John Clay's Sidelines

Before today’s practice, Terrence Jones was circled by a media mob wanting to know about his game preparation.

Before Tuesday’s practice, UK coach John Calipari was asked about reports he might coach the Dominican Republic national team.

Nation of Blue sparked a mild uproar when it posted an interview with Louisville football commitment DeMarcus Smith in which he seemed to be wavering on that commitment.

But Nation of Blue has just posted another interview in which Smith says he is committed to the Cards.

Excerpt:

DaMarcus said he did a lot of thinking yesterday and had a chance to get all of his emotions in check and spoke to several people that have been with him throughout the recruiting process and he has decided to stick to his commitment to the Cardinals.

A 5-spot from just-completed John Calipari media opportunity, previewing the Winthrop game on Wednesday:

• Calipari said he had not been contacted about coaching the Dominican Republic team. He acted as if this was all news to him, he had no idea what anyone was talking about, even used an anecdote of his daughter running down the stairs at his house to ask him if it was true. But he also said it would be an honor to be considered, if that were the case. He also said he hadn’t thought about the advantages of doing such a thing, which seemed to be a bit of a stretch considering the news about Rick Pitino coaching the Dominican Republic team.
• Calipari also seemed surprised that he used the word “sue” in relation to the possibility of Enes Kanter’s parents using legal means with the NCAA to try and gain eligibility. When told he did, Cal said he says a lot of things as food for thought. He did say that was an option for the Kanters.
• Terrence Jones said he is still learning about proper preparation for a game. He said that one of the things the coaches want improvement in his body language. Asked for an example, Jones mentioned looking at the coach who is speaking.
• Cal did talk a little about Winthrop, but seemed to be more concerned about his team’s mindset going into a pre-Christmas game. He said every player knows what time the game will be over. Jones said he is leaving after the game to return to Portland.
• Cal was asked again about a pro team coming to Louisville, and gave pretty much the same answer he gave last Friday. He called it “my stump speech.”

(Miami Herald photo)

Random notes for Tuesday:

LOUISVILLE STEALS A FOOTBALL COMMITMENT – News out of Florida is that Charlie Strong has jumped in and taken the cornerstone of Miami’s football recruiting class, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Writes Jorge Milian of the Palm Beach Post: “Bridgewater, considered a keystone of Miami’s 2011 recruiting class, orally committed to UM in June but changed his mind after coach Randy Shannon was fired Nov. 27. He is ranked as the nation’s 70th-best player by Scout.com.”

The Miami Herald reports on Bridgewater, “The nation’s No. 2 dual-threat quarterback and a top recruiting priority for the University of Miami before Randy Shannon was fired, decided over the weekend, according to his mother, that he will be following his Miami Northwestern teammate and favorite receiver Eli Rogers to Cardinals Country. Both players were recruited by former UM recruiting coordinator Clint Hurtt.”

- Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal reports on the Cards’ coup.

PITINO COULD GET THE LAST LAUGH – All the joke-making and you-can’t-make-this-up giggling about Rick Pitino’s decision to coach the Puerto Rico national team will fall flat when the U of L coach pulls in a top Caribbean recruit, like say Richard Ledo. Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports gets it right.

ON TAP – John Calipari and players are available to the media at 11:30 a.m. to talk about tomorrow’s matinee against Winthrop. (Check the blog afterward for video and notes.) The UK women are in action tonight against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. That’s a 7 p.m. tip at Memorial Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Louisville’s bowl game is tonight, with the Cardinals playing Southern Miss in the Beef O’Brady Bowl in St. Petersburg. Kick is 7 p.m. on ESPN.

- Eric Crawford of the C-J writes that the stars are now aligning for Louisville football.

- Patrick Magee of the Clarion-Ledger reports on the Louisville-Southern Miss matchup.

Continue reading ‘Louisville’s recruiting coup and other notes’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Dayton soars past UK’s next foe, Winthrop, reports Doug Harris of the Dayton Daily News.
• Winthrop whipped on the boards by Flyers, writes Tyler Logan for the Rock Hill Herald.
• Calipari not optimistic about Kanter’s eligibility, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Could Kanter sue the NCAA? asks Mary Jo Perino of WLEX.
• Cal asks for more out of Darius Miller, reports Tipton.
• Mister Cobble will make debut in UK’s bowl game, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Cobble’s presence makes UK better, writes Jeff Drummond of BigBlue247.
• Nation of Blue believes DeMarcus Smith may be on the fence with Louisville.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Winthrop falls at Dayton; DeMarcus Smith wavering?’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Jacksonville upsets Florida 71-68 in overtime, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.
• Freshman cool under pressure as Dolphins upset Gators, writes Mike DiRocco of the Jacksonville Sun.
• Tennessee student-athletes were treated as VIPs at bar, writes Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Florida football struggling in recruiting, reports David Jones of Florida Today.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel previews tonight’s Tennessee-Southern Cal matchup.
• Wimp Sanderson’s son, Scott, takes Lipsomb into where his father was once coach, writes Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Vanderbilt prepares for visit from Middle Tennessee, writes Tom Kraeger for the Tennessean.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Jacksonville shocks Florida; Vols, VIPs and bars’

(H-L photo)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Zagsblog says Dominican Republic is trying to hire John Calipari as national coach.
• Richard Ledo is ready to visit Kentucky and Louisville, reports Zagsblog.
• John Calipari voices frustrations with Terrence Jones’ growing pains, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• My Monday column saying co-coordinator idea could work for UK football.
• Titles aside, Rick Minter will head UK defense, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Tom Leach has video of Joe B. Hall’s former players at Saturday’s reunion.
• The Cats Pause also has video from the Joe. B. reunion.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Could Calipari coach Dominican team?’