High Point: Shagari's low point?

"We got good play out of Lukasz [Obrzut] tonight. Our post players have been much maligned, but they’re very capable of doing a good job inside. Even though Jared [Carter] didn’t really score, he did some good things inside, so I was happy with our frontcourt. Shagari [Alleyne] didn’t play because he didn’t do what he was supposed to do academically. He’s not going to play until he learns to do what he’s supposed to do." -- Coach Tubby Smith, after Tuesday's win over High Point

It was about a year ago next week that Gregg Doyel wrote a glowing article about the emergence of UK's next dominant big man, Shagari Alleyne. Shag was coming off a terrific performance against Indiana on national television in which he looked for the first time like a starting-caliber center with skills and NBA potential. Soon thereafter, Alleyne's name popped up on several web draft sites as a possible draft pick. The rest of the season looked limitless, and the tag team of Alleyne and freshman Randolph Morris seemed more than enough to put the Cats in position for the Final Four.


But then things changed. Instead of seeing more minutes, Alleyne started seeing mostly fewer. After a three-game stretch of double-digit minutes in mid-January, Shag played more than 9 minutes only three times the rest of the year, and many of his minutes were trying to dunk Preston Lemaster misses at garbage time. Was this what was expected of the next great big man at UK? There had to be a reason for the backward slide in Alleyne's game and status. Turns out, it was academics.

Ignoring the cacophony from that vocal, albeit minority, group of fans who favor PT over discipline -- those same fans who called for Tubby's head when he refused to cave to a brash freshman named Carruth a few years back -- Tubby told Shagari, and made it clear through the media, that if the classroom performance did not improve, he simply wouldn't see the floor in games. Something tells me the minutes Shagari did see were often as a result of Morris' karate practice, not because Alleyne deserved them. But that was last year ...

Now, with Morris in street clothes and awaiting word on his appeals to return, the center spot was up for grabs. No hot shot freshman competition, just Shag vs. Woo, with a probable redshirt for gangly newcomer Jared Carter. And yet the pair of juniors left their big man games at home over the summer break. Orbzut started the first two games, but quickly played his way into pine time. Shagari didn't fair much better. Soon, it wasn't just fans calling for Carter to play more, it was teammates and coaches praising his hustle and determination. It got so bad that following a 5-minute, 1-rebound game in a loss to Iowa, Smith didn't let his two junior seven-footers off the bench vs. West Virginia. And while assistant coaches rightly noted that WVU's outside-in game and 6'11" three-point shooting center were a bad matchup for immobile big men, it was not hard to read more into the statement. Witness: the 7'2" Carter set career highs in points (5) and minutes (10).

In Tuesday's 75-55 blowout of Tubby's alma mater High Point, Alleyne got the DNP, not because of inneffectiveness, but rather more problems in the classroom. While Woo shook off his early troubles to score a season-high 9 points and 4 rebounds and Carter got his coaches' praise with his 4 boards and a block, Alleyne sat on the bench.

Now, some fans are beginning to wonder if that immense promise shown against the Hoosiers, and the adoration that followed it -- some of the zealous Big Blue Nation even began a fan club -- will ever be realized. Would Shagari have been better off at Rutgers, his original verbal commit, where he could have been (a) closer to home and (b) further from the bright lights? Or would the big fella even be better off transferring, and thus clearing the slate?

Any true Cats fan knows that neither of these statements are correct, and, further, that one big game return from Shagari would erase such thoughts completely. However, there is equally no doubt Alleyne is wasting an opportunity sent from heaven. Tubby Smith is a known developer of big men. Despite a few whiffs (ahem, Marvin Stone, I'm looking in your direction), Smith's track record -- the names Magloire, Estill, Daniels and Hayes all fly off the tongue -- says he can turn raw attributes into future pro dollars. And furthermore, the name recognition and spotlight that UK offers is almost second to none. In other words, a competent Kentucky big man has to practically play his way out of the draft. Just ask the scouts who watched Morris loaf his way through workouts, and they'll tell you the same thing. Morris wasted his shot as well; he may get another. But Alleyne is running out of time, and chances. It would be grand shame, for both Shag and his many well-wishers, if his four-year career ended up a footnote as the tallest player ever to play at Kentucky instead of one of its greatest success stories.

A few game notes

A game after earning accolades from these pages and others, Bobby Perry blew too many layups in a 2-10 shooting performance against a weak opponent. There is no excuse for that. Perry took as many shots as Rekalin Sims (4), Sheray Thomas (4) and Ravi Moss (2) combined and had little to show for it. With Joe Crawford sitting out again to rest his aches for Saturday's national broadcast of the North Carolina game, Perry may have again delayed his opportunity to win over some fans and to prove he deserves the minutes. Then again, play some good D and hit a clutch three and all is forgotten. Just ask Patrick Sparks.

Rajon Rondo continued his unreal rebounding (I told ya so!), grabbing a team-high 10, and marking the sixth straight time (yes, that's all the games so far) that he has either led the team or tied for the lead in rebounding. Again, I ask you, humble reader: so long as someone is grabbing the rebounds and the big men are playing defense and hitting layups, does it matter who gets the boards? I understand that Orbzut and Thomas et al. should be playing with more ferocity, that much is clear, but quit worrying about Rondo. he clearly has a good idea what the heck he's doing out there.

For the year, Rondo's stats: 13.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.5 steals. Momma!

Goin' deep: Sun on target

"I think we've got a lot more people that are threats out there on the court. I can't really figure out what's the true difference, but it's a different team for sure." -- Patrick Sparks

The Cincinnati Post's Victoria Sun, one of the best beat writers on the Wildcats, penned another gem this weekend on the heels of the Cats' demolition of Liberty. This time, her subject (finally!) isn't on the status of Randolph Morris or on the rebounding woes dogging UK's 4-1 start. It was on a positive subject, and one that is going woefully undercovered by both the national (understandable) and local (not so much) media: this team's depth is a genuine weapon.


Thus far, in 5 games, the Cats have featured four different leading scorers, including Bobby Perry (22 vs. Liberty), Sparks (25 vs. WVU), Rekalin Sims (22 vs. Iowa) and Rajon Rondo (19 vs. Lipscomb, 17 vs. SDS). And each of those scoring bursts was timely and crucial to the game's outcome.

Sparks, being Kentucky's leading returning scorer, would seem to be the logical choice to lead the Cats in scoring, especially with his proficiency from behind the arc and with his shooter's mentality to keep firing through tough times. It's interesting that Central City's hero got off to a slow start this year, given that he spent his summer playing with some of the country's best upperclassmen on Team USA in the University Games. While Sparks wasn't a scorer for the Americans, he was lauded for his all-around savvy and his attention to his teammates.

