John Clay’s Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

Jerry Meyer of Rivals reports on UK basketball target Damien Leonard: “With visits to Clemson and Virginia Tech already under his belt, Leonard plans to visit Kentucky and Texas this spring.” (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Jennifer Smith of the H-L reports on UK women’s first loss: “Middle Tennessee State halted the Cats’ 11-game win streak with a 57-51 win in front of 4,811 in the Murphy Center on Monday night. It was the Cats’ first loss of the season, and it was a difficult one that saw UK turn over the ball a season-high 29 times against a soft 2-2-1 press.”

Mark Story of the H-L writes that Brooks has done it the right way: “Yet if Brooks takes his intention to retire as Kentucky’s head man from the 80 percent he stated after the Music City Bowl to 100 percent, he will depart Lexington as one of the coaches I’ve covered that I respect the most. (From what I’m hearing, Brooks doesn’t want to leave; he does want the UK administration to display some of the urgency in investing in football success it’s shown in abundance recently for men’s basketball).”

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal has report on ex-UK assistant Mike Leach’s suspension at Texas Tech: “Tech completed an initial investigation before suspending Leach. The Avalanche-Journal learned during that investigation Leach did not dispute the facts, but did not believe he had done anything wrong. Leach also told officials James was a slacker and his father was always calling and acting like a Little League dad. Leach had until Monday to write an apology and when he did not, the university officials felt they had to take action. Leach has been suspended indefinitely, with pay, from his role as head coach.”

Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports on Calipari and the stress of the job: ” When Kentucky Coach John Calipari meets with reporters the day before a game, he usually arrives drenched in sweat. He comes directly from a 3-mile pre-practice jog on the treadmill. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Hartford Coach Dan Leibovitz called for a scheduled telephone interview on Monday after getting off a treadmill.”

Chip Cosby of the H-L writes that football off-season is full of uncertainty: “The biggest question concerns who will be on the UK sideline for the season opener at Louisville on Sept. 4. Coach Rich Brooks said after Kentucky’s 21-13 loss to Clemson in the Music City Bowl on Sunday night he was 80 percent sure he won’t be back next season. But Brooks has left the door open for a potential return and will spend the next few days mulling over his decision with family and friends.”

Kentucky Kernel has a Rich Brooks timeline.

Jody Demling of the C-J on Derrick Locke: “University of Kentucky junior tailback Derrick Locke said he had been “wavering” in the days leading up to the Music City Bowl about whether to enter the NFL draft. But the 5-foot-9 190-pounder from Hugo, Okla., said after Sunday’s 21-13 loss to Clemson that he would return to UK.”

Demling also reports some UK players thought this was it for Brooks: “Sophomore all-purpose back Randall Cobb said he had a feeling Brooks, 68, was likely to retire after this season. Junior defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin said several times during the season he could ‘just feel it.’”

(H-L photo)

Matt May of the Cats Pause has a scouting report on Hartford.

Larry Vaught of the Advocate-Messenger writes on Brooks and Christian Johnson: “They battled over his weight, academics and practice habits. At times, Christian Johnson even thought Kentucky coach Rich Brooks really disliked him and had given up on him.”

Brett Dawson of the C-J on UK eating and sleepiing basketball: “Between Saturday night, when they returned to practice, and late Monday afternoon, the Cats (13-0) had practiced six times, Calipari said. A seventh session was planned for Monday night. UK has a game Tuesday at Rupp Arena against Hartford (2-9), and it figures to be a light day by comparison.”

Straitpinkie is picking an all-time Kentucky basketball team.

Bluegrass State Basketball has a report on C.J. Leslie.

Wildcat Blue Blog writes on UK’s three-point shooting: “All of this speculation led many experts, fans, and coaches alike that UK would field a good team this year because of the talent coming in, but unlike recent years, 3-point shooting was a major concern. Not much was known about the freshman through their preseason practices and nobody was really seen as a long-range threat from last season’s returnees. Darius Miller had the most three pointers of all the returning players and he just had 18 last season.”