John Clay's Sidelines

With the team staying in New York before traveling on to Connecticut for this weekend’s games, UK coach John Calipari held a teleconference this morning to talk about the program’s three early signees for next season, the win over Kansas on Tuesday and the game against Penn State this Saturday.

Click here to listen to full audio of John Calipari teleconference this morning (16:09)

Continue reading ‘Audio: John Calipari’s teleconference this morning’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Here are some Kentucky basketball player updates after two games. As well, I’ve started individual player pages which will be updated with news and notes throughout the season.

Terrence Jones: Scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds in win over Kansas.  Has made nine of 18 field goals in first two games of the season.  Also blocked three shots againstKansas. Jones had five games of three-or-more blocks last season, including three games in which he blocked four shots.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: Scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had four assists in win over Kansas. Did commit five turnovers and now has seven turnovers in first two games. Of his 16 rebounds thus far, 14 have come at the defensive end.

Anthony Davis: Scored 14 points, snatched six rebounds and blocked seven shots in win over Kansas.Davishas blocked 12 shots inUK’s first two games.Davisis averaging 18.5 points and eight rebounds through his first two games.

Continue reading ‘Kentucky basketball updates and player pages’

Isaiah Crowell on signing day (Ledger-Enquirer photo)

Saturday’s Kentucky-Georgia game in Athens is a big game for the home team. A Georgia win puts the Bulldogs into the SEC Championship game. But the Dogs are dealing with some issues this week. Star freshman running back Isaiah Crowell is battling a balky knee. Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has created a bit of a distraction with talk of a new contract.

• Georgia’s Crowell bothered by knee, reports Chip Towers of AJC.
• Georgia’s defense now a strength, reports Seth Emerson of Telegraph.
• Grantham needs to worry about coaching, says Jeff Schultz of AJC.
• Big plays the X-factor Kentucky is lacking, writes Jen Smith of H-L.
• UK not yet the team it can become, reports Jerry Tipton of H-L.
• Teague, a rookie driver, in charge of the Cats, says my Thursday column.

(AP photo)

Who knew Saturday’s big game would be Vanderbilt-Tennessee. Well, it might be the league’s most interesting game this weekend. And injured Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray could be back under center for the Vols. He says he has recovered from his broken wrist. But Derek Dooley says he will wait and see what the doctors say. The Volunteers enter the contest winless in the SEC. Vandy is looking for its sixth win overall, which means bowl eligibility.

• Vols’ Bray says he’s ready to play, reports Andrew Gribble of KNS.
• Franklin hopes Bray plays, reports Chris Low of espn.com.
• Florida’s hoops looks to learn from loss, writes Kevin Brockway of Sun.
• Weis frustrated by Florida’s struggles, reports Matt Watts of Miami Herald.
• UT basketball beats UL-Monroe, reports Mike Strange of KNS.
• Arkansas’ special teams creating fear, writes Robbie Neiswanger of News.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

After that marathon three-hour tribute to Mike Krzyzewski, they finally got around to playing Kentucky vs. Kansas last night at Madison Square Garden. After a sloppy first half, UK got around to playing in the second half. UK 75, KU 65. The long and lean Cats are a shot-blocking machine. Kentucky swatted away 13 Kansas shots. Freshman sensation Anthony Davis blocked seven shots. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Terrence Jones blocked three each.

Kentucky shot 64 percent the second half and 51 percent for the game. After making just one of six from three-point range in the first half, UK hit six of nine in the second half. In his New York homecoming, Doron Lamb made three-of-five from behind the arc. And after committing six turnovers the first half, Marquis Teague did not have a single miscue in 17 second-half minutes.

• Kentucky shuts down Kansas in second half, reports Jerry Tipton of H-L.
• Wildcats show off their scary potential, writes me from New York.
• Kentucky makes a statement loud and clear, writes Gary Bedore of LJW.
• Wildcats’ swats flummox Kansas, writes Tom Keegan of LJW.

John Calipari, Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones talk to media after UK’s 75-65 win over Kansas at Madison Square Garden.

Jared Sullinger (AP photo)

Kentucky-Kansas and Duke-Michigan State are the only marquee matchups in ESPN’s 24-hour hoops tipoff. Florida takes on Ohio State tonight in a match-up of top 10 teams.

Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel writes of OSU’s Jared Sullinger, “While his matchup with Florida sophomore center Patric Young has drawn the most interest, Florida’s players know they need a big game from others beside Young.

“‘We’re just gonna try to contain him but let him have what he wants,’ said guard Kenny Boynton, ‘but other than that, try to contain the other players and not let the other players have big games also.’”

• Gators gear up for Ohio State, reports Rachel George of Sentinel.
• Tide beats Oakland 74-57, reports Cecil Hurt of Tuscaloosa News.
• Auburn beats Kennesaw 68-55, reports Josh Moon of Advertiser.
• Ole Miss whips Grambling 69-39, reports Hugh Kellenberger of C-L.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Kentucky’s game Tuesday night against Kansas is a homecoming of sorts for two current Cats.

Sophomore guard Doron Lamb is from Queens. Freshman forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is from Somerdale, New Jersey. Before today’s practice, the duo talked about returning to the Big Apple to play in the newly renovated Garden.

Lamb also talked about his injured eye — no big deal, he said — and his play at backup point guard. Kidd-Gilchrist talked about how much fun the start of his career at Kentucky has been to this point.

And Lamb’s favorite Knick growing up? Latrell Sprewell.

Here are the videos:

Continue reading ‘Videos: Lamb and Kidd-Gilchrist talk return to Big Apple’

Larry Brown

Here we have video of John Calipari talking to media before Monday’s practice about Tuesday’s game against Kansas. Some quick highlights:

• Kentucky’s players say this is a statement game, to which Calipari replied, “It may be a statement game, but I’m hoping it’ll be the one they think it will be.”
• “Kansas is like our team a year ago.”
• Calipari said he is concerned about having Terrence Jones guard a physical player like Thomas Robinson.
• He said that he and Bill Self both have the same mentor in Larry Brown.
• On the game and the “scheduled” 9 p.m. start after Duke-Michigan State:  ”It’s going to be nutty, plus the game is going to start likemidnight. We didn’t get out of here until10:30yesterday night, and I told them, ‘Alright men, it’s halftime.’”