Posts Tagged ‘John Calipari’
UK, UK Basketball, Patrick Patterson, Daniel Orton, John Calipari, Demarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, John Wall, NBA Draft 2010, Washington Wizards, Awesomeness, #1 Draft Pick, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, OKC Thunder
In Sports, UK Basketball on June 26, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Coach Cal put five Cats into the NBA Draft this Thursday. Never been done before (in a single draft).
I’m happy about it. Not nearly as excited as I’d have been if those 5 players had led UK to the National Championship. Still it’s a great accomplishment.
Kentucky Coach John Calipari sounded like a proud papa on Friday when discussing his five former players who were picked in the first round of the NBA Draft the previous night.
And while the exodus means that UK must adjust to a lot of new players next season, Calipari is hoping that the Cats continue to be a big player on NBA Draft night.
“I hope we do it again,” Calipari said. “My dream now would to be to have the No. 1 overall pick and six first-round draft picks. I want my sixth man to get drafted in the first round.”
John Wall was the No. 1 draft pick. DeMarcus Cousins checked in at No. 5, Patrick Patterson at No. 14, Eric Bledsoe No. 18 and Daniel Orton at 29th.
UK Basketball, Kentucky Basketball, John Calipari, Terrence Jones
In Sports, UK Basketball on May 20, 2010 at 5:02 pm
With Terrence Jones joining the roster for 2010, Cal brings in his 2nd Number One Class in a row. 2nd Number One Class in two years at the helm of UK. 2 Years, 2 Number One Classes. More than likely, next year will see the Number One Class as well.
Now, he needs to build continuity for the decade and I need to secure some Final Four tickets for the Next Few Years.
GO CATS!!!
And then there is John Wall
Jimmy
#1 Draft Pick of the 2010 Draft
“I think there’s no question John is by far the most dynamic player in the draft,” Saunders said. “He’s probably one of the most dynamic guards to come out in a while, when you combine his athleticism, his ability to defend and the speed that he has. A lot of times when players come into our league, you’re trying to develop a guy into a point guard.
“Sometimes you’re trying to change him from maybe a guy that was a scorer and more of a shooting guard in college to a point guard who tries to run a team. Whereas John is definitely a guy that is definitely a point guard. He averaged a lot of assists at Kentucky and pretty much dominated games with his ability to make plays for other players.”
GO BIG BLUE, John Calipari, Kentucky Basketball, Kentucky Wildcats, Scott Padgett, SEC, Southeastern Conference, The Next Coach at UK, Tony Delk, UK, UK Coaches
In Sports, UK Basketball on January 25, 2010 at 1:16 pm
With the Gators and Wildcats being down for the last several years, the SEC has struggled to gain its footing nationally. Tennessee and Bruce Pearl make a nice story, sure, but they are nothing compared to the vaunted Wildcats.
This is the cold, hard truth that the rest of the SEC doesn’t want to acknowledge.
When it comes to basketball, UK is the SEC. The SEC needs a dominant Kentucky in order to be relevant. Much like the ACC needs FSU in order to remain relevant in the BCS of Football. It’s the natural order.
Get used to it.
Kentucky is back. Coach Cal will keep UK at the top. More than likely, Cal will stay 8 to 10 years which means that Mitch Barnhart should should be keeping an eye out for a successor. It’s too early to bring in an assistant. Two or three years down the line, Cal should start looking for someone to whom he can hand the reins. Recruit this young and talented coach to the bench at UK and start his training to take over. Unlike Tubby Smith, Cal selects young and enthusiastic talent for his bench. No re-treads on the bench under Coach Cal. Keep that bench full of young hungry assistant and associate coaches. Hopefully, Cal finds a few ex-players from UK teams to carry the torch after he leaves.
2018 or so, Cal can hand the reins over to a pre-selected individual. No coaching searches. No guessing. Simply a seamless turn over. This is how it should be done.
UK reloads and keeps rocking the SEC and the NCAA.
Darius Miller, Demarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, John Calipari, John Wall, Kentucky Basketball, Kentucky Wildcats, Patrick Patterson, perry stevenson, Ranked #1
In Stupidity, UK Basketball on January 24, 2010 at 4:11 am
Box Score vs Arkansas
Cats blow out the Hogs to earn debut at #1 in 2010.
No. 2 Kentucky dominates Arkansas 101-70
LEXINGTON, Ky.(AP) Darius Miller had a career-high 18 points and DeMarcus Cousins got his 10th double-double as No. 2 Kentucky coasted by Arkansas 101-70 Saturday.
The Wildcats kept alive the nation’s only unblemished record and a near certain return to the top of the college basketball rankings.
Kentucky (19-0, 4-0 SEC) hasn’t topped The Associated Press poll since 2003, but that streak is almost certain to end Monday courtesy of its dominating victory over UK alumnus John Pelph
rey’s Razorbacks and top-ranked Texas’ loss to Kansas State earlier in the week.
This one was practically over by tipoff. Kentucky scored the game’s 10 points, stretched the lead to 30 by halftime, then added the first 14 points of the second half.
With that much margin for error, the Wildcats easily avoided the kind of second half letdown that made recent wins over Georgia and Auburn much closer than anticipated. Arkansas (8-11, 1-3) did make an 18-3 run midway through the second half, but by that time, Kentucky had plenty of cushion to withstand it.
