John Clay’s Sidelines

Here’s John Wall talking to the media about how the team must improve after Kentucky’s win over Sam Houston State.

(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’

Kentucky freshman John Wall talks about the winning shot with .5 seconds left to complete UK’s comeback 72-70 win over Miami of Ohio.

Miss Kentucky USA, Maria Montgomery, was working hard in the press box. (Photo by John Clay)

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes on UK’s workman-like effort in win over Colonels.
• Chip’s notes leads with Sam Maxwell’s interceptions.
• My column saying the next three games will decide Kentucky’s season.
• Mark Story’s column about freshmen playmakers Morgan Newton and La’Rod King.
• Herald-Leader photo slide show from Kentucky-Eastern Kentucky.
• Jerry Tipton of Herald-Leader writes that UK could be headed for big recruiting haul.
• Zagsblog reports that C.J. Leslie may wait until spring. (H/T to Bluegrass State Basketball.)
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal has gamer on Kentucky’s win over EKU.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes about Randall Cobb’s injury.
• Larry also wrote about his press box guest, Miss Kentucky USA.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Miss Kentucky USA watches Cats crown EKU’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Here’s the post-game index on Kentucky’s 117-52 win over Clarion:

• Post-game video interview with John Wall after his 27-point performance.

• Audio of John Calipari post-game press conference.

• Herald-Leader photo slide show from the game.

• Jerry Tipton’s game story from the victory.

• Video post-game interview with Patrick Patterson.

• Video post-game interview with Perry Stevenson.

• Video post-game interview with Ramon Harris.

Here’s UK freshman sensation John Wall, who was all he was hyped up to be, scoring 27 points, dishing nine assists and grabbing four rebounds in the Cats’ easy 117-52 romp over visiting Clarion in an exhibition game before 23,802 at Rupp. Wall had to sit out last Monday’s exhibition game against Campbellsville, and he’ll miss the season opener next Friday at Morehead. He said he’s already thinking about that.

Big Blue Links for Friday.

Traditional:

• Doug Binder of the Oregonian reports that UK target Terrence Jones may wait until spring before choosing a school.
• Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal-World reports that Brandon Knight will also wait until spring. (See Zagsblog link with blogs section.)
• In the Herald-Leader, Chip Cosby reports that UK’s defensive line wants redemption.
• Mark Story of H-L writes on Eastern Kentucky coach Dean Hood’s connections.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that John Calipari is challenging his team to improve.
• Tipton of the H-L writes that Mark Krebs’ focus is paying off.
• Tipton also blogs that Calipari said Patrick Patterson needs to be more aggressive.
• Paul Gattis of the Huntsville Times writes that Tennessee basketball has taken a backseat to Kentucky this off-season. (H/T to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Terrence Jones is waiting; Knight to visit Florida’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that Clarion game brings back memories of John Calipari’s time there.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes about freshman quarterback Morgan Newton.
• The Easy Being Green blog reports on the Wildcat Coal Lodge banner protest at UK.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on UK freshman receiver La’Rod King.
• Matt May of the Cats Pause reports that Trevard Lindley and Mike Hartline are making progress.
• Marlen Garcia of USA Today writes on the red-hot UK-U of L basketball rivalry.
• Brian Rosenthal of Husker Extra reports that Billy Gillispie was at Nebraska to watch the Cornhuskers. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that DeQuin Evans thinks Cats backed down.
• Kevin Patton of the Henderson Gleaner writes that Newton’s progress comes at Will Fidler’s expense. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Football Blog.)
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel writes on John Wall and high expectations.
• T.J. Walker of the Kernel writes on volleyball’s Gretchen Giesler.

Continue reading ‘BBL: USA Today tackles UK-U of L, and other links’

(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that UK’s first exhibition win was an eye-opener.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes that we can try and judge the Cats on an exhibition victory.
• Here’s Herald-Leader photo slide show from last night’s game.
• Video interviews with Darius Miller, Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton.
• Here’s audio of John Calipari’s post-game press conference.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports that UK football hopes to salvage its season.
• Zagsblog says Doron Lamb will visit UConn on Nov. 15.
• Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline writes that UK is cleared to play off the Wall.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Kentucky showed sloppy offense in its exhibition opener.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Eric Bledsoe and John Wall are better together.
• Matt May of the Cats Pause writes that UK has a long road ahead.
• Chuck Jones of the Elizabethtown News-Enterprise says don’t rush to judgment on these Cats.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cats sloppy in win; Doron Lamb to visit UConn’

A'dia Mathies (H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader writes that UK’s Amber Smith has shed her brace for a faster pace.
• Mark Story of the Herald-Leader writes that UK is a comfortable fit for the state’s Miss Basketball.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports on UK cornerback Randall Burden’s search for his swagger.
• Jerry Tipton’s clarification concerning Patrick Patterson’s new truck, something that got blown way out proportion on Thursday.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that UK spent $185,000 more on Big Blue Madness than the year before.
• Chris Low of ESPN puts Micah Johnson as the fifth scariest player in the SEC.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger talks to Tywanna Patterson about the supposed truck-gate.
• Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches previews the UK women’s basketball team.
• Nick Craddock of the Kentucky Kernel writes on the hope for a curling club.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Women’s hoops and UK-Mississippi St grid’