John Clay's Sidelines

The SEC said yesterday it is sticking with an eight-game league schedule, despite the fact that Missouri is now officially the 14th member. As I wrote back when it looked like the league would expand to 14, a ninth-game could mean the end of UK-U of L. Kentucky could use that extra conference game as a reason to drop the series. And sure enough Mitch Barnhart couldn’t guarantee to our Jen Smith that Cats-Cards would continue. And there was basketball last night.

• Barnhart doesn’t rule out end to UK-U of L, reports Jen Smith of H-L.
• Poythress not giving any hints, reports Tennessean.
• Kentucky dominates Morehouse from the start, reports Jerrry Tipton of H-L.
• Cal grudgingly compliments zone, writes Tipton.
• H-L photo gallery from UK-Morehouse.

Kentucky prepares for its second exhibition game, tonight against Morehouse at 7 p.m. at Rupp Arena. John Calipari is looking for some defensive improvement and some offensive moves from Anthony Davis. Meanwhile, the football team looks ahead to Saturday’s road trip to Vanderbilt. Joker Phillips has his weekly press luncheon at noon. Check back for updates.

• Calipari wants tougher Davis,  Cats, reports Jerry Tipton of H-L.
• Calipari giving Stacey Poole time, reports Tipton.
• Smith helps repair UK offense, reports Jen Smith of H-L.
• New life for UK and U of L football, writes Eric Crawford of C-J.

The kind folks in UK sports information paid tribute to the late AP photographer Ed Reinke at Saturday’s game. Reinke passed away last week after experiencing a fall at Kentucky Speedway.

Alabama's Trent Richardson (AP photo)

A look at where the SEC West stands:

Alabama (4-0, 7-0): Crimson Tide plays host to Tennesee this Saturday. And Trent Richardson is on fire. The Heisman Trophy candidate has a string of six straight 100-yard rushing games, topped by his 183-yard effort in Bama’s battering of Ole Miss last Saturday. Quarterback AJ McCarron has not thrown an interception since the season-opener.

LSU (4-0, 7-0): The Tigers have allowed just 25 points in their last three games and play host to Auburn on Saturday. Quarterback Jarrett Lee has thrown just one interception in seven games. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 115 yards last Saturday against Tennessee. The Tigers do get an open date before traveling to Alabama on Nov. 5.

Auburn (3-1, 5-2): The Tigers defense played much better in 17-6 win over Florida last week, but now Auburn travels to No. 1 LSU on Saturday. Quarterback is a question after Clint Moseley entered in the second half against the Gators and completed four of seven passes for 90 yards.

Arkansas (1-1, 5-1): Fresh from an open week, the Razorbacks travel to Ole Miss on Saturday. Quarterback Tyler Wilson has thrown for nine touchdowns with just two interceptions over his last four games. Jarius Wright has caught 18 passes for 357 yards over last two games.

Ole Miss (0-3, 2-4): The Rebels have lost nine straight SEC games dating back to last year’s win over Kentucky. They are coming off a 45-point loss to Alabama. Houston Nutt’s job is on the chopping block as Arkansas comes to Oxford on Saturday.

Mississippi State (0-4, 3-4): The Bulldogs lost by a touchdown to Auburn, basically on the last play of the game. They lost by two points to South Carolina. Turn those around and Dan Mullen’s team is 2-2 in the league and 5-2 overall. The quarterback change to Tyler Russell did not work so well last week as he completed just 11 of 29 passes. State has the week off before traveling to Kentucky on Oct. 29.

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Robert Carter says Kentucky has not yet offered him a scholarship, reports Michael Carvell of the AJC. (Hat tip Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog)
• UK recruits recap Big Blue Madness on Next Cats.
• Frustrated Jacob Tamme finally gets his first catch, reports Mark Maloney of the Herald-Leader.
• Marquis Teague’s competition is the past, writes Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal.
• Shabazz Muhammad won’t make decision until after fall signing period, reports Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal.
• Kentucky basketball is expected to be the best year after year after year, writes Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Ramel Bradley back in top form in Israel, reports All KY Hoops.
• U of L’s Wayne Blackshear waiting to be cleared, reports Gary Parrish of CBS Sports.
• Now that UK has shown faith in Joker Phillips, fans should too, says Paul Jordan of Wildcat Blue Nation.
• Jacksonville State is on schedule, says Joe Medley of the Anniston Star.

Some Kentucky football practice notes from Tuesday:

• Joker Phillips said that Raymond Sanders “looked good today” in practice. Did not take contact. But coach said he is amazed by progress and “if he doesn’t swell” the running back should play Saturday.
• He said Morgan Newton took all the snaps at quarterback with first string.
• Bookie Cobbins did “a couple of things” but is a “work in progress.” Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, when asked about using Cobbins in wildcat, said that was not impressive in fall camp.
• Phillips said he liked effort in practice, but execution has to improve.
• Phillips said Connor Shaw as South Carolina’s starting quarterback doesn’t change Kentucky’s preparation.
• Coach said staff is considering changing from morning to afternoon practices in next semester.

Derek Willis

Bullitt East junior Derek Willis, who revoked his commitment to Purdue and has been interested in Kentucky, visited Indiana over the weekend.

“Coach Crean, he said two things about the jerseys,” the 6-foot-9 forward told Inside the Hall on Sunday. “They’ll never change the candy striped pants. And they’ll always keep the names off the back of the jerseys. I thought that was pretty cool.”

In the report, Willis mentions Louisville, Florida and Purdue, but not Kentucky. He did visit UK.

Continue reading ‘Derek Willis enjoys recruiting visit to Indiana’

Dajuan Coleman

John Calipari was at Kentucky’s football practice this morning, but last night the UK basketball coach was doing his in-home visit with New York prep star Dajuan Coleman.

Zagsblog talked to Coleman:

“It was good,” Coleman told SNY.tv by text. “He was telling me about the past players he developed. And he said he liked the way I play and he can bring the best out of me because he knows I can do multiple things on the court.

“It was a really good meeting.”

Ohio State, Kentucky and Syracuse are the three top schools on Coleman’s list.

He is scheduled to visit Big Blue Madness at Rupp on Oct. 14.

Related links:

• Ellis chooses Kansas, but Kentucky off to a good start with Goodwin
• Shooting guard Goodwin commits to Kentucky
• Kyle Anderson’s commitment not likely to sway Shabazz Muhammad

Big 12 commissioner Dan Bebee

SEC roundup for Wednesday:

Conference chaos continues to dominate the news with reports, denied by the league, that SEC has extended a membership offer to Missouri and is willing to wait on the answer. The offer appears to be predicated on the Big 12 falling apart, and that may not happen after reports that the Pac-12 has decided not to expand.

There are reports that if Oklahoma decides to remain in the Big 12, then commissioner Dan Bebee would have to resign. Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star writes that Bebee needs to go.

And if the Big 12 doesn’t disintegrate, what happens to that projected Big 12-Big (L)East merger? And if the Big East leftovers are left out in the cold, what happens to Louisville?

Continue reading ‘SEC: Conference chaos with new unexpected twists’