The Wildcats’ largest lead was 46 after John Wall hit a jumper with 14 minutes left. The Razorbacks got it no closer than 92-62 with under 4 minutes to go.
Arkansas was led by Courtney Fortson ‘s 21 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep up with the Wildcats’ scoring barrage.
They ended the first half and began the second on a 21-0 run, including a 3-pointer by Ramon Harris at the halftime buzzer and later consecutive 3s by Miller.
Miller connected on four of six attempts from long range.
Cousins, who finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, secured his double-double just seconds into the second half. He probably would have gotten it even sooner but was sidelined for all but nine minutes of the first half with a minor injury.
Calipari tried to keep expectations low going into the Arkansas game, joking, ”What’s going to happen the next day, we go to the electric chair?”
One thing that did concern him was the Wildcats have been vulnerable against 3-point shooters this year, and Arkansas has one of the nation’s best of those in Rotnei Clarke . However, Clarke was just 2-of-9 from beyond the arc and the Razorbacks managed just one other 3.
It was Kentucky’s third 100-point effort of the season and first in SEC play.
Pelphrey has now lost all three meetings against his alma mater as an opposing coach.
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/gameflash/2010/01/23/58835_recap.html#ixzz0dTybSb3A
Kentucky should be ranked #1 on Monday.
Darius Miller was stroking it from the outside hitting 4-6 from the Trey. Stevenson got in early and had a killer dunk. Wall and Bledsoe played like Siamese Twins out there. Cousins got a double double and lost a tooth. Patrick Patterson had his normal outstanding game.
Kentucky remains undefeated. Is soon to be ranked #1 and is on their way to the Top #1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Less than two months until the SEC tournament. I can’t wait to get there and see it. Live and in person.
GO BIG BLUE!
BONUS: Mich St defeats the Gophers in their house. TLT strikes again. Double Bonus: UL and UNC lost this week.
JOdie Meeks, John Calipari, John Wall, Mark Fox, Patrick Patterson, UGa, UK Basketball
In Sports, UK Basketball on January 10, 2010 at 1:24 am
I almost missed it. For some reason, thought the game was tomorrow night.
But I get to watch it. I’ve got to stay up damn near all night to do so. It’s worth every second of lost sleep, though.
Can’t wait to see Wall and Patterson in action…with the outcome unknown. Although, I am pretty certain that UGa is a gimme this year. Mark Fox and Company are outmatched from top to bottom and there’s no Coach Gillispie to choke the drive and will to win out of the talented kids who take the floor for UK this year.
GO BIG BLUE!!!
I wish Meeks was here to experience this year with the Cats. Without Meeks, this UK team is incredible. With Meeks, they’d be a juggernaut. Unstoppable!
2000 wins, Demarcus Cousins, John Calipari, John Wall, Patrick Patterson, UK Basketball
In UK Basketball on December 23, 2009 at 5:55 am
I’m sitting here in Beijing and I can’t beleive it.
The Mighty Blue Machine has gone on a 12-0 run to start the season and hit a new level of Excellence–2000 WINS!
Congratulations to UK Basketball. All who have come, those present now and all who will come along in the future.
Go Big Blue!
Caoch Cal, Dan Patrick, Daniel Orton, GO BIG BLUE, GO CATS, John Calipari, John Wall, Kentucky Basketball, Ketnucky Wildcats, Patrick Patterson
In Sports, UK Basketball, thinking out loud on December 9, 2009 at 12:05 am
Calipari said he’s trying to do much more with this team. “It’s about more than just winning,” Calipari said. “It’s about are you getting your team better. are they coming together? That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Calipari also said that he’s seeing a huge difference in his competition. The Wildcats are a big target every night. “We’re everybody’s Super Bowl,” Calipari said. “It’s almost stupid watching tape. They’re not going to play the way they’re playing on that tape.”
Daniel Orton getting high praise:
Also very good at basketball: Daniel Orton
by John Gasaway
I tried six ways to Sunday to make the following fit in the John Wall feature I just posted, but it was like putting a taco on a birthday cake so I had to leave it out. Nevertheless I want this to be on the record:
The sequence in Saturday’s North Carolina-Kentucky game where Daniel Orton rejected John Henson at the rim, sprinted down the floor, received a fast-break pass from Eric Bledsoe, and dished an exquisite bounce-pass to Patrick Patterson for the dunk may have been the most impressive possession I have seen from a player this decade. Defense, athleticism, hustle, selflessness, and point-guard-level skill, all on one play. Seven-second wonder Daniel Orton, I salute you!
How Good is John Wall?
Darius Miller, DeMarcu Coustins, Demarcus Cousins, John Calipari, John Wall, Kentucky Basektball, Patrick Patterson, Roy Williams, Tarheels, UNC
In Sports, UK Basketball, thinking out loud on December 5, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Holy Smokes! They are taking it to them. HARD AND FAST!
Blue Jesus is KILLING ‘EM!
And it looks like Darius Miller has come out of his shell.
GO BIG BLUE!
a good loss, Adolph Rupp, bigblue75 is a dumbass, John Calipari, John Wall, Kentucky Basketball, Losing, Patrick Patterson, winning
In Sports, UK Basketball on November 27, 2009 at 3:29 am
Observation: A loss might be a very good thing for this team
I’m no different than any other UK fan. I want the team to win every game every season, so don’t think I’ve lost my mind with this observation.So far, this year’s version of the ‘Cats has had good games and not so good games. They’ve looked really good in spurts and not so hot in others.
