[Stardust]

I will probably have my UK Fan Card revoked for this, but I was actually pulling for the undermanned Vols to get the upset. A few things of note:

1. Xavier Henry is a very good player...but he is nowhere near being on the same level as John Wall. This game proved that as Henry was just another face on the court. Without Collins penetration or double teams on Aldrich Henry disappears.

2. Scotty Hopson has really matured as a player and is now All-SEC calibur.

3. Kansas and Self made one HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE idiotic mistake with their 2nd Half Gameplan. UT had no depth in the frontcourt and noone who could stop Cole Aldrich. Why the offense did not run through him every posession he was on the court is beyond me.

4. I don't like Bobby Maze, but he had an excellent performance and quietly came close to a triple double.

5. You want to foul out Kansas? Drive to the lane, pump fake, wait for foul, repeat. Kansas literally tries to block every shot and anytime UT pump faked they either drew a foul or got a clear lane to the basket.

6. This really helps the SEC because as long as UT doesn't bomb it down the stretch they will almost assuredly be a tournament team.

7. This really helps UK, because this will significantly help UT's RPI.

Awesome post! :Thumbs:

I agree with #1, but in fairness, Wall is not a typical Freshman. This kid is doing in College Basketball what Kobe or Lebron would have done had they been forced to play College Basketball for one year. Wall was certainly talented enough to go straight to the NBA. Henry, Stephenson, Cousins are all great Frosh as well, but honestly not in the same category as Wall. College was needed for the above three in order to prepare them for the next level. Wall was ready this year.

Hopson matured into the leader of the UT Basketball team before our very eyes yesterday. I loved how he took over as the coach on the floor. He didn't do everything on the floor, but he instructed guys, that was fun to watch.

Finally, this was a huge win for the SEC. I know a lot of people hate UT, but them getting this win makes the conferece RPI that much stronger, which helps UK