John Clay's Sidelines

(AP photo)

Comment on this post via Facebook.

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• UK a finalist for Amile Jefferson, reports Rick O’Brien of Inquirer.
• Pitino a pauper in Calipari’s kingdom, says my Monday column.
• UK women escape upset bid to beat Florida, reports Jim Harvin of Sun.
• Cousins’ mess tip of the iceberg, writes Ailene Voisin of Sacramento Bee.
• Harrellson steps up for Knicks, reports H-L wire services.
• U of L basketball says problems fixable, reports C.L. Brown of C-J.
• Harrellson offers toughness lesson, writes Eric Crawford of C-J.
• Calipari gives his New Year’s resolutions on CoachCal.com.
• Some leftover UK-U of L notes, from Aaron Smith of the Kernel.
• The circle is now complete, writes Glenn Logan of A Sea of Blue.
• How good is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist? asks Zagsblog.
• Jones’ resolution comes a day early, reports Chris Fisher of Cats Pause.
• Photo gallery from Josh Harrellson’s big night.

In a video on the official New York Knicks, rookie center Josh Harrellson explains where he got his twitter handle @BigJorts55. Not only does the former Kentucky center appear to be a sure-thing to make the Knicks roster, he may end up picking up quite a bit of playing time for a second-round pick.

Click here for the video.

Related links:

• What is Josh Harrellson, other than player Knicks weren’t counting on?
• New York Post: Meet your Knicks rookies
• Amare says Knicks to be in hunt for Heat

Thanks to an alert twitter follower, who passed along this link to former Herald-Leader staffer Ryan Alessi, now with cn/2′s Pure Politcs, who reports that former UK basketball stars DeMarcus Cousins and Josh Harrellson were at a Mitt Romney fundraiser last night.

Ryan’s story has a picture of the two with the Republican presidential candidate.

Romney’s Kentucky finance co-chair is Joe Craft. Yes, that’s the Joe Craft of the Joe Craft Center, where UK basketball practices, and the man behind the Wildcat Coal Lodge, where the UK basketball players will soon live.

Continue reading ‘Cousins and Harrellson attend Romney fundraiser’

Photo by @TiffanyDoughty.

Link

During his appearance at John Calipari’s ProCamp at UK, Josh Harrellson talked to the media about the incoming freshmen class — he loves Ryan Harrow — and how he fits in with the New York Knicks.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Josh Harrellson plays tennis, talks lockout at Fifth Third event
• No timetable for when Jon Hood will have surgery on torn ACL
• Buzzard’s luck appears to be still with Jon Hood
• What Hood’s injury means to him and Kentucky
• Hood injury won’t mean much, says CBS Sports
• Bill Gillispie’s wallet, the sweet return of football and more random notes
• Jonathan Davis’ son wants to make a name for himself
• If you liked blitzing, you will like the new Kentucky defense
• Kentucky football target commits to Memphis
• What SEC football coaches think, but do not say

“I’m just trying to get my Ochocinco on and explore new sports. Maybe next I’ll try golf or something.”

- Josh Harrellson

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Kentucky and Louisville football currently tied in their recruiting duel
• Western Kentucky football coach Willie Taggart says Hilltoppers must think big
• Calipari’s web site has a virtual tour of new Wildcat Coal Lodge
• Calipari says student-athletes should receive living expenses
• Kentucky coach gets his wish with UK paying first game in Nets’ new arena
• Jacob Tamme’s Swing for our Soldiers an impressive event
• Josh Harrellson will be part of celebrity match at Fifth Third Tennis Classic tonight
• ESPN breaks down top players at the Under Armour Challenge
• Looking at Kentucky football’s new crop of playmakers
• Large response causes DeMarcus Cousins’ camp to be moved

Tony Delk

Update: New Mexico State officially hires Delk.

Big Blue Links for Saturday morning:

DIRECTORS CUP – Kentucky finished 36th in the measurement of over-all sports programs. UKAA’s official blog, Cat Scratches, reports: “After a slow start, Kentucky finished 36th in the final 2010-11 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings. Boosted by a rifle national championship, a men’s basketball Final Four run, a national quarterfinals berth by the men’s tennis team and the school’s first Super Regional appearance in softball, UK finished in the top 40 for the fourth consecutive year. Kentucky was eighth among Southeastern Conference schools.” So while Mitch Barnhart deserves praise for promoting competitive teams in every sport, UK is still in a very difficult league.

TONY DELK TO NEW MEXICO STATE? – Anthony Wireman at All Ky Hoops is reporting that the former UK All-American has been offered an assistant coaching job at New Mexico State. Former U of L assistant Marvin Menzies it he head coach there. And though Delk is currently on John Calipari’s administrative staff, Delk obviously has a connection to Rick Pitino, as well. TD sort of helped Ricky P win a title. And Menzies has two openings to fill.

HOW DO YOU LIKE OREGON, MR. MULLENS? – Former UK associate AD Rob Mullens is now the athletic director at Oregon. That sounded a lot better before a college recruiting “scout” applied a hammer to Oregon football coach Chip Kelly on Friday. Mullens is in damage control mode, saying, that he still believes the Ducks are doing their business “the right way” but that the school is cooperating with the NCAA.

Continue reading ‘Tony Delk to New Mexico State and other Big Blue Links’

The New York Post talked to former UK center Josh Harrellson at a New York Liberty game on Sunday, and Jorts was talking tough about his role with the Knicks.

An excerpt:

Josh Harrellson joining Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony isn’t going to give the Knicks a Big 3 like the team in Miami that recently choked.

But the rookie big man might give them a presence every team needs to advance, especially in the playoffs.

“I’m going to protect my stars,” Harrellson said yesterday at halftime of the Liberty’s win over the Los Angeles Sparks at the Prudential Center. “Amar’e, Carmelo, if someone’s getting rough with them, I’m going to protect them. I’m going to make my presence felt. They’ll know I’m there.”

That fits with what Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said last week after New York acquired Harrellson’s draft rights from New Orleans. D’Antoni said the Knicks needed a big, physical low-post player.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

So why did the New York Knicks pay the New Orleans Hornets $750,000 to draft Josh Harrellson with the 45th pick in last night’s NBA Draft.

Zagsblog has some quotes from Knicks’ coach Mike D’Antoni on Jorts:

“[He's] a need that we need,” D’Antoni said. “He’s a big body, obviously. He came in and had a very nice workout. He showed that he’ll bang people around. He’s tough, he’s big. He had a nice touch shooting-size. He can put the ball on the floor a little bit.

“We’ll see if he can adapt to the NBA game, but we think he has a chance, a good chance, and we’re looking forward to seeing him.”

The Knicks official roster lists the 6-foot-10 Harrellson as a forward. He is one of four on the squad listed at 6-10 or better. The others are Jared Jeffries (6-11), Amare Stoudamire (6-10) and Ronny Turiaf (6-10). The thin Jeffries is not exactly a banger. And Stoudamire likes to play out on the wing, as well.

HoopsData.com lists the Knicks as ranking 24th in the league last year in Offensive Rebound Rate. The Knicks were 27th out of 30 in Offensive Rebound Rate differential. So clearly New York needs some help on the boards. Thus the draft of Jorts.

Continue reading ‘Knicks on Josh Harrellson: “He’s a need that we need”’