John Clay’s Sidelines

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Here’s the post-game index on Kentucky’s 117-52 win over Clarion:

• Post-game video interview with John Wall after his 27-point performance.

• Audio of John Calipari post-game press conference.

• Herald-Leader photo slide show from the game.

• Jerry Tipton’s game story from the victory.

• Video post-game interview with Patrick Patterson.

• Video post-game interview with Perry Stevenson.

• Video post-game interview with Ramon Harris.

UK’s Ramon Harris, who turned in a nice game with 11 points and seven rebounds, talks about the team’s progress this week. John Calipari cracked the whip, putting in a curfew and conducting early-morning practices, and the Cats’ responded with a 117-52 crushing of poor Clarion, Coach Cal’s alma mater.

When I mention to Ramon Harris that he’s a holdover, he smiles. Harris has had an interesting college career — a late Tubby Smith recruit, injured in collision with Michael Porter, took ill at halftime at Alabama. Reserve, starter, etc. Harris has seen a little bit of everything. This is a new start for him, as well.

(David Coyle photography)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on top hoops prospect Josh Selby, who has de-comitted from Tennessee and could be headed to Kentucky.
• At CBS Sportsline, Gary Parrish reports that Nike schools Kentucky and Oregon could be in line for Selby’s services, thanks to the William Wesley connection.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free-Press writes on Selby giving Tennessee the slip.
• Kentucky Sports Radio says that Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman says that UK is the strong leader for Selby.
• Bleacher Report gives Jodie Meeks’ summer-league play an A grade.
• In the Courier-Journal, Rick Bozich writes that UK will have a tough time gathering six victories.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Having rejected UT, could Selby be headed for UK?’

Post-game audio from the UK principals after Kentucky’s 60-53 loss at Florida today:

• Billy Gillispie takes it personal when you talk about his team not having scoring options.

• Patrick Patterson explains how he got 16 shots the first half, and one the second.

• Jodie Meeks says the Cats now have to win the SEC Tournament.

• Ramon Harris talks about his 14-point effort.

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Our Jerry Tipton talks to Ramon Harris’ mother, who says she believes her son will be ready to play Tuesday when the Cats travel to Ole Miss.
• Here’s my column arguing that the weakness of the SEC makes it hard to judge just how good the Cats are at this point.
• Our Jennifer Smith reports on the UK women’s loss to LSU.
• In the Kentucky Kernel, B.W. Jones writes on Kentucky’s loss to the Lady Tigers.
• The Courier-Journal’s Brett Dawson has the UK update on Harris.
• Ken Howlett at A Sea of Blue has a statistical breakdown and analysis of the Cats.
• Kentucky Sports Radio says UK fans should enjoy Patterson and Meeks while they are here.
• On his WKYT blog, Steve Moss writes on Jodie Meek’s torrid scoring streak.

Audio from the post-game after Kentucky’s 61-51 win at Alabama:

• UK coach Billy Gillispie talks about Ramon Harris feinting fainting and being taken to hospital during halftime, and his team’s win over the Tide.

• Jodie Meeks talks about what he saw happen with Harris, and his 27-point performance.

• Perry Stevenson talks about the Cats overcoming turnovers, foul trouble and the Harris situation to get the win.

Surfing the net for UK news on a Wednesday:

• At Kentuckysports.com, Jerry Tipton talks to Ramon Harris, who says Kentucky has learned how to play Gillispie’s way.
• Tipton also writes that Billy Gillispie is wary of “peppy” Auburn.
• Kentuckysports.com also has the audio from Gillispie’s press conference previewing Auburn.
• In the Courier-Journal, Brett Dawson writes that Patrick Patterson will play through the pain.
• The C-J’s Jody Demling reports that UK football recruit Ridge Wilson may be wavering on his commitment to the Cats.
• In the Kentucky Kernel, James Pennington reports that Gillispie is praising his gritty Cats.
• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News writes that Jodie Meeks is injecting life into the slumping SEC.
• Andy Bitter of the Columbus Leder-Enquirer writes that Kentucky is a tough task for the Auburn defense.
• Andrew Gribble of the Opelika News writes that stopping Jodie Meeks is no laughing matter.
• Evan Woodbery of the Huntsville Times writes on Auburn’s task of stopping Meeks.
• To continue the theme, Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News writes that Auburn will try to cool Meeks.
• ESPN’s Pat Forde tabs Meeks to be the new Secretary of Energy.
• Tom Leach has an interview with Auburn radio voice Rob Bramblett.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Perry Stevenson is a big concern for Auburn.
• Straitpinkie.com gives its Auburn breakdown.
• The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that ex-Tennessee quarterback and ex-UK offensive coordinator Daryl Dickey has been named interim athletics director at West Georgia.

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’

Audio after Kentucky’s 93-69 win over Appalachian State at Freedom Hall:

• Head coach Billy Gillispie talks about the win. (14:19)

• Jodie Meeks talks about his 46-point performance, most by a UK player ever at Freedom Hall. (11:04)

• Ramon Harris and A.J. Stewart talk about the win and Harris’ return. (7:14)