John Clay's Sidelines

Kenny Payne

Daily randoms for Monday:

One DUI arrest may not be enough to earn UK assistant basketball coach Rod Strickland a pink slip, but four is definitely red-flag territory. Rumor mill was already churning that John Calipari was seeking a way to hire Kenny Payne, the ex-Louisville star who was on Ernie Kent’s staff at Oregon. Kent was fired, so Payne is a free agent. Strickland being pulled over at 3 a.m., coupled with his past arrests for similar transgressions, may give Calipari reason to engineer a staff switch.

Here is Payne’s bio.

Only hearts of stone were not touched by Phil Mickelson’s Masters win on Sunday. The Phil smile. The Phil-Amy hug off the 18th green. Amy and the kids. Phil strikes me as something of a goofball, which is just fine. I’ve rooted for Mickelson ever since the golf/national media claimed he would never win a major. Hate that “never” talk. Annoys me almost as much as the “gets it” crowd. Think this is Mickelson’s third green jacket, if I’m not mistaken. And Phil won it his way, too, making incredible shots that if he had missed would have been widely criticized.

What struck me about Tiger was the same old Tiger in his post-round interview on Sunday. He said he only came to win. That’s all he cares about. OK, so he does care about some other things. But would have felt better about the Woods weekend if he had thanked the fans for their support, said he was happy to do so well after a long layoff, etc. It’s all-or-nothing for Tiger, which I guess makes him great. Doesn’t mean he’s a great guy.

Interesting note from New York Daily News about how Amy Mickelson walked right past Tiger to hug Anthony Kim.

Continue reading ‘Could Strickland’s DUI open door for Kenny Payne?’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

WLEX reports that UK assistant basketball coach Rod Strickland was arrested for DUI:

According to police reports, they arrested Strickland just before 3 a.m. at Tates Creek and New Circle Road. The report says an officer saw Strickland run a red light at the intersection, nearly striking another vehicle. Investigators say he failed a field sobriety test, including standing on one leg, walking and turning, and reciting ABCs. Strickland refused a breathalizer and had the smell of alcohol on his breath.

Fabian Lyon of the Miami Herald reports that UK leads on Brandon Knight:

The two-time National Gatorade Player of the Year has kept things close to the vest since narrowing his choices to Kentucky, Kansas, Syracuse, Florida and Connecticut but several sources believe Kentucky will emerge victorious in the Knight sweepstakes.

Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports says that Calipari will clean up:

Calipari is a genius at this sort of thing. I’m guessing the man knows his X’s from his O’s, though I myself am not qualified to make that declaration — but I’m positive he’s a recruiting genius. Look what he did last year at Kentucky, when he surveyed the scorched earth left behind by Billy Gillispie and immediately planted trees named DeMarcus Cousins and Wall, then landscaped with Daniel Orton and Bledsoe.

My column on Patrick Patterson delaying his NBA decision:

He wants to be the one to make an official announcement about his draft status. He wants a little solo time, after often operating in the shadows of fabulous freshmen most of the recently complete college basketball season. He’ll take some pats on the back, pun intended. His parents want that for him.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rod Strickland arrested for DUI’

John Cohen

SEC links for Monday:

• Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal reports on Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen’s troubles.

• Urban Meyer, not Tim Tebow, is the key to Florida’s success, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.

• Florida freshman Trey Burton remind some of Tebow, writes Joe Goodman in the Miami Herald.

• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that aggressiveness and accountability are the watchwords for Georgia football.

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports from Louisville on Tennessee basketball signees Trae Golden and Jordan McRae.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Cohen having his problems at Mississippi St’

Stacey Poole dunks at Derby Festival. (H-L photo)

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

Anne Peterson of AP reports on Enes Kanter’s big night at the Nike Hoops Summit:

Enes Kanter, a 6-foot-10 center from Turkey who is committed to play for Kentucky, had 34 points and 13 rebounds. Kanter surpassed the Hoop Summit world team record of 33 points set by Dirk Nowitzki in 1998. “I played with my team,” said Kanter, who is still working on his English. “I had 34 points because of my team.”

(Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Percy Allen of the Seattle Times on Kanter and Terrence Jones’ play at Nike:

Well tonight, Kanter reminded everyone why many believe he’ll be a lottery pick in 2011. Simply put, he was the best player on court. And that’s saying a lot considering he was sharing the floor with North Carolina-bound Harrison Barnes, Ohio State-bound Jared Sullinger, Duke-bound Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight (uncommitted) and Jones.

