John Clay’s Sidelines

I’m out of pocket for most of today, at least until the basketball scrimmage tonight. So no SEC links, and an abbreviated Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader talks to Lee Todd about the UK eligbility issue.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports on the UK run defense.
• My notes column which leads with Wildcat Coal Lodge.
• Pat Forde of espn.com writes that the time to bash SEC basketball has likely passed.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on DeMarcus Cousins.
• B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel writes on UK defensive tackle Corey Peters.
• Tom Leach has video of Rich Brooks squashing the black jersey rumors.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger posts a letter from Mitch Barnhart about the blackout game.

Note: I’ll be liveblogging the Rich Brooks weekly press conference today, which starts around 12:15 p.m., if not a bit before.

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes that high-powered Florida is trying to contain the flu.
• My column saying that both Florida and Kentucky will have plenty to prove on Saturday.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that Stacey Poole is down to UK and South Carolina after his visit to Lexington.
• Zagsblog reports that Tobias Harris plans to cut list to five after Wednesday.’
• Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal has some fun stats after a fun UK-U of L game.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J writes that Rich Brooks wants no blue flu.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that UK can’t make same mistakes against Gators.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Stacey Poole down to UK and South Carolina’

(AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Big Blue Links:

• My column on what could be keeping Rich Brooks up at night this week.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK’s defensive line must jell without Jeremy Jarmon.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L talks to UK president Lee Todd, who voices his belief that John Calipari will follow the rules.
• Mark Maloney of the H-L writes on two ex-Tates Creek stars now playing for Louisville.
• Jennifer Smith of the H-L writes on UK and Louisville re-newing its volleyball rivalry.
• B.W. Jones of the Kernel previews UK-U of L volleyball.
• Zagsblog reports that Kyrie Irving will visit Kentucky in October.
• Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News thinks Darnell Dodson will be a starter at Kentucky.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Kyrie Irving to visit UK in October’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jason King of Yahoo Sports quotes John Calipari as saying he wants to one reporter “right in the mouth.”
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader previews UK’s running backs.
• Jennifer Smith of the H-L profiles UK volleyball All-American Sarah Rumely.
• H-L columnist Mark Story writes that Kentucky boasts an embarrassment of embarrassments.
• Ryan Alessi of the H-L reports that Lee Todd and Mitch Barnhart will give depositions in Gillispie lawsuit.
• H-L’s Cosby previews UK’s offensive line.
• H-L’s Jerry Tipton writes that John Wall faces high expectations.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on UK freshman offensive lineman Larry Warford.
• NEW: James Pennington of the Kernel on Billy Gillispie.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Calipari says he wants to punch a reporter’

Brandon Knight

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times talks to Derrick Rose about the Memphis test controversy. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)
• Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Brandon Knight’s top three are Miami, Kentucky and Connecticut, in no particular order. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Tobias Harris tells Zagsblog that he met Lee Todd during his visit to UK.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that the football Cats have left summer behind.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that UK is ready to start camp.
• Dicky Lyons, Jr. writes for A Sea of Blue that he was cut before he even stepped on the field with the Falcons.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rose addresses test; UK in Knight’s top 3′

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Ryan Alessi of the Herald-Leader writes that UK has asked a Kentucky court to rule on Billy Gillispie’s contract.
• Alessi and Jerry Tipton of the H-L report that UK president Lee Todd says he knew of the John Calipari issue.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes that Todd is carrying Calipari’s baggage.
• Tipton reports that Orestes Meeks says son Jodie is looking to be picked in the first round of NBA draft.
• Tipton also reports that ex-Cats say Memphis investigation may dog UK.
• Andy Katz of ESPN talks to Meeks at the pre-draft camp in Chicago.
• Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean reports that Nashville is courting UK for a non-conference basketball game.
• Pat Forde of ESPN writes that it’s see no evil, hear no evil in Kentucky.
• Jason Smith of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that SAT fraud easily falls through testing cracks.
• Pete Thamel of the New York Times writes that coaches don’t go by the book with the NCAA.
• Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times writes on Derrick Rose and the ripple effect.
• Mike Decourcy of Sporting News writes that spirit of the law follows John Calipari, but not Memphis golf.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Not so Rosey links to the Memphis mess’

I’m in the Craft Center for the press conference to introduce UK’s new basketball coach, John Calipari:

• That’s the end of the press conference.

