London, England • July 30 – August 13, 1948

(USA Basketball Photos) 1948 USA RESULTS (8-0) USA 86 Switzerland 21 USA 53 Czechoslovakia 28 USA 59 Argentina 57 USA 66 Egypt 28 USA 61 Peru 33 USA 63 Uruguay 28 USA 71 Mexico 40 USA 65 France 21 *1948 OLYMPIC GAMES FINAL STANDINGS 1. United States (8-0) 13. Cuba (4-3) 2. France (5-2) 14.Iran (2-5) 3. Brazil (7-1) 15.Argentina (4-4) 4. Mexico (5-2) 16. Hungary (3-5) 5. Uruguay (5-3) 17.Italy (4-4) 6. Chile (4-4) 18.China (5-3) 7. Czechoslovakia (4-4) 19. Egypt (2-6) 8. Korea (3-5) 20. Great Britain (0-7) 9. Canada (6-2) 21. Switzerland (2-6) 10.Peru (4-4) 22. Iraq (0-7) 11.Belgium (5-3) 23. Ireland (0-6) 12.Philippines (4-4)

The Phillips 66ers, winners of the 1948 national AAU title, met the 1948 NCAA champs, University of Kentucky, in the final game of the Olympic Trials. The 66ers edged Kentucky,
53-49, and Bud Browning of the 66ers was named head coach, and University of Kentucky legend Adolph Rupp was selected as his assistant.

During a pre-Olympic tour in Scotland, Browning and Rupp, each believing his own members of the team played best as a unit, concocted a strategy of unit substitution — one unit of five 66ers and one unit of five Kentucky Wildcats.

Relying on the two coaches’ unit plan, Switzerland was beaten 86-21 as Alex Groza led all scorers with 19 points, and several days later, nine Americans scored in a 53-28 win over Czechoslovakia. Still utilizing the unit plan as much as possible against Argentina, the starting 66ers five forged a 14-9 lead. When the second group of Kentucky players were substituted, Argentina rallied and by half led 33-26. The original starting crew returned at the start the second half, but eventually it had to be revised because of foul trouble. With three minutes remaining and the score even, 55-55, Kenneth Rollins sank a free throw, Jack Robinson added a field goal and Gordon Carpenter added one free throw to clinch the USA’s 59-57 victory. Rollins and Carpenter led the U.S. with 12 points each.

Egypt proved no match for the U.S. in a lopsided 66-28 U.S. win, and with Wallace Jones leading the way with 12 points, the U.S. crushed Peru 61-33. Kurland scored 19 points as the Americans handed South American champion Uruguay a 63-28 setback, and the U.S. moved within a victory of the Olympic gold after discarding of Mexico, 71-40, as Groza scored 19 points.

Facing France in the finals, Browning started his five 66ers. Only leading 9-4, the unit system was abandoned and Browning began substituting one player at a time. At half the U.S. was in command 28-9, and the Americans went on to record an easy 65-21 victory over France. The USA’s scoring was led in the gold medal game by Groza and Raymond Lumpp who tallied 11 points each.

1948 USA Men’s Olympic Games Roster

1948 USA Men’s Olympic Games Cumulative Statistics

“[Rupp] turned out to be my closest friend,” Barksdale said. “We went to London and won all 12 games and got the gold medal.” But he had to brush off indignities just about every step of the way. . . Later, coach Rupp told Barksdale, “Son, I wish things weren’t like that, but there’s nothing you or I can do about it.” Barksdale agreed. He lived by a very simple philosophy. He wasn’t interested in protest; he was interested in playing basketball. He had faced prejudice before, and he knew that he would face it again.

I’ll leave it there.  Take from it what you will.

John Wall is popular, but, is he that popular.  Those Jerseys were extremely difficult to obtain.  I was able to get a John Wall Jersey for myself and my girlfriend and a friend of mine.  They sold out almost instantly online and in the store.

Killer Game!

That Big Cuz tip in was incredible.

AWESOME!

Great times in Nashville!

In the closing seconds of the game, Jenkins attempts a 3 point shot.  John Wall gets a piece of it and the shot is off the mark.  More last second heroics by Wall who had made the winning shots for Kentucky only seconds earlier.

This Kentucky Team refuses to lose.  The swagger is definitely back at Kentucky.

GO BIG BLUE!!!

Kentucky is getting all the great press lately.

