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Kentucky Basketball.. Is BACK
January 21st, 2009
by Jason Brubaker
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Kentucky Wildcats
Perhaps Kentucky
needs to look into doing the same thing.
Now, I'm not saying
the Wildcats are national title contenders after beating up on a hapless Georgia
team this weekend. A 3-0 start in the SEC is fantastic, but it hardly places UK
among the North Carolinas, Connecticuts and Dukes of the college basketball
world this season.
But two plays stood
out in my mind as I watched the Cats throttle the Dawgs on Sunday. They were two
plays that meant little on the scoreboard, but were memorable enough to give
fans a great feeling about the future.
First, with just a
few minutes remaining in the first half, Michael Porter stripped Georgia guard
Zac Swansey in the backcourt, and headed toward the basket for a layup. Swansey
caught up, and just as Porter left his feet, Swansey delivered the foul, sending
Porter crashing into the basket support. As Porter, unhurt, attempted to get to
his feet, he was immediately greeted by all four of his teammates, who had
sprinted to the other end to help him up and applaud his effort.
The second play
came just a minute or so later, when Darius Miller also came up with a steal in
the backcourt. As he drove toward the goal, he fed a slashing Kevin Galloway on
the other side of the basket, who drew a foul as he tried to lay it in. As
Galloway immediately turned to head to the free throw line, he found himself
face to face with Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson, who both delivered
high-fives to go with the huge smiles on their faces.
On the surface,
these two plays had very little impact on the game. Two steals, two fouls, a
handful of free throws. I don't even remember if Porter or Galloway made the
free throws, and that's beside the point anyway. Both plays, in many ways,
showed the passion, camaraderie and joy that UK has been noticeably lacking in
recent seasons. Both plays sent a clear message to UK opponents- the Cats are
back.
Near the end of the
Tubby Smith era, whispers grew that the program had lost their air of
invincibility, that Tubby's hit-or-miss recruiting efforts had created a stale
program that was neither moving forward or backward. That feeling even wafted
into the Billy GIllispie era, as his teams suffered some embarrassing setbacks
last year before hitting their stride on conference play. With fans looking
forward to the promise of a new season, UK promptly lost their first two games
this year, including a bad loss at home to Virginia Military Institute.
But instead of
allowing an "oh no- here we go again" attitude to permeate the program, these
Cats stuck together, and have slowly replaced that feeling of dread with the joy
of watching a team that is quietly meshing together and genuinely cares for one
another. Nowhere is team chemistry more important that in college basketball,
and getting that established is the first step towards the Cats reclaiming their
place among the elite.
No doubt, part of
the excitement around the team again is due to the exploits of Meeks, who has
quickly erased an injury-riddle sophomore season by thrusting himself into the
National Player of the Year discussion this season. His scoring explosions have
been well-documented, but what has gone overlooked is his team-first attitude.
Meeks continues to answer questions with "we", not "I", and is quick to credit
his team for his place in the record books. Watching his teammates mob him after
he pumped in 54 points against Tennessee was one of the sweetest moments in UK
history, because it showed the togetherness that championships are built on.
But even more than
Meeks, even more than the reliable play of stud forward Patrick Patterson, or
the shot-swatting of Perry Stevenson, or the toughness of Ramon Harris, is the
energy that this team takes the floor with every time out.
Players who hit the
floor for loose balls are yanked to their feet by multiple teammates, as the
assistant coaches (and occasionally even Gillispie) applaud to show their
approval. A high flying dunk or a deep three produces enough towel waving from
the bench players to give Steelers' fans and their Terrible Towels a run for
their money. Hustle plays are quickly rewarded with chest bumps and high-fives
from everyone on the floor. The extra pass for an easy basket is always followed
by a finger-point and "good pass boy!", loud enough for even the television
audience to pick up. And record-breaking performances are topped off with more
hugs than a family reunion.
Now granted, all
the good feelings and high-fives in the world don't overshadow shortcomings
between the lines. UK still would like more consistent point guard play and they
still lack a reliable third scorer (although Meeks nearly scores enough himself
to count for two players). They're still dangerously low on experience, and
their rotation seems to change every game.
