Longtime Kentucky basketball fans remember vividly a team that was given the ignoble nickname “Team Turmoil” during the 2001-2002 season. That particular team was beset with numerous off-court and on-court issues but still managed to finish with a 22-10 record and reached the NCAA East Regional semifinal as a #4 seed. The Cats’ season ended with a 78-68 defeat to Maryland, the top seed in the region, and the Terrapins went on to win the national title with a 64-52 win over Indiana in the championship game.

The Kentucky roster was not devoid of talent, with Tayshaun Prince, Keith Bogans, and Chuck Hayes among the top Cats. Similarly to this year’s team, UK struggled mightily in the early season, beginning with a 64-52 season-opening loss to Western Kentucky, but rallied for much of the SEC campaign before faltering down the stretch with losses to Tennessee, Georgia, and Vanderbilt, and a first-round exit in the conference tournament, falling to South Carolina 70-57.

The team had more than its share of controversy, which is how they earned their nickname. There was an injury and subsequent dismissal from the team of sophomore center Jason Parker, the departures of guards Rashaad Carruth, Adam Chiles and Cory Sears, and point guard Cliff Hawkins was ruled academically ineligible.

Like this year’s team, there were also rampant rumors floating around that the players didn’t really like each other, and the on-court chemistry suffered because of that predicament.

That ugliness has resurfaced with this year’s Wildcats. The rumors are flying again, and anyone who has watched this group can easily ascertain there is a major chemistry issue. The offense has absolutely no flow to it, and selfishness has replaced solid ball movement. This is a team that inflates some of its statistics by pouring it on obviously weaker opponents, but when it comes to stepping up against ranked teams, it falls flat.

It was evident that during Kentucky’s most recent debacle, the home loss to Missouri, that Mo Dioubate was bickering with an assistant coach during a timeout. Rumor is the other players are less than enamored with him as well, and the same can be said for Otega Oweh, who has not performed up to expectations.

Even more concerning is that head coach Mark Pope admitted he’s at a loss at what exactly he should do about the stagnant offense, other than saying he needs to simplify it.

At least the original Team Turmoil rallied to make the Big Dance and finish with a respectable record; unless significant changes are forthcoming, this year’s version of Team Turmoil will fall woefully short, and perhaps not even earn a bid to March Madness.

NFL Wild Card round features intriguing matchups

Six NFL playoff games will get the postseason off to a rousing start this weekend, beginning with the Los Angeles Rams heading to Carolina Saturday afternoon, followed by a night game pitting NFC North rivals Green Bay and Chicago in the Windy City.

On Sunday afternoon, the Buffalo Bills travel to Jacksonville to face the upstart Jaguars, and the San Francisco 49ers venture to the City of Brotherly Love to meet the Eagles.

The Sunday night game features the LA Chargers going to New England, and on Monday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Houston Texans.

Multiple storylines abound for this year’s Wild Card contests, and picking winners is likely an exercise in futility. However, I have never claimed to be a genius or a savant, so just for the heck of it, here’s my picks:

Rams 34, Panthers 17

Bears 30, Packers 27

Bills 38, Jaguars 24

Eagles 24, 49ers 20

Patriots 30, Chargers 20

Texans 27, Steelers 17

What can he say?

On Friday afternoon (after this was written and submitted), Cincinnati Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin was scheduled to hold a press conference. Not sure what exactly the de facto general manager can say to appease Who Dey Nation, following three consecutive years of missing the playoffs.

The season just concluded was an unmitigated disaster, with the club falling to 6-11, and losing in embarrassing fashion in the final game of the year to the Cleveland Browns. Not sure how Tobin can explain those results and tell the press how he and the front office will not both another NFL Draft with numerous questionable selections.

Reds still need big bat (or two)

The so-called Hot Stove season has yet to heat up very much at all when it comes to the Cincinnati Reds.

I mean, come on. Acquiring JJ Bleday and Dane Myers doesn’t exactly get the blood pumping. They could be valuable reserves on a contending team, but if you’re penciling either into the starting lineup, well, that tells you all you need to know about the Reds.

There’s still time before spring training for the club to make some moves, but if you look at the franchise’s recent history, that is less than likely, especially if it involves spending significant money. There hasn’t even been many rumors floating around when it comes to the Reds acquiring a power hitter, Luis Robert Jr. notwithstanding. He isn’t the answer either, and the only way I make a deal for him is to not give up much in return.

One rumor involves trading starting pitcher Brady Singer for a slugger, but that sounds risky. Starting pitchers who eat up innings like Singer are valuable, and I’m not sure what the return would be.

There is still hope for the Reds; after all, what would the spring be without at least a little hope? The everyday lineup isn’t great, but it isn’t terrible either. That likely means another season hovering around the .500 mark is in the offing.

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“A man can never be comfortable in life without his own approval.” – Mark Twain