John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Landon Slone relishes his return to Rupp Arena, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky appears to be testing its first-year head coach, says my Monday column.
• Donald Russell’s mom is not happy, reports Bleed Blue Kentucky.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that Derrick Locke remains uncertain for this Saturday.
• Phillips says Kentucky is bruised, but still hungry, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Same script, but different scene for Kentucky football, writes Chandler Howard of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Better bowl hopes likely dashed by loss, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• John Wall is ready to be the face of the Washington Wizards, reports Edward G. Robinson of the Raleigh News and Observer. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• A Sea of Blue hands Joker Phillips a report card.
• KSR doesn’t believe that Kentucky can excel in football year-in and year-out.

Calipari in Nashville on Wednesday.Big Blue Links for Thursday:

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean writes that John Calipari has connected with Kentucky fans.
• The Tennessean also has video of Calipari’s trip to Nashville.
• Jeff Elliott of Jacksonville’s Florida Times-Union reports that Stacey Poole is expected to announce for UK today.
• Phil Kornblut of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal reports that Poole has made his decision.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes on UK’s plan to play John Conner some at tight end.
• UK has changed time on ticket pickup for Madness.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Calipari big hit on trip to Nashville’

(AP Photo/ James Crisp)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK secondary is trying to live up to the hype.
• My column saying that, outside of natural rivals, SEC fans hate Florida the most.
• Ex-Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith is out pushing health-care reform.
• Kenny Colston of the Kentucky Kernel reports that Landon Slone is still at UK.
• B.W. Jones of the Kernel reports that UK defensive line looks for improvement.
• Chris Rodgers of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal reports that Stacey Poole’s mother wants him close to home.
• Mary Jo Perino of WLEX thinks Poole to Kentucky may have already leaked.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Landon Slone is back at UK, but not for hoops’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commerical Appeal reports that sources say Memphis will be forced to vacate its 2007-08 NCAA Tournament run.
• Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins writes that NCAA ruling is less about Memphis and more about Calipari.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes on UK safety Ashton Cobb’s fresh start.
• Ryan Alessi of the Herald-Leader reports on John Caliapri’s speech in Louisville, in which the coach says his newcomers “think they poop ice cream.”
• My column on programming suggestions for a UK TV network. (They’re only jokes.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Memphis media blames Calipari’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that walk-on Landon Slone is leaving the UK basketball program along with Donald Williams, A.J. Stewart and Jared Carter.
• John Calipari sends a tweet apologizing for not meeting with Slone.
• My column on new UK assistant basketball coach Rod Strickland.
• Tipton also reports that ex-UK player Dale Brown would like an exhibition game with UK.
• Beverly Fortune of the Herald-Leader reports that Billy Gillispie’s house is back up for sale, with a $1.5 million asking price.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Kentucky is showing what’s wrong with NCAA scholarship rules.
• James Quinn of espn.com reports that UK target Roscoe Smith is looking at all his options.
• Calipari tells Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News that the dribble-drive offense does have room for two point guards. (Hat tip to Tom Leach.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Four departures, house for sale, and recruiting news’

Post-game audio from UK’s 84-52 win over Central Michigan:

• Head coach Billy Gillispie talks about UK rallying from a nine-point first-half deficit to win easily.

• In his first press availability since media day, DeAndre Liggins talks about Las Vegas and starting tonight.

• Landon Slone talks about the second straight game in which the walk-on was a major factor.

• Michael Porter talks about the team heading into the Louisville game.

• Jodie Meeks talks about Liggins and UK’s play.

Photo by David Perry.

A five-spot from Kentucky’s 76-69 win over Florida Atlantic:

• Kentucky committed just seven turnovers, its lowest total since March 5, 2006 against Florida, a game in which the Cats lost, actually. Afterward, Billy Gillispie said he didn’t expect his team to turn it over that much against the Owls. FAU is not a team that puts a lot of pressure on the ball. But still, seven turnovers is pretty good for this Kentucky team. My figures showed the Cats averaged a turnover every 9.09 possessions, easily the best of the year. No Cat had more than one turnover.

• The mind games continue. Kevin Galloway and Perry Stevenson were both pulled from the starting lineup in favor of A.J. Stewart and Ramon Harris. Galloway ended up playing three minutes, none in the first half. He started the second half. Word is that several Cats were tossed from Friday’s practice, including Galloway. Apparently, Kyle Macy reported on TV that Galloway watched the second half of practice through the hallway door. Matt Pilgrim was also not around, as he usually is even though the transfer can’t play. Gillispie said afterward that Pilgrim is still on the team, as if there’s no problem.

• As Gillispie said afterward, Michael Porter is playing as well as he can possibly play right now. Over his last three games, the junior has 17 assists and just three turnovers. Plus, Billy G. complimented Porter’s defense on FAU’s Paul Graham III, who ended up with 31 points. Actually, I didn’t think UK’s defense on Graham was too bad. He just had a terrific game. But back to Porter. Good to see him playing well considering the grief he has taken — haven’t forgotten the boos in Indiana game when he was subbed out. Now, he just needs to hit a few shots.

