ONE AND DONE?

BIG BLUE NATION! What do you think about the one done rule? I mean, obviously it is going to hurt us every year, and I think it is hurting the game as whole. I don't just mean the college game, the Pro game is watered down a lot.  I don't think the NBA gets the best players anymore.  They may get the most talented, but not the best players that the collegiate level has to offer.  Don't get me wrong, some kids should make the jump. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are classic examples of players who could make the jump to the NBA and be affective right away. People like Derick Rose for example, one and done was perfect for him because he was ready, anyone could see that.  He probably could have went out of High School had it not been for the one and done rule. Besides the stand out players, there are a countless amount of average ball players that occupy a spot in the NBA.  These are the guys that I'm talking about, the guys that through their names in the draft and have not seen the court yet.  They have one or two good seasons in the NCAA and decide that they are ready for the NBA and end up getting traded around the league twice with no playing time anywhere they go.  Then they get pushed down to the D league to see if they can get better.  Besides the pay cut, most players have a hard time stepping down because they have always been the star.  By the time they swallow their pride and get use to a smaller pay check half of their career is over.  Then it time to go over seas and test the foreign waters.  Most players that play professionally overseas never make it back to the NBA, so they are lost forever in a ocean full of players just like themselves, average. How does the NCAA come up with a solution to a definite problem that will only get worse?  I have the answer.  Make it mandatory to go to the D League before entering into the NBA if a kid decides to come out before his junior year.  That way you will weed out the  mediocre players, and it will take away from the money urge that goes along with the NBA.  Place a fine on any agent or team owner for speaking to any under class men and make it large enough that most agents and owner will just lay off until the kid is a upper class man.  If a kid wants to make the jump into the Pros without going to college, let them go. But they will have to play their way through the D League like baseball's farm teams do.  This will change the mind set of the players because the D League is not as appealing as the show, or NBA.  Your not playing on TV, so most kids would rather stay in school, at least they would get TV time.  The money is the biggest issue. How does anyone expect these kids that come from nothing to turn down the money?  On the other hand, how does anyone expect a kid that has never had anything to handle that kind of money?  So, to me, there needs to be a go between.  A place that will pay a little, and help them increase their skills, and get them ready for the show.  Plus lets just face facts,  nobody wants to see VCU and Bradly in the final four.  I'm glad they made, but come on, VCU!  Bradly!  I think the final game field goal percentage for both UConn and Bradly was about 20% for the game.  That's a lot of freshmen and sophomores taking bad shots and a over worked Kemba Walker for UConn, and no bench for Bradly who had tired legs.  Take it from the Hosscat20, we are not doing kids a favor by letting them play one year and then making them millionaires.  Let them earn their way in the NBA.  They will respect themselves and the game a whole lot more.

RED AND BLUE

Kentucky is split right down the middle. One side is red, the other side is blue.  Both sides are passionate, both sides are loyal to their teams, but the question in my mind is, why does both sides hate each other so much?  I was talking to a buddy of mine who happens to be a Louisville Fan, and he ask me a question that I really could not answer.  He asked me how I could be a Kentucky?  I had no answer because I was confused.  My sister graduated from UK and so did her daughter with honors.  My brother went to UK for a period of time before transferring to U of L.  My mother, God rest her soul, was a die hard UK fan, and if that wasn't enough, my father, who is from Wheeling, WV,  bleeds blue.  But my buddy knew all of this information already.  He wanted to know how I could like a racist program like UK.  I was shocked to say the least, but I had heard this before, so I was not caught off guard with the question.  I just wanted to know how anyone could ask that question in 2011.  The first issue he brought up was that Adolph Rupp was a racist and he didn't want to recruit black players.  I did some research on the matter and I don't doubt the Rupp was a racist, but so was everyone else in the early 1960's.  As far as recruiting black players, from my research, there were mixed interpretations about Rupps overall view of getting black players at UK.  The one solid piece of information that stands out about Rupp was that he got his ass handed to him in the 1966 National Championship game against Texas Western and he understood that he need some black players at UK to continue being success.  Another solid piece of info was that the whole SEC was segregated  not just UK.  Even after Brown vs The Board of Education, SEC schools still did not allow black students on their campuses because they didn't want race riots all over the South.  So, basically, he didn't really have a clue what he was talking about.  Kentucky first black basketball player was Thomas Paine in 1969.  Louisville recruited Wade Houston, father of Allan Houston of the New York Knicks, in 1962.  You mean to tell me those seven years makes that much of a difference.  I mean does it matter that UK was the first school with black athletes in the SEC?  Not to U of L fans obviously.  Louisville has never had a black head basketball coach.  Rupp might have been turning over in his grave, and I have heard UK fans say that, but Tuby Smith did coach and win a National Championship in the house that Rupp built.  Of course, none of this makes a difference to U of L fans because to them UK stands for racist.  I personally think we need a Pro team in Kentucky.  The only problem with that would be the fans on both sides who believe they would be taking away from either the Cats or the Cards.  I think the whole thing is stupid and I also think die hard fans who paint their whole house Kentucky blue or decorate their house in U of L colors needs to grow up and get a life! The Hosscat20 has spoken!

