UK vs. Florida International – Postgame

I guess Billy Gillispie and his assistants read my preview for the UK/FIU game. I stated that if Kentucky could just contain either Alex Galindo or Russell Hicks down low then Kentucky would have an easy time winning the game, Well, Kentucky did just that. Alex Galindo was 0-5 from the floor and had many frustration fouls due to the stifling defense he faced all day.

The best player for FIU today was their other star Russell Hicks. Hicks, a 7′o” Center, had numerous put backs and converted on many of his attempts finishing with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Alex Galindo finished scoreless for the first time in his FIU career, despite Hicks having a great game FIU needed both of their stars to step up and it just did not happen.

On the Kentucky side, the two injured stars for the ‘Cats, Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper, both had great games. Jodie Meeks finished with 21 points with 15 coming from behind the arc with 5 threes. The only bad thing about Meeks’ game today was the fact that he did not have a two point basket. Derrick Jasper had a phenomenal game today by grabbing 10 rebounds to go along with 4 points and 5 assists. Patrick Patterson displayed yet another all around phenomenal game. Patterson finished the game with 20 points and 5 rebounds. He had many great baskets despite having two and three FIU players hanging on him on every play.

A couple notes from the game: Kentucky did a great job on their hustle today. They out-rebounded the Golden Panthers by 13 and went to the free throw line an amazing 23 more times than their opponent. The 40 free throw attempts resulted in 31 points and that might have been the difference. UK was more aggressive on offense and seemed to be spewing with confidence and belief in eachother which is the aspect of the team that had been missing.

Now all the Kentucky fans can get ready to watch the football team take on Florida State in about and hour and a half. GO CATS!

NEXT GAME

Jan. 5 vs. Louisville

4:00 pm EST on CBS

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UK vs. Florida International – Preview

Like I said in my previous basketball preview, this year appears to be a major rebuilding year for the Wildcats. With only a few real talents on the team coach Gillispie is trying to find a way to get his star players the ball in unique ways but has failed to start off the year. UK ranks last in the SEC in ppg, rebounds pg, and lead the SEC in turnovers pg. So how do you solve this problem? Well for starters the upperclassmen, who are supposed to be leaders, need to buy into Gillispie’s system and way of thinking. They need to squash their ego’s and become team players. If Joe Crawford just played team ball we would be alright.

To get back to the game against FIU, the player that Kentucky needs to key on is Alex Galindo. Some of you might remember Galindo from the Kansas teams a couple years back. Galindo is a Junior for the Golden Panthers. He is a transfer from Kansas University and by watching his game you can tell why they recruited him. Galindo has a rare combination of scoring and rebounding from the Small Forward position. Although he is only 6′6″, Galindo leads the Golden Panthers in rebounding with just over 6 pg, he also is second on the team in scoring with a 12.9 pg average.

I stated in my last basketball preview that if Kentucky contains the star player from these mediocre teams they will have an easy time winning. We saw against San Diego that they could not contain Brandon Johnson and he won the game for San Diego. If Galindo is off set Kentucky will embarass FIU but I really don’t see that happening so I have the ‘Cats only winning by 5. My final score is 70-65 Kentucky pulls this one out by a hair and I think Pat Patterson has another phenomenal game with 21 pts and 7 boards.

 NEXT GAME

Dec. 31 vs Florida International

12:00 pm EST

UK vs. Florida St. – Preview

Everyone knows the biggest story that will come from the Kentucky Wildcats vs. Florida State Seminoles game, because it has already happened. As everyone that hasn’t been living under a rock knows, Florida State has 36 players not making the trip for tomorrow’s game against the ‘Cats in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. 34 players do to cheating on an online course. The top three Defensive Tackles and the top Cornerback for the Seminoles will not be participating in the game and it has made national headlines.

 A story about the players has already appeared on the front page of ESPN.com, SI.com (Sports Illustrated), CBS.sportsline.com, and Foxsports.com. All the articles pointed out that Andre’ Woodson is already one of the best Quarterbacks in the country and the thin line of players that Florida State is left with should make the game all the more easier for the future NFL star.

