Another Great Escape

They just keep doing it. This young, at times extremely immature Kentucky team continues to find ways to snatch victory from the jaws of you-know-what.

Turnovers can't stop them. Missed free throws can't stop them. Abysmal shooting (36%? Really?) and even silly technical fouls (we're looking at you, Mr. Bledsoe) can't stop them.

And perhaps most importantly, a picture-perfect length of the floor inbounds play at the buzzer on Saturday, could not stop them. Sure, that Ogilvy shot would have only been for the tie.....but every UK fan knows exactly what memorable play that long pass, catch, and shoot was reminiscent of. So....let's change the subject.

Hey, how about the Patrick Patterson renaissance? It's great, isn't it? Big Pat's three from the corner was probably the play of the game. (Although Wall blocking a Vandy shot, and then pulling it down to get the the free throw line was pretty brassy, too.) Anyway, Patrick put up 13 and 13 this evening, and it was a steady, heady, upperclassman-in-charge type of performance, IMO. Sure, he got a little flustered and slammed the ball to the floor (after that mild tussle with a Commodore in the second half)-- but dang it, Patrick CARES!

I kinda like Mad Patrick. He could really be awesome. Gotta work on the hops though, Pat. (Maybe the guy's a little tired?) Long season. So get some of your spring back, big fella. No more missed dunks, k?

Truth be told, Kentucky seemed awfully ripe in Nashville. I believe the Cats could have absolutely been had, and Coach Stallings has to feel like his squad let one get away. But I suppose the so-called Memorial Magic wasn't fully effective this season-- leaving a lot of very strange gold-painted persons (and one really big dude in a military uniform) extremely disappointed. The way UK was shooting it from the floor today, coupled with how the free throws weren't falling either, left the Cats as vulnerable as they are likely to be for any particular game.

This season's Five is certainly much more of the Fiddlin' variety, but all ugliness aside, Cal and Co. get another big conference road win, and you just can't argue with the results.