LEX18.com - Lexington, KY

Posted: Nov 17, 2009 12:18 AM
Updated: Nov 17, 2009 12:20 AM

For a large chunk of the first half, Miami couldn't miss.  They were hitting an off the chart number of 79% from downtown.

Some of it was they were just feeling it.

Some of it was bad UK defense.

36---18 UK trailed.

"We were down 18 with a freshman team," says Cal.

"And every time we did something they just took the air out of the sails by making a shot."

So far, whatever the case, Cal keeps on pushing a positive spin.

"There was good here. But I will be honest with you. There is no reason to be upset with any of these kids. This falls back on me."

Cal isn't just talking to the media.

Cal isn't just talking to the players.

Cal isn't just talking to True Blue Fans.

Cal is always talking to future recruits who don't want to play for someone like Billy G.  They want to play for a coach who says, "my bad."

UP 70-67, Kenny Hayes hits a beautiful three with six seconds to go.

Get used to it.  Unless there is a reason, Cal doesn't call time out in that situation.

Although he looked calm and cool to you and me, that wasn't the case.

Wall's honesty is refreshing.

"I don't know, I was kind of nervous," says Wall, who led the Cats with 19.

"Six seconds left coach said make a play. He likes players who can make a play."

"Like last game Eric (Bledsoe) made the plays. I had an open shot and I just took it."

"Thank God I made it."

Wall makes it and Cats win 72--70.

Charlie Coles once again has a Miami team that is smart, well coached and tough.  He's been doing that for a long time.  Coles thoughts on Wall and the Cats, if you think it's important how athletes handle themselves, is terrific.

"I don't know if he (John Wall) played particularly well. He has to work on some things."

"But I'm not his coach. But I liked the way he conducted himself. I like the way all those kids did."

Boogie, as he wants to be called, put it all together in a few words.

"I said it after the game," says DeMarcus Cousins who didn't realize he had a double--double, 10 points and 10 rebounds, until LEX18 told him. 

"John just started his legacy."

Can you imagine hitting a shot with less than a second to go in a tie game to win it for the Cats at Rupp ?

"It felt good," says Wall.

"Just to get the ball quick and make the shot with that amount of time left."

"That means I have confidence to make the shot and that's what I did."