FIVE MO' THINGS, 1/16/13
1) Cashmere Wright's knee. The collective gasp by Bearcat fans last night was probably heard in Chicago. (I will spare you my R-rated reaction) I'll breathe a sigh of relief when I see Cash playing in a basketball game, which hopefully will be Saturday. (Right now, it's being called a "knee sprain" and Cash's status is, like my employment, day to day) Wright's value to the Bearcats can't be understated. He might not be their best player, but he's their most valuable, as evidenced by his standout play in what have been otherwise sloppy UC performances. But more than any potential injury's impact on the basketball team, my immediate thoughts were with Cash, a guy who's had injuries make us wonder exactly how good he could've been if completely healthy, and guy wrapping up a very, very good Bearcat career. I'm happy for Cash that his career will apparently continue.
2) Last night's UC win. OK, DePaul isn't very good, though I actually think they're better than the metrics would indicate, and their coaching last night was beyond atrocious. The Blue Demons began the game by running, pressing, and creating a frenetic pace, something that worked to their advantage early (and something UC should've embraced from the tip), the late in the game, trailing by 8-11 points, with UC's only real point guard on the bench, Oliver Purnell decided to slow it down, ostensibly playing to stay within striking range so his team could make a run in the third half, I guess.
But the Bearcats needed to win that game, more to avoid their first really damaging loss of the season, and given how the game played out, any win on the road where you play large stretches without your most important player is a good one.
As for how the game ended, with UC handling DePaul's pressure poorly while allowing them (kinda) back in the game: If Cash is ok, it doesn't matter. The Blue Demon run was like a team putting up a five-spot against a mop-up guy in the ninth inning when trailing by eight runs. UC didn't have their closer in the game. If Cashmere Wright is healthy, they'll close out games like last night's. If he's not, they'll rarely be in position to close them out anyway.
3) The NFL: A Bad Lip Reading.
4) Nerlens Noel. Kentucky is going to make the NCAA Tournament. The "They're a bubble team," and "Wouldn't it be amazing if UK actually missed the dance" and "Ha. UK might have the play in Dayton," overstatements are a little premature. No, they don't blow people out. No, they lack quality wins right now. And fans might have to embrace them winning ugly, as they did last night over Tennessee, but throw at me whatever bracket-geek numbers you want, the committee is not going to keep a Wildcat team with 21-10, 13-5 regular season out of the tournament. That'll be their record heading into SEC Tournament play if they finish 10-5, which they're still completely capable of doing, which they are because of Noel.
Early in the season, he looked like a guy too used to being the biggest kid on the floor, and his game is very, very, very far from refined. But he does everything. Last night, he didn't lead the team in scoring, and he didn't make the bigger shots down the stretch, but he did everything else. He finished with a line of 12/9/6/4, coming alive offensively in the second half, all the while defending three different positions, altering shots, playing great help defense, diving on the floor, and assisting in the trombone section during timeouts.
His teammates may still have to adopt the hard-hat mentality the Wildcats will need to shut the bracketologists up, and some fans might have to fall in line as well, but at least the Wildcats have someone setting the tone they can fill in line behind.
5) Scott Rolen. The Dodgers might be making a run at him. If he can go somewhere where a team might be willing to give him more playing time, more power to him.
I'll be making a run at hosting a radio show this afternoon on ESPN1530. It will start at 3:04. A rundown will be forthcoming.
