U of L-UK COURTSIDE

Here we go... let's start with my prediction. It's one of those games where you have to throw common sense out the window. That being said... no rhyme or reason to include this game in my EZ Money. Your guess is probably as good as me today.

Having said that, my prediction: UK 67, U of L 61

Now, onto the updating..

PREGAME

• What a great scene to start things off as Ky National Guard troops in Iraq were shown up on the jumbotron, and they could see us as well. All of the fans in the stands were very appreciative of our troops. It was quite a scene... very emotional.
• Starting lineups... don't tell anyone in here that this game is any 'different'.
• Something I've never noticed before. I'm near the UK bench, and Tubby shakes the hand of EVERY player both starting on the floor and starting on the bench. Adds to my respect of the man.

FIRST HALF

• 2-3 zone to start the game of Louisville. It's nice to see from Louisville. You forget how effective it was during the Final Four year of 2005.
• T-Will hits from outside early... good sign for U of L. U of L up 6-0.
• Huge foul call on Morris... two fouls for him. This obviously changes things big time!
• What a block for Ramel Bradley on the fast break by Andre McGee.
• Derrick Caracter enters at 13:33 for Louisville, and gets a huge applause.
• Tubby BEGGING for a trapping of Padgett, but too late again. Seven points for Padgett early. U of L 11-6.
• Fouls a problem early for U of L. At the 9:45 mark in the first half, both T-Will and Sosa. T-Will stays in for the moment.
• I think I'm the only guy who likes these "ugly" games. 13-9 Louisville, and a 30-second timeout by Pitino. Love the intensity thus far.
• TV Timeout at 7:32. U of L leads 16-12. The U of L football team is getting introduced, and a small speech from an Orange Bowl rep who says "I think some of you in this arena, may be going to the 'Music City Bowl' or something!" Huge applause from the crowd on that one. Even some UK fans got a laugh. Pretty funny.
• Cats take first lead right at the six-minute mark of the first half. Cats lead 17-16.
• TV Timeout at 3:39 in the first half... game being called very tight. Team fouls are 9 to 8 UK. Louisville leads 21-20. Tubby wants a better trap defense when the ball goes into the post on the Louisville end.
• Louisville has had some of their best ball movement of the year... really playing good. Open looks from the outside just aren't falling.

HALFTIME: UK 27, U of L 24 - Sidenote: UK has not lost a game this year when they have led at the half. (6-0)

SECOND HALF

• Sosa starts 2nd half... interesting.
• Randolph picks up foul # 3 with 19:26 in the second half. Tubby points to Wukash and yells "Get his ass out of there."
• Palacios is having to guard a guy much quicker than him on the perimeter. Ramel Bradley makes him pay. Cats up four early in the second half.
• Sosa decides he can score... he's got five points early here in the second half. Cats still up five with 16:05 to go in the game.
• Juan Palacios was on the receiving end of a breakaway and looked like he couldn't decide between a dunk and a layup on teh fast break. Missed the bunny, and Rick Pitino looked like he picked up a laptop AND a phone at the same time and slammed them down on press row next to Paul Rogers and the Louisville broadcast crew. I've never seen him that visibly upset.
• Jerry Mith's 3-pointer cuts it to two... 38-36 UK. Crowd on it's feet.
• If you are UK... you are content with playing zone until U of L can hit a couple more outside shots.
• Morris back in at 11:18. Padgett scores on him to tie it at 38.
• According to the hustle stats on the scoreboard here, Louisville is outrebounding UK at the 10-minute mark 33-25.
• Louisville is getting open looks here in the second half, but just can't knock them down.
• If UK wins, it's no secret that Jamal Meeks is your player of the game. His three free-throws make it a 49-41 UK lead.
• U of L having trouble with it's free throws again... still trail by 8 with five minutes to go.
• Shot clock was at 24 when UK got across the time line in a 49-45 game. Refs didn't catch it. TV timeout with 3:28 left.
• Starting to look eerily similar to the UK-IU game, where UK's opponent wins on the statsheet, but not on the scoreboard.
• Rick Pitino gives Caracter a lashing on the bench as U of L trails 57-49 with a minute and change to go.
• UK seals it with free throws. Give Kentucky credit. They've won games when they haven't looked that great. Griniding out victories. Back to the drawing board for RP.