IU-UK Gameday Blog

I may update this post from time-to-time today. But really I'm just excited to be here. It's nice to see this game have a little "home-court advantage", regardless of which way that home court advantage goes. I've really got only one pick for EZ Monday today, and that is for this IU-UK game.

First off, I think the UNDER in this game is a LOCK. I see a very slow-paced game. We'll see how it turns out, but I see a lot of zone as well as both teams only have one real inside threat and both coaches will try to keep that player out of foul trouble early.

I see IU falling to a very bad start. They will trail by double digits in this game thanks to the home crowd of which IU players have never seen before. But IU will claw back late in the second half thanks to very good defense forcing UK to take some very ill-advised shots. IU may even come back and take the lead. I see this one going down to the wire, but UK holds on.

EZ MONEY: College Hoops
W-L Record going in: 3-0

Indiana (+5) vs. KENTUCKY ** PUSH **

W-L Record going out: 3-0-1

Some first half thoughts:

• The defense from both teams is very solid. Ill-advised shots on both ends making it tough for either team to get anything going offensively.
• DJ White had a better first half than I expected.
• UK free throws are hurting them in the first half.
• If IU doesn't double Randolph than he will have 30 before the day is out.
• IU's open looks seem not to be falling.
• Good surge at the end of the first half for UK. Getting Stevenson involved may be the 2nd half key for the Cats.
• HALFTIME: UK 28, IU 26 (sidenote: UK is 5-0 when tied or leading at half... 0-3 when they trail)

Second half droppings:

• UK picking up their pace, to the pleasure of former UK standout Kenny "Sky" Walker sitting two seats down.
• DJ White is not going to be able to do it all by himself today for Indiana. A guard will need to get involved.
• Either team is two outside shots away from breaking the game open. Neither is shooting well from outside.
• IU's offensive rebounding has been very impressive in this game.
• Sheray Thomas gets booed when he comes into the game.
• Earl Calloway is the first guard for either team that decides that he can take over this game as he sparks a 6-0 run, scoring four of those points, giving IU the lead back at 39-36 with 12:38 remaining.
• Kentucky responds with an 9-0 run of their own to take a 45-36 lead.
• E-MAIL: Someone wrote and asked if I would tell them how many IU fans I can estimate being here. Let me tell you... it's not much. I'll say 1,000 at most.
• I never would've thought DJ White would win the battle underneath today, but he has.
• Morris should touch the ball inside each possession. It's a shame he isn't. That keeps Indiana in it.
• Indiana's defense is insane good, but their offense just can't match it this early in the season.... or so it seems.
• The hard work by both of these teams today is to be commended. It's not often you see a knock-down dragout like this one. I'm appreciative. The Cats earned this one!