John Clay's Sidelines

(AP photo)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

UK women beat Georgia: Jen Smith of the Herald-Leader reports from Athens, “Sixth-ranked Kentucky doesn’t care how it looks as long as the end result is a win. That’s what they got Thursday night, a 69-64 victory at No. 15 Georgia despite a 10-point second-half deficit and the Bulldogs making UK’s press look silly at times . . . The win, the Cats’ sixth in a row, helped UK remain unbeaten and stay atop the Southeastern Conference. It was the Cats’ fifth win this season over a top-25 team.”

Kentucky football loses a commitment: Jacoby Glenn, a defensive back from Alabama has de-committed from the Cats and committed to Central Florida, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Rivals rated Glenn the 34th best prospect in Alabama. He committed to the Cats in August.

Cats outlast short-handed Dawgs: Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald writes, “Georgia started Thursday’s game without injured point guard Jasmine James. But the Lady Bulldogs’ depth situation went from bad to worse when it lost a backup forward before the game and another forward picked up her fourth foul late in the first half. Kentucky’s pressing defense eventually wore down Georgia as the Lady Wildcats erased a double-digit second-half deficit and won 69-64 on Thursday at Stegeman Coliseum.”

Derek Willis will announce choice today: Mike Fields of the Herald-Leader previews the prep junior’s announcement today. Most of those in the know are betting Willis will pledge allegiance to the Cats.

Next Cats special report: Ben Roberts of the Herald-Leader has put together an analysis of the top 10 recruiting classes over the last five seasons.

Shabazz Muhammad update: The consensus No. 1 will visit Kansas. “A lot of people have it wrong about Shabazz,” Muhammad’s father, Ron Holmes, told the Kansas’ Rivals website Jayhawkslant.com. “A lot of people have no idea what’s going on. We’re going to officially visit Kansas, and I’ve said that many times. If it works out, I’m going to bring my entire family to Kansas. I always knew Kansas was a great school, but the in-home visit really opened my eyes.”

Anthony Bennett update: Ray Brewer of the Las Vegas Sun reports that UNLV is still very much in the hunt for Bennett. “The coaching staff is real cool. They are playing that up-tempo style and getting out running,” Bennett told the paper. “That is my style and how I want to play.”

UK basketball ahead of schedule: Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun writes, “Darius Miller has endured many peaks and valleys in his four-year career at the University of Kentucky. He remembers the Wildcats’ bumpy ride in the Southeastern Conference last season, a trek that resulted in a 7-6 record in the first 13 games. Although the conference tour wasn’t pretty, Kentucky won 10 of its last 11 games at the end of the season, including the SEC¿Tournament, before losing to eventual national champion Connecticut 56-55 in the national semifinals. An overtime loss at Arkansas last year resulted in the team’s successful finish.”

UK rifle staying the course: Guy Ramsey of Cat Scratches writes, “For the majority of his adult life, Harry Mullins had spent the offseason as head coach of Kentucky’s rifle team trying to figure how to get the team over the hump. The Wildcats were clearly one of the elite programs in the nation, stacking successful season on top of successful season, but they had always fallen short of winning a national title. It was a particularly helpless feeling for Mullins because of his belief that he and his team had done everything in their power to accomplish their ultimate goal.”

Zagsblog takes a look at where consensus Class of 2012 No. 1 prospect Shabazz Muhammad, who is believed to have Kentucky at or near the top of his crowded list.

But the interesting part of the report is the contention that Muhammad is really and truly considering staying at home and playing for UNLV.

An excerpt:

“I think Shabazz is really considering going [there] because he feels that they’re a great team and everyone else sees that, too,” the UNLV-bound Morant, a 6-foot-8 power forward, told Five Star in the above video. “And they’re ranked in the nation.

“At first he wasn’t thinking about going there because he thought they wouldn’t be that good and he wouldn’t be looked at by [NBA] scouts. So he was mostly considering Kentucky, but now UNLV is in the top three.”

