Legion Considers 4

"I'm bored with it all."
~~ Famous last words of Winston Churchill before slipping into a comma.

My thoughts exactly. I have kept pretty quite on this subject, but it really irked me. Thankfully the drama has ended and Alex Legion will be moving on. The Cats are going through tough times right now and the Legion Chronicles were not helping the situation. It is better to break it off now than continue down this path with Legion, his mother, and JC. Best of luck at either: Illinois, Michigan, Notre Dame and Arkansas. Personally I do not want to see him playing in the SEC.

On a lighter note, Merry Christmas, the Fake Woo is headed home for the holidays. All I want for Christmas is for steroids to go away in Baseball (take Barry Bonds with you).

Keeping up with the NBA Cats

Derek Anderson
Guard, Charlette Bobcats
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Drafted 1997, 1st round, 13th pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Much like his collegiate career, Anderson's pro career has been plagued by injuries. His best season was in 1999-00 when he averaged 16.9 with the LA Clippers. He is the definition of journey man; he has played on 7 teams in 12 years career. This year while playing limited time with the Bobcats, he is averaging 2.7 ppg while playing about 13 minutes a game.

Kelenna Azubuike
Guard, Golden State Warriors
Left Kentucky after Junior Year
Undrafted
This year he has started 12 of 19 games for the Golden State Warriors. He is averaging 13.4 ppg. This is his second season after spending some time with the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBDL.

Antwain Barbour
Guard, Tenerife, Spain
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
He is currently playing in Spain.

Keith Bogans
Guard, Orlando Magic
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Drafted 2003, 2nd round, 14th pick by the Milwaukee Bucks
This is his sixth season, he is now a starter for the impressive Orlando Magic. So far it has been his best season, averaging 10.5 ppg.

Souleymane Camara
Forward, Morocco
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
Jules is currently bouncing around Europe and Africa.

Tony Delk
Retired
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Drafted 1996, 1st round, 16th pick by the Hornets
The quintessential 6th man for so many years; he played last season in Europe for Euroleague champions Panathinkaikos, Athens. His last season in the NBA was 2005-06 with the Detroit Pistons. Delk has retired and looks to go into coaching. He spent 13 years in the NBA playing for 8 teams. In 2000-2001 he averaged 12.3 ppg.

Erik Daniels
Foward, Lottomatica Roma
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
Played for the Sacramento Kings NBDL affiliate, Fayetteville Patriots. In 2006 the NBA stopped fielding a team in NC. Currently Daniels is playing in the Euroleague for Lottomatica Roma. In 2004-05 he played in 21 games for the Kings.

Marquis Estill
Foward, Japan
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
Estill is currently playing in Japan, his is averaging 26 ppg and 15 rebounds.

Heshimu Evans
Foward, Lean, Spain
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
Since leaving the Cats at the end of the 1999 season, Mu has spent his time playing overseas.

Gerald Fitch
Guard, Abc Cantu, Italy
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
Currently he is on the Detroit Pistons Inactive roster. He played in 18 games in 2005-06 with the Miami Heat.

Cliff Hawkins
Guard, Japan
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
After spending time with the Fayetteville Flyers of the NBDL league, Hawkins headed to Japan.

Chuck Hayes
Foward, Houston Rockets
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
In his 3rd year as a pro, he has started every game for the Houston Rockets. He plays about 21 mpg averaging 3.3 ppg and 6 rebounds.

Jamaal Magloire
Foward, New Jersey Nets
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Drafted 2000, 1st round, 19th pick by the Hornets
He was a former All-Star in 2004 with the New Orleans Hornets . He is now in his 8th NBA season playing only about 13 mpg with the New Jersey Nets. It appears that his best years are behind him.

Jamal Mashburn
Retired
Left Kentucky after Junior Year
Drafted 1993, 1st round, 4th pick by the Dallas Mavericks
The Monster Mash was always a prolific scorer and he made the all star team in 2003 with the Hornets, but he never reached the next level of stardom. Career averages: 19.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg. He last played in the NBA in 2003-04 after a string of injuries and illnesses. He retired in 2006.

Walter McCarty
Retired
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Drafted 1996, 1st round, 19th pick by the New York Knicks
Played 11 seasons in the NBA mostly as a utility player. He retired after the 2005-06 season. He is currently an assistant coach for the Louisville Cardinals.

