Mississippi State Bulldogs

In 2007 things started to look very good for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. They defeated Auburn in Auburn, a ranked Kentucky team on the road, Alabama at home and had their first bowl victory in 7 years! Hopes were so high in Starkville that at the 2008 media day Sylvester Croom pronounced his team’s expectations- an SEC West Crown….the season started rocky as the Bulldogs were troubled by inconsistent quarterback play and finished the season being humiliated so badly by their rival the Ole Miss Rebels (45-0) that Sylvester Croom quickly resigned following the defeat.
The 2008 Bulldogs were full of young talent and one of my DARK HORSE teams. They had a do-able schedule and seemed ready to turn the corner, but they failed to meet expectations. One of the most experienced teams in the SEC last year is now the most inexperienced with only 10 starters returning.

OFFENSE
The Bulldog offensive success will hinge on senior running back Anthony Dixon. Going into the 2008 season, it appeared that Dixon was prepared to rule the SEC. But injuries to the line and a nonexistent passing game hindered his ability to be a game changer. What is working in Dixon’s favor this year is that the offensive line returns six players with starting experience and four players that were every-game starters. The line should be better and be able to open some holes; however a HUGE problem for this team is their quarterback play. Tyson Lee struggled mightily last year throwing for just 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Lee shared time with sophomore (who is now gone) Wesley Carrol because neither quarterback could formulate a way to get the ball down the field and into the end zone. Lee will not have much to work with receiving wise as 2 of his three major targets are under classmen.

DEFENSE
During Sylvester Croom’s tenure at Mississippi State the defense was transformed into a very formidable opponent. However last year’s lack of offensive production caused the defense to be on the field too long and eventually gave up the plays to lose games. This year’s defensive unit will struggle mightily. They only return 4 starters on a unit which gave up more than 328 yards a game and an average of 24 points.

SEASON PROJECTION-
New coach, no belief in the quarterback, and the least returners in all the SEC all combine to make the 2009 season treacherous for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Florida’s old offensive coordinator and Mississippi State’s new head man should turn things around in Starkville but it WILL take time. Until then, the Bulldogs will struggle. Mississippi State goes to Auburn the second week of the season followed by a visit to a turned around Vanderbilt. They also must face LSU, Alabama, Florida, and Ole Miss(ALL TEAMS THAT CAN REACH A BCS GAME). The SEC is a gauntlet and the Bulldogs will be overmatched and outnumbered.

2-10 LAST IN THE SEC WEST

Good Morning!

All right! We have been through all the other conferences and now it is time for an in depth SEC preview.
Today starts the 12 day previews....

Justin Keehne

Big East

Saving the worst conference for last before a more in depth SEC preview is the Big East. Last year a surprise came to the conference as the Cincinnati Bearcats, led by a veteran defense won the conference going 11-2. This year the squad loses 10 starter on defense but has the same offense in tact. Cincinnati's offense averaged nearly 26 points a game last season and should improve, however the losses on defense will cost them a chance to repeat as conference champions.

Each year it seems like South Florida has a squad that can win the Big East, but they always find a way to lose down the stretch and end up in a bottom tier bowl game. This year will be the senior year for Matt Grothe, who has thrown for 8,157 yards in his career and is primed to be the Bulls top passer for a career by the end of this year. Grothe and the Bulls have a tough Big East schedule and must go to the Pittsburgh and Rutgers.

The preseason favorite the Pittsburgh Panthers. They return 15 players overall and finished the season winning thier last two games of the regular season. Pittsburgh's toughest challenge will be at Rutgers. Rutgers has won the last 4 meetings.

Speaking of Rutgers, this team underachieved at the beginning of the season but turned it on late winning thier last 6 and thier bowl game to finish the season 8-5. If the Scarlet Knights can replace quarterback Mike Teel, Rutgers can win the Big East and quite possibly go unbeaten. Thier non-conference is one of the easiest in FBS and thier Big East sleight also seems easy as they play thier top opponents in New Brunswick.

