Official Kentucky Wildcats quest for 2010 Final Four: Guess it just wasn't meant to be. :(

Estil

Well folks, now that the pre-season AP poll is out, and we start out in fourth place, I thought now would be a good time to post the official Kentucky Wildcats quest for the 2010 Final Four! And frankly, a Final Four bid would be par for the course for our $35 million dollar man. Frankly, I think we got an excellent shot at bringing home the big gold trophy for the eighth time!

Key:
HOME GAME
Win
Loss

----------Inter-Conference----------
Nov 13 MOREHEAD STATE 75-59
Nov 16 MIAMI-OHIO 72-70
Nov 19 SAM HOUSTON STATE 102-92
Nov 21 RIDER 92-63
Nov 24 vs Cleveland State 73-49
Nov 25 vs Stanford 73-65 OT
Nov 30 vs UNC Asheville 94-57
Dec 05 NORTH CAROLINA #10 68-66
Dec 09 vs Connecticut #14 64-61
Dec 12 @ Clown U 90-73
Dec 19 AUSTIN PEAY 90-69
Dec 21 DREXEL 88-44
Dec 23 LONG BEACH STATE 86-73
Dec 29 HARTFORD 101-64
Jan 02 LOSERVILLE 71-62

----------SEC Schedule-----------
Jan 09 GEORGIA 76-68
Jan 12 @ Florida 89-77
Jan 16 @ Auburn 72-67
Jan 23 ARKANSAS 101-70
Jan 26 @ South Carolina 62-68
Jan 30 VANDERBILT #21 85-72
Feb 02 MISSISSIPPI #25 85-75
Feb 06 @ LSU 81-55
Feb 09 ALABAMA 66-55
Feb 13 TENNESSEE #12 73-62
Feb 16 @ Mississippi State 81-75
Feb 20 @ Vanderbilt #17 58-56
Feb 25 SOUTH CAROLINA 82-61
Feb 27 @ Tennessee #19 65-74
Mar 03 @ Georgia 80-68
Mar 07 FLORIDA 74-66
2010 SEC CHAMPIONS!!


SEC TOURNAMENT:
===============
3/12: Alabama 73-67
3/13: Tennessee 74-45
3/14: Mississippi State 75-74 OT
2010 SEC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!!


ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR:
======================
3/18: East Tennessee State (16) 100-71
3/20: Wake Forest (9) 90-60
3/25: Cornell (12) 62-45
3/27: West Virginia (2) 66-73

frankhardy

I've been waiting for you to start the thread. I am looking forward to this season more than I have probably since the Championship days of the 1990's.

John Wall is going to be so much fun to watch, even though it will probably be for only one year. I have told people that I think he is a cross between Vince Carter and Pete Maravich. He is only 6'4", but he can dunk like Vince Carter, and pass like Pete Maravich.

I read where Patrick Patterson actually was shooting three pointers and Coach Cal wants him to shoot it more.

CrimsonTider

Feb 09 ALABAMA



I say that will be a loss for the Wildcats, maybe.

CrimsonTider

10. Tennessee


You got to be joking!!! I dislike Pearl as much as Kiffen.

Rocky Block can't possible be that good.

When Bama plays the viles in b-ball, were letting Mt. Cody play center, just to see how many blocks he gets.

I do hope that Kentucky wins it all this year. We need the SEC to sweep all the titles this year. LSU = Baseball, Alabama = Football, & Kentucky = Basketball & nothing for Auburn and Tennesse except a a** kicking from Bama!

Go Cats!!!, except for Feb 9th.

frankhardy

<< <i>10. Tennessee


You got to be joking!!! I dislike Pearl as much as Kiffen.

Rocky Block can't possible be that good.

When Bama plays the viles in b-ball, were letting Mt. Cody play center, just to see how many blocks he gets.

I do hope that Kentucky wins it all this year. We need the SEC to sweep all the titles this year. LSU = Baseball, Alabama = Football, & Kentucky = Basketball & nothing for Auburn and Tennesse except a a** kicking from Bama!

