Here's some great stuff from the Kentucky Wildcats arrival back to Rupp Arena as champs...

PHOTO GALLERY (Kentucky.com)

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Maybe it was the most recent articles calling out the boo-birds at Rupp Arena.

Maybe it was opposing players and coaches saying that Rupp fans benefit them more than the Wildcats with their actions.

Maybe it was Billy Gillispie saying that UK fans were detrimental to the play of his team.

Whatever the reason, last night the UK fans responded and were more like the way it used to be, the way it is supposed to be at Rupp.

The crowd was loud and supportive all night and reached its apex when at the end of regulation the ref (who should not be allowed to ref above 2nd grade after the debacle he made of the entire game) called a foul on Galloway and sent Nick Calathes to the line for his 13th, 14th and 15th free throw.

Just prior to the call the crowd had errupted when UK's Jodie Meeks hit an off balance, highly contested shot over Nick Calathes that found the bottom of the net as time expired on the shot clock and 4.7 seconds left in the game to put UK up 68-65

It was obvious before Calathes even stepped to the line that the odds of him making all three shots were going to be slim to none because of how deafening the level of noise was in the arena.  A total of 24,355 fans (7th largest in Rupp Arena history) let their voices be heard and it was staggering.  Needless to say Calathes missed all three shots.

That is what Rupp Arena used to sound like.  The sound of a champion.

And if only for one night the roar returned to Rupp and my 2 hour drive home was worth it.

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UK lost their second SEC game in one week and the geniuses in Lexington are once again complaining about Billy Clyde.

South Carolina has a decent team this year which is 5-2 in the SEC and has beaten UK and Florida.

You can't blame the fact that UK didn't score a basket over a 6 minute period, was outscored 26 to 7 on second chance points and Perry Stevenson not being able to hit just 1 of 2 free throws with 30 seconds left on the coach.  That is on the players.

Rupp Arena has become a place where cry babies who have nothing better to do go and sit silently or boo when UK isn't doing well.  Last time I checked it is when people deserve it the least that you should support them the most.

At this rate Rupp Arena is going to become the Fifth Third Center of the South.

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