Dream Season Ends

If you took my advice and set your DVR for yesterday's game, I'm sorry. You can go ahead and delete it and save some space because it was a game that you will never want to watch ever again.

Of all the Elite 8 losses the Cats have suffered over the years, this one was the worst and hardest to watch. Even the infamous Duke game in 1992 was one of the greatest college basketball games ever played, and there's no shame in losing a game like that. In 2003 it felt awful at the time losing to Marquette, but Dwayne Wade has since established himself as one of the best point guards in the NBA. The Michigan State loss in 2005 was also a tough one, but it at least gave us one of the most memorable and exciting moments in UK history when Sparks made the shot to bring it into overtime.

There was hardily any positive moment in an ugly and freezing cold shooting night for the Cats last night. Everything that had happened all season long, did not happen last night. It was almost an entirely different team out there. They were stunned, frustrated, and lost more and more confidence with each wide open missed shot behind the arc. The 1-3-1 zone prevented them from doing what they did best, but for whatever reason, the Cats couldn't knock down routine shots that they had made throughout most of the season. Two days earlier, the Cats shut down Cornell, the best 3 point shooting team in the nation. Against West Virginia, the focus was no longer defending the three. In fact, the Cats did just what the scouting report told them to do in the first half. They didn't allow the Mountaineers to make a single 2 point field goal in 20 minutes and they crushed the offensive boards the entire game, grabbing almost 30 more than West Virginia

West Virginia, a very poor three point shooting team, made 8 three's in the first half from even the most unlikely shooters, one of whom made his first of the entire season. Three point shooting ended up giving the Mountaineers about a thirty point advantage. Rebounding and talent kept the Cats in it even in the worse performance of the year, but it just was not the Cats day. It just wasn't meant to be on that given day. After dominating performances in the first three rounds where shots went in with ease, the Cats were facing their first deficit of the NCAA Tournament. Perhaps, youth and inexperience caught up to them and they didn't know how to respond. They did not quit. They played hard and made it interesting, but in the end, poor three point shooting and free throw shooting doomed the Cats. When DeAndre Liggins made the Cats first three of the game it sparked some life and confidence into them-but it was just too little, too late.

Big Blue Nation, however, shall never forget the 2010 Cats. They brought our program back to the national level that it should always be at. They brought excitement and swagger back to Lexington that will never be forgotten. The incredible turnaround of the 2010 season was one of the most fun Kentucky basketball teams in history and they will be remembered someday when the Cats do bring home #8. We needed this coach (no one else- we got the perfect fit) and these incredible players in order to move forward and generate enough excitement after just one season to be among the top programs, once again, on the lists of every top recruit in the nation. Despite not winning it all, this group exceeded most everyone's expectations (which were pretty high of a freshman led team). The season ended in disappointment, but when you look at where we were a year ago and even early in the season, it's really remarkable that this young team was even in a position to reach the Final Four and make a run at the National Championship.

As bad as yesterday's game was, it could have been worse (just ask Kansas, Syracuse, and Georgetown), and the Cats will be back and better than expected next season. Sure, Wall and Cousins are likely gone. Patterson's post game comments, however, seemed to indicate that he was not happy with this ending and that there's more unfinished business for him to accomplish here in a return next season. If Patterson, Bledsoe, and Orton come back for another year to join juniors Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins with potentially another top 5 recruiting class- a more experienced team that has now been deep into the NCAA Tournament may have a better chance at cutting down some nets in 2011. Stay tuned, as Wildcat Wrap will keep you updated on who will join Enes Canter and Stacy Poole in the 2010 recruiting class and which current Wildcats will join them in the next quest to #8.

The Elite 8 is set.

Two SEC teams remain and one Big East team is left. The Cats have their chance to take down that final team from the nation's most overrated conference. It's Calipari vs. Huggins. It's Patrick Patterson against his home state team. It's the chance for the nation's winningest team to get back to the Final Four for the first time in 12 years, which is nearly an eternity in Big Blue Nation. It's a chance for a potential matchup with Duke. This game, simply put, means everything.

