to seven players, this team has a long bench.  That bodes well for tournament play and, given their desire to...

There’s been a lot of talk, and a lot of movement, among schools in the big conferences over the past few months. Currently everyone (except me) is waiting with baited breath to see if Missouri decides to bolt from the Big 12 to the greener pastures that are our beloved Southeastern Conference.

That the SEC needs to pick up another team seems pretty obvious since the addition of Texas A & M as the 13th team. Currently the Western Division sits with seven teams while the East has six which...

My thoughts on what I see as the UK rotation this year...

Starters

PG-Marquis Teague--growing pains, sub-average outside shot, but he will be electric in the John Wall mode. Great crossover and on-the-ball defender.

SG-Darius Miller--His shot will be better and you have to start the senior. Will he step up?

SF-Michael Kidd-Gilchrist--Gilchrist is a defensive player in the mold of DeAndre Liggins. Athletic, physical, fast and long. He may not call everyone a MF and threaten to eat...

Hello to everyone at the Big Blue Lowdown.  Let me start with saying that I am excited to be a member of this community and look forward to sharing my thoughts, concerns, joys, and (worthless?) opinion on UK basketball this season.

I got this gig by answering a classified ad posted by Joey, and hope to bring a unique perspective to the site.  I grew up in southern Indiana, right across from Louisville, and was the lone UK fan in my family surrounded by those filthy Card's fans.  My brother...

This season could be epic for the Kentucky Wildcats. And listening to Coach John Calipari talk about this year's team, you can sense that even he has to strain to temper his enthusiasm.

That’s right. Calipari, the same coach who in only two years at Kentucky has seen nine players drafted by NBA teams, seven of them in the first round. Calipari, whose two-year record at UK is 64-12 with two SEC tournament championships, one regular season SEC title, a 7-2 NCAA tournament record and a Final...

I've been a UK Hoops fan for more than 33 years now and I've never been this excited about a UK team. WOW. These kids won't quit. What can you say?

I told Joey UK was done with 4:45 to play after they gave up six consecutive points and looked absolutely exhausted. With so many careless and unforced turnovers, I just didn't think they had anything left in the tank. I'm a fool. This team has a spirit that is impossible to crush. You can't keep them down.

Brandon Knight although still not a...

Some random thoughts on Kentucky’s upcoming Sweet 16 matchup with the Ohio State Buckeyes:

I’m glad Ohio State has won its first two tourney games by a combined 61 points. I’m glad that they’ve done it while shooting 59% from the floor and a scorching 56% from behind the arc. I’m also glad the Buckeyes are a 5-point favorite in Vegas and that very few pundits are actually picking them to win this one. Long story short, this team is on fire. Kentucky has nothing to lose.

Ohio State’s epic...

So far, so good.

The Kentucky Wildcats went 2-0 this weekend in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament to reach the Sweet 16 for the 16th time in school history. But the wins didn't come without drama.

The Cats outlasted Princeton on Thursday, owing a two-point win to a buzzer beating finger roll by Brandon Knight. The 59-57 victory came on the back of a 17-point performance by Darius Miller and solid all-around play from UK's upperclassmen (DeAndre Liggins and Josh Harrellson).

On...