We all know what is at stake today. A perfect regular season. The first one in a major conference since 1976. The chance for this team to take a place in history that they may never give up. It’s a monumental event to be sure and if it is a task they are able to accomplish then there will a question that needs to be answered. How will this team be recognized among the legends of Kentucky basketball? Do they deserve a banner hanging in Rupp Arena?
For years Kentucky fans have prided themselves on the fact that we only hang banners for the Final Four. That our team’s goal is to compete for National Titles and to expect nothing less. But if this season has taught us anything it’s that the regular season can be just as special as a tournament run.
The NCAA tournament can be completely random. In a one-game scenario teams can get red hot and make a magical run to the Final Four. Look no further than Wichita State, VCU, George Mason, and Butler for examples of that. But the regular season is grueling and conference play brings opponents that you face year-in and year-out. Making it through that slate unbeaten is much harder than a 6-game winstreak to the National Championship. Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal interviewed Coach Hall, Billy Donovan, and others about the significance of being unbeaten and Joe was firmly on team banner. Here’s what he had to say:
“I think you could create another category deserving of having a banner, and that would be going through the regular season undefeated,” the former UK coach said. It’s that big a deal. “They’ve passed the eye test, regardless of what happens next. I think they’re the most talented, deepest team I’ve ever seen. Regardless of what their record comes out, I don’t think that diminishes what this team has accomplished as far as its place in the history of Kentucky basketball.”Put me on Team Joe B and hang a banner on the other side of the arena next to the cheerleaders if they go unbeaten. The accomplishment is worthy of going up regardless of how the post-season plays out. But first they have to get this last W.
Beat Florida.
Today is the day we’ll say goodbye to Kentucky basketball’s
trio of walk-ons that have been through some of the highest highs and
the lowest lows while in Lexington. As they take to the court to play
their final game in Rupp arena let’s jump in the wayback machine for a
look at their younger versions in the blue and white
Brian Long:
B-Long hasn’t aged a day from moment the babyfaced bomber was announced as a walk-on in 2011. Has the guard out of Dumont, New Jersey appreciated his time playing among the likes of Anthony Davis, Nerlens, WCS, and MKG? We may never know.
Tod Lanter
Tod “The Bod” Lanter joined the practice squad in 2012 as the short-handed Cats lacked the depth to have a competitive scrimmage. Tod’s father Bo played at UK back in the in early 80s and Tod was new to campus after playing his first year at Gulf Coast State in Panama City. The match was one made in biceps heaven.
Sam Malone
Sam Malone joined the team along with Brain Long and quickly began to ascend the ranks of the greatest bench reactioners in Kentucky history. You know it’s an awesome play if you look down the sidelines and see Malone absolutely losing his mind. Malone is a first ballot player to the Todd Svoboda Hall of Fame.
Willie Cauley-Stein
Today’s game in Rupp is truly bittersweet. While the Cats may complete the best regular season in the history of the school there is also a chance this is the final time we see many of these guys play inside Rupp Arena. Chief among them is Willie Cauley-Stein, a player who has grown into a man before our eyes. Who saw him developing into a contender for player of the year when he backed up Nerlens as a raw freshman?` If this is the final time we see him play in Lexington it has been one amazing ride.
Happy Senior Day!
Brian Long:
B-Long hasn’t aged a day from moment the babyfaced bomber was announced as a walk-on in 2011. Has the guard out of Dumont, New Jersey appreciated his time playing among the likes of Anthony Davis, Nerlens, WCS, and MKG? We may never know.
Tod Lanter
Tod “The Bod” Lanter joined the practice squad in 2012 as the short-handed Cats lacked the depth to have a competitive scrimmage. Tod’s father Bo played at UK back in the in early 80s and Tod was new to campus after playing his first year at Gulf Coast State in Panama City. The match was one made in biceps heaven.
Sam Malone
Sam Malone joined the team along with Brain Long and quickly began to ascend the ranks of the greatest bench reactioners in Kentucky history. You know it’s an awesome play if you look down the sidelines and see Malone absolutely losing his mind. Malone is a first ballot player to the Todd Svoboda Hall of Fame.
