I’d normally do “Make My Day” since there’s a game tonight, but the answer is really simple: Kentucky just needs to do what they did against Delaware State. The slower pace was just what the doctor ordered, so hopefully that’s what Longwood does and hopefully the execution is the same. Let’s just get to Vegas without anymore injuries or humiliation and I won’t complain.

Now, onto the random thoughts.

* I don’t know what to make of the Jai Lucas situation. If you believe sources, Lucas has said that there is mutual interest between him and Kentucky. This situation is a double-edged sword. On one hand, Kentucky needs another guard that can shoot the ball. DeAndre Liggins and GJ Vilarino might make some shots, but they won’t be classified as shooters. Lucas can command the respect of defenses with his shot. On the other side, when you’ve got somebody that small, you had better hope he’s a blur so he can still be a defensive presence. Unfortunately, Lucas’s speed isn’t what you would expect from somebody under six feet. Also, it might put a wrench into some of the recruiting plans Coach Gillispie may have had for the next couple of years. In the end, I still maintain that Coach Gillispie made the right move accepting the commitment from Liggins. Remember, back when Liggins committed, Lucas was still up in the air in his decision. One final argument against going hard after Lucas is his father, John Lucas. I’m always a little uneasy when it comes to players with extremely active parents (Mrs. Legion, anybody?). I think they can be bad influences and can screw up the chemistry of the team. John Lucas seems very active to me, at least for a parent.

* Gardner-Webb led Oklahoma for the entire game until losing 80-76. Had it not been for a superhuman 30-20 game from Blake Griffin, GW would have crushed the Sooners. That doesn’t excuse us losing to them last year or VMI this year, but games like these are happening all over the place. Either way, Oklahoma is going to be just fine unless Griffin gets hurt. Griffin is one of maybe seven guys who can carry their team to six wins in March when nobody else on the team plays well.

* I wonder if Indiana wishes Sean Miller had taken them up on their offer. Miller won the Puerto Rico tournament last night with an upset victory over Memphis. Xavier had to beat Virginia Tech on a halfcourt shot just to make it to the finals of said tournament, but you get wins however they may come. Memphis is still loaded despite losing three guys to the NBA, and X lost a huge amount of talent (Drew Lavender, Stanley Burrell, etc.), but those guys slowed it down (the time-tested way to beat Memphis), and after a few missed free throws, they managed to make enough big plays down the stretch to get the upset. Sean Miller is not going to be with X for much longer. He has East Coast roots. More specifically Big East roots, so all that has to happen is for a more prestigious program on the East Coast to fire its coach. I think it will be either St. John’s or Seton Hall. There is enough talent in New York and New Jersey that you don’t have to leave the area in order to recruit well at either one of those schools.

* How can you tell college basketball season is here? Today’s the opening round of the Maui Invitational! Remember when people thought that teams that played in Maui got head starts on the season? I miss those days. Alabama, Chaminade, Indiana, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oregon, St, Joe’s and Texas comprise one of the most loaded Maui fields ever. At the same time, you’ve got Florida vs. Syracuse and Kansas vs. Washington in the CBE tournament at Kansas City. What a great lineup of basketball for such horrible weather.

* Florida went way down in the BCS this week because they played The Citadel. I’m starting to worry about something. If Florida beats Alabama in the SEC Championship game and Texas and Oklahoma each win out, is it conceivable that Texas and Oklahoma could meet again, only this time for the National Championship? If that happens, I think the SEC should just secede from FBS and form its own league that awards its own championship. Have every team play each other in an 11-game season and see who wins.

* Finally, here’s a funny video that has nothing to do with anything I just said. It’s one of the greatest falls I’ve ever seen, and before you ask, she was okay. Enjoy

I’m Seth Stogsdill, and this weather sucks. If it’s going to be cold, it might as well be snowing.