Muhammad is looking at UNLV, UCLA, Arizona, Duke, Kentucky and Kansas, but he is intrigued by the Rebels, especially after they added Pitt transfer Khem Birch, a former McDonald’s All-American.

In UK’s favor, however, is that since coming to Kentucky, John Calipari usually gets his man.

The Martin Luther King Holiday makes for an elongated and interesting day of televised basketball today.

On the college side, Louisville travels to Marquette for a rare Monday afternoon 3:30 start on ESPN. The day’s marquee game comes tonight at 9:30 when Baylor takes on Kansas.

But of more interest to Big Blue Nation may be the afternoon of high school hoops being televised on ESPNU. Shabazz Muhammad leads Bishop Gorman (NV) against DeMatha (MD) at 1 p.m. in the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Anthony Bennett leads Findlay Prep (NV) against Jabari Parker and Simeon (IL) at 3 p.m.

Continue reading ‘Check out UK basketball targets today on ESPNU’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Jeff Eisenberg: Birch’s arrival could help UNLV land Bennett, Muhammad
• Dick Vitale: Terrence Jones will play key role in Kentucky’s title chances
• Jerry Tipton: Anthony Davis emerging as last line of a great defense
• Mark Story: Joker Phillips’ seat will still be hot next season
• Evan Woodbery: Auburn’s Tony Barbee signs contract through 2017
• Kyle Tucker: Kentucky ready to take its basketball act on the road
• CoachCal.com: Calipari ups the intensity level as Camp Cal comes to a close
• Tom Leach: The key storyline was Marquis Teague
• Larry Vaught: Early upsets show Calipari it will be tough to win on the road
• James Pennington: Twany Beckham adjusting to life at UK
• Aaron Smith: Inside the play — breaking the press
• Cat Scratches: Kentucky notes, Calipari and the road in the SEC
• A Sea of Blue: The whining from non-SEC fans is ridiculous
• Sporting News: Calipari defends Teague from criticism
• Ira Combs: Ready or not, Cats hit the road

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Louisville might put Kentucky point guard Marquis Teague to the test.
• To beat Kentucky, Rick Pitino says Louisville must do “everything.”
• Watch Kentucky targets Bennett and Randle in action tonight.
• Mike Krzyzewski was watching Shabazz Muhammad on Thursday.
• Sizing up the big battle between Kentucky and Louisville basketball.
• Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is growing up fast.
• But Kidd-Gilchrist needs to avoid that early foul trouble he has been experiencing.
• U of L’s Chane Behanan battling history in game against Kentucky.
• A Kentucky basketball fan talks recruiting.
• Darius Miller says UK must avoid the hype and prepare for physical game.

ESPN’s Dave Telep tweets that John Calipari and his entire staff are at the City of Palms Tournament tonight to watch Shabazz Muhammad. And Nerlens Noel. And Julius Randle. And others.

• Next Cats page on Julius Randle
• NextCats page on Shabazz Muhammad
• Next Cats page on Nerlens Noel

Shabazz Muhammad (Las Vegas Sun photo)

In an interview with Five-Star Basketball, Kentucky target and consensus No. 1 overall prospect Shabazz Muhammad says he hopes UCLA gets it back together and talks about what it could be like to play for the Bruins.

“I’ve been watching them this year, they’re really still struggling and I hope they can pull together,” the 6-foot-6 Muhammad, speaking of UCLA’s 4-5 start, told Five Star Basketball in an exclusive interview.

“I think with me, Kyle and Jordan, if I was to go there it would be a great combination, and Kyle’s a really good player. So is Jordan.”

Kyle is Kyle Anderson. Jordan is Jordan Adams. Anderson is a 6-foot-7 forward from New Jersey who is ranked as the No. 5 prospect for 2012 by ESPNU. He has already signed with UCLA. Adams is a 6-5 swingman from Oak Hill Academy who is ranked 74th by Rivals. Adams has signed with the Bruins, as well.

