John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that UK learned valuable lessons at South Carolina.
• Preview of tonight’s Kentucky-LSU women’s game in Baton Rouge.
• My thoughts and notes from Kentucky’s tumble on Tuesday night.
• The Fayetteville Observer reports that C.J. Leslie has sat behind the N.C. State bench for two straight games. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Chris Stirewalt of the Washington Examiner says UK fans are debating the Obama factor.
• Gregg Doyel of CBS Sportsline says UK basketball was still the biggest winner of the week.
• AP report says Rick Barnes told Calipari that being No. 1 is like being “under attack.”
• Ryan Clark of the Kentucky Enquirer says shame on Kentucky fans.
• The State gives five reasons why South Carolina beat Kentucky.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that the sports world is ga-ga for Devan Downey.
• Ron Morris of The State says that greatness is a label for much later.
• Jay Drew of the Salt Lake Tribune writes that Obama spoke, but UK didn’t listen.

Continue reading ‘BBL: More of the fallout from Tuesday’s loss’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Vanderbilt put Tennessee in a foul mood.
• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean writes that depth has been the key to Vandy’s road victories.
• Chris Low of espn.com says the red-hot Commodores have a little bit of everything.
• Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel says Vandy atop the East is not a mirage.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports on Tennessee’s stumble.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports on Florida’s thumping of Georgia.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports on the Gators blasting the Bulldogs.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register on Alabama’s trouncing of lowly LSU.
• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News reports that Alabama held LSU to 13 second-half points.
• Tim Gayle of the Montgomery Advertiser on the Alabama victory.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Derek Dooley can recruit.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss is wary of Auburn’s marksmen.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes on Mississippi State’s unsung Phil Turner.
• D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC reports that Tebow is struggling to impress at the Senior Bowl.
• Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Ole Miss may be close to hiring Dave Rader as offensive coordinator.

(Photo by The State)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports from Columbia on UK’s 68-62 loss to South Carolina.
• My column from Columbia saying that the Cats didn’t seem to have their heads in the game.
• Seth Emerson of The State reports on President Obama’s thank-you call to the Cats for helping Haiti.
• Emerson also reports on the game, which was one for the ages for South Carolina.
• Ron Morris of The State writes that Devan Downey has stamped his name in USC history.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports from Columbia on Devan Downey’s 30-point performance.
• Dawson also reports on Obama’s call to the Cats.
• Matt May of the Cats Pause reports from the Colonial Center that it will be a short reign at No. 1 for UK.
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel reports from Columbia on Kentucky’s first defeat of the season.
• James Pennington of the Kernel also made the trip to USC, and reports that nothing will be easy from here on for UK.
• Travis Haney of the Charleston Post-Courier writes on the South Carolina stunner.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Links from the Carolina (and UK fall) Classic’

More of John Calipari and DeMarcus Cousins after Kentucky’s loss at South Carolina.

Here’s video of South Carolina coach Darrin Horn talking about his team’s 68-62 upset of visiting and top-ranked Kentucky.

Here is Kentucky head coach John Calipari’s press conference after UK’s 68-62 loss to South Carolina. He is joined at the podium by DeMarcus Cousins.

• Click here to hear audio from Calipari and Cousins in post-game press conference.

Here’s John Calipari talking to the media after top-ranked Kentucky’s 68-62 loss to South Carolina tonight in Columbia:

Freshly-minted No. 1 Kentucky at South Carolina is the highlight of the night, of course. Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes and Jeannie Edwards will handle the broadcast duties for ESPN’s 9 p.m. tipoff. After Saturday’s one-point loss to Michigan State, Tubby Smith and Minnesota could sure use a win over surprising Northwestern. That’s the 9 p.m. game on ESPNU.

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes about UK being a unanimous No. 1.
• Tipton on the Devan Downey-John Wall collision course.
• Scott Sloan of the H-L on the fuzzy TV picture for UK basketball games.
• Zagsblog says a source believes Brandon Knight will end up at Kentucky.
• Mark Story of H-L writes that first loss could be net gain for Kentucky.
• Jim O’Connell of AP writes the story on Kentucky moving to the spot in the poll.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J previews UK vs. South Carolina.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports that John Conner is a late addition to the Senior Bowl.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that South Carolina’s Darrin Horn is impressed with UK’s freshmen.
• The State has video of Horn talking about the Cats.
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel writes that UK players are proud of No. 1.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Kentucky ready to defend top ranking’