John Clay's Sidelines

Patrick Towles (AP photo)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• UK signee Towles wins Mr. Football award, reports AP.
• Chuck Hayes undergoing more health tests, reports Sacramento Bee.
• Chattanooga coach expects a sharp UK, writes Jerry Tipton of H-L.
• Mocs bring a 3-7 record to Rupp, writes Brendan Quinn of nooga.com.
• UK signee Poythress makes Naismith list, reports H-L.
• Terrence Jones has room to improve, writes Kyle Tucker of C-J.
• Cat Scratches has television information for UK-Chattanooga.
• Daniel Orton not ready, says Brian Schmitz of Orlando Sentinel.
• Paul deal is good for Bledsoe, says Jeff Sentell of Birmingham News.
• Rondo most hated player in NBA, reports Tom Curran of Celtics Town.

Former Kentucky players Eric Bledsoe, John Wall and Jodie Meeks talk to media after Monday night’s exhibition game.

(Hat tip All Ky Hoops)

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Get to know the power players on UK sidelines at interactive site from the H-L.
• Kentucky men running out of time, reports Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Mathies layup lifts Kentucky over Arkansas 55-54, reports Jennifer Smith of the H-L.
• Victoria Dunlap hits all the right notes in home finale, says Mark Story of the H-L.
• Heart-stopping win for UK women, writes T.J. Walker of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Group wants Billy Gillispie at Texas Tech, writes Jon Arnold of the Daily Toreador.
• Some question method of Lacey’s record, writes Gregg Dewalt of the Times Dailey.
• To be the best is Marquis Teague’s goal, says Brett Carney of WLEX-TV.
• Wiltjer ready to return to action, writes Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune.
• Brett Dawson of C-J reports that Calipari believes Kentucky needs to get angry.
• Meaning of  three-point sign is unclear, writes Nick Craddock of the Kernel.
• Road woes raise March questions about Cats, writes Jeff Eisenberg for Yahoo.
• It was deja vu in Fayetteville, writes Tom Leach.
• Does Calipari have to accept blame for close losses? asks Larry Vaught of A-M.

Continue reading ‘BBL: New Billy Gillispie group; Lacey scoring controversy’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• In Christmas surprise, UK basketball target Ricardo Ledo commits to Providence, reports Brendan Hall of espn.com.
• Calipari showing interest in 2013 recruit Chris Walker, reports Nation of Blue.
• What happened to SEC basketball’s great expectations? asks Glenn Logan of A Sea of Blue.
• Josh Clemons gives UK football a Christmas commitment, reports Chris Fisher of BigBlue247.
• Louisville-Kentucky not likely to follow the script, writes Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal.
• It’s time to start talking Cats and Cards, writes Ira Combs for Kentucky Sports Network.
• Brandon Knight’s parents gave him options, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Ex-Vanderbilt player gives orphans a home, reports Tipton.
• Derrick Locke has a soft side, but he’s no softy, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Wizards fall, even with John Wall back in lineup, reports Michael Lee of the Washington Post.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Some Christmas recruiting surprises’

(H-L photo/Joseph Rey Au)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Michael Gilchrist, expected to sign with Kentucky this week, is “extremely coachable“, reports Zagsblog.
• Kentucky women roll in their basketball exhibition game, reports Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader.
• Point guard an area of concern for UK Hoops, reports Smith.
• Joker Phillips plays up Kentucky’s bowl streak, writes Chip Cosby of the H-L.
• Phillips isn’t pointing fingers, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Brian Rickerd of the Frankfort State-Journal has a problem with Kentucky football logic.
• Kentucky’s new basketball recruiting class wants its own identity, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Cat Scratches has video from UK men’s soccer win over South Carolina.
• Eric Bledsoe is one tough competitor, writes David Lassen of the Riverside Press-Enterprise. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Greg Alan Edwards of Wildcat Blue Nation got to spend a day in the press box.

Eric Bledsoe got his first start last night for the Los Angeles Clippers, the ex-UK guard contributing nine points and three assists in 39 minutes of the Clips’ loss to San Antonio.

Excerpt from Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times:

The Clippers bench was outscored, 32-7, and center DeAndre Jordan, who played well Sunday, was not much of a factor, not taking a shot but picking up five fouls in 14-plus minutes of action. Making his NBA debut was rookie Willie Warren, and rookie Eric Bledsoe made his first start at point guard, faced with the unenviable task of dealing with the Spurs’ Tony Parker.

“He was running all over the place and I was trying to keep up with him,” Bledsoe said, smiling.

But with Baron Davis injured and in coach Vinny Del Negro’s doghouse, it could mean more time for Bledsoe.

“No. I don’t think he’s a bad role model,” Del Negro said. “I just think Baron knows he was behind in his conditioning and he’s had to work so hard to get in condition that he put some extra strain on his knee. That causes a lot of problems for everybody, for Baron, for the team, for everyone involved. So he needs to be a leader and a catalyst for this team. By not preparing the right way, it’s hurting himself and more importantly, it’s hurting the group. He knows that.”

Simers: “You basically said yes.”

VDN: “Yeah, he knows that.

I found it.

Or, should I say, @_teamcousins found it, and sent along the coveted picture of Eric Bledsoe in his powder-blue tuxedo, all part of the Los Angeles Clippers’ rookie hazing.

Click on the pic to see it full-size.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Tennessee lineman Shaquille Love big pickup for football Cats, reports Jesse Smithey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• NCAA deems Eric Bledsoe a closed case, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky defense revisits the art of tackling, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Mississippi working on its pass defense, reports Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily News.
• Injuries taking a toll on Ole Miss football, writes Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Winchester rolls out the red carpet for John Calipari, reports Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun.
• Chris Matthews is making strides, reports Nick Craddock of the Kentucky Kernel.
• A Kentucky football recruiting roundup from Bleed Blue Kentucky.
• New bats could affect the college baseball season, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• At Orlando Magic’s media day, Daniel Orton talks about his knee and the D-League, reports the Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports tweeted:

” I’d give Eric Bledsoe a “C” for his work in this video – and no extra credit would change my mind”

Meanwhile, The Big Lead deemed Bledsoe’s dance moves “mediocre.”