The double digit wins are likely over, but these last three games are the type of games that you will want to be sure to record on your DVR. Each one of them are games that you will want to watch again, and again, and again...for the next twenty or thirty years (that is, if the Cats end up as the last team standing).

Just think of the potential matchups in these last three games:

• West Virginia: arguably the best team remaining in the Cats' hunt for #8. They're the last team from the Big East remaining, the same conference that Kentucky fans have to listen about all year from Louisville fans. With this win, the SEC could have two teams in the Final Four with every Big East team sitting at home. This would be bitter sweet for UK fans.

• Duke: Do I even have to say anything? When these two teams play in the tournament, it's ALWAYS a classic. The Blue Devils will have a tough game with Baylor to win before this is a possibility.

• Tennessee: Could you imagine how great it would be for an All-SEC National Championship? This would really make a lot of Louisville fans (and sportswriters from the Northeast) have to eat their words! But even more sweet would be a chance to beat Bruce Pearl in his orange jacket for the third time this year to bring home the 8th National Championship to Lexington!

That, my friends, would be the ultimate best case scenario for the most fun ride Kentucky fans have maybe ever ridden towards a National Title. It would be a string of games that would rival the 1998 team's comeback wins over Duke, Stanford, and Utah to bring home our seventh title. To this point, for sure, I think it can be said that the remarkable turnaround under Calipari has been the most fun season ever had in Lexington.

But for now, let's just land the plane. Survive, and advance.

Brown's Picks

Last week was a little better for me. I went 3-2 which brings my season record to 10-11. Cincinnati is off this week so I added in my pick for the EKU game. Some good picks for this weekend should put me over .500 for the short time I've been picking games. Let's get to it:


Ohio St. ( -12) @ Michigan
No matter how poorly either of these teams has performed, the Buckeyes and Wolverines bring their A game for this one. Considered one of the best rivalries in all of sports, Ohio St. and Michigan will go at it this Saturday. Ohio St. has been rolling of late, beating Penn St. and Iowa in the last two weeks and clinching yet another trip to the Rose Bowl. After jumping out to a 4-0 record, the Wolverines have left 4 in a row and 6 of their last 7 (with the only win being against Delaware St.) I think this one will be close in the first half, but Ohio St. will eventually pull away and win by 17.

PICK: OHIO ST.

Virginia @ Clemson (-21.5)
-With a win on Senior Day in Death Valley, the Tigers will be heading to Tampa and to their first ACC Championship game. I think the key to this game is going to be the Virginia defense. Clemson has a number of weapons on the offensive side of the ball. By now everyone knows about CJ Spiller, but I think the big game is goign to come from Wide Receiver and return-man Jacoby Ford. It will be interesting to see how the Tigers handle the pressure of trying to wrap up a division title. I think Clemson wins pretty easily but I'm not sure if they cover the spread. I'm actually going to pick Clemson by 20, with a score of 30-10.

PICK: VIRGINIA

Kentucky @ Georgia (-9)
-Both of these teams come into this game with identical 6-4 records overall. One problem UK is going to face this Saturday is the potential lose of Sophomore Randall Cobb. In my opinion, Cobb has been the best offensive threat the Cats have had all year, leading the conference in touchdowns per game. Cobb didn't practice much this week and Coach Rich Brooks said he will be a game-time decision. With starting QB Mike Hartline already out, UK may need to rely on Cobb more than usual. Georgia has their big rivalry game next week against Georgia Tech and I think UK has a great chance to catch the Bulldogs looking ahead on their schedule. I think this one stays close for most of the game, but being between the hedges will prove too much for UK and their injuries. I like UGA by 10.

PICK: GEORGIA


LSU @ Mississippi (-4.5)
-LSU comes into this game at #8 and with hopes of sneaking into a BCS game. Mississippi is favored in this game, but I think they are going to need a big game from their defense to pull this one out. LSU has not been overly impressive on the offensive side of the ball this year, averaging only 25 points a game. On the other hand, Ole Miss is putting up 31 and 400+ yards of offense a game. This is going to be a tough game for the Tigers; Mississippi wins it by 7.

