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WKU, Trezl, UK, & Everything Else...Let's Talk About It

I've had all evening & a family Christmas party to not only think about this, but to hear it from uncles & cousins. It's been a long day & still somewhat angry about today's game. I was there, live & in person. I want to offer some perspective on today as well as some other things- including next Saturday.

First of all, WKU. Like Mike I've always somewhat cheered for the Tops when they weren't playing us. I've never really been a fan of Western even though I've lived in this part of the state all of my life. Today was only my second college game to attend there, the first since 1990 when the 'Ville with LaBradford Smith & company came to town. Ray Harper grew up the same county, Muhlenberg, that I did. There's not a bad seat in Diddle Arena, but that's about all the good I've got to say.

I was in the line at the concession stand when the Trezl stuff happened. Their concession stands are terrible. Long, slow lines, that drag out completely due to some pretty sad service behind the counters. Pay with a card there, & you still have to sign the receipt. I've never done that at the Yum! Center! The nacho's were nasty. The cheese was cold & the peppers were not too plentiful. I agree with Mike that I think that today will be the last time in the foreseeable future that Louisville travels to Bowling Green. With all due respect we shouldn't even be going there. We're Louisville. We are too big to be going to a non-conference arena like that to play a team that views us as their Super Bowl. The acoustics were horrific & you couldn't even make out what the PA announcer was saying. I say that if we sign another contract with WKU we play 2 games at the Yum! One game in Nashville, and the other in Rupp. We have no business going back to P Diddle Dumplin Arena.

The hardest thing about the Trezl incident has been the fans of other teams & the media. Yet it was also difficult to watch it on replay & see a man of his caliber react with such actions. I get it that he was pushed; I saw the taunting of the WKU players while standing over him before he got up. I saw that & any reasonable & objective person will see that too. However Montrezl may very well have hurt his image significantly today. Any time you're ejected it's not good. To be one of the highest profile players in America & to have this happen does not bode well for him in any way. You'd hope that an upperclassman like Trezl would have controlled his emotions much better. Which leads me to something some of you will get flustered about.

I love Trezl! He's the man...a beast! His motor, his high energy & his desire to win is unsurpassed by anyone in the country. However, something I've noticed very much this year & heard it a lot tonight at our Christmas party & even in the parking garage in Bowling Green today after the game. Montrezl needs to STOP acting like he's king of the world every time he scores. I love his thunderous dunks & passion for the game. But his attitude after every time he makes a field goal is a little embarrassing. He acts as if he's just done something that no one else has ever accomplished. Staring down an opposing player after a field goal is, to me, very childish. Or as someone else said, sort of "thuggish". His talent is incredible & his game is powerful. Just dunk the ball & go about your business. You're a star player on a top tier team & program. Act like it! Take care of business with the rim & let the rest take care of itself.

Of course the pUKe fans are having a good time with this. Some UK fanatic tweeted after the game today, "Congratulations to U of L. They did something today that UK hasn't this year. They managed to win a game by less than 10 points." Couple that attitude with their performance today against UCLA & I'm already hearing how that we have no chance next week. That UK is too deep, talented, & oh by the way, that Cal has Pitino's number. So all this brings me back to Trezl.

I love the way he did not dodge the UK questions last week. I think he does see the importance of this game. That this is NOT just another game & that Louisville has the best chance of anyone to beat UK. I could write for hours about why we need to win this game & the implications win or lose. Here are a few:

* Our record at the Yum! Center against UK. Right now we're 1-1. If there's one way & place in which we should lead the series it should be in games at the Yum! 'Nuff said on that.

* Cal 6- Pitno 1...Need I say more?

* Last year's Sweet 16...UGH!!!!!

* It's UK

We as a fanbase must understand that if we want to be National Champions we must first be State Champions. Next week's game will most likely feature 2 undefeated team on national TV & the eyes of college basketball will be on the Commonwealth. This is our time! This is our chance!

One thing that I hope so desperately is that as I watch it on ESPN 2, that I don't see a lower bowl about 1/3 blue in our house. If you have tickets to the game & you sell them to a UK fan, you're not a Louisville fan at all! Don't call yourself something your not. The Yum! Center is our house. Not UK's second home court!

I'll go on & put this out there & go on & predict it: Anas is going to be a star! Unless he gets hurt, that young man is gonna be special. He doesn't have to be great right now. We just need him to be 7 feet. But his game, skills, & attitude are already showing & he's only going to get better.

Terry Rozier...Need I say more?

All in all this could very well be a Final Four team at U of L. I can even see us playing in the championship game & cutting the nets again. However, for that to happen, Trezl is going to have to act like a professional before he signs his professional contract.

Go Cards!