John Clay's Sidelines

UK head coach Joker Phillips spoke with media today after final practice before Saturday’s spring game.

Here’s the official release from UK:For immediate release

Three Wildcats Declare for NBA Draft

Underclassmen have until May 8 to withdraw from the draft

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky junior DeAndre Liggins and freshmen Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight have declared for this year’s NBA Draft. None of the three have signed or announced plans to sign with an agent.

Liggins, a 6-foot-6 guard from Chicago, served as the Wildcats’ defensive stopper this season, consistently drawing the assignment of guarding the opposing team’s top offensive threat. He averaged 8.6 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range.

He was named to the Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America Team and was also named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year by Yahoo! Sports, as well as being named to the SEC All­-Defensive Team by the league’s coaches.

Continue reading ‘Kentucky release on three players declaring for NBA draft’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Trevor Lacey will visit Kansas, reports the Lawrence Journal World.
• Doron Lamb says he will return for sophomore season, reports Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Bob Knight apologizes for making comments about UK personal, reports Tipton.
• Knight’s apology is not good enough, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Which UK football and basketball figures would be statue-worthy? asks my column.
• Western Kentucky rallies to beat UK baseball, says H-L staff report.
• Seth Davis of SI.com thinks Knight or Jones, or both, could return for next season.
• Knight’s apology doesn’t admit inaccuracy, writes Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal.
• Disgruntled Knight stuck in another era, writes Marc Pendleton of the Dayton Daily News.
• Anthony Davis tops MaxPrep’s rankings, reports Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Lacey to visit Kansas; Knight’s pseudo apology’

(AP photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• SEC commissioner Mike Slive sounds off on various topics to the Mobile Press-Register.
• Report says Ryan Mallett admitted drug use to NFL teams, writes Robbie Neiswanger of Arkansas News.
• State of SEC quarterbacks looks grim, says Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Ex-Georgia quarterback and coach Ray Goff stays connected through FCA, reports John Kosater of the Macon Telegraph.
• Bottom line only part of the equation for LSU women’s basketball, writes Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Nick Saban gives credit to Crimson Tide fans, writes Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Mike Slive sounds off; Mallett admits drug use’

(AP photo)

Freeze warnings are now out way, way south of the border.

Bob Knight has apologized.

This from ESPN:

ESPN analyst Bob Knight apologized Tuesday after making erroneous statements over the weekend about the academic record of Kentucky’s basketball team.

At a speaking engagement in Indiana on Saturday, Knight criticized the policy allowing players to go to the NBA after one season and incorrectly said that during the 2009-10 season, the starters on Kentucky’s NCAA tournament team did not attend class during the spring semester.

“My overall point is that ‘one and dones’ are not healthy for college basketball,” Knight said. “I should not have made it personal to Kentucky and its players and I apologize.”

Continue reading ‘Man bites dog: Bob Knight apologizes to UK’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

This just in from UK:For immediate release

April 19, 2011

Lamb Announces He Will Return to UK

Sophomore guard will not declare for NBA Draft

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky freshman Doron Lamb has decided to return to Kentucky for his sophomore season and will not declare for the NBA Draft.

Lamb, a 6-foot-4 guard from Queens, N.Y., was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team by the league coaches and was also named Yahoo! Sports’ National Sixth Man of the Year. He averaged 12.3 points while shooting an SEC-leading 48.6 percent from 3-point range.

He was named ESPN.com National Player of the Week, USBWA National Player of the Week, Dick Vitale’s Diaper Dandy of the Week and SEC Player of the Week after scoring a then-freshman record 32 points vs. Winthrop on 11-of-12 shooting, including 7-of-8 from 3-point range.

Continue reading ‘Doron Lamb announces he will return next season’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• John Calipari checked out DaJuan Coleman on Monday, reports CNY Central. (Hat tip All Ky Hoops)
• Bob Knight claims UK starters didn’t go to class, reports Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• ESPN’s integrity on line with Knight comments, writes Dick Weiss of Daily News.
• Barnhart takes issue with The General, reports Brett Dawson of the C-J.
• Eric Crawford of C-J: Standing up to Knight’s bully pulpit.
• Bob Knight should check his facts, writes Larry Vaught of Advocate-Messenger.
• All eyes on Knight and Jones, writes Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal.
• Allen Edwards joins staff at Wyoming, reports KGWN-TV.

Continue reading ‘BBL: While Bob brays, Calipari checks out Coleman’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Big Orange Caravan will start in Florida, reports John Adams of News-Sentinel.
• Major recruit among those charged in Georgia case, reports Tim Tucker of AJC.
• Trio from Columbus charged in thefts, reports Seth Emerson of the Telegraph.
• Miss. State picks up hoops commitment, reports Advertiser’s A. Stacy Long.
• Arkansas sets spring game record, reports Robbie Neiswanger of News.
• Ex-Tennessee commitment signs with UCF, reports Iliana Limon of Sentinel.
• Will NCAA ruling impact Miles’ contract? asks Glenn Guilbeau of Times.
• Pat Dooley of Gainesville Sun compares Florida’s football schedules.
• Bama quarterback could be a split decision, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of B’ham News.
• Chizik says Tigers must work for spot, reports Anniston Star’s Charles Bennett.
• Dooley needs more than flashes, writes Patrick Brown of the Times Free Press.
• No rush for South Carolina to hold No. 1, writes Travis Haney of Post and Courier.
• Mid-week feud carries importance, writes Brandon Marcello of Clarion-Ledger.
• Cohen suspends player for gesture, reports Brandon Lock of the Daily Journal.
• Quiet bats cause LSU headaches, writes Randy Rosetta of The Advocate.

In case you haven’t seen it, here’s the video of Bob Knight doing what he always claimed the media did — talk about something he knows nothing about.

Continue reading ‘I could care less what Bob Knight says, but . . .’