Yet, in spite of all that, they have yet to feel what defeat feels like. Last night’s game was arguably the toughest test they’ve had so far. The Miami/Ohio game was a tough one, too, but it didn’t go into overtime. My point is they have yet to “pay the price” for their sloppy play. Again, I DON’T look foward to our first loss, but we all know it’s going to happen eventually. When it does, I honestly think that will be the catalyst to get our younger players, as well as the whole team, to realize that they really need to get with the program completely. Frankly, I would rather it be prior to the start of SEC play, rather than after.Last night was the first time this season I think at least some of the players had reality set in. At the end of regulation and into the overtime period, the camera was on John Wall and he was more intense than I’ve ever seen him. I know he really enjoys it when he makes a good play and I get pumped up just watching him, but last night I think it finally dawned on him that, “Hey, we might actually LOSE this game if we don’t it in gear!”Sometimes the foundations for the BIG victories are laid on the grounds of a loss. I won’t be happy when we do lose, but in the long run I think it’ll pay dividends when we do.
Comments?
I think John Calipari, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe, John Hood, Ramon Harris and the rest of the Team and Coaches would think you a complete fool.
What kind of fan spouts this nonsense?
The guy who wrote this idiocy is the exact same fan to whom I was referring here. The dude is an idiot and should be banned forever from posting on any Kentucky fan board. Complete Fuckin’ Moron. Dude needs to have his Kentucky Fan credentials revoked. lol
Joe Hall, the Kentucky coach who succeeded Mr. Rupp and for many years was his assistant and chief recruiter, once said:
“Coach operates from an extreme competitive desire and has a strong dread for losing.”
Regardless of the reason, he always put forth this kind of effort. On his weekly television shows he often said:
“We want to win, we just have to win. Goodness knows, no one wants to win any more than we do.”
Winning was Mr. Rupp’s passion. Someone once recited to him the famed Grantland Rice line, “when the one Great Scorer comes to write against your name, he marks not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.”
To this, Mr. Rupp answered:
“Well now, I just don’t know about that. If winning isn’t so important, why do you keep score?”
![[rupp-lastyear.jpg]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qabLhHFbzAY/SmeaSVlRHEI/AAAAAAAADVQ/MLS5jdeuHM8/s1600/rupp-lastyear.jpg)
That looks like Coach Rupp telling a moron what he thinks of the “good loss” theory.
GO BIG BLUE!!!
Adolph Rupp, UK Basketball, Billy Gillispie, Patrick Patterson, NCAA Basketball, Kentucky Wildcats, John Calipari, GO BIG BLUE, Coach Cal, Demarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, John Wall, Ketnucky BAsketball
In Quotes, Sports, UK Basketball, thinking out loud on November 26, 2009 at 3:28 pm
| Kentucky |
| Name |
Min |
FG |
3Pt |
FT |
Off |
Reb |
Ast |
TO |
Stl |
Blk |
PF |
Pts |
| D. Miller |
36 |
3-9 |
3-6 |
4-5 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
13 |
| D. Cousins |
26 |
5-8 |
0-1 |
3-8 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
13 |
| E. Bledsoe |
30 |
2-4 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
| J. Wall |
45 |
7-15 |
1-4 |
8-8 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
23 |
| P. Patterson |
31 |
5-9 |
1-2 |
1-2 |
6 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
12 |
| D. Orton |
9 |
0-2 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Dodson |
13 |
0-3 |
0-3 |
0-0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| J. Harrellson |
4 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| R. Harris |
24 |
3-5 |
0-1 |
1-2 |
1 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
| P. Stevenson |
7 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
| Totals |
225 |
25-56 |
6-19 |
17-25 |
15 |
37 |
14 |
15 |
5 |
8 |
21 |
73 |
| Percentages: |
|
.446 |
.316 |
.680 |
|
Team Rebounds: 2 |
“NBA, that’s all I’ve got to say,” Wildcats forward Patrick Patterson said. “John Wall is a pro player and he wants the ball in crunch-time situations. Whenever we need a basket or something on the offensive end John is going to be the one to do it.”
Calipari on Wall and Bledsoe:
“I think we’ve got two guys when the game is on the line they are not afraid to make plays, which bodes well for us,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “You saw once again that late in the game I’m not calling a timeout. I don’t need to be a hero, let those guys be the hero.”
“Those two guys have the killer (instinct),” Calipari said. “What you want is the guys with the killer to bleed onto the others. Just a will to win.”
“For such a young team, they showed a lot of poise down the stretch,” Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins said. “(Wall) is one of the fastest guards I’ve ever seen play on any level. He showed a lot of poise for his age. He’s a terrific player.”
On the other side, Wall was the only Kentucky player to get going before the break. The freshman guard had 15 points but could not do all the heavy lifting with preseason All-American forward Patterson going out of the game less than six minutes in with two fouls. Without Patterson’s inside presence the Wildcats struggled to get anything in the paint and shot just 35.5 percent from the field.
Patterson got going early in the second half on his way to his 25th career double-double, but he missed two point-blank opportunities on the same possession that would have given Kentucky its first lead since late in the first half with just over 10 minutes remaining.
He made up for it later, using a power post move to give Kentucky a 54-53 lead with 6:42 to play.
