UK bumped out of NCAA in Second Round by superior Kansas Jayhawks

(Elliott Co. & June Buchanan get first trip to Rupp Arena)

Tubby Smith and the Kentucky Wildcats exited the 2007 NCAA Div. 1 men’s basketball tournament at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois Sunday afternoon, thanks to the Kansas Jayhawks, the # 1 seed in the West regional and arguably the best team in the nation by a final score of 88 - 76.

Kansas was definitely the most physically talented and quickest and most athletic team, which is a term I hate to use in reference to a basketball player, but the Jayhawks played the game at such a high speed yet completely under control, which is the most impressive part of their game. Still with all their quickness and athleticism it was a team rich with pure shooters who knew how to break down a defense and get the open look, as well as play with great court savvy and make sound basketball decisions.

Simply put Kansas reminded me of the Kentucky of the 90’s.

Kentucky battled the first half and stayed within a 3 to 6 point margin until halftime. With the score 39 - 36 in favor of Kansas at the 17:46 mark of the second half Randolph Morris, UK’s only advantage in the match ups between the two teams went to the bench with his 3rd foul.

UK for the most part was battling a lost cause the remainder of the game, but gave a gallant try and displayed a don’t-ever-quit attitude until the final horn. Credit should be given to the players and coaching staff in this manner.

Eventually UK would have run into a superior opponent in this years tournament, but for the second consecutive year UK had to battle a # 1 seed before it should have.

Why?

Because when you play the schedule the Cats do and have the tradition UK has, yet lose 10 to 12 games during the regular season your going to get the 8 or 9 seed because the NCAA and CBS wants that classic match up for the second round TV ratings. Had UK taken care of business in a couple of those close losses in February and ended with a say 22 - 8 record your looking at a 4 to 6 seed with more of a realistic chance of reaching the second weekend and the Sweet 16 round or elite eight.

Most Div. 1 teams who have double-figure losses are a 10 thru 16 seed or have won their mid major type conference tournament. But if your a Kentucky or Villanova you get the dreaded 8 or 9 seed.

Moral of the story, sometimes it doesn’t pay to be respected and famous.

The future of Wildcat basketball as Big Blue Nation has known it for many years definitely is at the crossroads and quite frankly at a stage where Tubby, Mitch Barnhart, nor any other University official can predict realistically what direction this program will go in. But I’ll paint a few scenarios for you:

Scenario #1 - Randolph Morris comes back for his senior year hungrier than ever to reach his full potential and leads the Wildcats on a serious run deep into the NCAA’s next March to a 14th Final Four appearance with two diaper dandies named Patrick Patterson & Jai Lucas filling in the missing links at PG and PF.

Scenario #2 - The Cats lose out on both the coveted recruits Patterson & Lucas in April and about a month later Morris decides that not having any quality Div. 1 type help at the power forward and point guard positions makes for a moot point to return for his senior year, and decides to try the professional game again wherever he can get a contract in the USA or in a foreign country for a year or so until his game and body reaches full maturity.

Scenario #3 - Tubby convinces Morris to hang around for another year and the Cats get Patterson, but lose Lucas to Maryland. UK has a 25 win year next season and gets to the elite eight, but misses the Final Four on another buzzer beater. Graduates three solid seniors who turns the reins over to Jody Meeks - Patrick Patterson & company.

Scenario #4 - Scenario #2 happens over a two month period leading into the summer and Big Blue Nation, along with the help of some major money donors, erupts on Mitch Barnhart & Lee Todd over the continued decline in recruiting, and the braintrust over UK athletics is in a real squeeze between loyalty to Tubby, or to the nation’s most devoted fanbase and money supporters.

Stay tuned folks, because were about to enter the most interesting off-season in memory concerning UK basketball, and I wouldn’t want to even fathom a guess as to how it will end up. But I find it most interesting that a lot of Wildcat fans across the Commonwealth are speaking fondly of looking forward to something the rest of the S.E.C. has been doing for years at this time.

Congratulations to “Ozz” Jackson, the A.D.; and Steve Boggs, the Principal at Letcher Central, for hosting a splendid 14th region basketball tournament along with a very impressive staff at the school. The much talked about split semi final session went off like clock work I thought and hopefully will be continued by next year’s host.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to Coach Bill Mike Runyon of Paintsville H.S. who lost his father a few days after being eliminated from the 15th regional tournament. Runyon reportedly was tinkering with the thought of hanging up the old coaches whistle on a long and very successful career. Hopefully, after a few weeks of some clear thinking and consultation with friends he will reconsider.

Congrats to Pike Central on a semi final run in the girls Sweet 16. Haley Ratliff, the lone senior in the line up, lead the team on a run of beating the private school sector in the State Tournament, whipping Rose Hill 55 - 42 in the 1st round; then getting Notre Dame Academy 66 - 60 in the quarterfinals, before falling to eventual Sweet 16 champion Lex. Christian Academy 64 - 50 in the semi finals.

The 4th annual Gatorade Appalachian Senior All Star basketball games will be held at Knott Co. Central’s Morton Combs Athletic Complex in Hindman, Ky. on (Sat.) April 14th. Girls game at 6:00 and boys game at 7:30. The boys & girls Gatorade Players of the Year award for the Appalachian Mtn.’s will be announced in the pre game of each contest.

Best of luck to eastern Ky.’s representatives at this weeks Sweet 16 . Elliott Co. & June Buchanan will be making their first appearance while Shelby Valley and South Laurel make what is becoming a common appearance for their respective regions. South Laurel’s senior trio of Ty Proffitt - Trey Smith - Jordan Hammonds will be making their third straight trip to Rupp Arena.

Tune in to WSGS - FM 101.1 on your radio dial this week for complete coverage of the boys Sweet 16 from Rupp Arena. This is the 60th consecutive year of broadcasting the boys state tournament for the 100,000 watt station from Hazard, Ky. - a record that no other station in the Commonwealth can touch. Dave Hammond, Eugene Newsome, John McIntyre and Ira D. Combs will rotate handling the play by play and color commentary duties with Combs also hosting a call in show between sessions each day from court side with Big “D” Dwayne Amburgey starting at 5:15.

Teams for the 2007 - 08 WYMT Whayne Supply Mtn. Classic who were reportedly extended an invitation to next year’s tourney was 13th Reg, - Clay Co. & Knox Central; 14th Reg. - Knott Central - June Buchanan - Hazard - Breathitt Co.; 15th Reg. - Shelby Valley & Pikeville. This was reported to Tri State Sports Inc. by e-mail , hopefully we should be able to confirm this in the next few weeks.