But it really boils down to one.

The same one.

Turnovers.

Same old story, same old song and dance. Broken record, yes, but it’s also true that until Kentucky cuts down on its viral tendency to turn the ball over,  this ’08-09 edition will never reach its full potential, and Sunday presented a definite example as to why, or why not.

Kentucky shot 46.9 percent. Louisville shot 46.8 percent. Kentucky made 23 field goals. Louisville made 22 field goals. Kentucky made 19 of 22 free throws. Louisville made 19 of 23 free throws. Those numbers seem to suggest that the difference in the game was the fact the Cards made 11 of 20 three-pointers, while Kentucky was just six of 16 from beyond the stripe. And there is no doubting the significance of that.

But here’s the thing. Coming in, a reasonable Kentucky concern was rebounding. Talking to Mike Pratt before the game, the UK radio analyst expressed a fear that the Cats might be bludgeoned on the boards. A legitimate fear. Louisville had outrebounded its last eight opponents. The better teams had battered the Cats on the boards. UK lost the boards by 14 to North Carolina, by 19 to Kansas State, by 13 to West Virginia, even by 7 to Indiana.

But the Cats didn’t lose the boards Sunday. They actually whipped Louisville 32-22 on the glass. Even better, the Cats pulled down twice as many offensive rebounds (14-7) as did the host Cardinals. Louisville had 15 defensive rebounds, which means there were 29 available rebounds on the U of L end of the floor. Amazingly, Kentucky got nearly 50 percent of those boards.

And a rebounding edge, especially an edge on the offensive glass, normally translates into a field goal attempt advantage. Stands to reason that the more offensive rebounds a team gets, the more shots, and the more chance at makes, it gets.

Against Miami, UK grabbed 10 more offensive rebounds than did the Hurricanes, and ended up with 18 more shots. Against Tennessee State, the Cats enjoyed an advantage of six on the offensive boards, and got off 13 more shots.

That didn’t happen Sunday. Kentucky won the boards by 10, the offensive boards by seven, and yet ended up with just two more shots (49-47).

Why?

Because too may times after those rebounds, the Cats turned the ball over. Consider that Kentucky outrebounded Louisville by 10 in the first half, and somehow got off three less shots. Reason: Gillispie’s club turned it over 14 times in the first half. That’s 14 opportunities at additional shots that instead turned into empty possessions. Given that, seems a near miracle that the Cats were down just three at the half.

Plus, the turnovers had a direct correlation to Louisville’s three-pointers. Afterward, Gillispie lamented his team’s transition defense, and lack of communication in the transition game. When asked about U of L’s threes, Billy G. pointed out that several of the Cardinals’ triples came off transition, by shooters who were not picked up on the break. And there’s that old adage that a turnover is usually the first pass of an opponent’s fast break. It all fits together.

It is also, unfortunately, the story of this Kentucky. Sunday was the sixth game this season the Cats have turned it over at least 20 times in a game. Last year’s team suffered such a plight just five times all season. UK’s record this year when committing 20-or-more turnvoers: 3-3. UK’s record this year when committing less than 20 turnovers: 8-1.

• In the NW Arkansas Times, Terry Wood writes that John Pelphrey is putting passion back into Arkansas basketball with a capital P.
• In the Clarion-Ledger, Kyle Veazey reports on Mississippi State’s out of Western Kentucky.
• In the Orlando Sentinel, David Whitley writes on Tim Tebow.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Pat Dooley reports that Percy Harvin’s ankle is 90 percent for BCS title game.
• Also in the Sun, Robbie Andreu writes on Gator back Brandon James, who is looking to break out against OU.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama will look to a stable of capable quarterbacks in the spring.
• Also in the Press-Register, columnist Tommy Hicks examines whether Florida is too fast for Oklahoma.
• In the Tennessean, David Climer writes that Utah deserves votes for No. 1 after beating Bama.
• In The State, Joe Person reports that South Carolina defensive star Eric Norwood will return for his senior season.
• In The Advocate, Gary Laney previews LSU-Utah.

Photo by Mark Cornelison.

News and notes after Kentucky’s 74-71 loss to Louisville:

• Kentucky turned it over 21 times, including 14 in the first half. That’s the sixth time this year UK has turned it over at least 20 times in a game. Last year’s Cats did it only five times all season.

• Kentucky averaged 1.07 points per possession. Louisville averaged 1.12 points per possession.

• The 1.12 is the highest against UK since VMI averaged 1.21 in UK’s season-opening loss.

• U of L made 11 of 20 three-pointers for 55 percent. That’s the best three-point shooting against the Cats since San Diego made nine of 16 for 56.3 percent in its win over the Cats on Dec. 29 last season.

• The 11 threes are not the most UK has allowed in a game this year. VMI made 14 of 31.

• Jodie Meeks scored 28 points, but he did have six turnovers and no assists. It is his most turnovers since he committed nine against Kansas State in Las Vegas.

• Kevin Galloway started at point guard, but played just four minutes.

• Josh Harrellson played just five minutes and turned it over three times.

• DeAndre Liggins played eight minutes, his fewest since refusing to go in the second half against Kansas State back in November. He played just two minutes that game.

• Patrick Patterson recorded his ninth double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. That’s his most rebounds since 16 against Miami.

• After playing 49 minutes the last two games, walk-on Landon Slone did not see the floor against Louisville.

• The crowd of 20,078 is the sixth largest in Freedom Hall.

• UK averaged a turnover every 3.16 possessions.

