John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Nashville hoops star Alex Poythress talks about offer he received from Kentucky
• Billy Gillispie one of several coaches who invested with man now found dead
• Sea of Blue is trying to choose the best UK small forward since 1977
• Ira Combs offers some sizzling summer storylines for Kentucky
• DeMarcus Cousins will hold a summer camp in Georgetown
• Micah Johnson wants to make Big Blue Nation proud
• Kentucky will be searching for depth at running back come fall
• Former UK player Ramon Harris suffers a knee injury overseas
• Mark Krebs says John Calipari the best coach you could have
• Joker Phillips says the best players don’t always win championships

Randall Cobb scores last year at Auburn. (AP photo)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• A Sea of Blue has a couple of interesting posts on the Enes Kanter matter.
  • One deals with the actual NCAA rules that may apply to the case.
  • The other deals with the particular interests in the case.
• Kentucky’s Tee Martin goes from hero to coach for Randall Cobb, writes Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Views on the Kanter matter; Cats and Tigers’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Gene Chizik doesn’t know yet if his Auburn Tigers are different this year, writes Charles Bennett of the Anniston Star.
• Cameron Newton on pace to join 2,000/1,000 club, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• Mark Crawford giving Kentucky what it needs, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Tailgate Review has a special UK women’s basketball clinic story from last year.
• Auburn’s tailbacks are back in the game, writes Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News.
• Craig McIntosh is Kentucky’s kicker come lately, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Rich Brooks has no regrets about retirement, writes Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun.
• UK’s offensive line is surpassing expectations, reports B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Mike Hartline could see a little time at receiver, says Mary Jo Perino of WLEX-TV.
• His mother’s battle lifted Mark Krebs, writes William Croyle of the Kentucky Enquirer.

Lamar Dawson (H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Wildcat Wally Clark missing this year’s Madness camp out, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• John Calipari downplays and welcomes high expectations, writes Tipton.
• Cats will need discipline to stop dangerous Masoli, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• UK football target Lamar Dawson getting plenty of attention, writes Mark Story of the H-L.
• Brandon Knight is UK’s workhorse, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Kentucky football practices getting ugly, reports Dawson of the C-J.
• Enes Kanter impresses Calipari and his teammates, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Banged-up Ole Miss seeking an improved defense, writes Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Houston Nutt suspends a backup linebacker, reports Veazey.
• Senior Day plays a big part of Mark Krebs’ new book, writes Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.

Continue reading ‘BBL: No Wildcat Wally this year for Madness’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Bryant Gumbel takes a shot at Urban Meyer, reports the Orlando Sentinel.
• There have been some close calls in Florida’s 23-game win streak over Kentucky, writes Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Florida is worrying about a slow start vs. Kentucky, writes David Jones of Florida Today.
• Florida not getting points from its long drives, reports Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald.
• A win Saturday would make Urban Meyer the sixth-fastest to 100 victories, blogs Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post.
• WKYT-TV on ex-UK basketball player Mark Krebs publishing his first book.
• Kentucky hasn’t committed a turnover. Florida has created 12 turnovers. Something has to give, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• My column on UK wide receivers coach Tee Martin, who faced a similar scenario to the one Florida quarterback John Brantley is facing.
• No pressure on Kentucky this week, writes Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal.

Continue reading ‘BBL: A few close calls in Kentucky-Florida series’

Enes Kanter has yet to be cleared by the NCAA.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Zagsblog reports that after visiting UK, Anthony Davis has decided on a school. He’s just not ready to say yet.
• Ex-UK student manager Andrew Rogers is working for DeMarcus Cousins now, reports Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader on the price increases for basketball prices and K-Fund.
• Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches, a UK athletics department blog, makes the case for the ticket increases.
• Enes Kanter has not yet been cleared by NCAA for trip to Canada, says H-L report.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal also reports on the Kanter eligibility situation.
• Gary Parrish of CBS Sports says Kanter is under extensive questioning by the NCAA.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Anthony Davis not ready to talk about his decision’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Laurel Wilson of the Herald-Leader reports on death of Mark Krebs’ mother.

• UK hype can’t dull what was unforgettable, writes Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal.

• Daniel Orton uses his twitter account to apologize to Kentucky fans.

• Earl Cox of the Voice-Tribune writes that Adolph Rupp got to pick and choose, just like Calipari.

• Joker Phillips hopes to continue Kentucky’s surge, writes Ben Cook for the Randolph Leader.

• No truth to the Tony Wroten commitment rumors, reports Bluegrass State Basketball.

• Brett Dawson of the C-J reports on the death of Mark Krebs’ mother.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Orton explains himself; Rupp and Calipari alike’

Mark Krebs

Condolences to the family of former UK basketball player Mark Krebs, whose mother Terri Krebs, who passed away at age 49 today at her home after a nine-year fight with breast cancer.

Steve Moss of WKYT has a report, as does Mary Jo Perino of WLEX-TV.

Here is Mark Story’s column on Terri Krebs from UK’s Senior Day.

And a Jerry Tipton story from October in the H-L on Terri Krebs’ battle.

UK released a statement from head coach John Calipari:

“I know I speak for all of the Big Blue Nation when I express my deepest sympathies to Mark Krebs, his family and their friends as they mourn the loss of Mark’s mom, Terri. One of the special parts of our first year in Kentucky was being able to coach Mark and get to know him and his family. I just finished writing the foreword to Mark’s upcoming book and my words were largely inspired by Terri’s memorable participation in Senior Day ceremonies. Rest in peace Terri and know that all of the Big Blue Nation is here for your family.”

(Hat tip to Big Blue Lowdown.)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Percy Allen of the Seattle Times is not sure what to make of this report by Jake Rosenberg of the Albany Herald-Democrat claims that top recruit Terrence Jones is expected to pick Kentucky. (Hat tip to Nation of Blue.)
• Jones tells Nick Daschel of the Oregonian that he will still consider Oregon.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L on which will mean more, UK’s center or UK’s point?
• Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal goes with Wall.
• In the SEC this year, the West has not been best, writes Tipton.
• Former UK player Ed Davender pleads guilty in basketball ticket scam.
• Forbes.com says coaches make too much money, including John Calipari.
• No surprise that Jason King of Yahoo Sports names John Wall the Player of the Year.
• Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago talks to Doug Gottlieb, who says Tony Barbee could be the new coach at DePaul, with Rod Strickland as an assistant. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Tom Leach has podcasts with the AP’s Jim O’Connell and CBS’ Greg Anthony.

Continue reading ‘BBL: What’s up with Terrence Jones?’

Player videos from Sunday’s post-game press conference after UK’s 74-66 win over Florida.

Patrick Patterson talks about Senior Day.

Mark Krebs talks about the emotions of Senior Day.

Darius Miller talks about his 14-point performance.

John Wall talks about the win over the Gators.