John Clay's Sidelines

Kentucky’s Jon Hood talks about the battle to keep his confidence.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Brandon Knight dominates in Kentucky’s exhibition win over Windsor, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Darius Miller and Jon Hood impress John Calipari, reports Tipton in the H-L.
• Herald-Leader photo gallery from Kentucky’s blowout win in Canada.
• Gene McCaskill tears ACL, is out for the season, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky plays with passion, writes Bob Duff of the Windsor Star.
• Brandon Knight looks sharp in his Kentucky debut, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Matt May of the Cats Pause on UK’s rout of Windsor team in Canada exhibition.
• It was one shining Knight, reports Jeff Drummond of Kentucky Ink.

Continue reading ‘BBL: And to all a good Brandon Knight in Canada’

Kentucky sophomore Jon Hood talks about how he got confidence during China trip, and how it has carried over to UK.

Click here for the YouTube version of this video.

The media met this morning with UK basketball players, Jon Hood and Josh Harrellson, who talked about their recent trip to China as part of the Sports Reach program. The two said the refs were, well, not good, the food was interesting, the experience should be beneficial for next season, and that the Great Wall is really, really big.

Mark Fox

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that John Calipari isn’t saying slump: “So when does Kentucky’s poor three-point shooting – 12-for-73 in the last four games and next to last among Southeastern Conference teams through 14 league games – go from a “spell” to a “slump” to a “problem?” ‘It becomes a problem if you’re losing a bunch of games in a row because of it,’ Calipari said.”

Mark Bradley of the AJC thinks Georgia’s Mark Fox is the SEC Coach of the Year: “Coach of the year awards don’t always go to those who win their conferences, but seldom are they bestowed on someone who enters the final days of the regular season tied for last in a division. I speak here of Mark Fox, and he should be the exception. He should be the SEC’s coach of the year.”

John Gasaway of Basketball Prospectus thinks Fox should get national honors: “Now that it’s March you’ll see a flurry of awards being bestowed and disputed. I decided to get in on the ground floor. First-year Georgia head coach Mark Fox is my choice as 2010 national coach of the year. Over the past four years no unit, offense or defense, has improved year-to-year as much in major-conference play as the Georgia offense has this year.”

Jennifer Smith of the H-L on UK women’s post-season awards sweep: “But after the program swept all of the major SEC awards on Tuesday afternoon, it’s probably safe to say that won’t happen again next season. In a vote of conference coaches announced by the league on Tuesday, UK Coach Matthew Mitchell claimed coach of the year, and junior Victoria Dunlap was named player of the year. A’dia Mathies was honored as freshman of the year.”

Tim Tucker of the AJC writes that Kentucky will test Georgia’s home streak: “The Bulldogs wrap up their home schedule Wednesday night against Kentucky in Stegeman Coliseum, which has turned into quite the home-court advantage this season. Georgia is 12-3 in Stegeman, including victories over three nationally ranked opponents (Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Vanderbilt) and all four SEC East opponents to visit thus far (Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Florida).”

Meanwhile, here’s more video of John Calipari talking to the media on Tuesday:

Continue reading ‘BBL: Is Georgia’s Mark Fox the coach of the year?’

Kyrie Irving

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Zagsblog reports that Kyrie Irving has committed to Duke, with an announcement to be made this week.
• Irving says via Twitter he has not committed, however.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes on UK quarterback Will Fidler.
• My notes column, leading with Rich Brooks being honest about being dishonest with the media.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal also writes on how Will Fidler supported Morgan Newton.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes that other UK teams can learn from win at Auburn.
• Tom Leach talks to espn.com basketball writer Dana O’Neil.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on DeMarcus Cousins.
• A Sea of Blue says SEC officiating stinks.
• Mr. SEC compares UK’s football commitments with rest of the league. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Football Blog.)
• Wildcat-Den writes on UK freshman Jon Hood.
• Wildcat Blue Bog looks at Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones.

The first part of this video has UK freshman Jon Hood talking about the dunk contest at Big Blue Madness on Friday night, and how he’d like to reach the finals. After that, Hood has some interesting things to say about what it’s like to play with John Wall and Eric Bledsoe, especially Wall. It’ll make your head spin.

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Big Blue Uncensored attended John Calipari’s father and son camp, and has plenty of pictures to prove it.
• My Sunday column about the reunion of Bear Bryant’s former players at Kentucky.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that right now UK football has no end in sight.
• H-L report that UK has been given more time to respond to Billy Gillispie’s lawsuit.
• C-J reports that camp pamphlet could pose eligibility problem for Darius Miller.
• Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal reports that Doron Lamb is one of UK’s top hoop targets.
• Demling also reports that another top recruit, Mychal Parker, will be on UK’s campus this week.
• Mark Mathis of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer writes that Jon Hood could be the one to fill Jodie Meeks’ shoes.
• In the Danville Advocate-Messenger, Larry Vaught’s readers support Meeks’ decision to stay in the draft.
• David Aldrige of nba.com ranks Meeks as the seventh-best shooting guard in the draft.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Report from Calipari father-and-son camp’

Rex Chapman

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Steve Austin of the Henderson Gleaner reports that Rex Chapman’s son is making noise.
• Dick Vitale says that John Calipari is being treated unfairly.
• Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Calipari will be featured speaker at Erlanger event June 22.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that Mike Pratt has been amused at flak given Calipari.
• Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal reports on Jon Hood’s showing with Kentucky All-Stars.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rex Chapman’s son making hoops noise’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jennifer Hewlett of the Herald-Leader writes on the death of former UK star Mike Casey.
• Tom Leach writes on Mike Casey.
• The H-L’s Jerry Tipton writes that Nolan Dennis is in no rush to commit.
• Tipton also writes that Daniel Orton is keeping his options open.
• Here is a Herald-Leader page devoted to possible UK recruits.
• Chip Cosby writes that there is strength in UK’s offensive line numbers.
• Mark Story writes that Rajon Rondo and the NBA are a perfect fit.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that John Calipari raises the bar high for the SEC.
• Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today writes that top recruits are scrambling.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that Eric Bledsoe has UK behind Florida on his list.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Mike Casey’s passing; recruiting news’