Dave Fairbank of the Newport News Daily Press on Marquis Teague:

Teague, a whippet-thin point guard from Indianapolis rated by some as the best player in the Class of 2011, has narrowed a voluminous list of suitors to five schools. In no particular order: Louisville, Kentucky, Indiana, Purdue and Cincinnati. He thought about announcing his choice at Boo’s tournament, but decided against it and said Saturday that he’s likely to choose at the end of April.

(Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports on the UK football scrimmage:

The Wildcats had their first major scrimmage of the spring Saturday, with all three quarterbacks taking snaps with the first-team offense. Hartline was the most effective, going 10-for-15 passing for 153 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. On the first series of the scrimmage, Hartline hooked up with Randall Cobb for a score on a catch-and-run slant on the right side, and later he threaded the needle perfectly to La’Rod King on a short TD pass in the end zone.

Jerry Tipton’s H-L notebook says Cats can reload:

“There’s no indication that he’s going to let up in recruiting, so I tend to believe that Kentucky won’t be short on talent any time soon,” Bilas wrote in an e-mail. “A 35-3 record, an SEC Championship, and a No. 1 ranking every year seems a bit of a stretch. But Kentucky will compete and win at the highest level.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Enes Kanter shines at Nike Hoops Summit’

SEC links for Sunday:

• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel on Tennessee charging $50 to watch a football scrimmage.

• Florida feels much better about its quarterbacks now, writes Pat Dooley in the Gainesville Sun.

• Mark Bradley of the AJC says Georgia can’t say the same about its quarterbacks.

• Joseph Person of The State writes that South Carolina has plenty of questions to answer about its quarterbacks.

• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register reports that interceptions upset Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.

• Neither Matt Simms or his Tennessee coaches were happy with his performance, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Quarterback races and UT’s $50 scrimmage’

Daily randoms for a Friday:

Missed this excellent Pete Thamel story in the New York Times in which coaches says it’s more of an occupational sin to lose than it is to cheat. There is plenty of evidence to support the theory. Shamed at Kentucky, Eddie Sutton got a second chance at Oklahoma State. Houston is giving James Dickey another chance. UTEP is giving Tim Floyd a second chance. Bob Knight would be quick to point out that John Calipari has received a couple of chances now, even though Cal has never been specifically implicated by the NCAA, etc., etc. and so forth.

Speaking of coaches, latest from the carousel: Clemson wants Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel, who actually may want the Wake Forest job more than the Clemson job. Either way, Capel is said to want out at Oklahoma. if Capel does go to Wake, ex-Florida assistant Shaka Smith, could return to Clemson, where he was once an assistant.

And did you see where Oregon actually interviewed Billy Gillispie? BCG pulled up to Eugene in a limo, which may or may not qualify as a designated driver. Can’t imagine that OU would actually hire Billy G., not if the Ducks still have Rich Brooks’ phone number.

I’m in Blue Grass Stakes, leading into Kentucky Derby doings, mode, and have to say it won’t bother me if Todd Pletcher runs 10 horses on the first day of May. I know, I know, much of the media considers Pletcher a plastic man. But I’ve found him to be polite, talented and ridiculously well-organized, which is a skill/talent I greatly admire. I remember talking to Pletcher in his barn at Keeneland a couple of years ago, when a van driver came in looking for some misplaced documentation of some sort. Pletcher found it right away, in a file in his desk drawer. But then you’d have to be well-organized to juggle the number of horses that Pletcher trains each year.

Continue reading ‘For coaches, is it better to cheat than it is to lose?’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports that DeMarcus Cousins has an agent:

Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins has hired an agent who’s delivering a bold message to the NBA: The No. 1 pick in the draft could come out of Kentucky, but it won’t necessarily be point guard John Wall. “There are teams that have done their homework on DeMarcus, and if the lottery ball bounces right, he could be the No. 1 pick in the draft,” agent John Greig told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday.

Mark Story of the Herald-Leader writes on new UK offensive line coach Mike Summers:

An offensive line coach makes his living teaching mammoth-sized gladiators football’s version of hand-to-hand combat. Yet Mike Summers, Kentucky’s new O-line coach, brings almost a professorial air to this manly task. It’s not just his spectacles, either.