Unanimous #1 College Basketball Team in the Nation.

Cousins, Patterson and Wall ~ One of them is either Player or Frosh of the Week almost every week of this season.

Wall and Patterson are front runners for National Player of the Year.

Wall is frontrunner for SEC Player of the Year.

Cal puts together “Hoops for Haiti” on a moments notice.  He and the Cats raise over 1,000,000 USD in less than a week.

Now, the President of the United States of America wants to thank them for their efforts.  Put aside politics for a moment and hear those words.  THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS GOING TO THANK THE CATS! This is an honor of the highest order.  It matters not whether you voted for the man or not.  He’s the President.  He is the human embodiment of the Nation.  He wants to either meet with the Cats or in some manner convey his and the nations appreciation for their efforts.

Aside from the honor associated with receiving this magnanimous gesture, it’s publicity of the highest order.  This is a publicity bonanza.

Coach Cal is a master.  I’m not saying that he did this for the press that it’s garnered.  It doesn’t matter.  What matters is that the University of Kentucky is getting a public lift that is amazing in scale.  It’s unbelievable what Coach Cal has done.

I have to admire the man.

He’s amazing.

UK has not seen this kind of public adulation since…well, not in my memory.

Congratulations Coach Cal and to the Cats are in order.  This is incredible.  I love it.

It’s awesome to be a Cat fan right now and to be associated with this incredible team and its Coach.

GO BIG BLUE!

With the Gators and Wildcats being down for the last several years, the SEC has struggled to gain its footing nationally. Tennessee and Bruce Pearl make a nice story, sure, but they are nothing compared to the vaunted Wildcats.

This is the cold, hard truth that the rest of the SEC doesn’t want to acknowledge.

When it comes to basketball, UK is the SEC.  The SEC needs a dominant Kentucky in order to be relevant.  Much like the ACC needs FSU in order to remain relevant in the BCS of Football.  It’s the natural order.

Get used to it.

Kentucky is back.  Coach Cal will keep UK at the top. More than likely, Cal will stay 8 to 10 years which means that Mitch Barnhart should should be keeping an eye out for a successor.  It’s too early to bring in an assistant.  Two or three years down the line, Cal should start looking for someone to whom he can hand the reins.  Recruit this young and talented  coach to the bench at UK and start his training to take over.  Unlike Tubby Smith, Cal selects young and enthusiastic talent for his bench.  No re-treads on the bench under Coach Cal.  Keep that bench full of young hungry assistant and associate coaches.  Hopefully, Cal finds a few ex-players from UK teams to carry the torch after he leaves.

2018 or so, Cal can hand the reins over to a pre-selected individual.  No coaching searches.  No guessing.  Simply a seamless turn over.  This is how it should be done.

UK reloads and keeps rocking the SEC and the NCAA.

Box Score vs Arkansas

Cats blow out the Hogs to earn debut at #1 in 2010.

No. 2 Kentucky dominates Arkansas 101-70

LEXINGTON, Ky.(AP) Darius Miller had a career-high 18 points and DeMarcus Cousins got his 10th double-double as No. 2 Kentucky coasted by Arkansas 101-70 Saturday.

The Wildcats kept alive the nation’s only unblemished record and a near certain return to the top of the college basketball rankings.

Kentucky (19-0, 4-0 SEC) hasn’t topped The Associated Press poll since 2003, but that streak is almost certain to end Monday courtesy of its dominating victory over UK alumnus John Pelph

rey’s Razorbacks and top-ranked Texas’ loss to Kansas State earlier in the week.

This one was practically over by tipoff. Kentucky scored the game’s 10 points, stretched the lead to 30 by halftime, then added the first 14 points of the second half.

With that much margin for error, the Wildcats easily avoided the kind of second half letdown that made recent wins over Georgia and Auburn much closer than anticipated. Arkansas (8-11, 1-3) did make an 18-3 run midway through the second half, but by that time, Kentucky had plenty of cushion to withstand it.

The Wildcats’ largest lead was 46 after John Wall hit a jumper with 14 minutes left. The Razorbacks got it no closer than 92-62 with under 4 minutes to go.

Arkansas was led by Courtney Fortson ‘s 21 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep up with the Wildcats’ scoring barrage.

They ended the first half and began the second on a 21-0 run, including a 3-pointer by Ramon Harris at the halftime buzzer and later consecutive 3s by Miller.

Miller connected on four of six attempts from long range.