Go Cats!!!, except for Feb 9th. >>



I'll take that!

All I can say is that it's about freakin' time the Cats were in the top 10. Seems like forever.

Estil

<< <i>Feb 09 ALABAMA



I say that will be a loss for the Wildcats, maybe. >>



Just so long as we win the last game (NCAA Championship) that's all that matters.

Frankhardy,

I planned on starting the thread all along as soon as the first AP poll comes out. That is what you play for the in the regular season after all.

Estil

Opening day is today folks! I have no doubt we'll make quick work of Morehead State!

jaxxr

Best of luck to the new coach, and despite Friday the 13th, a big win seems very likely.

While having Chicago origins, I have always been a huge fan of Kentucky Hoops, and also Alabama FB.
This season, both may prevail !

frankhardy

Can't wait!

larryallen73

Bring home your 8th and you will only be THREE behind the Bruins!

Estil

Well, we sure properly disposed of Morehead State last night And we have a few more Mickey Mouse clubs ahead as well. But we shouldn't get too c-cky. It's going to get much tougher later. But I have no doubt we will prevail no matter who stands in our way!

frankhardy

How 'bout that circus shot by Eric Bledsoe! I loved how Jimmy Dykes (the announcer), just as Bledsoe threw it up, said, "That's not what Kentucky wants." Then when it when in, he said, "Well, so much for that thing about that not being what Kentucky wants."

Watch this - Bledsoe's shot!

Estil

Indeed! As long as it goes in the basket, right?

frankhardy

What a game! John Wall wins it at the buzzer. That's a pretty good way to start your career. However, UK would have won by 10 to 15 points if Miami would have just shot AVERAGE from the 3 point arc. They were out of their mind from long range. Winbush was 8 for 10 and hit his first 6.

Estil

I know, that was too close. Let's try to do a little better against the rest of the Mickey Mouse clubs.

Estil

Yes, that's more like it. Now that's what I call putting Rider in the Sky!

Estil

Sadly we just dropped a notch to #5. But that's okay, if we just keep on winning (and hopefully win convincingly), the ranking will take care of itself.

frankhardy

Great win today against UNC. John Wall was absolutely sensational in the first half. When he went out with a leg cramp, the momentum shifted dramatically and UNC made a nice comeback.

Did anybody see that move John Wall made one or two plays after his breakaway dunk? He looked like Michael Jordan out there.

Estil

I knew it was going to be tough seeing as how we were facing the defending champs but I had no doubt we could pull it off! We should definetly be ready to take on and beat Connecticut as well! We just gotta keep eating our Wheaties!

frankhardy

Did anybody see the ESPNEWS highlights? I don't think they even watched the game. John Wall had (probably) the most spectacular play this entire season so far. Did they show that move? Nope! It was the turning point of the game in the first half. He had just dunked the ball on a fast break just a play or two earlier. He took the ball the length of the floor and made a sensational Michael Jordan type move. I can't believe they didn't show it. Wait a second, yes I can. It's ESPN.

Estil

Well folks, thanks to that big win against North Carolina and with a little help from ex-#2 ranked Michigan State, we now moved up a notch to fourth place! Now THIS is the Kentucky I know!

Estil

It was quite a nailbiter but as I knew we would, we prevailed against UConn! So Kentucky is still undefeated!

Looks like we got Clown University coming up next in our annual matchup. That game should be much easier.

frankhardy

That game went a little bit past my bed time, but I stayed up for it. John Wall comes through again. He is a special talent.

Estil

Unfortunately he'll most likely be a one year wonder.

Estil

Well folks, Clown U had me a little worried there around halftime for a moment, but with the help of an 18-0 run, we sure put them in their place! I knew all along we'd get a run going and put them away though. And in more good news, we moved up a notch to third place in this week's poll (including a first place vote!) with a little help from ex-#3 Villanova losing. So we're now off to a 10-0 start and with nothing but Mickey Mouse clubs the rest of the way inter-conference wise (and even Loserville has gotten a bit on the sucking side), we should easily go undefeated in our inter-conference schedule! We shouldn't get too c-cky though, we do have three (so far) ranked teams in the SEC, but I'm sure we can take 'em!

