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Possible "separation week" coming up for UK, Vandy...

  • Just finished doing my TCP magazine predictions and noticed that Vandy's going to Arkansas and Florida next week. This could be a golden opportunity for the Cats to open up some breathing room between themselves and the Dores. Cats will play Tennessee at home and South Carolina on the road. Arkansas isn't a great team, but they play much better at home and might be able to give Vandy a test. Florida ought to be able to win at home against the Dores. If the Cats can open a 2-3 game lead on Vandy, it gives them some cushion when they play the Dores 2x in the final four games.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • Not being a masochist, but I'm thinking that they best thing possible for this team would be to have the pressure of having to fend them off. Playing the Vandy game(s) with a LOT on line would be good preparation for a win or go home tournament environment, IMO. I understand that every game is important and we are everyones Super Bowl, yada, yada, yada, BUT, not every game is as important to US, and I think that makes a difference in the pressure of the game.

    SSP4L!! #GBB

    terryinbham

  • This is an interesting topic, and part of me agrees with Terry in bham about this team benefiting from playing the upcoming road games with serious consequences on the line. However, Vanderbilt has already slipped up once, and I suspect that they will lose at Florida next week for a second loss.

    From where I sit, I think Florida, not Vanderbilt, will be the team to challenge the Cats the most down the stretch drive this year, but if things play out as I believe, the Cats will have the #1 SEC Tournament seed locked up before they travel to Gainesville for the last game of the regular season.

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    TheProfessor

  • Vanderbilt @ Arkansas tonight, Opens as a Pick 'Em game, and right now, Vandy -2 1/2 points

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    http://bigbluefans4uk.com

    TheProfessor

  • I would like to see them lose one, but not completely fall back in the race for reasons that Terry mentioned. That places more pressure on them to beat us in Nashville if we have a two game lead, because if they lose they're pretty much out of the race with a return game at Rupp still looming. A one game lead for us doesn't quite put as much pressure on them, but it's close. If we're three or more games up, then we're probably too far ahead for them to catch us even if they win. I want them to be playing for something. I want them to feel some pressure for a change. More often than not when playing Kentucky teams like Vandy have 'nothing to lose' and I think that helps them. Let's put the SEC Championship on the line and let them see how the other half lives for a change. If history is any indication, Vanderbilt will wilt under the pressure and Kentucky will rise to the occasion.

    I actually like our chances at Vanderbilt better than our chances in Starkville. I believe that the fact that it is a primetime ESPN game with the GameDay circus in town helps us. It will focus our team and they will be much less likely to take the Dores lightly. Plus they have been in big time situations before and seem to relish the bright lights and big stage. Vanderbilt hasn't really been in games like that. Their post season record would indicate that they don't really flourish in pressure situations. There will be no sneaking up on or surprising the Cats in Nashville this season. The setup will ensure our guys bring their A game and if that happens, we're leaving Memorial Funhouse with a W.

    Mattox

  • Florida from an athleticicism standpoint will give UK the toughest challenge. But Vandy's ability to shoot could keep them in the game. Vandy is a lot like IU in that regard. If they are making shots they have a shot.

    hoptownukfan

  • Think the last five games of UK's SEC schedule will go a long way in preparing them for the NCAA Tournament. A lot of big games in there.

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    Chris Fisher

  • hoptownukfan said...

    Florida from an athleticicism standpoint will give UK the toughest challenge..

    I think we are a matchup nightmare for Florida. They rely very heavily on the three point shot and play some undersized guys on the perimeter. With our length on the outside, they won't get the kind of looks they typically do. Plus we can afford to play them for the shot because in the event they get by their defender, Anthony Davis is lurking at the rim. I like us to sweep Florida.

    Mattox

  • I still think Vandy is our biggest challenge. They have 3 potential NBA picks. They have a dominant big man, the best shooter in the nation, a great defender and slasher in Taylor and Lance Goulborne is playing as well as anyone on the team. Their five starters are all capable of being in double figures. At Vandy they will be nearly impossible for us to beat especially if we are number one....it will be their game of the decade. Also they are really good on the road...I think they will beat Arkansas. They key for us will be to win one of the three road games against Vandy, Miss State, and Florida and hold serve at home. We will not go undefeated in the league...winning on the road is really tough. Now I hope the CATS prove the old man wrong.

    TNCatfanforever

  • Mattox said...

    I would like to see them lose one, but not completely fall back in the race for reasons that Terry mentioned. That places more pressure on them to beat us in Nashville if we have a two game lead, because if they lose they're pretty much out of the race with a return game at Rupp still looming. A one game lead for us doesn't quite put as much pressure on them, but it's close. If we're three or more games up, then we're probably too far ahead for them to catch us even if they win. I want them to be playing for something. I want them to feel some pressure for a change. More often than not when playing Kentucky teams like Vandy have 'nothing to lose' and I think that helps them. Let's put the SEC Championship on the line and let them see how the other half lives for a change. If history is any indication, Vanderbilt will wilt under the pressure and Kentucky will rise to the occasion.

    I actually like our chances at Vanderbilt better than our chances in Starkville. I believe that the fact that it is a primetime ESPN game with the GameDay circus in town helps us. It will focus our team and they will be much less likely to take the Dores lightly. Plus they have been in big time situations before and seem to relish the bright lights and big stage. Vanderbilt hasn't really been in games like that. Their post season record would indicate that they don't really flourish in pressure situations. There will be no sneaking up on or surprising the Cats in Nashville this season. The setup will ensure our guys bring their A game and if that happens, we're leaving Memorial Funhouse with a W.

    Interesting way of looking at it. I have been giving them no chance to win in Nashville, but you have elevated my confidence to a modest level. I haven't sensed that UK "overlooked" the 'Dores in the past (at least not in hoops) but the big-game type atmosphere will certainly be one that UK understands better.

