Post game comments by ESPN commentators

[BigBlue75]

Okay, no one knows better than I that UK has a LONG climb to get to the NCAA tourney this year, and especially with our on-going health issues it's not going to get any easier from game to game. I don't have a problem with them pointing that out or making reference to our early season losses, it happened and we just have to deal with it.

But I have noticed a pattern developing over the last three weeks. Digger Phelps (whom I normally have zero use for and who could never be categorized as a UK supporter) has been going out of his way to point out how well the team is playing of late and how he firmly believes that if we take care of business the rest of the way he has no doubt we'll be in the tournament. Hubert Davis? Well, frankly, I don't know where he stands on the issue because he never seems to make a definitive comment one way or the other..although he did say he thought the SEC wasn't as weak as some tried to make out and the ACC was much weaker. Jay Bilas, whom even though Duke grad he be, normally does a credible job (IMO). But lately he seems to go to great lengths in letting everyone know that in his mind, there is NO WAY UK makes the NCAA's unless they win the SEC tournament. It wouldn't bother me all that much, it is just his opinion after all and nothing more, but he seems to have so much disdain in his voice when he talks about it. I think his Blue Devil bias shows through sometimes.

Anyway, take all that for what it's worth. I just wanted to toss that out for discussion.

[Will Lavender]

I like Jay. And I definitely don't think he's got any bias (bias Bilas?) against UK or anything like that.

But.

He also said earlier in the day that there weren't any teams in the SEC who were improved. Then he said, "Well, maybe Mississippi State. And maybe Tennessee. But everybody else..."

How about Ole Miss and Arkansas? And Florida has been extremely surprising.

He said the SEC was "way down" this morning. That's a flat argument; just because it's way down doesn't make it a mediocre league. It's just been the best conference in the country the last two years.

Bilas is using the theory that the SEC is down = the Cats not getting in. Sorry, if this team gets to 11 wins, it's in. Bank on it.

Bank. On. It.

[FCFS82]

11-5 would be 17-12 overall heading into the tournament. We'd better be the conference tournament finalists and or champs.

In the meantime, the team needs to keep winning. Period. Also, cheering for a lot of status quo around the country in other conferences wouldn't be a bad move either.

[Will Lavender]

11-5 would be 17-12 overall heading into the tournament. We'd better be the conference tournament finalists and or champs.

I don't think so. Double digit conference win teams who get snubbed in the NCAAs? Unprecedented, isn't it?

The injuries WILL be an issue...if we can get people healthy. We can't prove anything to the committee if everybody's still hurt.

[Rockober]

I don't think so. Double digit conference win teams who get snubbed in the NCAAs? Unprecedented, isn't it?

The injuries WILL be an issue...if we can get people healthy. We can't prove anything to the committee if everybody's still hurt.

11-5 will get UK in and one win at the SEC Tourney would give the CATS 18 wins. If that happens, don't make any plans on watching the CATS in the NIT.

This team simply needs to get healthy.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Nice to hear good things about our CATS

[colonelcatfan]

Maybe once and for all we can put the ESPN anti-UK bias to rest. I've said it as much as anyone has over the years, but.....I honest don't think its real.
I do believe these guys try to be objective, sometimes they're not successful, but for the most part, I think that is their intent. We UK fans just wear our feelings on our sleeves where out Cats are concerned. As for the tournament; first we have to keep winning, which I believe we will. 11-5 and SEC tourney semis should do it. One thing for sure, we'll all be watching, and yelling our heads off, for every game. This season has turned into a lot of fun all of a sudden.

Thanks Coach, Thanks Cats!

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

aaaaaaaahhhh.....

looks like Lavender's coming around on the Cats getting in the tourney talk !


fwiw, I've thought we'd make the tourney since day one (not just the glasses), and at this point I actually think there's no way we don't make the tourney. we have come around, to the point where key guys can be injured and we still pulll the thing out. GW and SD seem like eons ago....new team, new attitude, new toughness.

[IAM4UK88]

ESPN guys have opinions; let 'em have them. Sometimes they're valid, sometimes they're ill-informed, sometimes they're just nuts. But why should it affect our own views?

Dick Vitale is always accused of being a Duke sycophant. But he declared Kentucky to be the greatest team of all time upon conclusion of the NCAA's first century of hoops.

As for Digger and Jay, I'll listen to Jay with far more interest, as he's shown that he has a much firmer grasp on the reality of college basketball. Digger wears interesting ties. That's about all I can say for him.