PICK: MISSISSIPPI

Eastern Kentucky @ Jacksonville St.
-On Thursday night Jacksonville St. demolished Tennessee Tech. That plays an important role in this game, because all the Colonels will have to do in order to win the OVC for a third straight year is beat the Gamecocks in Jacksonville on Saturday. Eastern is also trying to extend their streak of consecutive non-losing seasons. EKU is going to have a hard time handling a Jacksonville St. Offense that is scoring 35 a game. This one is going to be close but I like to Colonels to win the game and another conference championship.

PICK: EASTERN KENTUCKY




That's all for my football picks this week. Enjoy the football everyone!


GO TIGERS!
GO COLONELS!

Brown's Picks - College Football Week 11

I knew last week was a potential disappoint for me. I picked some of the right winners, but the spread is what did me in. I went a dismal 2-6 last week, which brings my overall record to 7-9. Hopefully, this week will treat me better. It’s a shorter list of games because I’ll also be doing some of the big College Basketball games for this weekend.

West Virginia @ Cincinnati (-9.5)

Huge Friday night game in the race for the Big East Championship. Sophomore Zach Collaros will be starting again for the Bearcats but Cincy coach Brain Kelly has said Tony Pike will get some playing time. Cincinnati is coming off a nail-biter against UCONN last week, but I expect the Bearcat Defense to show up tonight. This is a game Cincinnati needs to win before the big matchup with Pitt in a couple weeks. I think WVU keeps it close, but the Bearcats pull it out with a 10 points victory, just barely covering

PICK : CINCINNATI

Iowa @ Ohio St. (-16.5)

This is the Big Ten Championship game. Terrelle Pryor looked pretty good last week at Penn St. He was effective running and throwing the ball and looked like the QB Buckeyes fans have been waiting for. On the other side of the field, the Hawkeyes are coming off a crushing loss to Northwestern and will be playing without starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who had surgery on his ankle after injuring it in last week’s loss. Iowa has been in every game this year and I don’ expect anything different this weekend. The Buckeyes win, but not by 17 points.

PICK: IOWA

Clemson (-8) @ NC State

Clemson is in the driver’s seat to win the ACC Atlantic Division and potentially win their first conference championship since 1990. The Tigers’ offense has been rolling, scoring 38 points in four straight games for the first time in the program’s history. Kyle Parker and CJ Spiller should have a big day against an NC State defense that is allowing almost 30 points a game. Clemson shouldn’t have too much trouble with a struggling Wolfpack. Clemson wins this one by 13.

PICK: CLEMSON

Kentucky (-3) @ Vanderbilt

The Wildcats need this one. Kentucky is going into Nashville with a 5-4 (1-4) record. A win this Saturday would make them bowl eligible, and just in time; their last two games are between the Hedges in Athens, GA and at home against an up-and-down Tennessee teams. Those games are winnable for the Cats, but I’m sure they would feel much better going into those games with a bowl already wrapped up. Vanderbilt shouldn’t be much of a test for Kentucky; the Commodores have a scoring margin of -5.8 this year. I think 3 points is a pretty low spread, I see the Cats winning by double digits.

PICK: KENTUCKY

Utah @ TCU (-19.5)

It seems funny to say this about a game in the Mountain West, but this is a big game on the national scene. TCU leap frogged (pun definitely intended) Cincinnati last week to move to #4 in the BCS standings. I had a chance to see TCU earlier this year when they visited Death Valley and handed my Tigers a loss. Let me tell you, they are the real deal. Quarterback Andy Dalton is the real deal and has the HornedFrogs rolling. This game may be in Forth Worth but Utah is very familiar with TCU and ended the Frogs’ hopes at a BCS birth a year ago. TCU will win this game, but not by 20 points.

PICK: UTAH

This is an abbreviated version of Brown’s Pick for Football this week. Check back later tonight for my run-down of some of the big basketball games this weekend.

GO TIGERS!!!