John Clay’s Sidelines

Several clips of UK coach John Calipari talking to the media before today’s practice.

There will be four are five clips in all. Click the continue button to see the other clips.

Here Calipari talks about his team’s defense against the 3-pointer.

Continue reading ‘Video: John Calipari before today’s practice’

Here is UK coach John Calipari talking before Friday’s practice about watching the video of Thursday’s win over Sam Houston.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

John Calipari exclaimed last night that this may be his worst defensive team since 1988.

My statistical library doesn’t go back that far, but I do have the stats for his nine years at the helm at Memphis, where the Tigers were generally very good defensively. In fact, last year stats guru Ken Pomeory ranked Memphis best in the country in defensive efficiency.

Opponents managed to shoot better than 40 percent just three of Cal’s nine years there. And the 3-point percentage by opponents was normally around the 30-32 percent mark, which is certainly respectable.

Through three games, a very small sample, this year, opponents are shooting 42 percent from three-point range and averaging a mind-blowing 12.33 triples per game.

Continue reading ‘John Calipari’s defense at Memphis vs. this year’

Here’s the WKYT sportscast from last night with a greatest hits of Calipari’s post-game clips, starting about 1:00 into the video.

Here’s John Calipari’s post-game press conference. It’s 14:41 of entertainment, with Cal lamenting his team’s poor defense, the 3-point shooting of Sam Houston State, and several other issues that went into the 102-92 Kentucky victory.

• The Kentucky coach said that this is his worst defensive team since 1988. Among other things.

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’

Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari talks to the media before today’s practice. There’s a little talk about Thursday’s game, but mainly its reviewing some of the elements of Monday night’s 72-70 nail-biter over Miami of Ohio.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader reports on UK women’s 72-55 basketball triumph at Morehead.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader examines John Calipari’s statement that “we’re a post-up team.”
• My column arguing that Monday’s near-loss is actually a good thing for UK basketball.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes on UK’s old-school wide receivers.
• Herald-Leader photos from UK women’s win at Morehead.
• Bluegrass State Basketball reports that Tobias Harris was in Knoxville last night to see Tennessee’s romp.
• Josh Selby’s mother tells The Hoosier Scoop that her son is working on a visit to Kentucky. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Wildcat Blue Blog thinks Harris is looking more and more like a Volunteer.
• Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches runs down the UK volleyball SEC title scenarios.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Tobias Harris watches Vols; Selby setting up UK visit’

(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader has the game story on Kentucky’s 72-70 win over Miami of Ohio.
• Jerry’s notes leads with John Calipari wanting DeMarcus Cousins to lighten up.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes that Wall can live up to the hype.
• H-L photo gallery from last night’s game.
• Chip Cosby writes that football Cats’ goals extend beyond goal.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on Wall’s winning shot in the “most-hyped debut in recent memory.”
• Matt May of the Cats’ Pause on John Wall’s unforgettable fire.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on the Charlie Coles/Dick Gabriel post-game show.
• Bluegrass State Basketball checks in with Tobias Harris on the eve of decision-time.
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel says Wall’s shot “UK’s nightmare of a catastrophic upset loss at home for the third consecutive season.”
• James Pennington of the Kernel writes that “Monday night, John Wall hit the shot of his career. Thing is, his career to that point had only spanned one game.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: WonderWall, Tobias Harris update, Charlie Coles’

Here are the post-game press conferences with both coaches after Kentucky’s 72-70 win over Miami of Ohio.

• Here is Miami of Ohio coach Charlie Coles, who reacts in disbelief to a question from Dick Gabriel. (Afterward, Coles went over and shook Dick’s hand.)

• UK head coach John Calipari says he was “ecstatic” to get behind by 18 points. And other things.