I'm still licking the wounds from the South Carolina debacle... there's nothing like watching your team give games away AFTER you thought they had turned such a corner. Oh well, at least my preseason predictions are still intact (I picked the Cats to lose to the ####). I really don't have much else to say about the game because if I have to relive those damn mistakes, I'll probably put my keyboard through my monitor.
I did, however, enjoy the live-blog exercise, although, it would've been nice if you all would've participated. Perhaps I need to spam myself a little more around here. ;) Oh yeah, I have a laptop now so future live-blog events will be MUCH easier.
Anyway, this upcoming weekend is going to be huge if you are a fan of UK Athletics. First off, on Friday, the first practice of the upcoming college basketball begins (better known as Big Blue Madness). The basketball Cats will kick-off the 2007-08 season at 9pm EST in front of a sold-out Rupp Arena.
I am expecting the roof to be torn off because the hype surrounding the Billy Gillispie hire and the Patrick Patterson signing has got Cat fans frothing at the mouth. Can BCG (Billy Clyde Gillispie) return the Cats to upper-prominence? It certainly looks that way... at least from an initial prognosis.
While most of the player hype is focused on Patterson, I personally can't wait to see Alex Legion. I got to watch him in a couple of scrimmages during the summer and let me just say this kid is INCREDIBLY explosive.
He absolutely has springs in his legs and one of the quicker releases I've ever seen.
It will be damn near impossible to keep him out of the line-up... Not to mention he's quite confident in his abilities, an attribute I certainly admire. Speaking to the Herald-Leader, his confidence is very apparent.
On adjusting to college:
"I think I've made the adjustment quite well. Some days I dominate. Some days I look like the best player out there."
When asked about starting and playing time importance:
"Real important. I'm not going to lie. I came here to start and play. I don't think any college player comes to be the sixth man. If (starting) doesn't happen, I'll want to be the best man off the bench."
Who his game is comparable to:
"Most AAU analysts compare me to Ray Allen, which is fairly accurate."
You have absolutely got to love a player with that much skill and self-assuredness. Legion will be a joy to watch while he's in a Cat uniform and beyond.
Of course, if basketball's not your thing (a UK fan? Yeah, right), there is a football game of note to be played on Saturday as well. That's right, the number one team in the country travels to Lexington for what most see as a beatdown of the Cats. While I'm not silly enough to say we are going to beat LSU, I do think if the offensive line gives Woodson time to throw, we'll be in it at the end.
I'm also not that impressed with LSU offense, but of course, as I say that, they'll probably score 1000 on Saturday. Although, if Wesley Woodyard and company can contain Hester and the Trevard Lindey can take his side of the field away, I think the Cats can make this a competitive match-up...
Of course, we all remember what happened the last time LSU came to Lexington: they made the college football play of the year with the Bluegrass Miracle (no links, if you are that curious, go YouTube it).
All I'll say is this, if UK is in a position where another Bluegrass Miracle is needed for LSU to win, I'll be ecstatic.
Enjoy the weekend Cats fans. It's gonna be a big one.
Here's another pic of one of the UK Dance Team members. Just because. Her name is Regan Judd. No relation to Ashley... that I know of.
What a weekend to be a UK WildCat fan!! I can't wait to watch Big Blue Madness! I agree with you and am looking forward to the play of Alex Legion. Do you know if the injured Cats are going to participate in the practice? I also have a lot of faith in BG!! He is a work-a-holic and that is just what we have to have right now!! GO BIG BLUE
As for Sat...look for an upset dear! I don't think Coach Brooks will let our players play like sj=hit again and they know they can't play that way and expect to win. I am picking the Cats in a HUGE upset over LSU!! The first minutes of the game should tell us what to expect! GO BIG BLUE!!
Nice write-up and the young lady is not hard to look at...
On the downside, I'm afraid your Wildcats and going up against a BIG KITTY this Saturday. It would be great if Kentucky could rise up and whip the Tigers! It would do wonders for the UK football program and once again throw the college football world on it's ear.
I'm not much of a round ball fan, so here's hoping your B'Ball team does great!
My wife decided to have a party on Friday night so there goes Big Blue Madness, but I am going to see the LSU game Saturday. We need a "Miracle In The Bluegrass". That's for sure! BTW, I love the dance team!
Usually a ranked KY team makes anyone think of their basketball team...for a nice change their KY football is ranked just as tha cat fans are used to the basketball ranking.....if the basketall team ends up in top 10, KY is well on their way in the coming years to beat the florida gators achievement of winning BCS title and NCAAB title.....
Wow these girls from Kentucky are some real hotties. As for Sat. game I don't think sorry to you cat's fans but I don't see it being that close as the last two games. LSU's d is tough and the Running game can be hard to stop when they have four to five guys at RB that touch the ball. That keeps guys always fresh. Not to mention you have to take QB Ryan Perrilloux into consideration who can also run very effectively. Goodluck in any case though and goodluck this year to your B-ball team.
Geaux Tigers!!!!!
i hope you are right about UK pulling of the Football/Basketball double, but i'm not sure if our gridiron team will ever be that dominant... too much talent in the SEC.
gambit:
yes sir, they are hot in KY. VERY HOT (hell, just look at BGL :)). you should see campus on the first warm day of spring... skimpy cotton shorts with "Cats" on the #### EVERYWHERE the eye can see. ;)
and i agree with you on the football analysis. it would take a Herculean effort by UK coupled with a lackluster effort by LSU for us to win. altho, we both know stranger things have happened.
UKjedi
When the ol' ball coach beats your as$ once , you don't ask questions. But when he starts to beat it regularly that's when you should start to get worried.