Willie Cauley-Stein
Today’s game in Rupp is truly bittersweet. While the Cats may complete the best regular season in the history of the school there is also a chance this is the final time we see many of these guys play inside Rupp Arena. Chief among them is Willie Cauley-Stein, a player who has grown into a man before our eyes. Who saw him developing into a contender for player of the year when he backed up Nerlens as a raw freshman?` If this is the final time we see him play in Lexington it has been one amazing ride.
Happy Senior Day!
I hadn’t heard of Josh Langford before today but I can tell you the kid is probably pretty smart. If you’re going to take an unofficial to Lexington then you may as well make it when history is on the line. That’s what Langford is doing today according to Evan Daniels:
Five-star 2016 guard Josh Langford (http://t.co/TWz8KbXIC8) is currently on an unofficial visit to Kentucky.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) March 7, 2015
Langford is a 6’6 combo guard out of Madison, Alabama who is
considering Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Duke, and now Kentucky.
247 has him listed as the number 15 player in the class of 2016 and I
think he’d fit right in alongside Malik Monk and Jayson Tatum in a
monster junior class. Watch him work:
@WxorNotBG
Today was they final day that the Cats will be 30-0. Let’s watch them make it 31 tomorrow. #Reloadx
On to the news and views:
Cats By -14.5
Kentucky needs the win tomorrow to become just the fourth program since 1976 to finish the regular season undefeated. Vegas considers them a virtual lock to do so as the Cats opened up as a 16-point favorite earlier today.
The Gators have struggled mightily since the two teams last met in early February. Florida had lost 4 of 7, including one to abysmal Missouri, before knocking off A&M earlier this week. The one bright spot for UF is that they are expected to have Michael Frazier back in the rotation tomorrow afternoon. Florida’s leading scorer missed the last seven games but Billy Donovan will take Frazier to Lexington and he expects the guard to contribute. Frazier averages over 13 points per game this season and had poured in 10 before getting hurt against the Cats.
Senior Day Festivities
There won’t be a dry eye left in Rupp tomorrow as Sam Malone, Tod Lanter, and Brian Long burst through the big paper circle for Senior Day. The trio of guards will be playing in Rupp for the final time and the biggest question facing the group is whether or not they will get the starting nod tomorrow. Here’s what the seniors had to say about their big moment:Sam Malone:
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to have a senior night with Brian and Tod and be out there with the fans cheering us on. It’s going to be great.”
Tod Lanter:
“I’ve grown up around this program,” Lanter said. “I’ve seen its ups and downs. “… Now I got to step into this role and experience something that most kids growing up here don’t get to do and it’s just been – every step of the way I’ve tried to take it all in one step at a time, one day at a time.”
Brian Long:
“I’m just glad to be in here day in and day out,” Long said. “Like you said, I knew it coming in, I knew what my role was and I’m just here to help anyway I (can), and it’s been a fun ride.”
Will this also be the final time we see Willie, Karl Towns, the Twins, Dakari, Booker, and Lyles as well? Of course not. We will see them in Rupp as they unfurl banner number 9 in April.
He’s Willie Athletic
Everybody and their mother has heard about Willie Cauley-Stein’s time as a wide receiver at his high school in Kansas but today Cal added another wrinkle to the legend of WCS.
According to Coach Cal, Willie was a star kickball player in high school. Cal was telling reporters about how he never saw Willie play basketball in high school, and then he dropped this gem: “I watched him play kickball. You could not believe.”
“He would spin ‘em,” Cal said, while flailing his arm.
Badminton was another sport Willie played. Because of course. I bet he would be an All-American in ultimate frisbee.
Orange is the New Black & Blue
After a ten-year investigation, the NCAA laid the smack down to Syracuse and Jim Boeheim for multiple infractions including academics and extra benefits. The NCAA suspended Boeheim for nine conference games next season and is taking away twelve scholarships, three a year for four years. Penalties also include a five-year probation and vacation of wins in which ineligible student participated.“During the 10-year period of violations, the head basketball coach did not promote an atmosphere of compliance within his program and did not monitor the activities of those who reported to him as they related to academics and booster involvement,” the NCAA said of Boeheim.
So for the record. UNC, Kansas, and Syracuse have all been targeted by NCAA investigations while Duke and Louisville have players dismissed for misconduct. Yet, it is Kentucky that is ruining college basketball. Riiiiiiiiight.
