Deandre Liggins’ toughness is helping UK with an added dimension.  Demarcus Cousins is not the only player diving on the court and sacrificing for the team.  Of all players, Liggins was the least likely guy to become the scrapper and defender on the team in my opinion.  Frankly, I’m shocked how Calipari can get some players to do certain things.

I think he shows players a certain level of respect they’re not used to seeing from other coaches.  Some fans criticize John Calipari for letting his players mouth off and show emotion on the sidelines, but I believe they appreciate the respect he gives them.  He gives them more freedom than many other coaches and it creates a mutual respect between the players and coach.  This is a unique coaching gift that Calipari uses consistently.

Deandre Liggins was on the edge of quitting basketball or transferring out after a rough start with Billy Gillispie.  Thank God Gillispie was fired and Deandre stayed on the team.  That alone shows a certain toughness the kid possesses as a young collegiate athlete.  He did come from the streets of Chicago so lets say he’s probably seen worse that a tough coach giving him hell.

This is the added dimension this team needed.  When Liggins comes in the game, players start hustling more and diving on the floor.  Demarcus Cousins and Liggins are showing leadership that most Freshman don’t usually show on a team.  Liggins is only a sophomore, but he looks like a veteran on the court and he seems to know how to make a play whether it be a pass or shot when the ball is in his hands.

I love the fact that Deandre said he loves UK because of the fans.  He commented that he loves the cheers he gets whenever his name is called even though he may be in the coach’s doghouse.  He bleeds blue and will always be a revered Kentucky Wildcat.

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Calipari and Kentucky are rolling along in the SEC.  Even though they lost last night to South Carolina, I see a team that will be hard to handle in March.  They almost seemed bored on Tuesday night against South Carolina.

We have to remember these guys are still just Freshman and they’re growing up.  I believe there was a lack of leadership last night on the floor.  Patrick Patterson is not acting like a leader this year and he’s stepping to the side too much.  He needs to be more assertive and less lazy.  In addition, I believe Patrick Patterson may need to stay another year in college before he leaves for the NBA.

See Post on Demarcus Cousins at UK

John Calipari probably feels a sense of relief after one loss.  He’s had unrealistic expectations foisted upon him by UK fans and possibly himself.  A tough SEC loss will drain the hot air balloon of UK basketball for a short time and help young players refocus on a season knowing they can lose if they don’t play their best games.

In the long run, this could all be beneficial.  I’d rather a loss or two happen now than a loss in the NCAA tournament.  I believe UK has a legitimate chance of winning an 8^th NCAA Championship this year.

Flickr: by MCHart

Calipari and Kentucky are doing the right things.  Coach Cal is a master because he always seems to set the right tone for his team.  If you notice, he doesn’t yell at players when you think he should.  Sometimes he does yell at them when people don’t think he should…He’s a psychologist on the court.  That is the secret behind his real success and what sets him apart from many other coaches.

There is a reason so many great players want to play for him after they have a meeting.  Leave it to Coach Cal.  These guys will make a deep run in the tournament and have a great chance to win it all.  They are really that good and they are getting a healthy dose of humility after last night’s tough loss.

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Demarcus Cousins at UK has been a boon to the basketball program.  His constant intensity on the court and reckless demeanor is an eye-opener to say the least.

He’s already become one of my favorite players at UK. If he continues to improve it will be hard to keep him at UK.  Against Auburn we saw Demarcus Cousins show his usual temper at times and insistence on getting the ball down low where he could go one on one and put the ball through the hoop.

It’s this confidence and swagger that makes him a legend at UK.  He will be sorely missed by UK fans and sorely hated for years by opponents.  The UL fans just couldn’t get over themselves when they constantly complained after Big Cuz delivered an elbow.  Nobody wants to admit that Swopshire actually raised a knee into him BEFORE he threw an elbow.

This was just another example of the controversy that follows Cousins around. I love the guy.  He is a good teammate and he backs up his antics on the court with great play and consistency.  In my lifetime, I haven’t seen many big men with similar skills.  Melvin Turpin was a good one.  Of course, if we go further back, we have to mention people like Issel, Cox, and others.

Jamal Magloire must be proud! He is an enforcer under Tubby Smith playing a similar role to Cousins right now.  He was tough minded and loved to bang in the paint.  Patrick Patterson has contributed to Demarcus’ growth by getting out of his way at times and keeping a good attitude.  PPat is not one to hog the spotlight all the time and it’s really allowing his teammates to grow tremendously.  I couldn’t be happier with the positive attitude throughout UK’s team.

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Good win for the Cats today.  Once again, Demarcus Cousins proves he is a team player and a clutch player.  Game after game he turns in a great 2nd Half performance.  Big Cuz may be controversial and upset some with his antics, but get used to it.  That’s who he is and always will be….Personally, it doesn’t bother me.  I think of players like Rodman, Lambeer, Bell, and others who won championships and every opposing team hated them.  I say “Big Cuz, let her rip!” and keep doing what you’re doing.