Sims, meanwhile, came to UK with a rep as a JUCO double-double threat and has done little to dispel that notion. Averaging a very acceptable 6-ish rebounds a game, the Vallejo, Calif., product would probably have bigger numbers if he played as much as, say, Rodney Carney at Memphis or Chuck Davis at Alabama. But in Tubby's system, depending on the matchups, Sims might garner 30 minutes one game and 20 the next, for no real fault of his own. That's just the way Tubby wins.

With offseason buzz and a big Blue-White game, Rondo had UK fans excited about his offensive abilities heading into the preseason, and with the exception of a stinker 1-for-9 game against Iowa (a loss, no doubt), Rondo has showed improved shooting, excellent decision-making about when and where to shoot and with each game seems to be finding a better fit as the floor general. I woudn't expect Rondo to lead the team in scoring at season's end, and, frankly, as some in the media have stated, that would probably bode ill for Kentucky's long-term chances.


With the disappearing act by UK's tri-headed center position, and the early nagging injuries to Joe Crawford, the surprise scorer would have to be Perry. By logging career highs in two games this year (12 vs. Iowa, 22 vs. Liberty), Perry surely opened some eyes both in the Wildcat huddle and in the cheap seats. A 20-point scorer in high school, Perry definitely possesses the long-range shooting to put up a bundle in a hurry, but his knack for being in the right place -- either on the break or in the half-court -- gives him a guaranteed 4-6 points a game. With the increased playing time in Crawford's absence, it's not impossible Perry could end up being a consistent third option to Rondo and Sparks.

But all specifics aside, what is most exciting is that in addition to these four scorers, Ravi Moss, a healthy Crawford, Sheray Thomas and Ramel Bradley all could post 10-15 points on a given night. How many teams, even top 10 teams, can say that they have a legitimate 8 players who could lead them in scoring in a game? Not many. Maybe Memphis, perhaps Texas or Oklahoma, but not Duke and definitely not Arizona or Gonzaga. In some ways, the Cats' interchangeable parts gives them a distinct advantage in that, if all are clicking, even if one player can be shut out, Kentucky is still left with any number of ways in which to replace that production. In fact, with the possible exceptions of the 2001 Team Turmoil squad and the '98 national champs, this team may have more quality depth than any of other Smith team. And that's without Morris.

Two McDonald's All-Americans, a couple of potential 1000-point scorers (Bradley, Perry) and a talented, excerienced JUCO are plenty of weapons against most teams. No rabid fan would prefer not to have Morris back, especially with Alleyne and Woo looking like bookends on the bench, but it's nice to know that in the interim or -- hopefully not -- in the event that Morris is done as a Cat, Kentucky has the horses to learn to overcome that production loss and, with a strong dose of Tubby's typical defensive wizardry, could challenge by the end of March for a spot in the Final Four.

Oh, Perry! Cats deny Liberty

All of you who expected a career-high 22 points from combo forward Bobby Perry stand up. Why are you all just sitting there? What about the strong inside-outside game? What about the Durham pedigree? The stellar high school career?

And yet, we look past him still. It was Liberty, they'll say. It was one game, they'll say.

Who cares? Bravo for him. He was the difference (with some help from Rajon Rondo) in Kentucky's 81-51 win over Jerry Fallwell University.


Perry shot a stellar 8-for-12, 3-for-5 from deep. The Piano Man (he's a concert-trained pianist, apparently) finally found his role. He's a weapon on offense, he can guard a quicker forward or post up adequately on the defensive end. He's not a rebounding force, but he'll grab a few. He's Allen Edwards, right? Or, even better, he's Scott Padgett. One can hope.

One caveat: I wasn't able to see the game. But I watched the highlights! I also can read a box score like a champ.

Rondo also chipped in, starting to show the kind of all-around floor game that he needs to give the Cats (4-1) a steadying hand. As I predicted, Rondo still tallied a team-high 7 rebounds (tied with Sims) to go along with 13 points and an impressive 9 assists. But one thing stands out: the dude shot 3-of-4 from three-point range. Rondo is now shooting 48% from the field and an awesome 54% from deep. On the year, Rondo is averaging 13.8 points, 11 rebounds and 5.8 assists. Just stellar.


One small thing at the bottom of the scoresheet, an otherwise unnoticed and soon to be forgotten statistical blip. Two points, four minutes, one putback slam. A crowd in hysterics, a little glimpse of potential. And, hopefully, a few detractors off his back. Congratulations, Adam Williams, on your first points as a Kentucky Wildcat. You have all the chances in the world to make your name. Maybe it will be one game, one clutch shot. Maybe a career full of them.

Who knows, but for one game ... congrats! You deserve it.

UK vs. Liberty: Cats by 23

With a 3-1 record, and a win over a top 20 team under their belt, Kentucky returns to the friendlier confines of Rupp Arena for a couple of gimme games against Liberty and High Point before embarking on a series of high-profile, nationally televised contests against a young North Carolina and an improved Indiana. But first, Jerry Falwell's Liberty comes calling...

It would be useless to do a position-by-position analysis of the two squads because, frankly, Kentucky has the edge at every one, with the possible exception of shooting guard, where Liberty's best player does his work. Thus, here's a look at what both teams hope to accomplish, and what to expect from the game tonight.

Liberty

Flames head coach Randy Dunton is realistic about his team's chances against the powerhouse Wildcats at home, noting: "For us, it's truly about growth."

Led by do-it-all guard Larry Blair, a junior, Liberty was picked by the media to finish fourth in the conference, and with 10 new faces on the roster, they'll have work to do to reach the level of conference bully Winthrop. Blair (18.0 ppg, 4.5 reb, 5.5 ast) is only 6'1", but uses a variety of release point on his shot to shoot around taller defenders, and could use a strong game against a high-profile team like Kentucky to burnish his highlight reel for pro scouts. Blair had 23 points and added 10 assists in Liberty's one win on the season, an 88-to-54 victory over Cincinnati Christian College.

Helping out Blair this season will be several key sophomores and a JUCO. A transfer from Frederick Community College (Md.), Damien Hubbard is Blair's running mate in the backcourt, and he'll fill a variety of needs tonight, spelling both Evan Risher at the point and playing swingman. At 6'6", 210 pounds, Hubbard (10.0 ppg, 6.5 reb, 3.5 ast) is a versatile piece of the Flames' puzzle. He had a double-double in the win over CCC.

In the middle, watch for sophomore Russell Monroe, a 6'11" center, who has had a strong start to the year. His 12.0 points a game and 6.0 boards have helped keep defenses honest, and opened scoring lanes for Blair and Hubbard. Fellow sophs Doug Stewart and Rell Porter, along with JUCOs Eric Bigby and Jeremy Eck, help coach Dunton's troops in the paint. Also pay attention to freshman Anthony Smith, a 6'4" wing from Texas who could add some pop.