We got bigger things to worry about. Like a complete beatdown of the Florida Gators. Let’s go!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OfxlhY2nUmI
W
1. Another ’94 Comeback
The 1 seed in the SEC East on the line. A good Florida team that would reach the school’s first Final Four. All the makings of an excellent game. Florida jumped out to a 33-14 lead and looked like they were going to run the Cats off the court. But just like the ’94 Cats did against LSU a few weeks prior they fought back to take the lead with just under 5 minutes to go. A classic in the series and a fitting send off for Rodney Dent, Travis Ford, Jeff Brassow and Gimel Martinez.
2. The Matt Walsh Game
The early 2000s games against Florida in Rupp featured some of the most raucous crowds I have ever been a part of. 2003 was legendary as Kentucky hosted #1 Florida for a epic beatdown. But Rupp may have been louder in 2004 when the Gators returned on the senior day of Erik Daniels, Cliff Hawkins, Gerald Fitch, Matt Heissenbuttel and Antwain Barbour. This one ranks as one of the best Florida games ever for one reason, Matt Walsh. From start to finish the Rupp crowd let Walsh have it in a way nobody has gotten before or since. Plus, the Cats won by 20. Hopefully, we see a similar performance tomorrow.
3. Fitch Finishes Florida
2002 senior day was a star-studded game. Florida’s roster featured Matt Bonner, Udonis Haslem, and David Lee who are still in the NBA today. Kentucky featured Tayshaun, Chuck Hayes, Bogans, and Gerald Fitch who have long pro careers as well. Both teams were ranked in the top 15 and the game came down to the final seconds. Fitch, who was just back from a 3 game suspension, buried the go-ahead three in the final minute as Team Turmoil came together to beat Florida for a share of the SEC East. What more could you ask for on senior day?
4. The Must Win
This game get forgotten because the Cats would go on to lose to Vandy and end up in the NIT but it is still one of the more gutsy wins of the Cal era. The Cats had lost Nerlens a month earlier in Gainesville and were on a two game losing streak going into this must win match-up. The eleventh ranked Gators appears to have the game won with a 57-50 lead with just over 7 minutes to go. But the Cats scored the next 11 points and Julius Mays sank two game winning sealing free throws for his final points in Rupp. A gritty win that is forgotten for what came after.
Final Four after the jump:
(more…)
1. Another ’94 Comeback
The 1 seed in the SEC East on the line. A good Florida team that would reach the school’s first Final Four. All the makings of an excellent game. Florida jumped out to a 33-14 lead and looked like they were going to run the Cats off the court. But just like the ’94 Cats did against LSU a few weeks prior they fought back to take the lead with just under 5 minutes to go. A classic in the series and a fitting send off for Rodney Dent, Travis Ford, Jeff Brassow and Gimel Martinez.
2. The Matt Walsh Game
The early 2000s games against Florida in Rupp featured some of the most raucous crowds I have ever been a part of. 2003 was legendary as Kentucky hosted #1 Florida for a epic beatdown. But Rupp may have been louder in 2004 when the Gators returned on the senior day of Erik Daniels, Cliff Hawkins, Gerald Fitch, Matt Heissenbuttel and Antwain Barbour. This one ranks as one of the best Florida games ever for one reason, Matt Walsh. From start to finish the Rupp crowd let Walsh have it in a way nobody has gotten before or since. Plus, the Cats won by 20. Hopefully, we see a similar performance tomorrow.
3. Fitch Finishes Florida
2002 senior day was a star-studded game. Florida’s roster featured Matt Bonner, Udonis Haslem, and David Lee who are still in the NBA today. Kentucky featured Tayshaun, Chuck Hayes, Bogans, and Gerald Fitch who have long pro careers as well. Both teams were ranked in the top 15 and the game came down to the final seconds. Fitch, who was just back from a 3 game suspension, buried the go-ahead three in the final minute as Team Turmoil came together to beat Florida for a share of the SEC East. What more could you ask for on senior day?
