Kentucky Takes Down Vanderbilt in SEC Opener 70-60

Pretty? No. Dominant? No. Efficent? EH…. That is the the best way to sum up the Kentucky Wildcats SEC opening victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores.

In front of the largest crowd of the season, over 24,000 rabid blue grass faithful, the Wildcats went into half time on a 7-0 run and a 31-27 lead. Kentucky then came out and stretched that lead to 55-35 with only ten minutes left in regulation. The route appeared to be on, as the Wildcats looked to pour it on their East division foe and send a statement to the rest of the SEC, but Kentucky began to relax and pull back.

Vanderbilt began to pull closer and with less than two minutes left, it appeared that the ‘Dores were primed to pull out an upset and make a game against the Wildcats.

“I think we got comfortable. Then all of a sudden it got closer than it should have even been,” said point guard Michael Porter following the game.

Within six and momentum swung to the Commodores, the Kentucky Wildcats were able to regroup quickly and keep their lead, squeaking out a 10 point victory 70-60.

“Any win is good in this conference. I am proud of the way we played today, but need to get better,” Head Coach Billy Gillespie said after the game.

With the win the Kentucky Wildcats stretch their win streaks at home in SEC play to 9-0 in the Billy Gillespie era.

“We knew this would be a battle and we are just happy to come out with a win. Every win is important to get to where we want to be,” said Billy Gillespie.

And where they want to be is SEC champions. Kentucky did not dominate the entire game but did show signs of brilliance. The Cats limited their turnovers to only 13 and made plays often enough to pull in front by 20, and scored 32 of their 70 points in the paint.

With the win Kentucky has some momentum heading into a HUGE WEEK in conference. The Cats will head to Knoxville and take on the defending East season champion and preseason choice Tennessee Volunteers.

“I am excited to hear the Rocky Top chant and play there,” said freshman Darius Miller. And he will get his chance Tuesday in a showdown for a early SEC East division lead.

Keys To Kentucky Victory

KEYS TO a KENTUCKY VICTORY
1) NO HANGOVER- A week off a heart breaking loss to Louisville, the Wildcats must bounce back against the Vanderbilt Commodores. The SEC appears to be up for the taking and with a road trip to Tennessee looming in the week; Kentucky must get off to the right start against Vanderbilt.

2) LIMIT TURNOVERS- The Wildcats Achilles heal has been turnovers. The Cats are last in the SEC in turnover differential with -2.47 per game. Kentucky must be smarter with the ball with conference play starting up against a stingy and aggressive Vanderbilt defense.

3) Make it a high scoring game- Kentucky is 15th in the nation is scoring, while Vanderbilt tends to be successful in low scoring affairs. Vanderbilt is 11th of 12 in the SEC in scoring averaging only 71.1 points a game. If Kentucky can score and score often, the should control the tempo and come out with a victory.

Kentucky/Vanderbilt Key Game Notes

SERIES NOTES-
· Kentucky v Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena has been dominated by the Wildcats by the record of 72-14

· Kentucky is 15th in the nation is scoring with 80.5 points per game

· Vanderbilt is near the bottom in nearly all offensive categories compared to the rest of the SEC, but is riding a 6 game win streak.

Kentucky Opponent- Vanderbilt Commodores 11-3/0-0

LOWDOWN on the Commodores-
Similar to their football team, this Vanderbilt team is not flashy and doesn’t jump off the stat sheet. They are 11-3 overall and have such a record with stellar defense, good rebounding and team chemistry.

Center A.J. Ogilvy is the team’s captain and leader. He leads the team with 16.5 points per game and averages 1.5 blocked shots a game.

When at their best, the Commodore defense commands the game. They are currently holding opponents to a dismal 36.5 field goal percentage.

SEC Play Begins today!

Today is a BIG day. Not only for the Blue Grass faithful, but the SEC in general. Saturday begins SEC basketball play, and with the conference not having one team in the nation’s top 25, someone is sure to emerge in the coming weeks as the conferences cream of the crop.

To start off play, the Kentucky Wildcats host a Vanderbilt team that has been on the rise. Two years ago the Commodores reached the sweet 16 and last year they went undefeated through their non-conference sleight to reach the national ranking of #13. Then, however, conference play started in Rupp Arena.

The ‘Dores lost to Kentucky in a double overtime thriller and never regained its dominant play which they displayed the first month of the season.

After the game last year, Vanderbilt center and captain A.J Ogilvy was quoted to saying, “The 23,965 capacity stadium at Rupp was quite intimidating for him and his Commadores.”

Wildcats nation can hope to be intimidating once again in a wide open conference. Various coaches, players, and athletic administration have all echoed the same setiment about playing in Rupp Arena. It’s intimidating. So, the Wildcats must use the intimidation factor in order to rack up wins in such a wide open conference.