• Wrote on Landon Slone for my post-game column. The former Paintsville star played a career-high 25 minutes, and contributed in many ways besides points. In fact, Slone scored just four points, two of those on free throws. But he hustled and as, Porter said, “was careful with the ball.” This is a walk-on who is going to be a factor. He had a great practice Friday which led Gillispie to stick Slone in the game in the first half, and he delievered.

• Compare this game to San Diego last year. UK came back after Christmas and lost 81-72 to USD last year. At the time, looked like a bad loss. (That was the Jodie Meeks available-he’s-not-available game.) Then San Diego went on to make the NCAA Tournament. Not saying Florida Atlantic is going to make the tournament. But the Owls are now 4-9, and clearly better than that. They will give some Sun Belt teams trouble. Mike Jarvis knows his way around the block. Graham played out of his mind. Carlos Monroe, in just his fourth game back, had nine rebounds. The seven-point winning margin doesn’t bother me. Good to get a win. Now on to Monday night and Central Michigan.

Photo by Pablo Alcala.

Some UK player assessments after the 93-69 win over Appalachian State:

• Jodie Meeks: Billy Gillispie called his junior guard incredible after Meeks made 14 of 21 shots, including nine of 14 three-pointers and nine of 10 free throws. Meeks scored 24 points in the first half. It was the most points by a Cat in Freedom Hall, topping Mike Pratt’s 42. It was the sixth most points by an individual Cat in UK history. Meeks admitted his defense was not the best, but he sure was hot on the offensive end. In three career games at Freedom Hall, Meeks has made 20 of 35 shots, including 15 of 28 three-pointers.

• Patrick Patterson: He tied his season high of four blocked shots, but Gillispie was not crazy about Patterson’s defensive effort. Offensively, the sophomore scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Made just six of 13 shots, first time since going 4-for-10 against Delaware State that he has been under 50 percent from the floor. Patterson did make all seven of his free throws, his best accuracy showing as a Cat on that many attempts.

• A.J. Stewart: The sophomore played a season-high 15 minutes, scoring a season-high nine points. That’s his most minutes since 21 at Alabama back on Feb. 9 of last season. The nine points are Stewart’s most since scoring 10 against Liberty on Nov. 21, 2007. Gillispie’s only complaint was that Stewart made too many “not-thinking” plays.

• Ramon Harris: Good to see the junior back on the floor, even if it was for only nine minutes after that frightening collision with Michael Porter in Lamar game. Harris’ defense was such that Gillispie cracked that Appalachian State might not have scored in the first half if not for Harris. Ramon said it wasn’t a case of being rusty, just a case of him not focusing enough when in the game.

Continue reading ‘UK player notes after win over ASU’

UK individual player notes for basketball:

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  Photo by Pablo Alcala.

  Jared Carter: Played a season-high five minutes in win over Mississippi Valley on Sunday. Scored his first three points of the year.

• Kevin Galloway: Made his first start as a Wildcat on Sunday, but played just eight minutes. Three of those minutes came in the first half.

• Josh Harrellson: Played just 20 minutes in the two games. Did not make it off the bench in the second half against Miami. Made four of seven shots in the two games, but had had just one rebound.

• Ramon Harris: Wore a cervical collar around his neck on Saturday and Sunday. The date of his return is still up in the air.

• Mark Krebs: Played a season-high five minutes against Mississippi Valley.

• DeAndre Liggins: Was 0-for-10 on three-pointers over the weekend. Did have 10 assists and six turnovers in the two games.

• Jodie Meeks: After making just four of 17 shots against Miami, Meeks was 8-of-12 against Mississippi Valley from the floor. Scored 24 points in 22 minutes during Sunday’s win. Had just two rebounds in 56 minutes in the two games. Did not record an assist Sunday.

• Darius Miller: Played just 11 minutes and took just one shot against Mississippi Valley. Pulled down 10 rebounds against Miami, just one on Sunday.

• Patrick Patterson: Played 77 of a possible 80 minutes in the two games over the weekend. Made 16 of 24 shots for the two games, and had 26 rebounds. Dished seven assists while turning it over four times in the two games.

• Dwight Perry: Played two minutes against Mississippi Valley.

• Michael Porter: Played 35 minutes in the two games Played 51 minutes after suffering that nasty collision with Harris against Lamar. Played 34 minutes against Mississippi Valley Made just one of five three-point attempts and committed five turnovers in 18 minutes on Sunday.

• Landon Slone: Walk-on from Paintsville played a surprising 16 minutes on Sunday. That’s more time than A.J. Stewart has received in any game this year. Hit two of his three three-point attempts.

• Perry Stevenson: Played just 18 minutes, but grabbed 12 rebounds against Mississippi Valley. Made just three of 10 shots in loss to Miami.

• A.J. Stewart: Played eight minutes and scored six points against Mississippi Valley. Was the designated fouler against Miami, picking up three fouls, but his time on the floor did not total a minute.