John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Tony Wroten no longer considering Kentucky, reports Brian Floyd of the Seattle Sports Blog. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• George Blanda made middle-age cool, blogs Andy Barall for the New York Times.
• The best came last for Raiders’ legend Blanda, writes the San Francisco Chronicle.
• Blanda was one of a kind, says this editorial from the Oakland Tribune.
• Even after Florida loss, Joker Phillips remains confident, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Independent review was handicapped by missing materials, reports Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Personnel losses have made Steve Brown’s job harder, writes Mark Story of the H-L.
• Phillips tries to soothe his team’s confidence, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Badly needed win lifted Ole Miss’ spirits, reports Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Brandon Bolden has answered the call for Ole Miss, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Wroten takes UK off list; Blanda tributes’

(McClatchy photo)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Tony Wroten to announce college choice on Oct. 8, reports Percy Allen of the Seattle Times. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Kentucky hasn’t seen speed like the Gators, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Derrick Locke adding guile to his game, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Road win over Tennessee was positive sign for Florida, reports Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald.
• Kentucky no easy game for Gators, writes David Jones of Florida Today.
• Urban Meyer likes how Florida responded against Tennessee, writes Arnold Feliciano of the Gainesville Sun.
• Florida’s run defense is starting to pick up, writes Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Grind-it-out Gators are winning Urban’s way, writes Mike Bianchi of the Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cats ready for Gators; Wroten to announce’

Seattle guard Tony Wroten, ranked 30th by Rivals for 2011, has reportedly told a radio station that he has carved his list of schools down to five, with both Kentucky and Louisville making the final cut.

Excerpt:

“I narrowed my schools down to five,” Wroten said. “Louisville, UW, UConn, Nova and UK.”

(Hat tip to Walter’s Wildcat World.)

(H-L photo)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Kentucky’s defensive line is young, but imposing, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Joker Phillips wants quarterback race trimmed to at least two after Saturday’s scrimmage, reports Cosby.
• Kentucky women promote recruiting whiz Kyra Elzy, reports Jennifer Smith of the H-L.
• Freshman Nermin Delic gives Kentucky a European flavor, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Mary Jo Perino of WLEX on Evan Daniels of Scout.com’s report that UK asked for Deandre Daniels’ transcript.
• John Calipari and Joker Phillips take time to help a UK fan, reports Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun.
• Daniels tells Dimemag.com that Kentucky, North Carolina and Texas will rule in 2011.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that UK target Tony Wroten will visit Louisville.
• Lots of personnel talk at UK football practice, reports Tom Leach.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Is Deandre Daniels moving his way to UK now?’

Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports writes on UK targets Quincy Miller and Tony Wroten, and he doesn’t like what he’s seeing.

Goodman excerpt:

I worry about Quincy Miller. I’m concerned about Tony Wroten, too.

Before the Big Blue Nation makes this into a Kentucky conspiracy (which, of course, they will), it has nothing to do with the fact that both players are considering heading to Lexington in about a year or so.

It’s more that Miller and Wroten have their priorities out of whack.

Trust me. I’ve seen this story before, and it’s usually not a storybook ending.

(Hat tip to Nation of Blue.)

(H-L photo/David Perry)

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Ex-UK golfer J.B. Holmes shoots a 60 at the Greenbrier Classic, reports Jerry Potter of USA Today.
• Academic status of several Cats still uncertain, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• My column on Patrick Patterson and Eric Bledsoe returning to the Bluegrass.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal on the return of former players to help out at Calipari Camp.
• Joker Phillips will stick to the plan, writes Seth Emerson for McClatchy Newspapers.
• Randy Beard of the Evansville Courier and Press says Joker has some serious ambitions.
• Andrew Wolfson of the C-J profiles Karen Sypher’s defense attorney, Jim Earhart.
• Scout.com’s Evan Daniels talks to Tony Wroten:

Continue reading ‘BBL: Holmes’ big day, Joker’s ambitions and Cal Camp’

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Tennessee to be looking up at Kentucky in football is a rare sight, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Kentucky picked to finish fourth in the SEC East, ahead of the Vols, reports Chip Cosby of the H-L from Hoover.
• John Calipari and Orlando Antigua are keeping tabs on Quincy Miller, reports Jason Hickman of Maxpreps.com.
• Anthony Davis tells Zagsblog that UK, Syracuse and Ohio State are all about even on his list.
• Michael Gilchrist will take a six-week break from basketball, reports Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• David Turner is UK’s new assistant head football coach, reports Mary Jo Perino of WLEX-TV.
• Seattle’s Tony Wroten loves Kentucky basketball fans, writes Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal.
• Bluegrass State Basketball lends a hand to flood victims in Eastern Kentucky.
• The hits just keep on coming for Tennessee, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Rick Bozich of the C-J says don’t laugh about Kentucky being picked ahead of the Vols.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Tennessee not happy being picked behind UK’

Rajon Rondo speaks at USA workouts. (Hat tip to Tailgate Review.)
Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Will Anthony Davis join Teague and Gilchrist at Kentucky? asks Zagsblog.
• Davis’ team is scheduled to play in the Hoops City Classic this weekend, reports Candace Buckner of the Kansas City Star.
• Tony Wroten has been energized by his summer, writes Mason Kelley of the Seattle Times.
• Ed Davender is accused of promising Final Four tix he didn’t have, reports Josh Kegley of the Herald-Leader.
• SEC Media picks Kentucky to finish fourth in East, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• UK players like Morgan Newton’s competitive attitude, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Bobby Petrino talks up Greg Nord to Larry Vaught.
• Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches has the Joker Phillips transcript from SEC Media Days.
• Bleed Blue Kentucky talks to South Carolina running back prospect Brandon Wilds.
• Joker Phillips wants to be proactive on agents, says WLEX’s Mary Jo Perino.

(AP photo)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Fresh from Germany, Michael Gilchrist scores 26 in Peach Jam game, reports Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News.

• Gilchrist wants to bring Anthony Davis to Kentucky, reports Zagsblog from the Peach Jam.

• Tony Wroten tweets: “I Have NOT committed anywhere yet. But UK is in the lead right now. Then comes UW,Uconn,Nova.”

• Kentucky football makes Greg Nord hire official, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.

• Joker Phillips has big plans for Kentucky football, writes Olin Buchanan of Rivals.com.

• Houston Rockets reach deal with Patrick Patterson, reports Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

• Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN’s True Hoop likes DeMarcus Cousins’ finesse.

• Cousins turned in his second double-double, reports Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

• Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports that John Wall is headed to Los Angeles for the ESPYs.

• Wall gets a double-double in his second summer league game, reports Lee in the WP.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Michael Gilchrist scores 26 in Peach Jam debut’

(AP photo/Ed Reinke)

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Public visitation for Melvin Turpin will be held Monday, reports Jim Warren of the Herald-Leader.

• Tennessean columnist David Climer ranks UK’s Joker Phillips last among the SEC’s 12 football coaches.

• Josh Moon of the Montgomery Advertiser ranks Kentucky 11th out of 12 among SEC football programs.

• Midnight Madness picked as one of top 10 places to cheer with crowd, according to USA Today. (Hat tip to Steve Moss.)

• DeMarcus Cousins is roughed up in Sacramento Kings practice, reports Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.

• Kentucky football is trying to tap a New Orleans pipeline, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.

• Summer camps offer refs a chance to get noticed, as well, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.

• Michael Gilchrist leads U.S. in semifinal rout of Canada, reports Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Midnight Madness rates high, UK football low’