Thanks, Kentucky for revealing yourself

[Dalton26 16,892]

Very long but good read.

http://m.elkharttruth.com/sports/2015/04/06/Twine-Line-Thanks-Kentucky-for-revealing-yourself.html

Thanks, Kentucky.

Those are words I don’t often utter, yet they apply on a wild number of counts when it comes to the 2015 Wildcats.

Thanks for effectively reminding those of us who grew up as Indiana fans that even some of the players on that incomparable 1976 IU team don’t mind if there’s someday another NCAA Division I men’s college basketball unbeaten. If Hoosier players themselves don’t mind, why should we? Those perspectives don’t get revisited without you coming close, Kentucky.

Thanks, too, for a genuinely engaging run at it. You were dang good. Genuine basketball fans should embrace how well you played.

Thanks, however, for punctuating that awards and honors and hype don’t always mean much. You reportedly had nine McDonald’s All-Americans. Wisconsin? The Badgers had zero. How cool is that?

Thanks, of course, for revealing yourself after that loss to Wisconsin. If that’s who you are, then I’m glad we know about it.

At least three of your main players blew off the postgame handshakes.

Then one of you blew a hiss to Frank Kaminsky by virtue of a three-word sentence crammed with both a racial slur and an obscenity.

Sidebar here: It was not gratifying to wake up Easter morning and have Stephen A. Smith on ESPN explain multiple times to us that we need to bear in mind that young African-American men use this slur “religiously.” Religiously? They use it in church? Doubt it. Anyway, Stephen A., if you mean their use is commonplace, the same remains true among white racists. Doesn’t make it OK, and the slur was meant negatively, period.

Bottom line, Kentucky, thanks for losing.

Most of us just do not want champions that behave the way you behaved.

To an immeasurably lesser extent, but to an extent nonetheless, I prefer my college champions to come from among kids who have actually gone to college for a while. Kids that have given us great stories about perseverance.

No, it’s not essential, but I kind of also prefer that my college champions come from colleges where the basketball teams are at least mildly representative geographically of the school bodies at-large. Wisconsin has three starters from in-state and seven in-state players on its roster.

You, Kentucky? Hard to even figure the relevance of having a state name your uniform. You were so spoiled with depth that you had roughly a two-platoon system of 10 guys averaging double-digit minutes most of the year, and still, not a single soul on either platoon from inside the Commonwealth.

I also prefer to have my college champions coached by individuals who haven’t had their signature achievements at both of their previous schools vacated due to NCAA findings. No, John Calipari was not found directly culpable at either UMass or Memphis, but those violations still happened under his watch. This is known as a pattern.

Finally, there’s this, Kentucky. If you had gone 40-0, I would have had to read and hear ad nauseam about where you rank among the all-time great teams, because so many of us today, including the so-called experts, are prisoners of the moment.

Again, Kentucky, you were dang good, but all-time good? Not even close. That IU team would’ve stepped on your throats. So would a bunch of UCLA teams that preceded them. I’d say at least a half-dozen other teams over the last dozen years would’ve handled you.

Your merits were bountiful, but your holes apparent, relative to the ultra-elites. There was no great scorer who was consistently efficient. There was no pure point guard with a dazzling assist-to-turnover ratio who could also score. If you’d been in the ACC or the Big Ten this season, rather than in the SEC (where you beat Ole Miss and Texas A&M in overtime, and escaped LSU by two), this unbeaten conversation would not have taken place in the first place.

Nevertheless, if this season has done anything, it’s changed my mind back to where it once was about whether we’ll ever have another unbeaten men’s DI team.

If this Kentucky team can come close, somebody’s going to do it someday. After all, Indiana wasn’t the only unbeaten, just the last one. If a team is the best in a given season — theoretically, at least, such a team exists every season — then it’s not outside the realm that such a team is going to wind up unbeaten.

Just a huge thank you, Kentucky, that it wasn’t you.

[JSHoosier 19,846]

One point, if pUKe relied on in state talent they would be a mid-major. They produce very little.

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

One point, if pUKe relied on in state talent they would be a mid-major. They produce very little.

Disagree. There's nothing in the rulebook that says a horse can't play basketball.

