John Clay's Sidelines

(News and Observer photo)

North Carolina star Harrison Barnes, who turned an ankle in the Tar Heels’ loss to UNLV over the weekend, is expected to play tonight against Wisconsin.

The ACC pre-season Player of the Year practiced Tuesday and should be on the floor in Chapel Hill when Roy Williams’ team, which fell from first to fifth in the AP poll, will be on the floor against the Badgers for a 9:30 p.m. tipoff in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game on ESPN.

Excerpt:

Barnes, the fifth-ranked Tar Heels’ leading scorer and a preseason All America, rolled his ankle while scrambling on the sideline for a loose ball during UNC’s 90-80 loss to UNLV in the Las Vegas Invitational title game. He immediately flashed the tired signal and went to the bench. Although he waived off the trainer, he had a towel over his head for several minutes, before eventually returning to the game.

He left Orleans Arena on crutches — a move, a team spokesman said at the time, that was a precautionary measure. Sunday morning, when the team left Las Vegas, the crutches were gone. Coach Roy Williams said Tuesday that X-rays were negative.

Continue reading ‘Harrison Barnes expected to play tonight for UNC’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• John Calipari checked out DaJuan Coleman on Monday, reports CNY Central. (Hat tip All Ky Hoops)
• Bob Knight claims UK starters didn’t go to class, reports Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• ESPN’s integrity on line with Knight comments, writes Dick Weiss of Daily News.
• Barnhart takes issue with The General, reports Brett Dawson of the C-J.
• Eric Crawford of C-J: Standing up to Knight’s bully pulpit.
• Bob Knight should check his facts, writes Larry Vaught of Advocate-Messenger.
• All eyes on Knight and Jones, writes Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal.
• Allen Edwards joins staff at Wyoming, reports KGWN-TV.

Continue reading ‘BBL: While Bob brays, Calipari checks out Coleman’

Harrison Barnes (AP photo)

Harrison Barnes announced this morning that he will return to North Carolina for his sophomore season.

So the ball is now in the court of Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight.

If Knight and Jones stay, then Kentucky could be the No. 1 pre-season choice next season, based on the holdovers plus John Calipari’s highly-touted crop of newcomers.

If Knight and Jones go, then North Carolina will almost surely be the pre-season No. 1.

John Henson and Tyler Zeller both announced they will return to Chapel Hill next season. Now it looks like Barnes will do the same. Throw in point guard Kendall Marshall, and North Carolina will have a talented, experienced team next season.

North Carolina players Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall and John Henson talk Kentucky.

Continue reading ‘Videos: North Carolina players discuss Kentucky’

(Raleigh News-Observer photo)

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Kentucky says it has new information in the Kanter case, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Andy Katz of espn.com writes that UK wants to frame Kanter case in terms of Newton decision.
• Kentucky-North Carolina always ranks as a big game, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky hopes Harrison Barnes stays in his Carolina funk, so writes me.
• The sky is not falling for Barnes, writes Dana O’Neil of espn.com.
• College hasn’t been easy for this first-team All-American, writes Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports.
• Barnes on a rough road, writes Dan Wiederer of the Fayetteville Observer.
• North Carolina is looking to its rookies, writes Robbi Pickeral of the Raleigh News and Observer.
• Blue-chip recruits for a high stakes game, says Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Kentucky volleyball’s rally falls short at Purdue in NCAA Tournament, reports UK Athletics.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cats want Kanter in, Barnes out (of sync)’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Trying something different this morning, combining Big Blue Links and SEC links into one package.

BIG ENES — Breaking news, the ruling on the Enes Kanter case could come today. Wait, or tomorrow. Wait, or Sunday. Or maybe we’ll get it from WikiLeaks. Seriously, it could come today.

• Jerry Tipton reports that the Enes Kanter decision could come down at any time.
• It’s wait, wait, wait on Kanter, writes Matt May of the Cats Pause.
• Alan Cutler of WLEX-TV says UK players are just as anxious as everyone else.
• Wildcat Blue Nation chimes in on the Kanter factor.
• Kentucky Sports Radio is trying to use its law degree to figure out what might happen with Kanter, but seriously, what does the law have to do with the NCAA?

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE HEELS — Thursday was UK’s preview day for Saturday’s game with North Carolina. Usually, the pre-game interviews are done the day before, but the Cats are leaving early today for Carolina, so everything was moved up.