John Wall will be the first #1 Draft Pick in Kentucky History. He or Patterson should be the First UK Basketballer to bring home the Adolph Rupp Trophy for Player of the Year. I think one of them will bring home the Wooden Trophy as well. Wall may well be the most highly regarded Frosh/Student Athlete to ever have worn the UK Jersey by the time this year is finished. He is certainly lived up to the hype surrounding him as a player. What’s more is that the guy is actually a good student and a good guy as well.
Calipari pulled off a recruiting coup with John Wall. His second best recruiting pitch was retaining Patrick Patterson. These are two All World Student Athletes. I just hope that all of the anti-Cal or anti-Kentucky feeling out there doesn’t hurt them over the course of the year. Lots of guys out there who are waiting like vultures for something, anything to pop up to stall or kill Cal and Kentucky’s momentum. Yet, these same hypocrites defend John Wooden as if their reputations depended upon said defense.
This year, UK has three of the Top Freshman in the CNNSI Power Rankings. Wall and Cousins are ranked #’s 1 and 2 respectively. Eric Bledsoe is ranked at #25. I’m sure that Bledsoe will rise as the year goes on. All three are players. I can see them all going to the NBA after this year. Hopefully, Bledsoe and Cousins come back for a 2nd year. The good thing, though, is that IF Cousins sees it as more wise to come out for the Draft after this year, it will likely mean that he has helped lead UK to a Final Four or better.
This should be a great year for Kentucky Basketball. Patterson, Wall and the rest of the Frosh are finding ways to win this year. Whereas last year, Billy Gillispie was finding ways to lose.
GO BIG BLUE!!!
Clarion, Demarcus Cousins, John Calipari, John Wall, Kentucky Basketball, Patrick Patterson
In Sports, UK Basketball on November 7, 2009 at 7:26 am
The Clarion team was outmatched in every category and it showed from the start when Kentucky came out and scored 12 points in just over 2 minutes. Had they kept that pace, the boys in Blue may have scored into the 300s.
The first exhibition left some scratching their heads. The team seemed to look hesitant. No hesitation tonight from all I’ve read. I won’t get to watch the game for a couple of weeks when it’s mailed to me (I’m in Afghanistan). Can’t wait to see this game.
I’m very excited to watch this UK team get the season started. I haven’t been this excited about a season since 1996. With Wall, Cousins and Patterson on the court, this should be a fun season. And a dominant one. Kentucky Coach Calipari has been taking the team through two a day practices this week so I fully expected a big improvement over the 4 November performance. The Cats did not disappoint.
Here’s the official box score from UKAA:
HOME TEAM: Kentucky
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
15 Cousins, DeMarcus… f 9-12 0-1 2-4 3 3 6 3 20 2 3 2 1 21
54 Patterson, Patrick.. f 6-12 2-2 0-0 1 5 6 4 14 0 2 3 0 26
01 Miller, Darius…… g 3-5 1-2 4-4 1 3 4 4 11 7 1 1 2 27
03 Dodson, Darnell….. g 3-11 1-5 4-4 3 6 9 2 11 4 0 0 1 22
11 Wall, John………. g 10-14 1-2 6-7 2 2 4 1 27 9 4 1 1 28
04 Hood, Jon……….. 1-3 1-1 4-4 3 1 4 0 7 1 1 0 1 15
05 Harris, Ramon……. 5-6 1-2 0-1 1 6 7 1 11 2 0 1 1 21
12 Krebs, Mark……… 2-2 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 7
21 Stevenson, Perry…. 2-2 0-0 4-4 0 2 2 2 8 1 1 1 1 19
33 Orton, Daniel……. 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 4
55 Harrellson, Josh…. 1-4 0-0 1-2 2 1 3 0 3 1 0 1 0 10
TEAM……………. 1 1
Totals………….. 42-71 8-16 25-30 17 30 47 18 117 27 12 10 9 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 21-36 58.3% 2nd Half: 21-35 60.0% Game: 59.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-8 37.5% 2nd Half: 5-8 62.5% Game: 50.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 13-15 86.7% 2nd Half: 12-15 80.0% Game: 83.3% 2,1
The Final Score was 117 UK to 52 Clarion. I can’t remember the last time that UK scored 117 points. Perhaps ’96 or ’97. Tubby didn’t score in the triple digits too often and Gillispie only had one game in the 100s. He lost that one. And I don’t remember a time that UK defeated a team by 65 points.
It is possible that this UK team will produce many firsts. I’m looking forward to seeing this season unfold.
I’m glad Patterson came back for this season. I understand Meeks leaving and the reasons he gave for leaving. Still I wish that he’d have come back. He deserved a season like the one forthcoming.
From KentuckySportsRadio: Kentucky wins this not-a-game 117-52. Best practice of the year, guys. Next time it counts.
From ESPN:
LEXINGTON, Ky. — John Wall proved to be worth the wait.
The heralded Kentucky freshman scored 27 points in his collegiate debut as the fourth-ranked Wildcats rolled past Clarion 117-52 on Friday night in an exhibition game.
“I asked him, ‘Is that your ‘A’ game?” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “He was pretty good.”
Maybe even better than advertised after Wall was forced to sit out Kentucky’s exhibition opener on Monday as part of an NCAA suspension for accepting improper benefits from his former AAU coach.
He didn’t waste any time getting comfortable against the Golden Eagles, an NCAA Division II school in western Pennsylvania.
