SEC: Tennessee vs Kentucky Game Thread

[teamchemistry15]

On the positive side I thought Nick and EJ played pretty well which should help us moving forward.

Nick left Williams open on that corner three towards the end of the game, but other than that defensive hiccup he had a pretty solid game. I think EJ deserved some more minutes in the second half because he was playing VERY well.

[ralph helm]

Went from up72--64 with about less than 3 minutes left&got outscored 18 to 6 & lose by 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joneslab]

I thought Rick Barnes had a heck of a game. Pulled a lot of strings in the last few minutes that helped win the game for them. Went to that zone that confused us. Threw on the press that confused us. Tennessee seemed to score out of every timeout. Barnes used two quick timeouts when we went on a run where I think most coaches would have just used one. He really coached in that game and it paid off.

Kentucky has had problems with pressure all year, particularly when we're trying to inbounds the ball and get it up the floor. Hagans doesn't do a good job of shaking guys to get open, and as we saw both Herro and Johnson for whatever reason do not want the basketball in those situations. It's a weird thing about this team that we haven't seen from hardly any of Cal's teams before this one.

Reid Travis's exit as others have said was also huge. He obviously gets that rebound that Montgomery absolutely blew. Also thought a big moment came when we're up 7, Johnson drives, looks like he comes to a pretty good jumpstop, fans it out to the corner where PJ hits a three...but the defender falls and Johnson gets a charge. If we go up 10 there we likely win.

[Spiritof96]

Well you did. You didn't answer my question about whether you had ever been an official. I didn't think so!

"Appeal to authority" is a basic logical fallacy.

I ignored your questions because it was irrelevant, but I'll answer it now. I have not been an official. So what? I know quite a few. (not that that is relevant either)

As I said before, your experience vs my lack of experience has no bearing on whether something did or didn't happen. In this case it's obvious that it didn't. It isn't a question of judgement or rules interpretation, it's a question of watching the tape. You say TR hit W's arms and nothing close to that took place. There is no magic officiating dark arts that alter time and space to make that happen.

I'm sorry you felt insulted. Truly.
I'm sorry that the SEC and NCAA don't use full time professional officials.
I'm sorry that Doug Shows comes up big for UT so often. The FBI needs a wire tap on that guy, he's on the take.

But I get it, you guys protect your own, it's the oddest thing about that culture.

EDIT to ADD: Just for fun I watched the low angle replay again for like the 20th time searching for the thing you say happened. You should check it out... Spoiler, he didn't touch his arm or alter the shot in any way. #Zapruderfilm

[Spiritof96]

Reid Travis's exit as others have said was also huge. He obviously gets that rebound that Montgomery absolutely blew. Also thought a big moment came when we're up 7, Johnson drives, looks like he comes to a pretty good jumpstop, fans it out to the corner where PJ hits a three...but the defender falls and Johnson gets a charge. If we go up 10 there we likely win.

UT flops like Duke. Everyone except the officiating crew on the take knows it. Other than corruption, I don't understand why officials reward players for falling down. The way scrub of the year throws his body into people, how he ever draws a charge call is crazy.

BTW, you know I'm right about the RT call...

[Joneslab]

Shows is indeed awful. It's clear he and Cal have a massive beef.

It's also obvious Tennessee flops like no team I've ever seen.

BUT I will say this: after Cal picked up the technical foul, Kentucky got some stuff. There was one play in particular where they should have called Washington for his fourth and they swallowed their whistle. And I mean PJ killed the guy.

That was a big stretch for UK and it allowed us to take out that lead. Unfortunately it ended and I thought Travis's fourth and fifth were very cheap--and devastating obviously.

Were I king of the world I'd move the game to four 12-minute quarters and give guys six fouls. Foul trouble ends up haunting so many of these games. The strange "double flagrant" on Washington was a huge moment as well that really put Kentucky in a bad spot early.

[JFCats22]

You just cannot lose a game where you are up 8 with 2:58 to go. You cannot let a team score 18 points in less than 3 minutes. You cannot turn the ball over, foul, play no defense and do nothing offensively and think you can win.

That was about the worst 3:00 of basketball I have seen in a long time. Just a meltdown of epic proportions.

Unfortunately, it's going to cost UK big time today I think. I don't see anyway we play in Columbus or Louisville any longer and it now seems like a certainty that we are getting Duke as our 1.

Yesterday was huge for a lot of reasons and I am really bummed we gave it away.

[KCKUKFan]

Unfortunately, it's going to cost UK big time today I think.

Of course you think that. Go outside and get some fresh air. Or just stop watching Kentucky basketball -- it's obvious that you get no joy from it.

Yesterday sucked, yes. It was an epic collapse in the final three minutes. I was angry as anybody when it happened. But it happened, and we can't change it. So let's just look forward to the big tournament and hope we get a decent path. Bracketville currently has us as Virginia's 2 in the South, which I'll obviously take. Otherwise, send us out west with Gonzaga.