But watching this
team play, watching their hustle and unselfishness, their toughness and
teamwork, gives UK fans a glimpse into the future of this program. They're
taking the floor with the swagger that comes with hard work and a love of the
game. They're playing for their teammates and their coaches, and that teamwork
is growing more and more evident with each game. They're playing loose, having
fun and giving their fans a reason to believe that they're only going to get
better.
So regardless of
where this season might end, be it in the SEC Tournament, the Sweet 16 or even
cutting down the nets for their eighth national title, this team has already
started building their legacy, and more importantly, restoring the programs'
legacy.
UK has always been a program that focuses on team accomplishments above all else, and these Cats get that. Playing for UK has always been a privilege that has to be earned every day, and these Cats get that. Playing college basketball for a storied program in one of the best venues in the country is a fantastic experience that should be enjoyed, and these Cats get that.
So while the box
score may show simply two steals and three points, the message to the rest of
the SEC, and college basketball, is clear.
Kentucky is back.
Comments
I'll agree that in those
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2009-01-21 15:15.
I'll agree that in those games Meeks did poorly. That was at the beginning of the season when the cat's offense had no identity and when the team was struggling to pass the ball. Now they have learned to move the ball alot better(tied for 10th in the nation for assist per game) he is getting alot better looks than in those early games.
The turnovers I have no argument about except I will easily trade the turnovers for the 25.7 points (good for 4rth in the nation) per game he is putting up.
The cats may not be completly back yet but Meeks is not overated and when he is hitting from outside I think the cats can beat just aout anybody in the country
r u crazy
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2009-01-22 08:23.
How could the sec just be worse. Its the toughest confrence in the nation. Kentucky is dominating. Yeah we have our losses to ur major contending schools but look back at the past couple years n how litlle they lost by in the games this year. So yeah i'd definately say they r back n if not completely, then very very close. But we'll find out in the ncaa tournaments.
"Its the toughest confrence
Submitted by Shawn Siegel on Thu, 2009-01-22 10:30.
"Its the toughest confrence in the nation"
umm, did this become a football discussion or did i miss something..
Hey Idiot.......!
Submitted by Jesse Watts (not verified) on Wed, 2009-01-21 15:02.
Yes UK did lose those games. They were also one of the first few games of the season. Meeks was coming off a terrible injury riddled sophmore year. So it is safe to assume that he may have had a few reservations. Recovering from a sports hernia is not something easily accomplished. We also had no real experience at the 1 either. We lost two seniors in Joe Crawford and Ramell Bradley, not to mention the transfer of Derick Jasper. Sure those were bad losses, but no more that any other team in the top 25 with early season losses. There is also no way that we do not warrant top 25 consideration. We played UNC on the road with the number 1 ranking, and only lost by 19. UNC then traveled to #9 MSU and were up by 30 at one point. I do not who you root for, but I dare say your team does not have a player the caliber of Meeks. Anybody on your squad top 5 in the nation in scoring or putting up 54 on the defending SEC champion in their house!?!? No I did not think so. Nobody in the country right now wants to come into Rupp Arena and play us. So get your story right next time there chief!
Hey Jesse...
Submitted by marcushatten on Wed, 2009-01-21 22:05.
Yeah somebody on my squad is probably the player of the year right now. Blake Griffin.
uk basketball
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2009-01-22 19:33.
You are so the typical Kentucky critic. All the denials in the world can't erase the seven natinal championshps and the 40 something SEC titles and the most wins of any college basketball team.
The CATS are back. and without a doubt -- if we end up cutting down the nets -- you will find some illegitimate reason why Kentucky is a thing of the past.
We've been the envy of college basketball for decades and that will continue to be the case.
WE ARE BACK!!!!
You seem to be the typical
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2009-01-22 19:57.
You seem to be the typical "live in the past" UK supporter. If I looked at a ND page they would say the same thing about their weak football program.
Oh You're an Oklahoma fan.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2009-01-23 19:17.