Liberty fell, 79-44, in its only other game, at Virginia.


Kentucky

Despite the 14-point win over West Virginia on Tuesday, all is not well with the Wildcats. Tubby Smith has people playing out of position at several spots on the floor, most notably Bobby Perry at power forward and Sheray Thomas/Rekalin Sims at the 5. The small lineup has worked for Kentucky in the past, specifically the 03-04 Cats, who rode Erik Daniels and Chuck Hayes to a #1 overall seed in the NCAAs.

But that team played small because it had to. This edition is the tallest team in UK history, with three seven footers, including two over 7'2". Freshman Jared Carter could see more minutes today as Tubby experiments with different lineups again. The fine-tuning will continue until a rotation becomes clearer, something that will no doubt send UK fans into panic mode when scoring droughts inevitably occur.

Joe Crawford has been battling injuries -- to his knee and hip, apparently -- and could use some easier opponents to prepare for bigger games ahead. While Rajon Rondo's eye-popping rebound numbers belie a lack of rebounding by UK's bigs, unlike most pundits (and the coaching staff), I look for the string of high rebound games to continue for Rondo, who's knack for the ball and leaping ability make him a powerful weapon on the D-glass.

The real key for UK tonight will be to see whether their junior center tandem of Shagari Alleyne and Woo Orbzut can get into the flow of the game. While going small can help at times, and while a strong matchup zone can flummox some teams for stretches, UK will not succeed in the long run without production from the pivot, something that even a fast-improving Carter cannot ultimately give them. Shagari is an excellent position to get the starting nod, and has a spot waiting for him. All he has to do is get his act together and grab 7-10 rebounds a game while continuing to block shots. It would appear to be an easy task for a man standing 11' tall with his arms outstretched, but judging from results thus far, appearances can be deceiving.

The sum of the Cats' parts will be too much for even a scrappy Blair and Co., and the UK reserves should see lots of action in a blowout at home during the holidays. I predict a 23-point win, but it could be less if Tubby decides to (a) make another point or (b) tinker throughout the game with his deep lineup. Hopefully, he can find a rotation that works so fans can keep the paper bags at home and avoid the hyperventilation that 10-12-point wins over lesser teams occasionally bring.

Giving Thanks for Wildcats Basketball

Things to be thankful for this holiday season:

(1) Rajon Rondo
(2) Tubby Smith's continual class act
(3) 7 National Titles
(4) 1907 wins ... and counting, which is #1 all-time. (UNC has 1860)
(5) Jon Scott's UK stats page
(6) Kentucky Bourbon


(7) Jamal Mashburn, ca. 1993
(8) Tayshaun Prince representin' for the Pistons
(9) Rekalin Sims' D-1 learning curve
(10) Rajon Rondo again
(11) Joe Crawford's change of heart
(12) Chuck Hayes' departed heart
(13) Tubby Smith's Xs & Os
(14) 13 Final Fours
(15) Oh, c'mon. Rick Pitino's UK turnaround job ... who knows where we'd be.
(16) Keith Bogans' perseverance


(17) Erik Daniels' afro
(18) The Unforgettables
(19) Adolph Rupp's dominance
(20) Rajon Rondo ... seriously.

Patrick O' Savior: Sparks rights the ship

Let Mike "ACC" DeCourcey and Andy Katz wax "knowingly" about the sorry state of Kentucky basketball. Today, all is good with the Wildcats ... they won.

Thanks to a vintage Patrick Sparks game (much needed, I might add) and another strong Rajon Rondo all-around game, the oncoming train that is the fickle UK fanbase was, for a few days at least, held at Whine Junction. While there's no masking the sense of timely desperation coming from the UK bench, and since it's clear Tubby Smith is himself baffled by his charges, the key right now is to find a winning formula. Tuesday's 80-66 consolation game win over West Virginia in the Guardians Classic may not have been awe-inspiring, but it get the boo-birds off the team's back, and it showed yet again how multi-talented this team can be.


It's pretty amusing to me that West Virginia, a team that came within a few botched free throws of beating #2 darlings Texas the night before, is, according to DeCourcey, "the one really good team in all of college basketball that has lesser talent than [Kentucky does]." So, if they win the game against Texas on Monday (who won the Guardians Classic, by the by), are they still untalented? And if Texas loses to WVU and then to Kentucky, does that make the Cats more or less "talented" than the Longhorns? I guess the point is moot since Texas is now perfect (4-0), Kentucky and Iowa 3-1, and semi-talented losers West Virginia 2-2. To me, the media's fascination with talent is dictated often by wins and losses. Was Illinois more "talented" than Arizona last year? Both teams had great seasons, and it took a gargantuan effort by the Illini to overcome the PAC-10's best in the Elite Eight. Both had two NBA players (Zona's Frye and Stoudemire, Illinois' Williams, Head), both won their conferences ... so was Arizona less talented? Depends on who you ask.

Back to the game, the results of Sparks' shooting outburst was eerily similar to what happened last year, when the Cats rose or fell on the back of their homestate hero. It's a dicey proposition for any team to rely so heavily on the output of a single player, so even an ardent Sparks fan has to hope Tubby Smith can get some more scoring out his "less talented" wings Bobby Perry and Joe Crawford. Perry followed up his career high in points on Monday with a 4 point-, 2 rebound-effort on Tuesday, the sort of on-again/off-again that has haunted him. Crawford hit a great three-pointer to charge up the guys, but was limited to 14 minutes. It's encouraging to me that Crawford put together 4 rebounds in that time, and had 4 quick assists in limited action on Monday, too. I just hope the kid has patience and toughness enough to play through whatever is hounding him right now, be it injury or doghouse.

Several things stood out to me about the win, momst notably the double DNPs of Shagari Alleyne and Lukasz Obrzut. The two seven footers were lassoed to the bench while onetime redshirt possibility Jared Carter got their combined 10 minutes and 2 rebounds of production. Kudos for Carter, but it's not promising that two scholarship centers are so ineffective as to be deemed unusable against a top 15 team (WVU held the #13 spot on Tuesday). Another season of undersized centers looks possible with Randolph Morris out of the loop. With all apologies to Llyod Bentsen, I knew Erik Daniels, I followed Erik Daniels and you, Sheray Thomas, are no Erik Daniels.

