John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that UK football ticket prices are going up:

Single-game tickets will rise from $35 to $41 for games against non-Bowl Championship Series opponents and from $40 to $46 for games against teams from BCS leagues. The board also approved a $50-per-seat increase in the K-Fund contribution that gives fans the right to buy priority seats. Tickets for about 36,000 seats in Commonwealth Stadium require a contribution to the K Fund. In the 2010 season, that contribution will rise to a range of $100 to $525 per seat. The required contribution last season ranged from $50 to $475.

Michael Carvell of the AJC reports that UK has offered a scholarship to Georgia’s Mr. Basketball:

Kentucky coach John Calipari has expressed heavy interest in Thornton, along with representatives from Texas and Florida. There is also speculation that Tennessee, Michigan, LSU and Auburn, among others, will also join the recruiting race. (Note: See Monday night’s updated list at the bottom). “We’re very surprised by all the attention,” said Thornton’s father, Billy. “People told us to anticipate it, but you don’t really know what is going to happen. It has been very overwhelming, and we feel very blessed.”

Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press thinks NCAA rule unfair to Patrick Patterson:

And given the questionable rep that has overtaken much of college basketball the past few seasons before last week’s remarkable NCAA tourney final between choir boys Duke and Butler, you’d think the NCAA would be doing everything possible to keep quality young men like Patterson around as long as possible. But if Patterson does the expected over the next 10 days and tests the NBA draft waters for the second year in a row, his college eligibility is over. Fini. Kaput.

Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader on the UK defense needing leadership:

“A lot of cats were looking depressed,” Evans said. “I was on the sideline trying to cheer everybody on because this is something you love to do. It’s not always going to be a happy situation when you mess up on a play or something, but you’re out here doing something you’ve done since a kid, and if you’re not having fun, you’re probably not going to do well. People who are good at things are usually having fun doing them.”

Continue reading ‘Thornton, Jones, Ross, Kanter and more recruiting news’

Kenny Payne

Daily randoms for Monday:

One DUI arrest may not be enough to earn UK assistant basketball coach Rod Strickland a pink slip, but four is definitely red-flag territory. Rumor mill was already churning that John Calipari was seeking a way to hire Kenny Payne, the ex-Louisville star who was on Ernie Kent’s staff at Oregon. Kent was fired, so Payne is a free agent. Strickland being pulled over at 3 a.m., coupled with his past arrests for similar transgressions, may give Calipari reason to engineer a staff switch.

Here is Payne’s bio.

Only hearts of stone were not touched by Phil Mickelson’s Masters win on Sunday. The Phil smile. The Phil-Amy hug off the 18th green. Amy and the kids. Phil strikes me as something of a goofball, which is just fine. I’ve rooted for Mickelson ever since the golf/national media claimed he would never win a major. Hate that “never” talk. Annoys me almost as much as the “gets it” crowd. Think this is Mickelson’s third green jacket, if I’m not mistaken. And Phil won it his way, too, making incredible shots that if he had missed would have been widely criticized.

What struck me about Tiger was the same old Tiger in his post-round interview on Sunday. He said he only came to win. That’s all he cares about. OK, so he does care about some other things. But would have felt better about the Woods weekend if he had thanked the fans for their support, said he was happy to do so well after a long layoff, etc. It’s all-or-nothing for Tiger, which I guess makes him great. Doesn’t mean he’s a great guy.

Interesting note from New York Daily News about how Amy Mickelson walked right past Tiger to hug Anthony Kim.

Continue reading ‘Could Strickland’s DUI open door for Kenny Payne?’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

WLEX reports that UK assistant basketball coach Rod Strickland was arrested for DUI:

According to police reports, they arrested Strickland just before 3 a.m. at Tates Creek and New Circle Road. The report says an officer saw Strickland run a red light at the intersection, nearly striking another vehicle. Investigators say he failed a field sobriety test, including standing on one leg, walking and turning, and reciting ABCs. Strickland refused a breathalizer and had the smell of alcohol on his breath.

Fabian Lyon of the Miami Herald reports that UK leads on Brandon Knight:

The two-time National Gatorade Player of the Year has kept things close to the vest since narrowing his choices to Kentucky, Kansas, Syracuse, Florida and Connecticut but several sources believe Kentucky will emerge victorious in the Knight sweepstakes.

Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports says that Calipari will clean up:

Calipari is a genius at this sort of thing. I’m guessing the man knows his X’s from his O’s, though I myself am not qualified to make that declaration — but I’m positive he’s a recruiting genius. Look what he did last year at Kentucky, when he surveyed the scorched earth left behind by Billy Gillispie and immediately planted trees named DeMarcus Cousins and Wall, then landscaped with Daniel Orton and Bledsoe.