Big East

1) Rutgers 10-2
2) Pittsburgh 9-3
3) South Florida 9-3
4) Cincinnati 7-5
5) West Virginia 6-6
6) Louisville 6-6
7) Uconn 4-8
8) Syracuse 4-8

Big 12

After last season's development of Texas Tech as a national contender and the high powered offenses of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas everyone is wondering who is the conference the reigns supreme over the college football landscape, the Big 12 or the SEC? The Big 12 is very competitive and should remain that way this year. Oklahoma, last year's runner up returns thier Heisman quarterback Sam Bradford and 9 players on defense. Texas returns last years runner up in the Heisman and quarterback Colt Mccoy, 9 offensive starters, and a solid defensive nucleus. Last years surprise team was Texas Tech and with losing thier quarterback and star reciever, they should take a step back only to be replaced by Oklahoma State who surged through the regular season to 9-3 and give hope that the COwboys can compete this season. In the Big 12 North, the powers are shifting after Missouri's reign with Chase Daniel. Look for Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, and Kansas State to all be competitive this year and fight for the North title.

Overall, this conference from top to bottom is probably one of the strongest conferences. Lasseason Texas beat Oklahoma and still lost out on a chance to play in the Big 12 title game and national title. This year the Longhorns will be out for revenge. Look for Mccoy to put up even BIGGER numbers this year and lead the Longhorns to the National Title.

BIG 12 Predictions
North Division
1) Nebraska 9-3
2) Colorado 9-3
3) Kansas 8-4
4) Kansas State 7-5
5) Missouri 4-8
6) Iowa State 2-10

South Division
1) Texas 11-1
2) Oklahoma St 10-2
3) Oklahoma 9-3
4) Texas Tech 7-5
5) Texas A+M 6-6
6) Baylor 6-6

BIG 12 Championship

Texas Over Nebraska

Big 10

The Big 10 has taken its lumps the last few years as the conference as a whole hasn't progressed with the times and gone with speed over power. Three schools, Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan look to be upgrading thier skill postions and favoring a fast, mobile quarterback and are shying away from the old 3 yards and a cloud of dust monicre. It might be a few more years before the talent will officially be there for these schools to compete against the faster and more gifted athletes of other conferences, but its good to see them progressing.

Last season, Penn State won thier first 9 games and beat Ohio State at the Horseshoe, but lost to Iowa in Iowa and settled for a share of the Big 10 title and a blow out Rose Bowl loss. This year I project Ohio State to avenge thier Penn State loss in Happy Valley with a more experienced Terrelle Pryor and 7 returning defensive starters. In fact, it is possible for the Buckeyes to run through the Big 10 schedule unscathed. Michigan should be MUCH better and return to a bowl in Rich Rodriguez's 2nd year in Ann Arbor.

Big 10 Predictions
1) Ohio State 11-1
2) Penn State 10-2
3) Northwestern 9-3
4) Michigan 8-4
5) Wisconsin 8-4
6) Minnesota 7-5
7) Iowa 7-5
8) Michigan State 7-5
9) Illinois 5-7
10) Purdue 3-9
11) Indiana 2-10

ACC

Last year it was the ACC had a down year. Entering the season, Clemson was everyone's dark horse to win get to the national title. They struggled and didn't live up to expectations. Everyone else in the ACC was rebuilding, so when it came down to the end of the season two young 8-4 teams met in the ACC championship game. This year the conference is a little stronger. I project BIG things from Florida State this year. Like last seasons emergence of Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions, I see Bobby Bowden leading the Seminoles back to a BCS bowl game for the first time in 4 years. College football is about progression and building. Two years ago the 'Noles were 6-5 and lost in the Music City Bowl. Last year they added two wins in the regular season and demolished Wisconsin in thier bowl game. This year, as progression goes, State wins the ACC...

