Kansas State coach Frank Martin wears a fake beard during a post-game interview after beating Texas 72-61 in Manhattan, Kan. The beards were given to the first 1,000 fans at the game to support Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen. (AP photo/Charles Reidel)
Big Blue Links for Tuesday:
Mark Rosner of the Austin American-Statesman on Texas loss, leaving UK as only unbeaten: “Forwards Jamar Samuels and Curtis Kelly scored 20 and 17 points respectively as the 10th-ranked Wildcats defeated No. 1 Texas 71-62 in front of 12,528 fans, a sellout crowd at Bramlage Coliseum. Most of those points by the 6-foot-8 Kelly and 6-7 Samuels were scored around the basket or with free throws they earned with their hustle inside. Kansas State (16-2 overall, 3-1 in Big 12) outrebounded the Longhorns 50-41 and outscored them on second-chance points 23-10.”
Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader on teams trying to push Big Cuz’s buttons: ” Early in the first half of Kentucky’s game on Saturday, freshman DeMarcus Cousins exchanged shoves with Auburn’s Kenny Gabriel as play stopped. One of the referees spoke with Cousins for several seconds. Afterward, the UK player walked to Gabriel, shook the Auburn player’s hand and looked at the referee as if to say, ‘Is that what you want?’”
Ken Howlett of A Sea of Blue on a new fiddlin’ five: “In that way, the 1958 “Fiddlin’ Five” are not dissimilar to the squad of “fiddlers” who currently don the blue and white of the Kentucky Wildcats. For the entire 1958 season is oftentimes encapsulated in a single 40 minute performance of John Calipari’s modern-day musicians. The current crop of ‘Cats, whether due to youth, or supreme confidence in their collective abilities, only seem to possess the killer-cat instinct when the game is on the line.”
Matt Norlander of College Hoops Journal writes it’s harder to hate Calipari now: “I was away from the computer for most of the weekend, so I didn’t get to this as it was going on, but what an awesome, uplifting story out of Lexington. Even the largest of John Calipari detractors can’t ignore the goodwill he helped with as coaches from all over the country called in to donate and raise money for the victims in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti.” (Hat tip to Bluegrass State Basketball.)
My old friend Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times writes on UK target Terrence Jones: “Terrence Jones, a 6-foot-9 University of Washington recruiting wish with extraterrestrial basketball powers, graced the court at Edmundson Pavilion on Monday and put on a show that made you understand just how good he’d look in a Huskies jersey. Showing no emotion, Jones didn’t so much play the game as he dissected it. He influenced the action in every way imaginable, handling both the spectacular and the fundamental with ease, guiding Portland’s Jefferson High School to a 62-58 victory over Federal Way, the finest squad in Washington state.”
Brett Dawson of the C-J writes that UK brings out best in foes: “Instead, after his Wildcats (18-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) escaped Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum with a 72-67 win against the 9-9 Tigers, Calipari had one to ask. ‘I have to ask the writers here ‘ is this one of (Auburn’s) better games that they’ve played?” Calipari said to nods from reporters on the Tigers’ beat. ‘Like, not close? Not even close, right? Every game we play is like this.’”
Aaron’s UK Footall Blog has a recruiting update: “Many UK fans are nervous because Charlie Strong is making some noise up the road in Louisville with recruiting. The Cats are in the driver’s seat with recruiting. Chuck Smith said a while back UK would sign around 22 players. The Cats don’t have much room for more commits in the 2010 class. The Cats are clearly looking for a running back, wide receiver and another cornerback as Dale Trimble’s commitment doesn’t appear to be as solid as many think.”
Kentucky Sports Network has a video story on Jonathan Davis’ 6-foot-7 son.
Taylor Hafley reported for Vaughts Views from Dayton on Brandon Knight.
Tom Leach takes a look at some second-half shooting numbers: “John Calipari has made it clear many times that he believes his team’s defense and rebounding will tell the tale of how the Cats end up performing in March. An interesting–and worrisome–trend has developed for the Wildcats.”
Jorge Pancho of Louisville Mojo writes that Cats keep friends close, enemies closer: “A day prior to raising a cool million for Haiti’s relief effort, an even kinder and gentler Kentucky basketball team nearly gave host Auburn some relief for their struggling season. Despite leading by 19 in the first half, Saturday, the Wildcats allowed yet another opponent back into yet another game. A perfect prelude to Sunday’s remarkable charity fund-raiser by John Calipari and his team, softening up a bit, before they closed out the Tigers for a 72-67 victory. Rather than repeat a commentary of a repeat effort by Kentucky, one can only embrace these Cats’ ability to respond when it counts.”
Seth Stogsdill of Kentucky Ink asks if UK needs to lose: “Kentucky isn’t playing particularly well right now, save for the Florida game. They’re not blowing out teams they should blow out like Auburn and Georgia. It seems like the players are hitting a wall. The zone defenses their opponents are employing have frustrated Wall and Bledsoe into silly turnovers and forced plays. Nobody has been able to grab the small forward minutes by the throat and seize them. Free Throw shooting has become terrible. Louisville and Georgia outrebounded them.”
Kentucky Sports Radio thinks the ball should go to Patterson: “Enter Patrick Patterson. Because of his ability to make a number of moves on the block and the ability of Boogie to potentially procure an offside rebound, finding Patterson on the post in these possessions can stop another team’s big run. Case in point, the game in Gainesville. After trailing the whole game, Florida runs off seven straight to tie it up…Wall gives Patterson the ball in the post, he makes a spin move, scores and gets fouled and Florida never comes close again. It was the perfect set up to end the run and silence the crowd. Unfortunately it has not occurred enough.”
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