My column on Patrick Patterson delaying his NBA decision:

He wants to be the one to make an official announcement about his draft status. He wants a little solo time, after often operating in the shadows of fabulous freshmen most of the recently complete college basketball season. He’ll take some pats on the back, pun intended. His parents want that for him.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rod Strickland arrested for DUI’

(Hat tip to Big Blue Lowdown.)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Percy Allen of the Seattle Times is not sure what to make of this report by Jake Rosenberg of the Albany Herald-Democrat claims that top recruit Terrence Jones is expected to pick Kentucky. (Hat tip to Nation of Blue.)
• Jones tells Nick Daschel of the Oregonian that he will still consider Oregon.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L on which will mean more, UK’s center or UK’s point?
• Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal goes with Wall.
• In the SEC this year, the West has not been best, writes Tipton.
• Former UK player Ed Davender pleads guilty in basketball ticket scam.
• Forbes.com says coaches make too much money, including John Calipari.
• No surprise that Jason King of Yahoo Sports names John Wall the Player of the Year.
• Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago talks to Doug Gottlieb, who says Tony Barbee could be the new coach at DePaul, with Rod Strickland as an assistant. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Tom Leach has podcasts with the AP’s Jim O’Connell and CBS’ Greg Anthony.

Continue reading ‘BBL: What’s up with Terrence Jones?’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Kryie Irving says on his Twitter account that he is coming to Midnight Madness.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK is trying to jump-start its offense.
• My column saying that college football this year has shown you can’t put your eggs in the one-game basket.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that Taylor Wyndham’s hit came in at No. 1.
• Dawson also writes on the ones-versus-ones change at UK practice.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama is gaining attention after fast start.
• Don Kausler of the Birmingham News writes on Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Kyrie Irving tweets that he’s coming to Madness’

Photo by Mark Cornelison.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Herald-Leader report on both Darius Miller and Shelvin Mack making the U.S. National Under-19 team.
• WHAS reports that Jim Host believes UK would be better off to avoid new Louisville arena and play in Freedom Hall.
• ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that Nebraska is looking at both Matt Pilgrim and Kevin Galloway. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Tom Leach writes that Randall Cobb may be the key to early success in 2009 for UK football.
• Highschoolhoop.com reports that C.J. Leslie, a highly-regarded 2010 recruit, has his eyes on North Carolina, Florida and Kentucky.
• Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman writes that UK is so talented that Daniel Orton may not see meaningful minutes.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that tryout was great experience for Miller.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Jim Host says UK should stick to Freedom Hall’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader talks to Matt Pilgrim’s father, who says that both Matt and Kevin Galloway did not have their scholarships renewed.
• H-L reports that field has been set for Cancun Tournament.
• Mark Maloney of the H-L reports on UK baseball players taken in the MLB draft.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L blogs on next week’s Bear’s Boys Reunion.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger also talks to Matt Pilgrim’s father.
• On his C-J blog, Rick Bozich writes on former UK commitment Dominique Ferguson.
• At A Sea of Blue, Dicky Lyons posts another entry to his NFL tryout journals.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK basketball moves and news’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that walk-on Landon Slone is leaving the UK basketball program along with Donald Williams, A.J. Stewart and Jared Carter.
• John Calipari sends a tweet apologizing for not meeting with Slone.
• My column on new UK assistant basketball coach Rod Strickland.
• Tipton also reports that ex-UK player Dale Brown would like an exhibition game with UK.
• Beverly Fortune of the Herald-Leader reports that Billy Gillispie’s house is back up for sale, with a $1.5 million asking price.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Kentucky is showing what’s wrong with NCAA scholarship rules.
• James Quinn of espn.com reports that UK target Roscoe Smith is looking at all his options.
• Calipari tells Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News that the dribble-drive offense does have room for two point guards. (Hat tip to Tom Leach.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Four departures, house for sale, and recruiting news’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• My column saying that, with John Wall now on board, there’s nothing wrong with high expectations.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader’s story on the Wall commitment.
• UK reports that Eric Bledsoe is eligible, and that Rod Strickland will be a full-time assistant on Calipari staff.
• Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News writes that this could be an all-time recruiting class.
• Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline writes that this is why UK hired John Calipari in the first place.
• Michael Eaves says he got a text from an NBA executive saying UK “signed my draft pick.”
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that recruits are lining up to play for Calipari.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News reports that Bledsoe’s coach is concerned now that Wall is on board.
• At Fox Sports, Jeff Goodman moves UK up to his pre-season No. 1.
• USA Today calls it “a remarkable class.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Neverending John Wall links’

Big Blue Links:

• GoCyclones.com reports that Harrison Barnes cuts his list to maybe 12, and Kentucky is one of the maybe 12. (Hat tip to A Sea of Blue.)
• Zagsblog thinks that John Wall could make a decision by the end of the week.
• Inside the Hall writes on Kyrie Irving, a top point guard that likes Indiana, but has a close connection with Rod Strickland.
• Rick Bozich has the backstory on John Calipari auctioning off those UK-U of L tickets at the Dick Vitale gala.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes that UK football hopes a couple of signees can fill a need at defensive end.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK continues to be on Harrison Barnes’ list’