John Clay's Sidelines

Kentucky linebacker/defensive end Ridge Wilson talks about spring drills.

Update: DeWayne Peevy relays that this was actually released back in December, so we’ll use this as a reminder.

Rick Bozich of the C-J blogs that Kentucky will play Kansas on Nov. 15 in Madison Square Garden in the inaugural Champions Classic.

Kentucky hasn’t played Kansas since the 2007 NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks beat the Cats 88-76 in Chicago in what turned out to be Tubby Smith’s final game as UK’s coach.

The Cats have actually lost three straight to the Jayhawks, falling at Rupp 65-59 in January of 2005, then 73-46 at Lawrence in January of 2006.

UK’s last win over Kansas was in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, 92-88 in overtime.

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

Big Blue Links:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader: “Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips made it no secret that he needed to see an efficient passing game out of his team this spring. Quarterback Morgan Newton has done his part. The junior-to-be has looked sharp throwing the ball this spring, and he put his improved arm on display in the Blue-White Spring Game on Saturday by throwing for 256 yards and three touchdowns.”
• John Clay of the Herald-Leader: “Kentucky football fans are worried. The Kentucky football coach is excited. Kentucky football fans have low expectations. The Kentucky football coach thinks his team can be a contender for the Southeastern Conference championship next season. ‘Why not?’ said Joker Phillips on Saturday, he being the football coach in question, after his team finished spring drills with its annual Blue-White Spring Game.”
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal: “Receivers dropped at least eight passes, many by the first-teamers who comprised the White team. The Blue team, made up of reserves, started the game with a 14-0 lead and won on Joe Mansour’s line-drive 38-yard field goal with 47 seconds left in the fourth quarter. But even with drops from receivers on both sides, Phillips saw some promising play from White team quarterback Morgan Newton – the Cats’ probable starter in the fall – and the Blue’s Maxwell Smith.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Spring football game links, and more’

Janoris Jenkins (AP photo/Phil Sandlin)

SEC links for Sunday:

• Zeke Pike’s Auburn commitment affects blue-chippers close to home, reports Doug Segrest of the Birmingham News. “Pike is rated the No. 2 prostyle passer in the country by 247 sports and No. 3 quarterback overall for the Class of 2012, according to Scout.com. Winston, out of Hueytown, is ranked No. 2. Winston has narrowed his list to four schools — Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and LSU. But Auburn’s commitment from Pike could change things.”
• Florida’s Janoris Jenkins is in trouble again, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel. “Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins was cited for a second time this year for possession of marijuana. Jenkins, 22, was observed smoking a cigar in a vehicle in a parking lot at 104 N Main St., according to a release from the Gainesville Police Department. When Jenkins saw the officer, he exited the vehicle and began to walk away.”
• Cuonzo Martin commands respect at Tennessee, writes Patrick Brown of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “Tracy Webster has had every possible kind of basketball relationship with Cuonzo Martin for more than two decades. Through playing against his new boss, Tennessee’s new head coach, in high school in Illinois, battling him in the Big Ten and coaching with him for a year and against him for another three, Webster knows Martin well.”

Continue reading ‘SEC: Pike’s Auburn commitment; Jenkins in more trouble’

UK defensive co-coordinator Rick Minter and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders talk to media after today’s spring game.

Kentucky quarterbacks Morgan Newton and Maxwell Smith talk to media after today’s spring game.

The first five to six minutes of Joker Phillips talking to media after today’s Blue-White game in Commonwealth Stadium.

Some morning notes and links for a Friday:

- Writing for SI.com, Sam Amick reports that NBA teams are looking at more international players what with more college stars electing to stay in school. And to prove his point, Amick quotes one general manager saying:

“I guarantee you, if this was next year’s class, with the guys who are going back to school and the incoming freshmen, nobody would feel the need to spend months of time in Kaunas, Lithuania [Motiejunas' hometown],” one general manager said. “But you start staring at Kemba Walker and [Kentucky guard] Brandon Knight and [Kentucky forward] Terrence Jones and Kawhi Leonard in the lottery, and you start going, ‘Oh, my God, I’d better get on a plane and go find somebody.’ “

- Brandon Knight’s mother tells Larry Vaught it would take something “unexpected” for her son to pull out of the draft.

- Caught a little of Mitch Barnhart on Larry Glover Live last night. The UK athletics director was a little defensive concerning the question about spending for football, which you would probably expect. It’s a sore spot on both sides. UK football fanatics feel they are on the short end of the financial stick. Their grumbling has grown louder. Meanwhile, Mitch claims that Kentucky’s accounting methods, compared to those of other SEC schools, give a skewed picture of their financial priorities.

Mitch didn’t say this, but it’s just a fact that there are more people willing to donate to the basketball team than there are willing to donate to football.

Continue reading ‘Does Jones and Knight in lottery prove a weak draft?’

A few morning notes and links:

- The biggest news yesterday was DeAndre Liggins, Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight putting their names into the NBA draft, but without hiring an agent. They have until May 8 to withdraw, if they so choose. The guess here is that all three will leave their names in the hopper. Just think Jones wanted to go all along. That was his plan. As for Knight, his stock has risen to the point where he will probably be a lottery pick. Liggins also received a boost by his play down the stretch, especially on the defensive end. He already has pro skills in that department. But again, these are all just guesses. No one knows for sure. Maybe not even the players involved.

- Terrence Jones’ high school coach always thought he’d be a one-and-done.

- Jaycito is not running in Saturday’s Coolmore Lexington Stakes, which makes Silver Medallion the favorite. This is the “Last Chance Texaco” on the Kentucky Derby prep tour. Bob Baffert says Jaycito may still run in the Derby. So, too, might Baffert’s The Factor, the huge disappointment as the 4-5 favorite in the Arkansas Derby. Jaycito is still recovering from a bruised foot. The lesson here is that everyone wants to run in the Derby, and that’s why we will continue to see 20-horse fields. Future column possibility: Wouldn’t limiting the Kentucky Derby field to 14 horses be best for the long-term interests of the sport?

- Went to football practice on Wednesday, or at least the after-practice media segment. Nothing earth-shattering from Joker Phillips, but you can tell there are certainly questions about how much of new coordinator Rick Minter’s system the defense was able to master in just 14 practices. To me, however, the key word come fall will be “playmakers.” Does Kentucky have any playmakers?

Continue reading ‘Some morning notes as we wait on UK’s declaration trio’