The House of Blue

UK's bracket:

1 UK/8 Robert Morris
4 Providence/Charlotte
3 Arizona St/6 Detroit
2 Baylor/7 Long Beach

Because Kentucky didn't bid to host. Don't have the staffing to handle NCAA Tournament hosting demands, spring sports and a short-notice NIT game.

On not hosting:

"We did not place a bid to host the first round of the NIT due to limited staff availability to properly host a game at Memorial Coliseum. Because the University of Kentucky is hosting the NCAA second- and third-round games at Rupp Arena on March 21 and 23, the facility was not available for a first-round NIT game. We placed a bid to host both the second round and quarterfinal games at Rupp Arena if we advance.” – DeWayne Peevy, UK Executive Associate AD

It'll be interesting to see if this team has any pride. Forget about the pressures of UK, the media, the fans, the season in general and use this as a new beginning. Do they play their tails off for each other or do lay down and quit on each other?

Matt, was Memorial even considered as a place to play? I mean it holds more then the 3000 that RM holds.

Hope getting left behind by the NCAA will serve as a wake-up call for this team. That said, I am not encouraged by what I saw from a few on this team in the last four games. No heart, no fire, no pride, and they just WILL NOT do what Coach Calipari tells them to do.
They should win this upcoming game, but I wouldn't be surprised if they lose.
This team has very little basketball IQ. They are only going to work hard enough to put forth a minimal effort. There is no real floor leader, and from what I can see there is zero "unit cohesion", as we used to say in the Army. This team had the number one recruiting class in the country this past season, and yet they just won't do what they're being coached to do.
This team had a lot of potential. So much for potential if you can't be coached. These guys remind me of an old saying: all that glitters is not gold.

You know, after reading some of Calipari's quotes I have to wonder if he didn't ask for this to be played at Robert Morris. I think he's ready to be done with this year and expects them to lay an egg up there.

UK's notes say a potential 2nd round NIT game against Charlotte or Providence would be Sunday, Mar. 24 at 5 pm in Rupp Arena.