BE PROUD BIG BLUE NATION

Last night was a hard loss for the Cats.  It was hard to watch them loose because this years team has played so well in the tournament that you wanted to see them win.  Just wasn't in the cards BIG BLUE NATION.  We had a bad shooting night which made us play from behind most of the game, and when we did take the lead we couldn't keep it because we just couldn't make shots. Nevertheless, we had a great season, a season that we as Kentucky fans should be proud of no matter how it ended.  Yes we came up short of a chance to win another national championship, but look at what we accomplished as a team that struggled all season long in the SEC. Those young men came a long way, and we as fans should applaud there effort and see this season as a complete success.  I watched a news reporter after the game and I was shocked at what I saw.  She was talking about all the sad Kentucky fans leaving the arena, and in the background all you could see was BIG BLUE NATION with their heads hung low like they played the game and lost.  Some of them were even mad at the Cats for loosing.  To me that is  embarrassing.  As a Kentucky fan we have to have more class than that.  Sure the loss was disappointing, but lets not forget we made it to the Final Four, and beat some real good teams along the way.  Everybody coming out of that arena should have had smiles on their faces because we made it to the Final Four.  No, I'm not saying settle for being in the Final Four.  I'm saying we can't win them all, but we did put ourselves in a position to win and that is what Coach Cal wants to do every year.  Be proud of your Cats BIG BLUE NATION.  Don't be proud of yourselves or for yourselves.  As much as we like to think the Wildcats is our team, their not.  Those young guys play for Coach Calipari who coaches for the University of Kentucky.  Yes we support the team. Yes we pay money to watch the team. Yes, we are the popular six man, BIG BLUE NATION. But we can't forget that the young men that played their hearts out this season are the ones that are the most hurt by our scrutiny and rude behavior.  Keep it classy BIG BLUE NATION, never let them see you sweat.  The Hosscat20 wants the young men of the University of Kentucky Basketball Program to know that I am proud of you.  You guys did a outstanding job this year, and moving forward, I hope next years is a even better season for the guys that will be there next year. For the guys like Josh Harrellson, who is graduating this year, best of luck to you son in whatever you do, you will be missed.  To the players who are thinking about leaving to play in the NBA, best of luck to you guys as well, and I hope everything works out for you.  Go Cats!

KEYS TO SUCCESS AGAINST UCONN

BIG BLUE NATION!!!! Are u ready for what just might be the best game of the NCAA tournament? The Hosscat20 has 3 keys to success against UConn.  The first key is we have to take care of the ball.  We can't make silly mistakes and give the ball up.  UConn is the kind of team the capitalizes off of the other teams mistakes, so we can't be careless with the ball.  No turnovers!  If we can keep our turnovers down, we will put ourselves in a position to put up good quality shots and get something out of every possession.  The next thing we have to do is rebound, rebound, rebound. Big Josh is huge for us every game, but he will have to be that and more in this game.  We have to control the offensive and defensive back board the whole game.  Don't give them any second chances on the glass while we take advantage of second chance opportunities on the offensive board.  We need to send everybody to the boards.  The glass has to be ours tomorrow.  The last and most important thing we have to do is stop Kemba Walker.  He scores half there points and in games when he scores 25 or better they always win.  DeAndre' Liggins has to play one of the best defensive games he has every played.  If he can shut Kemba down, UConn will have to look else where for scoring and they just don't have it.  No Kemba, no win.  We are playing good ball right now and I hope the Cats play with the same togetherness and intensity they have played with all tournament long.  BIG BLUE NATION, doesn't feel good to be a fan again?  Final Four baby! Go Cats!