Ron Mercer
Retired
Left Kentucky after Sophomore Year
Drafted 1997, 1st round, 6th pick by the Boston Celtics
Big talent; big disappointment. He was a one-dimensional player; he never played defense, passed or rebounded the basketball. 2000-01 was his most productive season, he averaged 19.6 ppg and 3.9 rpg. Over his career he shot 43% from the field and 25% behind the arc. 2004-05 was his last season in the NBA. At a strip club in Nashville in 2007 Mercer and a friend assaulted a bouncer.

Nazr Mohammed
Center Detroit Pistons
Left Kentucky after Junior Year
Drafted 1998, 1st Round, 29 pick by Utah Jazz
Soft hands, slow feet. Not a good combination in the NBA. Nazr has been in the league for 10 years with 5 teams. He was part of the 2005 San Antonio Spurs Championship team. After the 2006 season, he turned down a 4 year contract extension with the Spurs......Dumb. He signed with the Pistons, where his numbers and playing time have declined. This season is set up to be his worst statically since 2000-01. He is only playing 10 mpg averaging 3.5 ppg, and 3.5 rpg.

Randolph Morris
Center New York Knicks (Inactive)
Left Kentucky after Junior Year
Undrafted
As we all know Morris left directly after last season and signed with the New York Knicks. Things are not going so well, he was placed on the Inactive Roster in November.

Mark Pope
Retired
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
He had a pretty uneventful 6 year career. He played in a 153 games and scored 253 points. He played 9 games in 2004-05, his last NBA season. After being released from the Denver Nuggets, Pope entered medical school at Columbia University.

Tayshaun Prince
Forward, Detroit Pistons
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Drafted 2002, 1st round, 23 pick by the Detroit Pistons
The best Cat currently playing in the NBA. He is currently in his 6th NBA season with the Detroit Pistons; he has been a starter for 5 season. His Pistons won the NBA finals in 2003-04. He is averaging 14.6 ppg, 2.9 apg, and 5.2 rpg.

Lukasz Obrzut
Center, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
If you follow this sight, you know about Woo. He is a starter for the Mad Ants, an affiliate of the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. He is dropping in 7 ppg with 5 boards while playing 21 mpg.

Scott Padgett
Forward, CB Granada
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Drafted 1999, 1st round, 28th pick by the Utah Jazz
Spent 7 seasons in the NBA with 4 teams. He last played in the NBA during the 2006-07 season with the Memphis Grizzlies. He is playing this season with CB Granada, a team in Spain.

Andre Riddick
Forward, Charleroi, Belgium
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
After leaving the Cats after the 1995 season, I am not sure what Riddick has been doing. He is currently playing in Belgium.

Rajon Rondo
Point Guard, Boston Celtics
Left Kentucky after Sophomore Year
Drafted 2006, 1st round, 21st pick by the Phoenix Suns
Left after sophomore season because of disagreements with then Kentucky coach Tubby Smith. He is in his second season with the Celtics and he is a good compliment to the superstars on the team. He is averaging 8 ppg, 4 rpg, and 5.2 apg.

Jeff Sheppard
Retired
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
Shepard played 1 year in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks in 1998-1999. He played 3 seasons in Italy before returning to the Bluegrass State to set up 15INC, which specializes in the sale of University of Kentucky apparel.

Patrick Sparks
Guard, Giessen Germany
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
Sparks is currently playing in Germany.

Wayne Turner
Guard, New Zealand B., Australia
Left Kentucky after Senior Year
Undrafted
Tuner played 3 games for the Boston Celtics in 1999-00. After his brief stint in the NBA he played some international ball, then he played with the Harlem Globetrotters. He is currently playing in New Zealand.

Antoine Walker
Forward, Minnesota Timberwolves
Left Kentucky after Sophomore Year
Drafted 1996, 1st round, 6th pick by the Boston Celtics.
.......Sigh.......His talent outmatches his work ethic. Walker is in his 12th season having played for 6 teams. The 3 time All-Star (including 1 start) has had a very productive career. His best statical years were with Boston. Since his first departure from Boston in 2002-03, he has bounced around the league including a stop in 2006 with the Miami Heat where he won an NBA title.