• Now says he called his wife for six days in a row two years ago, “Did they call?”

• “You know what the option is, you’re 1-20 and no one is acting you for anything,” about being a celebrity.

• “I understand it’s my job to make everybody around me better.”

• “I would have made more money at Memphis next year, just so you know that.”

• Asked a question by a Memphis reporter about what he would say to the city of Memphis. Says, “I hope they respect that this was a dream for me and my family.”

• Says he will watch the UK commitments play and then be honest with them. “This will not be for every player in this country. It will not be for every player in this state.”

• “We already have a commitment from a 12-year-old. Stand up 12-year-old.” His son stands up.

• “The program is not bigger than the kids.”

• Said he will not throw kids out of school at the first sign of trouble. Said he told Dr. Todd about Jeremy Hunt. Said Hunt screwed up. Twice. Now going through the whole deal with Hunt. “That young man’s life changed, because we let him back. . . . We made the right choice. It wasn’t popular. But what’s popular isn’t always right. And what’s right isn’t always popular.”

• “This is the right place if you want to win championships, if you want to recruit the best of the best.”

Continue reading ‘Liveblog: Calipari introductory press conference’

AP Photo/Ed Reinke

Big Blue Links for Saturday starts with Herald-Leader coverage of Friday’s events:

• Jerry Tipton and Ryan Alessi report on the firing of Billy Gillispie.
• My column saying that this was the right move at the right time.
• Mark Story’s column on how Mitch Barnhart’s task at hand.
• Chip Cosby writes on the national reaction.
• Mike Fields reports that recruits will wait-and-see.
• Jennifer Smith and Jerry Tipton write that players just want some rest.
• Jim Warren gets the UK fan reaction to the Gillispie ouster.
• Ryan Alessi and Valarie Honeycutt Spears report that UK intends to settle for less than the $6 million buyout.
• Alessi and Tipton report that Mike Pratt will be part of search team.
• Gillispie timeline.
• Press conference video.
• Billy Gillispie in pictures.

Elsewhere:

• Jodie Meeks tells Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel he thinks firing “was a good decision.”
• Andrea Cohen of the Oklahoman reports that UK has not asked for permission to speak with Travis Ford.
• Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World writes on Ford rumors with Kentucky.
• Brandon Chatmon of the Oklahoman quotes Daniel Orton’s father as saying they have not decided yet about coming to Kentucky.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that it was demeanor that got Gillispie in the end.
• Vaught talks to Orestes Meeks, who doesn’t seem a Gillispie fan.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Billy Donovan says he’s not interested in UK job.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes that this is Barnhart’s pivotal decision.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Gillispie dismissal links’

As Billy Gillispie himself said Friday after UK’s 67-58 loss to LSU, “I got married one time, that honeymoon didn’t last long either.”

The honeymoon is long over for the Kentucky coach. That’s what happens when your team goes in the record book as the first in 17 years not to make the NCAA Tournament. That’s what happens when you refuse to sign your contract, rub a few people the wrong way, and have a different view of your job descripton than does your athletics director, and maybe your president. In other words, your bosses.

So what now?

Something will happen, and maybe soon. Don’t be surprised if that year-end meeting is pushed up on Dr. Lee Todd’s calendar. The guess here is that the school will act quickly, and there are plenty that believe a decision has already been made, and they know where it’s headed. I had an extended discussion with Mitch Barnhart on Thursday — a good bit of it about my column that morning — and believe me he is keenly aware of how the fans feel. (So, too, Dr. Todd.) And Barnhart has solid beliefs about the job expectations both on and off the court. We can second-guess the way the Gillispie hire was done, and I have, but I do think Mitch gets the importance of the position and the gravity of the situation. It’s a tough choice either way. Is two years long enough to judge a coach? But if things aren’t going well, on a number of fronts, do you risk a third?

Back to the marriage analogy. If it’s been a rocky two years, you ask yourself how much do you want to to make this work? Is it worth saving? Will things improve? Or is it best to admit the mistake, correct it, and move on, before there are kids and a mortgage and all kinds of other complications? Is it best to cut your ties and get on with your life?

Continue reading ‘Now that the honeymoon is over’