Knight kind of massaged Alford's suspension to occur on the YewKay game date as a big FU to them and the NCAA, IIRC. He chose that game to highlight how Alford got hammered for appearing in a charity calendar while YewKay was being YewKay with their players.
The ONLY thing I like about the current state of BB it’s made uk just another Joe in the sec now that all the schools can do what uk got away with for 60+ years.
I believe it is only going to get worse for them as “resources” in KY aren’t near what they are in a lot of other places.
The ONLY thing they’ve had is now eroding away just as it is at many other schools.
The broadcast definitely was a Duke slobberfest, and it was clear who they favored. But come on, they did briefly, very briefly, although not in full context of what he brings to the team, mention Reyne at least twice.
Watch the video of Reyne himself... He said he wasn't ready, couldn't move well enough laterally.
Watch the video of him warming up... He was not in a full shooting motion, jumping only a couple of inches.
Much as I also would have loved for him to play, and as much as I think a fully healthy Reyne (or even a "close" 95 % Reyne) could have easily made a difference, the correct decision was to keep him out and continue to get him treatment with the goal of having him ready for next weekend. A Sweet 16 is definitely in reach.
If we can get Reyne back, I feel pretty good about getting a couple of wins (depending on the 2nd round match up if we get to that game). Not having another legit, game in and game out scoring threat hurt last night.
Hadley generally benefits from having Smith on the floor. We are much easier to defend missing Reyne and as good as Hadley can be, he isn't the type of player that can consistently be a go to offensive player, especially with the size mismatches he often deals with and the amount of minutes he has had to play.
All it takes is for either Edwards or Chucky to be "off" and that can be a disaster for our offense.
Wise decision to keep Reyne out; and from what I can interpret from the carefully worded comments from CPK …… Chucky is not 100% and could have used some time off as well.
Louisville definitely needs some time to heal as best that it can. Hopefully, they will play Friday and not Thursday.
Depending of course what their bracket ends up looking like, I think making the sweet 16 is the most likely limit for the team. I believe Cards fans just at least want that 1st round win. It's been so long since Louisville has won a NCAA tournament game.
Of everything that was said during ESPN'S broadcast of last night's game, only Dick Vitale said what truly is what most of Louisville fans believe. He said this season was just the beginning and Louisville was just getting started.
That Louisville basketball is no longer lost in the wilderness and that this first team of the Pat Kelsey era was not a fluke. With an influx of more talented players, I think Louisville can do what Uconn has done under Hurley.
Now if only the injury bug will go somewhere else.
Right now the best thing for UL is having some time to heal. Right now a 4 or 5 seed would appear to be a more reasonable position if an objective analysis were applied, as that would suggest that UL is somewhere ranked between 13th to 20th. Looking at this weekend’s results, it would be hard to find a team that would move UL from its 13th ranking in either of the polls.
Cards will be a 6 or a 5. Very beaten up crew. Shorthanded AND beaten up. Edwards and Hadley in best shape. Everyone else diminished or limited physically.
Yeah, we just hung with one of the best teams in America,had them on the ropes(man I wish that 1st half had lasted another 10 minutes).
We all said it during the second half that they were tired. Everyone but the energizer bunny Edwards 😅
Duke did this to us the first time. We're legitimately close to being able to make a deep run in this tournament. I kept thinking last night if there had been one more offensive option to keep up with their's.
Knight kind of massaged Alford's suspension to occur on the YewKay game date as a big FU to them and the NCAA, IIRC. He chose that game to highlight how Alford got hammered for appearing in a charity calendar while YewKay was being YewKay with their players.
Football is the sport that is 100% a manufactured product. ESPN and media have thrown their money toward conferences with huge audiences. The entire process is manufactured to produce a very specific result. They are trying to manufacture the next expansion.
Basketball was the same way when it was king in the 60’s and 70’s with limited access to the tournament. Then ESPN came along expanded the sport by controlling the Big East and ACC. Nobody in the South cared about basketball. Then the tournament expanded to its current size. It was impossible to manufacture. The SEC smartly told their schools to invest in basketball. They did. ESPN followed suit with their TV deal. SEC expands. Now they are going to flood the tournament with 14 teams trying to manufacture the outcome.
At the end of the day the ACC dies because it doesn’t have big enough fanbases and therefore they are limited on how much revenue it can generate.
It is messed up, but it always has been. The most talented kids followed the money. Nevada was never getting elite kids. I can only imagine what it is like for Alford to have to pay players that suck. Then you find a couple dudes then they get poached. That would be miserable from a coaching perspective.
Dick Vitale nailed it the ACC schools haven’t invested in NIL or their coaching. Many of the schools haven’t adapted to the new world. The ACC isn’t churning players they are losing their best players. In football the SEC churns players. The evidence is clear which conference has invested in sports it isn’t the ACC.
As hard as they play and with only 7 guys it takes a toll in a 3-4 game tournament.
They have to get Smith back to stretch out the floor but moving forward the bigs have to be a threat inside and outside. It isn’t easy to find 3-4 of those kind of guys.
As much as I like James Scott against teams with legit interior bigs he clogs the paint. That in turn hurts Hadley. Hadley can’t pass out of post. Can’t pick and pop or post up the smaller player. Now certain teams his skill set is perfect but against Duke he is a liability. This is where Pryor injury hurts.
Right now the best thing for UL is having some time to heal. Right now a 4 or 5 seed would appear to be a more reasonable position if an objective analysis were applied, as that would suggest that UL is somewhere ranked between 13th to 20th. Looking at this weekend’s results, it would be hard to find a team that would move UL from its 13th ranking in either of the polls.
At this point in time, I just hope we are healthy, as I am convinced that we need some time to recover. UK is in much of the same condition as UL in terms of injuries. The seeding process is flawed, but there is nothing we can do about it.
Wise decision to keep Reyne out; and from what I can interpret from the carefully worded comments from CPK …… Chucky is not 100% and could have used some time off as well.
This will be unpopular but I think if Reyne was “close” and was cleared then he should’ve played. Competing for a conference championship is not something to take for granted. Obviously winning a natty is the ultimate goal but I think the risk was outweighed by the potential reward.
Bingo! I dozed off at the half of a BB game and woke up to a Duke infomercial. Did they even mention Reyne Smith being sidelined? I never heard it if they did.
