Daily Archives: January 2, 2013
Cats avoid hangover, win big over EMU 90-38
Hangover, what hangover?
The Cats looked none the worse for wear coming off of their 80-77 loss to Louisville over the weekend. Tonight they looked as impressive as they have at any point this season on their way to a 90 to 38 win over Eastern Michigan.
All things being equal, UK’s score was actually more impressive than two top 10 teams that EMU have played this season, both Syracuse and Michigan. If only transitive property mattered in college basketball. Sigh.
Kyle Wiltjer led all scorers with 17 points on the game. Alex Poythress added 16, Harrow added 15, and Julius Mays had 13.
Willie Cauley Stein recorded his second double-double of the season, scoring 11 and grabbing 11 rebounds. Nerlens Noel had 13 rebounds on the game to go along with 8 points, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
Cal said after the game “I like the big team, but in order for us to play that way we need Alex.” ”He played well today, still some glitches, but he at least played with energy, the team gave him a hand after the game.”
Cal was very impressed with the Cats scoring on the day, said EMU’s zone was “very tough.”
The KYCS player of the game was Ryan Harrow, who along with his 15 points had 8 assists, 4 steals and 2 rebounds.
The Cats have another week off before traveling to Vanderbilt to open up conference play next Thursday night. Kind of ironic considering how much Kevin Stallings hates the Thursday night games.
More to come!
Go Big Blue!
UK vs Eastern Michigan (Beat the Eagles)
It’s getting close to game time. The Wildcats are set to face the Eagles of Eastern Michigan. I honestly think the last game against Louisville made us grow as a team. EMU is not as tough Louisville, so we should be able to handle business today. Go Cats!
Vegas Line: Kentucky is favored by -26.5 points over Eastern Michigan.
Don’t forget to leave your score prediction on the “Ky Cat Stats Facebook page“ score prediction contest, sponsored by: Kennedy’s Wildcat Den.
Television/Event Info: Staturday, Dec. 22, 2012 | 4:00 p.m. | TV = [ESPN 2] | Lexington, Ky | Rupp Arena
Staff Predictions:
Tyler Mounce = 81-60
Brad Woodcock = 94-56
Marcus Owens = 88-51
Braxton Howard = 76-58
David Stevens Jr. = 81-57
Go Big Blue!
Beat the Eagles!
Kentucky vs. Eastern Michigan, what to watch for
What to watch: Alex Poythress, Alex Poythress, Alex Poythress
If you’re able to get off early enough today to catch the 6 o’clock tip, there are a few things you’ll need to watch for tonight, other than just if UK can beat the Eagles of Eastern Michigan.
The biggest thing tonight is going to be watching to see what Alex Poythress does tonight. Coach Cal started individual workouts with Alex Poythress, a tactic he employed in the NBA to help players coming back from injury to regain their confidence. Cal said this week that he still wasn’t ready to “play a game,” but he is improving. Let’s see how much exactly that he’s improved tonight.
Another thing to watch is just how much more we see how much Cal employs the twin tower line-up today. Against Louisville, it was extremely effective as Willie brought intensity at the 4/5 (or whatever position he was playing) that we have not really gotten this year. His dunk in the second half from the top of the key helped to turn the game around. Was this line-up though just a result of the match-up, or is this a line-up we are going to continue seeing going forward.
Julius Mays has been in a bad slump lately, as you well know, but was able to finally make a 3 at the end of the Louisville game. Tonight let’s see if that 3 helps him break out of it. With Wiltjer coming off the bench now, it becomes extremely important for Mays to find his 3 point shot, so teams are not able to just come out and zone the starters with no real shooter on the floor.
Go Big Blue!
Kentucky vs Eastern Michigan History
Today’s game is the last little game we have before the real part of the schedule starts, the SEC conference season. Normally I would report on the history that we have against Eastern Michigan, but we have never played them before, so please feel free to check out just a little history info on the school and their program.
College History:
Eastern’s men’s basketball team has appeared in four NCAA Division I tournaments, and have a 3-4 record, tied for third best among Michigan colleges. In the 1996 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Eastern Michigan defeated the Duke Blue Devils in the opening round.
Since the 1991 season, Eastern Michigan University athletic teams have gone by the nickname “Eagles.” Prior to the 1991 season EMU used the name “Hurons”. EMU used the Hurons name and Indian logo from 1929 until 1991. Despite much controversy, support of the Huron tribes in Oklahoma and Quebec, and anger among its alumni, EMU changed the logo after the Michigan Department of Civil Rights issued a report suggesting that all schools drop such logos. During the Michigan State Normal College years the school went by the nicknames such as “Normalites” and “Men from Ypsi” and various other titles.
Go Big Blue!
Asiantii Woulard
Asiantii Woulard is taking a visit to UK on January 11th, and according to his father (who spoke to Larry Vaught yesterday), he could commit soon after.
So who is Asiantii Woulard? Well, some services rate him as the #1 dual threat quarterback in the country. He’s 6’3, comes from Winter Park Florida, and is a 4* recruit by most services. He’s a 5.9 on rivals though, meaning he’s very close to being a 5* recruit. He was originally committed to USF, but has opened things up now that Skip Holtz has been fired.
Woulard’s father in the interview (which can be read here), said that he and his son really like Neal Brown and the type of offense that Neal brings to UK. Woulard had interest in UK prior to Mark Stoops coming to UK, but was not recruited by Joker’s staff, despite the fact that commit Blake McClain also plays for Winter Park, but that’s a rant for a different day.
Now, Woulard will be coming up the Saturday after next along with McClain, and 4* wide receiver, OK State commit Ra’Shaad Samples, for a visit.
If you wonder why his offer list isn’t more impressive (many SEC schools have not offered), I don’t really have an answer for you, but one thing is clear, Trent Dilfer absolutely loved the guy from his time at the Elite 11 camps last summer. The coaches loved him so much there, they named him the Elite 11 camp MVP, a very prestigious honor. (And the camp didn’t even give him a chance to show off his scrambling ability.)
This is just another sign of how much better Mark Stoops and the new staff are at recruiting than the previous staff.
Check out Asiantii from the Elite 11 camp, and watch him work:
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