No. 4 Kentucky outlasts Sam Houston State 102-92

uof k sucks period they are not a number 4 team they have proved that already they are going down against the ville period

to # 46 - You can teach effort? That might be the dumbest thing I've ever read. It's also absurd to be concerned that they have 'only' two post players (both of which are NBA talent). How many times have two likely NBA players at the post positions? Orton is likely a servicable reserve, as is Stevenson. (Please note that I'm not advocating Orton and Stevenson are great post players, just that they are servicable replacements to allow Patterson and Cousins a breather). I think Kentucky will lose early given the lack of experience and, apparently, weak defense. I do think they'll be a contender at the end of the year. IIn the interim, 'm willing to accept the growing pains and enjoy the fun.

UK's best bet is to push the pace and just try to out score there opponants. They have the talent for that and for all those who claim you have got to have good D....... UNC didnt last year and look what they did. If they can sucker teams into a run and gun type of game, they will go A LONG WAY. If not then it will be along HARD ride.

By the way: I'm all UNC baby ! ! ! But have a soft spot for great Programs like UK

no doubt in my mind ky will get better but how long will it take because i dont want to lose a game to nc or uol cant stand louisville if we dont win another game all year i want to win that one

Kansas is a good pick for the final four and the championship game.Not KY.

Kentucky is going to have to get better defensively and they will. My biggest concern if I were a UK fan would be this: Teams that are shooting lights out from 3pt range......have to. No inside presence whatsoever. How will UK defend when facing a Uconn, UNC, UL, etc...Teams that have the ability to score in the post. If they can't defend the 3 when they know it's the other teams bread/butter, how are they going to defend both when the time comes? Again, UK will obviously get better at this aspect, so time will only tell. The mistakes UK is making on defense is not because of a lack of talent, just effort. You can't teach talent, but effort you can. I wouldn't say UK won't make the FF because they obviously have the talent to do just that. Experience at the PG spot will hurt them and besides PP and Cousins, UK has no proven inside presence besides those two. It is only Nov and alot will change by Feb/March....only time will tell.

Ernest you are correct with Rupp being out dated, no doubt. But it is still a very fine facility that is the second largest ON CAMPUS facility in america. As far as pro teams, I would be careful calling the Grizzlies a pro team. No i have not ever saw nor visited UM's facilities, I just go off of recruiting analysis of what programs offer, internet coverage, etc... Um's OVERALL facilities are of no comparison to UK's, heck they don't compare to Indiana's for that matter. If a kid has to pick schools on just the name sake alone, UK dwarfs many, many programs. Get off the Calipari horse, it's dead.

Recruiting is just fine Ernest. Stacy Poole, 4 star signed with the Cats. UK in the mix strongly for 2 five star recruits in Terrance Jones and Jelan Kendrick. No reason though for UK fans to sweat, twelve of of the top 30 players on rivals have yet to sign or committ. Waiting.........

Kric, how many times have I mentioned that I am happy with the Tigers that we have. Everybody in this area got over Cal leaving the week after he was gone. Yes Kric, Cal is gone. Not the end, a new brighter future is on the horizon. And let me correct myself before you use it to sidestep.. The Pyramied was built for the Tigers. The Gizzlies played in the Pyramind 01 - 03 while the Forum was being built. Of the four teams that have been picked to go to the final four, Kansas gets my support. If they don't make it there, which they absolutly should, I'll pull for another team. But nowehre have I mentioned them together with KY for the finals. I don't think KY will be there.

where do you people come up with this nonsense? it was their second game of the season!! overrated my @s!! this is a brand new team still figuring eachothers style of play out! we are improving and i cant wait till we play unc this year!! Calipari is goin to get them to pick up their defensive intensity and then watch out final four here we come!! Go Cats!!

Ernest what a fan....why at the end of every post you mention Kansas? You anticipating a KU-UK final? Or did Memphis change mascots? Ernest I have told you many times, I am a IU fan. Wife and brothers went to and graduated from UK. Im just tired o hearing you Memphis people whine. As fare as recruiting...what? There is still months left in that process and if you were a lil' more on the knowledge side, alot of kids wait until late to sign. UK's recruiting will be just fine. Cal will have plenty coming back next year even with Wall and Patterson leaving(possibly Cousins as well). You people just need to get over the fact Calipari left. So what. It is over. Concentrate on your team......they are pretty good ya know.

The Pyramid was built for the Tigers due to the fact that they outgrew the facility they were playing in. It was NOT built for a professional team.. The Fedex Forum was built for a professional team. The Tigers, since 2001, have used the Forum as well. Have you visited the UM facilities? Just wondering. Or maybe you've done extensive research on the city of Memphis? The Tigers play with heart. You could see that Tuesday night. What kind of facility does the Lexington pro team use? Now again Kric... How's that 2010 recruiting going?

