John Clay's Sidelines

This is Louisville guard Edgar Sosa, after U of L’s win over South Florida on Wednesday night, saying that since he hit the three-pointer that beat UK last year, Kentucky fans have left “disrespectful” messages on his Facebook page.

After Louisville’s 73-52 win over South Florida on Wednesday night, U of L coach Rick Pitino talked about his team’s upcoming game with Kentucky.

ESPN’s Outside the Lines this Sunday will focus on John Calipari and the UK basketball players he did not bring back for this season. Here’s the publicity release:

Outside the Lines (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, ESPN)

When John Calipari became Kentucky basketball coach this summer, he inherited a roster put together by his predecessor, Billy Gillispie. But Calipari needed roster room for his own recruits, including sensational freshman John Wall, and six of Gillispie’s players say they were encouraged to leave. Since athletic scholarships are renewed on an annual basis, the players had little recourse but to leave if they actually wanted to play, so they left. Some players tell Outside the Lines Calipari told them that they were unlikely to get much playing time in his system if they stayed. Several players said the dramatic roster turnover at Kentucky is an example of how coaches have little loyalty to returning student-athletes, especially when a new coach is hired. Kentucky officials say Calipari just wanted players who fit his style of play. Outside the Lines’ Tom Farrey examines Kentucky’s roster turnover under John Calipari.

“I thought I was going to finish my career there, graduate from UK.” — Kevin Galloway, guard, who left Kentucky after meeting with new coach John Calipari

“It hurt because I abided by the rules. I did everything I was supposed to. … Kept up a good GPA, went to class every day, didn’t fail any tests. …. I feel like just for following my part of the contract, they should follow theirs.” — Matt Pilgrim, forward, on feeling pressured to leave UK

“He was very clear and very honest that (some) may not fit this dribble-drive approach. …It’s a decision that they jointly made, that they might find more playing time elsewhere.” — Dr. Lee Todd Jr., president of the University of Kentucky, on what Calipari told players who eventually left

“If you talk to the average scholarship athlete, they believe they’re on a four-year scholarship or maybe a five-year scholarship. …. But the reality is, there’s no such thing as a four or five-year scholarship. There’s only a one-year renewable.” — Ramogi Huma, head of an advocacy group that lobbies the NCAA and government on behalf of athletes

This might be part of the reason for the strained relations between UK and the WWL at this point.

Best game of the night is probably Connecticut at Cincinnati, 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The Huskies are still trying to make new parts fit, while UC is hoping to make a Big East run by starcrossed freshman Lance Stephenson.

You can also take a peek at John Pelphrey’s troubled Arkansas program. The Razorbacks play Baylor on ESPN2 after UConn-UC. Northwestern and Illinois on the Big Ten Network could be interesting, as well.

(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader talks to Mitch Barnhart about the Rich Brooks situation: “Barnhart said he’s been firmly behind Brooks and the football program during his tenure as athletics director. ‘I’ve supported football, the department has supported football in a variety of ways,’ Barnhart said. ‘I supported Rich seven years ago. I supported him four years ago. I’m supporting him this year personally – from a very personal standpoint.’”

Brett Dawson of C-J also writes on Mitch and Rich: “Barnhart said Tuesday that he remains comfortable with Phillips as UK’s next head coach. But he made it clear he’d like to hang on to the current one.”

Larry Vaught of Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that recruits will stay with UK either way: “Standout Georgia running back Raymond Sanders says if Rich Brooks does retire, it won’t change his commitment to the University of Kentucky.”

Herald-Leader UK-Hartford slide show.

Jerry Tipton of H-L on John Wall setting assist record: ” Freshman sensation John Wall – the subject of a Sports Illustrated feature hitting newsstands later this week – added to his already immense renown in Kentucky’s 104-61 victory over Hartford Tuesday. He set a school record with 16 assists before leaving to an ovation with 4:17 left. With his usual flair for the dramatic, Wall broke Travis Ford’s record on Ford’s 40th birthday.”

Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel wonders if John Wall will be NBA star of next decade: “While at Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Christian Academy, Wall attended the LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio, and wowed ‘em. What Wall has done in his freshman season with the unbeaten Wildcats — like his 25-point, six-steal show-stopper against Connecticut a couple weeks ago — has not surprised the Cavaliers MVP.”

Joey Whelan of Slam Online says it’s Wall’s World: “Two things strike me about this performance and both end with the freshman phenom ending up in some pretty high company. After Kentucky took down North Carolina, Roy Williams said that Wall was the most talented point guard he had seen burst onto the college scene since Jason Kidd. Very high praise indeed, but certainly the more I watch Wall, the more I find myself asking if there has been a better freshman point guard since then.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Mitch Barnhart, Rich Brooks, John Wall and more’

Charlie Strong

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Shannon Russell of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports on Xavier’s rout of LSU.
• Robbie Andreu of Gainesville Sun writes that Charlie Strong wants to end Florida stay on high note.
• Jeremy Fowler of Orlando Sentinel writes that plenty of uncertainty looms for Gators.
• Peter Kerasotis of Florida Today writes on Florida’s future.
• Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News writes on Alabama nation.
• Ron Morris of The State writes that today’s rules make South Carolina a bowl regular.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News has an Urban Meyer theory.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean writes about Vandy’s center spot.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Tennessee has the opportunity to take over.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss wants to stop the run at the Cotton Bowl.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Notes and stats from UK’s easy-does-it 104-61 win over Hartford:

• Kentucky made 14 of 28 three-point attempts, its most made threes since sinking 16 against Tulane in the 2001-02 season.

• Darnell Dodson made a career-high six threes.

• Darius Miller made a career-high four three-pointers (4-of-6) and scored a season-high 16 points. It was the most points Miller has scored since his 17 against Tennessee on Feb. 21, 2009. “When he’s making shots, we’re very good,” said John Calipari.

• Led by John Wall’s school-record 16 assists, UK had 30 for the game. That’s the most since 31 versus Tennessee State on Dec. 30, 2002.

• Wall’s nine points was a season-low, the first time this year he’s failed to crack double figures.

• Over the last five games, DeMarcus Cousins has scored 85 points in 84 minutes played.

• Hartford made 12 of 29 three-point attempts. The Hawks are the fifth team this year to make nine-or-more triples against Kentucky.

• In the last two games, opponents have made 20 of 47 three-pointers against the Cats.

Continue reading ‘Notes and stats from UK’s hammering of Hartford’

With teammate DeMarcus Cousins pestering him, UK freshman John Wall talks about Saturday’s game with Louisville. Or makes an attempt anyway.

Kentucky freshman John Wall talks about his school-record 16-assist night, which broke the record by Travis Ford of 15 set in 1993. And, yes, Wall identified Ford, even knew that Travis is now head coach at Oklahoma State.