A win is a win is a win is a....
OK, first things first: UK didn't shoot itself (or it's hunting partner, snap!) in last night's win over Georgia. That's not to be overlooked as tempting as it might be (hello, Gregg Doyel...didn't see your NASCAR-fan-wannabe goatee hanging out over there). It was a much-needed win in the pressure-cooker that is (has become?) Rupp Arena with a new starting lineup and an opposing coach that seems to have a knack for downing the Cats. We won. Finally. Now it's on to South Carolina and a must-have win over the Gamecocks. Lose and UK's bubble gets thinner. Win and you can add a layer of shellac to that baby as these Cats prepare for contests against LSU, Tennessee and Florida. (For the record, I'll start mentioning Ole Miss when they start pretending to be an SEC squad.)
Speaking of bubbles: I watch a lot of college hoops. Often up to three games a night and I'm often struck by the fans of the Southern Illinois Salukis and other such teams who turn their focus this time of year to the Big Dance and the possibility of inclusion. UK fans are spoiled. For the first time since -- OK, I honestly can't remember -- we're on the bubble. In the 16 years since the dark days of probation, we've worried less about bubbles and more about seeding. But here we are, 25 games into the slate and contemplating whether or not we should be making alternate plans for the third and fourth weekends in March.
I'll admit, I'm not used to this. But, to truly appreciate the Madness that is March, one must understand the uncertainty of it all. And since this UK-on-the-bubble thing is but a one-time thing (better be!), I can dig it. Or I can at least try to learn to dig it. I mean, the Saluki fans seem to revel in the last three weeks leading up to Championship Week (for my money, the most entertaining week in sports when the conference tourneys are settled). Perhaps we can, too.
Granted, I don't want to go making a habit of this -- and perhaps I'm a bit more accomodating given the euphoria of breaking up the three-game skid -- but UK fans should "cowboy up" and deal with the situation. Tubby isn't going to go all Quinn Snyder on this program and up and quit. He's not going to pull a Mike Davis of Eddie Sutton* and that's a good thing. What he is going to do is pull out every stop, including starting Brandon "The Boss" Stockton over such McD AA's as Rajon Rondo and Joe Crawford. Will it be pretty? Heck no! Might it work? Who knows? But I figure nitpicking these desparate wins are akin to complaining about a firefighter's technique in saving the kitty from the burning house. Who cares how you do, just get it done, man!
*OK, a little fact about myself: I work in sports media. I only mention this because it gives me a brief glimpse into the world of fact-checkers and the results of said fact-checkers not meeting standards such as (gasp!) facts. Anyway, I'm sitting here, staring at ESPNews on it's third, oops, fourth cycle through, and apparently Eddie Sutton coached UK to a final four. Huh. I didn't know that and I bet you didn't either, but there it is, right there on the big ole graphic accompanying the Sutton leave-of-absence story. I can't believe nobody has corrected the goof. I've emailed them, but I'm certain my email is more likely to end up in some dude's email box who wears the Berenstein Bears outfit than anyone who actually works at ESPN. Curious why they'd make stuff up to further stilt a fellow who CHEATED his way out of UK. More on this later.
Speaking of bubbles: I watch a lot of college hoops. Often up to three games a night and I'm often struck by the fans of the Southern Illinois Salukis and other such teams who turn their focus this time of year to the Big Dance and the possibility of inclusion. UK fans are spoiled. For the first time since -- OK, I honestly can't remember -- we're on the bubble. In the 16 years since the dark days of probation, we've worried less about bubbles and more about seeding. But here we are, 25 games into the slate and contemplating whether or not we should be making alternate plans for the third and fourth weekends in March.
I'll admit, I'm not used to this. But, to truly appreciate the Madness that is March, one must understand the uncertainty of it all. And since this UK-on-the-bubble thing is but a one-time thing (better be!), I can dig it. Or I can at least try to learn to dig it. I mean, the Saluki fans seem to revel in the last three weeks leading up to Championship Week (for my money, the most entertaining week in sports when the conference tourneys are settled). Perhaps we can, too.
Granted, I don't want to go making a habit of this -- and perhaps I'm a bit more accomodating given the euphoria of breaking up the three-game skid -- but UK fans should "cowboy up" and deal with the situation. Tubby isn't going to go all Quinn Snyder on this program and up and quit. He's not going to pull a Mike Davis of Eddie Sutton* and that's a good thing. What he is going to do is pull out every stop, including starting Brandon "The Boss" Stockton over such McD AA's as Rajon Rondo and Joe Crawford. Will it be pretty? Heck no! Might it work? Who knows? But I figure nitpicking these desparate wins are akin to complaining about a firefighter's technique in saving the kitty from the burning house. Who cares how you do, just get it done, man!
*OK, a little fact about myself: I work in sports media. I only mention this because it gives me a brief glimpse into the world of fact-checkers and the results of said fact-checkers not meeting standards such as (gasp!) facts. Anyway, I'm sitting here, staring at ESPNews on it's third, oops, fourth cycle through, and apparently Eddie Sutton coached UK to a final four. Huh. I didn't know that and I bet you didn't either, but there it is, right there on the big ole graphic accompanying the Sutton leave-of-absence story. I can't believe nobody has corrected the goof. I've emailed them, but I'm certain my email is more likely to end up in some dude's email box who wears the Berenstein Bears outfit than anyone who actually works at ESPN. Curious why they'd make stuff up to further stilt a fellow who CHEATED his way out of UK. More on this later.
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