John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Tough night for Michael Gilchrist, writes Matthew Stanmyre of Star-Ledger.
• Amoeba defense gets the best of Gilchrist, writes Brandon Parker of ESPN Rise.
• A sweet moment for St. Anthony, writes Christopher Lawlor of Daily News.
• Memory of Georgia tornado still vivid at SEC tourney, writes Jerry Tipton of H-L.
• Twenty questions about the SEC Tournament, by me.
• Pelphrey says he’s building program the right way, writes Tipton.
• Martin Newton named AD at Samford, reports Daniel Pauling of Birmingham News.
• SEC tourney about seeding and pleading, writes Brett Dawson of the C-J.
• Joe Dean, Jr. picks Kentucky to win tourney, writes Larry Vaught of the A-M.
• Cats prepping for tourney time, reports Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Lamb shifts his focus from scoring, writes Chandler Howard of the Kernel.
• Basketball reigns in Kentucky, writes Earl Cox for Voice Tribune.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Michael Gilchrist has an off night in big game’

James Blackmon, Sr.

James Blackmon, Jr., son of former Kentucky guard James Blackmon (1983-87), has committed to Indiana, reports Inside the Hall.

Excerpt:

But perhaps the biggest win of the night came when James Blackmon, Jr., a freshman guard at Bishop Luers in Fort Wayne, committed to play for Indiana. Blackmon, the No. 1-rated shooting guard in the 2014 class, according to ESPN, is the son of former Kentucky standout James Blackmon, Sr., who confirmed the news late Thursday.

James Blackmon, Sr. is the coach at Bishop Luers. A McDonald’s All-American from Marion, Indiana, he was second in the voting for Indiana Mr. Basketball in 1982, losing out to Steve Alford. His Bishop Luers team has won two state titles.

PROGRAM NOTE: DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK AT 10 A.M. FOR LIVEBLOG FROM UK FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Michael O’Brien and the Chicago Sun-Times come right back with another Anthony Davis story, repeating earlier rumors, this time with UK’s response.
• Football Cats report and are itching for practice to start, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• APR numbers support John Calipari’s contention that he cares about academics, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader. (Remember, the story that won’t be written.)
• Kentucky will play Oklahoma in Maui opener, before a possible dream match-up with Washington. This being Washington’s dream.
• “I hope we look bad,” says Calipari about Canada trip, reports Tipton in the H-L.
• Kentucky football team takes plenty of questions into camp, starting at quarterback, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• A small team with big strides to make, basketball Cats prepare for its trip north of the border, eh, reports Dawson in the C-J.
• It’s always something with Calipari, says the Cincinnati Enqurier.
• Get ready Ashland, John Calipari is coming your way Sept. 6, reports the Ironton Tribune. (Hat tip to Bluegrass State Basketball.)
• Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News on UK basketball taking some media hits of late.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Sun-Times repeats rumors, acknowledges response’

Feel sorry for Dicky Lyons, Jr., cut so soon by the Atlanta Falcons.

So with 30 days left until UK’s football opener against Miami of Ohio at Paul Brown Stadium, we present an oldie but a goodie.

“He got hit so bad.” – Gary Danielson

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Herald-Leader report on Dicky Lyons, Jr. signing with the Falcons.
• Bob Hertzel of the Times West Virginian reports that the recruitment for Adreian Payne appears to be coming down to UK and West Virginia. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Information Week writes on why CIO need Twitter, and uses John Calipari as an example.
• Mike Bires of the Beaver County Times reports that Calipari is expected at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice Thursday.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on John Calipari’s latest roster cuts.
• Vaught also writes that Tom Leach’s book with Rich Brooks is a must-read for Kentucky fans.
• Zagsblog has an update on basketball recruit Tobias Harris.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Report says UK and WVU battling for Payne’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Jodie Meeks posts a thank-you to the Big Blue Nation on his web site.
• Mark Maloney of the Herald-Leader reports that UK’s Ashley Molly Johnson has been added to the U.S. Softball team.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger talks to Kyle Macy, who says an NBA decision should be business only.
• Tom Leach talks to Mike Pratt about Jodie Meeks’ departure.
• Jonathan Hines of the State-Journal writes that we shouldn’t begrudge Meeks if UK fails to live up to billing.
• The Myrtle Beach Sun News takes an early look at SEC basketball, with Meeks gone.
• Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal blogs that everyone will now shoot the three at UK.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Even more on Jodie Meeks’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• My column on the UK football schedule, with its string of 11 straight Saturdays.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that ex-UK walk-on Landon Slone has committed to Morehead State.
• Mike Fields of the H-L has story of two local stars who have committed to UK baseball.
• If you have an ESPN insider subscription, you can read Jay Bilas criticize the rush to judgment over John Calipari.
• But Frank Fitzpatrick of the Philadelphia Inquirer calls Calipari “the epitome of sleaze.” (Hat tip to UK Big Blue Nation.)
• Rush The Court issues a reminder that another Memphis player, Doneal Mack, had a questionable ACT that caused Florida to say no.
• Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News thinks NCAA will end up vacating Memphis Final Four trip of 2008.
• The St. Paul Pioneer Press did an interview with Jodie Meeks after the Kentucky guard worked out for the Timberwolves.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Two differing opinions on John Calipari’