I’m so glad that Richie and the rest of the Unforgettables could join us today. Since the guys are “Kentucky Proud” I thought that could be the theme for the day.
Starting off aren’t we all proud of Terrence Jones? Jones has been named to the top 30 mid-season candidate for this year’s Naismith Award. As we know the award is given to the top college basketball player of the year, Jones has proven to be a member of this group. He is also one of two freshmen to be named to this list; the last freshman to win this award was Kevin Durant. If Jones wants to keep his name on this list for the rest of the season and be considered he is going to have to step his game up another level. He will also have to become a more rounded player and begin to pass the ball for assist. I do not believe any player can be the best player in the nation and not also be a team player. At this point Jones has not figured out there is no “I” in team, but he is working on that.
We are one day away from going into the dreaded Memorial Gym and facing Vanderbilt, who by the way robbed the game win last night over Alabama. You ask why is it so dreaded? Well as you should know by now the idiot who come up with the plans for this gym placed benches in the ends of the court instead of on the sidelines like a normal facility. I guess they want the fans to enjoy a screwed up view of the court who knows. But with this being said this creates communication problems for teams coming into play there. The Cats are no different as they prepare to play Vandy the team is working on communication skills because they will not have Coach Cal in their ear all game. As we know the road environment has been a challenge in the past this season so this will be a true test for them. When ask about the difficulty of coaching form the end zone Cal had this to say:
“I don’t think they listen to me much on the road, so I don’t think it really matters. But, I do know they will have to listen to each other. Maybe that will help them. Historically, our teams have always played better on the road because they were always supposed to win every game on the road, so when they went on the road, they loosened up a little bit and they played. With this team, part of it is that we haven’t played together. I tried to figure this out myself. Why do guys play so poorly at Florida, and then turn around and play so well against Tennessee? You know guys that stunk the gym up, and some of them gave up 30 points; so how do those guys come back? I think part of it is that they did it together, so that makes the game easier. If you try to play by yourself, the game is really hard. It’s hard on offense, you don’t get any space, guys are up in you, no one gives you an easy shot, and no one frees you. And on defense, it’s just you and that man. If he is a little better than you, or quicker, oh my goodness gracious, you are just looking to come out of the game. One of the things you do is foul to get you out of there. But if you are together, even a young man that is faster and quicker, you can guard him. And offensively, a guy is trying to smother you. That doesn’t matter. My teammate will get me something. That’s something that I come back too. Usually a crisis brings that around. The guys say ‘man we have to do that together’.”
So to me that means Cal doesn’t see this to be a problem they don’t listen to him on a normal court why start now? But it may be a challenge for them on Saturday since they are not the best road team. Some players believe they need to hear the Coach to do well like Terrence Jones. I guess it takes Cal screaming at him and shall I say cussing him out to play. We will see what kind of numbers Jones decides to put up without Cal in his ear.
Josh Harrellson has really stepped up this year on the court but he has also stepped up as being a person. Harrellson took time out of his day on Wednesday to spend time at a Harrodsburg elementary school according to Larry Vaught. Jorts and his girlfriend, Cara Johnson, went to visit one of her college friends, Danon Camic, who is a teacher at the school.
“The Students were amazed as soon as he walked in the door. He played ball with them for 45 minutes non-stop and the only reason they did stop was because the kids had to get on the bus. One student cried because he was so upset that Josh had to leave and another one told everyone he passed on the way to the bus that he just ‘met the most awesome guy and he plays basketball!’” Said Camic.
I have not been the biggest Harrellson fan in the past but with the way he has played this season and being so given oh his time. I think I am being to become a fan of Jorts. I always love to hear of stories of our Wildcats going into the community and doing things with kids. I think sometimes these guys forget that they are major influences on the kids, I know I have saw it firsthand. I remember when I was in the fourth grade and Cameron Mills came to my class and even played ball with us, from that day on I have been a fan of his. When our guys do things like this it makes me proud to see them wear the blue and white.
Now someone we aren’t so proud, it looks like Billy Clyde may be getting a job offer from the University of Wyoming. They have a recent coaching vacancy and Gillispie’s name has made the news of a possible hire. Another guy that we sure are proud of is Randall Cobb. Cobb has been named on Todd Mcshay’s 2011 mock draft as a first round pick. He is guying that Cobb will be picked by the Baltimore Ravens with the 26th overall pick. This is big news for him a week ago he was being talked about as being a high second pick but now he has moved up the ladder.
Finally I want to mention a former Wildcat that has passed away earlier this week. George Vulich passed away at age 85 after a battle with cancer. Vulich was a member of the Wildcats under Coach Rupp from 1943-1945. He passed away watching his beloved Cats in their victory over Tennessee. According to his family George modeled his life after to inspiring men one of which was Coach Rupp and the other being former UCLA Coach John Wooden. George was survived by his wife Elizabeth, who is 82 and his eight children, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. As Wildcat fans we respect our past and honor it and I believe it is important to honor this man for the great life he lived.
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