John Clay's Sidelines

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’

Andre Woodson (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Birmingham school superintendent will investigate Eric Bledsoe’s transcript, reports Jeff Sentell of the Birmingham News.
• Antoine Walker ordered to trial over casino debt, reports Ken Ritter of the AP.
• Andre Woodson to play in the United Football League, reports the Elizabethtown News-Enterprise.
• Jason Kidd sees a bright future for John Wall, blogs Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Isaiah Thomas says he was sure Terrence Jones was coming to Washington, reports Luke Winn of SI.com.
• Patrick Patterson works to impress the Pacers, reports Cliff Brunt of AP.
• Patterson thinks he can make an impact, reports Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.
• John Calipari talked to Tom Izzo about the NBA, reports Alan Cutler of WLEX.
• Jarrod Polson believes he can help Kentucky in the long run, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• DeMarcus Cousins talks about draft with the Sacramento Kings: (Hat tip to Cat Scratches.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Birmingham schools will investigate Bledsoe’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Four UK baseball players are drafted in the first eight rounds, says a Herald-Leader staff report.
• That Alabama high school meeting over Eric Bledsoe has been postponed, blogs Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Daniel Orton has been unimpressive in workouts, says Hoops World.
• DeMarcus Cousins could drop out of the top four NBA picks, says the Detroit Free Press.
• Patrick Patterson is one of six to workout for the Utah Jazz, reports Chris Buckley of the Deseret News.
• John Calipari had nothing to do with those 7-foot twins ending up in Pennsylvania, says Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports.
• Ex-UK star Walter McCarty is about to join the Indiana Pacers’ staff, tweets Goodman.
• Tubby Smith’s name mentioned for Cavaliers post, or at least by Peter Vecsey of the New York Post.
• John Wooden and Adolph Rupp were a lot alike, reports Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun.
• Evan Daniels of Scout on Quincy Miller:

Continue reading ‘BBL: Daniel Orton’s NBA stock may be dropping’

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Kentucky football’s commitment class for 2011 is ranked No. 20 in the nation by ESPN.
• Lawyer in Eric Bledsoe case said no wrongdoing was involved, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Mitch Barnhart tells a Nashville radio station that UK’s lofty status brings scrutiny, says H-L staff report.
• Barnhart is angered by the release of Bledsoe’s transcript, writes Clay Travis of FanHouse.
• Joe B. Hall talking about losing to UCLA in John Wooden’s final game, and the friendship they shared is my column in the Herald-Leader.
• Derrick Locke cracks a forearm bone in a moped accident, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Bledsoe was among six that worked out for the Miami Heat, reports nba.com.
• Brandon Knight wants a college degree, writes Jason Stromberg of the Sun Sentinel. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK football commitments ranked 20th in nation’

Hat tip to Tom Leach’s blog.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• NPR’s Frank Deford works John Calipari into a screed on the turmoil in college sports.
• Andy Katz of ESPN on Calipari reaching out to John Wooden.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that some teams are sacrificing for SEC TV deal.
• Jen Smith of the H-L on UK women cracking the Top 25 in coaches poll.
• Rick Bozich’s blog reports that Rick Pitino doesn’t believe UK will go undefeated.
• Bozich also catches up with Tubby Smith.
• Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star reports that Arizona’s Sean Miller is headed to look at Josh Selby. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel reports that young Cats are trying to stay focused.
• Billy Reed has some praise for Coach Cal.
• Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman believes John Wall’s POY lead is shrinking.
• Kentucky Sports Radio has a rumor that Rock Oliver is returning to UK, this time for football.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rick Pitino doesn’t see unbeaten Cats’

LP Field

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports on the UK-Western Kentucky football series.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that both Cats and Toppers see series as a win-win.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean reports that Nashville will benefit from the UK-WKU series.
• Cat Scratches was at the UK-WKU announcement in Nashville.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that word on the street has Josh Selby at UK.
• Bluegrass State Basketball hears that Selby will be a Wildcat.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Is Josh Selby to UK a done deal?’