Wall nearly outscored Clarion in the first half and showcased a little bit of everything, from a dunk to a 3-pointer to a nifty behind-the-back dribble for a layup.
“He’s the real deal,” Clarion coach Ron Righter said. “I hope (Kentucky) can keep him because he’s in another league.”
GO BIG BLUE!!!
AP All Amreica Team, John Calipari, John Wall, Kentucky Wildcats, Larry Vaught, Patrick Patterson
In Sports, UK Basketball, thinking out loud on November 4, 2009 at 3:37 am
Patrick Patterson was named AP First Team All American. Patterson is the first UK Basketball Team member to be named to the All America Team since Tayshaun Prince. If he makes the post-season team, he’ll be the first UK player so honored since Ron Mercer in 1997. Neither Smith nor Gillispie produced a post season All America honoree.
John Wall was named to the Second Team All Americas. Many folks in the Sports world are asking the obvious question. Does anyone really think that there are 8 or 9 players better in the NCAA than Wall. Had Wall been eligible for the NBA Draft, many believe that he would have been the Number One pick. He would at least been a Top 2 or 3 pick. I understand that he’s not played an NCAA game, yet. Even so, Wall is going to be one of the best 2 or 3 Collegiate players out there this year.
Here’s the AP First Team:
Luke Harangody – Notre Dame
Cole Aldrich – Kansas
Sherron Collins – Kansas
Patrick Patterson – Kentucky
Kyle Singler – Duke
***There is no way that Kyle Singler is going to have a better year than John Wall. Coach K must have paid some of his AMEX money as a bribe to the voters.
The 2009-2010 Season is going to be crazy awesome for this team and UK fans. A fitting end will be for Patrick Patterson and John Wall to be named First Team All America in the post-Season and for Patterson to be named the Player of the Year and bring the Adolph Rupp Trophy/Award home to Kentucky for the first time since it’s creation. They’ve also been named to the All Wooden Team.
That would make for an amazing year. Incredibly amazing.
“I was really excited when someone told me he was named All-American,” Kentucky sophomore Darius Miller said. “But he didn’t tell me or make a big deal out of it. Everybody was talking about it except Pat. He’s not really the type of person to brag on himself.”
Vaught’s Views on Patterson and the All America Honor
GO BIG BLUE!!!
Coach Al, John Calipari, John Wall, Kentucky, Kentucky Basektball, ncaa, the NCAA are idiots, UK
In Politics, Sports, UK Basketball, thinking out loud on October 31, 2009 at 4:56 pm
From the UKAA website:
Oct. 30, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky men’s basketball student-athlete John Wall has been certified with conditions by the NCAA. The conditions are repayment of expenses and a two-game withholding, including the first exhibition game versus Campbellsville (Nov. 2) and the first regular-season game against Morehead State (Nov. 13).
Wall, a 6-4 freshman point guard from Raleigh, N.C., was one of five freshmen on the Naismith Preseason watch list. A pre-season All-American according to several national publications, Wall was the top recruit in the country last season according to Rivals.com.
“I’m grateful to have this decision behind me. All I ever wanted was to go to school and play ball with my team,” said UK freshman John Wall. “This has been really hard for my mom and I want to thank her for her support during this process.”
The repayment of expenses includes a total of $787.58, consisting predominantly of travel expenses incurred during Wall’s unofficial visits to various institutions during his junior year at Word of God Christian Academy.
“We’re appreciative of the process and the NCAA’s willingness to listen,” said UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart. “The NCAA staff worked to keep the welfare of the student-athlete in mind throughout this process. I’m happy for Coach Calipari and John Wall that he will get a chance to represent the Wildcats this season. He’s a great young man and deserves to be able to concentrate fully on his academics and basketball.”
“John Wall is a great kid who always tries to do the right thing and his mother is a great lady,” said UK head coach John Calipari. “I’m just happy this is behind us.”
John Wall must repay 757.58 USD to his former AAU Coach. His AAU Coach was a registered, though, inactive agent. It’s a bunch of hogwash. The archaic NCAA rule book, though, is full of idiotic rules.
A Duke player can be paid. A USC player can be paid. ZERO repercussions to the program. Those two incidents were proven and the parties involved even publically admitted to the facts and allegations. A player is alleged to have cheated on an SAT. No proof mind you. The NCAA lays down sanctions.
What is the difference between what occurred at Duke and that which occurred at UMASS.
One thing: Coach K!
That is the only difference. Had it been any other coach or any other program and that Final Four banner would be gone from the official records. Oh yeah, and most of the press would be writing articles about it and how it’s the end of the world for Amateurism. Coach K could personally pay players. Get caught red handed. On video. Deny it. The NCAA would claim that it had no proof against him.
This time next year, I’m sure that the NCAA will re-open the investigation on John Wall. I’m sure that they’ll find something that they missed. I’m sure taht John Wall will be ruled retro-actively ineligible.
BUT! Only if UK and Coach Cal make it to the Final Four and Championship game. If UK bails out of the tournament in the Sweet 16 or below. No one will say a thing.
Big Cuz, Coach Cal, Daniel Orton, Darius Miller, Darnell Dodson, DeAndre Liggins, Demarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, John Calipari, John Wall, Jon Hood, Jorts, Josh Harrelson, Kentucky Basketball, Mark Krebs, Patrick Patterson, perry stevenson, Ramon Harris, UK, UK Basketball
In Sports, UK Basketball on October 27, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Here they are folks. This years Kentucky Wildcat Basketball Team.