BACK WHERE WE BELONG!

I'm still stunned BIG BLUE NATION.  I'm just having a hard time believing that this team made it to the Final Four.  This year was the first year that probably half of BIG BLUE NATION pick a bracket and didn't put Kentucky in the Final Four.  Low and behold, here we are, dancing our ass off.  I'm shocked, but I'm proud too because that shows what a team that believes can do.  Yeah we got some good players, but I would be willing to say that most KY fans didn't think Josh Harrellson was going to play so well.  DeAndre' Liggins has been huge for us, and Darius Miller is showing just how talented he really is.  Last year these guys were not even in the conversation when a fan brought up KY basketball.  Now they have made it further in the tournament then last years all stars did. That's because they believed and they bought in to Coach Cal's system.  No real head cases like a Demarcus Cousins, no stand out all stars like John Wall, just hard nose players who want to win.  I'm so proud of the effort and courage they have shown this year.  I think we jailed at just the right time, and I believe we can win another national championship with this team.  If we do, BIG BLUE NATION,  get ready because recruiting allegations are going to come from every direction.  Coach Cal already has a bulls eye on his back.  A national championship will make that bulls eye the size of his entire body.  If not, we will be very good for years to come. Enjoy the success BIG BLUE NATION, savor these moments because you never know when they will be taken away from you.  Since we are used to being in this position, welcome home BIG BLUE NATION to the Final Four, back where we belong.  Go Cats!

WOW!

All I can say is, WOW!  BIG BLUE NATION, can you believe how much better this team is now.  This is the same team that could not get a road win during the SEC regular season. Now they are fearless in the NCAA Tournament.  Big Josh is the biggest and best surprise on the team.  I know I said that we would be dead in the water with just Big Josh in the post and no Enes Kanter, but he made me out to be a big fat liar.  He has been the only steady player all year long.  I said our upper class men need to lead more and stop letting the freshmen do all the leading.  Liggins, Miller, and Harellson have lead Kentucky to the Elite 8. The Big Hosscat20 has to eat his words again. I hope they make it to the final four because I said, "This is not a final four team." The Cats have proved me wrong all year, and I hope they don't stop proving me wrong now.  I road Coach Cal pretty hard too, but he had made me eat my words every step of the way.  We are Elite BIG BLUE NATION! How great does that feel? One other thing I have to get off my chest.  Josh Harrellson will play somewhere in the NBA next year, watch and see. March on Cats! Final Four here comes the BIG BLUE NATION! Go Cats!

3 KEYS TO SUCCESS

BIG BLUE NATION!!! Here we are back in the Sweet 16 with a team that I know we all thought wouldn't make it there. Ohio State is favored, of course, but The Hosscat20 believes that we can be successful if we do 3 things tomorrow.  The first thing is probably the most important.  We have to play in front of Sullinger and deny him the ball as much as possible. Make the Buckeyes make hard passes to the post, don't just let them give him the ball where he wants it.  If we can neutralize his offense, O State will loose his 20 pts and the game. We also need to extend our defense out further than normal.  If we do that we can guard the 3 pt line, make O State start their half court offense out further from the basket, and push Sullinger further away from the basket taking him out of rebound position.  The most important thing we have to do is be aggressive. Attack! Attack! Attack!  If we get Sullinger into foul trouble early, then we can free up the paint area and we have driving lanes all day long.  Shot selection is key in this game for both teams, but especially UK.  We can't just jack up 3's if we are not knocking them down.  At the same time we shouldn't pass up open looks at the basket.  We just need to make sure we are high quality shots.  Open 3's are exactly what we want, but we need to get them off a good hard drive to the bucket. Drive and kick baby! Drive and kick.  The Hosscat20 believes that if we do those 3 things, then we will beat The Buckeyes.  What did Jalen Rose call the Buckeyes in the Fab Five film on ESPN?? Yeah them. Let go Cats!!!