Purdue goes down at Wisconsin and Kansas bites the dust at Tennessee against a depeted UT roster.

Then there were 2, and between Texas and Kentucky, I prefer Kentucky because of Kentucky's upside for improvement and Texas' recent deterioration at the defensive end.

I have added Purdue into this analysis and the four team comparison is now available at the bigbluefans4uk.com website.

"3. In Rich Brooks’ case, the numbers not only fail to tell the story, they flat out lie. In 25 seasons as a head coach at Oregon and Kentucky, Brooks went 130-156-4 (.455). That winning percentage would get you fired in most places. But Brooks took hollowed-out programs, tore them down and built them back up. At both schools, his best years came at the end of his tenure. Brooks retired Monday and college football is a less talented place." By Ivan Maisel, January 5, 2010 at ESPNU College Football Blog, Three Point Stance.

The popular view was that Smell is not a good team, but that is not the case. They gave the Cats a handful today, and that was not accidental. I saw it as a single digit game, with UK having the edge primarily based on the home court. I think that is how it played out today.

Glad this one is over, and now it is time to focus on the SEC wars that lie ahead for this team.

BCS, I have attempted to post 2 comments on posts over recent days, and neither of them have posted. Why is that?

When I was a student, I was introduced to the reality of UK-UT football. Stoll Field, late November [Thanksgiving weekend], and the Cats were within a few points of the Vols late in the 4th quarter, and the Cats were driving inside the 10 yard line for the winning score when UK Football, as I have known it for 50 years, was defined.

The play call was a sweep left in which the UK QB was to pitch the ball to a running back as they both moved down the line. A Tennessee Linebacker came through the line of scrimmage untouched, and intercepted the lateral, and never looked back as he ran over 90 yards for the game clinching TD for Tennessee.

I no longer remember the year, or who our QB was, or who the UT player was that made that play, but I was sitting in that endzone, and the play occurred right in front of me.

Nothing surprises me any more about UK Football.

Very nice post Katman!!!

I think I posted here a few weeks ago that a football season can take many twists and turns, good and bad, and yes, the Cats did let South Carolina and Miss St slip away, but they have gone on the SEC Road and won 3 in a row for the first time also since 1977. This team has won 5 of the last 6 since losing Hartline in the USC game probably cost the team that W.

Not question that the Miss St game was a huge stumble, but this team has gotten back up. Now they have to do it one more time, and if, a big if, if they can get Tennessee on Saturday, this team will be one for the ages at UK, a 2nd place in the East, a very significant upgrade on the bowl availability, and a real shot in the arm for recruiting.

Before the season, many people believed 7-5 was a reach, but 8-4 was a dream, and 4-4 in the SEC was a pipe dream. Now, 8-4, 4-4 are both within real reach.

It is time to end the UT domination of our football program.

"Fact, Darius Miller regressed last season, his confidence was crushed and he is on the same level as the first year players."

That may be an opinion, but it is far from a fact. Actually, Miller played his best basketball over the last 12 games, during the complete meltdown. That could support an opinion that Miller progressed nicely last season despite the turmoil swirling about him everywhere.

There are other assertions presented as "fact" that are anything but "fact" Fact is: this UK team's defense has allowed almost 1 point per possession over the last 2 games. That is a fact. Opinion is: A defensive efficiency of 1 point per possession is equivalent to playing no defense at all.

If this group was playing great basketball, would it be too early to judge them as great?

The quality of their play is what it is, and to ignore the fact that the defense has been non-existent is not wise in my view. There are explanations for the poor play that may have credence, but if the play was good, no one would be searching low and high to find any explanations to justify the hope for a better time.