Rondo amassed 10 rebounds (all defensive) and 15 points (5-for-9, 1-for-3 threes), while Ravi Moss -- who may deserve the starting slot for his shooting alone -- tallied a clutch 11 points, 6 of them on threes. Rondo's rebounding seems a common theme for scribes right now, who follow the Tubby mantra that the more rebounds a point guard gets, the fewer the frontcourt is getting. I, for one, disagree. Clearly you would prefer to have Rekalin Sims (9 points, 7 rebounds) and Thomas pulling in double figure boards, but so long as someone is getting the rebounds, particularly the man who wants the ball in his hands, why is it all that upsetting to have a rebounding guard? It's too easy a target for me, especially since Rondo himself noted after the first game that he had renewed focus on the glass.

I have several times offered up that Rondo's newfound rebounding prowess reminds me of Jason Kidd (his lack of effective jumpshooting in college, as well), who pounds the glass and starts the break in one fell swoop. No one is decrying Jason Collins' lack of rebounding because Kidd is controlling the floor. Seems logical to give Rondo the same leeway.

There is no mistaking the fact that Kentucky is not in fighting shape yet, and it's frustrating, sure. But if Tubby and his crew can iron out their problems now, get through the first month 5-1 heading into a home game with young North Carolina on Dec. 3, I think that Big Blue Nation should chill out and let them breathe. It's a long season, and there are a lot of pieces on this team to like ... enough that it makes them uniquely dangerous in a landscape of underachieving top 20 teams.

Remember, wary fans, Syracuse is 3-2, Michigan State is 1-2, Iowa is 3-1, Stanford is 0-1. The Cats navigated some rough waters without a solid core, which like all Tubby Smith teams, will come. Just give it time, and be thankful such a talentless bunch of losers (according to the national media) can scrape by.

PS - I should stop being surprised by this, but Rondo is averaging 14 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 2.8 steals. Homina!

Some quick Iowa corrections, notes

In lieu of time to do a proper pregame analysis for the West Virginia game, I offer a few corrections from my Monday analysis of the Iowa game.

In addition to being wrong about Mike Henderson's position (he's the Iowa point, not the shooting guard), it appears I severely understimated his game. His 15 points, on 7-for-9 free throws, 7 rebounds and 4 steals more than overshadowed the combined efforts of his counterparts in blue. It seems I overestimated the production of Joe Crawford and Patrick Sparks, who combined for a mere 9 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and awful 3-for-11 shooting.

The UK frontcourt was outscored in the paint and its three-headed center managed to be outrebounded by a single Erek Hansen, 3-2, and was outscored, 6-2. While I don't feel this was crucial in and of itself, certainly the lack of production from Alleyne and Carter affected the scoring in the paint.

Rajon Rondo was magnificent in every way except shooting, and while Bobby Perry did play, amassing a career-high 12 points, he hit just 3-of-9 shots, and clanked a layup in the waning minutes that would have given the Cats a late lead. It's hard to hate on a guy who hit a crucial three, but there were several easier shots he didn't hit that made his three necessary.

Sheray thomas continues to disappoint. His produced an 0-for-6 night, with just 3 rebounds, in 20 minutes, and looked out of sync doing that much. Rekalin Sims didn't look out of anything in the first half, and his hot shooting helped offset Greg Brunner's production. Sims tallied 22 points and 7 rebounds, but only 8 of those points came in the second half.

As a team, UK held Iowa to a 4-for-15 3pt shooting night. Unfortunately, while the Cats nailed 9 threes, shooting 45% from behind the arc, they hit only 11 two-point shots, shooting 33% for the game. That, my friends, is not going to get it done.

Make shots or lose games

Pared down to its barest essentials, there are really just two things that matter in basketball: making shots and preventing them. All the rest of that stuff is window dressing, including such seemingly game-defining factors as turnovers, free throws, assists and steals.

It's abundantly clear that Tubby Smith knows this, and that in the limited time his Cats get in a week to practice (the NCAA mandates 20 hours maximum coached practice a week), he must choose wisely what to focus on given his team and its disparate pieces. Some of Smith's best teams had an identity of one of the other of those two ingredients, either effective offensively and acceptably defensive or offensively capable but defensively tough. This year's edition of the Wildcats, thus far, is neither.

Monday's 67-63 loss to Iowa in the Guardians Classic, while causing shock waves to UK fans, is a blip on the year's overall record, especially since Iowa will probably be an NCAA team and a top-50 RPI club to boot. However, this is true only if the Cats learn from it and begin to find their calling. They can be a gifted offensive team, but they have to go back and pare down the offense to the basics: make shots.


Tubby saw the same game I did, noting afterwards: "We had so many opportunities there. I don't know if we could get any more opportunities." In addition to shooting 33% for the game, it was the way those shots were missed that boggles the mind. If it wasn't Bobby Perry clanking a wide-open layup in the clutch ("It's just a shot I have to make."), it was Ramel Bradley launching a win-it-all three that had no prayer of going in outside the boundaries of the offensive set. Tubby was even frustrated with the seemingly one positive, Rekalin Sims' three-point shooting. The reason? It meant everyone was standing around and the shot was forced, not fluid.

Rajon Rondo can't do everything. Any avid observer knows that -- new shot or no -- Rondo will have 1-for-9 games, but he'll also contribute in other ways, like his career-high 19 rebounds (17 defensive) and 5 assists (should have been 10, see all those missed shots?).

Most UK fans are, to my mind, foolishly waiting for Randolph Morris' return to be a season-saving event, but I strongly advise against this. Not because Morris wouldn't be immediately helpful, because he would. But even an effective Morris can't make up for these numbers: Joe Crawford 1-of-6, Patrick Sparks 2-of-5, Perry 3-of-8.

Perry had a career-high 12 points, and his three towards the end was the kind of clutch ability he posesses, but he has got to make gimmes, because he'll get them. One of Rondo's best traits (and the thing that'll get him drafted) is his breakdown ability in the paint. They can't stop him from getting in the lane. But he doesn't always score, and when he dishes to you a foot from the rim, Mr. Perry, you have got to finish it.

Same goes for Shagari and Woo. And anyone. You have got to make shots, or all the peripheral stuff is moot.

One last thing, Rondo is now averaging a ridiculous 13.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3 steals per game. Take another look at that. Sick, man, just sick.

Pediction time: UK tops Iowa

Yeah, that's probably not that surprising coming from a UK homer, but let's take a closer look at the matchups, and my reasoning.


Point Guard:

Rajon Rondo vs. Jeff Horner -- Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, one of their strengths is their senior lead guard, whose strong three-point shooting (41% last year, 46% in two cupcake wins this year) and passing (7.5 assists a game in '06) are key the Iowa offense. Why is that unfortunate? Because he'll be opposed Monday by a guard who may the nation's best defensive player. Rondo is averaging 3.5 steals a game (UK record 87 last year). Rondo has also stepped up his offensive game this season, leading the club with 18 points, 5.5 assists and 9.5 rebounds a contest two games in. Granted, those rebound numbers will even out, but head-to-head, even though Horner is among the Big Ten's best 1 guards, Rondo will win this matchup hands-down. That said, UK cannot rely on Rondo alone. Unlike in their first two games, the Cats need to give him scoring help, and must help him rebound. Advantage: Kentucky.

