Big Blue Links for Tuesday:
Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes on UK’s growing pains: ” Daniel Orton had taken - and missed - only one three-pointer all season: against Cleveland State on Nov. 24. Inexplicably, he decided to launch an air ball from beyond the arc with Kentucky trailing by 11 midway through the first half at Tennessee. Moments earlier, John Wall spun 360 degrees in the air to elude a defender and make a layup. The oohing and aahing had not died down yet when Tennessee dunked five seconds later after UK failed to get back on defense.”
Mark Story of the H-L makes the Wall case: “The case for Wall. Can be summed up in six letters: C-L-U-T-C-H.”
Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger says Sunday will be Senior Day for Patrick Patterson: “There has been no official announcement that Patterson will be part of the Senior Day ceremony and Patterson has yet to confirm he will enter the NBA Draft when the season ends. But both are going to happen.”
Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that Memphis fans are familiar with how Calipari spins losses: ” That’s right, University of Memphis fans. It’s John Calipari’s positive spin after a loss, designed to quiet the critics and to keep all “the miserables” on Negative Island. Kentucky coach Cal has been spinning like one of the Four Tops since Tennessee beat the No. 2 Wildcats, 74-65, on Saturday. The Vols played the same zone defense that used to give the U of M fits when Pearl played Calipari’s Tigers.”
Brett Dawson of the C-J writes about UK getting refocused: “‘I said before the game, I told my staff, ‘We’re going to have to lose one of these games before we finish the season,’ and they said, ‘Why?’?’ Calipari said Monday. ‘I said, ‘Because we think we can play how we want to play and then we’ll come back and finish them off at the end.’”
Tom Leach talks to Georgia radio voice Scott Howard.
David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Calipari is downplaying the zone: “Calipari credited Bruce Pearl’s Vols for being more aggressive out of the gate, which he said was as important as his team’s bad 3-point shooting. He said South Carolina played man-to-man during its upset of the Wildcats on Jan. 26, as did Vanderbilt on Feb. 20, when Kentucky prevailed 58-56 in Nashville. The first-year UK coach also admitted there are times when there are good losses.”
David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger on UK’s SEC Player of the Year candidates: “There should be no shortage of quality candidates when the Southeastern Conference coaches sit down to cast their votes for player of the year. Honestly, there’s plenty of them on the Kentucky roster alone. The Wildcats, who have been among the nation’s top teams all season, have three players who could garner consideration.”
Continue reading ‘BBL: Report says Patterson will be part of Senior Day’




