John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Michael Porter tweets that he is writing a book (Hat tip to Wildcat Wrap):

• Jerry Tipton of the H-L on Eric Bledsoe: “Could Bledsoe coexist with the more heralded John Wall? Or, maybe worse, would Bledsoe not get a chance to show what he could do until Wall fulfilled his one-and-done destiny by entering the 2010 NBA Draft? Eight months and a half-season later, Bledsoe is ensconced as a starting guard. He’s coming off a career-high 25 points at Florida and headed to a quasi-homecoming game at Auburn on Saturday.”

• In The State, Chris Dearing reports on South Carolina’s win over the UK women: “Kelsey Bone dominated on the interior and Charenee Stephens and Valerie Nainima, along with a host of Gamecocks, provided more than enough support as the Gamecocks beat a team that was coming off of a 10-point victory against then-No. 17 Vanderbilt and a one-point setback on the road against No. 8 Georgia. It was the first time the Wildcats (13-3, 1-2) lost when scoring more than 61 points.”

• Tom Leach talks to ESPN’s Jay Bilas.

• Kentucky Sports Network has a video interview with Jodie Meeks.

• Kenny Colston of the Kentucky Kernel reports that James Paxton case could be decided today: “After a whirlwind month full of legal filings, but no actual court dates, senior pitcher James Paxton could finally get some answers in his case against UK on Friday. Paxton sued the university for a temporary injunction that would allow him to play baseball this season without submitting to an NCAA interview regarding his eligibility.”

• Beth Rucker of the AP on Tennessee’s rout of UK’s next opponent, Auburn: “Starting center Wayne Chism heeded the warning and had 12 points, 12 rebounds and six steals as No. 9 Tennessee shook off the slow start to beat Auburn 81-55 on Thursday night. Bobby Maze and J.P. Prince both had 14 points for the Volunteers, while Scotty Hopson chipped in 11 and Kenny Hall 10.”

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel on UT’s win over Auburn: “The result was a 16-0 Tennessee run and a 38-37 halftime lead before a more conventional Vols’ rotation exploded in the second half en route to an 81-55 victory at Thompson-Boling Arena.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Michael Porter tweets that he’s writing a book’

From John Calipari’s twitter page:

Ramon Harris' daughter.

Michael Porter and his new baby girl.

DeMarcus Cousins

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Chris Lawlor of espn.com reports that DeMarcus Cousins will follow John Calipari to Kentucky.
• USA Today writes that the Cousins’ commitment could have an impact on Jon Wall.
• Matt May of the Cats Pause reports that Michael Porter is giving up his senior year. (subscription required)
• In the Herald-Leader, Jerry Tipton also reports on Porter’s decision.
• Tipton also writes that Jodie Meeks will test the NBA without an agent.
• In his notes column, Mark Story writes that Meeks would benefit from a year in UK’s new offense.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports that UK receivers picked up confidence in the Liberty Bowl.
• Chris Fisher at Kentucky Ink reports that Kentucky is still in the running for Eric Bledsoe, who lists UK, Florida, Alabama and Cincinnati as his final picks.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cousins follows Calipari to the Cats’

Post-game audio from UK coach Billy Gillispie and players after UK’s 77-67 loss to Notre Dame:

• Gillispie and players Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks in the post-game press conference.

• Back in the locker room, Patrick Patterson says his plan is to return, but hedges slightly.

• Darius Miller talks about his development this season and his future.

• Michael Porter talks about his future and how Gillispie handled the speculation.

Post-game audio from UK’s 84-52 win over Central Michigan:

• Head coach Billy Gillispie talks about UK rallying from a nine-point first-half deficit to win easily.

• In his first press availability since media day, DeAndre Liggins talks about Las Vegas and starting tonight.

• Landon Slone talks about the second straight game in which the walk-on was a major factor.

• Michael Porter talks about the team heading into the Louisville game.

• Jodie Meeks talks about Liggins and UK’s play.

Photo by David Perry.

A five-spot from Kentucky’s 76-69 win over Florida Atlantic:

• Kentucky committed just seven turnovers, its lowest total since March 5, 2006 against Florida, a game in which the Cats lost, actually. Afterward, Billy Gillispie said he didn’t expect his team to turn it over that much against the Owls. FAU is not a team that puts a lot of pressure on the ball. But still, seven turnovers is pretty good for this Kentucky team. My figures showed the Cats averaged a turnover every 9.09 possessions, easily the best of the year. No Cat had more than one turnover.

