UK2K: Celebration of a milestone.

The feeling was all mutual among all in attendance. It was love, the kind of love that you discover and from day one can’t get enough of. The former & current players and coaches, the Governor, and yes the little people were all in attendance, and in love. This is too simple to go on; Kentucky loves their cats more fondly than any other fan base out there. Is it because we have no pro teams in KY? Is it because the ones nearby are the Redlegs and the Bungles? Is it because during the winter in the mountains there isn’t a heck of a lot more to do than crank the radio up to Tom Leach and let him paint his mystic picture of our beloved team. It could be all those things or it could be fact that we have the best team and fans out there period. I take the latter.

This blog post will not be about how UK shut down Drexel and out toughed them in every category. It also won’t be about Cousins 18 pts and 13 rebounds in 14 minutes, or John Walls 16 & 7 assists effort, or Patrick Patterson getting only one rebound. While Ramon and Harellson had great games this wont be about that either. This is about Kentucky not the team, not the school, not the fans nor any single entity.

This is about the entire flock that recognizes their faith in something larger than they are. Together we are all a part of it whether we want to be or not. I suppose on some level we are lucky that Kentucky chose us rather than the other way around. While the competition was weak the feeling in the building wasn’t. I suppose the love was simply pouring out of the 11th largest crowd to ever see a Kentucky team in Lexington.

Free throw choice? When Eric Bledsoe was injured while driving to the basket and getting fouled early in the 2nd half. There was a moment of humor between friends and rival coaches. Buster Flint Drexel’s head coach was obviously confused as he wasn’t aware that Bledsoe was going to the bench and someone else would have to shoot his free throws. Calipari yelled “Hey Buster pick someone to shoot” as a shoulder shrugging Flint didn’t understand. The refs ran over and asked him to pick someone

Calipari looked down to him again and held up his hand with all digits sticking outward signifying (and saying under his breath) “Five”. He was trying to get Flint to choose Harris which I am not sure but may have been UKs worst free throw shooter this year. Buster shrugged it off again and chose Cal’s recommendation as Harris walks up and misses the free throw. The two longtime friends shared a long laughing glance as you could know that the 46 point lead was on both of their minds.

Apparently during Cal’s post game interview with Jenine Edwards, Codi (she actually waved to the camera) and I were on TV the entire time. How funny when you see yourself on national TV like that. I have a picture of me and I have a picture of the camera taking my picture.

Of course my hero Joe B was great to see & hear as well as he was obviously emotional about what he was telling us when he said that Cal has been sandbagging us all season as to how good this team is progressing. Seeing Herkey Rupp, who sits in front of me, go out to the floor to be with and speak to the team was great. Here's a pic of Cal & him greeting each other. Seeing the Jamal Mashburn back in Rupp since his senior night was special as well as he was an analyst for this game for ESPN.

Pp showing us he is the certain leader in this group really did a great job of including the Keightlys in his speech. The after party was an incredible feeling that I imagine happens when you watch your team cutting down the nets in April.

Overall the game was a bore but the celebration soon made us all forget just how badly UK beat this team down and for a moment not worry about being undefeated still. The celebration atmosphere was something that I will remember for a long time. There is a certain routine or proxy that happens for games and to be out of that routine with a packed house (11-th all time largest crowd) in Rupp was quite unique. It was a love fest, a real love fest between everyone there. I was thrilled to be there with my wife as she really has only been a blue bleeder since about 2004. I know it will be a memory I cherish for a long time. All around it’s hard to describe the atmosphere past the feeling of exhilaration and love for one thing, Kentucky Basketball.