• North Carolina will test UK’s road readiness, writes Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Doron Lamb says Saturday’s game will be the biggest of his life, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• The Cats are still working on communication with a trip to the Dean Dome coming, writes Hal Morris of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Kentucky doesn’t want to be North Carolina’s breakthrough game, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Darius Miller thinks UK can find some thrills in Chapel Hill, says Wildcat-Den.
• Click here here for a transcript of UK’s press conference quotes from yesterday.
• Ryan Clark of the Kentucky Enquirer blogs on Kanter and North Carolina.
• Opposing Views looks at the Cats-Carolina matchup.

TERRENCE JONES — Can he feel the love? Eamonn Brennan of espn.com ranks the UK guard/forward as the nation’s best freshman in November.

• The Jones-Barnes matchup is an intriguing one Saturday, writes Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• A Sea of Blue says UK fans should enjoy Jones, but root for Brandon Knight.

Continue reading ‘Enes, Heels, Newton, UK volleyball, open practices’

Harrison Barnes (Charlotte Observer photo)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• The state of North Carolina is a basketball dynasty, writes Ben Cohen of the Wall Street Journal.
• Roy Williams tells Harrison Barnes’ critics to stop picking on the kid, writes Brianna Gorman of the Durham Sun-Herald.
• Barnes facing unrealistic expectations, says Sean Keeler of the Des Moines Register.
• North Carolina is struggling to regain form, writes Mike Lopresti of USA Today.
• While Newton skates, Kanter waits, writes Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News.
• Young Cats are eager to play North Carolina, says Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• It’s family first for John Calipari, writes Matt May of the Cats Pause.
• Finally getting healthy, UK women look to Louisville, reports Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader.
• Mitch Barnhart says a new basketball arena is in the city’s hands, reports Chip Cosby of the H-L.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that Brandon Knight is adjusting to a pass-first mentality.

Continue reading ‘BBL: WSJ says state of North Carolina a hoops dynasty’

Matt Pilgrim

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• H-L report on minor NCAA violation involving Darius Miller.
• In the Courier-Journal, Jody Demling writes on Joe Jackson and UK.
• Demling reports that California forward DeAndre Daniels visited UK on Sunday.
• Big Blue Uncensored writes on the curious case of Matt Pilgrim.
• Inner Circle wants UK basketball to give the open scholarship to Pilgrim.
• Kentucky State Basketball also has Matt Pilgrim on its mind.
• Andrew Gribble of the Opelika-Auburn News previews the UK-Auburn football game. (Hat tip to A Sea of Blue.)
• USA Today’s Jim Halley writes on the NBA player camp, focusing on Harrison Barnes and Brandon Knight.
• Zagsblog talks to Rod Strickland, who says Eric Bledsoe and John Wall can play together.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Blue blogs want Matt Pilgrim back’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• At A Sea of Blue, top recruit Harrison Barnes voices some worries about John Calipari.
• Mike Fields of the Herald-Leader writes on Darius Miller and Shelvin Mack, Kentucky buddies competing for spts on the USA Under-19 National Team.
• My notes column, which leads with Rafael Little.
• Dave D’Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that Jodie Meeks will work out for the Nets on Friday.
• The New York Daily News reports that Lance Stephenson is running out of options.
• ESPN’s Andy Katz also talks to Darius Miller.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Miller is confident about life after Jodie Meeks.
• Steve Moss of WKYT says hypothetically Meeks can return to UK.
• The C-J’s Jody Demling talks to recruit Jesse Berry about the “coaching trade-off.”
• Tom Leach points out that ESPN’s Joe Lunardi already has UK as a No. 1 seed for next season.
• ESPN’s Pat Forde ranks Kentucky No. 6 for next season.
• Inner Circle on where UK wants to be next season.
• In the Maysville Ledger-Independent, blogger Ron Bailey has a short note on Jodie Meeks.

Big Blue Links:

• GoCyclones.com reports that Harrison Barnes cuts his list to maybe 12, and Kentucky is one of the maybe 12. (Hat tip to A Sea of Blue.)
• Zagsblog thinks that John Wall could make a decision by the end of the week.
• Inside the Hall writes on Kyrie Irving, a top point guard that likes Indiana, but has a close connection with Rod Strickland.
• Rick Bozich has the backstory on John Calipari auctioning off those UK-U of L tickets at the Dick Vitale gala.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes that UK football hopes a couple of signees can fill a need at defensive end.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK continues to be on Harrison Barnes’ list’