(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)
Big Blue Links for Sunday:
The H-L’s Jerry Tipton writes game story from Bloomington on UK win at Indiana: “Prior to this convincing crunching of the Hoosiers, Calipari had consistently poured water on UK’s best start to a season since 1992-93. UK’s play merited a .500 record, he kept grumbling. But not after UK pounded Indiana around the basket on its way to a 49-24 rebounding advantage and similar landslide margins in points in the paint (44-26) and second-chance points (30-6).”
My column saying UK’s young team turned in a veteran performance: “And we’re talking Cal’s wet-behind-the-ears Wildcats here, the team that was really 4-5 (that’s Cal-reality), that drinks the poison, that does some things so ridiculous the head coach cries out (in his sleep), “WHY did you do that?” How did those Cats do? They acted as though they’d been here before and put a hurtin’ on the Hoosiers.”
Herald-Leader slide show from Kentucky-Indiana.
Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star says IU was overmatched: “With Calipari, you get instant gratification, drive-through success. Kentucky is 10-0, ranked fourth in the country, and during stretches of Saturday’s game it was hard to imagine there’s a better college basketball team out there.”
Brett Dawson of the C-J reports from Bloomington on the UK win: “As fans taunted him from the Assembly Hall stands Saturday afternoon, University of Kentucky forward Daniel Orton grinned, nodded and flashed a genial thumbs-up. An hour earlier, the Indiana University fans packed in the place had formed a crimson-colored wall of sound, their beloved Hoosiers hanging tough with the fourth-ranked Wildcats.”
Matt May of the Cats Pause on the blowout in Bloomington: “It was a fitting end to a week long stretch were UK defeated defending national champion North Carolina, Final Four participant Connecticut in its own backyard, and the rebuilding Hoosiers in a gym as loud as any the Cats will ever step foot in. While there have been some lingering doubts about whether this UK squad was deserving of such high preseason praise most have been erased with a perfect 10-0 start.”
James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes that UK passed the nerve test: “For the first time this year, UK played an opponent on its home floor. And UK’s schedulers didn’t ease into that first road game, either. Assembly Hall is one of basketball’s most hostile environments, stemming largely from a fiercely loyal fan base and a creative (if not a bit ruthlessly over the top) student section, even while coach Tom Crean and the Hoosiers are up to their eyebrows in rebuilding.”
Metz Camfield of the Kernel has the game story from Bloomington: “Junior forward Patrick Patterson led the Cats in boards with 11. Patterson completed his fifth double-double of the season, the most in the Southeastern Conference, with 19 points and took many of his shots away from the basket. Patterson said he doesn’t think he could have hit those outside shots last year, but this year has grown to love it so much that he almost likes shooting away from the basket more than battling down low.”
Tipton’s notes lead with Patrick Patterson: “If every big man secretly – or not so secretly – wants to be a guard, then this season is increasingly becoming wish fulfillment for Kentucky All-America candidate Patrick Patterson. Heretofore a low-post strongman, Patterson showed a growing comfort as a face-the-basket player in UK’s 90-73 victory at Indiana on Saturday.”
(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)
Alex Bozich of Inside the Hall says second-half too much for IU: “For 20 minutes of basketball Saturday in Assembly Hall, Indiana stood toe-to-toe with one of the nation’s top teams. Fueled by 63 percent shooting in the first half, the Hoosiers trailed No. 4 Kentucky just 42-41 at halftime. But after a layup by Jeremiah Rivers put IU ahead 48-47 with 17:42 remaining, the Wildcats (10-0) went on an 18-0 run en route to a comfortable 90-73 win.”
Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger on DeMarcus Cousins: “Patrick Patterson read the signs and heard the insults being hurled at Kentucky freshman DeMarcus Cousins. ‘I thought they were funny but I didn’t know how he (Cousins) would react,’ said Patterson.”
Andy Katz of ESPN has a Kentucky view: “John Wall had “only” 11 points, but had eight assists and only one turnover. Kentucky coach John Calipari said he couldn’t be more thrilled for how his players handled their first true road game. Meanwhile, Indiana may have found a big-time scorer as freshman Maurice Creek went for 31.”