Bowl Reflections...Teams on the Rise in '09

Bowl Season in Review-
Well, just like the economy, my bowl picks went south quickly. I began the bowl season with in a hole losing three of the first four and never was able to win my way out…I did choose the correct national champion in Florida, however my bowl season record was a less-than-impressive 19-15.
The bowl games did show a lot and give hope to some programs for the coming year…
And here are the top 10 teams of the bowl season-

10) Vanderbilt- I know, I know SEC homer. But look at what they have done. They defeated an ACC Runner-up Boston College soundly with a freshman quarterback and stingy defense. The Commodores will lose star receiver George Smith, BUT this win builds the program and puts them on the RISE in the SEC. Next year head coach Bobby Johnson will hope to improve on a 7-6 season, and with a young quarterback and some confidence it might happen.

9)Northwestern- Another smart school really impressed me. Although they lost to Missouri in the Alamo Bowl they battled the Tigers to the end, led the entire game but couldn’t defeat the more experienced Tigers in overtime. Northwestern finished the season with a 9-4 record and has a good majority of players coming back. Couple experience with a schedule that lacks Ohio State and Michigan and put the Wildcats on the rise in a less than stellar Big 10.

8)Oregon- The Ducks have won four straight heading into the offseason and had a GREAT performace in the Holiday Bowl taking down the Oklahoma State Cowboys 42-31. This offense looks good and a lot of them come back. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is only a sophomore and with a year of experience under his belt and a lot of players coming back the Ducks might be able to contend with the USC Trojans for Pac 10 supremacy.

7) Virginia Tech- To be honest, I gave a young Virginia Tech offense NO CHANCE in the Orange Bowl against the Big East’s Cincinnati Bearcats, but the Hookies overpowered the Bearcats just like they overpowered the ACC this season winning their last four games. Like Oregon, the Hookies return a fast quarterback in Tyrod Taylor and of their team only 15 players are seniors. Virginia Tech is on the rise and should compete once again in the ACC and maybe even for a national title.

6) LSU- Les Miles is now 4-0 in bowl games. The Tigers had a less than stellar year giving up points and yardage at a maximum and were unable to score or throw the ball down field with a young offense and two quarterback system. In the Chic FIl A Bowl, however, the Tigers were able to stop the option offense of Georgia Tech which stumped the Georgia Bulldogs in the final week of the season. The rebuilding seems to be over now, and look for the Tigers to be a more competitive team in a rising SEC West next year.

5) Arizona- Coach Stoops was finally able to make a bowl game for the first time in his tenure as head coach and the first time in school history since 1998. The Wildcats were excited to make a bowl game and outplayed and took down a more experienced BYU team. Arizona took USC to the wire and were competitive in all their games this season. Next year, the Wildcats will have to replace a lot of players but, the bowl victory should be a turning point for this program.

4) Utah- I couldn’t put a top 10 in bowl surprises with out the Utes. They came out and took down an SEC power in Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to finish as the only undefeated team in the FBS. Although i certainly would NOT put them at #1 in my final top 25, undefeated is undefeated and when you play in a conference that allows you to play schools like San Diego State and Wyoming on a yearly basis, its hard to respect an undefeated mark. But Utah now has 2 BCS trophies and enough talent to compete once or twice a year against power teams in BCS-sleighted conferences. The Utes have only 19 seniors this year, but in those seniors is stand out quarterback Brian Johnson. If the Utes can reload at quarterback, Utah should stay the cream of the crop in the Mountain West next year.

3) Florida State- Progress, progress, progress. That’s what it is all about in college sports and with a dominating win in the Champs Sports Bowl, I put the Seminoles as the ACC favorite next year. Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles destroyed Wisconsin 42-13 and has a quality team returning next year. Quarterback Christian Ponder, second leading rusher Jermaine Thomas, and four of their top five receivers are set to come back next year. Florida State should make a Penn State-like run next year and could possibly give Head Coach Bobby Bowden a BCS send off…

2) Ole Miss- Houston Nutt can flat out coach. Last year he led the Arkansas Razorbacks to the Cotton Bowl, but was unable to coach in the game due to him jumping ship to Oxford and the Rebels. In just one year he was able to turn a 3-9 team to a 9-4 Cotton Bowl champion team. The Rebels played their best football at the end of the season with big SEC victories in Arkansas, Auburn, and a beat down in Baton Rouge over the LSU Tigers. This impressive season for the Rebels is most highlighted by the victory in Gainesville over the National Champion Florida Gators. Next year the Rebels return quarterback Jevan Snead, running back Enrique Davis, and a solid experienced receiving core. But, Houston must retool the defense and line if he wants to contend more seriously in a rising SEC West division in 2009.

