The Manual fans claimed that they were fouled at the buzzer in regulation, but that the referees refused to call the foul because it would have decided the game. It is very hard being a basketball fan. Anyway, DuPont Manual becomes the first team in the MaxPreps top 20 to be eliminated from the State Tournament.
SEVENTH REGION SEMIFINALS (at Valley H.S.):
(10) Lou. Manual 55 - 60 Lou. Trinity (Overtime)
Lou. Ballard 55 - 90 (1) Lou. St. Xavier
Today we have quarterfinals in the 9th and 15th regions, we have semifinals in the 1st, 3d, 6th, 11th, 13th, and 14th regions. So a lot of action today.
ReplyDeleteLast regular season day of the year in the SEC. Kentucky ends the 2024-25 campaign at Mizzou. Ken Pom likes Mizzou by the score of 87 to 83.
ReplyDeleteHere are UK's strength of schedule ratings since 2019:
ReplyDelete2020: 66
2021: 15
2022: 30
2023: 42
2024: 76
2025: 3
This is probably the hardest schedule any UK men's basketball team has ever played. This will be their 19th "A" level game of the season.
Since January 14, the Cats have gone 6-7. They are 5-1 in midweek games, and 1-6 on Saturdays.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Ken Pom, today's game between UK and Mizzou has the highest "Thrill Score" of any game played today.
ReplyDeleteIf the Cats lose today, they will be the Number Eight seed in next week's SEC Tournament. If they win, they will be seeded somewhere between Five and Seven.
ReplyDeleteMizzou is 18-1 at home this year.
ReplyDeleteWith 15:35 left in the first half, Mizzou leads 7-3. Cats are 1-6 from the field so far. Tigers outrebounding the Cats 7-3. CoMo is a tough place to play, and the Tigers are wearing their great throwback uniforms with the big M. Cats looking overmatched so far.
ReplyDeleteMizzou looks big, strong, and athletic. Cats look frail by comparison.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the last time UK had a team that looked physically superior to most of its opponents. Was probably 2017.
ReplyDeleteKentucky looks like a really good Vanderbilt team -- a lot of basketball skill, but no physicality.
ReplyDeleteFor UK to get back to the Final Four -- or even the Elite Eight -- they've got to have some more Dirk Minniefields and Kenny Walkers.
ReplyDeleteOn the Internet, they are reporting that Eli Manning beat Caitlin Clark at Pop-A-Shot. They are calling this an upset. Personally, I would bet on the Mannings to win any game that was played at county fairs in the 1970's and 1980's. For example, I'm pretty sure that if you put Peyton up against almost any MLB pitcher in that game where you have to throw a ball and hit milk bottles, Peyton would prevail.
ReplyDeleteHere's my take on the Mannings: If you grew up in the South between 1960 and 1990, the Mannings are great at whatever you wanted to be great at.
ReplyDeleteIf the South had to have a royal family, the Mannings would be the obvious choice. If America broke down into a Game of Thrones-type situation, I believe that the Mannings (with help from Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal) would lead the South to Victory, or at least to peace and safety.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether Magic Johnson would be in California or Michigan, but wherever he was, I think his people would flourish as well.
DeleteJust a terrible game so far. The Cats are 2-5 from 3-point range and 0-6 from 2-point range. Mizzou is 2-9 from 3-point range and 2-8 from 2-point range. Tigers lead 11-7 with 11 minutes left in the first half. But the teams are tied 11-all in rebounds, as the Cats are showing some spirit.
ReplyDeleteTigers lead 11-10 with 9:50 left in the first half, and we already have our first video review.
ReplyDeleteMizzou loses the review, and the Cats zip out to a 15-11 lead with 8:44 left in the first half. Mizzou calls time.
ReplyDeleteMizzou 13 - 18 Kentucky (7:29 left in 1st half)
ReplyDeleteCats now 5-8 from 3-point range and 1-9 from 2-point range.
Mizzou now 2-9 from 3-point range and 3-10 from 2-point range.
In the 11th Region semis, Great Crossing leads Bryan Station 32-26 at the half.
ReplyDeleteBoth teams are awake now, and the game is getting much better. Cats lead 24-20 with 3:55 left in the first half. Cats still holding their own on the boards -- Mizzou has 17 rebounds, and UK has 16.
ReplyDeleteNow Kobe Brea has heated up. All of a sudden he has 11 points, including three 3-pointers. Cats lead 35-25 with 1:08 left in the first half.
ReplyDeleteCollin Chandler hits a huge three with 4 seconds left, and the Cats lead 38-29 at the half.
ReplyDeleteUK: 7-12 from three, 6-17 from two, 5-6 from the line, 19 rebounds
Mizzou: 3-13 from three, 8-18 from two, 4-7 from the line, 18 rebounds
The second quarter of this game, where the Cats outscored Mizzou 28-18, was excellent -- that was Top Ten quality basketball.
ReplyDeleteMizzou is trying to use their strength to impose their will on Kentucky, but for now the Cats are still hitting their shots and holding their own on the boards. UK leads 49-37 with 15:35 left in the game.
