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Kentucky players Anthony Davis, Marquis Teague and Doron Lamb after UK’s win at Vanderbilt.

UK point guard Marquis Teague was one of the players made available at today’s pre-Vanderbilt media opp, and with good reason. The freshman will be experiencing something for the first time on Saturday, trying to run a team while his head coach is on the other baseline.

Teague said that John Calipari has told him to try and get the play calls at the free throw line when the other team is shooting free throws. He said that at this point of the year he feels comfortable enough to make some of the play calls himself. “It’s about half-and-half,” he said.

He also talked about feeding Anthony Davis lobs for dunks. The key is penetrating enough to make the defender commit. Sometimes, Davis gives Teague a signal. Sometimes, they both know the lob is there. “You just throw it up and he goes and gets it,” said the point guard.

Teague said that after the Florida game they were watching ESPN highlights in which they saw Davis go as high as “the top of the square” to get a lob pass before dunking it in.

“That’s crazy,” Teague said.

(H-L photo)

Check out the Herald-Leader fans gallery from the UK-Florida game.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Players stepping up as Cats are clicking, writes Aaron Smith of Kernel.
• Kidd-Gilchrist a virtuoso again, writes Matt May of Cats Pause.
• MKG excelling in all areas, writes Jordan Schultz of Huffington Post.
• Davis making case to be nation’s No. 1, says Jake Curtis of Chronicle.
• This is Calipari’s best team, says my notes column.
• After flattening Florida, UK looks for challenge, writes Jerry Tipton of H-L.
• Basketball stats to get ready for Vandy, from Herald-Leader.
• Kidd-Gilchrist gives Davis a soothing feeling, says Sun’s Keith Taylor.
• Teague now knows UK is “my” team, writes Larry Vaught of A-M.
• Teague keeps improving, writes Jon Hale of KyForward.

After producing the first double-double of his collegiate career, Kentucky’s Marquis Teague talks to media about his improvement and Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt.

Post-game player videos from Kentucky’s 69-44 win over Tennessee last night at Rupp Arena.

Anthony Davis talks about the first half scuffled that resulted in the freshman center receiving a technical foul.

Terrence Jones talks about how well the team is playing, putting back-to-back wins over LSU (by 24) and Tennessee (by 25).

Marquis Teague talks about his improvement and receiving praise from John Calipari.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist talks about how this team is a band of brothers.

Continue reading ‘Videos: Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, Jones and Teague’

Kentucky’s Darius Miller (13 points, three three-pointers) and Marquis Teague (four assists/one turnover) talk to the media after the Cats’ 74-50 win at LSU on Saturday.

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

At his day-before press conference on Friday, John Calipari went to canine lengths to describe the difference between Kentucky basketball and basketball at other schools. The coach talked about receiving a letter that had dog paw prints on it, and then imitated a conversation with the dog, in bark.

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader: “Of course, Kentucky will try to be ruff and ready in Saturday’s game at LSU. But in assessing the game, Calipari stressed that he wants UK players to concentrate on what UK must do. Opponents will compete and play well. “I expect LSU to come out and play a good game,” Calipari said. “I expect them to play better than they have all year.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Teague vs. Hickey gets the UK-LSU pre-game focus’

Kentucky basketball players Darius Miller, Marquis Teague and Kyle Wiltjer from today’s media opportunity.

Miller talks about the difference between this year’s Cats and last year’s Cats as far as playing conference games on the road. Teague talks about his Saturday matchup with LSU freshman point guard Anthony Hickey. Wiltjer talks about how the coaches prepare the team for foes.

Continue reading ‘Video: Darius Miller, Marquis Teague and Kyle Wiltjer’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Kentucky basketball player notes:

Twany Beckham: Has played just five minutes in two SEC games. Still has not taken a shot this season.

Anthony Davis: His 11 points against Alabama is his lowest total since he scored 10 against Lamar on December 28. Davis has blocked 26 shots in five SEC games, including four against the Crimson Tide. He did have a career-high four steals on Saturday. His two field goals on Saturday is his lowest total since he went one-of-two against Penn State on November 19.

Missed his first seven shots against Alabama before a follow dunk off a Marquis Teague miss with 4:43 left gave UK a 29-24 lead. He end up one-of-nine from the floor in the first half. His dunk off a fast break with 14:50 left in the second half, making it 49-43 Kentucky, was his only credited shot of the second half. He blocked an Alabama shot with seven seconds left and made two important free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining. With 6:30 left in the first half, he had missed his only field goal attempt, was one-of-four from the foul line and had one rebound.

Continue reading ‘Updated Kentucky basketball player news and notes’

Kentucky freshman point guard Marquis Teague talks to the media about the team’s first SEC road game, Wednesday at Auburn.