John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes on the Cancun court: “The gym, which seats about 1,200, has chandeliers. Counter-balancing that touch of class is an imported floor that the players noticed had cracks and bends.“

• Tipton also reports that the Cats are bonding in Cancun: “Kentucky accomplished the goal of turning off the academic switch simply by taking off on the chartered flight. By contrast, basketball objectives remain turned on and humming with importance.”

• Elton Alexander of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes about the point guard matchup today: “But Tuesday night in Cancun, Mexico, Wall will face the toughest matchup he has seen so far in Cleveland State point guard Norris Cole. The junior is coming off 38- and 24-point performances as CSU has won three straight after an opening loss at St. Bonaventure.” (Hat tip to Bluegrass State Basketball.)

• Matt Scott of The Shiver says that UK is looking at Justin Coleman: “It has been previously reported that Coleman considers Kansas, Kentucky, and UCONN as his leaders. According to Coleman, that’s not the case, and he’s still waiting on those three schools to extend a scholarship offer.” (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cancun’s sand is better than its hardwood’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on Tennessee’s one-point loss to Purdue in Paradise Jam final.
• Matt Larkin of the News-Sentinel reports on Tennessee’s court day.
• Bill Koch of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports on Cincinnati’s win over Vandy in first round of Maui Classic.
• Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register says LSU’s Les Miles is the Turkey of the Year.
• In the Baton Rouge Advocate, Randy Rosetta reports that Miles has publicly taken blame for loss.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee falls just short in Paradise’

Shane McCord of Hartwell, Georgia, returns an interception in UK's win over the Bulldogs. (AP photo/John Amis)

My friend Chip Towers of the AJC did a blog post earlier today noting the number of Georgia natives who played key roles in Kentucky’s win over the Bulldogs on Saturday.

An excerpt:

In all there were 16 players from Georgia on the Kentucky roster, many of them playing critical roles, such as All-SEC senior cornerback Trevard Lindley of Hiram. Next to their own state, the Wildcats sign more players from Georgia than anywhere else.

The person most singularly responsible for that is Kentucky’s assistant head coach – and head coach in waiting – Joker Phillips, whose recruiting base is Georgia and Atlanta. The Wildcats currently have five players committed from the Peach State, including three from Stephenson High alone: TE Ronnie Shields, LB Jabari Johnson and RB Raymond Sanders. Also committed are CB Eric Simmons of Westlake and PK Joe Mansour of LaGrange. Kentucky has long benefited from what it calls the “LaGrange pipeline.

As you may have read, Rich Brooks got a little hot under the collar today when the media asked whether this would the Kentucky coach’s final Senior Day. It was an obvious question, what with Joker Phillips already designated as successor. And I didn’t think Rich was upset when Alan Cutler asked the original question. But Brooks did become perturbed when a follow-up question was asked, especially when the question interrupted a Brooks’ answer to another question. Then when the press conference was over, Brooks added a postscript, in an emphatic fashion.

Here is WLEX’s video report:

This is the first time since 1977 that Kentucky has won three SEC road football games in the same season.

Here’s a look at how the Cats have done on the road in the conference over the last 10 years:

Received an e-mail from G.H. today who is still not impressed by Kentucky’s showing this football season.

“Braggin” was how he titled this e-mail:

Clay:

If I had 31 points scored on me in one quarter like Kentucky did against Florida I don’t believe I would be bragging it up like you did in today’s column.. I guess you would say adjustments were made at the end of the quarter as Florida only scored 10 more points for the rest of the game. I say Florida could have beat Kentucky 100 – 0 if they would have kept the pedal to the metal. I say Auburn would have beat Kentucky if they would have gotten a decent break from the officials (no penalties in 60 minutes of SEC football, get real)and Kentucky was just lucky as heck to beat Georgia getting out gained 487 yards to 260 yards. The way I see it Kentucky is the usual 5-6 quality Rich Brooks team.

My response cited the Bill Parcells line, “You are what you’re record says you are.”

Here is UK offensive lineman Christian Johnson promising not to cry on Senior Day:

Here’s UK offensive lineman Stuart Hines at the football press luncheon, talking about the win over Georgia:

Rich Brooks couldn’t say enough good things about Corey Peters during his press luncheon today, and here is Peters talking about Saturday’s Senior Day game with Tennessee.

Update: Chip Cosby blogs on the conclusion of the Brooks’ press luncheon.

I’ll be liveblogging from the final Rich Brooks press luncheon of the regular season.

• Ooops, not done. Brooks says he wants to say one more thing, that “I don’t want distractions this week. I don’t want it to be about what’s he doing. I want it to be about TENNESSEE!!!!” And he said it like that. And then he left.

• That’s it for the press conference. Check the blog for video later.

• Says Conner blocked two guys on Cobb’s touchdown run at Georgia.

• Says John Conner hold record for most UK games played.

• More on Peters, “Soft-spoken, big heart, not afraid to speak his opinion.”

• More on Peters, “You couldn’t ask for a more outstanding young man.”

• Complimenting Peters on knocking ball out of quarterback’s hand during a pitch. “I’ve never seen that happen in my too many years as a coach.”

• Now gets a little upset when he asked again about re-charge batteries, says he’s not going to answer questions about “any of that junk.” Person who asked question interrupted Brooks’ answer to earlier question, which seemed to tick the coach off. And with good reason.

• On Newton, “He’s making better decisions in the passing game. He’s making better decisions at the line of scrimmage with our checks. He’s done at that arguably at difficult places at Auburn and at Georgia.”

• Asked if he will be back next year, “I might need to get some batteries re-charged, but we’ll talk about that at the appropriate time.”

• Says this will be team’s third senior day in a row, ruined Vanderbilt’s and Georgia’s senior day.

• Says he has been frustrated by way team has started well on first series, then let it go downhill in the next few series.”

Continue reading ‘Liveblog: “I want it to be about TENNESSEE!!!!”’