John Clay’s Sidelines

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’

There’s such a blizzard of information out there about basketball recruiting, it’s hard to keep it all straight. So here’s a roundup of what we know, or what we think we know, about UK basketball recruits to this point. (Feel free to add any additional information.) In alphabetical order:

Tobias Harris

• Attended Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness on Oct. 16.
• Says he will visit Georgia Tech at some point.
• Reports are he will also visit Louisville, West Virginia and Maryland.
• May visit Louisville on Nov. 1.
• Made official visit to Tennessee, which painted his image on a rock.
• Has visited Syracuse.
• Ranked as No. 5 player in Class of 2010 by Rivals.
• A 6-8 forward from Glen Head, New York.

Kyrie Irving

• Confirmed that he will make his choice on ESPNU on Thursday.
• Will choose between Duke, Texas A&M and Kentucky.
• Dave Telep of Scout.com reports that Irving will make announcement on Thursday.
• Zagsblog reports on Oct. 20 that Irving has committed to Duke with an announcement coming this week.
• Irving denies Zagsblog report via his Twitter account.
• Attended Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness on Oct. 16
• Has already visited Texas A&M and Duke.
• Has said he will visit Georgia Tech at some point.
• Has said he will visit Seton Hall.
• Was thought to be a lean toward Indiana at one point, but eliminated Hoosiers.
• His family is close to UK assistant coach Rod Strickland.
• Ranked No. 9 in Class of 2010 by Rivals.
• A 6-3 guard from Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Continue reading ‘Where UK basketball recruits stand to this point’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Rich Brooks saw progress, but not perfection in UK’s 21-14 win at Auburn.
• My column saying we should recognize the offensive line.
• Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader reports on UK women hoops landing a top recruit.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that win breates life into UK football.
• Dana O’Neil of espn.com writes about Big Blue Madness.
• Zagsblog writes on Tobias Harris and Kyrie Irving’s visit to Madness.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes on the quarterback rotation.
• B.W. Jones of the Kernel has the game story on Kentucky’s victory at Auburn.
• Tom Leach gives his take on the Kentucky win.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Could Harris and Irving both end up at UK?’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK is blowing its margin for errors.
• Ron Morris of The State writes that Cats mirror Gamecocks.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on Derrick Locke.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes on bad column ideas.
• B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel writes that UK’s rookie quarterbacks are biding their time.
• Bluegrass State Basketball thinks C.J. Leslie could commit to UK soon.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rookie quarterbacks bide their time’

(H-L photo by Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that Micah Johnson might not play Saturday.
• My column on Miami of Ohio coach Michael Haywood.
• H-L photo gallery from basketball picture day.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes about UK’s defensive ends.
• Yahoo Sports says DeMarcus Cousins is a bad boy in a good way.
• B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel takes a look at the Kentucky kicking game.
• WKYT has the 911 call that reported Billy Gillispie before his arrest on suspicion of DUI.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Prep days for UK football, picture day for basketball’

A.J. Stewart

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that freshman offensive lineman Larry Warford is making a big impression.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that UK rules SEC Basketball’s Super Tuesday on ESPN.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that UK has something “black” planned for Mississippi State game.
• Dawson also reports on the battle at center for a one-game start.
• Bluegrass State Basketball reports that A.J. Stewart will play at Texas State.
• Cat Scratches reports that UK pitcher James Paxton has postponed his major league career.
• Chris Low of ESPN writes that Kentucky hoops is the villain to Kentucky football.
• Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Corey Joseph, being recruited by UK, is spending plenty of time at Minnesota.

Continue reading ‘BBL: A.J. Stewart to play at Texas State’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• My column on the new, flawed and apparently changing SEC Media Policy.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L has roundup on suspensions, MRIs, etc.
• Cosby also reports that UK’s freshmen must grow up in a hurry.
• The Courier-Journal’s Brett Dawson gives his practice report.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that UK has shown interest in North Oldham’s Darryl Hicks.
• Testudo Times reports that UK and North Carolina are high on C.J. Lesle’s list. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Suspensions, injuries and some hoops news’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Big Blue Uncensored attended John Calipari’s father and son camp, and has plenty of pictures to prove it.
• My Sunday column about the reunion of Bear Bryant’s former players at Kentucky.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that right now UK football has no end in sight.
• H-L report that UK has been given more time to respond to Billy Gillispie’s lawsuit.
• C-J reports that camp pamphlet could pose eligibility problem for Darius Miller.
• Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal reports that Doron Lamb is one of UK’s top hoop targets.
• Demling also reports that another top recruit, Mychal Parker, will be on UK’s campus this week.
• Mark Mathis of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer writes that Jon Hood could be the one to fill Jodie Meeks’ shoes.
• In the Danville Advocate-Messenger, Larry Vaught’s readers support Meeks’ decision to stay in the draft.
• David Aldrige of nba.com ranks Meeks as the seventh-best shooting guard in the draft.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Report from Calipari father-and-son camp’

Photo by Mark Cornelison.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Herald-Leader report on both Darius Miller and Shelvin Mack making the U.S. National Under-19 team.
• WHAS reports that Jim Host believes UK would be better off to avoid new Louisville arena and play in Freedom Hall.
• ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that Nebraska is looking at both Matt Pilgrim and Kevin Galloway. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Tom Leach writes that Randall Cobb may be the key to early success in 2009 for UK football.
• Highschoolhoop.com reports that C.J. Leslie, a highly-regarded 2010 recruit, has his eyes on North Carolina, Florida and Kentucky.
• Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman writes that UK is so talented that Daniel Orton may not see meaningful minutes.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that tryout was great experience for Miller.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Jim Host says UK should stick to Freedom Hall’