Heisman Goes to

Tim Tebow: QB Florida Gators (Pictured right)

Indiana Thrashes the Cats, 70-51

Overview
(Sigh)........Hang in there Cats fan, it can only get better.

"Jordans better (Clap, Clap, Clap Clap, Clap)"
That was the understatement of the night by the crowd at Assembly Hall. Jordan Crawford played very well, Joe did what Joe does, disappear when needed. If I were a Hoosier fan, I would be very excited about this young man. Evey aspect of his game looked better than his older brother to the south.

The University of Kentucky Wildcats looked horrible. No one played well. I cannot really put into words how bad they played. I thought the game would go this way:
"I am guessing they come out flat, fall behind and stay behind. IU wins easily 77 to 63."
I was off on the final score, Kentucky never came close to 63 points.

Team Notes

• UK is 2-8 at Assembly Hall, Last loss 1990, Last win 1980.
  
• UK started: Joe Crawford, Michael Porter, Ramel Bradley, Mark Coury and Patrick Patterson. Oh-No.
• IU began game without 2 starters, Eric Gordon and Armon Bassett.
• UK went over 10 minutes in the first and second half without a field goal.
• IU opened the second half with a 9-0 run pushing the the lead to 21.
• This is UK second double digit loss of the season.
• UK was 38.8% from the field, 25% from the 3 point line, and 56.3% from the free throw line.
  
• UK never led in the game, IU's biggest lead was 23.
• UK had 9 assist and 19 turnovers, par for the course. (Season average 12.7 apg, 12.6 TO per game).
  

Player Notes

• Ramel Bradley fouled out midway through the second half, with a grand total of 5 points, 0 assist, and 2 turnovers.
• Jared Carter sighting with 8:10 to go in second half.
• IU's D.J. White won the battle with Patterson, White had his 5th straight double-double, 16 points and 13 boards, Patterson had 15 points and 5 boards.
  
• Jordan vs. Joe (Not even close). Jordan had 20 points, 2 assist and 3 turnovers; Joe had 10 points, 2 assist, and 2 turnovers.
  
• D.J. White became 41st Hoosier to score 1000 points.
  

Player Overview

Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley: One more year. I have logged a number of hours in front of the boob tube watching these two underachievers. I do not dislike either player, nor do I particularly care for either of them. I am trying to think of another Cat who has played as much as Crawford and Bradley that I cared less for. Right now I cannot think of a 4 year player who comes close.

Michael Porter: Dreadful.

Patrick Patterson: Not his best showing, but he was double teamed often and the guards could not get him the ball where he had an opportunity to score.

Mark Curry: He should not start, or play for that matter. He should be right behind Jared Carter and just ahead of Dwight Perry on the depth chart. But Kentucky has few options.

Ramon Harris, Perry Stevenson, A.J. Stewart: They all played............Everyone had on the correct jersey, right color and number. Stevenson did manage 1o points and 6 boards but he was pushed around down low all game by the bigger (bigger=fat load) Hoosiers.

Final Thoughts
Kentucky cannot score. Jodie Meeks is a big part of that. Would they win with him in the lineup? Who knows? Right now they need someone who can constantly put the ball in the basket, Crawford, Bradley and Porter are too inconstant. Also they need someone who can get the ball to Patterson, hopefully Derrick Jasper can be the answer when he gets healthy. I am not completely confident that Jasper has the all around skills to help this team get better. One thing I know for sure, he cannot hurt.

Some of the UK faithful are losing confidence in Billy Gillispie while the rest are blaming Tubby Smith. It is neither man's fault. Billy is working with an under talented team, Tubby is gone, let it be. Funny thing, friend of mine wants to know how to set up the firebillygillispie.com website. I still believe that Kentucky will turn this around, the SEC is down and with 2 starters returning around the new year I think they will right the ship and be competitive in the SEC.

Some of the Funnier Message board postings.
Losing faith in Billy G.
Thank Tubby
Losing Season
Our Seniors are Completely Useless
G A R B A G E
Making the NCAA tournament

Quote of the Night
The chant late in the game by the IU fans, "Tubbys Better."
Funny, very funny.

