You Can't Be Serious

You can't be serious. The University of Kentucky did not just lose to the Miami Hurricanes. Is this football? No. This is basketball.

You can't be serious. Patrick Patterson, one of the nation's top 5 scorers, percentage-wise, again does not get enough touches? Only 13? While brick-laying Liggins (6 for 15) and Meeks (4 for 17) both shoot more than a potential NBA lottery pick? And this isn't the first time this has happenend, it's about the 30th time. In 40 games.

You can't be serious. Michael Porter starts? Again? After getting his left eye knocked in, last game? After sucking all season long, at point guard? After sucking last year? Well, that paid off well. He had 5 fouls in just 17 minutes. Porter couldn't guard ME, and I'm slower than molasses.

You can't be serious. Perry Stevenson plays over Josh Harrellson? What about Stevenson's sorry self deserves playing time over Josh's big body? Perry was 3-10, by the way, from the floor, while Josh was 3-5 in just 8 minutes.

You can't be serious. Darious Miller is 0-6 from the field? DeAndre, as well as he played, is 0-8 from threeland? As a team, we are 2-23 from behind the arc? Meanwhile we allow them to go 8 for 19 behind said arc?

We let yet another no-name program come into hallowed Rupp Arena and show us up? Like they're our daddy? On national TV? AGAIN?

YOU. CANNOT. BE. SERIOUS.

After the game, Gillispie blamed the loss on:

• Not carrying out assignments
• Not pushing the pace
• Not moving the ball, swinging it fast enough, against their zone
• Not doing what we're supposed to do
• Not playing inside-out
• Not moving, just standing around
• Not enough passion

I blame it on coaching, plain and simple.

These are basic, fundamental basketball principles we all learned at Kyle Macy's basketball camp, back as kids. This isn't rocket science, and there's no legitimate reason why our Kentucky Wildcats should even come CLOSE to playing so pathetically. One of the first things low post players are taught is "hold the ball high, where the birds fly. Don't go low, where the guards go." Yet what does UK do, when the game is on the line? Patterson, at 6'9", tries to dribble from the top of the key like he's Dwayne Wade... he gets picked... they run out and shoot an open 3 to take a 9 point lead, with just 2 minutes to go. GAME. OVER.

SOMETHING. IS. WRONG. Something is dead, dead wrong. With our coaching, with communication, with our leadership. With a lot of things. It. Is. OBVIOUS.

It pisses me off. Some of these dudes don't deserve to wear Kentucky on their chest. My Tates Creek's squad of 1991, who finished 2nd in the State, could beat this team. Darrin Horn (now the coach at South Carolina), Keith Willard and John-Mark Stuart played REALLY smart. These Wildcats often look like they've never seen a 2-3 zone before.

-- Eric Patrick Marr writes at WhiskyTown and Transform Lexington (when he's not irate beyond comprehension.)

(photo from Alex Orlov)