“LOST AND FOUND: ONE UK BASKETBALL HEAD”

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - After suffering it’s third straight SEC loss in a row, Kentucky is in a search to regain its winning ways and the APB is out on the head formally belonging to the Wildcats big man Randolph Morris. After a 72-61 setback Saturday to the Alabama Crimson Tide, Morris said after the game, “My head wasn’t in the game.” When asked where his head was Morris responded, “If I knew where it was I’d have an idea where to find it.”Kentucky has now lost three SEC games in back-to-back February seasons, something not done since the 1922-1923 season. The loss at Alabama leaves Kentucky with a 7-5 record in SEC play. Another SEC loss or Florida win and the Wildcats are eliminated from any chance of winning the East.You have to know the Nation of Blue faithful are in a stir after the performance of their beloved team in the past three losses. Kentucky is sitting in a third place tie with Georgia in the East, 0-5 against ranked teams, and has had problems getting their games off to a good start. And if this is not enough, Morris is searching for his head.Apparently, as Morris’ head goes so does his game. After the Tennessee loss, Morris was quoted as saying he “didn’t defend well” by allowing so many in the paint points most of which were lay-ups or dunks. Morris was benched by UK Coach Tubby Smith early in the second half at home against the Gators. So one would deduce from the evidence that Morris lost his head somewhere along the game with Florida. Hopefully a Rupp Arena janitor has found Morris' head and not sold it on EBay. Morris needs his head badly. Kentucky opened the Alabama game going 1 of 9 from the floor with Morris committing two turnovers. He finished the game with eight. This problem has enveloped into a pattern. Kentucky fell behind to Florida by 16. Fell behind Tennessee by 16. Fell Alabama by 14. The last time Kentucky led a game was back on February 13, 2007 at Knoxville. Kentucky led the Vols 21-19 with 6:38 left in the first half. The Wildcats have been playing catch up ever since.
The Wildcats opened up the second half against the Crimson Tide by going 3 of 11 from the floor.And as in the past two games, with the game on the line, Kentucky’s Ramel Bradley took it upon himself to try to win the game. I keep reading and hearing quotes from either Bradley or Joe Crawford that they need to “step up” or “put the game upon their shoulders”. I’m not sure if this is Tubby’s call in the huddle or self imposed by each player. Where ever its coming from it is not working.Bradley finished the game shooting 4-15 from the floor of which he was 1 of 10 from the three point line. Bradley shot six of UK’s shots in the final two minutes and shot the last four. Typically a team wants the ball in the hands of its clutch shooter or whoever has the hot hand. Unfortunately, the Wildcats currently don’t have that clutch, hot handed shooter.Hopefully, over the next few games UK can work out whatever is wrong. I would hate to be Smith. With the Wildcat Blue Nation scratching its head, you have to wonder what Smith will do to get this turned around before the SEC Tournament and hopefully, dare I say it, the NCAA Tournament. Smith has LSU and Georgia at home, Vandy and Florida on the road, in which to figure out this puzzle. And what a puzzle it is.

Signing off from Richmond,
Glen