Kentucky’s Anger Keeps Louisville Close
Hate does strange things to athletes.
Had Louisville been able to hit the side of a barn in the first half, Kentucky would be bemoaning the end of a 14-game win streak. Someone had the UK players on edge, spoiling for a fight. The inexplicable, misplaced venom was the only thing that kept Louisville in the game.
The UK players wanted to administer severe pain to U of L as much as they wanted a win. If they had stuck to basketball, Louisville would never have posed serious threat. Offsetting their claims of superiority, UK suffers from a severe inferiority complex.
With his negative attitude and anger problems, Bledsoe will be lucky to see a sophomore season.
Perhaps understandable for a John Calipari-coached team in Memphis but not at a school that holds the all-time number of NCAA victories. If that’s all there is for the all-time leader, pity the rest of us. Bad example, UK, atrocious really.
Apparently the UK zealots have more than a little pent-up anger after two consecutive losses in the series. Probably has more to do with a Rick Pitino-coached Louisville team dishing out the losses to their heart throbs. Forgive and forget? Not in Kentucky fans.
Speaking of pent-up anger, what’s with Eric Bledsoe? An intentional foul in the first 20 seconds. Mouth running, veins popping, unable to stop jabbering, not even with John Calipari hanging all over him. That mouth is still running wherever it is. With his negative attitude and anger problems, Bledsoe will be lucky to see a sophomore season.
John Wall a decent player and a factor in the game, but not that big a factor. Most impressive perhaps about Wall, in this game, was that he wasn’t mad at somebody.
Maybe next season Samardo Samuels will be able to hit an uncontested layup, Preston Knowles a couple of twisting jump shots, Jared Swopshire a couple of clutch free throws, Peyton Siva one or two assists, and maybe Mike Marra will get off the bench.
That could be make a difference, playing decent basketball. One suspects Kentucky will still be insecure and angry for whatever reason.
About the Author: Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, as well as a public affairs consultant and a UofL grad and longtime fan.
You want to know why we’re so angry? Take a look in the mirrow. We love our basketball and we hate anyone who challenges us. We’re No. 1 baby.
You have to be kidding me…I think the anger went both ways today. Guess what…the best team did not break! Sorry…you will always be known as the “other” university in the state of Kentucky…GO BIG BLUE!
Well, judging from the chips on UK shoulders, that other university is feared as one incredible threat to a team that its fans see as the center of the basketball universe. If that what superiority gets you, it may not be worth it over the long haul. Jeez guys, what’s with all the anger?
Louisville has always been the best “other” university in KY…that said from a florida girl who loves U of L!!!
I’m sorry. Really I am, but mirrow? That will have me giggling all evening.
I was proud of the Cards for fighting their way back into the game. We will get better.
I am proud of the Cards – I must admit –although – I was really disappointed with them in the start of the game. However, they pulled enough together to prove they can play and fight hard.
Actually, UK wasn’t the major fault for the anger and such. Our starters weren’t aware of the MASS of rivalry between the two, so the BEGINNING anger wasn’t UK’s fault. That was all UL.
And by the way, our players got pissed off because louisville players WANTED to get UK’s angry and off. They wanted them to be angry and not play well or get them self out of the game.
AND–when Cousins went for the ball and ‘attacked’ the Louisville guy, FIRST, if you watch the clip AGAIN you will see that the Louisville guy hit Cousins in the head with his KNEE. THEN Cousins got more defensive. THEN another Louisville guy pushed Cousins.
So I would say, considering how the freshmen have been this past season for UK, they didn’t loose their cool. So no, it’s not an issue for Bledsoe to keep playing.
Oh give it up julia. Geeze. If you think you can honestly say your team wasn’t angry right from the games start you are on crack. Bledsoe should have been T’d up 5 seconds into the game! Cousins rage was out of control within 45 seconds! Delusional.
The team wasn’t angry from the start. Louisville was.
Bledsoe? Really? For yelling? I think your guy should have been taken out of the game for pushing Cousins.
Oh, and Cousins walked away from that guy pushing him yet he was ‘out of control’?
Ok julia. Calm down.
I do get emotional about some things.
i disliik all uk fans becalls they tri to ack liik they ar som 1 they ar not … ukblue
cud yu be mor transparint?
By the way, Jerry.. I mean Charlie Springer. If I had a million dollars I would be a millionaire. If If If …
Come on back to the real world! 15-0.