Deandre Liggins has been a pleasant surprise this season.  I didn’t think he would have played this well.  In fact, I thought he was on his way out.  Coach Cal seems to have a great ability to motivate and improve players with a troubled past.  It’s serving Liggins well and hopefully he can get a college degree if he stays humble and improves steadily under Coach Cal’s wing.

Were you impressed with Coach Fox at Georgia?  I sure am.  He had some great teams at Nevada and it’s no wonder that Georgia is excited about having him.  I predict Coach Fox creates a formidable basketball program at Georgia, which should help the SEC overall.  I was very impressed with their discipline and the ability to follow the game plan all game long without wavering.  It’s a testament to UK’s will to win that we came out with a victory.

Will UK go undefeated? I think we can go undefeated with a little luck.  In fact, I don’t even think it will be that difficult.  I could be wrong, but UK has a great team and they could be destined to meet Texas in the championship.  I see Texas and UK as the best teams in the land!

Kansas will choke at some point in the tournament.  Of course, that’s just my opinion…

Read Rich Brooks Hands off to Joker

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Well, Rich the “Old Man” as he calls himself, has announced retirement finally.  Joker Phillips, the loyal Kentuckian is taking over.  Joker could be a great coach to take us to the next level.

One thing about Joker…You don’t have to worry about where is heart is…If he’s a great coach, chances are that he will stay at UK for a long time, which could build stability and get us to the next level.

Flickr: by Chris Breeze

Charlie Strong?

Wow, are there going to be some recruiting battles between Coach Charlie Strong and Joker Phillips?  These two guys have great personalities and recruits seem to love them.  There will be some in-state battles for recruits.  I give the edge to Joker because he is a Kentuckian.  Players out of Louisville will be tough to get with Charlie Strong at the helm in Louisville.

One good sign is that every recruit I’ve ever heard comment on Joker says they love the guy.  With that kind of affection, you can bet the players will play hard for their coach.  This is very important especially with today’s players and their short attention span.  We need a coach that will inspire players to play hard.

This could give UK an edge many teams lack.  A personal connection with their coach is very important.  That’s why I want to give Joker a fair shake for a couple of years.  UK should continue going to bowl games without missing a beat.  If they don’t, it could spell trouble.  There shouldn’t be much of a warming up period for Joker Phillips since he’s been around the block and this isn’t his first time being in the spotlight.

I think he’s ready.  I trust Coach Brooks when he says Joker Phillips is ready for the limelight.

What now for Rich Brooks?

I hope Rich Brooks can help UK in some capacity as he heads into the twilight of his life.  UK fans love him and he loves UK.  There has to be a way to keep him on hand and let him continue to assist building the program into a mid-upper level SEC football program.

Yes, I believe it’s possible for UK football to reach great heights.  Do you agree? Feel free to leave comments.

Go Big Blue!

Tyler

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Can you tell I don’t like UL? Why do I say they’re the enemy? Lets just say their fan base is a little delusional about the importance of UL athletics. Somehow they believe they’re first-rate college football power in addition to being a basketball dynasty.

Well, their inflated egos will be popped this coming Saturday once again. I really don’t think John Wall and company will let themselves lose to UL. UK’s players understand how much is riding on this game. They know the Big Blue nation cares about this game more than any other game.

I look forward to the Cats beating up on the Cards inside and watching John Wall repeatedly beat his man into the paint and creating points.

Rick Pitino

Rick will probably get some boos when he enters Rupp, but I feel we need to give the man respect for the time he spent at UK. He resurrected UK basketball and won a national championship. We shouldn’t forget that no matter how sleazy some of his actions have been since that time.

Coach Cal

Coach Cal will love to get a win against Ricky P. this weekend. This will establish UK as King of the Bluegrass once again and solidify himself as the top dog. UK is playing better right now than I ever imagined they would at this point in the season. Coach Cal is a much better coach than I expected. Not only can he recruit, I’ll put his coaching skills up against anyone after watching him meld this young UK team into a championship caliber team.

The Future of Bluegrass Basketball

Do you think Rick Pitino’s ego can take playing second fiddle in the state of Kentucky? I don’t. I don’t believe Rick Pitino can tolerate UK’s rise with Coach Calipari at the helm. He will eventually leave UL after repeated losses to UK and losing in-state recruiting battles to UK. That is my prediction for UL’s Hall of Fame Coach.

Coach Calipari should be at UK for at least ten years. The guy was born for the Kentucky job and I don’t see him leaving since he has already tasted the NBA waters and evidently didn’t like it too much.

Read Rich Brooks and Kentucky

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So Rich may leave UK football. I.ve got mixed emotions about this one. Rich Brooks was here when UK was really down in the dumps. He came when nobody else wanted to come to UK.

I think we owe Rich respect and the decency to leave on his own terms. Even though a loss to Clemson in the bowl game hurt a lot, Rich has accomplished what most UK coaches couldn.t accomplish.

He did it without cheating. He did it the right way so UK has a solid foundation for the future. The players have always responded to Coach Brooks and he.s given them skills to move on in life as young men.

I.m not sure Joker Phillips is the answer either. There is a part of me that wants Rich to keep coaching because I don.t trust Joker can take us to the next level. In fact, he may not even be able to sustain UK.s current success. We shall see, but I know that we.re handing off UK.s football program to someone who has never been a head coach.

