John Clay’s Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Friday.

Traditional:

• Doug Binder of the Oregonian reports that UK target Terrence Jones may wait until spring before choosing a school.
• Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal-World reports that Brandon Knight will also wait until spring. (See Zagsblog link with blogs section.)
• In the Herald-Leader, Chip Cosby reports that UK’s defensive line wants redemption.
• Mark Story of H-L writes on Eastern Kentucky coach Dean Hood’s connections.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that John Calipari is challenging his team to improve.
• Tipton of the H-L writes that Mark Krebs’ focus is paying off.
• Tipton also blogs that Calipari said Patrick Patterson needs to be more aggressive.
• Paul Gattis of the Huntsville Times writes that Tennessee basketball has taken a backseat to Kentucky this off-season. (H/T to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Terrence Jones is waiting; Knight to visit Florida’

Was out of town most of the day, but was at football practice this morning where I shot this video of UK freshman quarterback Morgan Newton talking about what he’s been concentrating on this week, and about Saturday’s game with EKU.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that Clarion game brings back memories of John Calipari’s time there.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes about freshman quarterback Morgan Newton.
• The Easy Being Green blog reports on the Wildcat Coal Lodge banner protest at UK.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on UK freshman receiver La’Rod King.
• Matt May of the Cats Pause reports that Trevard Lindley and Mike Hartline are making progress.
• Marlen Garcia of USA Today writes on the red-hot UK-U of L basketball rivalry.
• Brian Rosenthal of Husker Extra reports that Billy Gillispie was at Nebraska to watch the Cornhuskers. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that DeQuin Evans thinks Cats backed down.
• Kevin Patton of the Henderson Gleaner writes that Newton’s progress comes at Will Fidler’s expense. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Football Blog.)
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel writes on John Wall and high expectations.
• T.J. Walker of the Kernel writes on volleyball’s Gretchen Giesler.

Continue reading ‘BBL: USA Today tackles UK-U of L, and other links’

Here’s a look at what Eastern Kentucky has done statistically its first eight football games:

After Mississippi State hammered Kentucky’s run defense for 348 yards last Saturday, after Florida had ripped the Cats for 362 rushing yards earlier in the season, UK has dropped to 104th out of 120 FBS teams in rush defense.

The Cats are giving up 195.9 rushing yards per game. As a reference point, Georgia is currently 60th of the 120 teams in rush defense. And the Bulldogs are allowing 137.6 yards per game.

Here’s chart looking at how the UK run defense has done over the last 20 games, dating back to early last year.

(Click on the chart to enlarge.)

(H-L photos/David Stephenson and Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that player bouts with the flu is giving Rich Brooks a headache.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L writes that in basketball a dribble-driver’s license doesn’t come easy.
• My column saying that some UK fans need a reality check.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes about the UK football flu outbreak.
• Chris Low of ESPN has Kentucky headed to the Papajohns.com Bowl.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Kentucky must focus on EKU.

Continue reading ‘BBL: The flu, the fans, the recruits, and other links’

(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that UK’s first exhibition win was an eye-opener.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes that we can try and judge the Cats on an exhibition victory.
• Here’s Herald-Leader photo slide show from last night’s game.
• Video interviews with Darius Miller, Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton.
• Here’s audio of John Calipari’s post-game press conference.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports that UK football hopes to salvage its season.
• Zagsblog says Doron Lamb will visit UConn on Nov. 15.
• Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline writes that UK is cleared to play off the Wall.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Kentucky showed sloppy offense in its exhibition opener.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Eric Bledsoe and John Wall are better together.
• Matt May of the Cats Pause writes that UK has a long road ahead.
• Chuck Jones of the Elizabethtown News-Enterprise says don’t rush to judgment on these Cats.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cats sloppy in win; Doron Lamb to visit UConn’

Here’s the audio from Rich Brooks’ press conference held earlier today.

Here’s a link to the liveblog I did during the Brooks’ press luncheon.

Kentucky offensive lineman Stuart Hines talks about the loss to Mississippi State and upcoming game with Eastern Kentucky.

This is Randall Cobb at the UK football press lucheon today, talking about putting the Mississippi State loss in the rearview mirror and playing for the seniors the rest of the way.