Cousins, who finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, secured his double-double just seconds into the second half. He probably would have gotten it even sooner but was sidelined for all but nine minutes of the first half with a minor injury.

Calipari tried to keep expectations low going into the Arkansas game, joking, ”What’s going to happen the next day, we go to the electric chair?”

One thing that did concern him was the Wildcats have been vulnerable against 3-point shooters this year, and Arkansas has one of the nation’s best of those in Rotnei Clarke . However, Clarke was just 2-of-9 from beyond the arc and the Razorbacks managed just one other 3.

It was Kentucky’s third 100-point effort of the season and first in SEC play.

Pelphrey has now lost all three meetings against his alma mater as an opposing coach.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/gameflash/2010/01/23/58835_recap.html#ixzz0dTybSb3A

Kentucky should be ranked #1 on Monday.

Darius Miller was stroking it from the outside hitting 4-6 from the Trey.  Stevenson got in early and had a killer dunk.  Wall and Bledsoe played like Siamese Twins out there.  Cousins got a double double and lost a tooth.  Patrick Patterson had his normal outstanding game.

Kentucky remains undefeated.  Is soon to be ranked #1 and is on their way to the Top #1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Less than two months until the SEC tournament.  I can’t wait to get there and see it.  Live and in person.

GO BIG BLUE!

BONUS: Mich St defeats the Gophers in their house. TLT strikes again. Double Bonus: UL and UNC lost this week.

Today was my last Graduation ceremony at the Regional Police Headquarters in Herat.  Seems like I’m doing a lot of “lasts” these days.

The ceremony started about like most of them have.  It ended like no other.  I’ve graduated around 30 classes in the past 2 1/2 years.  Each course had about 20 students.  Pretty good.  That’s not counting individual one to three day classes and seminars and our Work Shops on Camp Zafar.  We’ve held our classes mostly in Herat.  Either at Zafar, the MRI/RHQ or at the Park Hotel when it was the RHQ.   We’ve also held classes at Shoust, Shindand, Ghalla Attar and Chaghcharan.  We tried to edge into other locations, but, were unsuccessful.  Eventually most of the students from the areas to which we could not visit made it to one of our classes in Herat and Shoust.

The Graduation started with prayer.  In the beginning, this practice made me feel awkward.  Today, though, without consciously realizing it, I found myself participating.  Surprised myself.  At the end of the prayer, the Afghans simulate cleansing themselves by holding their hands in front of themselves palm facing inwards and “washing” their hands over the faces.  They don’t actually touch their faces but raise their hands up to their foreheads and then sweep their hands down their faces from forehead to chin.

After the prayer, MG AK rose to give his speech.  He tore into the Regional Logistics folks.  Really let them have it.  I chuckled at first.  As he ran on for 30 minutes, I began to wonder if he’d ever come to a conclusion.  He’d come to low rumble and then return to a blood curdling crescendo and do it again.  30 minutes passed and finally COL Zahir called Shoaib up to the front.  That was the hint that people were about to pass out from his screeching.  We could take it no longer.  It’s funny, but, the General tends to keep it going long past the point wherein folks start to drown him out.

Finally, he reached his conclusion.

COL Zahir called me up to start the Graduation Ceremony.  I hadn’t intended to make any sort of speech.  I’ve said my speech.  Going so far as to do my own screeching a time or two.  Since AK had touched on the Logistics Cadres shortcomings, I reiterated the simple correction for said shortcomings stating that “they’re one indispensable guide is the Log Policy which had been issued by the MoI.”  Therein are instructions and guidance for any task that an ANP Loggie is expected to carry out.  Easy policy guidance and step by step instruction to the MoI Logistics Program.  I didn’t add “GET OFF YOUR DEAD @** AND READ IT!”  As I’d stated that two days previously for the millionth time during our course.

I finished my little talk and it was time to get down to business.  I’d planned this last course as a kind of friendship tour.  I was able to get around and visit with old friends.  Greg gave most of the course and I was free to socialize.  The Graduation was the final step in cementing a life long friendship in Herat.  I had purchased the carpet that I posted last week as a parting gift for MG Akrummudeen.  Part of was a show of appreciation for support that he’s given me since I’ve been here.  He’s always treated me like a long time friend.  Since day one actually.  I convened the graduation and then stated that before we recognized the graduates that I had a gift for the General and for COL Zahir.

