Sports in Kentucky by Bob Watkins

Posted February 3, 2016 at 3:14 pm

What a &$%#! nerve! A couple of sequoia Jayhawks must have grumbled after the pint-sized kid drove into the lane, got airborne, and changed shot angle that found a gap among flailing giants and settled into the basket.

“Of all the nerve! What audacity, that little squirt bringin’ that stuff in here that way.”

Tyler Ulis is special. Enjoy him. March 5 is coming.

Kentucky home games left this season? Five. Sophomore Ulis is a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. A recognition of college hoops very best at managing his team.

Raise your hand, please, if …

√ You’re feeling that “please stay another year, kid,” angst.

√ You’re awaiting a fan sign: ‘Please don’t go, Tyler Ulis.”

√ You’re hoping the kid’s parents don’t walk onto Cawood Court on March 5. Senior Day.

BLACK SAT-DEE IN KENTUCKY

Was Black Saturday for college basketball Bigs in Kentucky.

Louisville was embarrassed by Virginia … Kentucky lost in overtime at Kansas.

Western Kentucky lost at home to Middle Tennessee. Ninth time in last 10 the Hilltoppers have fallen to arch rival Middle.

Murray State had its three-game win streak stopped at Tennessee-Martin. When’s last time the Racers (11-11) were .500 in February?

Eastern Kentucky lost at home to Morehead State.

Morehead’s Eagles (12-9) improved to 6-3 in OVC standings which brings Sean Woods into league coach of the year conversation.

Black Saturday’s silver linings? Georgetown and Pikeville.

Georgetown Tigers, ranked fifth in NAIA, takes a 19-2 record into February.

And, UPike pushed to 19-2 and Bears coach Kelly Wells onto the NAIA all-time 25 winningest coaches list.

KENTUCKY WINS AT KANSAS

George C. Scott (Patton) said, “losing is hateful to Americans” Is for Kentucky fans too. A scoreboard 90-84 loss at Kansas in overtime had a noteworthy upside.

√ UK at KU was the most entertaining game of the season so far.

√ Looking through a December prism, how many fans saw this coming? “Certainly (Derek) Willis getting in foul trouble helped us a lot because that allowed us to kind of switch up what we were doing defensively,” – Kansas coach Bill Self.

√ From the this-won’t-happen-on-a-neutral-floor-dept. KU had 47 free throw attempts, lopsided 25 more than UK’s 22. Kentucky made seven more field goals than the Jayhawks, 33-26.

√ Coach Gaffe Dept.

• Perry Ellis was limited to four shots, but John Calipari was unable to find anybody to stop Wayne Selden getting off 20 (made 12)?

• Meanwhile, UK could spring leading scorer Jamal Murray for only 11 shots.

√ Finally, Kansas needed overtime to protect its home floor, avoid losing for only the tenth time in Bill Self’s tenure (2003-now). Kentucky heads into February with an NCAA tournament primer game film.

MAYBE YOU MISSED THIS DEPT.

If University of Kentucky football expects to jump-start a campaign to make believers that a renaissance season is coming (sell tickets to seven home games), then director of athletics Mitch Barnhart had better dispatch his PR troops to make freshman Drake Jackson available to media day or night.

The Woodford County All-American was spot-on with attitude and approach in an interview with the Louisville Courier-Journal. Excerpts.

1. “It’s not just about me being an All-American and coming in and playing right away. You gotta earn it.”

2. “Once I’m here the four stars are thrown out the window. The (Army) All-American game is thrown out the window. We’re all starting all over.”

3. Importance of enrolling early: “I think it’s huge. I know the campus … the schedule and how (college) works and how to manage my time.”

Drake Jackson.

READERS (RIGHT) WRITE

A series. Over the next few weeks, e-mails from readers, for your interest and entertainment.

Edited for clarity, language and interest, readers wrote …

• Athletics and Anger?

“The big difference between my take on things and yours is I don’t stew on UK athletics to the point of anger. … Nothing is going to change until fans stop buying tickets and even then first thing to change will be a reduction in number of individual seats in arenas (will) offset an increase in number of premium seats and boxes that can be sold. The ‘new’ Commonwealth Stadium is a prime example!

“So Bob, you need to let it go. Either enjoy the success of UK (basketball) and accept state of UK (football), or allow your anger to further control and make you and your readers (more) miserable, week-in and week-out. Merry Christmas!

• Perceptive View.

“Did not always agree with you but that’s good. You gave me food for thought. I thought you were always good at seeing the human impact of sports, how it effects people. I appreciate your historic perspective of Kentucky Sports, your appreciation of those who came before us and the value that their contributions brought to today’s sports. I appreciate that you reported what you really believe, and not what Kentucky readers wanted to read.

“I know from reading your article for years, that you’re an honest and honorable man who is grateful for what you’ve been given, grateful for what you have earned and grateful for the opportunity that being in Kentucky has brought to you.”

WORTH REPEATING DEPT.

Days to start of Major League Baseball spring training? 14.

And so, America’s first spring without Lawrence ‘Yogi’ Berra who said “the future ain’t what it used to be,” also reminded us …

√ “Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.”

And, maybe for sports section readers …

√ There are some people who, if they don’t already know, you can’t tell ‘em.”

And so it goes.