4. The Must Win
This game get forgotten because the Cats would go on to lose to Vandy and end up in the NIT but it is still one of the more gutsy wins of the Cal era. The Cats had lost Nerlens a month earlier in Gainesville and were on a two game losing streak going into this must win match-up. The eleventh ranked Gators appears to have the game won with a 57-50 lead with just over 7 minutes to go. But the Cats scored the next 11 points and Julius Mays sank two game winning sealing free throws for his final points in Rupp. A gritty win that is forgotten for what came after.
Final Four after the jump:
(more…)
Photo courtesy of UK Athletics
It’s not in the team’s best interest, nor is it in the best interests of Sam Malone, Tod Lanter and Brian Long to be thrown into the fire at Rupp Arena as Kentucky tries to become the first major conference team to go undefeated in the regular season since Indiana in 1976.
“Let them play the first possession,” some fans are saying.
“Tell one of them to throw Willie a lob, then commit a foul (or use a timeout) so they can exit the game.”
Consider this scenario: Brian Long’s one foul with 19:30 to go in the first half eventually puts Florida in the bonus at the end of the half. Florida makes a free throw while in the bonus, and later wins the game by one point.
Yes, that’s a far-fetched scenario, but it’s possible. And the last three people in the world who would want that to happen are the three seniors.
When the seniors can tell their grandchildren about playing for Kentucky, they will talk about starting this season 30-0 — and hopefully ending it 40-0. If they were to be in the game for 30 seconds against Florida, it wouldn’t be the highlight of their UK experience.
Kentucky could win comfortably on its home court against a bad Florida team, but you can’t assume that every single possession won’t matter. The first meeting with the Gators, albeit in Gainesville, went down to the wire.
Coach Cal should use the seniors as motivation for the Cats to take care of business early so that Malone, Lanter and Long can get quality minutes in the second half with a big lead.
If they don’t get in the game, so be it. Wearing a Kentucky uniform in a special season like this one is a privilege not to be taken lightly.
For what it’s worth, the three of them aren’t worried about it at all:
Sam Malone:
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to have a senior night with Brian and Tod and be out there with the fans cheering us on. It’s going to be great.”
Todd Lanter:
“I’ve grown up around this program,” Lanter said. “I’ve seen its ups and downs. “… Now I got to step into this role and experience something that most kids growing up here don’t get to do and it’s just been – every step of the way I’ve tried to take it all in one step at a time, one day at a time.”
Brian Long:
“I’m just glad to be in here day in and day out,” Long said. “Like you said, I knew it coming in, I knew what my role was and I’m just here to help anyway I (can), and it’s been a fun ride.”
(Photo via onlineathens.com)
Vanderbilt’s Memorial Coliseum
Auburn Arena
Alabama’s Coleman Coliseum
Ole Miss’ Tad Smith Coliseum
South Carolina’s Colonial Life Arena
Florida’s O’Connell Center
Mississippi State’s Humphrey Coliseum
Auburn Arena
Alabama’s Coleman Coliseum
Ole Miss’ Tad Smith Coliseum
South Carolina’s Colonial Life Arena
Florida’s O’Connell Center
Mississippi State’s Humphrey Coliseum
Stegeman Coliseum
Built: 1964Seating capacity: 10,523
Exterior: 5
From 2010-2011, Stegeman underwent a major $13 million renovation in which the old facade was removed and replaced with a beautiful glass front. Like a lot of SEC arenas, Stegeman is small but classically designed, and I really love that the architects kept the original bones of the building while modernizing it. The effect is striking, and at night, lights illuminate a huge UGA mural:This may be the best exterior renovation of an older gym I’ve ever seen.
Interior: 4
The inside of Stegeman has a great retro feel to it thanks to the unique patterned ceiling, which has thankfully remained intact throughout multiple renovations. The arena is small, with a capacity of only 10,523, and in turn, there are no bad seats. Interestingly, Georgia’s website says the Coliseum is actually two structures: the roof and the building beneath it. “The only connection between the two is an aluminum bellows which seals the joints and permits the rise and fall of the roof with temperature change.”Neat.
Flow: 4.5
The 2011 renovation expanded the concourses, giving the arena an easy flow, even with a sellout crowd. In fact, sometimes there seems like there is too much room in the lobbies, but that’s never a bad thing. Throughout the concourses, there are trophy cases, large murals, and displays highlighting past and present Georgia legends.