Shooting Guard:

Patrick Sparks vs. Mike Henderson -- UK's clutchest player not named Ravi Moss last year, Sparks has looked lost in the first two games of the '06 campaign. However, some of that may be due to being shadowed across the floor. Sparks has trouble creating his shot, but can be deadly as a spot-up shooter. And for Kentucky to have any national success, he'll need to do just that. Despite his slow start, I look for a better game from Sparks tonight in Kansas City. Henderson is not a scorer, a shooter or a rebounder. He is a defensive presence, and if he can contain Sparks (or Moss), he'll help the Hawkeyes even the playing field. Still, Sparks was Kentucky's leading returning scorer, and to assume he'll be negated is to assume too much. last year, Kentucky lost only one game in which Sparks hit two or more 3's ... the Elite Eight heartbreaker to MSU. Advantage: Kentucky.

Small Forward:

Joe Crawford vs. Adam Haluska -- The Kentucky backcourt is their strength, while Iowa excels the closer they get to the hoop. Haluska (13 pts, 4 asts), now a junior, is a slasher, but has good range on his jumper. He's athletic enough to get the job done, and, most importantly, draws defensive attention from the opposition. In their Guardians wins at home, the Cats struggled to contain the quick shooting small forwards of both South Dakota State and Lipscomb, and Haluska is a huge step up in both talent and big game experience. Crawford should get the yeoman's minutes tonight, especially with word coming through the grapevine that Bobby Perry may be limited due to an ankle injury. I think that is still OK. Crawford has shown immense patience thus far, preferring to let the game come to him rather than force up shots. Tubby seems fine with this, but to the observer, it seems clear a slightly more aggressive Crawford (particularly on the glass) would do wonders for a UK team lacking star power. After a solid first game, Crawford was ineffective in Game 2 and found himself riding pine. A dynamic Joe C. would be an X-factor. Advantage: Iowa.


Power Forward:

Sheray Thomas/Rekalin Sims vs. Greg Brunner -- Coach Smith has yet to show he'll start Rekalin, despite all evidence that points to that being a no-brainer decision. Tubby has his reasons. I have posted before that Sheray could hold a big key to this season's success or failure, especially in light of Randolph Morris' absence. Thomas has been very hit-and-miss thus far, but he is third on the team in rebounds, and second in minutes. In the deciding moments of the Lipscomb game, it was Thomas on the floor in a small lineup that worked. Sims (9 ppg, 5.5 reb) got trigger happy from deep in the second game, I thought, and this team needs him on the blocks, not launching threes, despite the crowd's obvious joy. Brunner, meanwhile, is a brute, the MVP of the Hawkeyes and an All-Big Ten performer. Averaging 16 points and 7.5 boards through two games, Brunner is the sort of low post threat that keeps Tubby up nights with his non-rebounding team. Rekalin probably mathes up better with the stronger Brunner, and Sheray offers up a nice change of pace. Iowa needs Brunner more than Kentucky needs Sims, but he's also more consistent. If Sims can come close to a double-double, it would help UK close the rebounding gap and give them a good chance to win. Advantage: Iowa.

Center:

Lukasz Obrzut/Shagari Alleyne vs. Erek Hansen -- Despite much criticism (and deservedly so), Orbzut has only played 17 total minutes this year. The reason? He's been terrible. He has no rebounds. Seriously. The mere fact that a man 7'0" tall can have no rebounds ina basketball game at any level baffles me, and I gather it baffles Tubby even moreso. Tubby continues to start Woo, and only he knows why. Maybe it's to try and break him of his funk, maybe he runs offensive sets more, but on a team devoid of rebounders, Woo ain't getting the job done. Alleyne was great in one of the exhibition games, I thought, but he tires easily and struggles with quicker centers. I think Alleyne will play lots against Hansen (8 ppg, 5 reb), a shot blocker but not a scoring threat, and Shagari could find himself with 8-10 points again on dunks alone. Judging from the numbers, Hansen and Alleyne are very similar -- both offer high percentage shots and blocks and not many minutes. If Alleyne can score some and block 3-4 shots, it would negate anything Hansen has to offer. Advantage: Even.

Bench (key reserves):

Kentucky (Bradley, Moss, Perry, Carter) vs. Iowa (Gorney, Thomas, Thompson, Freeman) -- The Kentucky bench is among the deepest in the nation. In fact, other than Rondo, there's a good chance that Sims, Moss, Alleyne and Bradley could be the starters, thus making the other players I used as comparisons above the bench. Tubby's best teams have interchangeable parts, and that is one reason I have high hopes for this team, Morris or no. Tubby's substitution patterns annoy some fans, but I see how he works to see the right combination on a given night and -- generally -- he does just that and wins the game. Bradley, when he's under control, could start for almost any team in the country, and Moss is probably the best walk-on in the nation. His three-point shooting is fantastic, and he's clutch as they come. Perry may be banged up, but he also might play through it because that's how he is. Carter is a fan favorite (I'll eventually post my thoughts on that one) but hasn't shown much against any real competition, mostly because there hasn't been any. The Iowa bench is also deep, and with experience. The reserves are less talented than the starters, but they offer some skills. Gorney is a big boy, and Thomas is a dunking machine. Thompson and Freeman offer playmaking and defense off the pine. In terms of effectiveness, there is little comparison, as Kentucky boasts a two-deep rotation at each position. If the Hawkeyes have to rely on their bench, UK will win the ballgame. Advantage: Kentucky.

Coaching:

Tubby Smith vs. Steve Alford -- Alford has had his moments in Iowa City, but not all of them have been good ones. A steady diet of NCAA appearances have him still in the "up and comers" category, but he has yet to break through even as far as his Southwest Missouri teams did. He's a fine coach, but not in the same league as Smith, who is one of three African-American coaches to ever win an NCAA title (John Thompson, Nolan Richardson). Tubby's graceful under the glare of the UK spotlight, and has amassed an impressive wins total in his time in Lexington, with a gaudy 221-58 record, second only to Duke nationally. When fans complain because you only came within a hair's breath of the Final Four, you're doing OK in my book, and there are fewer coaches more respected for their in-game performance than the Tubster. Alford may be capable of big things, but Tubby has already proven he is, and that's the difference between the UK coach and the Iowa coach. Always. Advantage: Kentucky.

