This is my least favorite UK team I can remember in my 30 years as a fan.

[Sir Richard F. Burton]

I need to get this off my shoulder I have seen improvement in only one player Joe Crawford has gone from a C to a B. The rest of the team has remained stagnant. I'd like to say they are inconsistent but, that implies that at times they played well and as I have watched or listened to every game I cannot point out any stretch where they have played well. Rondo seems to lack the drive to win that most great players have I have never liked Rondo's game he is not a point guard. Sparks defies all description he is Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde all in one possesion. Bobby Perry tries he can't help it that he is smaller than every guy he plays against. Randolph "the Fax" Morris has already got 2 fouls for next seasons opener he is the most beguiling big man IMO since Turpin. Woo and Shag are two of the biggest wasted basketball scholarships ever to stand over seven feet in the history of the world. Ramel Bradley is better than Rondo but is that a compliment? At least we have a bench full of hungry McDonald All American freshmanwho'll contribute next season oh wait we have no freshman of note. Net net we are screwed.

John Wooden could coach the first half and Phil Jackson the second and we would have not won anymore games with these players.

Sorry but that is how I feel.

[phoenix]

Cheese anyone??????

Glad you shared that.

I see them as 25 game winners next year. Write it down.

[DamonEsquire]

Mine too but the big thing in gambleing sports. When one dislikes, there is love. This team is deep. 6 20+ points season highs and 3/4 in the teens for season highs. There is not another team in the land. That can say that but UK just finds a way to lose. imputable!

[graham51]

This has probably been the hardest team to watch since probation.

As Rupp used to say after a lackluster game" Well Cawood they looked like they were killing snakes out there." And this team seemed to be trying to slay serpents in every game this year.

Phoenix I don't pay any attention to anyone's predictions I remember people predicting 15-1 or 14-2 in the SEC.

And some proclaiming a FF trip.

I'm from Missouri you got to show me.

[Buddah]

phoenix wrote:
Cheese anyone??????

Glad you shared that.

I see them as 25 game winners next year.Â* Write it down.


we win 25 games, and i will proclaim, sedona arizona the only real utopia on earth, with such energy.

[Lost Highway]

Buddah wrote: phoenix wrote:
Cheese anyone??????

Glad you shared that.

I see them as 25 game winners next year. Write it down.


we win 25 games, and i will proclaim, sedona arizona the only real utopia on earth, with such energy.


Sedona is a beautiful spot and God did spend a little extra time there when he formed the earth.

Kentucky basketball is not so beautiful these daysso 25 wins next year or any year in the near future might be a stretch. Let's hope some energy rubs off on the Cats and Tubby too.

[Realist]

I agree that his has been a tough bunch to watch. Everyone up there seems confused from Tubby to the players.

Not seeing improvement in the players is reflective of the coaching staff. I realize that Pitino could coach when I saw how much Farmer, Pelphrey and crew improved. Richie Farmer as a senior was much better than Richie Farmer as a freshman. Can anyone say Sparks has improved? I thought he was as good at Western as a freshman as he is now. He certainly hasn't learned how to make good decisions in his tenure at KY.

[Mackcat]

phoenix wrote: Cheese anyone??????

Glad you shared that.

I see them as 25 game winners next year. Write it down.
This team has 21 wins right now. Im not sure that 25 thing is that over the top. A team can play a lot of games these days.

[Wildcat Larry]

Realist wrote: Can anyone say Sparks has improved? I thought he was as good at Western as a freshman as he is now. He certainly hasn't learned how to make good decisions in his tenure at KY.

I think if you watch a few tapes of Sparks from freshman year to now, then you might not be so quick to say he hasn't improved. He's a lot better defender and he drives to the basket much better than early on in his career.

[phoenix]

Wow! That is sooo close, who told you about Sedona?:question

Buddah wrote:
phoenix wrote:
Cheese anyone??????

Glad you shared that.

I see them as 25 game winners next year. Write it down.


we win 25 games, and i will proclaim, sedona arizona the only real utopia on earth, with such energy.

[BigblueDrew]

phoenix wrote: Cheese anyone??????

Glad you shared that.

I see them as 25 game winners next year. Write it down.
Why must you belittle any fan that honestly speaks his mind on here. That IS what we do here isn't it . Kind of INTOLERANT aren't you.

[Rockober]

I can't say this is the least favorite team of mine. I have a few favorites but always like all our teams. I really like the seniorson this team. Moss will go down as one of the best walk-ons, Sparks has had some fine moments, Stockton has been a class act and has played well of late, and LeMaster-those 4 threes were awesome. Son of a former player living his dream and following in his dad's footsteps. Who can't love that. I could go on about the rest of the team but I would rather just say that this team may be the most frustrating UK team I can remember.