Concessions: 3.5
Nothing spectacular, just standard fare of pizza, hot dogs, smoked sausage, BBQ, nachos, etc. I will give them half a point for offering an “extra cheese cup” for $1 because sometimes you just need extra cheese. Also, because South be the South, there were “bottomless” options for popcorn and soda.Hot dog price: $3.50
Popcorn: 3 (incomplete)
Confession time: I did not sample the popcorn. Between the late tip, the press meal, and all of the distractions, I didn’t have time to get popcorn, so I’ll give it the industry standard 3. I noticed the popcorn was in bags, not boxes, so props for that.Signature food: 2.5
I didn’t really see one. I guess boiled peanuts? That’s a Georgia thing. You can get that for $4.50.Bathrooms: 2.5
Not impressed. The one I visited was small, had broken locks on the bathroom doors and the paper towel dispenser was broken.
Scoreboard: 2
What do Rupp Arena, the O-Dome, and Stegeman Coliseum all have in common? None have a center-hung scoreboard. Despite all the renovations to Stegeman, there is no big pretty scoreboard, just a cluster of speakers; in fact, there is only one large video board, and even it looks outdated.PA System/announcer/music: 3.5
Typical pop/hip-hop blend, but I appreciated the old school hip-hop, which got the crowd even more hyped. Georgia must have known Charles Barkely was coming, because they had a whole clip reel ready. Sadly, they used ones that weren’t really that funny, which is kind of a crime because Barkley is hilarious.Fun stuff: 3
Even though their scoreboard sucks, Georgia had plenty of “cams”: Kiss Cam, Dance Cam, etc. Lots of free t-shirts, giveaways, etc. Actually, Georgia’s t-shirt guns were the most impressive I’ve seen, sending some tees bouncing off the roof.Pep band: 4
Great blend of new stuff and old stuff. They even did a rendition of “Uptown Funk” that made me really, really happy.Halftime show: 3.5
The popular “Quick Change” act yet again. In case you haven’t seen it before, here it is at a Milwaukee Bucks game a few years back:Meh. Maybe I’ve just seen it too many times, but they have nothing on the Firecrackers.
Souvenirs: 3
Posters and free t-shirts for the student section to promote their blackout.Ticket price: 5
$15 for all seats, even for the Kentucky game. That’s a deal, my friends.Ushers: 5
Very nice and helpful.
Press area/meal: 4
The press meal was fried chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes, which I’ll never complain about. Sweet tea, water and cookies were also available, and there was a Coke fountain in the press room. God bless Georgia’s Coke monopoly.Student Section: 3.5
The students got their early, and when the doors opened, they stampeded into the gymnasium:They also heckled the players throughout warmups:
Oddly enough, I don’t think they used the cheers they came up with for the game, maybe because Drew publicized them on the site. While I was taking pictures of the students, one saw my KSR pullover and yelled “HEY, WHERE’S THAT DREW FRANKLIN” at me. “Because of him, I got cussed out by hundreds of UK fans.” Sorry, dude.
There was an older man in the crowd that obviously wasn’t part of the student section, but did jumping jacks for nearly the entire game in a crazy red and black sweater. He seems to be a bit of a celebrity at Stegeman, and someone in the student section even made a fathead of him that they showed on the jumbotron. I’d love to hear his story.
BBN Effect: 5
Kentucky fans always travel well, but they were out in force in Athens. There’s a big contingent of UK fans in Atlanta, and the Alumni Club even presented the MVP of the game, Andrew Harrison, with the Bill Keightley Mr. Wildcat Award. I met David Shelton, the past president of the Greater Atlanta UK Alumni Club, and he wanted me to spread the word about their campaign to get a UK license plate for Georgia. To help them out, visit ukfan.net.Back to the crowd. From tip off on, Kentucky fans made their presence known with several LOUD “Go Big Blue” chants. Here’s one of them:
At the end of the game, Andrew Harrison and Tyler Ulis motioned to the crowd to thank them for their support, and a large group of Kentucky fans stuck around to send the team bus off from Stegeman Coliseum. I’ve already written about this, but Kentucky fans across the South have flocked to see this team play, and being able to witness the BBN presence at road games has been one of my favorite parts of this season.