I called the General to the front and presented him with the carpet.  He seemed to be genuinely touched and blushed at the gesture.  A few folks remarked that they’d never seen anyone get a reaction out of him.  Apparently, I had set a new mark in Afghan~US relations.  It’s part of the job, I reckon.  It was a nice feeling to see genuine gratitude in his eyes and smile.  I was told that it was a fairly touching scene.

MG AK took over at that.  He really talked us up.  He told them that I was one of the top Mentors in the region and that I had worked tirelessly to mentor and train the Logistics Cadre.  I wish I had been able to have been properly utilized for the whole of my time in that manner.  As it was, I probably was only able to do about 30% of that which I should have accomplished with the proper logistics/transportation support from MPRI and the Military.  It’s not the local Military’s fault, though.  Herat Region has always been underfunded, under-supplied, under-equipped and undermanned.  It’s how it is and with the Italians taking over, it will only get worse for whoever replaces me.  MG AK then presented me with a Certificate signed by the Deputy Minister of Interior.  That was pretty cool.  After MG AK handed me the cert and we shook hands, the loudest applause that I can remember broke out.  It shocked me.  lol  It was probably the size of the room.  We were in a small conference room.   MG AK then presented Greg and Milton with their certificates.

Afterwards, MG AK handed the event back to me.  I called COL Zahir up to the podium.  Faced the crowd and told them that I had one more presentation before we could move onto the the graduates.

I stated:

Since I started working with COL Zahir, he and I have developed a great friendship as well as a professional relationship.  As I am a fan of the Big Blue, I always try to spread the faith.  With that in mind, I want to take this time to present this #54 Patrick Patterson Kentucky Jersey to COL Zahir as a small token of thanks for both his friendship and for his support during his tenure.  GO BIG BLUE!

I, then, presented the Jersey to COL Zahir.  We shook hands and, hell, we might have hugged.  I can’t remember.

Then that same loud applause broke out.

We handed out the certs to the students and the ceremony was brought to a conclusion.

After the ceremony, I explained to COL Zahir the whole Big Blue hysteria and talked a bit about
Patrick Patterson.  Compared him to Pele and David Beckham in soccer.  I told him that this time next year, Patterson would be playing in the NBA with the likes of Kobe and Lebron.  We chatted for a bit longer and then it was time to get ready to roll back to Camp Stone with the Army.

Later on, Milton and I were talking and came to the conclusion that it was the most emotional and sincere ceremonies in which we had participated in Afghanistan.

It was damn fine day.  Another day of being blessed with a simple happiness and contentedness.  Days like this make me feel privileged to be alive and to be part of all of this.

And to top it off, I was able to bring the BIG BLUE into it.  Ya gotta love that.  Spreading the Gospel.

GO BIG BLUE!!!

……

…..

GO BIG BLUE!!!

I purchased a couple of UK sweatshirts to give to my little friends over at the RHQ.  I wanted to give the sweat shirts to the kids before I left for leave as a Christmas gift.  I didn’t have the time, though.  So I put them away until after my R&R.

Wahid, Shoaib and I took the  sweatshirts and a few other items (puzzles and candy) to the kids today.   It was fun playing with the kids and explaining them the meaning of the puzzles.   I explained to them who Donald and Daisy  Duck and Huey, Dewey and Louie are as well as the 101 Dalmatians and the Cookie Monster.  As I was doing it, Shoaib reminded me that I used to call Wahid the cookie monster.  When I first met Wahid, he scammed one of my cookies off of me.  I got mad and told him that I’d kick his ass if he ever touched my stuff again.  lol  Then I started messing with him and nicknamed him cookie monster.  It ran on for a year and finally I just let it tail off.  He was pretty embarrassed by it.   Of course, that just made me rub it in all the more.

We gave them the sweatshirts and the candy.  Baba brought over his baby girls as well.  They were cute little girls.  One of them was scared to death of me and the other just looked at me as if I was a curiosity.  I laughed and laughed.  Kept tell ing her; “so you’re the brave one of the family” and laughing.  She let me hold her and talked to me and generally was a fearless little gal.  I loved it.  Too cool.

After the boys put on their sweatshirts, I got them to pose with the flags and yell “Go Big Blue!”  It was too funny and too cute.  I wish I had my vidcam, but, I left it in Thailand with Unny.  I had to coax Nahida over to get into the picture.  She gets shy when the camera comes out.

