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The Dagger

Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:19 pm EST

Get used to the John Wall hype, because here it comes

By Eamonn Brennan

Monday night's Kentucky-Miami (Ohio) game could have been a disaster. Here were the ultra-talented, ultra-hyped Wildcats not only in a close game but losing, losing, down by five in the second half to a supposedly cakey RedHawks team. When you let teams like Miami hang around, bad things happen. They did: The RedHawks hit a three with five seconds left to the tie the game at 70, and it appeared that Kentucky would have at least another five minutes of too-close basketball with a vastly inferior opponent.

Then, John Wall happened.

Wall took the inbounds pass -- Kentucky coach John Calipari didn't call a timeout -- and sprinted down the court. Miami didn't have time to rush an extra defender Wall's way, and he had a pretty good look at a step-back jump shot from the wing. He made it. Now, after 19 points and five assists and a spectacular game-winner, the legend of John Wall begins.

The hype for Wall's entree into college basketball was already off the charts, but a shot like this cements it. A Kentucky loss would have meant the Wildcats weren't ready, that they haven't congealed, that talent doesn't always trump solidity and experience. It would have meant a calmer, more somber UK fan base. Instead, Kentucky's win is an early season coronation for Wall and Eric Bledsoe and DeMarcus Cousins, Calipari's freshmen phenoms. The John Wall hype is bad enough already, but it's about to get worse. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Hype is fun when it's deserved.

In the meantime, Kentucky has its fair share of problems to address. Transition defense was really ugly. Miami was able to handle the dribble-drive at times. Wall's primary contributions came from the free-throw line and not within the flow of the game. And so on.

Wall's story begins one way; Kentucky's begins another. Calipari has plenty to fix. In the meantime, he can rely on John Wall. Like a last-second win over Miami, there are worse fates.

Related: Moving Pictures, SEC Basketball

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52 Comments

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  1. Peter D
    1. Posted by Peter D Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:31 am EST

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    he'll look good on the Bobcats
  2. SoBrave
    2. Posted by SoBrave Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:00 am EST

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    He is gonna be great as he continues to make buzzer beaters for Kentucky when they need to beat teams like MIami OH at home. C'mon Everyone. Kentucky will not be as good as everyone says they are. I think Wall is one of the Top 10 freshmen in the country. I do not think that it means instant stardom though for Wall.
  3. Chris D
    3. Posted by Chris D Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:06 am EST

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    Deserved the hype? I'm not even sure if thats possible.
  4. Clay
    4. Posted by Clay Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:44 am EST

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    And here come the haters
  5. dagoldeneagle
    5. Posted by dagoldeneagle Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:48 am EST

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    john wall=overrated
  6. derek a
    6. Posted by derek a Tue Nov 17, 2009 7:25 am EST

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    Coach Cal just needs time to bend the rules and get his players in there and then bolt right before the NCAA comes in and finds all the rules he broke. I'd say about 5 years.
  7. Noel
    7. Posted by Noel Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:09 am EST

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    Barely beating Miami Ohio doesn't make him great at all it makes him lucky.
    Kentucky=OVERRATED.
  8. Bill
    8. Posted by Bill Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:21 am EST

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    lol Jealous fans. We have a young team and a new system and that was the result of it.
  9. Joe P
    9. Posted by Joe P Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:59 am EST

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    I love all the jealousy. I guess that'll happen when you have more wins than any team in college basketball. I also love how you all like to talk about how overrated kentucky is and how bad theyre gonna do... yet you fail to mention who your' team is. Ah envy. Also Derek A...Calipari has NEVER been in trouble for breaking ANY rules... so how about you get your facts straight before you start spouting off at the mouth. Maybe next time you wont end up looking like such a douche bag.
  10. roger v
    10. Posted by roger v Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:14 am EST

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    Haha for the past 2 months all we have heard is how unbeatable UK is, now all we are hearing is,they are young,they will mesh, we will lose "a few games" etc.......Hmmm why didnt you think of all that before opening ya'lls big mouth? Simple isnt it?
  11. ed
    11. Posted by ed Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:16 am EST

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    First of all, there are no seniors on this kentucky team. second.... anybody that is hatin on how overated kentucky is..... are probably memphis fans or your team is wack.... stop crying. 3rd..... you tell me one point guard right now that is averaging 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 asst a game, dunking in crowds and will be the number 1 overall pick? Oh... John Wall. anbody else? I didnt thanks so!
  12. Mic
    12. Posted by Mic Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:44 am EST

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    Wall the best freshman? Not so far. I'd take Xavier Henry's line over Wall's any day. Henry scored 27 points in 24 minutes. Wall had 19 points in 38 minutes. Best freshman? Hardly. Also, not sure where you are getting your numbers from. The box score gives Wall 2 rebounds and 5 assists. Henry had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block... Still, you're probably right about number one draft pick overall. But it won't be because of anything Wall does at Kentucky. It'll be all that left over hype from high school and a few game winning shots over mediocre teams.
  13. Mic
    13. Posted by Mic Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:48 am EST

