John Clay's Sidelines

Through Sunday’s college basketball games, UK center Anthony Davis and his team’s defense still rank No. 1 in NCAA statistical categories.

Davis, the freshman from Chicago, leads the nation in blocked shots per game at 4.9. William Mosley of Northwestern State is second at 4.3 blocked shots per game. Youngstown State’s Damian Eagles is third at 4.0. Also, Louisville center Gorgui Dieng is eighth at 3.3 blocked shots per game.

Kentucky also continues to lead the nation in field goal percentage defense. To illustrate the importance of the stat, check out the top six in that category:

• 1. Kentucky 36.2%
• 2. Florida State 37.0%
• 3. Michigan State 37.1%
• 4. New Mexico 37.2%
• 5. Wisconsin 37.4%
• 6. Louisville 37.6%

Continue reading ‘UK defense, Anthony Davis still atop leaderboard’

Kentucky players Anthony Davis, Marquis Teague and Doron Lamb after UK’s win at Vanderbilt.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Despite those reports that Shabazz Muhammad is UCLA’s to lose, Muhammad says that he is a long way from deciding. “I don’t think I’m that close at all,” the 6-foot-6 Muhammad out of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman told ESPNU after he was named a McDonald’s All-American. “I really havne’t been looking at it. Just been working on this season for high school, but when I get down to it it’s going to be really stressful for me. But I’m just going to talk to my family and talk it over with them.”

The Providence College students newspaper thinks that Nerlens Noel could join his friends on the Friars. James Kirby writes, “Without a doubt, Cooley has already made an impact that is yet to be felt in Friartown with the acquisitions of Kris Dunn and Ricardo Ledo, both of whom are in ESPNU’s Top 25.  . . . And now, Cooley wants even more. Enter Nerlens Noel. . . .  In fact, reports that have neither been confirmed nor denied state that he may be leaning to team up with his good friends, Ledo and Dunn, and bring the Friars back to the forefront of college basketball.” (H/T Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog)

Greg Kocher of the Herald-Leader reports that UK has asked people to stop selling those Anthony Davis wingspan posters on the internet. UK can ask all it wants. It can send out a cease-and-desist order. But it can’t stop people from selling them. I have the poster. There is nothing printed on it that says it cannot be re-sold. This appears to be a simple case of the school trying to cover itself in case the NCAA gets its nose out of joint.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Shabazz, Nerlens Noel and that Davis poster’

(H-L photo)

Check out the Herald-Leader fans gallery from the UK-Florida game.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Players stepping up as Cats are clicking, writes Aaron Smith of Kernel.
• Kidd-Gilchrist a virtuoso again, writes Matt May of Cats Pause.
• MKG excelling in all areas, writes Jordan Schultz of Huffington Post.
• Davis making case to be nation’s No. 1, says Jake Curtis of Chronicle.
• This is Calipari’s best team, says my notes column.
• After flattening Florida, UK looks for challenge, writes Jerry Tipton of H-L.
• Basketball stats to get ready for Vandy, from Herald-Leader.
• Kidd-Gilchrist gives Davis a soothing feeling, says Sun’s Keith Taylor.
• Teague now knows UK is “my” team, writes Larry Vaught of A-M.
• Teague keeps improving, writes Jon Hale of KyForward.

(Photo by Chet White of UK Athletics)

As of 8 p.m., I counted 138 limited edition Anthony Davis posters for sale on E-bay.

The highest bid for one of the posters is $152.50.

The poster, designed and shot by Chet White of UK Athletics, was placed on each seat for last night’s game with Florida. Because of their limited nature, they have been quite the topic of conversation, and the objects of desire.

Not everyone is happy, however.

David writes:

I am emailing all of you at the same time because I have hopes one of you will give voice to those of us out here that aren’t the ‘fat cats’ or the very fortunate who attended last night’s game vs. Florida and were able to walk away with a poster of Anthony Davis that is an obvious keepsake (I can already picture having it framed and hung on my office wall).

Why would UK do this “special favor” to just the 24K fans attending this game. What about the several million of us out here that can’t afford to make the game?

Are we supposed to buy ours via eBay for $50 to $150??? Further I understand they printed 30K of them – what happens to the other 6K?

My response: It shouldn’t be a surprise that UK would take care of those who buy the tickets.

(Photo by Chet White of UK Athletics)

According to UK Athletics News: “Fans attending Tuesday’s game against Florida will be greeted by this @AntDavis23 poster in their seats”

Post-game videos from Columbia after Kentucky’s 86-52 win over South Carolina.

Kentucky coach John Calipari, plus players Terrence Jones and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

South Carolina coach Darrin Horn

ESPN’s Jason King has moved Kentucky’s Anthony Davis ahead of Kansas’ Thomas Robinson on his Player of the Year rankings.

An excerpt:

1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky — No one in college basketball affects the game quite like the Wildcats’ 6-foot-11 freshman center. Davis averages a national-best 4.7 blocks per contest along with 13.5 points and 10 rebounds for the country’s best team. The Chicago native will almost certainly be the No. 1 pick in this summer’s NBA draft.

King has Robinson ranked No. 2, followed by Kevin Jones of West Virginia, Doug McDermott of Creighton and Jared Sullinger of Ohio State.

Post-game player videos from Kentucky’s 69-44 win over Tennessee last night at Rupp Arena.

Anthony Davis talks about the first half scuffled that resulted in the freshman center receiving a technical foul.

Terrence Jones talks about how well the team is playing, putting back-to-back wins over LSU (by 24) and Tennessee (by 25).

Marquis Teague talks about his improvement and receiving praise from John Calipari.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist talks about how this team is a band of brothers.

Continue reading ‘Videos: Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, Jones and Teague’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Kentucky basketball player notes:

Twany Beckham: Has played just five minutes in two SEC games. Still has not taken a shot this season.

Anthony Davis: His 11 points against Alabama is his lowest total since he scored 10 against Lamar on December 28. Davis has blocked 26 shots in five SEC games, including four against the Crimson Tide. He did have a career-high four steals on Saturday. His two field goals on Saturday is his lowest total since he went one-of-two against Penn State on November 19.

Missed his first seven shots against Alabama before a follow dunk off a Marquis Teague miss with 4:43 left gave UK a 29-24 lead. He end up one-of-nine from the floor in the first half. His dunk off a fast break with 14:50 left in the second half, making it 49-43 Kentucky, was his only credited shot of the second half. He blocked an Alabama shot with seven seconds left and made two important free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining. With 6:30 left in the first half, he had missed his only field goal attempt, was one-of-four from the foul line and had one rebound.

Continue reading ‘Updated Kentucky basketball player news and notes’