Big Blue Links for Monday:
UK WOMEN GET NO. 2 SEED – Matthew Mitchell’s team completed a successful trip to Auburn, beating the Lady Tigers 76-62 to wrap up the No. 2 seed in the SEC Women’s Tournament. The Cats finished 11-5 overall, behind Tennessee’s perfect 16-0, but in front of Vanderbilt and Georgia, which both finished 10-6.
Kentucky has a first-round bye and will play the Alabama-LSU winner at 3:30 on Friday. Here’s a testament to the toughness of the SEC: Kentucky beat LSU by just 49-47 in Lexington back on Feb. 13.
UK MEN STILL IN HUNT FOR NO. 2 SEED – By my examination, the best way for Kentucky to get that coveted No. 2 seed and first-round bye is for the Cats to win out, and hope that Georgia loses one of its last two. Most three-way ties seem to favor Vanderbilt. But hey, I spent most of Sunday with my head swimming from scenarios. I bit off more than I can chew.
Roll Bama Roll takes a crack at it by way of a percentage chart. (Hat tip to Walter’s Wildcat World)
Meanwhile, Rick Bozich writes from Saturday’s game that Kentucky could be a dangerous team come March. “Even though the Gators are likely to win the SEC, don’t make the mistake of obsessing on the standings because March arrives this week. Come March, Kentucky will be the more dangerous and dominant team,” writes Rick.
Not sure I agree with that. Still like Florida’s experience, and the Gators were playing on one day’s rest at Rupp. The good part is that it will all be played out on the floor.
Tom Leach talks to CBS’ Dan Bonner at the UK-Florida game on Saturday.
TREVOR LACEY – Tom Easterling of the Huntsville Times profiled UK target Trevor Lacey on Sunday. The high-scorer said that he has a favorite school, but is not ready to say.
“Kentucky coach John Calipari has been to Huntsville’s Butler High to see Lacey. Alabama’s Anthony Grant and Auburn’s Tony Barbee have frequented Rebels games. Oklahoma and UCLA have sent assistants to the school. Jim Calhoun of UConn has left messages,” writes Easterling. “Lacey liked Tennessee, the first school that offered him a scholarship when he was a sophomore, but cooled on the Vols after coach Bruce Pearl and staff were hit with NCAA violations.
“Lacey said this past week he’s got a favorite, but he’s not tipping his hand.”
The bad news is that Lacey may also have some classroom issues to overcome.
JORTS – On tap for today is a 10 a.m. press conference with Kentucky’s only senior, center Josh Harrellson. Tuesday night is Senior Night with the Cats playing Vanderbilt at 9 p.m. on ESPN. So we will get coach John Calipari and some players this afternoon to preview the important clash with the Commodores.
Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger polled media members on Harrellson.
Cat Scratches will have a live chat with Harrellson at 12:15 today.
RANDALL COBB – UK’s former Mr. Do Everything ran a 4.45 at the NFL Combine. According to Rotoworld, ex-NFL GM Charlie Casserly calls Cobb a “poor man’s Hines Ward.”
Frank Tadych of NFL.com wrote, “Among the other 44 receivers, one prospect who might have helped himself is Kentucky’s Randall Cobb, who ran faster than most expected with a 4.45-second 40-yard dash.”
JOSH HARRIS – Mason County football coach David Buchanan tells the Maysville Ledger-Independent that Royals’ star Josh Harris has in fact committed to Kentucky. Harris is UK’s first 2012 commitment, reports Brett Carney of WLEX.
BAT CATS – UK baseball has climbed back to .500, winning the rubber match of a three-game series with Illinois-Chicago 3-1. “The game was uncharacteristically low scoring compared to the first two games of the series,” reports Ethan Levine of the Kentucky Kernel. “On Friday, UK blew an 8-2 seventh inning lead and fell to UIC 10-8. On Saturday, the Cats responded with an offensive explosion, dominating UIC to the tune of a 13-3 win to even out the series. After scoring 21 runs in the first two games of the weekend, UK (4-4) managed only three runs on Sunday on just five hits. But it was enough offense to earn UK a much needed victory.”
THIS AND THAT — All Kentucky Hoops reports that ex-UK guard/rapper Ramel Bradley is having knee surgery in Israel.
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