• Kentucky shot 46.9 percent for the game. The Cats had won nine straight games shooting that possession or higher. The last loss was to VMI when UK shot 54.2 percent.

• Edgar Sosa was 8-of-38 on threes for the year before hitting the game-winner.

• Kyle Kuric, who hit a three for Louisville, had not made a three since the Indiana State on Dec. 6.

• Sosa hits deep three with 2.8 to give Louisville win 74-71.

• U of L up 71-67 with 32.4 left.

• Louisville up 69-64 with ball with 58.5 seconds remaining. Two bad turnover son last two Cat possessions.

• Cats call time at 1:59, with ball, down 66-64. Porter 3 cut it to 1.
  

• Ville up 66-61 at 3:49 mark. Williams just called for palming. Louisville has 12 turnovers to 19 for Cats. Ville now down to 45.7. It missed four shots in one possession. UK up 29-20 on boards. Cats shooting 50 percent.

• There’s Meeks for a 3. It’s 64-59 Ville as Cards call time at 6:43. Samuels back in.

• Louisville leads 64-53 with 7:48 remaining. Cards have hit 10 of 17 threes. Who says Pitino has lost it? Smith is 3-of-3. Williams is 3-of-4. Louisville shot 29.6 percent from floor on Wednesday. Cards are shooing 51.3 now.

• It’s 57-48 Louisville with 11:57 left. Wild half as neither bench is happy with officials. U of L had a 12-0 run after the Gillispie T. UK  is shooting 48.6 percent for game. Meeks (18) and Patterson (17) have 35 of UK’s 48 points.

• Louisville back in front 49-43 at 15:35. Cards have scored 7 straight since Gillispie technical at 17:14. Will Scott off the bench for four of those points, including a big 3. UK had gone ahead 43-42 before Billy G. was hit with T.

• Patterson had nine rebounds the first half.

• Louisville shot 44.4 percent on 12 of 27 shots the first half. Cards made five of 10 threes, and 9 of 10 from foul line. Cards were outrebounded 19-9. U of L turned it over six times, and had eight steals to two for Cats. Clark and Sosa each have nine points.

• Kentucky shot an even 50 percent the first half, making 12 of 24. UK was 3-of-7 on 3s, and 8-of-9 from foul line. Meeks leads way with 14. Patterson is next with 8. UK committed 14 turnovers in the first half.

• Halftime: Louisville 38, Kentucky 35.

• Louisville 36-29 with 3:16 left. Cards are 12-of-24 from floor. UK is 11-of-21. Meek has 14, but no other Cat has more than five. UK up to 12 turnovers.
  

• It’s 28-24 Louisville at 7:13 TV time. UK is shooting 62.5 percent and down four. Meek is 5-of-8 from floor, 2-of-3 from 3. Remember, he scored 46 on this floor against Appy State. Louisville has six points from Jerry Smith, who just hit two threes. Meeks has 14 points to lead all scorers.

• It’s 20-16 Louisville at the 11:17 TV time. Cats are 6-of-8 from floor, but have turned it over nine times. The Cats are 2-of-2 from three, both by Meeks. Louisville has made 6-of-13 shots. Clark and Meeks each have 8 points.

• It’s 13-6 Louisville at the 15:52 TV timeout. The Cats have already turned it over six times, including Liggins committing a turnover in backcourt. UK has made three of four shots — so it has two more turnovers than shots at this point. Sosa has five points to lead all scorers. Clark has four for the Cards, as well.

• UK’s starters are Galloway, Porter, Meeks, Stevenson and Patterson.

• Louisville’s starters are Williamson, Clark, Sosa, Samuels and Smith.

• Francisco Garcia is courtside.

• Tony Greene, Tim Higgs and John Cahill are the officials today.

• Ramon Harris is dressed and warming up with the Cats.

• Father Bradley is here. He’s standing at midcourt watching Louisville warm up.

• Kevin Harlan and Clark Kellogg are doing the game for CBS.

• It’s 2:30 p.m. at Freedom Hall and Lousville’s Earl Clark has been out on the floor taking shots for at least the last 15 minutes. He has U of L managers shagging rebounds.

• In the Gainesville Sun, John Patton reports on Nick Calathes’ star turn in Florida’s win over N.C. State.
• Also in the Sun, Robbie Andreu writes on how Florida defense sees the Oklahoma offense.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith reports that Bruce Pearl is down on Tennessee’s defense after loss at Kansas.
• Also in the News-Sentinel, Mark Packer writes that price tag makes UT’s gamble large.
• In The Advocate, Gary Laney writes on LSU’s basketball win over Southeast Louisiana.
• In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bob Holt reports on the Razorbacks in over North Texas.
• In the AJC, Tim Tucker writes that Tennessee is coming after Georgia recruiting ace Rodney Garner.
• Also in the AJC, Mark Bradley wonders if Georgia might be pre-season No. 1 again next year.
• Yet again in the AJC, Chip Towers reports on Georgia’s hoops loss to Missouri.
• Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that the biggest prizes slipped away from Alabama.
• Also in the News, Ian Rapoport reports that star Alabama tackle Andre Smith announces his intentions to turn pro.
• In the Tuscaloosa News, Cecil Hurt writes that loss of Smith was not only reason for Sugar Bowl loss.
• In the Tennessean, Vandy takes apart UMass.
• In the Clarion-Ledger, David Brandt writes that Ole Miss hopes to ride its Cotton Bowl win into next year.