[katfever]

phoenix wrote: Cheese anyone??????

Glad you shared that.

I see them as 25 game winners next year. Write it down.
Interesting. I wonder what ur prediction was for this year. :rolleyes:

[blueheretic]

BigblueDrew wrote: phoenix wrote: Cheese anyone??????

Glad you shared that.

I see them as 25 game winners next year. Write it down.
Why must you belittle any fan that honestly speaks his mind on here. That IS what we do here isn't it . Kind of INTOLERANT aren't you.No these forums are only for the flattery of Tubby Smith. No dissent!!! No dissent!!!:tongue

[phoenix]

I predicted it would be a tough year.

katfever wrote:
phoenix wrote: Cheese anyone??????

Glad you shared that.

I see them as 25 game winners next year. Write it down.
Interesting. I wonder what ur prediction was for this year. :rolleyes:

[Realist]

Wildcat Larry wrote: Realist wrote: Can anyone say Sparks has improved? I thought he was as good at Western as a freshman as he is now. He certainly hasn't learned how to make good decisions in his tenure at KY.

I think if you watch a few tapes of Sparks from freshman year to now, then you might not be so quick to say he hasn't improved. He's a lot better defender and he drives to the basket much better than early on in his career.
If he's a better defender and driver than earlier would you credit that to coaching or physical maturation? In the case of defender I'd have to say both. Tubby has always gotten credit as a good defensive coach so maybe he's learned some things. Defense also takes a lot of physical effort so physical maturation and strength increases could explain some of it. My point was that he doesn't seem to make the kinds of decisions a senior who has been well coached would make. Part of what you may be seeing as improvement may be the result of two years of top flight competition, he's naturally going to improve just from playing against the teams he's been playing against.

[Sir Richard F. Burton]

I agree I like your language better than mine they have frustrated me all year:blush:


Rockober wrote: this team may be the most frustrating UK team I can remember.

[Wildcat Larry]

Realist wrote:
Wildcat Larry wrote: Realist wrote: Can anyone say Sparks has improved? I thought he was as good at Western as a freshman as he is now. He certainly hasn't learned how to make good decisions in his tenure at KY.

I think if you watch a few tapes of Sparks from freshman year to now, then you might not be so quick to say he hasn't improved. He's a lot better defender and he drives to the basket much better than early on in his career.
If he's a better defender and driver than earlier would you credit that to coaching or physical maturation? In the case of defender I'd have to say both. Tubby has always gotten credit as a good defensive coach so maybe he's learned some things. Defense also takes a lot of physical effort so physical maturation and strength increases could explain some of it. My point was that he doesn't seem to make the kinds of decisions a senior who has been well coached would make. Part of what you may be seeing as improvement may be the result of two years of top flight competition, he's naturally going to improve just from playing against the teams he's been playing against.

I agree to a point. Decision-making isn't a strong suit for anyone on this UK team. Not sure at all why that is. However, if you contribute the poor decision-making to the coach, then, in turn, you have to contribute the great decision-making of the Hayes - Fitch - Daniels crew to the coach, too. I just think it's a little off the wall to say that those guys had great basketball IQs despite the coach and these guys have terrible basketball IQs because of the coach.

I think the reality of it lies somewhere in between.

Sparks, as you point out, hasn't improved "greatly", but do you put that down to:

a. poor coaching
b. poor learning ability
c. doesn't have potential for anything higher
d. selfish and not willing to learn
e. overhyped and doing the best he can
f. something we don't even know about

It could be any of the above.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I disagree.................Morris went from a C to a A ..IMO................I saw a much better Morris on the floor than I did last year.

[poodoo]

Rockober wrote: I can't say this is the least favorite team of mine. I have a few favorites but always like all our teams. I really like the seniorson this team. Moss will go down as one of the best walk-ons, Sparks has had some fine moments, Stockton has been a class act and has played well of late, and LeMaster-those 4 threes were awesome. Son of a former player living his dream and following in his dad's footsteps. Who can't love that. I could go on about the rest of the team but I would rather just say that this team may be the most frustrating UK team I can remember.


Same here, Rockober. I, too, especially like the seniors, but I like the WHOLE TEAM. I cannot imagine anyone's watching the Alabama game and our coming back twice and all the enthusiasm on the bench and still not like this team.

Yes, though, this team "may be the most frustrating UK team I can remember." Well-said, Rockober.

