Kentucky sports and beyond.
Matthew Mitchell talks about UK’s 49-47 win over LSU. After the jump, UK players Brittany Henderson, Victoria Dunlap and A’dia Mathies talk to the media. Finally. LSU coach Van Chancellor says the loss hurts.
Continue reading ‘Post-game videos from UK women’s win over LSU’
(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)
Big Blue Links and News:
ON TAP – Not much today, as Kentucky basketball held its pre-Vanderbilt interviews on Thursday to satisfy John Calipari’s 52nd birthday wish. He said, “I just wanted to get it over with.” We have no doubt that was correct, and in honor of his birthday, take no offense. The men do play at Vanderbilt on Saturday, 1 p.m. on CBS.
BAD LOSS FOR THE LADIES – Old coaching adage says don’t let one loss become two. Kentucky’s women did not take heed. Monday night’s tough loss at home to Tennessee, in a nationally-televised game, surely had some affect on Matthew Mitchell’s team losing 66-61 at South Carolina last night. The Lady Gamecocks are just 14-10 overall and 6-5 in the SEC after the win. Kentucky, now 7-4 in SEC competition, tumbled all the way to fourth place.
Paulina Berkovich of the Daily Gamecock reports: “In the second half, USC extended its lead to as much as 11 before Kentucky started clawing back again. With just inside three minutes left, a basket by A’dia Mathies cut the lead to 55-52. From that point forward, however, Carolina scored 11 consecutive points off free throws. Grant, who finished with 12 points, knocked down the final two to seal the win.”
“We gave some effort tonight but not the effort we’re used to. They were just really tougher than us tonight,” said UK coach Matthew Mitchell, whose team plays host to LSU on Sunday.
SEC WOMEN’S SCORES LAST NIGHT – Vanderbilt beat Georgia 65-59. Tennessee rolled over Florida 61-39. LSU stopped Auburn 55-52. Mississippi State whipped Ole Miss 59-43. The Lady Vols lead the league with a perfect 11-0 mark. Georgia and Vanderbilt are tied for second, each at 8-3. Kentucky is 7-4. LSU is 7-5. And LSU visits UK on Sunday, 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
UK FANS SAY “I’M LOVIN’ IT” – All four of UK’s early signees are named to the McDonald’s All-American team. The four are the most ever in a single UK class. Over at the C-J, Jody Demling reports that nine of the McDonald’s choices have either Kentucky or Indiana ties. Next Cats has a look at the rosters.
MORE IN THE HERALD-LEADER – Mark Story writes a notes column with views on the new Mitch Barnhart contract and the possible Rupp Arena renovation.
JORTS DAY AND BEYOND – Jerry Tipton writes on Josh Harrellson’s re-surgence, exploring John Calipari’s comment after Tuesday’s win over Tennessee that Josh had been “BSing” in practice the last couple of weeks.
Click here for my blog post breaking down Harrellson’s seven baskets against the Vols.
And Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger has a nice story, with pics, on Harrellson visiting an elementary school in Harrodsburg.
And don’t forget the on-line petition calling for Lexington Mayor Jim Gray to make March 1 “Jorts Day.” (Hat tip Wildcat Blue Nation)
Continue reading ‘BBL: Bad loss for the ladies; Jorts Day on the way?’
(AP photo/Wade Payne)
Big Blue Links for Tuesday:
Scotty Hopson likely limited tonight, reports Mike Griffith of News-Sentinel.
Hopson, who averages 16.5 points per game and is from Hopkinsville, Ky., has missed the past two games with a sprained left ankle suffered during a Feb. 1 practice.
Tennessee (15-8, 5-3 SEC) will try to become the first team to beat Kentucky (16-6, 4-4) at Rupp Arena since John Calipari took over as Wildcats coach prior to last season.
Bruce Pearl better be up to speed, writes Mike Strange of News-Sentinel.
After serving his eight games in timeout, as dictated by SEC commissioner Mike Slive, Pearl emerges rested and ready – and chastened – for the remaining eight games of the conference season.
And what a stretch run it will be. The SEC East standings are a logjam. Pearl had better be up to speed when he hits the court.
“I think when Commissioner Slive penalized me the eight games, he originally wanted to do 10,” Pearl said Monday. “But when he looked at the schedule and saw that we have to go to Rupp and the O-Dome, he decided to settle for just eight and make me go to those two places.”
Penitent Pearl makes his return, writes Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
Pearl accompanied the team to Arkansas for its first SEC game on Jan. 8. He stayed at the hotel and watched the game with his wife and an associate UT athletic director.
Bob Kessling, the radio play-by-play announcer for UT, noted how the team and traveling party did not see Pearl that day until they boarded the plane for the flight home after a 68-65 loss.
“He looked like a lonely, isolated figure,” Kessling recalled. “That was different for everybody.”
Tennessee women rally to beat Kentucky, reports Jennifer Smith of the H-L.
