Of course, no one in Kentucky is thinking about how good UK looked today. Instead, they're all in agonies over the late-game injuries to Liggins and Lamb, and they're moaning about Cal's failure to take out the starters despite our big lead. I don't think its gracious to bash a coach who has done such a great job this year, so I am not going to do so. I'm sure he had his reasons for leaving those guys in, and I'm sure they were good reasons.
It's a shame that the controversy over the late-game injuries will overshadow an absolutely masterful performance. In the last two games, I think UK has run the best half-court offense it has shown all year -- and the guys have done a great job of battling the physical front court players of Ole Miss and Alabama for rebounds and putbacks. The injuries may change everything, but with two minutes to go I certainly thought UK was peaking at the right time.
UK plays Florida for the championship tomorrow, and Florida has been on fire lately. UK is the only team to beat the Gators since January 29th, and since losing at Rupp, the Gators have had double digit wins over Alabama, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. If UK were healthy, I think tomorrow's game might have been one for the ages -- on paper, it is the best matchup in the SEC final since the days when Pitino and Nolan Richardson were battling for the title. Without a full-strength Lamb, the Cats are in huge trouble. I don't think UK has any chance to hold Florida below 70 points, and I have real doubts that UK can score 70 points against Florida without Lamb.
One final thought: a lot of folks on the UK message board are saying they don't care about tomorrow's game; they just want to be ready for the tournament. I disagree. I don't think UK is going to win the NCAA's, or go to the Final Four. We already lost the regular season title. So tomorrow represents our best chance to pick up a trophy this year, and I would really like to win it. It's just too bad we won't be at full strength.
One more point. I'm very disappointed that Vandy -- who had an eight-point lead at the half -- utterly collapsed down the stretch against Florida. They certainly did not look like the team who fought to the last second in Rupp Arena a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way that you do about the questioning the resting. It wasn't like they hadn't thought of the idea. He said after the game that one of his assistants was even asking him about taking guys out. I think he's trying to win this tournament and the next one, and I think he's decided the only way that's going to happen is if these six or seven guys get on a total roll. It's a gamble, and it might've clobbered him today. I doubt it, though. I'll bet Liggins and Lamb both play tomorrow.
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