VISITORS: Kentucky 4-3
                       TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
42 Coury, Mark......... f  1-2    0-0    0-0    0  3  3   3   2  0  1  0  1  12 54 Patterson, Patrick.. f  6-9    0-0    3-5    2  3  5   2  15  2  5  0  0  36 03 Bradley, Ramel...... g  2-5    1-4    0-1    0  1  1   5   5  0  2  1  1  23 13 Porter, Michael..... g  1-4    1-2    0-0    1  0  1   5   3  0  3  0  0  21 32 Crawford, Joe....... g  4-15   1-6    1-3    1  1  2   2  10  2  2  0  1  37
15 Stewart, A.J........    0-2    0-0    1-2    0  0  0   2   1  1  2  0  0  12
21 Stevenson, Perry....    3-5    0-0    4-4    2  4  6   3  10  2  2  0  1  26
30 Perry, Dwight.......    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   4
34 Harris, Ramon.......    2-6    1-3    0-1    2  6  8   3   5  2  2  1  0  25
43 Carter, Jared.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   4
TEAM................                         1  2  3
Totals..............   19-49   4-16   9-16   9 20 29  25  51  9 19  2  4 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  9-21 42.9%   2nd Half: 10-28 35.7%   Game: 38.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-6  16.7%   2nd Half:  3-10 30.0%   Game: 25.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  6-9  66.7%   2nd Half:  3-7  42.9%   Game: 56.3%   2,1

Officials: Ed Hightower, Zelton Steed, Eugene Crawford
Technical fouls: Kentucky-Crawford, Joe. Indiana-None.
Attendance: 17410
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Kentucky......................   25   26  -   51
Indiana.......................   37   33  -   70
D.J. White becomes the 41st player in IU history to score 1,000 points

Points in the paint-UK 26,INDIANA 24. Points off turnovers-UK 9,INDIANA 14.
2nd chance points-UK 6,INDIANA 13. Fast break points-UK 2,INDIANA 4.
Bench points-UK 16,INDIANA 11. Score tied-1 time. Lead changed-0 times.
Last FG-UK 2nd-01:00, INDIANA 2nd-02:54.
Largest lead-UK None, INDIANA by 23 2nd-12:03.

What to Watch for Against IU

The unranked University of Kentucky Wildcats (4-2) at #15 Indiana University (7-1)
Bloomington Indiana
TV CBS 4:00 PM est, Verne Lundquist and "The Lovable" Billy Packer

1. Battle of Super Freshman
Even though they play different positions, Indiana University's shooting guard, Eric Gordon will be in action against the University of Kentucky's power forward Patrick Patterson. Gordon is averaging 24 ppg and 3.5 boards a game. Patterson is averaging 16 ppg game and 8.8 boards. Gordon is expected to play after bruising his lower back against Tennessee Tech.

2. Brothers in Action
IU Freshman Jordan Crawford will be going up against his older brother Joe Crawford. Jordan is averaging 12.6 ppg, 2.6 apg and 2.6 boards per game. The senior Joe is averaging 18 ppg, 1.7 apg, and 4.3 rpg. Jordan was suspended for 3 games for violating team rules. He makes his return against the Wildcats. Playing for a coach with NO integrity, Jordan must have done something pretty serious to be suspended.

3. Billy Gillisie vs. "The Cheater" Kelvin Sampson
Two different coaching styles clash in this game on Saturday. The disciplinarian Billy G. will have to be on his game against prolific cheater Sampson. No cell phones allowed.

4. D.J. White vs. Patrick Patterson
These two big man should be going at it down low all game. White is the senior averaging 14 ppg and 8.6 boards, but Patterson will have the athletic edge. Or course Billy G. might send Perry Stevenson out there as the sacrificial lamb to absorb some of the banging and fouls.

5. Calling Alex Legion
Will he be there? Is he on the team? Did Jesus Christ talk to Legion's mother? All questions will be answered hopefully very soon. Latest word is that Legion (and the Lord Our God) asked to be back on the team, Billy G. has yet to render a decision.

Final thoughts
Indiana has a about a 6-8 man rotation. Kentucky has .............Well a variety of players who play sometimes. Coach Gillispie has yet to decide on a starting lineup or a steady rotation for that matter. Will the Cats be able to get into the flow of the game early or will they be unmotivated and fall behind in the first half. I am guessing they come out flat, fall behind and stay behind. IU wins easily 77 to 63.