Chip Cosby of H-L writes that Charlie Strong hire sets up a recruiting battle: “Strong and Phillips were both on Lou Holtz’s staff at South Carolina in 2002, and both are known as excellent recruiters. Phillips has been able to attract some top-notch talent to Lexington right out of the Cardinals’ backyard since returning to UK in 2003, signing Derby City prospects such as Myron Pryor, Garry Williams, Alfonso Smith and Corey Peters.”
Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches has some thoughts on UK’s basketball win: “The Cats finally figured out the zone about seven or eight minutes into the game. Patrick Patterson started flashing to the top of the key, forcing the zone to collapse. When he found an open man near the perimeter, UK started hitting. It took a bit to get going, but the Cats took their first lead of the game at 21-19 on an Eric Bledsoe jumper with 9:33 to play in the first half.”
A Sea of Blue on the UK win over IU: “John Wall showed today that he can learn lessons, and will trust his teammates. This was, barring his relatively poor defense, simply an outstanding game for the superstar freshman. I could not be more pleased with how he played, and how well he passed the basketball. When Wall plays like that, I don’t think Kentucky can lose. Penetrate and kick, and let your teammates score. Great stuff.”
Ryan Lemond writes for Kentucky Sports Network on UK win: “UK only committed 13 turnovers. That’s a great number considering this game was on the road and considering UK had been close to averaging about 17 turnovers a game and had turned it over more than 20 times in four different games. Assembly Hall can be a tough place today, and this game was no different. It was packed. It was loud, and the UK players didn’t get rattled and make a lot of ‘silly’ turnovers.”
Inner Circle on the UK roll: “So how far can Kentucky continue to roll? Is it feasible that this year’s team can go undefeated? Normally I would say that is a virtual impossibility, but given the talent level on this team, I wouldn’t be surprised. The next true challenging game will come against those dirty Cardinals from Louisville. That hated team from that hated city coached by that hated man. Yes, they should be the next real threat to end UK’s undefeated streak. The only problem is that I don’t think they have nearly enough of an arsenal to do it.”
Wildcat Blue Blog thinks UK-U of L could be a colossal mismatch: “Now the Cardinal’s are a mess right now. They are in a free fall, having lost 3 of their last 4 games to UNLV (76-71), Charlotte (87-65), and Western Carolina (91-83). True, the Dirty Cards have had injuries, but the last two losses have been at Freedom Hall. So as of today, the Cards, number one in the land before self destructing in the NCAA last year stand at 5-3 right now. Before they face UK, the Cards play the 6-4 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (who just beat Missouri), and the 5-3 WKU Hilltoppers (who just beat Vandy).”
Wildcat Den writes on Eric Bledsoe: “Bledsoe’s outing came three days after sidekick John Wall took the Big Apple by storm, scoring 25 points in the Wildcats’ win over 14th-ranked Connecticut at Madison Square Garden. Wall had 11 points, but enhanced his final tally with eight assists and seven rebounds.”
Straitpinkie on the Kentucky victory: “John Calipari got solid contributions from a bunch of his players. First and foremost was Eric Bledsoe. Since his stellar opening game performance, Bledsoe has been a bit inconsistent, struggling with poor decision making and a balky ankly, all the while having to adjust with playing off the ball more than he has at any point in his career.”
(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)
KSR on the Kentucky victory: “With all the hype we get (and deservedly so) about John Wall, it is easy to forget what consistently great performances UK gets from Patrick Patterson. Today was another example. 19 points, another double-double, consistent play thoughout the game. While at times I want to see him down low more, I cant deny the fact that his mid-range jumper and the consistency with which he knocks it down, makes this team almost impossible to defend. Patrick still is the rock on the team and once again showed today why he makes everyone around him better.”
Aaron’s UK Football Blog is waiting on news from one recruit: “Based on reports, Byrd was waiting on the UK coaching staff to call to give his verbal. With no news of his commitment, one has to wonder if UK has run out of scholarships for his position.”
Big Blue Uncensored on UK’s streak: “Call it the Gauntlet, Hell Week, or Murderers Row, anyone who looked at the schedule before the season knew the 3 game stretch the team just compleated would show what this young squad was made of, and the answer to this stern test was that they are among the elite in college basketball. The Cats may have put on their best overall team performance today after a strong start from the Hoosiers, 5 players were in double figures, the defense was strong, and the half court offense was much improved, they clicked on all cylinders.”