Adams tells Five-Star that he is confident that Muhammad will end up at UCLA, along with Georgia center Tony Parker. Remember, UCLA hired a Georgia AAU coach/administrator as an assistant coach.

Kentucky has other ideas, of course. Duke, UNLV, USC and Kansas are also in the hunt. Shabazz’s dad tells Five-Star that his son won’t make any decisions until spring.

(Hat tip Zagsblog)

Continue reading ‘Shabazz talks about how he could help bring UCLA back’

Steve Lavin and his wife Mary Ann Jarou (AP photo)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• In the Herald-Leader, Mark Story writes on the aftershocks of Kentucky finally putting a stop to its football futility against Tennessee. Jerry Tipton reports that John Calipari sees the Cats as being an even bigger target now that UK is No. 1 again. What’s bigger than being everybody’s Super Bowl? Jennifer Smith reports that the UK women have moved up to No. 12 in the AP poll.
• Andy Katz of espn.com reports that St. John’s coach Steve Lavin will not coach the Red Storm when it comes to Rupp Arena on Thursday to play the top-ranked Cats. Lavin is still recuperating from prostate surgery. He returned four straight games after having surgery Oct. 6, but now says his return was premature. St. John’s brings a 4-3 record into Rupp for the SEC/Big East Challenge.
• Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports that a committee will be formed to study the NBA’s minimum age rule, but that most believe it will be unchanged for next year’s draft. That means that UK’s four freshmen would all be eligible for the 2012 draft next summer. The age rule is one of several B-list issues the league and players association have agreed to settle at a later date.
• Zagsblog reports that Duke is making a run at a couple of prime prospects, which could affect Kentucky. One is the gem of the 2012 class, Shabazz Muhammad, who was there live in person to see Duke’s most hated rival, North Carolina, fall to UNLV in Las Vegas on Saturday. Kentucky would love to sign Shabazz, as well. Duke is also targeting Tony Parker.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Christian Laettner coming to Lexington to coach in Villains game.
• Kentucky staff visits No. 1 prospect Shabazz Muhammad.
• Kentucky recruiting could experience a slight letdown, says SI’s Luke Winn.
• Kentucky officially off Mitch McGary’s final list.
• South Carolina’s point guard Bruce Ellington is now returning footballs.
• Matt Roark follows his early drops with his first touchdown catch.
• Wide receiver LaRod King wants everybody on the same page.
• South Carolina’s offense is behind new starting quarterback Connor Shaw.
• Don’t count Stephen Garcia out just yet, says Brad Senkiw.
• Raymond Sanders: Dap King.
• Previewing Saturday’s Kentucky-South Carolina football game.
• Doron Lamb returns for his sophomore season with a purpose.
• Kentucky’s point guard transfers are working to improve.
• John Calipari has a bad case of Rick Pitino envy, writes Rick Bozich.
• The hilarious whine from many quarters over Calipari’s comments.
• John Calipari’s subtle geography lesson.
• After knee surgery, Jon Hood wants to use recovery time to improve.
• UK freshman Anthony Davis grew into a big man overnight.
• More details on those Big Blue All-Stars games.
• UK women’s soccer reaches highest ranking in school history.
• It’s tough to hate the most hated man in Kentucky.

According to the Lawrence Journal World, Shabazz Muhammad, the No. 1 prep player in all the universe — or at least the class of 2012 —  has set his in-home visits.

They are:

• UCLA on Sept. 9
• Duke on Sept. 12
• Kentucky on Sept. 13
• Kansas on Sept. 14

Shabazz has said that he will attend UK’s Big Blue Madness, the official date of which has not been set.

And in case you are wondering, Sept. 13 is not a Friday. Thankfully.

Check out Next Cats  for all the recruiting links you’ll ever need.