Worst of the Worst

Congrates to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN. He is the World's least favorite sports announcer alive. On an AOL Fanhouse Poll he received an impressive 80% of the votes (out of 80,000). I have been a longtime fan; keep up the good work.

Jackass Award-Colin Cowherd

There have been some stupid comments about the death of Sean Taylor. No one is the world is a bigger Jackass today than ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd.

Dan Steinberg of the DCSportsBog takes it to Cowherd.

Deadspin will never mention Cowherds name again.

Die Cowherd, my dial will be tuned to Fox Sports' Dan Patrick Show.

Alex Legion Transfers

This sucks. Alex Legion has decided to transfer from the University of Kentucky. More to follow.

UNC Controls UK, 86-77

Team Notes

• UK committed 25 fouls, UNC had 19
• It is the 4th straight loss to the Tar Heels by an average of 14.8.
  
• UK has 1,952 wins / UNC is second at 1,921
• UNC leads series 20-10
• UK did not shoot a free throw in first half.\
• UK had 22 free throw attempts, UNC 34
  
• UNC led by as many as 2o points, mid way through second half
• UK had a 11/19 assist to turnover ratio.
• Early in Second half UNC went on 13-0 run to make score, 57-39
• 5th different starting lineup, 9 different players
  

Player Notes

• Perry Stevenson committed his fourth foul with 8 minutes left in first half. 8 minutes, 5 fouls.
  
• Joe Crawford was the leading scorer with 21, over 1000 points for his career.
• Crawford has a season high w/ 5 turnovers.
• It was Crawford's third game over 20 points.
  
• Mark Coury has no assists and five turnovers in his past two games.
• Patrick Patterson had 19 points and 9 boards.
• First time since Ramel Bradley's sophomore season he hasn't started.
• Michael Porter rebounded from his horrible game, he had 4 assists, 2 turnovers and 4 rebounds.
• Alex Legion only logged 6 minutes after starting against SBU.
  

HOME TEAM: Kentucky 4-2
                        TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
13 Porter, Michael..... *  1-3    1-2    0-0    1  3  4   2   3  4  2  0  0  28
32 Crawford, Joe....... *  7-18   3-8    4-5    0  3  3   3  21  2  5  0  0  39
34 Harris, Ramon....... *  0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   2   0  0  2  0  3  10
42 Coury, Mark......... *  0-4    0-0    0-0    2  2  4   2   0  0  3  2  1  21
54 Patterson, Patrick.. *  6-12   0-0    7-9    4  5  9   5  19  2  3  0  0  33
01 Legion, Alex........    2-3    1-2    2-2    0  0  0   1   7  0  1  0  1   6
03 Bradley, Ramel......    6-13   2-5    5-6    0  3  3   2  19  2  2  0  1  37
15 Stewart, A.J........    3-3    0-0    0-0    1  3  4   3   6  1  1  2  1  18
21 Stevenson, Perry....    1-1    0-0    0-0    1  2  3   5   2  0  0  1  0   8
 TEAM................                         1     1
 Totals..............   26-58   7-17  18-22  10 21 31  25  77 11 19  5  7 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-30 46.7%   2nd Half: 12-28 42.9%   Game: 44.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-8  50.0%   2nd Half:  3-9  33.3%   Game: 41.2%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  0-0   0.0%   2nd Half: 18-22 81.8%   Game: 81.8%   0,1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Mike Stuart, Tom Eades, Karl Hess
Technical fouls: North Carolina-None. Kentucky-None.
Attendance: 24252
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
North Carolina................   37   49  -   86
Kentucky......................   32   45  -   77

Points in the paint-UNC 24,UK 32. Points off turnovers-UNC 33,UK 16.
2nd chance points-UNC 14,UK 15. Fast break points-UNC 10,UK 4.
Bench points-UNC 33,UK 34. Score tied-2 times. Lead changed-2 times.
Last FG-UNC 2nd-03:01, UK 2nd-00:22.
Largest lead-UNC by 20 2nd-09:42, UK by 2 1st-15:37.