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    Wall the best freshman? Not so far. I'd take Xavier Henry's line over Wall's any day. Henry scored 27 points in 24 minutes. Wall had 19 points in 38 minutes. Best freshman? Hardly. Also, not sure where you are getting your numbers from. The box score gives Wall 2 rebounds and 5 assists. Henry had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block... Still, you're probably right about number one draft pick overall. But it won't be because of anything Wall does at Kentucky. It'll be all that left over hype from high school and a few game winning shots over mediocre teams.
  14. derek a
    14. Posted by derek a Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:54 am EST

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    Easy Joe P. I like coach Cal. He wins every where he goes but ask UMass if he every broke any rules there and while your at it ask the NCAA why they stripped UMass of their Final Four appearance. I also believe Memphis has some allegations still to answer to from when he was there.
  15. pink floyd
    15. Posted by pink floyd Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:14 am EST

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    Will Kentucky go undefeated? Of course not. Will it take time to jell? Sure. They've only had 20 or so days of official practice and five of the top 8 are freshmen/transfers. UNC and UConn back-to-back in a couple of weeks will tell us (and Cal) how far they have to go. But make no mistake. This team will be a factor come March. You saw how Cal flipped a switch on Cousins after the break in that "coaching session" on the bench. He responded with a double double in his remaining 15 minutes of playing time. And I'm sure you didn't miss PP. Think he's improved? Two threes in two games which is exactly two more than he had all last year. Not like he's given up anything inside either. How about Darius Miller? Ice-cold water running through his veins. If Bledsoe can cut down on turnovers, this is clearly a final four caliber team. Ridicule them now, at your peril.
  16. jjminer2
    16. Posted by jjminer2 Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:25 am EST

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    John Wall is nice, lol.
    If he stays for 1 more year kentucky will be nasty come next season.
  17. jjminer2
    17. Posted by jjminer2 Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:26 am EST

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    John Wall is nice, lol.
    If he stays for 1 more year kentucky will be nasty come next season.
  18. Jackson Steger
    18. Posted by Jackson Steger Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:27 am EST

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    Id like to c him on the heat, but i no thats not happening. just think tho, wade, beasly, walll...im drooling.
    but i still hate this overrated guy, mainly cuz im ku fan all the way but id not hate him on the heat lol
  19. y2andru
    19. Posted by y2andru Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:31 am EST

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    Miami shot the lights out, they aren't a cake walk.
  20. Noel
    20. Posted by Noel Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:38 am EST

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    Xavier Henry is much better than John Wall UK losers. Why would anybody be jealous of you weren't you jokers in the NIT last year ? Yeah I thought so.
    Kentucky hasn't done much of anything since that racist cheating coach of yours left.
    While your program has failed Duke has seen great success and even in our worst years we still make the NCAA tournament.
    Kentucky =Overrated and Losers.
  21. Kcks
    21. Posted by Kcks Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:44 am EST

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    Does anybody know what the ohio players were arguing about at the end of the game??
  22. BobG
    22. Posted by BobG Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:56 am EST

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    Who has hyped KY to be the best team in basketball? Not UK, Calipari, or anybody on the staff. All this hype has come from the media, so they can sell their air time or their newspapers/magazines. As a result, Kentucky Hate has been fueled to the max. There's nothing that can be said or printed that will change anyone's mind now. Even if UK is able to mesh as a team to where they go on to the final 4 and win it all, no one will give them any credit for it...they will all be waiting for an investigation to take it away. Really sad, people.
  23. Karl Marx
    23. Posted by Karl Marx Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:58 am EST

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    Why does Wall have to hit a winner at the buzzer? I thought UK was going to the Final Four this year. They hit a last second shot against Miami OHIO at home. 1st round bust if they keep playing like that.
  24. dan k
    24. Posted by dan k Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:59 am EST

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    "I also love how you all like to talk about how overrated kentucky is and how bad theyre gonna do... yet you fail to mention who your' team is." Hey Joe P, Kentucky is the most overrated, over hyped team in college basketball. WHo envy's your terrible school. What has Kentucky done in the last 10 years besides be irrelevant. Stop living in the past. Winning by 2 points on your home court to a terrible Miami-Ohio team. Wow I'm impressed. Number 4 team in the country? HAHA, more like not top 25 material. Kentucky won't make it out of the SEC, and the SEC is maybe the 5th best conference in college basketball....Oh, and so not to disappoint you with not saying who my team is, here's a hint...RRRROOOOCCCKKK CCCHHHAAALLLKKK JJJAAAYYYYHHHAWWWKKK, KKKKUUUUUU.
  25. Foodie
    25. Posted by Foodie Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:15 am EST

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    The "vastly inferior" opponent was ahead for a large part of the game.
    It's Miami University too.

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