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Mark Fox

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that John Calipari isn’t saying slump: “So when does Kentucky’s poor three-point shooting – 12-for-73 in the last four games and next to last among Southeastern Conference teams through 14 league games – go from a “spell” to a “slump” to a “problem?” ‘It becomes a problem if you’re losing a bunch of games in a row because of it,’ Calipari said.”

Mark Bradley of the AJC thinks Georgia’s Mark Fox is the SEC Coach of the Year: “Coach of the year awards don’t always go to those who win their conferences, but seldom are they bestowed on someone who enters the final days of the regular season tied for last in a division. I speak here of Mark Fox, and he should be the exception. He should be the SEC’s coach of the year.”

John Gasaway of Basketball Prospectus thinks Fox should get national honors: “Now that it’s March you’ll see a flurry of awards being bestowed and disputed. I decided to get in on the ground floor. First-year Georgia head coach Mark Fox is my choice as 2010 national coach of the year. Over the past four years no unit, offense or defense, has improved year-to-year as much in major-conference play as the Georgia offense has this year.”

Jennifer Smith of the H-L on UK women’s post-season awards sweep: “But after the program swept all of the major SEC awards on Tuesday afternoon, it’s probably safe to say that won’t happen again next season. In a vote of conference coaches announced by the league on Tuesday, UK Coach Matthew Mitchell claimed coach of the year, and junior Victoria Dunlap was named player of the year. A’dia Mathies was honored as freshman of the year.”

Tim Tucker of the AJC writes that Kentucky will test Georgia’s home streak: “The Bulldogs wrap up their home schedule Wednesday night against Kentucky in Stegeman Coliseum, which has turned into quite the home-court advantage this season. Georgia is 12-3 in Stegeman, including victories over three nationally ranked opponents (Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Vanderbilt) and all four SEC East opponents to visit thus far (Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Florida).”

Meanwhile, here’s more video of John Calipari talking to the media on Tuesday:

Chip Cosby of the H-L on what the ex-Cats did at the NFL Combine: “Johnson measured at 6-foot-1, 258 pounds and, not surprisingly, was impressive on the bench press. His 31 repetitions at 225 pounds was third among linebackers. However, Johnson ran the slowest 40-yard dash time for linebackers at 4.99. Johnson, who has been recovering from a knee injury suffered in the Music City Bowl, is expected to run again for scouts at UK’s Pro Day on March 10.”

(AP photo/Wade Payne)

Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal on UK’s threes freeze: “Don’t call it a slump. It’s true that the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team has missed 61 of its last 73 three-point attempts. It’s true that the No. 3 Wildcats (27-2, 12-2 Southeastern Conference) rank 11th in the 12-team SEC in three-point shooting during conference play. Still, coach John Calipari bristled Tuesday at the use of the “S” word.”

Tom Leach thinks this is a dangerous spot for the Cats: “Kentucky responded to its first loss by playing one of its best games when it beat Vanderbilt soundly–but that was in Rupp Arena. This bounce back opportunity comes on the road and although is tied for last in the SEC East, the Dogs have beaten every other SEC East foe they’ve faced in Athens.”

Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that UK’s defense impresses Georgia: “Georgia coach Mark Fox doesn’t see Kentucky as any less formidable because the Wildcats lost at Tennessee.”

Scott Adamson of the Anderson Independent Mail reports that Georgia knows its challenge: “‘We have arguably the best team in the country coming in,’ Fox said. ‘They’ve proven that time and time again. They’re as good as advertised and a team, I think, because they’re so talented maybe their talent takes away from people talking about their defense. They’re a great defensive team and we’ll have to play extremely well on our Senior Night to have a chance to win.’”

Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel on Jon Hood’s request for more playing time: “With only two regular season games remaining on the schedule, Hood said he’s been working on his ball handling, strength and shot which have improved throughout the season. The idea to talk to Calipari wasn’t just his though. Hood attributed part of the idea to his high school assistant coach, folks from Madisonville, Ky., and himself.”

David Hale of the Macon Telegraph on Georgia’s seniors: “The last time Kentucky played in Athens might not have been the loudest Stegeman Coliseum got last year, but it was definitely close. The problem was, the fans weren’t cheering a Georgia win. It’s something Albert Jackson will be thinking about as he steps onto his home court for the final time in his career, again taking on the Wildcats. The Bulldogs had been thoroughly beaten by Kentucky, including being schooled by Georgia native Jodie Meeks, and the crowd was decked out in blue.”

B.W. Jones of the Kernel reports on Kentucky baseball’s win over Morehead State: “Sophomore third baseman Andy Burns went 3-for-4, blasting his second and third home runs of the season to lead UK (7-0) to a 5-2 victory over the Eagles on Tuesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Burns also added a stolen base in the effort, his second of the season.”

Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches writes on UK softball cracking the Top 25: “On the heels of an 11-3 start and last year’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history, the Cats have cracked the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 for the first time in school annals. UK enters the poll at No. 23, becoming the fourth Southeastern Conference team in the rankings.”