Estil

Kentucky goes for win #2-0-0-0 tomorrow!

frankhardy

UK needs to find out from other universities how it feels to win 2,000 times. Oh, I almost forgot, nobody else has won 2,000 times.

Estil

North Carolina is right behind us (1,992) but we'll be the first!

Darin

With Calipari as coach some of his wins could always be subtracted later on.


Remember, he is a cheater.

frankhardy

<< <i>With Calipari as coach some of his wins could always be subtracted later on.


Remember, he is a cheater. >>




Read the facts in both cases (unlike the media). You'll change your mind.


In both cases, Calipari was cleared. In one of the cases (I believe in the UMass case with Marcus Camby), I think he even turned it in to the NCAA. In the Derrick Rose SAT case, Rose was cleared to play by the NCAA clearinghouse. Sounds like the NCAA made a mistake, not Memphis or Calipari.

Estil

<< <i>With Calipari as coach some of his wins could always be subtracted later on.


Remember, he is a cheater. >>



How many times do we have to explain this; in both the UMass and Memphis cases, CALIPARI DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!!!!!

Estil

Congratulations to Kentucky on win number 2-0-0-0!!! Now we must set our sights on an even more important number--8.

Estil

Congrats to Kentucky for their big win against LOSERville! Though for the first 45 seconds it didn't seem like either side knew how to play nice. Loserville (like Clown U) tried to give us a scare but I knew all along we'd get a run going and finish them off. So now Kentucky has ran the table in their non-conference schedule. I guess the question now is, can we do the same in the SEC like we did in 1996 and 2003? With only two other ranked teams right now it sure seems doable, but frankly, I'd rather run the table where it really counts, the NCAA Tournament.

frankhardy

I wish DeMarcus Cousins would calm down a little bit. I love having him at Kentucky, but I'm afraid he is going to let his emotions get him in trouble. I see him turning into Rasheed Wallace when he goes pro.

Boopotts

<< <i>

<< <i>With Calipari as coach some of his wins could always be subtracted later on.


Remember, he is a cheater. >>



How many times do we have to explain this; in both the UMass and Memphis cases, CALIPARI DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!!!!! >>




And neither did OJ.

HGenesis

<< <i>

<< <i>With Calipari as coach some of his wins could always be subtracted later on.


Remember, he is a cheater. >>




Read the facts in both cases (unlike the media). You'll change your mind.


In both cases, Calipari was cleared. In one of the cases (I believe in the UMass case with Marcus Camby), I think he even turned it in to the NCAA. In the Derrick Rose SAT case, Rose was cleared to play by the NCAA clearinghouse. Sounds like the NCAA made a mistake, not Memphis or Calipari. >>



Wow, someone sure does wear blinders.

Calipari is the only coach in NCAA history to have TWO final four appearances vacated to wrong-doing. Once is an accident, twice is a trend. To suggest that the NCAA 'made a mistake' (twice) is exceedingly mind-numbingly naive or ignorant, take your pick.

Calipari is dirty, the NCAA knows it, his players know it, the only people who don't acknowledge it are those who are fans of whatever school he's currently coaching. Throw in the fact that players that Calipari had slated to go to Memphis followed him to Kentucky, including John Wall who pled guilty to misdemeanor breaking and entering, and you have a coach who will look the other way when it comes to rules and player conduct if it means he gets wins on the court. Oh, by the way, Calipari officially has NO final four appearances (his 2 appearances vacated due to his scandals at both schools).

http://www.courant.com/sports/college/husky/men/hc-calipari,0,1574438.story

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis has been stripped by the NCAA of every victory in its 38-win season under coach John Calipari that ended in the national title game last year. The reason: an ineligible player believed to be Derrick Rose.