Left to Right 2nd Row (Standing):
Jon Hood, Ramon Harris, Patrick Patterson, Daniel Orton, Demarcus “Big Cuz” Cousins, Josh “Jorts” Harrelson, Perry “Slim” Stevenson and Darnell “Ramel Bradley’s Twin” Dodson
Left to Right First Row (Seated):
Rod Strickland, Orlando Antiqua, Darius Miller, John Wall, Mark Krebs, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Liggins, John Calipari and Jon Robic
*Coaches in Black, Players in Blue
LEXINGTON, Ky. — John Calipari says he has felt like a political candidate during his first six months as Kentucky’s basketball coach, generating new hype with each campaign stop across the state even while trying to temper some lofty expectations.
“I’ve done enough,” Calipari said Thursday at the first official media day since leaving Memphis. “I’m waiting for election day. I was kissing babies, and I didn’t care if I won or lost the election. I just wanted it to happen.”
Calipari is well aware that the passionate UK fans care strongly about whether he wins or loses. They want wins — preferably in bunches.
The program’s recent buzz has been sparked not just by its energetic new leader but by his debut recruiting haul, a freshman class arguably the most touted since Michigan’s Fab Five.
Yet unlike that 1991-92 Wolverines team that reached the national title game with five freshman starters, Kentucky has plenty of experience to go along with the new blood. Patrick Patterson was an all-Southeastern Conference center last year during Kentucky’s National Invitation Tournament season. Kentucky’s roster is so deep, Calipari envisions Patterson playing some wing this year.
This is going to be a hell of a year. Big Pat is back on the scene with a mission. He’s got help from incoming Frosh John Wall, Big Cuz, Orton and Eric Bledsoe as well as Darius Miller and the remainder of the returning team.
Big things are expected and these guys can take care of business and meet those expectations. I can see making Final Four this season. Of course, everything will have to go right for the team. Keep the injuries down. Cohesion and Esprit de Corps will be important factors. With the Cal DDS system, there should be plenty of PT for all of the stars that make up this team. Cal has been to two Final Fours and I can see this being his 3rd with the possibility of going al the way to the Title Game and bringing home banner #8.
A year that doesn’t end in a National Championship will not be catastrophic. Less than a Final Four would surprise me. I see this team slicing through the SEC like a hot knife through butter. I’m sure there will be challenges, but, I see enough talent to overcome a few bouts with youth and inexperience.
Everything I read about John Wall says that the kid will be an instant player for Kentucky and Coach Cal. Big Cuz is supposed to be a monster. Daniel Orton should be a beast down low. Eric Bledsoe may be better than advertised which would be impressive as he’s supposed to be a future lottery pick. Darius Miller can take care of spot duty at the point and become an assassin on the wings. These things take place and it’s gonna be a huge year.
HUGE!
Bottom line is that Patrick Patterson didn’t come back for the hell of it. The man came back to get his. I’m hoping he gets it. Patrick Patterson leads this team to a Championship this year and he will go down in history as one of THE greats of Kentucky Basketball. He could well supplant Dan Issel as THE GREATEST.
GO BIG BLUE!!!
* Kentucky Men’s Basketball Yearbook
Alphabetical
| No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Ht./Wt. |
Cl./Exp. |
Hometown (Last School) |
| 24 |
Eric Bledsoe |
G |
6-1/190 |
FR/HS |
Birmingham, Ala. (Parker) |
| 15 |
DeMarcus Cousins |
F |
6-11/260 |
FR/HS |
Mobile, Ala. (LeFlore) |
| 3 |
Darnell Dodson |
G |
6-7/215 |
SO/TR |
Greenbelt, Md. (Miami-Dade CC) |
| 55 |
Josh Harrellson |
F |
6-10/265 |
JR/1L |
St. Charles, Mo. (SW Illinois College) |
| 5 |
Ramon Harris |
G/F |
6-7/218 |
SR/3L |
Anchorage, Alaska (West Anchorage) |
| 4 |
Jon Hood |
G |
6-6/195 |
FR/HS |
Madisonville, Ky. (North Hopkins) |
| 12 |
Mark Krebs |
G |
6-5/208 |
SR/2L |
Newport, Ky. (Newport Central Catholic) |
| 34 |
DeAndre Liggins |
G |
6-6/202 |
SO/1L |
Chicago, Ill. (Findley Prep) |
| 1 |
Darius Miller |
G |
6-7/223 |
SO/1L |
Maysville, Ky. (Mason County) |
| 33 |
Daniel Orton |
F |
6-10/255 |
FR/HS |
Oklahoma City, Okla. (Bishop McGuiness) |
| 54 |
Patrick Patterson |
F |
6-9/235 |
JR/2L |
Huntington, W.Va. (Huntington) |
| 21 |
Perry Stevenson |
F |
6-9/207 |
SR/3L |
Lafayette, La. (Northside) |
| 11 |
John Wall |
G |
6-4/195 |
FR/HS |
Raleigh, N.C. (Word of God) |
Billy Gillispie, circus, DUI, dumbass, John Calipari, Kentucky Basketball, Louisville Cardinals, Rick Pitino, UK Basketball
In UK Basketball on August 28, 2009 at 1:38 am
Mike DeCourcy on the troubles of Billy Gillispie, Rick Pitino and John Calipari:
2. So the Bluegrass State has the Pitino deal, the cloud hanging over UK coach John Calipari stemming from alleged violations at Memphis, and former Wildcats coach Billy Gillispie gets a DUI charge.