1) Florida Gators- Urban Meyer should have a National Champion favorite coming into the 2009 season. If quarterback Tim Tebow stays, the Gators will once again be a scary team to face. The defense is young and with a year of experience should be better. Look for the Gators to be the pre-season #1 pick by most national pundits.

College Football Programs in Trouble for 2009-2010

With the Bowl season over, here are the top 5 schools that will be faced to retool, reload, and struggle in the 2009 season---
5) West Virginia- Pat White leaves. Head Coach Bill Stewart is not Rich Rodriguez. The Mountaineers will struggle in 2009 and not make a bowl for the first time since the 2001 season.
4) BIG 10 Conference- Penn State in the Rose Bowl got blown out and is forced to retool, Ohio State loses a lot of star power on defense, Iowa might lose their head coach and star running back, and Michigan will once again struggle. Overall the BIG 10 went 1-5 in bowl games and seems to not be up to snuff against the rest of college football. The BIG 10 needs to update and get into this century in order to compete. The power play which works in the mid-west doesn’t fly or compete against speed. The Buckeyes are the one team that is taking a step toward a quick play with running quarterback Terrell Pryor. The Wolverines will also contend eventually, once Rodriguez can get the right type of players for his offense. Until then, next year will be a DOWN year In the BIG 10. The Buckeyes should be okay, but look for a surprise non-traditional school to emerge in the BIG 10…Northwestern—the Big 10 is yours.
3) Missouri- In the Big 12, the Tigers will be forced to retool and reload a ton of talent. The 2008 year was Mizzou’s best shot to reach a BCS game and they squandered their chances by losing to the big time contenders—Texas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. The Big 12 North division has rising talent around them and with the Tigers losing a lot of playmakers, Missouri will struggle in 2009.
2) USC- Mark Sanchez had a strong showing in the Rose Bowl, looked at his NFL chances and all remarks came back good. If Sanchez bolts for the NFL, Pete Carrol will be forced to rebuild for the first time in his tenure with the Trojans. The defense is mostly all gone and no Mark Sanchez will put the Trojans in a compromising position. They will make a bowl no matter what…BUT maybe not win the Pac 10 and NOT reach the Rose Bowl. 2009 could possibly be a struggle in Trojan Land.
1) Georgia Bulldogs- WELCOME to ANOTHER rebuilding year Mark Richt. Rebuilding occurred in Athens 2 years ago after losing quarterback David Green, a solid line, and majority of their defense. In that rebuilding year the Bulldogs finished the season unranked but beat Virginia Tech in the Chic Fil A Bowl in overtime. Mark Richt will be faced with a similar situation in 2009. He loses his stud quarterback Mathew Stafford, running back Knowshon Moreno, and leading receiver Mohammed Massaquoi. Georgia entered the season ranked #1, but a porous defense led the Dogs to a unimpressive 10-3 season. The Dawgs WILL struggle in 2009 and with the rest of the SEC East on the rise, this might be a bowl-less season and maybe a so-long to Mark Richt year. **Insider Information**(YES, his relaxed attitude this season put him in hot water and the Dawg faithful. People were calling for his head after the losses against Florida and Georgia Tech this season…No bowl next year= NO MORE MARK RICHT in Athens)

