John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Some thoughts on Kentucky’s 73-65 overtime win over Stanford in finals of the Cancun Challenge:

• Kudos to Ramon Harris, the Star of the Game, especially in overtime. Harris scored, got rebounds, played good defense. No wonder John Calipari has been bragging on the senior of late. He came through in the clutch. Without Ramon, Kentucky doesn’t remain undefeated.

• UK outscored the Cardinal 10-2 in overtime.

• John Wall led the way with 23 26 23 points. (UK posted a box score on its site that said 26 points, but now that box has been taken down. Box score in the paper this (Thursday) morning says 23.) The freshman made eight seven of 16 15 shots, and was a perfect 8 of 8 from the line. He hit the two big free throws near the end of regulation. Wall also had five rebounds and five assists.

• Good and bad from DeMarcus Cousins. He scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds. But the big rookie was also 3 of 9 from the foul line, and intentionally missed a second free throw late, when, judging by Calipari’s reaction, that wasn’t what was called for at the time.

• After playing just six minutes the first half, Patrick Patterson was very active the second half. He ended up with 12 points and eight 11 rebounds.

• UK made just 6 of 18 three-pointers, but Eric Bledsoe buried a huge three in overtime to seal the victory. Darius Miller was 3-of-6 from behind the line.

• After shooting 48.1 percent the first half, Stanford shot 36.4 percent on the night. The Cardinal ended up making just seven of 23 three-pointers.

Program note: I’ll be on WLXG-1300 in Lexington with the three-headed monster of Chris Cross, Mike Cameron and Matthew Laurence at 6:05 p.m.

News that the Washington Redskins have cut Andre Woodson from their practice squad after signing quarterback Richard Bartel off Jacksonville’s practice squad.

Doesn’t look good for the former UK quarterback, who could have been promoted to the active roster. Instead, the Redskins decided to sign Bartel and cut Andre.

As Gary Fitzgerald of Redskins.com reports, Washington had been carrying just two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks give the injury report, talks about why even ailing players need practice, and his hope that the fans will honor the seniors on Saturday.

(AP Photo/Wade Payne)

The Tennessee site Vol Nation has compiled its list of 10 top quotes (actually 12) from new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, though the term “top” may belong to the ear of the beholder.

Here are three of the better ones:

01) “I can’t hear you; Rocky Top is playing” spoken to Erin Andrews after the Florida game. This quote is number one by popular demand from Vol Nation and rightfully so. Lane’s subtle reminder to gator fans, the SEC, and a national audience that the energy is back, the talent is coming, and Tennessee couldn’t care less who you think you are.

06) “I’m sure I will get one of those letters that doesn’t mean anything” He later explained that he was referring the SEC review letter he would be getting from Roger Redding. Not the letter of reprimand.

07) “I guess we’ll wait and after we’re not excited about a performance, we’ll tell you everybody was sick.” A frustrated Meyer suggested his Gators inability to deliver a resounding win was due to the flu.His after the fact comments sounded like an excuse and Lane knew it and chimed in.

And give the site credit, it did include Kiffin’s no incident for 11 months quote, the day before the Great Vol Gas Station Robbery.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Scott Shive of Herald-Leader reports that John Wall will get a shout-out on tonight’s Cougar Town: “In the episode of the TV comedy airing at 9:30 p.m. on ABC, Hopkins will sport a Sayre T-shirt. Emblazoned on the back will be the name “Goodman” – after his friend and former Sayre point guard Robert Goodman. If that’s not enough, at the end of the scene, which involves a basketball game, Hopkins does his rendition of Kentucky point guard John Wall’s much-imitated dance from last month’s Big Blue Madness.”

• High School Hoops reports that Shawn Teague says UK is still in the mix for his son, Marquis: “HSH: Is his school list the same? ST: Yeah, it’s Kentucky, Louisville, Wake Forest, Indiana, Purdue, Cincinnati and Ohio State.” (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports from Cancun on UK’s win over Cleveland State: “Calipari tried to jump-start UK early by inserting his best blue collar player, Ramon Harris. By halftime, with the Cats dominating around the basket yet stuck in an eight-point game in part because of turnovers, Calipari previewed his late-game tirade with some jalapeno-hot rhetoric.”

• Tipton reports that Calipari is happy with one Cat: “Yet Calipari noted Harris’ defense (physical and in communication with teammates) and rebounding. ‘He changed the game around,’ the UK coach said. ‘… Every day I watch him, he’s impressing me more and more. Great kid, and he’s trying. Offensively, he does some stuff. I’m trying to get him to just do what you can do.’”

• Herald-Leader slide show from UK win over Cleveland State.

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that unsung players have driven UK’s year: “What if you had pulled aside any college football coach in America at the conclusion of spring practice and told him that he’d lose an NFL-quality defensive end before the first game, that his All-America-caliber cornerback would miss four games with an ankle injury, and that he’d have to play the second half of the season with a true freshman quarterback who was deemed not quite ready for prime time?”

• Brett Dawson of the C-J reports from Cancun on UK’s no day at the beach: “The Cats cranked up their intensity after halftime, and it turned into a ballroom blitz. UK opened the second half with an 18-4 run to ignite its fans, who made up the vast majority of the 832 in attendance at the Galactic Ballroom, transformed into a makeshift gym for the tournament.”

• Matt May of the Cats Pause reports from Cancun about UK’s slow start: “Wall scored a team-high 15 points, including 11 after halftime, as he zipped in and out of the Cleveland State defense. The nation’s top-rated recruit last year repeatedly took charge with the ball, drawing trips to the free-throw line or setting up teammates for open looks at the basket. Cousins added 14 points and seven rebounds while dominating the paint.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cats in Cancun and on Cougar Town’