Bluegrass State Basketball on Jarrod Polson’s pickup game:

He demonstrated good athleticism, an ability to score and great ball-handling skills in pickup action against several current and former Kentucky players.

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader has an update on C.J. Leslie:

Hatchett said that Leslie tentatively planned to announce his college choice at the Jordan Brand Game in New York City on April 17. Although the coach also noted that Leslie might announce the choice earlier than that or, perhaps, someimt after the game.

Tipton reports that Stacey Poole is looking forward to Derby Festival:

Poole acknowledged that he will bring a relatively modest profile to UK. He’s not the kind of mega prospect like John Wall or DeMarcus Cousins. And UK Coach John Calipari said after Poole committed that he told the player the program would pursue other guards.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Agent thinks Cousins is better than Wall’

(H-L photo)

SEC links for Friday:

• Vanderbilt’s A.J. Ogilvy will enter the draft, reports Mike Organ of the Tennessean.

• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Ogilvy’s play never matched his potential.

• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Austin Rivers has de-committed from Florida.

• But Patric Young should help the Gators down low, writes Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel.

• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that quarterback Nick Stephens is leaving Tennessee.

• The departure adds to losing streak, writes Adams.

• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press also reports on Stephens’ senior exit.

• Michael Carvell of the AJC reports that Georgia could be back in hunt for state’s Mr. Basketball.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Ogilvy to enter draft; Rivers de-commits’

Daily randoms for Thursday:

Patrick Patterson is going pro. Let’s be real, here. Can’t guarantee that, but will be shocked if he doesn’t. So why his mother, Tywanna, tell various media outlets that Patrick hadn’t made up his mind? One, if Pat puts his name in the NBA hopper for a second time, he can’t pull it back out. Two, the Pattersons want to hold another press conference like they did last year to announce the decision. If you sat anywhere near the Pattersons during UK games  this season, you know they love their Patrick.

Of course, with a critical recruiting period coming up, UK wants the word out to potential signees that spots are available. Step up and take the playing time. That’s why UK released the names of those planning to go pro last night. The dead period ends today. There is usually a reason for the timing behind such announcements. Little is left to chance.

Time of the year for those early, early prognostications for College Basketball 2010-11. Pay them no mind. Or little mind. Kentucky won’t be listed in many, considering the mass exodus that began last night. Yet who knows the extent of John Calipari’s haul for next year.

ESPN’s Andy Katz has his pre-season top 25 here. Over at CBS Sports, Gary Parrish offers up his Top 25.

Question of the day: Now that college hoops are over, do you turn your attention to the NBA? I did last year. Thoroughly enjoyed the playoffs, after watching next-to-nil of the regular campaign. Will probably do the same this year. What about you?

Continue reading ‘Patterson’s mixed signals, and next year’s top 25s’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that the UK exodus has begun:

The University of Kentucky’s basketball loss on Wednesday could be the University of Kentucky’s basketball gain this recruiting season. That’s the reality of big-time college basketball as UK announced five players will enter their names in this year’s NBA Draft.

Tywanna Patterson tells Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal that her son is unsure about his future:

In a telephone interview, Tywanna Patterson said her son planned to make a decision before the April 25 deadline for entering the draft. Players have until May8 to withdraw from the list if they haven’t signed with agents. “If Patrick leaves, he’ll have his day and have a press conference just like he did when he came back (after declaring for the draft last year),” she said.

Mrs. Patterson tells Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger the same thing:

Tywanna Patterson thought it was just going to be another ordinary day, or as ordinary as days could be since the University of Kentucky lost to West Virginia almost two weeks ago in the NCAA Tournament.Instead, while she was at the mall in Huntington, W.Va., Wednesday night, she started getting text messages, voice mails and phone calls from friends congratulating her on her son, Patrick, leaving UK for the NBA.

Tipton also reports that UK is looking at West Jessamine’s Jarrod Polson:

“Maybe” gained plausibility when UK assistant coach Orlando Antigua called Tuesday night and invited Polson to play pickup games with several Wildcats. Those games are scheduled to be played on Thursday, after which the UK coaches are supposed to decide if Polson can walk on next season or perhaps be worthy of consideration for a scholarship. Polson’s previous recruiting picture involved Cedarville University, a “Christ-centered” Baptist-affiliated NAIA school in southwestern Ohio.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Is Patrick Patterson really undecided about NBA?’