ReplyDeleteIn the Sixth Region Semi-Finals, Butler hits a shot at the buzzer to beat PRP 43-42.
ReplyDeleteBoth sides are throwing haymakers now -- this game is really good. Cats still hanging on 66 to 57 with 7:22 left, thanks to 10-19 shooting from behind the arc, and a 30-30 tie on the boards.
ReplyDeleteMizzou has gone to another level as they try to hold off defeat at home on Senior Day. UK leads 66-61 with 6:19 left. Do the Cats have enough energy to close this one out?
ReplyDeleteWe've reached the stage where the home team is just pushing and grabbing all over the place in an effort to come back. That is often very effective.
ReplyDeleteWith 5:08 left and Kentucky nursing a 70-61 lead, the officials stop the game because Lamont Butler has blood on his leg. That's the third official stoppage, along with two video reviews so far.
ReplyDeleteCats still hanging on -- they lead 72-65 with 4:06 left, but they are forced to call time when Mizzou had everyone trapped. Mizzou now leads in rebounds 34-31, as they are desperately crashing the boards.
ReplyDeleteMizzou fans have been fighting Kansas for 100 years, and they aren't intimidated by the Big Blue. Huge turnout and great support for Missouri today.
ReplyDeleteWild, back and forth stuff now. UK turns it over, and Mizzou makes FT's to close within five. Then UK makes a free throw, blocks a shot, and gets a dunk at the other end. UK leads 75-67 with 3:10 left, and the Mizzou coach is yelling at the refs.
ReplyDeleteThe yelling works, as the refs call a foul on UK only 2 seconds after play resumes. But Ball Don't Lie, and Mizzou misses the front end of the 1-and-1.
ReplyDeleteIn the 11th Region Semis, Great Crossing edges Bryan Station 59 to 56.
ReplyDeleteDown the stretch, Mizzou has been hitting threes from everywhere, but UK keeps making free throws at the other end. Cats lead 87-80 with 31.5 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteCats lead 89-82 with 22 seconds left. ESPN has named Andrew Carr as the player of the game. He has 16 points and 12 rebounds, and he made it possible for the Cats to stand up against the bigger and stronger Tigers.
ReplyDeleteWith 14 seconds left, and a 91-82 lead, UK fouls a three-point shooter. The Cats must lead the nation in that statistic every year.
ReplyDeleteMizzou finally stops fouling, and the Cats leave Columbia with a huge 91-83 victory. One of the best games UK has played since COVID. In the last ten minutes of the game, Mizzou scored 32 points as they threw everything they had at UK, but the Cats were implacable.
ReplyDeleteUK: 11-20 from three, 16-46 from two, 26-33 from the line, and 37 rebounds
ReplyDeleteMizzou: 11-28 from three, 18-38 from two, 14-21 from the line, and 36 rebounds
In the 9th Region quarters, Cooper beats Highlands 58-45.
ReplyDeleteThe Cats finish the regular season 10-8 in the SEC and 21-10 overall. In SEC play, they were 6-3 at home and 4-5 on the road.
ReplyDeleteNow we go to Auburn, where the Number 1 Tigers will play the Number 7 Crimson Tide. This game will be better than Duke/UNC on so many levels that it makes your head hurt. For one thing, it's a real rivalry.
ReplyDeleteIn Fayetteville, Coach Cal wins a close won as Arkansas edges Mississippi State. After starting 0-5 in SEC play, the Razorbacks finish 8-10 in the SEC, and 19-12 overall. They are almost certainly going to the NCAA's.
ReplyDeleteIn the 15th Region quarters, Pike Co. Central beats Paintsville 53 to 48.
ReplyDeleteLeft for dead at 4-10 in the SEC, Georgia wins its last four games to finish 8-10 in SEC play. They beat Vandy 79-68, and the Dores also finish 8-10.
ReplyDeleteIn Milwaukee, St. John's makes a shot at the buzzer to beat Marquette 86-84 in overtime. The Johnnies finish with a record of 27-4 overall, and 18-2 in the Big East.
ReplyDeleteAlabama lost at home to Auburn a few weeks ago, but the Tide lead 20-15 in Auburn with 11:46 left.
ReplyDeleteKentucky's big win has boosted the Cats up to 12 on Ken Pom. They are 6th in offensive efficiency, 55th in defensive efficiency, and 216th in luck.
ReplyDeleteThe games on Thursday at the SEC Tournament, where the 5 through 12 seeds will battle for the chance to play in the quarter-finals, will be spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThis season, UK won eight games against teams that were ranked in the AP Top 15 at the time of the game.
ReplyDeleteI really like this year's teams at Alabama, Auburn, and Florida. I really dislike this year's team at Tennessee.
ReplyDeleteWith 6:15 left in the first half, Alabama leads 34 to 26. I want to give the SEC officials a lot of credit for not handing out home cooking in the last games of the regular season. I thought the officiating at Mizzou was first-rate, and the same is true in this game.
ReplyDeleteAuburn 35 - 39 Alabama (3:57 left in 1st half)
ReplyDeleteI have the TV synced up with the Auburn radio broadcast, which is always fun.
