John Clay’s Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Fabian Lyon of the Miami Herald talks to top guard prospect Brandon Knight, who is considering UK.
• Bluegrass State Basketball says Tobias Harris made his decision just before midnight. (He announces it today at 5:30 on ESPNU.)
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Harris sat in Thompson-Boling’s upper deck on Tuesday.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that John Calipari has found plenty wrong with his Cats heading into tonight’s game with Sam Houston State.
• Tipton’s notes lead with some info on Sam Houston State.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Darius Miller fits the dribble-drive.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports on Darnell Dodson’s spot in Calipari’s doghouse.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Kentucky isn’t fooled by Georgia’s sub-par football status.
• Chris Low of espn sings Rich Brooks’ praises.
• My column saying Kentucky’s best football efforts have come on the road this season.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Tobias Harris’ midnight decision’

This is UK freshman Daniel Orton before today’s practice.

Daniel Orton

Nice story by the Danville Advocate-Messenger’s Larry Vaught on Frankie Thompson, Daniel Orton’s 71-year-old grandmother, who came to Lexington this past weekend to pay her grandson a visit and see Kentucky play Morehead State and Miami of Ohio.

Thompson’s daugther, Carolyn Orton, Daniel’s mother, passed away last year.

An excerpt:

“He has a special spot in my heart, just like his mom did. It has been a troubling year, but we will weather the storm,” Thompson said. “He misses her quite a bit, but he won’t let on to us. . . .

“. . . I wanted to be here for his first game, and see him play, and I wanted to encourage him. He needs that.”

Here’s UK freshman Daniel Orton talking about Eric Bledsoe, Eric Bledsoe and John Wall, and a little about himself.

(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 UK freshman Daniel Orton, who had four points and seven rebounds in Kentucky’s 74-38 exhibition victory over Campbellsville tonight. Orton got a bump on the head early on, said he even had a bit of a “migraine” after that. He said he could have done better on the offensive boards. He had three offensive rebounds on the night. Actually, Campbellsville had 14 offensive rebounds to just 13 for UK. John Calipari blamed that on the guards. But Orton said the post players could have done a better job, as well.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader talks to Matt Pilgrim’s father, who says that both Matt and Kevin Galloway did not have their scholarships renewed.
• H-L reports that field has been set for Cancun Tournament.
• Mark Maloney of the H-L reports on UK baseball players taken in the MLB draft.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L blogs on next week’s Bear’s Boys Reunion.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger also talks to Matt Pilgrim’s father.
• On his C-J blog, Rick Bozich writes on former UK commitment Dominique Ferguson.
• At A Sea of Blue, Dicky Lyons posts another entry to his NFL tryout journals.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK basketball moves and news’

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• In the Herald-Leader, Jerry Tipton writes that so far John Calipari has made all the right moves.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that Jeremy Jarmon accepts blame for NCAA suspension.
• My Sunday column saying others should learn from Jarmon’s mistake.
• Valarie Honeycutt Spears of the H-L reports that positive tests are rate rare, but not unheard of.
• Cosby writes that just like Jarmon, Cats have to move on.
• Tipton’s basketball notebook leads with UK will open next season against Morehead.
• Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News writes that Calipari has expectations through the roof.
• ESPN.com Chris Low writes that Jeremy Jarmon is “as real as it gets.”
• Robbi Pickeral of the Charlotte Observer writes that losing Wall could block UNC from all-time win mark.
• In the Oklahoman, Brandon Chatmon has Daniel Orton saying that Wall is last piece of the puzzle for UK. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Jeremy Jarmon reaction links’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• High School Hoops reports that Tyreke Evans says John Wall made the right choice. (Hat tip to Tom Leach.)
• Cat Scratches has yesterday’s Patrick Patterson live chat.
• Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News names UK the biggest spring-time winner.
• DeCourcy doesn’t have a problem with John Calipari overstocking on recruits.
• Upon Further Review, a Kansas City Star blog, says Kentucky, North Carolina and Kansas will fight it out in 2010. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)
• John Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News looks at Kentucky’s rise and Duke’s fall.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Tyreke Evans says John Wall made right choice’

Derrick Favors

Georgia Tech signee Derrick Favors beat out UK signee Demarcus Cousins and UK target John Wall for USA Today Player of the Year honors, announced today in the newspaper.

The paper’s first-team consists of Favors, Cousins, Wall, Avery Bradley and Renardo Sidney.

UK signee Daniel Orton was a third-team pick. Xavier Henry, who may or many not have committed to Kansas last night, was a second-team selection.

One interesting factoid, Wall’s list of possible college choices inlcuded Kansas, Memphis, Noth Carolina State, Duke, Miami and Baylor, but no Kentucky.

First team

• Derrick Favors, 6-9, Atlanta, GA (Georgia Tech)
• Avery Bradley, 6-3, Henderson, NV (Texas)
• Demarcus Cousins, 6-10, Mobile, AL (Kentucky)
• John Wall, 6-4, Raleigh, NC (Undecided)
• Renardo Sidney, 6-9, Los Angeles, CA (USC)

Continue reading ‘Favors beats out Wall, Cousins for POY honors’