[King Kong]

Game time:  November 9  Tuesday 
Tip off is set for 9

The Cat's face their first big test for the season.  This will be coach Mark Popes first big test as UK head coach.

Thoughts/Predictions?

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Game time:  November 9  Tuesday 
Tip off is set for 9

The Cat's face their first big test for the season.  This will be coach Mark Popes first big test as UK head coach.

Thoughts/Predictions?

This is the State Farm Champions Classic.
Uk is ranked #23
Duke is ranked #7

UK is 1-6 in their last seven games in the Champions Classic. 

UK is 1-5 in their last six meetings vs Duke. 

Much of the media is picking Duke in a close game.  That's just predictions,  favorites don't always win.  Ol Kong here believes the Cat's win in a close one 

This will be a good test for the Cat's and should be a fun one to watch!

[Granny Bear]

It doesn't start until 9 pm. I'll never make it!!!

[Bluecat]

This is the one that will give us a true idea of what our season will look like. I like what I have saw and know in this one we will be able to see the weaknesses Pope will need to address. I like how this team plays hard and competes. Do we win, I don't know but I do feel that we will be there at the end with a chance to win. Be good to see how this team responds to an opponent that will come at them with different challenges and balanced attacks. I especially want to see how this team responds if something doesn't go their way. How will they adjust and react?

[-STAT-]

Just made it down to Atlanta, came a day early to sightsee around the city, but definitely looking forward till tomorrow.

Line has moved a few times but as of right now Duke is 5.5 pt favorite. It’ll be interesting if Kentucky will be able to move the ball like they have the first 2 games, but this time against a more quality opponent. First Kentucky game I’ve been to in 15 years, and came all the way to Catlanta to watch it! I’ll have to say, with all the hype surrounding him, really can’t wait to watch Cooper Flagg on the big stage.

Go Cats!!

[King Kong]

Just made it down to Atlanta, came a day early to sightsee around the city, but definitely looking forward till tomorrow.

Line has moved a few times but as of right now Duke is 5.5 pt favorite.  It’ll be interesting if Kentucky will be able to move the ball like they have the first 2 games, but this time against a more quality opponent. First Kentucky game I’ve been to in 15 years, and came all the way to Catlanta to watch it! I’ll have to say, with all the hype surrounding him, really can’t wait to watch Cooper Flagg on the big stage. 

Go Cats!!

That's awesome! You all enjoy and have fun!

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This is the one that will give us a true idea of what our season will look like. I like what I have saw and know in this one we will be able to see the weaknesses Pope will need to address. I like how this team plays hard and competes. Do we win, I don't know but I do feel that we will be there at the end with a chance to win. Be good to see how this team responds to an opponent  that will come at them with different challenges and balanced attacks. I especially want to see how this team responds if something doesn't go their way. How will they adjust and react?

Agreed,  I'm definitely interested in how we respond when things don't go our way as well.  Will we make adjustments and keep battling or we collapse and fall apart. 

I read somewhere where Coach Pope wasn't happy with our rebounding efforts last game.  I'll be keeping watch on that to.

[Granny Bear]

I coached basketball for 30 years. I got involved when my daughter played. And that has been so many years ago, that it makes me sad to think about it!!
She was 6' tall when she played in high school and was very talented. Pat Head Summit recruited her, so that's an objective opinion.

Because of her playing position, I always pay close attention to the rebounders who are so tall, they don't think they need to block out or to jump for a rebound. That's my pet peeve!! So I've noticed in the last two games, that we have some lazy rebounders. And that makes me really mad!! LOL

[Bluecat]

I have to go back and look but I know they were out rebounded in the first game and in at least one of the exhibition games. Second chance point can be back breaking.

[King Kong]

I coached basketball for 30 years.  I got involved when my daughter played.  And that has been so many years ago, that it makes me sad to think about it!!
She was 6' tall when she played in high school and was very talented.  Pat Head Summit recruited her, so that's an objective opinion.

