John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

Mobile Press-Register has report on Auburn baseball’s win over Kentucky:

With a base available and a tie game on the line, Kentucky surprised just about everyone in Plainsman Park and chose to pitch to one of the best hitters in college baseball. Auburn first baseman Hunter Morris rocketed a single to right field to score Justin Fradejas and give the Tigers a 6-5 victory in the second game of Sunday’s modified doubleheader. Kentucky won the first game, a four-hour marathon that was continued from Saturday, 8-7.

Zagsblog reports that Terrence Ross has committed to Washington:

The 6-foot-5 Ross has decided to commit to Washington, the school he takes an official to Monday. “I am going to Washington because of the great relationship I have with the team and coaches. I thought it would be the best choice for me and I would fit in with the team,” Ross told ZAGSBLOG contributor Alex Kline via Facebook.

A Sea of Blue on the legacy of Patrick Patterson:

But every once and a while, a player comes along who transcends the admiration and respect afforded nearly all those who romped in Rupp Arena, Memorial Coliseum, or Alumni Gym. Some players, upon departure, find themselves thrust into a fraternity of greats, who for varying reasons, find themselves atop the pedestal, worshiped as heroes. Ralph Beard, Rupp’s Runts, Dan Issel, Kyle Macy, Kenny Walker, The Unforgettables, Jamal Mashburn, Tayshaun Prince, and Chuck Hayes among others … they all denote greatness. Whether for winning championships, or making a unique, indelible mark on the Kentucky basketball program, they are universally beloved by the Wildcat faithful.

Mike Miller of Beyond the Arc says Calipari’s recruiting is ridiculous:

For those not paying attention – or who ignore recruiting news – Calipari’s debut season with the Wildcats resulted in a freshman class for the ages: four five-star recruits, including the nation’s top two players, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Last week, he secured the top players in the class of 2010, Brandon Knight, and 2011, Michael Gilchrist. And now, he added to his class of 2011 by convincing point guard Marquis Teague – the No. 2 overall recruit – to come to Lexington. More impressive was that Teague was seen as a lock to attend Louisville, which had recruited him hard the past two years. How many players can say no to Rick Pitino like that?

Continue reading ‘BBL: Terrence Ross commits to Washington’

John Calipari watches John Wall (H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader was in Indianapolis for Marquis Teague’s announcement:

Teague’s announcement gives Kentucky commitments from the players rated by Rivals.com as the top two in the class of 2011. Teague, who is No. 2, joins New Jersey forward Michael Gilchrist, the No. 1 prospect, who committed to Calipari last week. When asked how he thought he and Gilchrist would fare together, Teague said, “I think we can do some great things at Kentucky, have a nice dynasty.”

Marcus Thornton (Photo Chick-fil-A Classic)

Michael Carvell of the AJC has an update on Marcus Thornton:

Westlake’s Marcus Thornton, who is one of college basketball top free agents, has finished the in-home visits with all seven of his finalists – Kentucky, Texas, Alabama, UGA, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Michigan. On Thursday, Thornton left for Florida for a mini-spring break. He will return late Sunday night and begin narrowing down his schools on Monday, his father confirmed to the AJC on Thursday night.

Mark Story of the H-L writes that it’s easy to root for John Wall:

“I sat back for about a week and a half and just realized, if we came back, we could win it,” Wall said of the five Kentucky underclassmen who have put their names in the draft. “But there’s no guarantee, you never know what could happen for next year. So I just felt like this was my opportunity to go (pro). After I talked to my family and my coaching staff, they said it was time to go.”

Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal on Marquis Teague committing to Kentucky:

Marquis Teague said he was ready to commit to the University of Louisville at least twice during a two-year recruitment by the Cardinals. But when Teague, a standout junior basketball prospect from Indianapolis Pike High School, made his announcement on Thursday afternoon, the 6-foot-2 point guard put on a University of Kentucky hat.

Zagsblog says North Carolina State leading on C.J. Leslie:

Through it all, N.C. State could have the inside track because of Leslie’s relationship with head coach Sidney Lowe. “He’s looking at N.C. State because he’s known Sidney Lowe for four or five years,” Lisa said. “He has a good relationship with him. I would say they are pretty high on the list.”