I'll admit up front (as I did above) to being biased to some degree, but i also watch more basketball, and absorb more of it, than your average fan, I think. This UK team isn't perfect -- far from it. But it has the various pieces in place, if not humming yet. Rondo is a difference-making talent, just as the now long-dismissed Pierre Pierce was for the Hawkeyes. Brunner and Haluska are good players, but the sum of the Cats' parts is greater than that of its opponent, and that's why Kentucky will win by 8, 78-70, in the semis of the Guardians Classic on Monday night.

Thrill from the 'Ville saves 'em again

Just when you thought is was safe to go back in the paint, the great white beast known as Lukasz Obrzut makes an appearance. The next three minutes are a blur of missed defensive assignments and flailing karate chops at the shooter. And one.

Luckily for Kentucky on Monday, it had Rajon Rondo. The golden child once again saved the day, and not for the last time, methinks. While my enthusiasm for Mr. Rondo is perhaps a bit outsized at times, I think it's somewhat best answered with something that Mr. Rance Piatt -- afficianado of all things Wildcats -- said during the game Monday. And I'm paraphrasing here ...

The thing is, Josh, the reason we're so amazed that Rondo is so good is that we can't believe that we finally got that guy. We got the guy everyone says "man, I wish we had that guy."

Usually, it's been UCONN or Duke or Marquette (a-holes!) with that guy. But despite the chances, Rondo outdid himself in Monday's 67-49 win over Lipscomb at Rupp Arena.

Continuing his newfound focus on rebounding, Rondo added 7 boards (6 defensive) to his season total, putting him at a whopping 19 (9.5 rpg avg) for the first week of the season. That's just fantastic. While he didn't pile up the steals on Monday, some of that is the sloppy offensive sets and a two-games-in-two-days situation, plus, 5 more assists means he was busy, damnit!

Ravi Moss came up huge again, flashing some seriously nice jumpshooting, something that he can very much help his Kentucky team with this season. With a 3-for-3 night, 13 points on 3 threes and a free throw, Moss made up for a second straight stinker game from Patrick Sparks.

Now, I'll admit I was a skeptic before the transfer and changed my tune when I saw Larry O'Bannon staring dejectedly into the rafters, but something is amiss with Mr. Sparks. The guy seems tired and/or lost out there, and after a summer of basketball, he should be in prime shape. I know he'll figure it out, but for now, he's hurting that first team tremendously.

Ramel "Smooth" Bradley had a nice game, I thought, tossing in some clutch threes and seeing some serious PT at the end of the game over Sparks. One thing still clearly seperates Ramel and Rajon, and that's the combination of understanding of the game and the desire to learn the game inside and out. Rondo has both, Ramel has only some of the first and none of the second, it seems. Look at the (admittedly cherry-picked) postgame quotes:

#3 Ramel Bradley

On being concerned about losing in the second half…
“I don’t think we ever got scared. They (Lipscomb) were able to stick with us for the entire game, and they believed they could win. We had to keep our composure and pull it off.”

On how he played…
“It was a pretty big night for me. Anytime the opportunity comes you have to step up, and that’s what I tried to do tonight.”

#4 Rajon Rondo
On Lipscomb’s play…
“I was not surprised by how well they played. They were aggressive and wanted to win, and they came out and gave it their best.”

On playing with a smaller lineup…
“If you’re running the ball up and down the floor at a fast pace, then you need a smaller lineup in the game. If you’re playing a team with a lot of good guards, then you need some big guys like Shagari (Alleyne).”

Notice how Rondo is thinking like a coach, while Bradley is offering platitudes and stock answers (also like a coach). I lost my point.

Anyway, they need to look better than they did in these two games to beat Texas, and probably also Iowa, assuming they finish off their part of the bracket. Godspeed, Colgate!

Rondo ... rebounding machine?

Yeah, you read that right.

Kentucky (1-0) got it done, 71-57, but outrebounded a much outsized team by only 5.

Lukasz Obrzut? He's 7'0". He can't grab anything except the towel they toss to him upon returning to the bench.


Rajon Rondo? 6'1" of pure athletic marvel. He had 12 rebounds. Seriously, 12.

This, in addition to running the floor game (which was sloppy on Sunday) and menacing the South Dakota St. (0-1) backcourt into 6 steals and countless turnovers or rushed shots. It's rare that you can say that one player was the difference between a competitive game and a game that was never truly close, but Rondo was exactly that in the Guardians opener.

Oh, and just to reiterate his claim on "go to" guy this year, the Thrill from the 'Ville tossed in 17 points, 2 threes and 6 assists. The second half was the player that can be a first team-All American. Now if only his teammates would shoulder some of the yoeman's weight with him.

The aforementioned Woo? Brutal on Sunday. I'm too sure that Obrzut will be the difference in a win/loss this season to play the Big Blue stereotype to a tee and moan too long, but at times it hurts, like he's suddenly Gimel Martinez after shaving his moustache and spending too long playing red-eyed games of PS2 with Marvin Stone and Jason Parker. Something isn't translating in real time with the poor guy, and we fans could really use some reason to cheer him on other than "he's a Cat." It'll hold 'em off for a while, but eventually he'll start getting the whipping boy tag and -- ugh, it's ugly to consider.

Other standouts from Sunday's win include Rekalin Sims, whose humility after the game (“I didn’t play well at all. I didn’t shoot well from the field, and I had a couple of turnovers. I just didn’t play to my ability, and my flaws showed...") was as impressive as his tenacity and low-post help defense. Shagari did his thang, minus a stretch where he was more "lampost you have to avoid" than shot blocking threat. But he was effective in his way. Bobby Perry looked sharp and Joe Crawford's jumper was silky until he seemed to tire late.

All in all, an effort that looked a lot like a scrimmage to me but gets the job done nonetheless. Fans should remember that they DO have a game tonight.

As for Patrick Sparks, I'm giving him a mulligan. He's earned a few. But if he shows up tomorrow looking as ragged and D-II as he did today, he'll start hearing the business from chuckleheads like me. Mark it down.

Welcome aboard, backcourt of the future

It's official, Kentucky has a become guard U.

OK, so it remains to be seen how good/successful both the current crop of Cats guards and any future ones, too, will be, but Tubby -- the coach who "couldn't recruit" guards -- had the golden touch this year.

On Friday, the university made it official, announcing that the four early commits had inked Letters of Intent, putting their names to their pledges to be decked out in blue and white come next fall (and/or summer, hopefully).

The list of November signees is an interesting one. It contains several rising star combo guards, a sturdy former quarterback point guard and a wild card defensive big man, all of whom have the rough edges and big upside that Tubby likes and has had success with. Rivals.com rates the class as is #11 overall, certainly short of some fans' expectations, and definitely lower than it would have been had Reggie Hanson and Co. landed their big fish: Brandan Wright or Thaddeus Young. There is little compensation for being in the final three.