• The mind games continue. Kevin Galloway and Perry Stevenson were both pulled from the starting lineup in favor of A.J. Stewart and Ramon Harris. Galloway ended up playing three minutes, none in the first half. He started the second half. Word is that several Cats were tossed from Friday’s practice, including Galloway. Apparently, Kyle Macy reported on TV that Galloway watched the second half of practice through the hallway door. Matt Pilgrim was also not around, as he usually is even though the transfer can’t play. Gillispie said afterward that Pilgrim is still on the team, as if there’s no problem.

• As Gillispie said afterward, Michael Porter is playing as well as he can possibly play right now. Over his last three games, the junior has 17 assists and just three turnovers. Plus, Billy G. complimented Porter’s defense on FAU’s Paul Graham III, who ended up with 31 points. Actually, I didn’t think UK’s defense on Graham was too bad. He just had a terrific game. But back to Porter. Good to see him playing well considering the grief he has taken — haven’t forgotten the boos in Indiana game when he was subbed out. Now, he just needs to hit a few shots.

• Wrote on Landon Slone for my post-game column. The former Paintsville star played a career-high 25 minutes, and contributed in many ways besides points. In fact, Slone scored just four points, two of those on free throws. But he hustled and as, Porter said, “was careful with the ball.” This is a walk-on who is going to be a factor. He had a great practice Friday which led Gillispie to stick Slone in the game in the first half, and he delievered.

• Compare this game to San Diego last year. UK came back after Christmas and lost 81-72 to USD last year. At the time, looked like a bad loss. (That was the Jodie Meeks available-he’s-not-available game.) Then San Diego went on to make the NCAA Tournament. Not saying Florida Atlantic is going to make the tournament. But the Owls are now 4-9, and clearly better than that. They will give some Sun Belt teams trouble. Mike Jarvis knows his way around the block. Graham played out of his mind. Carlos Monroe, in just his fourth game back, had nine rebounds. The seven-point winning margin doesn’t bother me. Good to get a win. Now on to Monday night and Central Michigan.

Photo by Charles Bertram.

Five quick impressions from Kentucky’s 102-58 whipping of Tennessee State:

• Better start up those 1-2 punch comparisons. Dan Issel and Mike Pratt? Pat Riley and Louie Dampier? Rick Robey and Jack Givens? Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks are quite a dynamic duo of late. Last Saturday, Meeks scored 46, Patterson 19. Tonight, Patterson scored 33, Meeks 32. The two combined to go 25-36 from the floor.

• Thought Kevin Galloway played maybe his best game since coming on campus. The juco transfer was more active, more confident. Made a couple of no-look passes. Ended up with five rebounds and four assists. He only played 14 minutes, and only took three shots, but shooting isn’t his role on this team. As a starter, getting the team off to a fast start is his role, and he’s done that.

• The Cats had 30 assists. That’s the most by UK since 31 against — get this — Tennessee State on Dec. 30, 2002. (The team record is 35 in the NCAA Tournament against San Jose State in 1996.) UK’s points per possession average was a season-best 1.322, topping the 1.204 against Mississippi Valley State. Michael Porter contributed seven assists in 25 minutes, and turned it over just once.

• Billy Gillispie said afterward he wanted the Cats to play faster. Never mind that they’ve scored 93 and 102 points the last two games. There were 79 possessions last Saturday, 77 tonight. Season-high was 83 possessions against Longwood. The Cats turned it over 19 times against Longwood, compared to 16 tonight.

• This team had made 25 consecutive free throws, dating back to the Appalachian State game, before DeAndre Liggins missed the back end of a two-shot foul with 8:09 left. The Cats have made 31 of 33 free throws in their last two games. They’re at

Photo by Pablo Alcala.

Some UK player assessments after the 93-69 win over Appalachian State:

• Jodie Meeks: Billy Gillispie called his junior guard incredible after Meeks made 14 of 21 shots, including nine of 14 three-pointers and nine of 10 free throws. Meeks scored 24 points in the first half. It was the most points by a Cat in Freedom Hall, topping Mike Pratt’s 42. It was the sixth most points by an individual Cat in UK history. Meeks admitted his defense was not the best, but he sure was hot on the offensive end. In three career games at Freedom Hall, Meeks has made 20 of 35 shots, including 15 of 28 three-pointers.

• Patrick Patterson: He tied his season high of four blocked shots, but Gillispie was not crazy about Patterson’s defensive effort. Offensively, the sophomore scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Made just six of 13 shots, first time since going 4-for-10 against Delaware State that he has been under 50 percent from the floor. Patterson did make all seven of his free throws, his best accuracy showing as a Cat on that many attempts.

