Kentucky sports and beyond.
After UK hit the hardwood at the Prudential Center on Thursday, the players took questions from the media on Friday’s matchup with No. 1 overall seed Ohio State. Here we have Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and DeAndre Liggins.
Continue reading ‘Video: Kentucky players talk about battling the Buckeyes’
After Kentucky’s open practice at the Prudential Center here in Newark, UK coach John Calipari talked about playing Ohio State on Friday. Video by the Herald-Leader’s David Perry.
We’re in Newark, New Jersey. Actually, we are here at the Prudential Center in Newark New Jersey, where the East Region semifinals take place on Friday night. Marquette and North Carolina are here. Ohio State and, yes, Kentucky are here. In fact, the press conferences and open locker room sessions have just been completed.
And to the favorite goes the perks. Kentucky was crammed into a tiny locker room, which barely had enough room for the players, much less the media horde that crowded into the space. But then Kentucky is the East Region’s No. 4 seed.
Ohio State is the top seed, and the Buckeyes were afforded the large, New Jersey Devils locker room. Or at least large by comparison. There was much more space in the red-clad room. The carpet was nicer. The lockers were nicer.
Kentucky players are bristling a bit at questions about being the underdog. Or maybe the Cats were bristling at the crowd that crammed around their folding chairs. The Ohio State players seemed comfortable in their own skins. Or maybe they were just in a more comfortable room.
By the way, video is on the way.
Continue reading ‘When you are the top seed, you get the better digs’
Just a few morning notes as we make the way to the swamps of Jersey:
- Press conferences and open practices are today at the Prudential Center in Newark. Here is the schedule:
- I’m traveling this morning, but understand that some of my colleagues, who left yesterday, had problems getting to the East Coast and ended up short of Newark. Wish me luck.
- Temperatures in Newark are supposed to be in the 40s all weekend. We’re not in Tampa anymore.
- My predictions for tonight: In New Orleans, Florida will find a way to contain Fredette and beat BYU. Meanwhile, Shelvin Mack will turn in another monster game, and avoid any late “dumb” fouls, and Butler will beat Wisconsin. In Anaheim, Connecticut will ride Kemba Walker to a victory over Steve Fisher and San Diego State. Arizona will give Duke absolute fits, but the Blue Devils will prevail thanks to Kyrie Irving.
Continue reading ‘Predictions and notes on the way to Newark’
On an ESPN teleconference today with analysts Jay Bilas and Fran Fraschilla, who talked about the Sweet 16 matchup in the NCAA Tourmament, including Kentucky-Ohio State.
Here are three downloadable clips:
- Here, Bilas talks about the Kentucky-Ohio State matchup.
- Here, Bilas is asked about how Kentucky might defend Ohio State, and about Josh Harrellson.
Continue reading ‘Audio: Jay Bilas talks Kentucky-Ohio State’
Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog writes that New York center Dajuan Coleman, a highly-rated 2012 prospect, is gaining a lot of attention.
So who is paying the most attention?
An excerpt:
“It’s going to be somebody and Syracuse,” Hart said Wednesday. “If there’s five or six schools, the final two is probably going to be somebody and Syracuse.”
Could that “somebody” be Kentucky?
“Obviously, Kentucky and Syracuse are showing him the most love of late,” Hart said.
I will be part of a Houston Chronicle livechat with other writers around the country about the NCAA Tournament. The Final Four is in Houston, after all. The chat is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., and you can participate here.
(AP photo/David J. Phillip)
Update: Jeff Goodman reporting that Arkansas has hired Anderson.
Lots of conflicting reports out there, but Andy Katz of ESPN is reporting that ex-Arkansas assistant Mike Anderson is close to becoming the Razorbacks head coach.
Anderson was reportedly in negotiations with Missouri on a contract extension, but now there are reports he will take the Arkansas job instead.
Nate Allen of the Baxter Bulletin in Arkansas is also reporting his sources say that Anderson will be the next Arkansas coach, replacing John Pelphrey, who was fired after the Razorbacks were eliminated from the SEC Tourney.
Vahe Gregorian of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that where once there was talk about an Anderson contract extension at Mizzou, now both sides have gone silent.
An Arkansas assistant for 17 years before becoming head coach at UAB, Anderson plays the uptempo style Arkansas’ fans loved during the Noal Richardson glory days, and have wanted since Richardson was forced out by former AD Frank Broyles.
Here is the NCAA Tournament television schedule for this week:
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