1st Region Semis: Marshall Co. 79, Paducah Tilghman 63
ReplyDelete6th Region Semis: Jeffersontown 66, Moore 62
14th Region Semis: Hazard 73, Wolfe Co. 47
9th Region Quarters: Cov. Catholic 75, Dixie Heights 36
ReplyDeleteWith Alabama up 62-57, and 10:57 left, Auburn's Chad Baker-Mazara is ejected from the game for a Flagrant Two foul. The Auburn announcers are outraged. But Alabama misses both the free throws.
ReplyDeleteUp to this point, the Auburn fans have been pretty mellow, assuming that their guys would pull this out. But now they're getting angry.
ReplyDeleteIn the best game of the regular season, as it should have been, Alabama beats Auburn (in Auburn) 93 to 91 in overtime on a last-second shot by Mark Sears.
ReplyDelete1st Region Semi: Calloway Co. 42, Mayfield 26
ReplyDelete11th Region Semi: Frederick Douglass 49, Lex. Catholic 38
13th Region Semi: N. Laurel 53, Harlan Co. 47 (OT)
13th Region Semi: S. Laurel 66, Pineville 56
14th Region Semi: Breathitt Co. 83, Powell Co. 61
15th Region Quarters: Lawrence Co. 68, Pikeville 67 (OT)
The Ville crushes Stanford 68-48 to finish the year 25-6, with a record of 18-2 in the ACC. Remarkably, if Duke loses at UNC tonight, U of L would tie for first place in the ACC. U of L is up to 23 on Ken Pom.
ReplyDeleteKansas beats Arizona 83 to 76 in Lawrence. The Jayhawks go 20-11 on the season, and 11-9 in the Big XII. UK went 21-10, so the Cats have gained one victory in the all-time wins race.
ReplyDeleteSo now we go to Chapel Hill. Duke is 27-3 and number 1 on Ken Pom. UNC is 20-11 and number 37 on Ken Pom. But the Heels are riding a six-game winning streak, and they've gone 7-1 since getting blasted 87-70 in Durham on February 1.
ReplyDeleteDuke's wearing its black road uniforms, which are terrible. This is a rivalry game, and Duke should wear its real uniforms.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, Duke is just way too good for the Tar Heels. The Blue Devils are 4-5 from 3-point range, 8-11 from 2-point range, 7-8 from the line, and they are rolling in Chapel Hill: up 35-21 with 7:43 left in the first half.
ReplyDeleteSpoke too soon. The Heels are on a run, and Duke's lead is now only 41-40 with 1:48 left in the half.
ReplyDeleteCoincidentally, this is the first time all year that Cooper Flagg -- Duke's All-World Freshman -- has been whistled for three fouls in the first half.
ReplyDeleteAt the half, Duke leads 43-42. We'll see how much time Cooper Flagg gets to play in the second half.
ReplyDeleteMurray State has announced that Steve Prohm is out as the men's head basketball coach.
ReplyDeleteHere are the seeds for the SEC Tournament next week in Nashville:
ReplyDelete1. Auburn
2. Florida
3. Alabama
4. Tennessee
5. Texas A & M
6. Kentucky
7. Missouri
8. Mississippi
9. Arkansas
10. Mississippi St.
11. Georgia
12. Vanderbilt
13. Texas
14. Oklahoma
15. Louisiana St.
16. S. Carolina
Kentucky gets the winner of Georgia/Oklahoma in the late game on Thursday night. That will be a very difficult game for the Cats.
ReplyDeleteThe Heels open the second half with a 10-4 blitz, and they now lead 52-47. In the last 10 minutes of game time, they've outscored the Devils 31-12. Duke calls time, presumably to see if anyone other than Flagg still remembers how to play basketball.
ReplyDeleteFlagg is starting to roll. He has 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Duke has pulled within 59-57 with 11:27 left.
ReplyDeleteFlagg has 13 points, Duke has scored 12 in a row, and the Devils now lead 65-59 with 9:39 left in the game. The Heels call time.
ReplyDeleteUNC 61 - 68 Duke (8 minutes left). I think Duke is really good, but I don't get that feeling of hopelessness that I used to get when watching UConn in the last two tournaments.
ReplyDeleteDuke finally figured out how to stop R.J. Davis (who has 20 points for UNC), and the rest of the Heels could not make up the difference. Flagg never got called for his fourth foul, and Duke now leads 75-64 with 4:48 left. The Devils will finish 28-3 for the year, 19-1 in the ACC. They will be the number one team in the AP poll, and the overall number one seed in the Tournament.
ReplyDeleteI think it all comes down to Flagg -- he may very well be good enough to take Duke all the way to the title. But I don't think Duke has the depth in talent that super teams normally have. Of course, with Flagg they may not need it.
ReplyDeleteI thought the events of the last few years proved that the one-and-done model doesn't work. But Flagg may prove the other side of that case.
ReplyDeleteDuke rolls home with a relatively easy 82-69 win at Chapel Hill.
ReplyDelete