Atlantic Division
1) Florida State 9-3
2) Clemson 7-5
3) Boston College 6-6
4) Wake Forest 6-6
5) NC State 4-8
6) Maryland 2-10
Coastal Division
1) North Carolina 10-2
2) Virginia Tech 9-3
3) Georgia Tech 8-4
4) Miami 7-5
5) Virginia 5-7
6) Duke 4-8

ACC Title Game

Florida State Over North Carolina

Pac 10

Starting off with the 2009 College Projections we have the Pac 10 conference. Even reloading on both sides of the ball, USC should be able to win its 8th straight Pac 10 title. Teams are getting better and in a few more years, schools might be able to be more competitive. I have 8 schools reaching bowl eligibility, where they should land will be posted later in the week!

1) USC 10-2
2) Stanford 9-3
3) Oregon 8-4
4) California 7-5
5) Arizona 7-5
6) Arizona State 7-5

7) UCLA 6-6
8) Oregon State 6-6
9) Washington St 3-9
10) Washington 2-10

Coming Up...

This week will begin the Preseason Previews to the 2009 College Football Season. I will post extensive breakdowns for the SEC, along with preseason conference projections, a Top 25, and early bowl projections....

It's just about time for college football to be in full swing! Stay tuned!

Justin Keehne

Kentucky Opens Fall Camp

Kentucky Starts Practice

Prior to the first day of practice Friday, Coach Rich Brooks held a 40 minute media session to usher in the new season.

All the talk entering the first day of practice revolved around the offense, which struggled mightily last year to move the ball. This year, the players are the same but just a year older.

When asked about the offense Rich Brooks gave full confidence that Mike Hartline is his starter and will lead the Cats thorugh the season.

“Mike Hartline is going to be a better quarterback than he was a year ago. He will be able to do more and have a better grasp on things. And he’ll have more help,” said Brooks.

Hartline was also more confident Friday as he explained how he has changed this offseason to better lead the offense.

"I think that I am more mature and more of a vocal leader. The biggest thing that Coach (Randy) Sanders and I talked about was to get on guys when I need to get on them, but number one I have to take care of my business first. I believe that I have and I am at the point where I have great relationships with every single person on this football team. To be that extra voice of motivation and determination other than the coaches for these guys is going to help us tremendously.”

His voice was definitely missing last year as the Wildcats struggled to find any leadership on offense and struggled to move the ball. The Cats averaged just 16 first downs a game and near the bottom of the SEC in all offensive categories.

Helping Hartline this year should be sophomore athlete Randall Cobb. Cobb was a duel threat last year starting at receiver before moving to quarterback midway through the season to lead the Cats to the Liberty Bowl before suffering a knee injury last in the season.
Cobb said he was excited to get going and is looking to be able to focus more on playing receiver.

"My role is more defined this year than it was last. Last year, I had to learn two positions and go to two-a-days knowing everything. This year, I only have to know one position and it will help me a lot. Leaving the quarterback position was fine with me."

With Cobb solely at receiver and running the Wildcat formation, Kentucky should be able to have a more versatile offense.

Following the interviews with the players, the 2009 Kentucky Wildcats lined up at Commonwealth Stadium, took their team picture, and headed to the practice facility. Football is here in the Bluegrass and what this season hopes to bring is a fourth straight bowl appearance, a feat Kentucky has never reached and a feat that Rich Brooks and all the Cats have their sights set on.

Gillispie Gone, Let him leave in peace

Gillispie has been let go.

Fired.

Gone.

Sent back to Texas.

Fans are thankful. Happy for the ugly disparture. But what fans don’t realize is the fact that these public figures are human, have families, and feelings.

What happened on Friday is life: people get fired. And looking straight from the facts, Gillispie wasn’t the right fit. He did not want to be an ambassador for the state. He wanted no part in the “Celebrity-like” status that came with the job. He also missed the tournament and had a dismal second half of the season.

Okay. There is merit in the firing.

But the aftermath is sickening and cynical.

Following a meeting with players, Billy Gillispie headed to the Joe Craft Center to clear his belongings; the University gave him and his staff a 5 pm deadline for removing their belongings. As he walked to the building the man was hounded by reporters.

The newly unemployed coach attempted to walk through the crowd of reporters, cell phone to his ear.

