That Tyler Ulis is first team All-American is as surprising to Kentucky fans as the Commonwealth’s caucus outcome.

If John Wooden were here he might say, “Ulis is my guy. Knows how game should be played!”

With attitude as a starting point, Kentucky’s starting point (guard) is embodiment of why we watch this game, shout at the teevee, referee it, dissect it, discuss it, record it.

Ulis is a 160-pounds, 5-feet-9 presence who takes us away from political pontificates, show-off coaches and analysts who call a basketball a rock. I hate that, don’t you?

Tyler Ulis is us. He and we can walk across a parking lot unnoticed. But then, between lines at Rupp Arena, he ain’t us. In a tall man’s game he analyzes, times a gear-change (don’t blink) and zip.

“Guys play well off me,” platoon leader said the other day (but if you want the ball, then move!).

After dealing 14 assists and as many points in last game at Rupp, one thing more gratifying than honors for Ulis would be if he stayed in college another season.

Observations.

1. Wooden Award credentials? 16.7 points, 7.1 assists, 3.6 assist-to-turnover, scored 20+ points in 11 of last 19 games and … goes to class. Tyler Ulis.

2. Alex Poythress’s last hurrah at Rupp Arena was nice. Seven shots, made six and three rebounds. Best part? Fans gave the Academic All-American ovation for a lifetime.

3. Spoiler. John Calipari let his tongue flap too long again. “… our fans are the best. And you know what, they love senior night in this state. It’s a big deal. Senior night’s a big deal.”

4. Full stop? Calipari: “Bigger deal for our fans than those players. They’d rather have been drafted already. If you want me to lie, I’ll lie. And then come back and get their degree.”

5. Rick Pitino. Had no inkling Andre McGee was up to no good, but yes, he is responsible. And team made scapegoat is shameful.

6. Whether or not he will return to UofL next season Pitino said recently, he “left the cupboard full” when he left Kentucky and same applies at Louisville.

7. Tracy Patrick, Irvine.

8. Ben Simmons. On a Thursday, a media projection – his first shoe contract may be worth $100 million. On a Saturday, asked about being disqualified for the Wooden Award? LSU’s seven-month rental shrugged, said he knows who the best college player for 2016 is.

9. Tweak? Calipari stratagem to tweak his team, he won’t say, but seems to be “pass the ball to Poythress on first or second possession before pout sets in.

10. Dan Manley, Mt. Sterling.

11. 2016 Wooden Award Legends of Coaching Trophy goes to Dr. Orlando ‘Tubby’ Smith. Presentation at ESPN Awards Show April 8.

12. LSU’s bunch was reminiscent of Pete Maravich at LSU 1970. It’s ME and you guys can play too.

Coach Johnny Jones might as well have said in October, “… our season is about one thing, showcasing Ben Simmons.”

13. Kentucky and Texas A&M should not have tied for SEC regular season title. UK-A&M game was decided by a referee. And, how did the Wildcats lose to Auburn?

14. Kelly Warnick, Warsaw.

15. Kentucky’s first 3-pointer Saturday (Derek Willis) pushed its streak of a triple-a-game to 970.

16. John Calipari’s son Brad will walk-on at Kentucky next season. Interesting to see if Big Blue Nation’s reaction is as scathing as criticism leveled at Eddie Sutton then Tubby Smith when their sons played for dad.

17. Steve Wimmer, Hawesville.

18. Lionized for much of their careers, Larry Brown, Jim Boeheim and Rick Pitino have been re-defined as NCAA symbols for: “you as coach are responsible for all that goes on in his program.”

This is new? Logic (and pay grade) tells us captain of the ship, business CEO, or ball coach, is fully responsible.

19. Alan Gibson, Albany.

20. Beyond Ulis and Poythress, brightest sparkle in Kentucky hoops galaxy this season has been Derek Willis.

21. Makayla Epps, All American? Kentucky’s star guard averaged 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 29 games.

22. My Tiger Woods Award this week goes to Peyton Manning. As Woods was praised, profited and lifted to the infallible heavens by gushing media in 1999 then torn asunder, NFL poster boy Manning is retired and come to his crucifixion.

23. Worth Repeating Dept. Villanova’s coach. “Jay Wright has done this without professionals. We haven’t done enough as a basketball community to recognize what Jay has done. When you start talking about, ‘Well, Kansas does it this way, Arizona this way,’ Jay has done it for years without pros. He had a first-team All-American, Scottie Reynolds, (who) wasn’t a pro. That’s phenomenal. It just absolutely blows my mind how good he is at what he’s doing.” – Phil Martelli, St. Joseph coach.

24. Having written a sports column for better part of half-century – my first was in 1970 – principles-to-go-by I embraced early began with: “Be honest, step back and recognize then balance personal biases, and stay true to who I am.”

Old acquaintance, Dave Kindred said: “Readers (will) learn your likes and dislikes, your flaws and strengths, capabilities and spirits and prejudices. In time, these pieces of the puzzle come together in a portrait of the writer. Writing reveals you. Better, I think, for readers to think of you as rock-headed in your opinions than to consider you as a cynical opportunist trading yesterday’s beliefs for new ones that better fit today’s argument.”

And so it goes.

You can reach me at bob.Watkins24@aol.com