LOOKING BACK

 The Corbin Redhounds had a tough weekend as they traveled to Louisville to take on the Trinity Shamrocks. The Shamrocks are the defending state champions and a favorite to repeat.

I was pleased with what Coach Tony Pietrowski said in his post game interview. Coach P felt his kids played hard and even though the score got out of hand, he was pleased with the effort.

The Saturday game was a very competitive game against a good Spencer County team. Two games in less than 24 hours with an overnight can certainly drain the energy of your team.

Dave Cox, who does play by play on the radio for the ‘Hounds made the comment that had the Redhounds played Spencer County the first game it could have been a different result.

I know by now the kids are tired and maybe down a little bit after two tough losses, but if I have them read right, this group of young men have a lot of fight left in them and there is not a team in the 13^th region they cannot beat.

Coach Pietrowski’s team will play the Bell County Bobcats Thursday at 4 p.m. at North Laurel in a Christmas Tournament.

 ‘Cats

The Kentucky Wildcats seem to have Coach John Calipari concerned after plans of going three practices per day and two additional sessions on their own has not got the results he had hoped for.

That sounds like a Gillespie prescription. The looks on the faces of Archie Goodwin, Alex Poythress, and Willie Cauley-Stein reveal that they are lost in Coach Cal’s directions to succeed.

I really like Goodwin and feel he may yet turn the corner and play to his potential. I believe a pat on the back may bring a smile and may inspire Goodwin to play, as he is capable.

Willie-Cauley-Stein I believe will be an outstanding play before he leaves UK. Poythress is a puzzle to me, he has talent but is no Michael Kidd Gilchrist. Kyle Wiltjer will have good games and not so good, but will get even better as his confidence grows. Nerlins Noel continues to play as hard or harder than anyone on the team.

 UK Football

Switching to football at UK and their new Coach Mark Stoops. Coach Stoops may have made an excellent acquisition as he hired Neal Brown as an offensive coordinator. Brown has an excellent resume. The price tag on Coach Brown was $550,000 per year, and they say the economy is bad.

The have laid the cash out. Hopefully, the can achieve the results that will be expected of them.

 Jurich

Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich must rank as one of the best college Athletic Directors in the country. Jurich has one of the five best basketball coaches (Rick Pitino) in the nation, and a highly rated football coach in Charlie Strong.

Mitch Barnhart needs Mark Stoops to be successful; he cannot afford another hire like Billy Gillespie.

 Petrino

How will Bobby Petrino do as coach at Western Kentucky? I would not be surprised if he won his first two games against Kentucky and Tennessee, and if he does he will be off and running with his wandering eye looking for a step back up the ladder.

 Edwards Gym

Another memory of Edwards Gymnasium as my mind drifts back to a pair of guards as they led the Redhounds on to the court.

Who were they? Edd Selvy and Calvin Bird were as good of a pair of guards as any in the state in 1954 and 1955.