UK basketball target Terrence Jones on Twitter last night, announcing his decision date:

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK makes in-home visit with Marcus Thornton’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK football players are getting used to new coaches.
• My column saying Caliapri’s Kentucky 2.0 has some big shoes to fill.
• Scott Sloan of H-L reports that UK regular season basketball games outdrew Winter Olympics locally.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal on why UK’s Justin Henderson is glad he graduated early.
• The Tucson Citizen says Kentucky is still in the mix for Eloy Vargas. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Calipari keeps the recruits right on coming, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• The New York Post on Doron Lamb joining Calipari’s clan.
• Tom Leach has an audio interview with AP basketball guru Jim O’Connell.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Who’s next for Calipari’s clan?’

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

Jerry Tipton has video from New York of Doron Lamb talking about his commitment to UK:

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader was in New York to cover the Lamb commitment:

For Lamb, UK’s announcement earlier this month that five players planned to enter their names in this year’s NBA Draft seemed to validate Coach John Calipari as a prophet. “My eyes opened up,” Lamb said. “That’s what he told me before the season started. He promised me that, and that happened. So I believed what he says.

Tipton’s notebook leads with Calipari’s secret:

That translates into the perception that players are not restricted by a system. “The day of the dictator is over,” Smith said. “Guys don’t like that anymore. Not to say they don’t need a stern kick every once in a while. But players want to feel they have some freedom.”

One recruit’s father is critical of Calipari in the Tucson Citizen:

“You have to ask yourself, ‘Why did Kentucky hire Calipari?’” the elder Mayes told me. “They hired him to win national championships. That’s why they are paying him all that money ($31.65 million over eight years). So knowing that, what good did it do him to recruit all these guys who left after one year? How far did it get him this year? It didn’t get him a national championship. I think knowing that, I’d say his first year there was a failure, wouldn’t you?”

(Hat tip to Big Blue Nation.)

Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader on the Big Blue Arms Race:

The open competition taking place in spring practice among Mike Hartline, Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski is not to determine who will run “Operation Future Development,” or “Operation Past Experience.” It’s about who Phillips believes will be ready to lead the team to its fifth consecutive bowl game this fall.

Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star on Lamb and Josh Selby:

If there’s two things that Josh Selby and Doron Lamb made clear they were looking for in a college choice, it’s the chance to win an NCAA title and the chance to get to the NBA quickly. Preferably both within a 12-month period. That pretty much eliminated joining rebuilding projects like Arizona coach Sean Miller’s.

Tipton has video of C.J. Leslie talking after the Jordan Brand Classic:

Continue reading ‘BBL: Doron Lamb’s commitment, C.J. Leslie video’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Jerry Tipton of the H-L is in New York for the Jordan Classic, and talked to Brandon Knight:

Yet Brandon Knight, the latest fuzzy-cheeked savant to place his point guard skills in Calipari’s hands, shrugs. “I feel wherever you go, you’re going to be looked at as someone stepping in, I mean, if someone’s leaving,” he said here on Thursday.

Tipton also reports from the Big Apple that prospects have noticed UK’s recruiting coup:

Arguably the best players in the high school junior and senior classes committed to Kentucky on national television Wednesday, the first day of the monthlong spring signing period. If UK orchestrated that spectacle in order to command the attention of other prospects, it worked.

Luke Winn of SI.com thinks Kentucky’s recruiting impact is overstated:

I’m not as sure about Kentucky being in the top 10. Knight is a step down from Wall; Kanter is a step down from Cousins; and the Wildcats won’t have the same kind of depth as they did in ’09-’10. Might we be wasting a lot of breath on a team that will be just decent, but not nearly Final Four-level good, and then faced with the same, “figure out how many guys we’re gonna lose, and replace them” situation in the spring of 2011?

Jennifer Smith of the H-L reports that DeMarcus Cousins could have stayed at UK forever:

He said it was Coach John Calipari pushing him from the comfortable, feathery nest that is Kentucky basketball. “Cal’s pushing me away,” Cousins said on Thursday. “He said, ‘You’ve got to go.’