[BaNnErSiX 6]

Horse!!!! I'm dying laughing. Dalton26.....maybe one of the best posts I've read on here in awhile. There are way...way too many UK fans here in Evansville. Makes me sick. True story. I've almost come to blows with one of my UK loving co-workers over what UKs record would be if they played in our beloved B1G, or the ACC. Hell....even the Big 12. Now all I hear everyday is how the refs stole their undefeated season from them. It's f@#cking comical. Oh....I hate Wisky just as much as any other B1G team...but what they gave the UK haters of this world was priceless.

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

Very long but good read.

http://m.elkharttruth.com/sports/2015/04/06/Twine-Line-Thanks-Kentucky-for-revealing-yourself.html

Thanks, Kentucky.

Those are words I don’t often utter, yet they apply on a wild number of counts when it comes to the 2015 Wildcats.

Thanks for effectively reminding those of us who grew up as Indiana fans that even some of the players on that incomparable 1976 IU team don’t mind if there’s someday another NCAA Division I men’s college basketball unbeaten. If Hoosier players themselves don’t mind, why should we? Those perspectives don’t get revisited without you coming close, Kentucky.

Thanks, too, for a genuinely engaging run at it. You were dang good. Genuine basketball fans should embrace how well you played.

Thanks, however, for punctuating that awards and honors and hype don’t always mean much. You reportedly had nine McDonald’s All-Americans. Wisconsin? The Badgers had zero. How cool is that?

Thanks, of course, for revealing yourself after that loss to Wisconsin. If that’s who you are, then I’m glad we know about it.

At least three of your main players blew off the postgame handshakes.

Then one of you blew a hiss to Frank Kaminsky by virtue of a three-word sentence crammed with both a racial slur and an obscenity.

Sidebar here: It was not gratifying to wake up Easter morning and have Stephen A. Smith on ESPN explain multiple times to us that we need to bear in mind that young African-American men use this slur “religiously.” Religiously? They use it in church? Doubt it. Anyway, Stephen A., if you mean their use is commonplace, the same remains true among white racists. Doesn’t make it OK, and the slur was meant negatively, period.

Bottom line, Kentucky, thanks for losing.

Most of us just do not want champions that behave the way you behaved.

To an immeasurably lesser extent, but to an extent nonetheless, I prefer my college champions to come from among kids who have actually gone to college for a while. Kids that have given us great stories about perseverance.

No, it’s not essential, but I kind of also prefer that my college champions come from colleges where the basketball teams are at least mildly representative geographically of the school bodies at-large. Wisconsin has three starters from in-state and seven in-state players on its roster.

You, Kentucky? Hard to even figure the relevance of having a state name your uniform. You were so spoiled with depth that you had roughly a two-platoon system of 10 guys averaging double-digit minutes most of the year, and still, not a single soul on either platoon from inside the Commonwealth.

I also prefer to have my college champions coached by individuals who haven’t had their signature achievements at both of their previous schools vacated due to NCAA findings. No, John Calipari was not found directly culpable at either UMass or Memphis, but those violations still happened under his watch. This is known as a pattern.

Finally, there’s this, Kentucky. If you had gone 40-0, I would have had to read and hear ad nauseam about where you rank among the all-time great teams, because so many of us today, including the so-called experts, are prisoners of the moment.

Again, Kentucky, you were dang good, but all-time good? Not even close. That IU team would’ve stepped on your throats. So would a bunch of UCLA teams that preceded them. I’d say at least a half-dozen other teams over the last dozen years would’ve handled you.

Your merits were bountiful, but your holes apparent, relative to the ultra-elites. There was no great scorer who was consistently efficient. There was no pure point guard with a dazzling assist-to-turnover ratio who could also score. If you’d been in the ACC or the Big Ten this season, rather than in the SEC (where you beat Ole Miss and Texas A&M in overtime, and escaped LSU by two), this unbeaten conversation would not have taken place in the first place.

Nevertheless, if this season has done anything, it’s changed my mind back to where it once was about whether we’ll ever have another unbeaten men’s DI team.

If this Kentucky team can come close, somebody’s going to do it someday. After all, Indiana wasn’t the only unbeaten, just the last one. If a team is the best in a given season — theoretically, at least, such a team exists every season — then it’s not outside the realm that such a team is going to wind up unbeaten.

Just a huge thank you, Kentucky, that it wasn’t you.

This. This, is amazing editorial. I agree with all of this. So good and true.