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    Jeff Drummond

  • Matt May said...

    I just don't believe in Florida at all. Sure, when they make shots they can be really good but Boynton and Walker always manage to shoot them out of games when it matters most. They remind me so much of the Walsh-Roberson-Lee Florida teams where Lee was by far their best player and yet Walsh and Roberson completely dominated the ball and shots and never found any balance. Then, when things got tough, they took even worse shots instead of utilizing their top talent (in this case Bradley Beal). They'll win their share of games because they can slop in shots but I don't trust them to win when it really counts.

    The interesting thing is we're going to find out real quickly how far UK has come after this week. Take care of business as they should and they'll be 9-0 in the SEC, but the four of the next five games are Florida, at Vanderbilt, at Mississippi State and Vanderbilt again. That's no joke right there. And 2-2 would probably be acceptable.

    There is something missing with the Gators. Can't quite put my finger on it. They have a lot of talent and can shoot with anyone on a given day. But they just don't scare anyone right now.

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    Jeff Drummond

  • Jeff Drummond said...

    There is something missing with the Gators. Can't quite put my finger on it. They have a lot of talent and can shoot with anyone on a given day. But they just don't scare anyone right now.

    I think the word you guys are looking for is "soft."

    Florida is talented no question but do resemble those Gator teams that UK dominated prior to the '04 class. But the game in Gainesville will still be tough. Florida seems to just shoot it so well at home.

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    Chris Fisher

  • Chris Fisher said...

    I think the word you guys are looking for is "soft."

    Florida is talented no question but do resemble those Gator teams that UK dominated prior to the '04 class. But the game in Gainesville will still be tough. Florida seems to just shoot it so well at home.

    So, if I read you the right way, you'd agree with me that Billy D hit the equivalent of the basektball "lottery" with that '04 group?

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • Chris Fisher said...

    I think the word you guys are looking for is "soft."

    Florida is talented no question but do resemble those Gator teams that UK dominated prior to the '04 class. But the game in Gainesville will still be tough. Florida seems to just shoot it so well at home.

    No one they put at the 4 spot scares me. Who's going to stop Terrence from posting up 3 feet from the basket? Yeguete? Murphy? They have lots of depth at the 1/2 spots, but a max 3 of those guys can be out there at once between Walker, Boynton, Beal, Rosario and Wilbekin. And if they do have 3 of those guys out there, which one is keeping Kidd-Gilchrist off the glass? Unless their on fire from outside, I don't think they can hang for 40 minutes.

    And how did nothing ever happen to Murphy or the Larson kid from the incident where they were arrested? Those idiots talking in the back of the cop car and answering their cell phone was pure comedy and pretty damning, too.

    VA2UK

  • Hopefully Arkansas can hang on to a 12 point lead with about four minutes left.

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    Nate87

  • 7 point game 1:32. Did anyone else see the Arkansas player jump while trying to take a charge. The dumbest attempt to take a charge I've ever seen.

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    Nate87

  • Nice to get a little help from the Hogs tonight. Who does Fla play next?

    msdcatfan

  • Very nice assist from the Hogs. thumbsup

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    Jeff Drummond

  • In my opinion, this was not an upset.

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    http://bigbluefans4uk.com

    TheProfessor

  • msdcatfan said...

    Nice to get a little help from the Hogs tonight. Who does Fla play next?

    They play Vandy in O Dome on Saturday. And Vandy will be in need of that one or they're out of the race, imo. Also, in light of the game in Fayetteville tonight, Florida still has to play in Bud Walton...

    VA2UK

  • Chris Fisher said...

    Think the last five games of UK's SEC schedule will go a long way in preparing them for the NCAA Tournament. A lot of big games in there.

    YOU ARE THE MAN. THIS WILL HELP UK SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE.
    FLA WILL GIVE UK A HELL OF A TEST. THE VANDY GAME ILL BECAUSE OF THE DAMN GYM!
    MISS ST BECAUSE THAT IS ONE TUFF PLACE TO PLAY.
    HOWEVER WINOR LOOSE THIS WILL GET UK READY FOR THE BIG DANCE.
    I WOULD THINK UK GETTING BEAT ONE GAME WOULD GET THERE HEADS STRAIGHT.

    This post was edited by dvillepro1 on 1/31/2012 at 11:04 PM

    dvillepro1

  • TheProfessor said...

    In my opinion, this was not an upset.

    I don't think this was an upset because I don't think Vandy is as good as some people do. At the same time Arkansas is better than people think. That is a young team. Yes we are as well, but when people refer to us as young that is what they perceive. I wish Pelphrey had gotten his chance to coach the guys he recruited there. Anderson will do a great job with those guys. They will be a top 4 or 5 SEC team next year.

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    Nate87

  • Nate87 said...

    I don't think this was an upset because I don't think Vandy is as good as some people do. At the same time Arkansas is better than people think. That is a young team. Yes we are as well, but when people refer to us as young that is what they perceive. I wish Pelphrey had gotten his chance to coach the guys he recruited there. Anderson will do a great job with those guys. They will be a top 4 or 5 SEC team next year.

    It is an upset because of peoples perception of Vandy. Like I have said they are so soft and that is a reflection of there coach. Stallings does nothing put complain.
    I also wish John could have had another yr or two. He had some very bad luck with players hurt or not getting on the court from books to being kicked off the team for stupidity.

    dvillepro1

  • TheProfessor said...

    In my opinion, this was not an upset.

    Agree. I think Vegas saw it as close to a 50/50 game.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • Now we actually need Vandy to beat Florida. That would give each of them two losses and give us separation from everyone in the SEC.

    Mattox

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