Almost Heaven: Cats Stopped Short of Indy

Only one college basketball fanbase gets to end its season on a happy note. And as the flaming family room furniture lighting up Morgantown attests, that fanbase for 2010, much to our disappointment, will not be the Big Blue Nation.

So I guess y'all are going to have to find a good Butler blog to read for the next week or so. (Too soon?)

Unfortunately, as witnessed, UK turned up absolutely cold at the Carrier Dome this evening. You really can't expect to beat a Big East champion team when you miss your first TWENTY three-point attempts, let alone giving up another dozen or so points from the charity stripe.

But what really drives me crazy is the little things, like wondering if UK would have been better off playing against the Mountaineers' normal starting PG, Tuck Bryant (out with a broken foot). Instead, we get Joel Mazzulla, and the guy seemingly has the game of his young life. Unbelievable. Well, maybe not as unbelievable as holding WVU to zero two-point field goals in the first half, and still going into the locker room with a deficit, but still.

UK actually equaled its defensive effort from Thursday vs. Cornell in only giving up 8 buckets in the first twenty minutes, but the difference of course was that all of the 'Eers baskets were of the three-point variety. Just strange, I tell you. Strange as one of those extra breast pockets on a Greg Anthony suit. WVU is not supposed to be killing people from outside, but that was how it went tonight.

In the second half, Kentucky gave up too many easy baskets for its comeback to be effective. Mazzulla was seen blowing past Wall and Bledsoe on far too many occasions for wide open lay-ups, and I hate to say it about a guy who scored 19 points and grabbed 9 boards-- but I say it with sincerity, and of course with all due respect: John Wall had a pretty bad game.

Brilliant as ever in the open court, Wall did turn it over 5 times and was only 4 for 8 from the free throw line. From treyville, he made just 1 0f 5. Now, I'm not fitting the young superstar with horns, mind you. Just sayin' it was not his best game. I kind of noticed it more on defense; despite the 4 steals, he just seemed to get beat off the dribble way more often than usual. Plus, some of the quick possessions (i.e. bad shots) were ill-advised when UK was trying to regain control. Hey, it happens, and that guy can still play for my team anytime.

Bob Huggins' team rode the momentum of all those early threes into the second half and really had UK struggling against their 1-3-1. I honestly need to look at this one again (if I can make myself) to figure out where UK was breaking down on the attack. Certainly, there were times when the Cats simply settled for jumpers, and that of course did them no favors with a trip to Indianapolis on the line.

But hey, West Virginia absolutely deserved the victory tonight. They outplayed and outshot UK. Period. It was death by the long-range sword. And in closing, let me just say that I miss this '09-10 team already. Who knows what next year's roster might look like? Undoubtedly, there will be some beloved teammates moving on.....but we will have plenty of time to talk about that later.

So congrats to the Kentucky Wildcats on a great season, and to West Virginia for winning the regional. Now let's all root against the Dookies.