[Josh 12,569]

Near the end against Notre Dame, Willie Cauley Stein blocked a shot by putting his hand through the rim.  An obvious goal tend that wasn't called at the end of game they won by 2.  Near the end against Wisconsin, Thug Trey Lyles punched a Wisconsin player, yet no technical foul was called.

 

Kentucky likes to downplay those two things, yet cry about Wisconsin's shot clock violation as some sort of proof that the referees cheated them.  Seriously?

 

I had little to no respect for Kentucky fans before all this.  Now it's in the negative numbers.  Hypocrites.

[HumphreyIN 75]

Did you really just call Trey Lyles a "thug"? On what grounds? 

[Josh 12,569]

Did you really just call Trey Lyles a "thug"? On what grounds? 

 

It may be a little stretch, but he did sucker punch a guy during a game...

[ou812dude 3,326]

It may be a little stretch, but he did sucker punch a guy during a game...

There's real life thuggery, and there's UK basketball thuggery...Amirite?

[HoosierCoop 3,889]

If you are bored today, go over to CBSSports and beat on some UK fans.  I went there yesterday posting in regards to the "7 to leave for NBA" article.  They think they have all the comebacks and can't stand criticism of their program.  I needed that yesterday.  It's kind of like taking my frustrations out on a punching bag.

[DawgBawls 712]

If you are bored today, go over to CBSSports and beat on some UK fans.  I went there yesterday posting in regards to the "7 to leave for NBA" article.  They think they have all the comebacks and can't stand criticism of their program.  I needed that yesterday.  It's kind of like taking my frustrations out on a punching bag.

"It's kind of like taking my frustrations out on a "punching bag."

 

or in UK's case ...a doosh bag....

[HumphreyIN 75]

"It's kind of like taking my frustrations out on a "punching bag."

 

or in UK's case ...a doosh bag....

 

When insulting the team for the south, at least spell "doosh" correctly.

[ou812dude 3,326]

When insulting the team for the south, at least spell "doosh" correctly.

He was sidestepping the filter...everybody knows that most UK fans are the equivalent to vinegar and water.

[Beowulf50 816]

UK's incoming class, so they get a Benz or do they get a Beamer? I forget what IU recruit could not travel to Bloomington because of unreliable transportation but made it to Kentucky and back with a new car. This was back in the knight days. Maybe someone here can remember this recruit?

[OliviaPope40 6,458]

NOT SportsCenter @NOTSportsCenter

Aaron and Andrew Harrison are turning pro, freeing up $8 million in cap space for Kentucky. They are now only $70 million over the $0 cap.

NOT SportsCenter @NOTSportsCenter

UPDATE: With 5 more guys declaring, Kentucky is now only 25 million over the $0 cap. They're hoping to avoid the under the table luxury tax.

[DawgBawls 712]

When insulting the team for the south, at least spell "doosh" correctly.

The site wouldn't allow the correct spelling...Sieg heil! my keyboard NAZI friend.

 

And I believe you meant "FROM" the south, didn't you?

 

OH SNAP!!!!!

 

Did anyone see what just happened there? I missed it..it was like... he thought he had me...but then BAM!

 

 

Karma hit.

[Beowulf50 816]

The site wouldn't allow the correct spelling...Sieg heil! my keyboard NAZI friend.

And I believe you meant "FROM" the south, didn't you?

OH SNAP!!!!!

Did anyone see what just happened there? I missed it..it was like... he thought he had me...but then BAM!


Karma hit.

Lol! Dawg, you always have entertaining posts.

[coonhounds 8,793]

The site wouldn't allow the correct spelling...Sieg heil! my keyboard NAZI friend.

And I believe you meant "FROM" the south, didn't you?

OH SNAP!!!!!

Did anyone see what just happened there? I missed it..it was like... he thought he had me...but then BAM!


Karma hit.

almost every time someone gets on somebody for spelling they mess something up themselves or shortly there after in another post lol

[Lt. John McClaine 541]

Did you really just call Trey Lyles a "thug"? On what grounds? 

I thought the same thing, he does not have a history of cheap shots, and I know that he went back on his verbal with us so obviously there's some disdain towards him, but I think calling him a "Thug" is insulting. 

[DawgBawls 712]

almost every time someone gets on somebody for spelling they mess something up themselves or shortly there after in another post lol

N de age ov smart fones won kneed knot worry demselfes wit such cairs......

 

Word.