Oh You're an Oklahoma fan. I've watched several Big-12 games this year and they play defense in basketball like they do in football which is to say on the soft side. While it's true that no SEC teams are ranked the difference between the ranked and unranked teams is small. Yes KY lost to VMI....but Oklahoma lost to a very middle of the road SEC Arkansas team. And Blake Griffin? The guy can score but in watching him several times all I have seen is a lot of standing around with an occasional blocked shot. The dude can't play defense and without solid defense there won't be any deep run in the NCAAs. We'll know a lot more about KY and OU by the time mid-March rolls around...and we'll see which team has made more progress.
Also Jesse,
Submitted by marcushatten on Wed, 2009-01-21 22:07.
You Kentucky fans have fallen back so far to use an excuse like "only lost by 19".
Sad sad state for the Kentucky program.
UK
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2009-01-21 16:29.
UK isn't back until we make the Sweet sixteen this year
Pretty sad when a UK program
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2009-01-22 20:00.
Pretty sad when a UK program is thinking sweet 16 is a good goal to achieve.
Maybe your embaressed that
Submitted by Kyle Lynch (not verified) on Wed, 2009-01-21 17:09.
Maybe your embaressed that you missed the call on Meeks being a stud or maybe you don't know a thing about talent, and all you pay attention to is the numbers that players have put up in the past... but fact are facts son Meeks posted 54 on Tenn. in their gym...ugly orange blazer and all... so make what you want of him.. but mark my words... you will eating yours come the end of the season.
even if they dont go far
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2009-01-21 18:23.
even if they dont go far come march, the cats will be fierce next year and i think arkansas will be a competitor next year as well
It's at halftime and Kentucky is up 1 right now
Submitted by marcushatten on Wed, 2009-01-21 22:11.
You better pray you don't lose to Auburn at home Kentucky fans.
Meeks is playing within the system tonight and Kentucky still isn't looking too good.
Billy Gillispie
Submitted by rherman on Thu, 2009-01-22 02:03.
I think he's a joke of a coach...let us not forget how he left Texas A&M: He text messaged his players who had committed to let them know he jumped ship for UK. I bet you that's how he divorced his wife, too...via text message.
Billy Gillispie
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2009-01-22 08:56.
Who cares about the mans personal life. When it comes to basketball n business the man is a genius. Dude he was like hte big 12 coach of the year for like 2 of the 3 three years at texas a&m n now co coach of the year in the sec. Jesus man i can go on all day about the mans stats n accomplishments. N if u bring a coach like that to kentuck's already great basketball club, it kind of tends to make tramendous things happen. Its reality bro. But there must be somethin ur worried about or u wouldn't be on a KENTUCKY basketball sight announcing ur fears
Crow
Submitted by marcushatten on Thu, 2009-01-22 08:21.
I don't mind eating crow every now and then.
Meeks was flat out awesome again last night. I still maintain that he needs to pass when he's not having a good shooting night though.
he does exactly what he needs to when he's not shooting well...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2009-01-23 15:20.
he drives the lane and draws contact. That's how he still puts up 20+ ppg on off nights. 91% free throw shooter.
UK is back
Submitted by John Edge (not verified) on Thu, 2009-01-22 11:37.
They are back. Yes, the SEC is down, but if they win the SEC and get hot they could win big. Patterson and Meeks are scorers, but if they find that one more guy that can score with them, then you have to say look out.
You are right they are not National Contenders yet, but this is a team you have to watch.
I'm a huge Kentucky, I don't
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2009-01-22 22:44.
I'm a huge Kentucky, I don't think were back yet. We are headed in the right direction. We still have a few missing pieces in the puzzle, that we will have soon. I'm thinking Champs in 2 years. I remember a few years ago when UNC went through the samething. Lets not forget how many times Roy Williams was #1 at Kansas and how many times he choked. I don't think that UNC is the best team out there. Wake Forest looked a lot better than they did. A lot of good time teams looking much better than Duke as well. We will see as March is coming upon us fast.
kentucky never left
Submitted by h-town (not verified) on Fri, 2009-01-23 09:11.
that fat ass marcushatten dont know shit about basketball when is the last time oklahoma won anything the big 12 is really down just a bunch of juco teams running around kentucky is doing a great job so why is it so hard to give them credit and the sec is not down for example baylor is suppose to be one of the big 12's top three teams but south carolina beat them on there home court south carolina
Calling me out on weight? Really?