When asked questions, he politely said, “Give me some respect, I am on the phone.”
Unrelenting reporters continued to follow the coach, to the point where Gillispie went into a sprint to his offices, one reporter in toe attempting to block his path.

The reporter in toe asked, “You are not really going to run from me are you Bill?” This is the same reporter that after the Gardner Webb game two years ago asked if the coach thought the team played hard. And when Gillispie replied, “Ya they always play hard”, the reporter responded with a disgust of “Wow!”

Reporters need to be objective and take the emotion out of what they are covering.
I can relate a little to GIllispie and sympathise with his departure.

The people he had to deal with; the people who cover Kentucky athletics, are also fans and have an emotional attachment to the team and prgram. So when things go bad, those reporters are the ones who are on the message boards ranting, raving, and using their credentials to bash a subject they should be covering with some objectivity.

Kentucky media needs to take a step back and reevaluate the people they hire to cover things. Fans are not objective. They are emotional. They have a “Raa, Raa” attitude and are not objective.
The chasing down of Gillispie and almost being confrontational and sense of entitlement to chase a newly unemployed person is wrong.

Being a reporter/fan is obnoxious. To use your microphone and camera to “stick it to a guy” that has no ill-feelings your way is wrong.

Kentucky might stay in this down swing of basketball, until things change. Change needs to begin at every level. Take the emotion out media. Cover things objectively. Don’t act bigger than you are.

Getting fired is tough for anyone regardless of title. Lay off.

Rumors, Rumors, Rumors…

Bye bye Billy G? Two years, a missed NCAA appearance, and lack of personality appears to have Kentucky’s second year head men headed out of Lexington with an overall 40-27 record.

Billy GIllispie’s relationship with fans, media, and boosters was strained from the very beginning. This Texas man was hard to read, hard to approach, and hard to get a read on. He was a man of his convictions, going through full length practices on game days, and blowing off national media halfimte interviewers—Jeanine Edwards. The embarrassments and hard headedness has his bags packing and the University has just sent out a press release---

There will be a 4:30 Press Conference announcing a new head coach for the winningest program in basketball. The rumor mill has been churning for quite some time about who exactly will be the new coach.

Names of John Calapari from Memphis, Tom Izzo of Michigan State, and a hopeful Rick Pitino of Louisville. But all these were mere names, as the announcement takes place today, the coach has to be out of the season….

So, early indications are the the Wildcats have nabbed the man they wanted two years ago. Billy Donavan of the Florida Gators appears to be the next head coach. But this is merely speculation.

The announcement takes place today at 4:30 pm.

Ding, Ding Round 2

The Kentucky Wildcats head to Omaha, Nebraska to take on the Creighton Bluejays of the Missouri Valley Conference Monday night.

The Bluejays are no slouch of an opponent as they have only lost seven games all season and tied for first in their conference with Northern Iowa. The Bluejays have won 12 of their past 13 games and are led by the conference’s Player of the Year, Booker Woodfox. Woodfox spent his season averaging 15.7 points a game and ranked 2nd in the nation in three point shooting percentage hitting an astounding 47.6% of his attempts.

Not only will the Cats have to focus on stopping Woodfox for a chance at victory, they will also be fighting against history. Since the NIT was trimmed down to 32 teams three years ago, the team with home court advantage has won 60 games and lost only 14. For the Wildcats to make a run through the rest of the bracket, they will have to do it on the road…a road which teams before have not fared so well.

In the breaking down of this game, Kentucky is a “Big Boy” in a power conference taking on a mid-major with what is supposed to be lesser talent.

The winning of the game hinges on the Cats mindset and play. The NIT is not a premier tournament, nor is there any real kudos for winning the whole thing, but a win is a win and extra games can build for the future. So if the Wildcats are looking to build, it must continue tonight.

Tip Off at 7 p.m EST

Kentucky to Round 2 NIT

Kentucky wins opener

Snapped was the consecutive NCAA Tournament bids at 17 and still Wildcat faithful filled the Memorial Coliseum to capacity and supported Kentucky to a 70-60 victory over the UNLV Running Rebels.