That.s kind of scary to me…How about you? Feel free to leave comments on any of these blog posts.

Rich Brooks seems to be a glutton for punishment. The man has coached some pretty bad football teams both in college and the NFL. He knows how to resurrect a program from the dead. I almost feel like he needs to stay around and enjoy some of the success for a while. Maybe he can help us climb the SEC ladder some more?

Even if Rich does retire, I hope UK keeps him on-hand somehow in the athletic department. He is just a quality guy and I believe he.s got very good judgment. I like people like Rich Brooks directing UK athletics. There has to be a position for him.

Anyway, that is my rant on Rich and why I will always love the guy.

Read about Jonathan George Here

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Kentucky Tidbits

Kentucky Football

Jonathan George is impressing Joker Phillips and Rich Brooks. In fact, it sounds like all of the young running backs are impressing the coaching staff. They don.t seem worried at all about our future running game.

I know Jonathan George played on a great high school team in Lincoln, Alabama that won the state championship. He is the type of player that would not have considered UK in the past.

This is another sign we are slowly, but surely climbing the recruiting ranks although I will admit I would it to be faster. We are still not recruiting well enough to beat South Carolina and Tennessee. It.s not happening as fast as I would like..But oh well, I have to be patient and trust the process of building a football program the right way. Not the Hal Mumme/Claude Basset way..

Kentucky Basketball

Many people are talking about Long Beach State playing a schedule that has been even tougher than UK.s schedule. These guys are not going to be intimidated at all by UK.

I lived in Long Beach for a short while and it has some rough, rough areas of town! Besides that, I liked living there for a short while. It.s a fun place with great weather.

Flickr: By MCHart

Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Liggins are turning into some incredible defensive players. They will ball-hawk the best guards in the country and hold their own. This perimeter defense could really disrupt other teams. offensive game plans. I really believe this is one of the main factors that could help UK reach a national championship game. A consistent improvement on defense will get UK to the promise land this season!

Let me know how my prediction turns out..

We don.t even have to mention the interior defense. Who would you rather have playing interior defense than Patterson, Orton, and Cousins? I can.t remember a more intimidating front line on a UK basketball team. This season gets more fun every game.

Read about Coach Cal Exceeding Expectations Here

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Wow, right now I’m remembering all the times my family and I watched UK growing up. I remember watching Sam Bowie, Winston Bennett and others win games against SEC foes and UL of course.

by Ed Reinke - AP

This is an emotional win for the Big Blue nation. Some of us live and breathe UK sports. This is especially true with our storied basketball program.

Coach Calipari has surpassed all my expectations so far as a coach. No way I would have believed a bunch of Freshman could play this well together with such great chemistry. We looked like a juggernaut today while blowing out poor Drexel.

Click Here to Watch UK Highlights

When was the last time a UK team was up 50 points in a game? Patrick Patterson looks like he.s having the time of his life playing with players like John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, and Demarcus Cousins. There.s no question about it. These guys are special. Very special indeed.

Seeing Jamal Mashburn and hearing him call the game was great too. It reminded us of the great years under Coach Pitino and an earlier revival of UK basketball. Monster Mash spent a lot of time with the fans before and after the game. He is truly a UK all-time favorite.

This game should help recruiting even more. Shockingly, ESPN really hyped up this game and gave UK great praise after the game even showing the fans singing My Old Kentucky Home.

John Wall continues to show he may be the greatest UK player ever. I know that.s a big statement, but I.m hearing people like my Dad, 66 years old, say he.s never seen a better UK player. We can debate this, but one thing is for sure, John Wall will go down as one of the best ever at UK and one of the all-time favorite players. He is pure class while being intelligent and very mature on the court. Of course, we don.t even have to mention his incredible plays and athletic ability. He brings it every game. I look forward every week to watching the upcoming John Wall show.

Wow wow…

Congrats to the Big Blue nation!!

Our 2000th Victory!!

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I have to admit Coach Calipari has exceeded my expectations as a coach. I didn’t really know he was this good of a coach. I never would have thought our basketball team would be this far along, this quick.

I expected a loss to either IU, UCONN, or North Carolina. Our Freshman simply don’t play like Freshman. You have to credit Coach Cal with this fast maturation process. Guys like Demarcus Cousins may need to grow up a little, but they are hustling and producing on the court. That’s evidence of a talented coach.

Name me another coach in America that could have this mix of Freshman and veterans playing completely unselfish with each other while lauging and having fun. The chemistry is truly remarkable.

I don’t see a glaring weakness with this team. Our defense may not be stellar right now, but it will improve steadily. These guys could be our most impressive defensive team ever. They really have that extraordinary athletic ability and length to disrupt passing lanes like no other UK team in history. Not to mention the ball-hawking point guard defenders in John Wall and Eric Bledsoe.

This defensive ability will wreak havoc on opponents all year long. I’m just glad I’m here and able to enjoy the ride….This is one of the funnest UK teams I’ve ever watched. Go Cats! Make us Proud! You have so far…..

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