I sometimes wonder what these kids think of all of this.  I’m some strange American man and I bring them things for no reason.  Shoaib teased Nahida today and told her that I wanted to take her back to the States to marry my son.  She didn’t take to the idea.  I told her that he was joking and I don’t have a son.  No need to worry about that.  Even so, she seemed nervous the whole time.  As if she thought we might take her away.

I kept re-assuring her that it was in no way going to happen.  Although, I’d love to adopt her and take her home with me.  Get her away from the fate that most likely awaits her as an adult Afghan woman.  Send her to school and lead her to a happier life.

I gave Shoaib the camera and he snapped away as I played and acted like a kid myself.  I think they enjoyed it.  Little Jalil called me Dear Uncle today.  I can’t remember the Dari word for Uncle  or I’d type it here.  Then Jalil and Ali started calling me Dawood Khan.  lol  That’s what was on my name tag on my uniform when I first met them.  I laughed and laughed.  I got them to yell “Kentucky!” and “GO BIG BLUE!”, “Patrick Patterson” and “John Wall.”  I was trying to get them to say “The Great Wall of Kentucky!”  But I think it was too long.  lol

Then I got them to yell “UK is Number One” and “Go Big Blue!” again.

It was a fun time.  Always nice seeing my little friends.  Peace!

“NBA, that’s all I’ve got to say,” Wildcats forward Patrick Patterson said. “John Wall is a pro player and he wants the ball in crunch-time situations. Whenever we need a basket or something on the offensive end John is going to be the one to do it.”

Calipari on Wall and Bledsoe:

“I think we’ve got two guys when the game is on the line they are not afraid to make plays, which bodes well for us,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “You saw once again that late in the game I’m not calling a timeout. I don’t need to be a hero, let those guys be the hero.”

“Those two guys have the killer (instinct),” Calipari said. “What you want is the guys with the killer to bleed onto the others. Just a will to win.”

“For such a young team, they showed a lot of poise down the stretch,” Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins said. “(Wall) is one of the fastest guards I’ve ever seen play on any level. He showed a lot of poise for his age. He’s a terrific player.”

On the other side, Wall was the only Kentucky player to get going before the break. The freshman guard had 15 points but could not do all the heavy lifting with preseason All-American forward Patterson going out of the game less than six minutes in with two fouls. Without Patterson’s inside presence the Wildcats struggled to get anything in the paint and shot just 35.5 percent from the field.

Patterson got going early in the second half on his way to his 25th career double-double, but he missed two point-blank opportunities on the same possession that would have given Kentucky its first lead since late in the first half with just over 10 minutes remaining.

He made up for it later, using a power post move to give Kentucky a 54-53 lead with 6:42 to play.

John Wall will be the first #1 Draft Pick in Kentucky History.  He or Patterson should be the First UK Basketballer to bring home the Adolph Rupp Trophy for Player of the Year.  I think one of them will bring home the Wooden Trophy as well.  Wall may well be the most highly regarded Frosh/Student Athlete to ever have worn the UK Jersey by the time this year is finished.  He is certainly lived up to the hype surrounding him as a player.  What’s more is that the guy is actually a good student and a good guy as well.

Calipari pulled off a recruiting coup with John Wall.  His second best recruiting pitch was retaining Patrick Patterson.  These are two All World Student Athletes.  I just hope that all of the anti-Cal or anti-Kentucky feeling out there doesn’t hurt them over the course of the year.  Lots of guys out there who are waiting like vultures for something, anything to pop up to stall or kill Cal and Kentucky’s momentum.  Yet, these same hypocrites defend John Wooden as if their reputations depended upon said defense.

This year, UK has three of the Top Freshman in the CNNSI Power Rankings.  Wall and Cousins are ranked #’s 1 and 2 respectively.  Eric Bledsoe is ranked at #25.  I’m sure that Bledsoe will rise as the year goes on.  All three are players.  I can see them all going to the NBA after this year.  Hopefully, Bledsoe and Cousins come back for a 2nd year.  The good thing, though, is that IF Cousins sees it as more wise to come out for the Draft after this year, it will likely mean that he has helped lead UK to a Final Four or better.

This should be a great year for Kentucky Basketball.  Patterson, Wall and the rest of the Frosh are finding ways to win this year.  Whereas last year, Billy Gillispie was finding ways to lose.



GO BIG BLUE!!!