[RunItUpTheGut]

Come on now. Anyone can root a team on during the good times. I'm not saying we'll win a championship, or even make the tourney. I agree that they are not a tournament team right now (especially with Ole Miss's embarrassing loss to South Carolina and Baylor losing to Iowa State last night). I also agree that if they lose any more games in the regular season (except Florida), then they are probably done. But how can you give up on this team after the fight they showed last night?

They showed more emotion than they have all season (Alex Poythress could have shown a little more). Ryan Harrow played maybe his best game of the season after his confidence was at an all-time low. Archie played under control for the most part (yes, he did pass the ball SK). Willie showed us what he can do. Julius Mays continued to be the consistent heart beat of the team and our leader. Kyle Wiltjer had a decent game and gave a pretty good effort on the defensive end (I know Vandy isn't stacked in the paint, but he still played solid). Jarrod Polson, once again, gave solid minutes. Again, Vandy made ten 3's and that's usually a number that makes a team hard to beat. As shorthanded as we are, a win last night against a team that made ten 3's is something to feel good about.

After a game of dodge-ball loosened up the players before last night, I think Friday night's wiffle ball game will do the same for Saturday night against Missouri. Mizzou will be tough to handle, but this team has their swagger back. It will be tough for WCS, Poythress, and Wiltjer against Laurence Bowers and Alex Oriahki, but I predict Alex (our Alex) to play with that toughness and emotion that his teammates did last night. Kentucky will definitely need him to do that and I think it will come to pass.

If the Tigers come out and wring our necks Saturday, you can say "I told you so". But if you still don't believe and "know this year's a bust", then you shouldn't watch any more games this season and just "wait for next year".

I only love UK basketball and Ravens football.
The rest im a fair weather fan of, ill admit it. When it comes to those two things though, I am cut and dry.

If were going player by player then I will give my honest opinion with no bias.

You know my thoughts on Goodwin. I believe he is highly overrated and even if he stayed four years, im not sure he would ever develop into half the player that Lamb or Bledso was. They were consistent, and im not sure Goodwin is capable of that, and i wont need to as he'll leave after this year.

Poythress, I admit, was given a no win situation being compared to Gilchrist and Liggins. Those two players were absolute hustlers and Poythress just hasn't shown the same heart.I dont know if hes got it in him or not, but once again we will never know as he'll leave after this year even though he should be atleast a 3 year player.

Noel is NBA bound and rightfully so. His defensive presence battles that of Davis, but he is no where near Davis when it comes to the offensive end, and i can see why, Davis was a guard in a 6'10 body, but Noel will never be able to make a free throw. Eventually that will be his downfall in the NBA.

Cauley-Stein has more potential than any other player on this roster. He may be the best "athlete" on the team. With his draft stock rising, he's likely to leave after this year, but IMO, he would be better suited to stay for his Soph year and become a top 5 pick. With the #1 Center in the nation coming in next year, it could also worry him, however, IMO, both would benefit from having each other.

Harrow just doesnt have the physical strengths to run the point guard on a Calipari offense. I think we all thought he would be something special as he was built up to point, then we heard his voice, and we got worried. A kid who cannot take a simple yelling is not meant to be for any good college team. Knight, Wall, and Teague all took the criticism as contructive and got better from it, while Harrow left for a couple weeks because of it, even though they said it was family issues.

Hood and Polson knew what they were doing when they signed up to play at UK. Home state boys who would wear the jersey but never see playing time. Well they lucked out with the bust of this year, especially Polson, and i cant fault him. There was no hype around him, hes not that good, but hes stepped into an impossible role and done what he could.

I dont know what the deal with Twany Beckham is, and i really dont care. I find it hard to believe someone can be hurt for 7 years, but hes pushing it. I dont expect to ever see him play in a game.

Wiltjer is a player, as ive stated before, gets on my last nerve. The softness, the scoring and then giving up an easy basket, and he never shows any enthusiasm. Witjer might develop into a decent player by his senior year, but not right now. He can score, but until he can stop the guy hes guarding, hes scoring is meaningless, especially when hes cold.

Mays is okay. Nothing special, but on a higher level than our bench. Hes been more consistent then when the season started, and if UK is going to win some games to make it to the tourney, we need him to be highly consistent and as a senior, lead this team to win some very important games.

The rest of the team is a wash. Just bodies to fill a roster and practice with and truth be told, if more players come back than we expect, then some of these guys could be cut, like it would matter.


I've been given the argument all to often that these are just freshmen and give them time and wait for them to develop but this is a CALIPARI team, thats what he plays, FROSH! We dont have time for them to develop, there the starters and in most cases will only stay for one year.

I expect UK to win 2 more regular season games, and then 1-2 SEC tourney games. With that, it will be extremely hard to make the tourney, however, its possible.

With the class for next year, im extremely excited, not to mention the fact that im still satisfied with last year. It will be great.