John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

News and notes from UK’s 24-17 loss to Mississippi State:

• Kentucky dropped to 1-5 in the SEC, its worst record after six conference games since starting 0-6 in the league in 2004.
• On UK’s final play, a pass attempt which Mississippi State intercepted at the goal line, apparently wide out Chris Matthews didn’t get the call at the line to go to the end zone. Quarterback Mike Hartline, who was hurried a bit, threw long, and Matthews had cut off the pattern. It was supposed to be a jump ball. Instead, MSU db Jonathan Banks was the only one jumping at the goal-line, and got the pick.
• In its six SEC games, Kentucky is -5 in turnover margin. The Cats have given the ball away 14 times, and taken it just nine eight times. The Cats were a -2 -3 against State, giving it up four times, taking it twice once.
• Kentucky gained just 89 yards on 43 carries, the third straight game it had failed to rush for 100 yards.
• It was also the third straight game without Derrick Locke.
• Mississippi Sate’s 214 yards rushing was second most against UK this season, behind Auburn’s 311.
• State averaged 5.49 yards per rush, the fifth team to average at least five yards a carry against Kentucky. Louisville averaged 5.94, WKU 5.67, Florida 5.33 and Auburn 5.98.
• Randall Cobb had a career-high 12 catches for 171 yards and one touchdown.
• It was Hartline’s first three-interception game since the Alabama game of last year. He also threw three that day against the Crimson Tide.
• Hartline completed 23 of 41 passes for 258 yards, with two touchdowns and those three picks. That figures to a pass efficiency rating of 110.42, his lowest since posting a 104.17 at Florida.
• Danny Trevathan had 16 tackles, his fifth straight game of double-digit tackles.
• Craig McIntosh has made seven consecutive field goals.

You can also get updates via twitter at @johnclayiv.

Provided by UK Athletics:2010-11 Kentucky Basketball

Pre-Pikeville Quotes
Oct. 29, 2010

UK Head Coach John Calipari

“It’s funny, I went with (UK) President (Lee) Todd to speak in Pikeville a couple of weeks ago and we walked into the convention center and in the arena, Pikeville was practicing! So I tried to do a little scouting, but they were just wrapping up. (Pikeville) Coach (Kelly) Wells does a great job with his team and it will be a good test for our young squad. I like that we are able to play other Kentucky schools and help them prepare for their season as well.

“We just need to continue to get better in all areas and I know our guys are looking forward to playing some other competition.”

UK Players

#55 Josh Harrellson, Sr., F

“Playing Pikeville is going to be a great challenge for us to see how far our team and our team chemistry have come. It’s going to be a good opportunity to see how far along we are and a chance to see our friend, Landon Slone.”

#34 DeAndre Liggins, Jr., G

“I’m excited. The freshmen are going to be a little bit nervous but they’re going to get over it. I just want to come out and play hard. It’s the first game of the season; everyone’s going to be excited. We’re just trying to get the first game and take it one game at a time.”

#1 Darius Miller, Jr., G

“We’re looking forward to getting out to Rupp Arena and playing against some competition other than each other. I’m also looking forward to playing against my one of my high school teammates, Trevor (Setty), and my old high school coach Kelly Wells.”

With the Kentucky women ninth in today’s pre-season AP poll, good time to show video of Matthew Mitchell talking yesterday at Media Day about expectations.

Reactions to John Wall’s NBA debut last night:

Washington Post photo gallery from John Wall’s first game.

Michael Lee of the Washington Post: “It didn’t take long for Wall to realize that this league is on a much different level, and that the separation between the Washington Wizards and the Orlando Magic is much greater. Wall’s speedy drives to the basket were greeted by a muscle-bound, 6-foot-11 wall named Dwight Howard. His open jumpers rarely fell, his teammates couldn’t hit shots, either, and the Wizards were embarrassed, 112-83. ‘For my first game to be a road game against a team that went to the Finals two years ago, it’s pretty tough,’ Wall said after scoring 14 points with nine assists in 35 minutes. ‘We knew it was going to be a tough game and we came up pretty short. As a team, we have a lot to work on.’”

More from Michael Lee of the WP: “It was an unusual performance for Wall, who typically looks for his teammates first but fell into the Magic’s trap. When speaking about Wall before the game, Stan Van Gundy said, ‘In terms of his speed on the floor, he’s up there with anybody in the league.’ Since the Magic knew that it couldn’t keep up with the 20-year-old lightening bolt, Van Gundy decided to have point guard Jameer Nelson step back as far as he could, giving Wall as much room as he wanted for jumpers. Of Wall’s 13 misses, eight came from 17 feet or beyond. ‘He was wide open. It’s not like he took bad shots,’ Saunders said.”

Adam Figman of Slam Online: “In his first NBA game, John Wall didn’t exactly fly over the bar Blake Griffin set the night before. After the Clippers‘ rookie astounded fans and garnered some (very) early Rookie of the Year buzz, Wall failed to match Griff against an Orlando team that made a helluva first impression. The Wizards’ guard finished with a modest 14 points (6-19 from field) and 9 assists, though to his credit, got little-to-no help from, well, anyone.”

Continue reading ‘Reactions to John Wall’s NBA debut’

I found it.

Or, should I say, @_teamcousins found it, and sent along the coveted picture of Eric Bledsoe in his powder-blue tuxedo, all part of the Los Angeles Clippers’ rookie hazing.

Click on the pic to see it full-size.