Can you rank them in order of who created the biggest PR nightmare for himself? Quote: DeCourcy:
No. 1 is obviously Gillispie. He already had two DUIs in his past from several years ago, plus the difficult tenure while he coached UK. In order to get back into college coaching, he needed to keep his record clean and allow athletic administrators to remember he once had terrific success at Texas A&M and UTEP, two difficult jobs. It is not going to be easy for him to become a college head coach again.
No. 2 is Pitino. The circumstances that led to him facing an alleged extortion attempt were outside the boundaries of good behavior and good taste — and then he exacerbated the problem by blaming the media for how much trouble they were causing his family. Well, that fooled no one. Radio talk shows in the state buzzed Wednesday night with callers pointing out it was Pitino who, with his admitted infidelity, caused whatever problems exist under his roof.
Calipari? He recruited Derrick Rose, whom any coach in America would have loved to sign, and played him after the NCAA approved his eligibility. What exactly was it he did wrong?
DeCourcy is dead on.
Rick Pitino created this whole problem. Rick brought the roof in over his own head. He had extra-marital sex. He covered it up. This is a scandal of his own creation. His own poor decision making cycle come full circle to bite him in his ass.
Billy Gillispie. The only guy who pisses me off more than Tubby Smith and his merry band of worshipers. After 9 or 10 years of Tubby, I knew that there was absolutely no hope of UK ever reaching the Final Four. Gillispie came in with fire and I really thought he was going to make things happen. Then he goes off the deep end. Forcing players to sit in toilet stalls and walk home alone from games and berating players so much so that they lose confidence. The only man who would tell Jodie Meeks to not shoot. What an idiot.
Now this idiot. In the middle of negotiations, that heretofore, he was winning. He grabs himself a DUI. Consider the lawsuit all but over. Gillispie will be lucky to walk away with 500 Grand and that is just so he’ll go away. UKAA should put a clause in that states that Gillispie can never utter, write or even think the words/thoughts “UK”, Kentucky, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Basketball or mention his tenure at the University. He must omit the years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 from his resume and is not permitted to explain the omission to future prospective employers. Lastly, he should never again be able to enter the Commonwealth of Kentucky or play against any SEC school at the Division 1 Level.
They should burn this guy. And then burn him in effigy. August 27th should become a Statewide day of celebration during which Billy Gillispie paper mache’ dolls are burned in effigy each year across the commonwealth.
What an idiot!
Then we have John Calipari. Recruited Derick Rose. Check. The NCAA granted him eligibility. Check. Then Calipari played Rose on a team that broke records and made it to the Championship game.
THEN…the NCAA–the National Collection of Asinine Assholes–comes back a year later and states that “OOPs! We made a mistake! But, it’s not our mistake. It’s the fault of Memphis!” And they want to enforce strict accountability on Memphis. But not on Duke. Not on the sacred cow named Coach K. And definitely not on the Holy One on High. The Holy of Holies. Coach John Wooden. Not on Pete Carrol. Only on the little guys at the little schools or the schools with Administrations that don’t fight back.
The NCAA is full of cowards. Memphis needs to fight. They need to file a lawsuit.
And the rest of the member schools need to join that fight. Especially the small schools. Duke boosters can provide housing and jobs for Duke Athletes. UCLA can have open and rampant cheating. USC can have guys being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars. Duke can have championship runs with Corey Maggette who admitted to taking money from his AAU coach while an “amateur.” But that’s not Coach K’s fault. He had no way of knowing. Duke had no way of knowing.
But somehow, Memphis was supposed to know that Rose had a guy take a test for him in Detroit, MI.
I guess Memphis should have escorted Rose to his test. But then that would have violated contact rules.
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
The NCAA is full of shit and so are half of the reporters out there who are calling for Calipari to be “punished” by the NCAA.
GO BIG BLUE, John Calipari, Kentucky Basketball, UK, UK Basketball
In Uncategorized on April 1, 2009 at 1:50 pm
At UMass, a nothing school on the college basketball landscape, John Calipari won like he was at Kentucky. At Memphis, a bigger basketball school than UMass but still nothing much to look at when he got there in 2000, Calipari won again like he was at Kentucky.
So what happens now that John Calipari is coaching Kentucky?
 |
|
| John Calipari will prove himself worthy of Kentucky fans’ applause. (Getty Images) |
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I’ll tell you what happens. Kentucky will win like it’s the Boston Celtics. John Calipari will prove himself worthy of Kentucky fans’ applause. John Calipari will prove himself worthy of Kentucky fans’ applause.
College basketball as you know it? It’s over. That sport doesn’t exist anymore, because that sport had a semblance of parity. One year North Carolina is the dominant program. One year it’s UConn. One year it’s Duke or UCLA or Florida. Maybe those teams don’t win the national title the year they’re dominant, or maybe they do. Either way, every year there is a team that, on paper, is the dominant program in college basketball. And every year it’s a different team.
Until now. Until John Calipari merges with Kentucky.
Once Calipari gets Kentucky rolling — and it won’t take him long — Kentucky will be that team. That dominant team. Every year?
Yes. Every year.
