John Clay's Sidelines

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

T.C. Drake

I’m back from furlough, by the way. So in UK news, former tight end T.C. Drake is still recovering from a serious motorcyle accident in Bardstown. Top basketball prospect Andre Drummond denies that he will reclassify for the Class of 2011. In surprising news, former UK guard Derrick Jasper will join former UK coach Billy Gillispie’s staff at Texas Tech. This is the same Jasper who transferred from UK when Gillispie was coach. And John Calipari lashes back at his critics with a late night tweet.

Click on the continue line to get today’s Big Blue Links.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Drummond to stay in 2012; Jasper to join Gillispie’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Kentucky floor installed at Freedom Hall, reports Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Badgoneblog has a picture of the floor. (Hat tip All Kentucky Hoops)
• Jason Jordan of ESPN tweets that Shabazz Muhammad and Rodney Purvis will visit UK together.
• Looking ahead, Indiana believes it can beat Kentucky, reports Pete DiPrimio of the Ft. Wayne News Sentinel. (Hat tip Spam’s Wildcat Page)
• Terrence Jones vs. Tyrone Nash will be battle of similar styles, writes Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Kentucky provides the first of two Notre Dame tests, writes Brian Hamilton of Chicago Breaking Sports.
• Irish needs Nash’s versatility, writes Hamilton for the Chicago Tribune.
• Cats say lesser bowl is not a letdown, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky is dreaming of bowls beyond goals, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Mark Story of the H-L says back off the Mike Hartline bashing.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Muhammad and Purvis to visit UK together’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• A 6-foot-9 forward from Chicago, Anthony Davis will visit Kentucky, reports Zagsblog.

• Daniel Orton struggles in his summer league debut, says a Herald-Leader staff report.

• Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel on Orton being ejected in his first Summer League game.

• Orton must push the reset button, writes Tania Ganguli of the Orlando Sentinel.

• Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman was in Orlando to watch the Orton meltdown.

• Despite his son being tossed in first game, Larry Orton is excited about Daniel’s future, writes Alan Cutler of WLEX.

(AP photo)

• Ex-U of L quarterback Dave Ragone could be coaching ex-UK quarterback Andre Woodson in the UFL, writes Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal.

• Bluegrass State Basketball on U.S. U-17 team’s romp over China.

• Quincy Miller could end up being his class’ No. 1 prospect, says Draft Express. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)

• Kentucky Sports Network on Joker Phillips and Operation Win.

• Added: John Middleton of the Harlan Daily Enterprise says UK may regret hiring Calipari.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Orton gets the hook; Anthony Davis to visit Kentucky’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Terrence Jones tells Nick Daschle of the Oregonian that he will definitely sign a letter today with either Washington or Kentucky.

• Jones’ high school coach tells Percy Allen of the Seattle Times he thinks Washington will be the choice.

• Patrick Patterson tells Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader that he’s confident John Calipari will return next season.

• Paducah Tilghman wide receiver Josh Forrest has committed to Kentucky, reports Mike Fields of the H-L.

• Mark Tupper of the Decatur Herald-Review on Illinois assistant Jerrance Howard and the UK opening. (Hat tip Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog)

• Mark Heisler of the Los Angeles Times writes that the Wizards can start rebuilding with John Wall.

• While in Bevery Hills, John Wall talks to ESPN’s Andy Katz about the possibility of being the top pick.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Coach says Terrence Jones to Washington (again)’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that Rich Brooks bemoans UK’s injury list.
• My column saying that SEC football has that old familiar feeling.
• Zagsblog reports that Tobias Harris had a good visit to West Virginia.
• Rivals says UK basketball has the nation’s best frontcourt.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Morgan Newton has been strong in Mike Hartline’s absence.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger is getting a lot of DeAndre Liggins questions.
• Cat Scratches reports on Jodie Meeks’ progress in the NBA.
• Brian Rickerd of the State-Journal writes on Kentucky’s win over Eastern Kentucky.
• Aaron’s UK Football Blog says Cats have lost a grid recruit to Nebraska.
• Wildcat-Den says UK football wants to finish the season on a high note.
• Wildcat Blue Blog is doing a “Meet the Wildcats” series.
• Inner Circle talks John Calipari and sustainability.

It was Jodie Meeks’ three-pointer with 29 seconds left that tied last night’s Milwaukee Bucks-Chicago Bulls’ exhibition game before the Bulls came out on top 87-86. Meeks played 14 minutes and scored six points.

You can see Jodie’s shot at the 1:51 mark of this video:

American Chronicle also catches up with Meeks, talking to the guard about his NBA learning curve.

An excerpt:

But the 22-year-old is eager to make an impact and will get a chance if he shows he can defend adequately and ignite the offense when called upon by Bucks coach Scott Skiles.

“It’s not going to be like last year where I averaged 24 points a game,” Meeks said. “I understand that coming into it. I just have to be patient, do what I can when I get in to help the team, and keep a good attitude.”

Meeks was playing just his third game against National Basketball Association players when the Bucks met the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night at the Resch Center. He was coming off a 10-point outing against Detroit on Wednesday, when he went 4 for 12 from the field and sank a pair of three-pointers while playing 23 minutes.

“He’s got great range, a really quick release,” said Bucks assistant coach for player development Bill Peterson. “Great shooters have that mantra; they never believe they’re missing the next shot.”

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Tim Stevens of the Raleigh News & Observer reports that C.J. Leslie will be at UK’s Big Blue Madness. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• The Shiver reports that Josh Selby will attend Kansas’ Midnight Madness. (Hat tip to Bluegrass State Basketball.)
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel talks to UK and UT target Tobias Harris.
• Inside the Hall also has a Josh Selby update.
• Tickets are on sale today for UK-UConn in New York.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports on extent of Mike Hartline’s injury.
• Mark Story of the H-L wants Will Fidler now and Morgan Newton later.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Updates on C.J. Leslie, Josh Selby, Tobias Harris’

Jerry Stackhouse

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• True Hoop’s Henry Abbott talks to Jerry Stackhouse about the John Wall dunk video.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader talks to Jodie Meeks about his super summer.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports on UK football’s Brandon Thurmond, back in action after three surgeries.
• Chip blogs that Rich Brooks showered praise on freshmen Larry Warford and Mertavious Neloms.
• Mike Decourcy of the Sporting News reports that John Calipari wants UK fans to show Rick Pitino respect.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that UK is in the mix for 2011 top hoops recruit Quincy Miller.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports on safety Winston Guy’s curvy road to Kentucky.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Jerry Stackhouse talks about that John Wall dunk’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Paul Warford is happy to be back.
• The Indianapolis Star believes that Indiana, Duke and Kentucky are basketball target Kyrie Irving’s top choices.
• Tom Leach has some UK football practice notes.
• Leach also has a video interview with DeQuin Evans.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that freshmen Qua Huzzie and Ridge Wilson have been impressive early.
• Tyler Young of the Jessamine Journal reports that former UK walk-on Adam Delph will play at Asbury.

Continue reading ‘BBL: IU, Duke and UK top choices for Kyrie Irving?’