Another Post from Glen

The Great Heist. The previous sanctum known as Punk & Wagnell's front porch has been ramsacked by what can only be described as a well known current movie title. "Failure to Launch." It's all gone. The mayonnaise jar, lid and everything inside it. The hopes, promises, and all the guarantees of a University of Kentucky win over visiting defending champion Florida U Saturday night in Rupp Arena. Instead of a victory, with the dilemma of fans rushing the court, Kentucky fell to the Gators 64-61 with fans rushing to beat the traffic. The once safe area on the porch now violated, polluted, where are we to place our most treasured dreams? Before you call the Sheriff, the likely suspects, the Gators of the Swamp are not the culprits. Not directly anyway. The Modus Operandi? The thieves of Kentucky's win can only be found in the Wildcats inability to hit the basket. It was one of those nights Cawood Ledford would have called over the radio, "Kentucky can't hit the barn tonight." Three of 22 beyond the three point line. A dismal 13.6% against the number one team in the land. Inside at the charity stripe things were a little better but still not good. Twelve of 21 for 57%. With the recent new found offensive scoring betraying the 'Cats, Kentucky turned to the old faithful game we Kentuckian's know as Tubby Smith Basketball. Defense. And what a defensive effort it was. Tubby's gameplan was one for the ages. Kentucky's 35 seconds of constant pressure on every possession got to the Gators. Joakim Noah and Al Horford only played a combined 14 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. Noah fouled out and finished with six points and six rebounds. That's trademark Tubbyball. Coupled with the fact Kentucky only turned over the ball 10 times for the game, the Wildcats were on pace for another blowout except the offense faltered and the wheels fell off their chariots. Kentucky missed all nine of their three pointers in the first half, were down by as many as 16, and at one point had the score doubled on them. With about six to go in the first, the record 24,465 Nation of Blue and White got behind their team, and the spirits of Rupp Arena began to stir. And like all other good UK teams do, Kentucky made a trademark Rupp Run. Florida, who normally scores around 82 a game, broke at the half with only 36 points to show, their big men in foul trouble all thanks to a gritty Kentucky defense. The upset was a brewing. Kinda of odd is it not? Talking about Kentucky at Rupp sizing up to upset someone. Kentucky actually outshot Florida scoring 34 points in the second half compared to the Gators' 28. But three for 13 second half shooting behind the arc won't win games whether your playing the Sisters Church of the Poor or the Gators of Billy don't call me kid any longer. I know somewhere today in Winchester Criss Cross is feeling the pain of a failed once secure place. Like me he'll probably avoid the water cooler on Monday. If I do it won't be because I was ashamed of our Wildcats effort. I know we will play them again in Gainseville, and again possibly in the SEC Tourney. Florida be warned. Punk & Wagnell installed a security system and I seen Cross carrying another mayo jar filled with all the hopes, dreams, promises of another Kentucky win. All this talk of Florida replacing Kentucky as the East power is only a figment of someone's imagination. Enough of that. I hear in the background talk of Lofton, Knoxville, and Tuesday night. Don't you just love being the Kentucky Wildcats?
Signing off from Richmond,
Glen