John Clay's Sidelines

DeAndre Liggins will keep his name in the NBA draft. Here is UK’s official release:

May 8, 2011

Liggins to Stay in NBA Draft
UK defensive All-American will not return for his senior season

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky junior DeAndre Liggins will forego his senior season and keep his name in this year’s NBA Draft.

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.

“Coach (Calipari) encouraged me to come back for my senior season, but based on the feedback I got from NBA personnel, I felt it was in the best interests of me and family to stay in the draft,” Liggins said. “I learned a lot in my three years here at Kentucky, and I appreciate all the support I got from the people at UK as well as the Big Blue Nation.”

Continue reading ‘DeAndre Liggins keeping name in NBA draft’

Kentucky Derby odds, as announced by the track, at 7:20 p.m.Current odds for Derby

• Archarcharch 13-1
• Brilliant Speed 30-1
• Twice the Appeal 7-1 (Heavy Calvin Borel influence.)
• Stay Thirsty 17-1
• Decisive Moment 42-1
• Comma to the Top 43-1
• Pants on Fire 9-1
• Dialed In 9-2
• Derby Kitten 29-1
• Twinspired 21-1
• Master of Hounds 18-1
• Santiva 30-1
• Much Macho Man 12-1
• Shackelford 19-1
• Midnight Interlude 10-1
• Animal Kingdom 24-1
• Soldat 17-1
• Nehro 7-1
• Watch Me Go 29-1

Terrence Jones is preparing to distract you on Derby day.

From John Calipari’s twitter account:

Continue reading ‘Terrence Jones to announce decision Saturday via twitter’

Eammon Brennan of espn.com’s excellent college basketball blog has a list of the 10 teams that are sweating out the NBA draft withdrawal deadline.

He has Kentucky at No. 2.

And this was written after Brandon Knight announced this morning he will remain in the draft.

Excerpt from Eammon:

2. Kentucky (Terrence Jones, DeAndre Liggins): On Friday morning, guard Brandon Knight took absolutely no one by surprise in announcing he would stay in the NBA draft, where he is likely to be a lottery pick and the third guard drafted behind Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker. That decision won’t hurt the Wildcats much, not with incoming star Marquis Teague set to take over for John Calipari. But the decisions of forwards Terrence Jones (a possible lottery selection who tweeted that he was “50-50″ late last night) and DeAndre Liggins (a valuable defender who would need to impress scouts if he wants to somehow jump into the first round) could have a huge impact on Kentucky’s ability to contend for a national title next season. With both in the fold, Calipari could start an all-star lineup incorporating Jones with a No. 1-ranked recruiting class. Liggins, meanwhile, might be the best defender and glue-guy role player in the country. Without both, the Cats will still be supremely talented, but they’ll lack for depth and experience, two key components in the season’s long slog toward the Final Four in April.

Read the rest of the post to find out the nervous nine that join the Cats.

Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole talk at a news conference this morning at Churchill Downs about scratching Uncle Mo from the Kentucky Derby.

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

Morning notes and links:

- Kentucky has scheduled a 10:15 a.m. press conference, which will include Brandon Knight. The smart money is on him announcing he will enter the NBA draft. Right now, it looks like the point guard from Florida could easily be a lottery pick.

- Terrence Jones said on Twitter late last night: “For all BBN I’m still 50/50 at this point but I’ll be letting you guys know my decision real soon much love to all y’all y’all the best!!”

- DeAndre Liggins is also unsure, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.

- Rodney Purvis’ coach tells Zagsblog that the prospect is still wide open. He lists Louisville, Duke, N.C. State, Kentucky and Missouri as candidates.

- John Calipari will coach the Dominican Republic national team. This will get the UK coach some more exposure, and should help making recruiting inroads into that area of the globe. Because, you know, Cal needs all the help he can get in recruiting. That’s a joke, by the way. Actually, I see nothing wrong with this idea. As they say, travel is broadening.

Continue reading ‘Morning notes: Terrence Jones tweets that he’s 50-50′

Gus Johnson

Richard Deitsch of SI.com is reporting that Gus Johnson and CBS could not agree on a new contract.

That means no Gus when it comes to the NCAA Tournament next year.

An excerpt:

The patron saint of March Madness buzzer-beaters will not be calling the NCAA tournament next year.

SI.com has learned that CBS recently parted ways with Gus Johnson, a play-by-play mainstay on its college basketball coverage for 16 years. Johnson has also worked as a play-by-play voice for the network’s NFL coverage since 1998.

The two parties could not agree on a new deal.

Continue reading ‘Say it’s not so! Gus Johnson and CBS part ways’

(AP photo)

I was at Churchill Downs all morning, so missed the Randall Cobb press conference today at the Nutter Center. Never fear. Here are the quotes, as provided by UK:

On his feelings about being drafted in the second round by Green Bay …

“It’s probably the best thing that could have happened to me, to wait as long as I did and go to the team I did. God works in mysterious ways. For me to have the opportunity to play for Green Bay, such a powerful organization, so well known and so much tradition there, it’s going to be a great experience.”

On what it was like waiting that night…

“The first night, seeing everybody leave was a little hard on my family, not so much me, but more my family. The second day I went in there with the mindset of hopefully I’m getting off the table today. When the receivers started going it was a little bit of, ‘Where am I going?’ But like I said, God works in mysterious ways. I feel it’s probably the best position out of any of the receivers.”

Continue reading ‘Quotes from the Randall Cobb presser today’

Here is a look at the Kentucky Derby post positions over the last 20 years. W% is win percentage. M% is in-the-money percentage.