The announcement Thursday came 16 months after the Tigers lost to Kansas in the championship game following the 2007-08 season. School officials were expected to discuss the report later in the day.

It is the second time both Memphis and Calipari had to vacate Final Four seasons. The Tigers were stripped of their 1985 appearance and Calipari's Massachusetts team lost its 1996 berth.

Calipari is now the head coach at Kentucky, where officials have voiced support for him despite the Memphis scandal.

"I'm not worried about it because they have never said Coach Cal did anything wrong at all," said Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, who appeared with Calipari at the Kentucky State Fair on Thursday before the NCAA announcement. "I think he's a very upstanding guy. I think that's his reputation and I think that reputation will be with him here. I really don't foresee any problems."

Asked about the possibility of a vacated season Calipari said: "I would be disappointed if that's what they chose to do."

Memphis finished 38-2 in 2007-08, setting the NCAA record for wins in a season.

In its report, the NCAA did not identify the ineligible player by name, though earlier descriptions of him lead to the conclusion it could only be Rose. He was taken by the Chicago Bulls as the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft and went on to win the NBA rookie of the year award.

The player was accused of having another person take his SAT exam so he would be eligible as a freshman. Memphis argued it did not have enough information to substantiate the allegations in November 2007 and cleared him to play.

However, the SAT officials later conducted their own investigation and notified the player, the university and the NCAA's eligibility center that they were canceling his test in May 2008.

The agency said it sent letters to the player in March and April 2008; the second letter was sent three days after Rose and the Tigers lost to the Jayhawks. The player did not respond to either letter.

The infractions committee said it struck hard with its penalties because the ineligible player was used the entire season. In addition to the lost season, Memphis must also return the money it received from the NCAA tournament to Conference USA and will be prevented from receiving future shares doled out in the conference's revenue-sharing program.

Rose and his agent did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Two weeks ago, he told reporters he had talked with Calipari about the situation. "I know I didn't do anything wrong," he said.

The NCAA said the committee pressed Memphis officials during a hearing on the matter about why steps weren't taken in November 2007 to bench the ineligible player and avoid problems.

The committee also said the player's brother received free transportation on the team's charter plane and hotel lodging that season. Investigators said the total cost would have come to $1,713.85. Such an arrangement is considered an impermissible extra benefit.

"Neither the travel coordinator nor the business director had an explanation as to how the brother was permitted to board without having paid for the two flights," the NCAA report said.

The school's women's golf team also received three years probation and lost a scholarship for violations in its program.

HGenesis

Oh, and 'Loserville'? Way to show some class...oh, wait, this is UK we're talking about! They don't have any, which is why they chose Cheatin' Calipari to lead their program. Don't worry, fellas, if you do make it to the final four, you know it's going to be vacated when Calipari's cheating ways are exposed for the THIRD time.

Estil

You still haven't told us what Calipari did wrong. Again, the NCAA said he was innocent of any wrong doing in both cases. You have not a single shred of evidence to even suggest otherwise. And to compare Calipari to OJ is a joke (to put it mildly).

Boopotts

<< <i>You still haven't told us what Calipari did wrong. Again, the NCAA said he was innocent of any wrong doing in both cases. You have not a single shred of evidence to even suggest otherwise. And to compare Calipari to OJ is a joke (to put it mildly). >>




Let me ask you this- how much of you life was spend defending Calipari when he was at Memphis?

Estil

Irrelevant question. I don't follow any other teams other than Kentucky (and my high school teams as well), so back when he was with Memphis he wasn't even on my radar screen. That'd be like asking my wife (who is a Red Sox fan) how come she didn't defend so-and-so player or manager back when he was not with Boston.

Seriously, with Kentucky only twenty years removed from the infamous "Kentucky's Shame" scandal, do you really think they would've even touched Calipari with a ten foot pole had he been guilty or even reasonably suspected of wrongdoing? I thought we lived in America where you're innocent until proven guilty.