GBB chant count: 10
Campus/town: 5
Athens is right up there with Oxford as my favorite SEC town. In fact, it may have passed it on this trip. Downtown Athens has plenty of great bars and restaurants, along with an excellent music scene (it is the home of REM and the B-52s, after all). My favorite haunt is Trappeze Pub, which has excellent food and tasty craft brews. Over lunch, I sampled Creature Comforts Tropicália, an IPA brewed right across the street. Two thumbs up.Georgia’s campus is gorgeous as well, all brick and pine trees. It’s pretty much the ideal setting for a big school in the South, and if you haven’t been there yet, put it on your bucket list.
Overall atmosphere: 4
Stegeman was buzzing for Tuesday’s game, and at times in the second half, the atmosphere seemed prime for an upset; however, this Kentucky team was once again just too good. Props to the Georgia crowd for bringing it and the Georgia team for giving Kentucky a serious scare.As for the building itself, the renovations to the exterior and the concourses are gorgeous, the perfect model for updating older small arenas without sacrificing character. Once Stegeman gets a new scoreboard, it will be one of the nicer arenas in the SEC. Combine that with an ideal college town like Athens and you’ve got one hell of a road trip.
Total score: 75.5/100
Previous scores:Auburn Arena: 84/100
South Carolina’s Colonial Life Arena: 77.5/100
Alabama’s Coleman Coliseum: 76.75/100
Florida’s O’Connell Center: 74/100
Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium: 71.5/100
Mississippi State’s Humphrey Coliseum: 69/100
Ole Miss’ Tad Smith Coliseum: 68.5/100
The Cats are currently favored by 14.5 in tomorrow’s home game against Florida, the final contest of the regular season. The line opened at -16 and shifted to -14.5 this afternoon, according to VegasInsider.com.
I’ll take Kentucky to cover, please. I’ll also take a date with any of the three girls pictured above.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Dakari Johnson and Tyler Ulis answered questions from the media earlier today before practice. Watch below as they talk perfection, Florida and being awesome.
© Dale Zanine
An excerpt:
Cauley-Stein is quick enough to cover insane amounts of ground on defense and stick with college players half his size, and he’s long enough to bother every shot within 10 feet. Karl-Anthony is big enough to ruin shots at the rim, and his offense is somehow dominant and raw at the same time. Seven-footers always have value, but given where the NBA is going, guys like these will be priceless. That’s what’s coming in June.Stop what you’re doing and go read it.
Until then, they’re college basketball’s problem.
This may be the most Willie Cauley-Stein nugget ever…
According to Coach Cal, Willie was a star kickball player in high school. Cal was telling reporters about how he never saw Willie play basketball in high school, and then he dropped this gem: “I watched him play kickball. You could not believe.”
“He would spin ‘em,” Cal said, while flailing his arm.
Badminton was another sport Willie played. Because of course.
…we’d be watching Kentucky take on the winner of Vandy and Alabama. Here’s the bracket based on the latest standings. Because the SEC is a mess, only Kentucky (1), Arkansas (2), and Missouri (14) have clinched their spots so far. With one game left to go, a lot could change.
Meanwhile, here is the latest weather forecast for Nashville:
Not too bad, right?
No “Uptown Dunk,” but I’M READY TO RUN THROUGH SOME WALLS. GIVE ME A SNOW SHOVEL BECAUSE IMMA DOMINATE THAT DRIVEWAY.
After a ten-year investigation, the NCAA just handed down its penalties to Syracuse and Jim Boeheim for multiple infractions including academics and extra benefits. The NCAA suspended Boeheim for nine conference games next season and is taking away twelve scholarships, three a year for four years. Penalties also include a five-year probation and vacation of wins in which ineligible student participated. That does not include Syracuse’s 2003 title.
“During the 10-year period of violations, the head basketball coach did not promote an atmosphere of compliance within his program and did not monitor the activities of those who reported to him as they related to academics and booster involvement,” the NCAA said of Boeheim.
The NCAA did not hand down a postseason ban, although Syracuse self-imposed one for this season. According to Syracuse.com, the scholarship ban will keep Syracuse from adding Thomas Bryant, a 2015 big man that John Calipari and Slice Rohrssen have also been recruiting.
Ouch.
[NCAA]
[Syracuse.com]
