Kentucky sports and beyond.
Zagsblog reports that DeAndre Daniels apparently enjoyed his visit to Duke over the weekend.
Daniels has visited Kentucky, but the Cats may not be among his top three choices.
An excerpt:
“From everything I’ve heard, he had a really good visit,” IMG Academies coach Andy Borman told SNY.tv Monday.
Daniels has now taken five officials – to Kentucky, Kansas, Texas, Oregon and Duke.
“I know it’s kind of the standard Big Three,” Borman said, “which would be Duke, Texas, Kansas.”
Frank Vogel (AP photo)
Was talking with a friend at the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday, when I mentioned that the Pacers were leading the Bulls in the first round of their NBA playoff series.
“Who coaches the Pacers anyway?” asked the friend.
“I have no idea,” I said. “I know they fired Jim O’Brien (the former Rick Pitino assistant) during the season. I think they named one of his assistants head coach.”
Who knew that assistant/interim head coach has UK ties?
I didn’t, or at least not until I did an internet investigation to find the answer.
Turns out the Pacers interim coach is Frank Vogel, who was a student manager under Pitino at UK. Vogel was a transfer from Juniata College in Huntington, Pa., who also played on the junior varsity at Kentucky. He also graduated from UK.
Continue reading ‘Who knew the Pacers interim coach is a UK grad?’
Harrison Barnes (AP photo)
Harrison Barnes announced this morning that he will return to North Carolina for his sophomore season.
So the ball is now in the court of Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight.
If Knight and Jones stay, then Kentucky could be the No. 1 pre-season choice next season, based on the holdovers plus John Calipari’s highly-touted crop of newcomers.
If Knight and Jones go, then North Carolina will almost surely be the pre-season No. 1.
John Henson and Tyler Zeller both announced they will return to Chapel Hill next season. Now it looks like Barnes will do the same. Throw in point guard Kendall Marshall, and North Carolina will have a talented, experienced team next season.
Lots of e-mail about my Saturday column concerning Kentucky basketball and the possibility of a new arena:
Jeff writes:
Good morning. Your story this morning is dead on, Brother. Please don’t let up on the pressure to kill this ludicrous idea. We need to spend the money on A LOT of other stuff before we have to worry about a new arena. Everything you mentioned about the other teams; Duke, Butler, Kansas…exactly what I’ve been saying and trying to prove to anyone that would listen to me!
The kids are signing here because of what Kentucky means to college basketball…Rupp arena will sell any kid on any given night. Just because a few, a very few, folks want suites, which half aren’t even UK alums, I’m sure…it’s crazy.
. . . I get why it’s important to THINK why we need a new arena. I work in Louisville so I’ve been all thru the new arena and we even built their new football stadium expansion (see my signature line) I knew UL’s recent “upgrades” weren’t going to sit well with the powers that be here at home. If, UK really wants to increase revenue and compete in the SEC where the REAL money is, then drop about $100 million in the football facilities, yes..Commonwealth too. Our weight room is waaaaaay behind the rest of the teams, we don’t have the proper academic learning center for the athletes like the rest of the schools do.
Richard writes:
Concerning your newspaper article entitled “Rupp Arena is good enough for Kentucky”, what you need to understand is that a new or greatly upgraded arena is not needed for our team’s success, the coach or even the players but rather is much needed for the fans. The well-to-do folks, of which I’m sure includes you, have great seats to sit in and watch the games. But for the less effluent of us who must sit in the upper arena, the bleachers are just a horrible place to sit for 2 plus hours. My guess is that no college arenas being built now have bleachers for seating. These bleachers must be replaced, either by renovation or a new arena. Having said that, I would agree that prior funding must be found outside of involving any tax-payer money. Usually I agree with your articles, but not this time.
Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: Reaction to my new arena column’
Big Blue Links for Monday:
Continue reading ‘BBL: Calipari visits Trevor Lacey; Uchebo would listen’
SEC links for Monday:
Continue reading ‘SEC: Tennessee donors lashed out at administration’
(Charlotte Observer photo)
Big Blue Links for Sunday:
- Links from last night’s Jordan Brand Classic in Charlotte:
- More talk about the task force studying the possibility of a new arena, this time in Jerry Tipton’s notebook. A political science professor made the argument to the University Senate that the athletic department should donate more money to the academic side.
- Mark Story of the H-L writes on Rex Chapman and his son.
- Kentucky football shows energy, but not focus in scrimmage, reports Chip Cosby of the H-L.
Continue reading ‘BBL: Anthony Davis earns co-MVP at Jordan Brand’
Michael Gilchrist (Charlotte Observer photo)
Morning notes and links for a Saturday:
- Tonight is the Jordan Brand Classic in Charlotte, which features Kentucky signees Anthony Davis, Michael Gilchrist, Kyle Wiltjer and Marquis Teague. In fact, Ron Green, Jr. of the Charlotte Observer writes, “The Jordan Brand Classic All-American game Saturday night could almost be mistaken for a Kentucky Wildcats intrasquad game.”
My old buddy Scott Fowler of the Observer writes that the game will also give a peek into North Carolina’s future, thanks to participants James McAdoo and P.J. Hairston. Scott was covering UK for the Courier-Journal back when I first started covering UK football. That’s a side note.
Harry Pickett of the Observer has some more Jordan Brand notes.
And Ron Green, Jr. again, this time on Austin Rivers.
- The game will be televised by ESPN2 at 8 p.m.
Continue reading ‘Jordan Brand, Blue Grass Stakes and more on tap today’
A press release from Western Kentucky:
Fans have four ticket price options for Western Kentucky’s September 1 football season opener with the University of Kentucky at L.P. Field in Nashville, Tenn., WKU announced today. The game is being played on the opening day of the 2011 college football season and will be televised live on ESPNU at 8:15 p.m. central time, marking one of two national telecasts on ESPNU for WKU (at Middle Tennessee on October 6).
Fans who purchase two or more tickets by July 1 will receive $25 off the total price of 2011-12 men’s or women’s basketball season tickets.
Tickets in the club level may be purchased for $63, while lower level sideline seats are $43 and lower endzone seats are $38. Upper level seats are $28. Tickets may be purchased by visiting wkusports.com or by calling the WKU ticket office at 1-800-5-BIG-RED. The game is not part of the WKU’s season ticket package and provides WKU fans with the best flexibility on pricing and location.
Continue reading ‘WKU announces ticket details for Kentucky game’
Videos of Marquis Teague and Anthony Davis at the Jordan Brand Classic, via uksportsinfo.com.