Gone was the stress and pressure from the Cats shoulders as they appeared to play looser than they had before.

"It was a real good win for us. It was a lot of fun in there.” Said Coach Billy GIllispie after the game.

For the first time all season it seemed that although the season did not go as planned, everyone from the fans to players to coaches to media were at peace with the state of Kentucky basketball. After the game, Coach Gillispie, a man under fire for nearly all of his 2 years here took time high fiving fans and thanking them for coming out and rooting on this team.

The victory now puts the Cats into the second round of a tournament, something which has not occurred for Kentucky in two years. The next opponent is the Creighton Bluejays. The Jays earned a 1 seed in the NIT by finishing the season tied for first in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 27-7 overall record.

Seasonal Depression News Package

NIT Bound

The 17 straight NCAA tournament bid ended Sunday as the Wildcats will now settle for a NIT bid. Their first round match up Kentucky faces a UNLV team that finished the season 5th in the Mountain West conference and compiled a 21-10 overall record.

Preview of the game and the rest of the NIT sleight on taps tomorrow!

March 2009 News Package

Justin Keehne's Dance Blue News Package

March 2009

Kentucky's Cats Eyes, Nine Lives....Living to play another day

Kentucky Lives to play another day

It wasn’t perfect, but the Kentucky Wildcats snapped a 4 game losing streak by taking down the Ole Miss Rebels and avenge a loss from earlier in the season. As the rest of the college basketball world watches as Kentucky plays with danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in 17 years, the Wildcats proved to be on a mission in Tampa. A 71-58 win and the beat goes on.

The Cats were led by the two power players that have led the team all season long. Jodie Meeks scored 25, Patrick Patterson added 15 for Big Blue to cruise to a victory.

The Wildcats were also helped by Mr. Sporadic, Perry Stevenson. Stevenson’s appearance and disappearance this season has added to the Cats inability to win down the stretch but against Ole Miss he showed up in a large way scoring 13 points and grabbing 8 boards.

With the victory the Wildcats now move onto game two, a rematch with the LSU Tigers. The Tigers beat the Wildcats with a heartbreaking 3 point shot by Marcus Thornton to clinch the SEC season title.

Game 2 Tips at 1 pm Friday Afternoon.

Kentucky Begins SEC Tournament Play

January 27th. The date that the Kentucky Wildcats can point to and see where everything just fell apart.

January 27th the Wildcats were #24 in the nation, 5-0 in the SEC, and held a three game lead over everyone else in the conference.

But by the end of the night in Oxford, Mississippi January 27th was the beginning of the end for the Kentucky Wildcat season.

Kentucky’s opponent, Ole Miss, a team which to that point was a dismal 1-4 in SEC play, stopped Kentucky’s leading scorer Jodie Meeks and gave the blueprint to the rest of the conference how to break down the Cats.

Kentucky’s 85-80 loss began a downward spiral in the Bluegrass. Kentucky continued losing through the remainder of the season only winning just four of their last 11 conference games and ending in fourth place in a down SEC Eastern conference.

With the fourth place finish and a 19-12 record overall the Cats open up the SEC tournament with an opening round game against the team that started the downward spiral.

The way the season has gone, Kentucky must win the tournament in order to make the NCAA tournament all together. And with the way the SEC bracket is set up, the run through the conference would be a revenge match all the way.

If Kentucky can get by the Ole Miss Rebels, the Wildcats will face off against the seasonal SEC champion LSU Tigers, who beat the Cats in the last seconds at Rupp Arena two weeks ago.
Again if the Cats are to win over LSU, the Cats get another rematch with the South Carolina Gamecocks, which swept the season series and knocked off Kentucky when vying for 1st place in the conference three weeks ago.

Kentucky’s run through the tournament is not particularly favorable, but if Big Blue wants to get not miss a trip to the big dance, the must beat teams they lost to in the regular season on a daily basis through Sunday.

The Madness of March kicks off at 1 pm EST.

Kentucky in Trouble

Has the bubble burst?