• A.J. Stewart: The sophomore played a season-high 15 minutes, scoring a season-high nine points. That’s his most minutes since 21 at Alabama back on Feb. 9 of last season. The nine points are Stewart’s most since scoring 10 against Liberty on Nov. 21, 2007. Gillispie’s only complaint was that Stewart made too many “not-thinking” plays.

• Ramon Harris: Good to see the junior back on the floor, even if it was for only nine minutes after that frightening collision with Michael Porter in Lamar game. Harris’ defense was such that Gillispie cracked that Appalachian State might not have scored in the first half if not for Harris. Ramon said it wasn’t a case of being rusty, just a case of him not focusing enough when in the game.

Continue reading ‘UK player notes after win over ASU’

UK individual player notes for basketball:

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  Photo by Pablo Alcala.

  Jared Carter: Played a season-high five minutes in win over Mississippi Valley on Sunday. Scored his first three points of the year.

• Kevin Galloway: Made his first start as a Wildcat on Sunday, but played just eight minutes. Three of those minutes came in the first half.

• Josh Harrellson: Played just 20 minutes in the two games. Did not make it off the bench in the second half against Miami. Made four of seven shots in the two games, but had had just one rebound.

• Ramon Harris: Wore a cervical collar around his neck on Saturday and Sunday. The date of his return is still up in the air.

• Mark Krebs: Played a season-high five minutes against Mississippi Valley.

• DeAndre Liggins: Was 0-for-10 on three-pointers over the weekend. Did have 10 assists and six turnovers in the two games.

• Jodie Meeks: After making just four of 17 shots against Miami, Meeks was 8-of-12 against Mississippi Valley from the floor. Scored 24 points in 22 minutes during Sunday’s win. Had just two rebounds in 56 minutes in the two games. Did not record an assist Sunday.

• Darius Miller: Played just 11 minutes and took just one shot against Mississippi Valley. Pulled down 10 rebounds against Miami, just one on Sunday.

• Patrick Patterson: Played 77 of a possible 80 minutes in the two games over the weekend. Made 16 of 24 shots for the two games, and had 26 rebounds. Dished seven assists while turning it over four times in the two games.

• Dwight Perry: Played two minutes against Mississippi Valley.

• Michael Porter: Played 35 minutes in the two games Played 51 minutes after suffering that nasty collision with Harris against Lamar. Played 34 minutes against Mississippi Valley Made just one of five three-point attempts and committed five turnovers in 18 minutes on Sunday.

• Landon Slone: Walk-on from Paintsville played a surprising 16 minutes on Sunday. That’s more time than A.J. Stewart has received in any game this year. Hit two of his three three-point attempts.

• Perry Stevenson: Played just 18 minutes, but grabbed 12 rebounds against Mississippi Valley. Made just three of 10 shots in loss to Miami.

• A.J. Stewart: Played eight minutes and scored six points against Mississippi Valley. Was the designated fouler against Miami, picking up three fouls, but his time on the floor did not total a minute.

Notes from Kentucky’s 71-42 win over Delaware State:

• The 42 points is the fewest allowed by Kentucky since 83-35 win over Texas Southern on Nov. 24, 2007.

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  Photo by Mark Cornelison.

  Delaware State averaged 0.651 points per possession, lowest against the Cats since Texas Southern’s 0.522.

• Delaware State made just one-of-nine three-pointers, fewest by a UK opponent since High Point made 1-of-15 on Nov. 29, 2005.

• UK opponents had made 21-of-44 threes in the first two games.

• Delaware State had just five assists, compared to 22 turnovers. That turnover ratio of -17 is the worst since Texas Southern’s -19 (four assists/23 turnovers).

• Kentucky turned it over a season-low 12 times. The Cats averaged a turnover every 5.47 possessions, best of the year. The avearge was 3.75 against VMI and 2.64 versus North Carolina.

• Kentucky averaged 1.081 points per possession, slightly behind its 1.100 against VMI.

• Kentucky made nine of 17 three-point attempts for 52.9 percent. That’s the best showing, percentage-wise, since the Cats made 10 of 18 against Florida in the regular-season finale last year for 55.6 percent.

• UK had 93.7 possessions versus VMI. The Cats had 65.7 possessions versus Delaware State. The figure was 74 at North Carolina.

Continue reading ‘UK-Delaware State post-game notes’