[Deathstar 80]

I aslo respect your summary of the game just disagree. I ask why would the top ranked team would look nervous and play stiff just because they are on the road at South Carolina playing an unranked team 11-8 (2-3 conference record) on their home floor. Does that mean we will be nervous and play stiff @ UT and Vandy or the rest of the SEC road. I am pretty sure they will play much better teams in the NCAA tourney away from home. I think the loss was the result of many players not playing their best and just did not see the effort I saw in other games like Arkansas, UConn, UNC. I thought they played a terrible game against Louisville but yet showed heart and guts and pulled it out. The Cats were out rebounded by the smaller USC team 44-40 with 20 offensive rebounds and UK had only 14 offensive rebounds. That desire just did not seem to be there in this game.

Keep in mind that within a year, Kentucky's three starting freshman went from playing in the small crowds of high school to playing in this intense game with the home crowd known to being so loud, there was one play where the referee blew his whistle and the players didn't hear him. So why could this top-ranked team be so nervous? It's a result of the expectations of being #1, having a target on you for being #1, and going to an intense crowd of 18,000 fans (I looked on ESPN.com, and it did say there were 18,000 fans there).

For all Kentucky fans, have less expectations on the Kentucky basketball players. Simply, let them play basketball.