Top 25 College Football Final

With all the bowls over its time for one final Top 25 Rankings until April when I will release my Pre-Pre Season College football rankings. But for now, here is where the teams landed in the 2008-2009 football season.
1) Florida- There really shouldn’t be a discussion. The Gators beat teams by 34.6 points per game on average and took down 9 teams which also reached a bowl in the regular season. Urban Meyer has done a terrific job with this team and if Tim Tebow comes back next year, Florida should be the early favorite in 2009-2010.
2) USC- That’s right, the Trojans dominated another Big 10 team to capture yet another Rose Bowl. By season’s end, this team was playing some of the best football in the country.
3) Texas- Would of, could of, should of…I still think that the Longhorns should have been the Big 12 representative in the Championship game, but Colt Mccoy and the Horns are young and return a lot of players next year. A bowl win and pride for Texas.
4) Utah- The only undefeated team in FBS. However, until college football changes the system, this will be the highest any non-BCS team should land. Utah has now 2 BCS trophies and that is saying something...
5) Oklahoma- Bob Stoops “Bowl Flop”. The Sooners lost yet another BCS game, making that 5 of 6 bowl losses. One impressive thing about the Sooners- Sam Bradford. This kid can throw the ball really well. With the loss it might be possible to see him come back, but with the quarterbacks lacking in this year’s draft he will likely bolt.
6) Ole Mississippi- This might be high for a lot of on-lookers, but look at their resume. They have played their best football at the end of their season. Being the only team to beat Florida, taking down LSU, and dominating a Cotton Bowl against Texas Tech lands the Rebels at this spot.
7) TCU- The Hornfrogs are a complete program and proved it against an undefeated Boise State team in the Poinsettia Bowl. A good finish and strong defense, TCU should be proud of their program which is continually competitive.
8) Oregon- The Ducks have a young team and should be better next year. They finished the season 2nd in the Pac 10 and had a quality bowl beat down over a once top 10 Oklahoma State team.
9) Penn State- Take away the first half of the Rose Bowl and you actually have a close game and maybe even a victory.
10) Georgia- It wasn’t pretty, maybe a little laughable, but the Bulldogs won the Capital One Bowl and finished the season with a win.
11) Ohio State- The Buckeyes lost the Fiesta Bowl, BUT they took the Longhorns down to the wire and maybe even should have one.
12) Boise State- Boise went undefeated through the season, BUT lost in their bowl game which lands them in this spot.
13) Alabama- From #1 since October all the way through the season to losing 2 straight. The Tide were exposed and outplayed by Utah and so they drop HUGELY.
14) Texas Tech- Outplayed in the bowl game, a huge loss to the Sooners, and a scare against Baylor lands the Red Raiders here. They tricked a lot of people this season, but ended the season in typical fashion, if you aren’t Texas or Oklahoma you can NOT contend in the Big 12…
15) Virginia Tech- Hookies win the ACC and dominate the Orange Bowl. Don’t look now, but this young team is on the rise!
16) LSU- Les Miles can flat out coach. Georgia Tech was rolling into the bowl game, while the Tigers were reeling and still LSU dominated the Yellow Jackets and put fear into the rest of the nation for next year’s REBUILT squad.
17) Florida State- Seminoles had an impressive bowl win and were in the ACC title chase all the way to end of the season. Bobby Bowden is a great bowl coach and has appearingly rebuilt the ‘Noles for a run next year.
18) Oklahoma State- Good season for the Cowboys and had star receiver Dez Bryant not gotten injured they could be ranked higher than where they finished here.
19) Cincinnati- The Bearcats had a great season, but inexperience in the spotlight cost them in the Orange Bowl.
20) Missouri- Chase Daniels last year didn’t end the way he would have liked and it could have ended worse in the Alamo Bowl…Luckily the Tigers senior laiden team pulled through to send Chase Daniels out with a win.
21) Northwestern- These Cats are FOR REAL. Northwestern battled all season and finished their year with a 9-4 record, pretty impressive for a “Smart” school.
22) Oregon State- The UGLIEST bowl game I have ever seen, but it was still a win. Coach Mike Riley and his Beavers had a strong season.
23) West Virginia- Pat White is the ONLY quarterback EVER to win 4 bowl games in a collegiate career. Just that statistic lands the Mountaineers here.
24) Rutgers- From dead to the hottest team in football, the Scarlet Knights made this a great season by winning 7 in a row.
25) Iowa-In a terrible Big 10 bowl season, the Hawkeyes were able to put a little pride in the conference with a dominating win over a SEC school. Good season for Iowa, beating the once undefeated Penn State Nittany Lions and 9 wins total.

SEC Basketball Up for Grabs in 2009

There is no way around it. The South Eastern Conference appears down this 2008-2009 basketball season. And as Kentucky heads into their conference opener against the Vanderbilt Commodores, it is easy to see that the east division and conference as a whole is up for grabs.

The pre-season media choice to win the conference, the Tennessee Volunteers have struggled and opponents have found weaknesses in their game.

The choice for second in the East, the Gators have again shown their youth, as it appears Billy Donavan still has a long way to go before they can be true contenders once again.

So with the main competition seemingly struggling and lacking dominance, this might be Kentucky’s year to win the Eastern division and regain national status as a basketball power.

After losing to VMI at home and the North Carolina Tarheels a little less than a week later, the Kentucky Wildcats went to the Las Vegas Hoops Invitational and took down a Kansas State and a strong Big East West Virginia squad.

Following the tournament the Cats stumbled against a then ranked #20 Miami Hurricanes. But again Kentucky rebounded, going on a seven game winning streak, a streak never reached in the Billy Gillespie era.

Finally, Sunday Kentucky battled the cross-town rival #18 ranked Louisville Cardinals to the wire only to lose by a 3 point shot with .02 seconds remaining to lose 74-71.

Kentucky’s heartbreaker still might give the Cats hope. In the game, the Wildcats turned the ball over 21 times and still had enough talent to take Louisville down to the wire. If Kentucky can lessen the turnovers, the SEC can be their conference to win.