Things can go wrong, of course. Players can get hurt or ineligible. A scandal can come along out of nowhere, like the one rocking UConn at the moment. Kentucky itself has been laid low by NCAA violations, back when Eddie Sutton was running amok in Lexington. So things can happen.
But if none of those things happen … it’s over. College basketball will belong to Kentucky. Turn back the clock 50 or 60 years, because it’ll be like that all over again. Kentucky won three national championships in the four seasons between 1948-51. The Wildcats added another in 1958. What happened between 1951 and ’58? Three trips to the Elite Eight happened. Not even a point-shaving scandal could slow Kentucky down. The Wildcats didn’t field a team in 1953 because of that scandal, then went 25-0 in 1954, but were held out of the NCAA tournament.
The coach then was Adolph Rupp. When he retired in 1972, he had won 876 games, more than anyone in college basketball history. His record stood for 25 years. Rupp was that good at Kentucky.
John Calipari would be that good at Kentucky, too. How could he not? He has been Kentucky-good at places that couldn’t hold Kentucky’s jock.
In 1988, Calipari went to Massachusetts, which hadn’t been to the NCAA tournament in more than 25 years, and soon he was making it look easy. UMass averaged 29 wins per season from 1992-96, and reached the 1996 Final Four. There was the Marcus Camby scandal, with Camby’s relationship to an agent costing him his eligibility and UMass its spot in the Final Four, and heads will roll if that happens at Kentucky.
But if that doesn’t happen, Calipari will win huge. He’ll win like he won at Memphis, where he won at least 33 games in each of the past four seasons and reached the 2008 NCAA title game.
Calipari will win like that at Kentucky, and maybe as soon as Year 1. Kentucky has two future pros, forward Patrick Patterson and guard Jodie Meeks, but neither is quite ready for the NBA. If they come back, and if Calipari brings just two of the incoming freshman studs he has lined up at Memphis — say, Xavier Henry and DeMarcus Cousins — Kentucky would enter next season among the preseason favorites to win the national title. One year after going to the NIT.
Calipari is that good, because he attracts that kind of talent. You can question how he attracts that talent, and you can question the character of some of the talent he attracts, and those are legitimate issues for someone to tackle. But those are issues for another day.
Today, the issue is the merger of John Calipari and Kentucky basketball. He’s going to get that school rolling again, because that’s what he does. UMass had been stalled for 25 years, but he got that program up and rolling. Memphis had been stuck in neutral until he got that place rolling.
He’ll get Kentucky rolling, too. Heaven help anyone who gets in the way.
Basketball, John Calipari, Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA Basketball, UK
In Uncategorized on March 30, 2009 at 11:15 pm
This is the best UK news since 1996 and 1998.
According to more sources than I can count, Coach Calipari IS the next Basketball Coach at the University of Kentucky.
WELCOME!
And may the Gods grant you TREMENDOUS SUCCESS and DOMINANCE over all you survey…
GO BIG BLUE!!!
I could not be happier with the way things have turned out. This makes the past 4 years seem as if naught but a moment has passed.
UK is back!
I’ll say it again.
UK IS BACK!!!
GET READY. Kentucky is going to start cuttin’ some nets!
Jay Bilas on why Calipari should go to UK
Kentucky on Cal’s Mind
Calipari, 252-69 in nine seasons at Memphis and 445-140 overall, was named the Sports Illustrated coach of the year before the start of the NCAA tournament, the first time he received SI’s award. Calipari was the Naismith coach of the year last season, joining Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski as the only coaches to be named twice to the award since its inception in 1987.
Calipari went 193-71 in eight seasons at Massachusetts from 1988 to 1996, culminating with an Elite Eight appearance in ’95 and a trip to the Final Four in ’96.
Calipari, a graduate of Clarion State (Pa.) in 1982, also coached the NBA’s New Jersey Nets from 1996 to ’98, going 72-112 before his ouster early in the 1998-99 season.
On John Calipari
Calipari attracts his own set of assumptions.
But he can absolutely coach. And in the two years since I wrote my last take on whether he should come to UK, he has shown that he can take a team to the elite level, and that he can attract some of the best talent in college basketball and craft a system in which that talent can thrive.
I suppose if you’re UK, the best case scenario is that Calipari can use the power of the program’s prestige to get in on the very best talent every year, and that the program’s in-place safeguards can ward off some of the less-savory assumptions, if not elements. You bank on the fact that the NCAA has not stuck anything on Calipari in his blindingly successful time in Memphis.
But you’d also better understand — those assumptions that follow Calipari, will now attach themselves to your program. Which, while among the most storied in college basketball, is also one of the most penalized in college basketball.
I suppose my bottom line is that I have more of an appreciation for Calipari as a coach than I had two years ago.
The reward — big-time success and exposure — is a given. But the spotlight at Kentucky is very bright. And if anything turns up in the glare, fans in Lexington need only cast a glance up to Bloomington to see the risks involved.
It’s still a risk for UK. But it appears to be a Cal-culated risk that UK may well be ready to take.
IT IS OFFICIAL!!! COACH CAL is now Coach of the Big Blue Nation!
GO CATS!!!
GO BIG BLUE!!!
Take a moment and let me know how you feel about this hire. I know I”m excited as hell. And don’t worry. No comment will be censored. I’d just like to know how the BBN feels about the hire.
Peace, Dave
(reporting from Afghanistan. lol)
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