Thanks Kric, but the word you're referring to must be NAIVE on your part. I have no envy towards a group such as your own, and as I said, I'm quite happy with the group of TIGERS we have. They play with heart rather than arrogance. Now again Kric, how is that 2010 recuriting class going with you and your coach? W'ell see Kric. GO HAWKS !!!

The Pyramid was built for a pro-franchise and UM moved in. Anyways, Im not talking about just where you play your games, ok? You ever seen the Joe Craft Center? I don't think so. Facilities pertaining where a team trains, weight lifts, lounges, etc.. UM no match to that. Market ability.....when is UM on TV? Besides when playing a top 25 program. Their reach is the Memphis area only. Comparing the two programs is like comparing a 6th grade art student to Picasso.

Have you ever seen Memphis facilities?Didnt think so.They are state of the art.Rupp arena is falling apart.Know what you are saying before you talk.

Ernest, the words are called ANIMOSITY and ENVY......you are showing them both. Calipari done what was obviously the right decision career wise. Recruiting will be just fine for him @ UK. Recruiting actually will be easier, now that his title reads,"Head coach of Kentucky rather than Memphis. If he could get kids to commit to him @ Memphis which has no market outside of the Memphis area, facilities no where near that of UK's, I am sure he can get those same kids to come to Lexington.

I know basketball and have watched UK closely. This team WILL be awesome. (not there yet) They are scary good! They are making lots of mistakes right now, but they are mistakes that come from effort (not lack of) and inexperience. And, they are correctable. They have something that Kentucky teams have lacked in recent years.....confidence. They have a feeling of invincibility. This is what drove Kentucky for decades, and it is back.

The only substantive weakness that "experts" expected from this team offensively, was their outside shooting. Well, so far, it appears they can shoot!! Defensively, they occasionally have already shown flashes of brilliance, but will be much tougher when it can be sustained for 40 minutes.

Ernest, Ernest, Ernest.....get off that horse.....it's dead. UK didn't steal a team, nor did Calipari. Read your post...ok? Memphis didn't recruit these kids, calipari and his staff did. Yes, they're are paid by Memphis, but I seriously doubt any english professors, etc....recruited any of these kids. Cousins and Wall decided on Memphis b/c of Calipari and only that. When he decided to take the job at UK, they followed. Not uncommon at all in college sports. Is Self a thief as well? I do recall Henry committing to Memphis along with Cousins and Wall.

UK hired a coach who brought a team with him that was recruited by UofM with UofM money. The coach then moved on his way with the team. I agree with Mac that the spelling is not the issue. No one at KY wants to truly address the issue that the team was stolen. It matters not to me. We have the team in Memphis that we want. They may not have the athletic talent of a lot of players throughout the country, we may not make the final four, or even the tournament, but they play with heart, and, we didn't have to get them underhandedly. Our Tigers will grow throughout the year as well as KY, UK, Texas, etc. ALL teams will grow. If your knew KY coach had to come to KY as he did to Memphis, without bringing a team with him, he would be no better than your last coach. We'll have to see how the coming years go. KY is not in the rankings for the 2010 recruiting year. Maybe players know something? As for me, If my Tigers are not in the final four....... GO HAWKS !!!

Not a UK fan but UK is back. Coach Cal is a great coach, look at what he did with less talent in Memphis. UK will always be big boy basketball like Kansas, UNC and Duke.

ON ON UofK! Just jealous, that's all. We will be the dominant team once again!

The people that are already writing UK off must not watch basketball or have never played basketball. The difference between the pace of the high school game and college are way different. The freshman will start to learn this and improve with each game. A win is a win and when the year is over only the people that love to dog UK will remember how close the games were in early november. Jealousy is the only reason any of the people talk smack about UK. Like every coach in college will tell you, the more you play the more experience you get. BUT YOU CAN'T TEACH A PLAYER TO HAVE TALENT. This team is loaded and it is only a matter of time. March is still a few months away so I think this team will be fine.

thanks saab.. Nice way to dodge the issues...

I am a big UK fan, but they are over rated, that's the east coast media trying to set them up for failure. Seriously, how can you be ranked #4 after a loosing NIT last year? It's the media trying to keep UK down. The problem is, they are winning and getting better every game. I'm glad you other guys brought up the struggles of the other top teams. Realisticly i think UK is about 15th, but they started out where they will end up, the final 4. Go Big Blue!

Corey Allmond ( DC area) is a beast with NBA talent. He's as fast as Ty Lawson with a better jump shot! (I know this from their AAU days together with the Bluedevils).