'BAMA FACES FIRED UP KENTUCKY TEAM...

And you think Grant has problems...

   

  I have been listening to sports talk radio out of Louisville the last couple of nights. Kentucky's record has fallen to 21-8 and if you listen to the Big Blue fans you'd think Calipari can't find his way to the water fountain. I've never heard a group of fans badmouth a coach like Kentucky fans have been doing lately. You'd  think he shaved their dogs or something. What he has done is to watch his team lose two game back to back. Well, he watched one game and part of another after getting tossed in the South Carolina game. Kentucky fans don't like to lose and don't expect to lose. They especially don't like losing to a team like South Carolina. 

      I think almost all of us expect Kentucky to win tomorrow (Tuesday) night. I'm a realist. We could win but that isn't likely. But Kentucky has a problem. Last year Calapari recruited the #1 player at his position in four of five spots. When you play that many freshmen sometimes bad things happen. I know he won a national championship with a crew a while back. That won't happen very often. It might not ever happen again. It certainly isn't going to happen with this bunch regardless of how much your talent their freshman bring to the floor. Don't get me wrong - there is something really wrong if Alabama beats Kentucky. I'm pulling for that to happen, of course. if  Kentucky loses to the Tide the world ends as Blue fans view it. For the Tide the game is a remarkable opportunity. How often can your team go on the road in front of over 20,000 will nothing to lose? The players can play hard, happy, and loose. The upside of this game is unlimited. There is no downside. I mean, when you are supposed to lose to Kentucky what do you have to lose? 

     This isn't one of those "any given Sunday" things either. There is NO way that Alabama could beat Kentucky on paper. Kentucky has been embarrassed and no gets to play at home. They will shoot a lot of foul shots. They always do, but this season they are ranked #2 in the country.  Part of the reason is that Calipari believes in taking the ball to the hoop. That's the first reason, and the second is that they are Kentucky

      Alabama got a respite from their tough schedule. Now they get to hit the road in snowy and icy weather to play the Wildcats. The Tide has one advantage in this game. The Kentucky point guards, who was the # 1 ranked point guard out of high school hasn't played up to expectations. His turnover to assist ratio is well below Cat standards. The Tide game is right before the Kentucky - Florida game. A lot of Kentucky fans said the Alabama game was like a warm up for the final season game. I doubt that. It would take Alabama's best game of the season. Somehow, Grant has to figure out a way to keep Kentucky off the free throw line, and at the same time keep Jimmy Taylor out of foul trouble. That's all order. Taylor is going to see some great talent up close and personal. I'm looking forward to see how he does. Can Randolph carry his good play on the road. What about Hale, who was just named Freshman of the Week by the SEC?  If Bama plays well and Kentucky has another bad game (like South Carolina) the Tide has a chance to win. My heart wants Bama to win. My head says Kentucky by 15.