John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Ryan Alessi)

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader previews today’s UK-Arkansas game: “By beating Arkansas on Saturday, Kentucky will almost assuredly secure its first No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press poll since the final balloting of the 2002-03 season. After prodded by reporters, UK players acknowledged on Friday that they would enjoy scratching that seven-year itch.”

• Tipton leads his notes with Calipari saying players leaving is good news: “Kentucky Coach John Calipari welcomes the thought of a mass exodus of his freshmen to this year’s NBA Draft. The better to show highly regarded recruits that they can punch their tickets to the pros after only a brief stop at UK.”

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  (AP photo)

  Ryan Alessi of the H-L reports that legislators swooned over Calipari: “The state House honored Calipari with a resolution officially welcoming him to Kentucky and praising his work raising money for earthquake relief in Haiti. Calipari praised lawmakers, many dressed in UK sweaters or blue shirts, for challenging UK to become a Top 20 research institution and for funding that effort early on. And he told lawmakers he recognized and appreciated their work in crafting public policy.”

• Brett Dawson of the C-J says UK isn’t looking out for No. 1: “There have been 106 Associated Press college basketball polls since the last one that ranked the University of Kentucky No.1. A win against Arkansas on Saturday at Rupp Arena probably would snap that streak for No.2 UK (18-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) after top-ranked Texas lost to Kansas State on Monday. And the Wildcats admit it would be nice. But it’s not the No.1 the Cats have in mind.”

• Matt May of the Cats Pause has a scouting report on UK-Arkansas: “Bio Buzz: There is an old saying that everything works out for a reason but certainly things may have been much different for Rotnei Clarke had he cast his lot with Kentucky instead of Arkansas during the recruiting process. Clarke ultimately stayed closer to home and inked with the Razorbacks, probably a solid move considering the coaching change that took place at Kentucky last spring.”

• Andy Mead of the H-L on UK packing them in at Rupp: “An 18-0 record that is attracting more than the usual fanatical interest. We pose these questions: How many basketball fans can Rupp Arena hold? Should it have been named Rubberena for its ability to stretch to accommodate ever-larger crowds?”

• Chip Cosby of the H-L on the new UK football hires: “But no matter where Summers went, his heart was always back home in Lexington. Summers, a Tates Creek High School graduate who began his coaching career as a University of Kentucky graduate assistant in 1980, is returning to UK to coach the offensive line for Joker Phillips, the school announced officially Friday.”

• Jennifer Smith of the H-L reports that a balanced SEC excites UK women: “It’s hard to make Bulldog heads or Gamecock tails out of the Southeastern Conference so far this season. Just six games into league play and insanity has ensued. The league’s best women’s basketball team was knocked off Thursday night. One of the teams that’s been struggling in the past few seasons got its first win against what seemed like an unlikely opponent.”

• Mark Maloney of the H-L reports on UK gymnastics team’s loss to Florida: ” Kentucky might have lost its Southeastern Conference gymnastics home opener Friday, but not its swagger. No. 4 Florida topped the 12th-ranked Wildcats 196.050-195.350 in front of 2,132 fans in Memorial Coliseum. The Gators are 66-1 all-time against UK.”

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  (AP photo)

  Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel writes that Arkansas is high on UK’s radar: “Arkansas (8-10, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) isn’t sneaking into Rupp Arena unnoticed. The Razorbacks have the worst overall record in the conference, but the squad coached by former UK ‘unforgettable’ John Pelphrey has the Cats’ full attention. Specifically, Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke.”

• Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches on the UK mindset: “With a proverbial target on their backs, the Kentucky Wildcats have chosen to take the arrows out of their backs and aim the bow at the rest of the nation. Although UK is the hands-on favorite to be the No. 1 team in the nation if it beats Arkansas on Saturday, head coach John Calipari has decided to motivate his team with an interesting concept: a two-game losing streak.”

• Tom Leach has some video clips of interview with Arkansas coach John Pelphrey.