Submitted by marcushatten on Fri, 2009-01-23 09:22.
Wow, h-town big surprise there.
Oklahoma has done quite fine considering we're a FOOTBALL SCHOOL. We know better than to run off good basketball coaches wh care about our program too.
SEC is down. That's obvious. This isn't a football conversation last time I checked.
Yeah Baylor lost to South Carolina in Waco. Bad loss for Baylor.
Yet you use that as an excuse for the SEC isn't down?
That'd be like me putting my whole argument about the SEC being down, around VMI winning at Kentucky. (It'd be stupid to use one game as the basis for an argument.)
With that type of logic the Big South would be better than the SEC.
Arkansas is like 0-3 aginst
Submitted by Kyle Lynch (not verified) on Fri, 2009-01-23 12:30.
Arkansas is like 0-3 aginst SEC competition, but they are 2-0 aginst the so called giants of the big 12...huh...they beat your Blakes ok squad, Texas, Washington scooled those boys with his off the ball screen and rools (best off the ball player in the nation) Look the SEC is down, but they are also, young and dangerous, come end of the season they will close the gap, and next year if some key players return they will return to domanance!
Crow, more like
Submitted by Kyle Lynch (not verified) on Fri, 2009-01-23 12:35.
Crow, more like buzzered...Meeks is hands down the best shooting guard in the nation, well maybe a close secound to Curry
Not yet back...but on our way
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2009-01-25 18:36.
UK IS NOT BACK! But UK is young and growing within the system every single game. I GUARANTEE YOU THIS THOUGH! If your Big 12, Big LEAST, or ACC team draws UK in the tourney...you shall remember me telling you that you will be riding home hoping for a better season next year while we move forward. You see UK probably will not get more than a 5 or 6 seed and that means they get more opportunities to sit "the so-called greats down".
Last time I checked, this
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2009-01-26 09:58.
Last time I checked, this story was about how KY is back as a TEAM... And if that is the case, I definitely have to agree, I haven't seen a UK Team that was this close in many, many years. They get along great, and give each other all the credit. Even Meeks always credits his teammates for having a great night! KY is a program that has fallen off over the past decade, but mark my words, we may not be in the top 25 (Yet), but we are definitely on our way back up.
And as for Jodie Meeks, he is the MAN!!! Don't discredit a good player, especially not over a few rocky games at the beginning of the season (dude, he didn't play last year).
Go CATS!!!!
Yes they are!!
Submitted by Tyler Whitcomb on Mon, 2009-01-26 10:48.
Thanks to Jodie Meeks and Patrick Paterson. After Meeks goes in the late 1st round and Patterson is a lottery pick in this years draft, who picks up there slack next year? In the 2nd toughest conference in basketball,
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About Jason Brubaker
Columnist
Kentucky & SEC
Contact
jkbru22@yahoo.com
Background
Jason Brubaker is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. He formerly worked as a reporter for WVLK 590 AM in Lexington covering UK athletics, local high school sports, and the Kentucky Derby for a nightly
sports talk show. He is currently a reporter for The Community Recorder in Florence, Ky.
Location
Kentucky
People are overreacting to Meeks
Do people not realize that when he's off, he's really bad and can shoot Kentucky out of the game?
Go check out the UNC and Miami games. Both losses and both filled with a ton of Meeks shots and a ton of Meeks misses.
Not to mention he has a 2/3 Ast/TO ratio.
Kentucky is decent but they're not all that great and they aren't really back yet. They aren't even in the Top 25.
They'll make it there eventually I think, if they keep winning, but that may mean that the SEC is just worse. Doesn't necessarily mean Kentucky is back.