Another Heartbreaking Loss at Commonwealth

It was a similar site of fans leaving Commonwealth Stadium in utter disappointment on Saturday night. The Cats were tied with the #8 Auburn Tigers going into the final seconds when the Tigers kicked a game winning field goal as regulation ended. This time, however, the Cats did not beat themselves. They put forth a solid effort and gave a top 10 team all they could handle, without a crucial turnover, penalty, or stupid mistake costing the game. It was probably their best overall effort of the season. It was one of those games where whoever had the ball last was going to win. The Cats simply ran out of time.

It would have been another one of those opportunities to get this program to the next level, however, I can't point to anything that the coaches or players did that they should have done differently and that could have changed the outcome of the game. Randall Cobb was finally utilized to his whole potential and the defense stepped up in the second half and contained Cam Newton as good as anyone else has this season. It was a very well played game and a strong Heisman Trophy candidate simply outdid the Cats, just enough to get the win on the road for a Top 10, National Championship contending team. There are no "moral victories" in "Operation: Win", however, it's hard to find fault in the Cats' performance last night.

They beat themselves against Ole Miss and didn't really show up in Gainesville either, but it took everything that Auburn had to beat the Cats last night. Progress is being made and the schedule is about to get easier. I expect the Cats to go on a second-half run this season just as they did last year when the schedule got "easier". It won't be much easier next week, but South Carolina is coming off of an emotionally draining win over #1 Alabama. It's another crucial game that can propel this season into the right direction. A lot of winnable games are still left on the table for the Cats to grab. They could, in fact, still win more games than they have in quite some time. Stay tuned and don't give up on this team. A lot of exciting football is on its way that we have been waiting for quite some time to see.

My Appologies

I did watch today's win over Alabama, but unfortunately I was at work (hardly working) while watching John Wall take over the world. Be sure to check out the site tomorrow with much more SEC Tourney Coverage as the Cats take on the Vols for Round 3. Selection Sunday's Live Chat is still on for 5-8pm. The facebook group has not had a very positive response, but I'll be there around 5 to take any of your questions about the Tournament.

Cats vs. Tide

Even though the Alabama Crimson Tide have a 3-6 conference record, they have led at halftime in all 6 of those losses under first year Head Coach, Anthony Grant. The Tide could be dangerous, however, I don't see UK lossing at Rupp this year. Before you tune into ESPN U at 9 this evening, check out THIS, or just click on the Dick Vitale image below. It's a contest sponsored by Sunkist in which contestants make their best "Dickie V" impression.

Everbody please check out the above link and vote for MICHAEL, a fellow Kentuckian from Fort Mitchell, KY! If Michael wins, he will win $10,000 and a trip to the conference tournament of his choice. Mike is a good friend of mine and I'd appreciate the support of Big Blue Nation. By the way, the guy that is winning right now with 22% of the votes, is a Duke fan. Let's raid this poll.

Also, be sure to check back later tonight or tomorrow as we not only "wrap up" tonight's game but also look forward to the much anticipated and sold out ESPN College Gameday show for the Tennessee game on Saturday in which Bob Knight will not be in attendance due to "travel issues" according to ESPN- haha....right, I bet!

Picking the Western Division and All-SEC team

As promised yesterday, here are my picks for the the SEC West:

1. Mississippi State (AP ranked 18th): The Bulldogs are the only team from the SEC that return all 5 starters from an NCAA tournament team a year ago. They return Jarvis Vanardo, one of the best shot blockers in the nation. They also landed one of the nation's top recruits in Freshman Forward Renaldo Sydney, who is facing similar eligibility problems as John Wall but has yet to be cleared by the NCAA. As long as Sydney becomes eligible before their February 16th matchup at home against Kentucky, the tandem of Vanardo and Sydney will give Patrick Patterson, Demarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, and Perry Stevenson their toughest fight of the season. No team in the SEC, nor the country, has the depth down low that the Cats do but Mississippi State has enough talent down low to make Kentucky depend on the guard play of John Wall and Eric Bledsoe to win this one. (3 Seed, NCAA)

2. LSU: The Tigers lose Marcus Thornton but return Tasmin Mitchell from last year's SEC regular season champion. A lot of people are picking LSU to finish as low as 5th in the division, but the Tigers were the class of the SEC a year ago, winning 27 games and giving North Carolina their toughest game and biggest scare in the NCAA Tournament. They lose a lot, but they return enough talent to finish 2nd in the weaker side of the SEC and squeak into the NCAA Tournament as one of the last teams in. (13 Seed, NCAA)

3. Arkansas: In John Pelphrey's second season at Arkansas, they entered SEC play undefeated with wins over two top 5 teams, Texas and Oklahoma, but the Razorbacks were the best example of why the conference wasn't as bad as people thought it was a year ago. After going through a tough non-conference schedule undefeated, the young Hogs team fell apart and went 2-14 in SEC play. A year older and more experienced and in their third year under Pelphrey, expect the Hogs to play a lot better in SEC play this season and finish in the top 3 of the West. The talent is there to make the NCAA Tournament, but I'm not ready to put them there after only winning 2 conference games a year ago. They'll make strides this season and earn a trip to the NIT. (NIT)

4. Alabama: The rest of the SEC West is a crap shoot and really the only team that stands out is Mississippi State. The rest of the Western Division could finish in any order but I pick Alabama fourth because they return their leading scorer and also because of the impact that new head coach Anthony Grant will have. Grant is a disciple of Billy Donovan, comes from VCU, and is one of the highest rising young coaches in the game. He will at least take the Crimson Tide to some form of postseason play. (NIT or CBI)

5. Ole Miss: A 16-15 record a year ago was a huge step back for Andy Kennedy's program, but the Rebels did have a lot of injuries and could finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th in the West. Their season depends on how they are able to recover from those season ending injuries from last season and if super sophomore, Terrico White, can continue to develop into a future NBA shooting guard. (CBI)

6. Auburn: The Tigers were a pleasant surprise last year and barely missed the NCAA Tournament, but they lose nearly all key players from that team and it should be a rebuilding year for Auburn. (SEC Tourney, 1st round loss)

And now, here is the Wildcat Wrap All-SEC Team:

PG: John Wall (UK)
SG: Tyler Smith (UT)
SF: Tasmin Mitchell (LSU)
PF: Jarvis Vanardo (MSU)
C: Demarcus Cousins (UK)

Honorable Mention: PG Devan Downey (USC), PF Patrick Patterson (UK), PF Renaldo Sydney (MSU), C A.J. Ogilvy (Vandy), C Wayne Chism (UT)

Yeah, I gave the nod to Vanardo on the 1st team simply because he will put up better numbers with Miss. State than Patterson will on a team loaded full of NBA lottery picks. No disrespect meant at all towards Patrick, he will still have a great year and improve in the Dribble Drive Offense. Patterson and Devan Downey would be 1st team picks in any other conference and could both definately prove me wrong with not only SEC honors, but even All-American honors when it's all said and done.

Also, be sure to check out our preview of our lil brother 65 miles to the West. That's right, we will have a UofL preview coming up in the next couple of days by an actual UofL fan, Neal Thompson (the same guy who created a facebook group trying to ban me and my "biased and ridiculous opinions" from facebook. Let's see what he has to say about his Cards...