These guys have played so much better, though, since Tubby began grading out the players and changed the starting lineup. Except for the Florida game, the team has looked much more like a TEAM and has played so much better defensively (the point of Tubby's grading out practices and making changes). Yes, they can be SO FRUSTRATING, the stupid things they still seem to do and the problems getting the ball in bounds, BUT I now see HEART and DESIRE and TEAMNESSand it's hard for me to understand that a lot of folks have not seen the difference.

I pull for this team with all my heart, just like I do all the teams. Team Turmoil was the hardest by far in that regard, BUT I still pulled for that team, too, as I knew there were still a lot of players that did care.

Unfortunately, I suspect our players sense some sentiment in this regard. After all, they have lost all those games in Rupp and have been the first team indecades to have to play on Thursday in the SEC Tourney and the first Tubby-coached team not to win either a regular season or a title. Some fans (not directed toward anyone here) cheer harder and louder for a winner. Well, for me, I will be pulling all that much harder for this less-loved team in the NCAA Tourney.

Yes, I still LOVE this team, regardless of how hard it is sometimes to watch. In a similar regard, about how frustrating it has been to coach this team, Tubby said the other night that he "loves the players to death," EVERY ONE of them." Way to go, Tubby!

Barry Booker said at the SEC Tourney that this UK team NEEDS its fans' support, more than ever. I vote with Barry Booker on that one! :)

[ukbob]

Gotta' agree with Sir Richard. My least favorite UK team in a long, long time. My reasons vary but suffice it to say, the term TEAM should not be used with them.

But it is March and we are dancing. One at a time and I'll worry about next season when we lose.

[Stonewall]

I think the team senses this also. They know they are not popular and have made life miserable for their coach and the fans.At least they should know it because few days go by that they are not told that in the press, on sportsforums andmaybe even by the coaching staff.

Unlike the 1992 team that was so dear to everyone's heart.

[poodoo]

ukbob wrote: Gotta' agree with Sir Richard. My least favorite UK team in a long, long time. My reasons vary but suffice it to say, the term TEAM should not be used with them.

But it is March and we are dancing. One at a time and I'll worry about next season when we lose.



Now we usually agree, ukbob. :)

By the way, earlier in the season I would have agreed with you. Then the term TEAM did not seem to apply to these guys. Somewhat since the meeting with the sports psychologist and especially since the grading of practices and the starting lineup changes, I have seen a TEAM, though,and a team that I like, except for the frustrationsthey often bring me.

For instance, personally, I LOVED watching those guys cheer for their teammates during the Alabama game and even how they rushed out on the floor tocongratulate Rondo when hegot us a save byhustling to knocktheball off the South Carolina player. I just did not see teammates pulling for one another that much earlier in the season, and at thattime I did not like this team as much as I do now. They never approached Team Turmoil for me, by the way, a team that existed only four years ago.

Now I do like this team (although I pullforALL Kentucky teams).I tend to pull for underdogs and those who areunpopular and get more criticism than praise.My heart goes out to folks in those situations. I guess it's one reason I pullso hard for our UK football players. :)Too, Tubby says these are really good guys (just too nice sometimes).Preston LeMaster says he could not have been a part of a team with a nicer group of guys. Those comments alone make me, FWIW, still like this team. How nice it would be for them to pull off a huge upset in this tourney and advance, and I know you agree on that one! :)

[CurlyCat]

poodoo wrote:
Barry Booker said at the SEC Tourney that this UK team NEEDS its fans' support, more than ever. I vote with Barry Booker on that one! :)

Of course, I agree with everything you said. But off the subject, does anyone else see Barry Booker and think to themself, "Hmm...He looks kind of stoned"?

[hoosierhateruklover]

I really don't have a least favorite team (or favorite team for that matter). I support each year equally. I feel stupid just thinking about a least favorite team.

[RaleighCat]

Sir Richard F. Burton, I disagree with your assesment that Joe Crawford is the only Cat to improve. But I don't disagree with this team being one of the "least favorites" in memory.

And therein lies the problem. JC, Morris, Perry and Stockton have all shown great improvment. Rondo, Bradley, Sparks, Thomas, Moss haveplayed up n' down all year- lookingfantastic one game (remember Rondo early in the year?) and terrible the next (remember Sparks earlier this year?).

This team has played anything like one most of the season. It feels like something just hasn't been right 90% of the time.Tubby has has turned in a truly forgettable coaching performance overall. The joy of kicking UofL's arse was erased quickly by the IU and KS romper-stompers. [Don't forget, IU's Mike Davis could have run for Governor the day after that W, and today he's a dead-coach-walking.] It's been a mostly joyless season with a mostly joyless team. A collection of players more than the Kentucky teams we're used to. Not a season they'll write songs about (flattering ones, anyway).