[Old School Hound]

Final from Corbin. Game got pretty chippy , late.

[Old School Hound]

Three-point Middleton sparked the Hounds to the win in the second half. He tallied 15second half points, including some big threes.

[Old School Hound]

I got to wondering about something tonight after the game. Who is the worst coach in the world of basketball- --- Is it Rick"I couldn't even win with Kevin Durant" Barnes or Nate "Please, Don't Be My " Valentine. I couldn't decide who was worse so I asked my Magic Eight Ball that I still have from the seventies. I asked it the following question: " Is Nate Valentine a worse coach that Rick Barnes?"

My Magic Eight Ball answered: "Outlook Good." Just to be certain my Eight Ball wasn't just having a bad night, I asked once more: " Are you sure that Nate Valentine is a more terrible coach than Rick Barnes? "

Magic Eight Ball Answer: "Without a doubt."

[Old School Hound]

Long distance dedication to Nate Valentine on HIS day:









" Keep it all for yourself
It's overrated anyhow
But keep my Valentine
I'll keep my bleeding heart
...
And your regrets
Fall like empty lines
Like the lies we write on Valentines..."

[Old School Hound]

There were a lot of Leonard's Losers on this one. Old School was the only one I saw predicting the Crimson Canines in this one. I don't think either team played nearly as well as they are capable, especially the first half. Tempers flared late in this one a couple of times. Valentine calling a timeout when he had none was pretty special, although it didn't really matter with 1.1 left. Still, he's quite the tool.

[shottaker23]

I got to wondering  about something tonight after the game. Who is the worst coach in the world of basketball- --- Is it Rick"I couldn't even win with Kevin Durant" Barnes  or Nate "Please, Don't Be My " Valentine.  I couldn't decide who was worse so I asked my Magic Eight Ball that I still have from the seventies. I asked it the following question:  " Is Nate Valentine a worse coach that Rick Barnes?"

My Magic Eight Ball answered:  "Outlook Good."    Just to be certain my Eight Ball wasn't just having a bad night, I asked once more: " Are you sure that Nate Valentine is a more terrible coach than Rick Barnes? "

Magic Eight Ball Answer:  "Without a doubt."

Valentine is a doucherocket. Despise the man, hopefully he returns to one of the Lexington schools soon.

[Old School Hound]

What do BGR's basketball gurus think of Corbin's (Night) Ryder Akins???   Ryder is fun to watch . Entertaining,  certainly. Sometimes, though, I'd just like to see a solid basketball play , instead of the flashy shot or pass. The youngster has great vision , just like a soaring eagle or peregrine falcon. Dude doesn't need night vision goggles- I'm convinced, like the falcon, he can see in UV light. He makes passes that would make even the most amorous lotharios proud. Without question, Ryder seems to always be on the lookout for that ESPN highlight reel play.  Not that flash is a bad thing. It can be entertaining. But has a 14 or 15 y.o. earned enough cred to be Corbin's version of Pete Maravich?  

Mind you, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to be flashy or cocky. You've heard me say numerous times I wish UK had a couple of unapologetic enforcers like Boogie Cousins or Jamaal McGloire, guys who could trash talk and moon walk all over yo a$$.  I mean, clearly, the Night Ryder runs the show for Corbin. He's a modern day Flash Gordon who's been up all night binge-eating Skittles and gummy worms.  The dude clearly has bird DNA because he chirps all game long--- at referees, at opposing players. He's never met a foul that he's committed or come across a foul mouthed opposing player that he couldn't match. He has an cutting edge to his play. You can tell this kid knows he's special and is probably gonna be playing D-1 someday. If you're his coach do you tell him to tone it down or do you just let that Night Bird fly free and feast  on the lesser birds of prey?

[Old School Hound]

^^^

edit--- "or come across a foul-mouthed opposing player that he couldn't shut with his own colorful retort"

Ryder reminds me of me, at times. I wonder who his daddy , or grandaddy is? Must be some very confident and important people to instill that kind of self-assurance in the youngster. Remember, Ryder has been starting in a varsity basketball lineup since 7th grade. Gonna be King of Kings when he's a senior. I have no doubt he's sure of it.

[Keystone12]

Akins is definitely one of those special talents to roll through the 13th. He has next level athleticism and plays very unselfish. I think there are times when he becomes too complacent and defers a little too much to teammates. You can be unselfish to a fault sometimes. No one was able to stop him from getting to the rim against north but he just stopped doing it in the second half. I agree that the kid is potentially a D1 player. 6’’3” at the point guard position, athletic with really good guard skills and instincts.