Because of her playing position, I always pay close attention to the rebounders who are so tall, they don't think they need to block out or to jump for a rebound.  That's my pet peeve!!  So I've noticed in the last two games, that we have some lazy rebounders.  And that makes me really mad!!  LOL

That's awesome Granny that you coached basketball for around 30 years.  You made a positive influence in many lives by doing so. 

Your daughter was recruited by Pat Summit, that's awesome! Coach Summit will always be a legend in the college basketball world.  Being recruited by her is a huge accomplishment itself.

[Granny Bear]

There's a story about that Kong. We were at the Hearthside Restaurant in Gatlinburg. It's closed now but it used to be the last restaurant in Gatlinburg, on the left, as you started to cross the mountain. We were walking out, when I heard some one calling to me. I turned around, and it was Pat. I nearly wet myself. I don't know HOW the woman knew what we looked like, but she explained she wanted to talk to my daughter about playing for her. One of the highlights of my life!!!

[King Kong]

There's a story about that Kong.  We were at the Hearthside Restaurant in Gatlinburg.  It's closed now but it used to be the last restaurant in Gatlinburg, on the left, as you started to cross the mountain.  We were walking out, when I heard some one calling to me.  I turned around, and it was Pat.  I nearly wet myself.  I don't know HOW the woman knew what we looked like, but she explained she wanted to talk to my daughter about playing for her.  One of the highlights of my life!!!

That's amazing Granny! I would have definitely passed out in that situation! In all sports combined Coach Summit is on the Mt Rushmore of coaching. 

That's one of the coolest stories I've ever heard.

[King Kong]

It's halftime,  I forgot the score. Duke is up by 9 though. 
Duke is scoring to easy in the paint. We gotta find a way to slow that down. 
We were up by 6 or 7 at one point.  Duke didn't crumble and fought back nicely. 
Now here we are down by 9. We talked about this.  How would we react when things aren't going our way? We'll find out in the second half. 

Duke has just 1 turnover. 
Gotta hit our foul shots better. 
We seem to be living and dying by the 3. Which we got off to a hot start from behind the arc.  
Duke 46 UK 37 is the score at the half. 
UK drains a 3 to start the half!
Dang we've cut the lead to 4 to start the 2nd half! I'm trying to quit typing and get off here lol

[King Kong]

We got our answer!

How about them Cat's baby!

Whoooooooooo!!!!!!!

[Old School Hound]

Impressive comeback. I like having some experienced players on the floor. Showed a lot of moxie.

[-STAT-]

What an experience that was.

I've watched all of those type games on TV all my life, but to witness that game in person was absolutely off the chains. Nervous energy I guess you could call it, but I haven't had that feeling in 20+ years, where you're so pumped after a win like that, you can't sleep for hours, and I was up till 3am!

First half obviously didn't go well, had a feeling we'd start out hot just with the adrenaline, but it soon wore off and when it did Kentucky struggled in every facet, especially defending ball screens and rebounding. I'll have to say what a joy it was to actually see halftime adjustments! Nothing really changed offensively, but on the defensive end you seen a much more concerted effort, putting some token pressure on the ball at times, and how they started defending those ball screens made a difference.

Look, Cooper Flagg is a great player, had a great game and he's only going to get better as time goes on, the talent is there and even though he made some crucial mistakes down the stretch, I don't blame him for that, he is used to having the ball in his hands in those situations, but Scheyer put the ball in his hands. Duke was in a great rhythm offensively first half, getting everyone involved. Pretty late into the 2nd half that changed, Flagg was doing most if not all of the primary ballhandling and tried doing too much on his own. I blame Scheyer for going away from what got them success in the first half, he definitely got outcoached by Pope and it wasn't even close.

All in all, it was an incredible experience to witness that game in person, just seeing waves of Blue (predominantly Kentucky) in the stands. Also got to meet Jay Bilas & Dan Shulman the night before the game, two of the best in the business, got a picture with them as well, both very nice & approachable. It was a great & fun time with my Dad, just the trip back is always tough! Glad to be home, and GO BIG BLUE!

[Granny Bear]

I'm so glad you had that experience!!! It IS different in person!! I got to go to the Final Four in Arlington the year the Texas twins played for UK. We lost in the finals, but I was still pumped!!