My column saying that Cousins benefited from the one before done:

Thing is, when critics knock one-and-dones, they knock them as a group, a faceless group that is not all for one as much as all for themselves. Then you see DeMarcus Cousins’ face. That goofy face. “I guess my goofiness became popular,” he said Thursday.

Video of Doron Lamb from New York:

Continue reading ‘BBL: More Kentucky recruiting news, links, video’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

(Miami Herald photo)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

Jerry Tipton and Ben Roberts of the Herald-Leader on UK’s one-day recruiting haul:

As recruiting analysts saw it, Kentucky sent a message to college basketball on Wednesday. Two messages, actually, when arguably the best prospects in the high school junior and senior classes committed to the Cats. “Sort of a display of strength,” analyst Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com called the commitments by senior point guard Brandon Knight and junior forward Michael Gilchrist.

My column saying UK fans are willing to settle . . . for every top recruit:

Well, Michael Gilchrist is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2011, and Kentucky already has him. Gilchrist made his choice Wednesday, as well. Did it on ESPNU. Knight opened the show by choosing Kentucky. Gilchrist closed it by committing to Kentucky. OK, Cal, so how come no one for 2012 yet? What’s taking so long?

Fabian Lyon of the Miami Herald on the now blue Knight:

On the same stage where he accepted back-to-back national Gatorade Player of the Year trophies, Knight paused for effect in front of a national TV audience and then announced: “The place I plan on playing my basketball career is at the University of Kentucky.”

Ethan J. Skolnick of Ft. Lauderdale’s Sun Sentinel on what UK got in Brandon Knight:

Yet this is what colleges got, if they cared to read it. They got an English Honors III teacher raving about “Brandon’s perfect articulation in reading Shakespeare,” and describing “the stillness of the room as his peers listened in rapt attention” to his “Macbeth” soliloquy. They got an Advanced Placement statistics teacher recalling all the times he would stay for extra help, even it meant missing dinner before a game. They got his college counselor gushing, “A finer Pine Crest student I cannot imagine.”

(Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Christy Chirinos of the Sun Sentinel on Knight picking the Cats:

Knight, the highly touted recruit who was twice named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, also considered offers from Connecticut, Florida, Kansas and Syracuse. “I was real comfortable with the situation at Kentucky,” Knight said. “That was my main factor, where I felt I could be comfortable and where I could get better. I felt I could get better at Kentucky.”

Sun Sentinel video of Brandon Knight talking about Kentucky:

Continue reading ‘BBL: Brandon Knight and Michael Gilchrist links roundup’

Josh Selby (Photo by Henry Ray Abrams)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader on Oklahoma eliminating UK women in NCAA Tournament:

Kentucky was one win away from making a special season even more special with a trip to the Final Four. But Oklahoma and its speedy guard duo of Nyeshia Stevenson and Danielle Robinson ran away with a 88-68 win over the Cats on Tuesday night in the Sprint Center.

Mark Story of the H-L writes that there is still plenty of hope for the UK women:

An enchanted women’s basketball season that began with Kentucky picked to finish 11th in the SEC ended in the Sprint Center with UK one victory short of making its first-ever trip to the women’s Final Four. In spite of 31 points and 13 rebounds from SEC Player of the Year Dunlap, UK suffered its worst loss of the season, 88-68, to Oklahoma.

H-L photo gallery from Kentucky-Oklahoma.

Jerry Tipton of the H-L talks to Josh Selby:

When asked about recruiting talk that he’s waiting for Knight to sign so he can go to another school, Selby said, “That’s not true at all. (Knight’s choice) is not going to stop me. If we go to the same school, we’ll just have to fight for playing time.” Selby said he watched how Wall and Bledsoe prospered for Kentucky this season.

David Harris of the Dallas Morning News reports on a North Carolina star who has UK in his final five:

Luke Cothron, a 6′ 8″ forward from North Carolina, has changed his commitment from North Carolina State and has narrowed down his choices to five schools: Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M.

(Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Kentucky Sports Network sent along this video of Doron Lamb and C.J. Leslie talking Cats:

Continue reading ‘BBL: Selby, Leslie, Lamb and Luke Cothron updates’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Mark Pope

Jerry Tipton of the H-L on ex-UK player Mark Pope, who gave up medical school to coach at Georgia: “Then he gave up a career in medicine last summer to become Georgia’s basketball operations coordinator. He’ll be a coach-in-training on the Bulldogs’ bench Saturday in Rupp Arena, where the closest he’ll come to doctoring will be keeping first-year coach Mark Fox supplied with water and cough drops. Pope acknowledges that his career change is a head scratcher.”