Kentucky came out swinging, but much bigger Tennessee refused to go down.
It was a Big Monday heavyweight fight and the No. 4 Lady Vols were rattled, but they found a way to win, 73-67, over No. 15 Kentucky in front of 7,126 in Memorial Coliseum.
Shekinna Stricklen led the Vols with 20 points, including 18 in the second half when the Volunteers used a 16-2 run to start the half to grab some momentum on the way to their 13th straight victory and 10th straight win in the Southeastern Conference. Stricklen had nine points in that spurt after what Coach Pat Summitt referred to as a bit of a “prayer meeting” with her swing player.
UK’s effort produced a classic, writes Mark Story of the H-L.
Former Kentucky coach Mickie DeMoss got a standing ovation from the Memorial Coliseum crowd when the Lady Vols assistant entered the court with the Tennessee coaching staff. It was a nice moment.
Once the game started, DeMoss got booed and good when she bounded on the floor to protest a first-half foul call during a TV timeout. That, too, was how it should be.
Continue reading ‘Bruce Pearl to return in Rupp; Lady Vols win in Memorial’
Antonie Walker (AP photo)
Big Blue Links for Thursday:
Ken Berger of CBS Sports: “To the business types and families crammed in this vessel with a former NBA All-Star, the only priorities were a palatable meal and a clean connection. The tall, athletic-looking man in his mid-30s could have passed for a neighbor or a youth basketball coach or just another traveler coping with the misery of the road. The only giveaway — the lone symbol of Antoine Walker’s long and accomplished NBA career — was worn on his head.” (Hat tip All Ky Hoops)
Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader: “Of course, freshman Jarrod Polson was nervous when Kentucky Coach John Calipari ordered him into the game at South Carolina last weekend. It was the first significant minutes for a player perceived to be a human victory cigar. Nothing more. ‘Yeah, a little bit,’ he said Wednesday. ‘I’m not going to lie. I was a little bit nervous. But at the same time, I tried to keep my composure.’”
Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger: “Forget about the winning lottery numbers or even when it might quit snowing. Those answers don’t matter. What matters is this – where is Boyle County linebacker Lamar Dawson going to play his college football? Dawson has less than a week now before his 9 a.m. press conference on Feb. 2 – the first day of the national signing period – when he’ll pick either Kentucky, Tennessee, Oregon, Southern California or Central Florida.”
Matt Dover of Roll Bama Roll: “The second uncommitted player Bama is targeting is Trevor Lacey, a 6’3″ guard from Butler High School in Huntsville who is ranked as a top-40 national player. He has offers from Alabama and Auburn in addition to Kentucky and UConn. As a top-40 national player, it’s clear he’s pretty highly regarded by the recruiting gurus, but beyond that, long-time Alabama high school basketball observers insist that Lacey is the best scoring guard to come through the state in recent memory, and that he will provide instant offense for someone as a freshman in college.” (Hat tip Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader: “No coach wants to lose three straight games. But Coach Matthew Mitchell said last week that those three losses to start January probably “couldn’t have come at a better time” for the No. 17 Kentucky women’s basketball team. They came in time to – he hopes – kick-start the rest of the Cats’ season.”
John Calipari on Twitter: “I’m very excited to have Coach Larry Brown visiting for a few days. He was at practice & got a good look at our team & can help us improve.”
Continue reading ‘BBL: Walker’s comeback; Polson, Lacey, Dawson’
Big Blue Links for Tuesday:
Continue reading ‘BBL: Winthrop falls at Dayton; DeMarcus Smith wavering?’
Jen Smith of the Herald-Leader on Matthew Mitchell’s 40th birthday: “On the eve of Matthew Mitchell’s 40th birthday, the police had to be called to his house. It wasn’t because the coach was having a raucous party, it was because several of his Kentucky players sneaked into his quiet neighborhood and set off firecrackers in front of his house to celebrate. “They were bad, it was very, very frightening,” Mitchell said of the team prank, tongue planted firmly in cheek. “I felt like I was under siege.”
And, oh yes, the Kentucky women meet Alabama A&M today at 2 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum, the first of a day-night UK basketball doubleheader.
Plus, UK freshmen fighting through mid-season lull, writes Eric Lindsey for Cat Scratches.
And Smith also writes on the early struggles of prep All-American Jennifer O’Neill.
Click here to see this video on YouTube.
Video of UK women’s coach Matthew Mitchell talking to media after his ninth-ranked team beat No. 12 Notre Dame 81-76.
Big Blue Links for Friday:
With the Kentucky women ninth in today’s pre-season AP poll, good time to show video of Matthew Mitchell talking yesterday at Media Day about expectations.
At UK Women’s Basketball Media Day this afternoon, it just had to happen.
You knew someone had to ask coach Matthew Mitchell about doing the “Dougie” at Big Blue Madness.
Mitchell explained how it came to be that he did the dance, to much acclaim, and YouTube views.