However, count me as one of those who feel the best is yet to come for these recruits, a fact that is often overlooked by Tubby's detractors. Very few of his recruits don't pan out, and almost all of them -- even those who simply weren't all-world talents -- get better during their stay in Lexington. The list of those who haven't under Tubby is short: Marvin Stone, Brandon Stockton, J.P. Blevins and Antowain Barber come immediately to mind.

My personal favorite, based on nothing but heresay and some grainy, Zapruder-like film clips, is Derrick Jasper of Paso Robles High. Tall and strong, the 6'6" Jasper played point guard in high school, and projects as a combo or swing guard in college. He reminds some of a more athletic version of Keith Bogans, without perhaps the hype and/or outside shooting touch.

Another Californian, 6'2" Michael Porter of Modesto Christian -- Chuck Hayes' alma mater -- gave up a PAC 10-caliber football career to devote himself to the Cats full-time. Porter visited the campus with prep teammate Adrian Oliver, who will attend Washington, and some wondered why Kentucky offered the steady but unspectacular Porter a scholarship so early in the recruiting process. Whether Tubby believes Porter is the sort of all-around good citizen-player he needs, a diamond in the rough, or simply payback to Coach Porter, Michael's dad and Chuck's coach, none of us will ever know. But he's a Cat now, and for all we know, he's the next coming of Kyle Macy.


The other backcourter to sign this week was Jodie Meeks, an athletic freak and big-time rising guard out of Norcross High in Georgia. Meeks wowed scouts and coaches at the summer camps, and may be the hidden gem of the class, much as another former Georgian and UK standout, Gerald Fitch, once was. Meeks is much more athletic than Fitch, and has a good, if not great, outside shot. But he's got excellent body control, and should push any upperclassmen for playing time (with Jasper).

The lone frontcourt player to sign in the early period is a guy I targetted early on as having a good chance to end up a Cat. Perry Stevenson, a rangy 6'9" forward-center from Lafayette Northside High in Louisiana, was the least hyped of the big men to visit this fall, but made the best choice(!). Stevenson will be a fan favorite, a do-it-all player who reminds me at this early stage of an Emeka Okafor-type, underdeveloped offensively but dynamite defensively. We'll see. He may not be in the NBA in two years like Young or Wright, but he may help Kentucky more.

There they are, the class of 2010. While Tubby may yet work his usual spring recruiting magic, I happen to like this class. It's athletic, still improving and, most of all, unlike some of the higher profile misses this recruiting season, these guys wanted to be Kentucky Wildcats. And there's no scouting report for that.

Double trouble: Sims goes off

Well, well...

For UK fans believing that replacing Chuck Hayes was impossible, Rekalin Sims did his best on Wednesday night to fill any holes Kentucky might have in Hayes' absence. Sims was electric against the Georgetown Tigers, putting up 22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals.

A closer examination of the numbers shows some surprising and exciting stuff. Sims posted 4 offensive boards in his 11 total. His 4-for-5 shooting night from three-point range bodes well, even if it's unrealistic he'll shoot with such efficiency throughout the season. His overall 8-for-10 shooting night includes several tip-ins, as well.



All in all, Sims was extremely active, taking a charge and forcing the game. His numbers also hide the fact that the Cats' probable starting backcourt -- Rajon Rondo and Patrick Sparks -- looked terrible for long stretches.

Cats fans love hustle, and Sims is the sort of humble, "aw shucks" type that will gain fan support, especially if he continues to provide the sort of production he did tonight.

Bleeding Blue: Tigers 'invade' RUPP

The money quote from the Kentucky Kernel's article about the Georgetown Tigers' visit to RUPP Arena tonight for an exhibition game:

"Growing up in Ashland, Ky., Mark Surgalski dreamed of someday playing in Rupp Arena.

"I'm like most Eastern Kentucky kids," Surgalski said. "I grew up watching UK play ball on TV with my dad, hoping to be Mark Pope one day."

I have to tell you, anyone else get goosebumps thinking about a bunch of kids hooping it up in a chilly, foggy mountain hamlet playing out their hoops dream of being MARK POPE!? I grew up mimicking Jamal Mashburn and Rex Chapman. But the mere fact that there is some kid out there dreaming of his 'Lukasz Obrzut' moment is delicious.


The real question from Tubby's end is who will replace Morris' offensive production inside until Morris returns? While the first practice game showed an active Rekalin Sims and had fans anointing frosh Jared Carter as the next coming of Moses (Malone, that is), it would surprise me if Sheray Thomas -- perhaps the least respected member of the Cats -- doesn't eventually gain the upper hand on the 4 spot.

Thomas has disarming athletic abilities, and had he not suffered through surgery and weight loss last season, would be much more prized as a big man. Thomas is the only real 'banger' UK has, and certainly proved game enough times in his career to dispel doubts about his toughness.

My predicted starting five for this evening:

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Patty Sparks
SF: Joseph Crawford
PF: Sheray Thomas
C: (Enter your name here)

As for the center spot, I'm dismayed at Cats fans jumping the gun on Shagari. Here we were a year ago, and folks were ready to rip Tubby's head off because Morris was "soft" and Shagari was the next big thing (literally). Now, Shagari doesn't sacore 20 and block 10 shots and he's a 'bust'? Please.

Alleyne has one thing Carter and Woo do not, and that's mojo. What is mojo, you ask? It's that extra something that changes the outcome of the game. Thomas has mojo, whereas Josh Carrier did not have mojo. J.P. Blevins? Mojo-less. Chris Harrison? I'll have to get back to you on that one.

UK legends: Ralph Beard

The litany of Kentucky basketball greats rolls off the tongue of most longtime fans or UK hoops history buffs: Chuck Hayes, Tayshaun Prince, Jamal Mashburn, Kenny Walker, Jack Givens, Rick Robey, Dan Issel, Kyle Macy, Pat Riley, Alex Groza, Cliff Hagan, Wah Wah Jones. And maybe the best of them all, Ralph Beard.

Many fans (myself once included) may wonder how this 5'10" guard came to be considered among the five best players in UK history. And even more may wonder why, if he's one of the all-time greats, there's so little said about him. There are valid reasons for both. For the benefit of all, here's a little Big Blue history:

Raised in poverty in Louisville, Beard was a four-sport star at Male High School, and led his Bulldogs to a state title in basketball in 1945. At the time, for any player of his caliber from in-state (or out of, honestly) there was no choice of where to continue his hoops career. He would head to Lexington and play for Adolph Rupp.