Jimmy Heggins

Rick Petri

Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that Joker Phillips has let two assistants go: “One day after signing a contract that will pay him at least $1.7 million annually for five years, Phillips let offensive line coach Jimmy Heggins and defensive line coach Rick Petri know they would not be on his staff.”

H-L report on UK women’s overtime loss at Georgia: “Jasmine James knew she was going to be called on to win the game. Whatever nerves the freshman had evaporated by the time she took the three-pointer with 17 seconds left in overtime that went through and gave No. 8 Georgia a school-record 15-0 start with a 61-60 win over Kentucky on Thursday night.”

Kentucky Sports Network talks to C.J. Leslie, who will be playing at Lexington Catholic this weekend.

Mike Fields has the details on Leslie appearance at Catholic and Quincy Miller’s appearance at LCA.

Mark Story of the H-L gives out his Orange Globes: “Kanye West has shown up, ripped the microphone from the hands of Joan and Melissa Rivers, and demanded that every one of my mid-season Kentucky college basketball awards go to John Wall. OK, he might have a point.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Joker Phillips reportedly lets two assistants go’

Miss Kentucky USA, Maria Montgomery, was working hard in the press box. (Photo by John Clay)

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes on UK’s workman-like effort in win over Colonels.
• Chip’s notes leads with Sam Maxwell’s interceptions.
• My column saying the next three games will decide Kentucky’s season.
• Mark Story’s column about freshmen playmakers Morgan Newton and La’Rod King.
• Herald-Leader photo slide show from Kentucky-Eastern Kentucky.
• Jerry Tipton of Herald-Leader writes that UK could be headed for big recruiting haul.
• Zagsblog reports that C.J. Leslie may wait until spring. (H/T to Bluegrass State Basketball.)
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal has gamer on Kentucky’s win over EKU.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes about Randall Cobb’s injury.
• Larry also wrote about his press box guest, Miss Kentucky USA.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Miss Kentucky USA watches Cats crown EKU’

A ten-spot from the Blue-White scrimmage:

• 1. This team is athletic. I know that’s obvious. But when was the last time we could truly say that about a Kentucky basketball team. Not that the Cats lacked athletes in the past few years. It’s just that they haven’t had this many athletes on one team since, when, 1996?

• 2. John Wall is ridiculous. But then you already knew that. As for the eligibility issue, John Calipari tried to play coy in the post-scrimmage press conference, answering Alan Cutler’s first question about Wall’s status as if it was another question entirely. But Wall was made available to the media afterward, where he didn’t have much to say about what was going on, or how he felt about what was going on. But at least we got the opportunity to ask.

• 3. Darnell Dodson will fill a key role on this team. The sophomore juco transfer was slighted on the publicity, what with Wall and DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton, etc., being in the newcomer class. But Dodson’s outside shot is a needed asset on this team. He made four-of-11 threes on the night, and that after looking a bit nervous in the early going

• 4. Calipari claims that Wall and Bledsoe play better together than they do apart, and that may in fact be true. I’m not going to doubt the coach. So whatever happened to all those who said, before Bledsoe signed, that the two could not co-exist in the same backcourt. I’m with Cal. There’s no reason they can’t do better than that in the same backcourt.

• 5. The best move of the night was when Calipari pulled Joe B. Hall off the front row behind the bench and had him sit on the bench with him. That got a standing ovation from the Rupp crowd of 14,060, and deservedly so. I know, Joe has said all the right things about this Wildcat Coal Lodge controversy. And I have no doubt he understands the difficulties of raising funds for facility improvements, etc. But still, it’s the only thing on campus named in his honor, a former basketball coach who won a national championship and went to three Final Fours. And you’re going to tell me there’s anyone out there who loves the program more than Joe? Mitch Barnhart said the school will find another way to honor Joe. It better.

Continue reading ‘A 10-spot from the UK Blue-White scrimmage’