John Clay's Sidelines

Before today’s practice, UK coach John Calipari talked about where his Cats need improvement, and Tuesday night’s game with Coppin State.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

(AP photo)

Thanks to an alert blog reader who isn’t suffering from the post-Christmas blahs. He gets credit for an assist for sending along this link to an interesting New York Times story on the Mark Price Shooting Lab. Price is the former Georgia Tech and NBA guard known for his sweet stroke. Price calls his lab the “A.A. of shooting.” He’s there to help any player who has lost touch with the rim. And Price has opened up his toolbox to work on some famous clients.

An excerpt:

The lab’s most renowned problem case was Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, whose transcendent 2009-10 season was in small part a result of Price’s handiwork. Rondo arrived with a host of maladies – a flying elbow, which he neglected to keep tucked in; imbalance because of poor foot placement; and a habit of bringing the ball too far back before launching.

(AP photo)

Ex-UK tight end Jacob Tamme is up to 60 receptions and four touchdowns on the season. The former Boyle County star caught a team-high seven passes for 78 yards and a score on Sunday in Indianapolis’ win at Oakland. The victory all but clinched a playoff spot for the Colts and Tamme, who has excelled in place of the injured Dallas Clark.

Tamme also recovered a Raiders’ on-side kick.

Click here for Tamme’s game-by-game stats for this season.

Mike Silver of Yahoo Sports writes that the Colts have a blueprint for the playoffs.

A couple of e-mails concerning my Sunday column on Louisville’s new arena.

Kevin writes:

Typically, I wouldn’t comment on an article written in the paper, but after reading your article on the “new” Louisville arena, something really struck a chord. Specifically, I was shocked that you would think that an arena would have such an impact on player recruitment. That should have never been printed and I was appalled after reading it.

Why do I say that? Look no further than Cameron Indoor Stadium. Built in 1940-ish with a capacity of approximately 12,000. Probably one of the oldest, active college basketball arenas in the country….and Duke is always number 1. If not at the end of the season, they are number 1 for some or most of the season. A top-rate school, with a top-rate basketball program and coach. I’ve been there and it’s a crappy, cramp, out-dated place not only to play in, but to watch a game. But it’s also one of the best places to see one. It’s small and it’s loud and has a college basketball atmosphere like no other. Do you actually think the players are saying “no” to Coach K because of their facility? Come on, John!

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: The KFC Yum Center column’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• In Christmas surprise, UK basketball target Ricardo Ledo commits to Providence, reports Brendan Hall of espn.com.
• Calipari showing interest in 2013 recruit Chris Walker, reports Nation of Blue.
• What happened to SEC basketball’s great expectations? asks Glenn Logan of A Sea of Blue.
• Josh Clemons gives UK football a Christmas commitment, reports Chris Fisher of BigBlue247.
• Louisville-Kentucky not likely to follow the script, writes Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal.
• It’s time to start talking Cats and Cards, writes Ira Combs for Kentucky Sports Network.
• Brandon Knight’s parents gave him options, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Ex-Vanderbilt player gives orphans a home, reports Tipton.
• Derrick Locke has a soft side, but he’s no softy, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Wizards fall, even with John Wall back in lineup, reports Michael Lee of the Washington Post.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Some Christmas recruiting surprises’

SEC links for Monday:

• Mississippi State disputes blog report that Elgin Bailey is off team after fight, reports John L. Pitts of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Three Georgia Bulldogs will miss Liberty Bowl because of academics, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Off-the-field news marks memory of this Georgia season, writes Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that tracking tattoos has become NCAA role.
• Nick Saban addresses DUI of football signee, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.
• Urban Meyer’s final Gators game might be fun, writes David Jones of Florida Today.
• Arkansas’ offense preparing for its final test, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Crimson Tide hits the field in Orlando, reports Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Mississippi State starts its game week in Florida, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Bowl will gauge Tennessee’s improvement, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Mississippi State disputes report Bailey off team’

(H-L photo/Joseph Rey Au)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Morgan Newton relishes chance to be starting quarterback, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Jon Davis still committed to UK but will take U of L visit, reports Cosby.
• A 96-year-old Kentucky fan still bleeds blue, writes Mark Story of the Herald-Leader.
• Missing big man leaves hole in Calipari lineup, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Bleed Blue Kentucky does a football recruiting rewind and review.
• New assistant Steve Pardue believes in UK running game, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Doron Lamb anything but a bench player, writes Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Kernel also charts the percentage of the team’s shots each UK player takes.
• Kentucky on the verge of being dangerous, writes Alan Cutler of WLEX.
• Andy Katz of espn.com on the Enes Kanter non-updates.

Continue reading ‘BBL: With no Enes news, football links lead the way’