[lilproUK98]

Shows is indeed awful. It's clear he and Cal have a massive beef.

It's also obvious Tennessee flops like no team I've ever seen.

BUT I will say this: after Cal picked up the technical foul, Kentucky got some stuff. There was one play in particular where they should have called Washington for his fourth and they swallowed their whistle. And I mean PJ killed the guy.

That was a big stretch for UK and it allowed us to take out that lead. Unfortunately it ended and I thought Travis's fourth and fifth were very cheap--and devastating obviously.

Were I king of the world I'd move the game to four 12-minute quarters and give guys six fouls. Foul trouble ends up haunting so many of these games. The strange "double flagrant" on Washington was a huge moment as well that really put Kentucky in a bad spot early.

At this point, you're lucky if your game isn't severely affected by the incompetence of these goobers. That shouldn't be the case at all. The NCAA needs a massive overhaul in many areas, but officials need to be at the top of the list. They're killing the sport. Scores of unbiased media members/sports writers are saying this as well. They need to be full time, well trained and I would also do a personality test as well, there are way too many a-hole prima Donna's with agendas out there that have been in the game way too long. Also, post game media availability by the crew chief needs to start, now. College basketball is by far the worst officiated sport on the planet. The whole thing needs an overhaul.

[BobS]

Once again, eager beaver officials ruin a great game. One day they will figure out that nobody pays to watch them. If college basketball collapses, it will be because of inconsistent, inept officials.

Great 37 minute game by UK. Unfortunately, it's a 40 minute game.

Slowing the game down in classic Cal style hurt us again. Saving timeouts when maybe using one during the collapse could have helped. Both head scratchers.

We lost games this year by playing awful 3 point D. Did it again yesterday. Can't leave shooters wide open late in the game. We did 3 times.

Late turnovers. Ugh

Cal claims this is his best 3 point shooting team. Can't take just 11 if that's true.

But for 37 minutes, we looked all the world like an elite team. That's a plus. Pretty obvious that Travis is our most important player. Got to keep him on the floor.

Hoping for a good 2 seed bracket far away from Duke. Make some noise...go as far as we can.

[Catgrad7072]

Slowing the game down in classic Cal style hurt us again..

Exactly.

Put another way for all my fellow runners on WCN: It's like being on a personal-best pace in a foot race and thinking to yourself, 'I'm on pace to finish with a great time; just to be sure, I'm going to walk the last half mile.

[Matt Dillon]

Of course you think that, you pessimistic doofus.

And you don't think that losing yesterday cost us a no. 1 seed and, probably, the opportunity to play somewhere east of the Rocky Mountains?

[KCKUKFan]

And you don't think that losing yesterday cost us a no. 1 seed and, probably, the opportunity to play somewhere east of the Rocky Mountains?

It did cost us a number one seed, but as Will noted, there isn't much difference between Zaga, Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. Or Virginia, Michigan, and Michigan State, for that matter. Only Duke with Zion seems to be better than the rest of the field, and they almost lost to Carolina.

And, geographically, I'm not sure it's going to matter much. We had the crowd in Nashville yesterday and it didn't seem to make much difference in the outcome. I'd rather be playing Gonzaga in Anaheim than Duke in Louisville or Carolina in the Midwest. But reasonable minds may differ about that.

Anyway, I was more making a point (yet again) of how much of a pessimistic annoyance that crazzed is. When a number of different posters on two different boards that he posts at point it out, it's not a coincidence. The problem is most certainly him.

[Matt Dillon]

It did cost us a number one seed, but as Will noted, there isn't much difference between Zaga, Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. Or Virginia, Michigan, and Michigan State, for that matter. Only Duke with Zion seems to be better than the rest of the field, and they almost lost to Carolina.

And, geographically, I'm not sure it's going to matter much. We had the crowd in Nashville yesterday and it didn't seem to make much difference in the outcome. I'd rather be playing Gonzaga in Anaheim than Duke in Louisville or Carolina in the Midwest. But reasonable minds may differ about that.

Anyway, I was more making a point (yet again) of how much of a pessimistic annoyance that crazzed is. When a number of different posters on two different boards that he posts at point it out, it's not a coincidence. The problem is most certainly him.

The only difference I can see in a one or a two is it could make a difference in where you play. As far as the crowd not making much difference yesterday, that's one of those things we'll never know for sure. Perhaps it didn't or perhaps we would have lost by more than four points w/o the fan support. I'd much rather we play somewhere closer than Calif.

[KCKUKFan]

The only difference I can see in a one or a two is it could make a difference in where you play. As far as the crowd not making much difference yesterday, that's one of those things we'll never know for sure. Perhaps it didn't or perhaps we would have lost by more than four points w/o the fan support. I'd much rather we play somewhere closer than Calif.

I'm more concerned with matchups than location.

Kentucky matches up much better with Gonzaga than Duke, for instance. Not only that, but I'm not sure Gonzaga or Virginia are even going to make the elite eight.