From #24 in the nation and unbeaten in SEC play at the end of January to now having lost 7 of 10 games, the Kentucky Wildcats are in severe jeopardy of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in 19 years.

The loss to Georgia, a team with an interim head coach and only two wins in SEC play, has forced the Kentucky Wildcats to put themselves in a position to be at the mercy of the NCAA selection committee in a short two weeks.

After the shocking Georgia loss coaches, players, and fans were at a loss for what had just happened. The Wildcats needed a win and simply came out flat, played uninspired and handed the Georgia Bulldog team the game.

After the game Billy Gillipie was seething commenting on his team’s inability to step up in adverse situations.

“I don't think they have shown a great deal of maturity of accepting a challenge. When things go well for them they are really good. I don't think we have been tough or mature enough”, said Gillispie. “We haven't accepted challenges personally or as a team very well.”

Georgia was a prime example of the team’s immaturity. When the Wildcats fell behind late in the fourth quarter there appeared to be players yelling at coaches, coaches yelling at players, and everyone pointing fingers at one another instead of working as a team to overcome the deficit.

The same incidence occurred during the three game losing streak earlier in the season, when following the Mississippi State loss, there were reports that there was an internal dissension of chairs flying, voices raising and a heavy dose of finger pointing.

The lack of control which Billy Gillispie has over this team looks to be more and more apparent in adverse situations.

None better example of the South Carolina loss, when following the Wednesday game, A.J Stewart apparently quit the team due to lack of play time.

Stewart then was readmitted to the team on Friday and for some unknown reason played meaningful minutes Saturday against #18 LSU and caused a costly foul at the end of the game to eventually lead to a Tiger victory.

The Wildcats inability to win games they should and lack of talent to compete against top-tier teams this year might be reason for the Wildcats to miss the NCAA tournament.

Kentucky has a limited amount of time to impress the selection committee. The season finale with the Florida Gators looks to be a game that, even a win might be meaningless, as the Gators have had the same struggles as the Cats late in the year.

LSU Clinches SEC TItle as they Claw Past Cats

Kentucky Falls Late

Maturity. Kentucky’s youth-ridden team appeared to be Coach Gillispie’s rationale for the team’s loss.

“We just aren’t a mature enough team to beat LSU”, said Coach Gillispie after the game.
After leading by as many as 8 mid way through the second half, Kentucky could not close the door on the now SEC Champion LSU Tigers.

Trailing by 8, LSU senior leader Marcus Thornton took over the game. In the first half, Kentucky kept LSU’s leader in check by holding him to just 2-for-10 shooting and a mere 4 points. But the second half, was much different for Thornton.

“I got in a groove in the second half and I didn't feel like I could miss," said Thornton, who led LSU with 23 points.

Late in the game, Kentucky freshman Darius Miller lifted the Wildcats to a 70-70 tie with just 20 ticks left in regulation. The crowd roaring with excitement, Kentucky felt the momentum shift their way.

Why would they not feel confident? The last time Kentucky was in a close game, they did what they needed to against the Florida Gators. Stopped the Gator offensive attack and gave the ball to their star player Jodie Meeks to hit a three and win the game.

But, LSU’s maturity helped the Tigers on their next offensive possession. The Bayou Bengals took the ball down the court heaved up a three point shot which landed in the basket. Rupp Arena went silent.

Kentucky now had lost to LSU in Lexington for the first time since 1989.
The Wildcats now fall double digit losses.

Mighty Big Blue Nation, has lost 6 of their last 8 will now be in serious trouble in making the NCAA tournament.

All those implications on winning the game and Kentucky simply lacked the maturity to come up with the victory.

Kentucky now has two games left in the regular season as well as the SEC tournament. The Cats RPI ranking heading into Saturday’s match-up was listed at 61, the tournament takes 65 teams. But as been noted, the selection committee looks at body of work and asks the question; “What have you done lately?” With that question the Cats will be bypassed by other teams with better resumes.

This loss hurts in so many ways but Kentucky must try to salvage the season in the remainder of the season if they have any hopes to make the tournament.