Scuttlebutt:
--- I expect to see a lot more Skal over the next few games as Calipari has basically resigned himself to the notion that in order for UK to be good enough to win it all, he has to play. Because Marcus is so limited offensively and Alex is inconsistent (both things that aren't changing this year), Skal reaching anywhere close to his potential is really the only other thing UK can do to get consistently better on the interior. These next two games at home are huge for him as I think he will play a lot and we just have to cross our fingers.
--- The folks around the program saw this UT thing coming...maybe not the way they lost (blowing a 21 point lead), but everyone I talked to on Monday was worried about the game. Teams like UT/Auburn/Ohio State actually worry these coaches more than the top teams because of how they are built/the way UK players look at them. With the exception of Tyler, this is not a self-motivating group so without the flash of a big game/home arena, these guys don't necessarily bring it consistently. Then, the teams without a big interior presence and guards that are shoot first, worry UK because where the Cats have the advantage (inside), they can't exploit it because of inconsistency.
--- The football vibe was something else yesterday. The whole Lamar Thomas thing may not matter in the grand scheme of things, but it certainly put a spring in the coaching staff' step. They love getting a guy they wanted and especially taking him from Louisville, who this staff has grown to hate like Brooks and his group did. Bobby P begged Thomas to wait until after Signing Day to leave (and don't believe what anyone writes, they wanted him to stay), but Lamar had it and took off on Sunday night. They think he can make a difference in getting UK in Miami...one coach told me "if he can just get 1-2 kids of high quality down there a year, it will make all the difference in the world.
--- I am expecting a pushback from UK on the whole budget thing with Bevin...the combination of the 9% cuts along with him not letting UK build the baseball stadium, has a lot of folks up in arms. Will be interesting to watch...especially since it is presumed (I am not sure if this is true or not but it is the presumption) that he is close with Ramsey at Louisville.
--- Marques Bolden is still likely a Cat. I think he came close to committing this fall but it got pushed back (another big man wanted to commit to UK (Allen) but UK held it off because of Bolden). I hope he stays true and doesn't waver because the class is insane if he does.
That is all. SAE has turned (at least on here) into the most bizarre mix of negativity/"onset of middle age angry sarcasm" that I have ever seen. It is really amusing from afar.