Estil

With the help of Kansas' first loss of the season, Kentucky now moves up to second place in the poll! I must say though, it is quite scary to see who did beat Kansas, Tennessee (who moved to ninth place), and you know that if they can take out the #1 team in the country, you can bet they'll be all the more hungrier to try to take us out too, and we get them twice. And after that too close win against Georgia, the players themselves admitted that the other teams will most definitely bring their A game against us and we must do the same if we are to keep winning.

frankhardy

Jay Bilas of ESPN, whom I respect a great deal, was on a Knoxville, TN radio station and talked of how he didn't think the Derrick Rose situation was a Calipari issue when he was at Memphis, why would it be now? (When the UT guys wanted Bilas to make Cal look bad).

He also said the issue with Camby at Umass was an issue that not a single coach in America could've prevented.

He also said John Wall was the best prospect in college basketball right now.

Estil

We sure passed a major test tonight with our 89-77 win against Florida; sounds like a fairly convincing win but you better believe Florida put up a greater fight than what the final score indicated. And we might as well get used to it (especially road games) because you better believe the bullseye on our backs is only going to grow bigger as we progress. In fact, the other schools in the SEC pretty much see us as the Evil Empire if you will (especially this year). I'm especially worried about Tennessee, after all they did beat ex-#1 Kansas and I'm sure they're more than eager to try to knock us out too. We'll just have to always bring our A game from here on out.

purduepete

Congrats with your teams' win over the Gators tonight.

The conference grind can be tough - all I need to do is to look at the last 2 games that my alma mater Purdue played for proof of that.

For UK fans' sake, I hope that the team can go all the way this year...before Wall and Cousins go to the pros after this season ends.

Estil

I know there's all this talk about us going undefeated in the regular season, but I'd rather go 6-0 in the NCAA Tournament.

frankhardy

<< <i>I know there's all this talk about us going undefeated in the regular season, but I'd rather go 6-0 in the NCAA Tournament. >>



I would rather go undefeated in the regular season, undefeated in the SEC Tournament, and 6-0 in the NCAA Tournament!

Estil

<< <i>

<< <i>I know there's all this talk about us going undefeated in the regular season, but I'd rather go 6-0 in the NCAA Tournament. >>



I would rather go undefeated in the regular season, undefeated in the SEC Tournament, and 6-0 in the NCAA Tournament! >>



My point is that I DON'T want us to end up like the '07 Patriots.

frankhardy

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>I know there's all this talk about us going undefeated in the regular season, but I'd rather go 6-0 in the NCAA Tournament. >>



I would rather go undefeated in the regular season, undefeated in the SEC Tournament, and 6-0 in the NCAA Tournament! >>



My point is that I DON'T want us to end up like the '07 Patriots. >>



I know. I was just being a smart alec.

Estil

Well, Auburn sure gave us a fight to the finish (even though we had a 13 point lead at one point), but with Mr. Wall's help at the foul line, we were able to prevail.

FOX NEWS ALERT!!!

It appears big bad #1 Texas is losing to Texas A&M at the moment, and you all know what that means should Texas fall, right?

UPDATE: Aww, shoot. Texas prevailed in OT. Looks like noooooooo #1 ranking for us

Estil

Correction! There WILL be a #1 ranking in our future!! Big bad Texas couldn't quite handle Kansas State so provided we continue winning, we will be numero uno come next week!!

Estil

Well, apparently coach was just kidding when he claimed that getting the #1 ranking was no big deal before the game. We sure seemed to want that #1 ranking quite badly the way we played today!

And yes, I'm well aware that Tennessee lost today as well. But the fact that they already beat one #1 will still make them all the more eager to try to beat us, and to a lesser degree EVERYONE will be really gunning for us. We sure better always bring our A game from here on out (like we clearly did today), or else!

And as if that wasn't enough, Texas lost AGAIN!! I guess they weren't quite as big and bad as they thought.