John Clay's Sidelines

Kentucky running back Derrick Locke said today after practice that he does expect to play on Saturday. Locke has missed UK’s last three games because of weakness in his shoulders, brought on by stingers.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• The strange tale of John Calipari, Warren Buffett and a KFC, writes Gregory Cocoran of the WSJ.
• Derrick Locke’s injury has affected Kentucky’s passing game, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Last three games pivotal to judging Joker Phillips’ season, writes Mark Story of the H-L.
• John Calipari takes a hard stance on soft play, writes Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• A Kentucky Kernel editor tried out for the UK basketball team.
• John Calipari flourishes despite title expectations every year, writes Paul Daugherty for SI.com.
• DeMarcus Cousins has lost his starting spot, reports Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee.
• Washington Wizards’ owner says he’ll do the “Dougie” if arena sells out. (Hat tip to allkyhoops.com.)
• Kentucky and Kansas phenoms remain in limbo, writes Jason King of Yahoo Sports.
• Kentucky’s success will hinge on Enes Kanter, writes Will Graves of the AP.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cal and Buffet; Kernel editor; DeMarcus demoted’

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Landon Slone relishes his return to Rupp Arena, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky appears to be testing its first-year head coach, says my Monday column.
• Donald Russell’s mom is not happy, reports Bleed Blue Kentucky.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that Derrick Locke remains uncertain for this Saturday.
• Phillips says Kentucky is bruised, but still hungry, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Same script, but different scene for Kentucky football, writes Chandler Howard of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Better bowl hopes likely dashed by loss, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• John Wall is ready to be the face of the Washington Wizards, reports Edward G. Robinson of the Raleigh News and Observer. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• A Sea of Blue hands Joker Phillips a report card.
• KSR doesn’t believe that Kentucky can excel in football year-in and year-out.

(AP photo/Jim Mone)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• DeMarcus Cousins’ late-game calm helps Kings win opener, reports Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
• Kentucky seventh in SEC in graduation rates, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• UK touts dramatic improvement in those grad rates, reports Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• My Thursday column saying that in dealing with DUIs, UK’s Joker Phillips should remember the late Artie Steinmetz.
• Young basketball Cats adjust to growing process, writes Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Receivers back at practice, but Locke is questionable, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Starting isn’t lip service to linebacker Ridge Wilson, says Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• B.W. Jones of the Kernel writes that Wilson is trying to do better than just good enough.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cousins’ debut, UK grad rate and dealing with DUIs’

(The State photo/Gerry Melendez)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery a big challenge for Cats, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Turkish GM crosses over into overkill, says my Thursday column.
• Tony Barnhart writes for CBS Sports that Stephen Garcia has made a difference for Carolina.
• Kentucky is now home for Terrence Jones, writes Jason King of Yahoo Sports.
• Kentucky awaiting word on Derrick Locke, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Brandon Knight’s mom is proud of her son’s academics.
• Another chance to stop a streak for the football Cats, writes Aarron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Kentucky defense looking to force more turnovers, reports Guy Ramsey for Cat Scratches.
• Randall Cobb is tired of some fans knocking Mike Hartline, writes Darrell Bird of the Cats Pause.
• Hartline remembers what happened last year against South Carolina, reports Mary Jo Perino of Channel 18.
• Bleed Blue Kentucky breaks down the Cats and the Gamecocks for Saturday.
• Jeff Zell of South Carolina Now says South Carolina should believe in good football, not fate.
• UK cornerback Martavius Neloms talks about covering Jeffery:

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• John Calipari would rather not go to Hawaii for Maui Tournament, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Texas linebacker who committed to Missouri now says he will visit UK, reports Chris Fisher of BigBlue247.
• Mark Story of the Herald-Leader thinks Kentucky should have let Auburn score on final drive to get the ball back.
• Assistant captain of the UK hockey team dies in auto accident, reports Karla Ward and Jennifer Hewlett of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky to see if South Carolina has a letdown, writes Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal.
• Derrick Locke injury may force UK to rely more on Randall Cobb, reports Brett Dawson of the C-J.
• It’s Deja Vu for Kentucky after three straight losses, writes Will Graves of the AP.
• Kentucky is ready for the East-leading Gamecocks, reports Nick Craddock of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Losing is tough, but Kentucky remains confident, reports Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Fouls are going to be an NBA problem for DeMarcus Cousins, reports Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.

Five things we learned at Joker Phillips press conference today:

• 1. Derrick Locke still can’t feel his arm: Well, Locke does have feeling in his arm, just not all the feeling he should be feeling. Or something like that. So it’s looking very questionable if the senior will play on Saturday. If he can’t go, the wildcat formation may be more of a go. But Joker wasn’t keen on wildcat questions. Nor was he keen on assertions that Donald Russell had dropped to third on the depth chart. Phillips kept saying that Russell was bracketed with Raymond Sanders, but did point out that Sanders went in the game first against Auburn. But when Russell entered, he outplayed the freshman.
• 2. South Carolina leads the league in third-down conversion percentage: The Gamecocks are at 55.2 percent. This should send fear into the Big Blue Nation, especially the segment that habitually complains about the defense’s inability to get off the field on third down, especially third-and-long. But to be at 55 percent in third-down conversions, you have to be getting a lot of third-and-shorts. On third-and-short, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore is pretty good.
• 3. Alshon Jeffery remembers Kentucky: The USC wide receiver leads the league in receptions and reception yardage. He had his breakout game last year against Kentucky, catching seven passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 127 yards against Alabama. He should be pumped for Saturday.
• 4. Winning the toss and taking the ball: Joker said he is not usually for that, yet has done it several times this year, including the last two Saturdays. And the offense has scored both Saturdays. Phillips said he just has faith that the offense will get things going in the right direction.
• 5. Lack of sacks: Kentucky’s offensive line has protected Mike Hartline well, and part of the credit goes to the quarterback. Phillips said that Hartline has really helped the line communicate, get in the right protection schemes, and get rid of the football. South Carolina sacked Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy seven times.

(AP photo/Brent Flashnick)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Kentucky in the final four for basketball target Michael Chandler, reports Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal. (Hat tip to allkyhoops.com.)
• Derrick Locke could miss the South Carolina game, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Almost is the most Kentucky can say after loss to Auburn, writes Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal.
• South Carolina looking to build on its win over Alabama, reports Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Gamecocks must focus on the future, or repeat history, writes Ron Morris of The State.
• Did Kentucky discover its defensive identity on Saturday? asks Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Kentucky fans should respect team’s effort Saturday, writes Chandler Howard of the Kentucky Kernel.
• A Sea of Blue asks if expectations are too high for UK basketball this season?
• Randall Cobb wins national award, says UK Athletics.
• KSR celebrates being mentioned not once but twice in the local paper.

Derrick Locke rushed for 68 yards on 19 carries, and caught eight passes for 108 yards, despite getting “dinged” in the first quarter. Yet, the back said it will be a long season if UK doesn’t bounce back to win at home.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Lost a bit in the thrashing Kentucky took at Florida was the fact that Derrick Locke earned his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game of the season. The senior running back has rushed for at least 100 yards in every game this season, including a 103-yard effort in the loss to the Gators.

In fact, Locke was just the fourth Kentucky back to rush for 100 yards against Florida. Ever.

And, he is the ninth Kentucky running back to rush for 100-or-more yards at least four times season.

Sonny Collins, Moe Williams and Rafael Little are the only UK backs to rush for 100-yards at more at least four times in more than one season.

And now, the charts.