Charlie is typical of a U of L fan; in total denial of reality. U of L fans live in the 1980’s. Take away that decade and what do you have? Western Kentucky. That’s correct, U of L was the 1980’s. Other than that they have nothing to show for.
Look at the typical U of L fan. Where were they during the football season? At home crying about their Orange Bowl win a few seasons ago. As long as their basketball team plays cup cake teams non-conference, U of L fans have something to brag about. Heck, their coach can pay off mistresses and pay to murder unborn children and they don’t care.
The only thing that shocked me was that UK didn’t beat this mid-major known as U of L by at least 20. If UK would have actually showed up in the first half and made free throws, UK easily wins by at least 20, if not 25 or 30.
Wow, is this guy DELUSIONAL or what? Obviously UofL is VERY relevant or YOU wouldn’t be visiting THIS site and posting on this board. It is actually UK that has been irrelevant for some time now. Let’s not talk about coaches and integrity because Calipari has NONE. Lexington is nothing but Memphis N.E. now, same thugs, same one and dones, same “street ball” mentality…unfortunately, that’s ALL he knows. Let’s NOT forget that this IS the SAME Calipari that UK “fans” despised for the reasons mentioned above…that is UNTIL HE BROUGHT “DIRTY” MEMPHIS basketball to Lexington. So, delusional definitely fits your state of mind Mr. Burks…you “typical” UK fan. Question, will this game count in our Win column when it is vacated at a date yet to be determined?
And you are the typical UK fan. Bragging on a “glorious past” while ignoring the fact that your program is one of the dirtiest in NCAA history. Only five programs have ever received the death penalty in the history of college athletics. UK has the honor of being one of those schools and the distinct honor of being the ONLY SCHOOL EVER to be threatened with a second death penalty (1989).
Keith, what has Calipari been in trouble for? Nothing. What his bosses do has nothing to do with him.
As for Rick-boy, he lied. Was busted cheating on his wife. And paid to kill a child. What a role model.
As for thugs – If I recall, two U of L players, Jennings and Smith, were beaten by Jeffersonville police for acting like fools. How many games did Rick-boy make them sit out? None. What a great coach.
U of L hasn’t won a title since 1986. Back then Billy Idol was cool along with big hair. Only U of L fans believe a 23 year old title makes one legit. If that is the case then Fighting Irish football is still King and so is N.C. State! They won a title in 1983, therefore, they too must be legit.
Rick days are over. He has been at U of L for nine years with one final four. He has been to the NIT twice. In 8 years at UK, he made three final fours and won 17 out of 18 tourney games. He has killed more children in the past year then he has made final fours lol.
You’re a “typical” jump on the bandwagon “fan”. Your “points” are mere diatribe, as another poster said to your comment “Ricks days are over”, ONLY IN YOUR DREAMS, UOFL was ranked #1 at the end of last year, won the Big East conference AND tournament and was THE #1 NCAA seed. And where was UK? In the NIT…for a VERY brief visit I might add, and that was playing in a pathetically WEAK SEC conference. John Wall was apprehended for breaking and entering just this past summer by the way…in case you conveniently “forgot”, as most UK “fans” seem to have that problem of forgetting. We’ll meet you in our BRAND NEW CARDINAL PALACE next year, but with gloves on this time.
Rick is fine, Gary. I guess you missed U of L finishing No. 1 during the regular season and No. 1 tournament seed last season. And guess who has the No. 1 recruiting class coming in?
Is there no haven from these idiot UK posters? Why in the world are they here posting comments on a UL private blog?
The very first reaction I had to the skirmishes and venom of the opening minute of play was — WHY? WHY are the uk players so out of control? IF they are such a great team and so taking their win for granted, then WHY do they seem so worried and INSECURE??? My hat is off to the Cards for getting it together finally and making a real game of it.
And attacking the coaches is just what calipari pleaded with his fans to refrain from doing? IF uk fans are so great, why can’t they follow his lead?
Everyone..