Kentucky has problems of their own. The University of Kentucky athletic department released a report stating that Keenan Burton, the number one Wide Reciever on the team, will not be playing in the game (knee). Jason Leger, an Offensive Lineman, will not be playing either due to violating team rules.

As you are probably wondering (sarcasm), I believe Kentucky will win the game tomorrow. I think Andre’ Woodson will play inspired football in his last career game and I think he throws for 350 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. I see the final score being 27-20 Kentucky. I think the game will be closer than most people think because Florida State will be playing inspired football as well because of all the players missing.

NEXT GAME

Dec. 31 vs Florida State

4:00 pm EST on ESPN2

UK vs. San Diego – Post Game

Well it looks like Kentucky is in a rebuilding year to say the least. Kentucky lost another game today, this time at the hands of unknown University of San Diego (USD). USD led by two at the half after two free throws with 3.4 seconds left in the first half and never looked back. Super Junior Brandon Johnson killed UK all day by driving right by any player on the floor trying to guard him. He scored a career high 27 points, 19 in the second half. I said in the last post that if UK could contain either of the two stars for San Diego then they would dominate San Diego. That statement is true but Kentucky was not able to contain either of them.

Kentucky was out rebounded by 8 and shot 12 less free throws than USD. Those two stats were no doubt the key to the game. USD had 5 more offensive boards than the ‘Cats did and the took adavntage of every opportunity. The problem with the ‘Cats is that they don’t take advantage of their opportunities and they take their possessions for granted.

NEXT GAME

Dec. 31 12:00 EST
vs. Florida International

UK vs. San Diego – Preview

The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off perhaps their best game of the season in a route, at Rupp Arena, of Tennessee Tech. Kentucky will come into the game shorthanded though. Two starters from last year’s team, Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper, are both doubtful for the game tomorrow.

 San Diego comes in with a record of 6-8 overall. They are led by Junior point guard Brandon Johnson. Johnson is the teams’ leading scorer averaging just over 16 ppg and the team leader in assists . Johnson is less than 100 pts away from 1,000 and is considered one of the best players in school history. Another Junior near the 1,000 pt. club is Gyno Pomare. Pomare is a forward/center and needs just 5 pts to reach 1,000. San Diego will most likely run their offense through these two players. If Kentucky can contain either one of them they should have a great chance at a blow out.

Kentucky is expected to start Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, Ramon Harris, Patrick Patterson, and Perry Stevenson barring any setbacks or other events. Gillispie should try to get the ball to Patrick Patterson the ball more in the post. Reports are that Gillispie has been working hard in practice to get Patterson the ball and teaching the guards HOW to get him the ball, which has been a big problem with the offense.

The game will air on ESPN2 at 2:00 pm EST. The announcers will be Lou Canellis (Play-by-Play) and Jimmy Dykes (Color Analysts).

Kentucky vs. Tenn. Tech – Post Game

The Kentucky Wildcats played very well today against Tennessee Tech. Freshman sensation Patrick Patterson paced the ‘Cats with 24 pts, 15 rebs, and 3 blks. Personally I think that he deserves some votes for SEC POY. Chris Lofton was the preseason favorite but he hasn’t lived up to expectations while Patterson has exceeded them.

Many people were scratching their heads because three of UK’s starters from the last game were not in the starting lineup. Jodie Meeks, considered by some to be the best player on the team, did not play because of an injury to his hip. Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford both did not play in the first half for missing curfew. As soon as they came into the game they sparked the team and UK went on a huge 34-12 run which put the game out of reach.

There were three other players that I was particularly impressed with. Ramon Harris impressed me by playing hard, hitting a couple threes, and grabbing 7 boards. Perry Stevenson impressed me a lot mainly because of his new found mid range shot. The announcers during the game talked about it, saying it looked as though he had been working on it and he sure looked like it today. The third player that I was impressed with, and I have been impressed with in all of the games so far, was A.J. Stewart. The freshman impressed me with a couple post moves and his unbelievable hustle. Numerous times he was sliding on the floor for loose balls.

The next game for the Wildcats is next saturday at home against San Diego