Beard was given a rare four years in blue and white. How successful was Beard over his career? How does a record of 130-10 sound? What about two NCAA titles and an NIT title when it meant something? What about leading the Kentucky squad as the backbone of the US Olympic team and winning the Olympic Gold Medal? What about three-time Consensus All-American? Not too shabby for a poor kid from Kentucky.

After hitting the game-winning free throw in 1946 to bring the NIT title over Rhode Island, Beard, as part of the legendary "Fabulous Five" with Alex Groza, Wah Wah Jones, Kenny Rollins and Cliff Barker, helped UK to back-to-back NCAA championships and the 1948 Olympic championship. Four of the five went on to become the Indianapolis Olympians of the NBA in 1949.

But after making the 1950-51 first team All-NBA team (with George Mikan and teammate Alex Groza), a dark period of Kentucky's recent past caught up to Beard and several of his present and former teammates. A point-shaving scandal centered around the 1950 NIT in New York brought down Beard's world, and left he, Groza, Barker and big man Bill Spivey banned from the game for life.

Eli Kaye, one of the handful of game fixing masterminds, and his associates (which included Nick Englisis, a Brooklyn native but former football player at the University of Kentucky) first approached Kentucky starters Ralph Beard, Alex Groza and Dale Barnstable in 1948 and after much pressure, got the players to agree to $100 each to beat their upcoming opponent, St. Johns, by more than the point spread. -- Jon Scott's UK history Web site.

Beard, whose whole world was basketball, was crushed.

"There was absolutely no justice," says Ralph. "They didn't catch all of them. The only thing I ever wanted was to be a professional basketball player and someday be in the Naismith Hall of Fame. That was my whole life, and it's gone. But I'm not longer interested in retribution. I realize we all have our own private guilt and our own private innocence. If taking the money makes you guilty, then I'm guilty. But if doing something to influence the score of a basketball game makes you guilty, then in my mother's eyes, I'm innocent. Yes, I took the money. We were always poor and financial insecurity was ingrained in my childhood. I needed the money and I wanted the money. But in my heart, I still know I'm innocent. I'm forty-eight years old now and I will never understand why it all happened to me. I thought I'd get over it when I grew too old to play ball, but I've had to learn to live with it like an alcoholic. I also realize that I've been lucky enough to be able to make another life for myself. In fact, everything's going along pretty good and I really can't complain. I don't even mind talking about it. All my dirt has already been dug up. There are plenty of days when I don't even think about scandals. But, let me tell you something, partner. I know I won't be completely over it until they hit me with that spade." - Scandals of '51, by Charley Rosen, pg. 220-221.

Fellow disgraced Wildcat Barker noted before he died in 1998 that he never saw true evidence of point-shaving.

"I still don’t think Ralph and Groza fixed games," Barker said. "I think they just played the games the same way they would have anyway, then they took the money."

Beard is old now, and in failing health. History has been unkind to those implicated in insider gambling -- from Shoeless Joe Jackson and the Black Sox to Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds. But one thing is for certain: Ralph Beard could play the game of basketball as well as anyone of his era, and will always be one of the greatest players ever at the University of Kentucky.

[Ed.'s note: Thank you once again to Jon Scott's indispensible web site for help with this post.]

UK tops Northern State...isn't that motor oil?

One game into the 2005 preseason and already the all-knowing Cats fans are sure they've seen the future at center.

Nevermind that a few months ago Jared Carter was another project that didn't deserve a scholarship to Kentucky (despite choosing the Cats over Illinois and UNC, the national finalists). Nevermind that Alleyne and Orzbut have two years' experience. Nevermind that Northern State, the opponent in exhibition game numero uno, featured no player over 6'7".

So Carter it is. Until it's Alleyne. Or Woo. Or, hell, even Bobby Perry.

The lanky seven-foot Carter's 8 points, 7 boards and 3 blocks notwithstanding, Wednesday was a glorified practice. Tubby said as much beforehand. And here's betting Carter's results will fluctuate wildly at times this year, including more than a few DNPs.

Much more promising in my mind was the debut of Rekalin Sims, who -- despite lack of early PT -- posted solid rebound and defensive numbers (two charges taken). Sims is much more crucial as a replacement for Hayes/Bookie than Carter is as a replacement for Morris. Truth be told, Tubby doesn't need much out of the center spot except rebounds, so if the three-headed beast that is Carter/Alleyne/Woo can provide 12 boards and 4 blocks a game, awesome.

I wouldn't sweat the slow start from Mssrs. Rondo and Crawford much. In a week, they can open a can of whoopass on Georgetown. College, that is...yeah, the one in Kentucky.

Is this the year?

Of course, it is an annual refrain. One of the most remarkable things about the UK fanbase is its simultaneous ability to see every Kentucky basketball season as a glass both half-empty and half-full.

And yet, last year gave us such a glimpse of what could be. Few realistically could have expected a team starting two freshmen and a first-year transfer to come within a foul call or a defensive rebound of the Final Four. And yet they did.

And so it goes.

This season opens with real promise. Tubby Smith has a floor general the likes of which he hasn't seen since Wayne Turner, and a talent the likes of which -- certainly from the guard position -- it could be argued he has never had. Rajon Rondo stands at the precipice of Kentucky legend, and the thing that could seperate this UK hoops season from other recent excellent but ultimately unfulfilling seasons is that Rondo knows this.


But one player cannot win a title, and certainly not one whose outside shot will disappear from time to time. (Note to the cheap seats, the Blue-White game is not the equivalent of an SEC or NCAA tourney game!) That's why Joe Crawford and Randolph Morris are so crucial to this team.

Forget the hooplah surrounding Morris' eligibility. Morris will play, the only question is how soon. And maybe the best question is how well? I know I'm not alone in predicting a more focused Morris, if only because it will be demanded of him. One big difference for Morris this year is this is his last shot. There will be no transfer to Georgia Tech or wherever if he's not happy. If he doesn't get it done, he will not make the NBA. It's that simple. He knows it, and you can be damned sure Tubby has told him in no uncertain terms.

But the real key to this year is not the low post. Yes, Shagari Alleyne and Woo will have to rebound better. And, yes, Rekalin Sims and Sheray Thomas will have to provide minutes and production down low. But the real key to this year not named Rondo is Mr. Crawford.

Few remember now, after a freshman year that saw him average nearly as many transfer attempts as made threes, that Joe C. was the best shooting guard prospect in the country to elect for school over the pros in 2004. And now Crawford has a job waiting for him. He also has lost weight, toned, worked on his shot and rekindled his love for the game.

All he has to do is score, and that's what he's best at.

I, for one, think this team has all the pieces. Not every piece is finely honed, and the system always needs adjustments during the year. This team will not go undefeated. But Rondo is confident as hell. Crawford is confident as hell. And if Tubby Smith starts seeming confident as hell, the NCAA field better watch out.