I have good friends who work the court every home UK game.. they said the older U of L guys were baiting the younger ‘Cats in the tunnel before the match and the coaches had to get involved then. I think its pretty obvious Pitino knew they were a little outmatched and needed a psychological ‘equalizer’.. Pitino’s teams (back at KY in the 90’s we were hated in the SEC) always run, press, slap you, foul, and basically give you physical hell for 40 minutes. What I saw Louisville do was exactly what Pitino used to do at Kentucky.. get in the freshmen’s heads and rough them up.. and it was a smart game plan.. Then during warmups there was some bumping, jawing and shoving.. Cousins’ forearm was ugly, but the knee to his head before and Delk’s blatantly shoving him after.. if you are gonna eject Cousins for the forearm, you’d have to eject Delk for the blatant shove after the fact. And since the refs knew how the game had been played and what had led up to that moment, they did the right thing and left all 3 boys on to play.
Whining that Cousins deserved to be ejected and Delk didnt is intellectually dishonest.
At the very least it was an entertaining game and I think Louisville is going to be a much tougher team from this game on. Look for them to finish top 3 in Big East.
Some guy named Sam knows some guys who work the court. That changes everything.
Yadda, Yadda, Yadda! WHY are these UK fans on THIS site defending their thuggery? Saint Cal made a point to state publicly that he wanted his fans to act classy! Why the fw%k didn’t he make a similar demand of his players. The entire nation watched Cousins mug Swop, The story is an easy google now from coast to coast. What I saw with some nuetral parties was continued harrassment from Calipari, COMPLETE direspect from the fans and by all rights, if fouls were called as they should have been the entire UK team would have been fouled out with 2 minutes left in the first half. I have a degree from UofL and an Architecture degree from UK. There is no better way to develop a dislike for UK fans than to live there for 5 years. They are arrogant, uninformed, dangerous and in need of some serious dental care. Go Cards! I’d like to make a Las Vegas bet to see when Cal is banned from coaching and Cousins is in Jail. Odds are probably good for bets on UK’s season being vacated this year too.
I do wonder why UK fans visit the site of the team who they claim is inferior. It’s the same with cardinalsports.com. You certainly don’t see me go on Kentucky sites/blogs.
Off to the Big East!
I love Pitino and have always loved Louisville since the early 80’s. I loved Denny Crum and I was really happy for the ‘Ville when Pitino was hired.
I have no problem giving credit where it’s due and I think this game proved Louisville is for real (when focused) and will be a contender for the Big East title. Losing to Kentucky at Rupp in a year where Kentucky has arguably the most talented team in the nation is nothing to be ashamed of.
But all the whining here is just pathetic. It is well established the Louisville players were chanting ‘We’re bad M’F'ers ‘ in the tunnel before the game and were baiting the ‘Cats, particularly Cousins. Its well known Pitino tries to play head games with opposing players and has done so for years. It was a good game plan and it was an equalizer which helped Louisville. It was a great coaching move. But as I said, you can’t cry about Cousins not being ejected when Louisville wanted the game to be played that way and set that kind of tone. They have a much more experienced and mature team than KY and knew what they were doing.
Give credit where it’s due, don’t be blind to the actions of the Cards when judging the actions of the Cats. The game was being played that way, the refs knew it, the coaches knew it and the refs made the right call to let the players decide the game.
I’ll be cheering for the Cards and Pitino every game from here on out. Good luck.
In the last 3 years, Louisville’s won twice. Was the overall #1 seed in the tourney last year and Big East champion. A much better recent history than the last few pathetic seasons the Cats have had and hardly what I’d call ‘inferior’.
These words below from an anoyomous source. See how they fit:
I AM A UK FAN
I recognize no other program superior to UK’s. We founded the SEC and we’ll close it down whenever we want. We won’t though because we dominate it.
I recognize no other program in the state but UK. Those dirty Birds over in Loserville are “little brother” and inferior. Any time they’ve beat us, they cheated.
I recognize nothing that UK has ever done wrong. The death penalty was not our fault. Adolph Rupp’s racism was not his fault. Ediie Sutton and Billy Gillespie’s alcoholism not our or their fault. We’re victims of circumstance because the rest of the nation is jealous of us.
I realize that I am a part of the best fan base in college sports. All my UK peers tell me so, therefore I know it is true.
Doesn’t matter how many times Florida or Tennessee beats us in football. Doesn’t matter that we ran off the last coach to take us to the NCAA Basketball title or that Rich Brooks left because we wouldn’t give his assistants a salary raise. WE are UK. WE are superior. We know this and we’ll invade any website, blog, forum or chat room to bleat it incessantly like sheep in a pen. GO KATS. You wish you were us, right? Right?