Josh Harrellson puts in 23 points and grabs 14 rebounds in the win over the hated Louisville Cardinals and Quick Rick. Brandon Knights led all scorers with 25 points. Deandre Liggins did his thing and shut down every hot hand that attempted to score. Swatting one Siva ball into the stands. Liggins and Harrellson are exactly what this team needs for a good run in the tournament. Senior Leadership.
Cal has done wonders with these kids.
In four years, Cal will have a good mix of Seniors, Juniors and One Year Wonders. It’s gonna get nasty. You almost feel for the Cards as they’re so far behind the power curve that they can’t catch up. But, don’t…they deserve their Pitino and everything else that happens to that program.
And Dr Dunkenstein ain’t walkin’ through that door Little Ricky.
We just happened to be in Istanbul this week as the Pete Thamel/NCAA created Hullaballoo over our Big Blue Turkish Bro goes into overdrive. With that in mind, we headed out to Aya Sophia and the Sultanahmet Mosque in the Sultanahmet District to grab a couple of photos with our “FREE ENES” sign.
Turkey has been the friendliest country on this years Big Trip through the Middle East. I’ve been here a couple of days now and have been out walking in the city and sightseeing with Unny and Becca. Everyone has been friendly. No scary, angry or freaked out faces staring at us over our clothes or our shoes or our scarves or whatever. People here seem to be Euro oriented and the religious overtones that were so heavy in Jerusalem and Cairo are non-existent here. So far, it’s been a nice stay.
Off to Ephesus and Pammalukke tomorrow. We’ll see the Temple of Artemis which will be awesome as it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
I wonder if anyone will match the “buy now” price.
John Wall is popular, but, is he that popular. Those Jerseys were extremely difficult to obtain. I was able to get a John Wall Jersey for myself and my girlfriend and a friend of mine. They sold out almost instantly online and in the store.
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.
So says Seth Davis at the half time show of the UCONN/PITT Game.
Either Seth is mad on crack or Billy G has some explainin’ to do. But that would explain the inconsistencies of the past season. Why Gs head and heart seem to be in and out of the game this year. Maybe he doesn’t like the fishbowl. Can’t handle the pressure.
If so. If he did seek that employment opportunity, I hope he leaves after this season. Simply resigns and moves on. But I hope he mans up and does so in time for UK to hire someone with time left to recruit and keep those 5 Star recruits that are lined up for UK already.
Maybe he can simply switch places with Travis Ford. Perhaps, Kentucky needs a favored son to lead it back to the mountain top.
Who knows. Perhaps G isn’t in the right place. Whatever happens, I hope he either signs that contract and makes Kentucky home or he makes up his mind to depart.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jodie Meeks scored 45 points, setting a Bud Walton Arena record and leading short-handed Kentucky to an easy 79-63 win over Arkansas on Saturday.
Meeks scored 22 points in the first half and 23 in the second, capping his spectacular performance with a two-handed dunk with just over a minute to play. He helped the Wildcats (18-7, 7-3 Southeastern Conference) withstand the absence of center Patrick Patterson, who sprained an ankle in Tuesday night’s win over Florida.
The rebuilding Razorbacks (13-10, 1-9) were without suspended point guard Courtney Fortson. Michael Washington and Stefan Welsh scored 14 points each for Arkansas.
Meeks, a junior, went 17-of-24 from the field and 7-of-12 from 3-point range, breaking the 40-point mark for the third time this season.
So I’m standing outside the Regional Police HQ in Herat. Waiting to head back to base. We’re smoking and joking with the Afghan Police who are heading out to lunch. When up walks this guy:
And to my surprise…DUDE HAS A KENTUCKY WILDCATS hat on his head. One of those old tobagons (presently called a beanie) from the 70s or 80s.
Couldn’t help myself. I started laughing and told the guy that he had to stop and take a photo with me. I tried to get my terp to get the words in the pic. If you look closely, you can make it out. “Kentucky Wildcats”
We posed for the pic and I thanked him. And laughed all the way home about the incident.
The hat must have been a donation from some Kentucky fan and found it’s way to the Humanitarian Aid program heading to Afghanistan.
In 1997, Pitino left the University of Kentucky to take the head coaching position at the Boston Celtics. One of the most storied programs in NBA history. 12 Championships (now). More stars came out of Boston than the Milky Way. Russell and Bird to name the greatest.
Almost ten years later, Tubby Smith, Pitinos successor, leaves UK for…Minnesota. Yes, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers. HUH?
Most UK fans didn’t mind that Pitino left for the Celtics. He was going to a storied program. He was being paid handsomely. HUGELY. He was off to his next challenge. AND…people were a little put off by his constant flirtations with the NBA. Some suspected that these flirtations were hurting recruiting. There is probably some truth here as his final recruiting class had one commit. J.P. Blevins who had committed when he was in 8th grade.
Pitino left. Smith stepped in.
Ten years later. Smith leaves for the Golden Gophers. It would be funny if it weren’t so sad. Why did he leave? Because he couldn’t handle the pressure? Because he could not meet the expectations of running an elite program? He could not get to the Final Four on his own. 16 or 17 years of Coaching and his championship team was created by another coach. The man can not recruit a complete team. He can’t coach talent. Tubby Smith takes talent and clamps it to the floor. He can take decent talent and put together decent teams. But when those decent teams ran into real talent, the inevitable occurred. They lost.
So Tubby took his sorry act to Minnesota who paid handsomely for his services.
And now, Kentucky has these damned Smith fans, who constantly make stupid comments like this:
Originally Posted by cumberlandredskin
Here’s a link to the entire article. One thing that may bring some interest is that Minnesota will play Louisville in Phoenix this season. I wonder who UK fans will be rooting for in this one?
Louisville will play Minnesota in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m hoping that the Gophers and Smith are humiliated. Smith is the greater traitor in UK history. The man spent the better part of the his last season planning his escape to Minnesota.
I won’t go into all of the old Tubby arguments or the reasons that Smith is a loser when it comes to his final dealings with UK and his former players (December contacts, no contact with his guys at UK after he left even after they had attempted to contact him). It’s well documented even if some refuse to acknowledge.
As a Kentucky fan there will never come a day that I will cheer for a “Ten Loss Tubby” coached team. For a UK fan to hold Orlando “TLT” Smith in great esteem is a slap in the face to the University of Kentucky. Let these fools go root for the Gophers and leave UK fans in peace.
So, here’s to the Gophers being crushed and Pitino tripping and falling on his face on the way to the postgame handshake. lol
Good news for fans of the Big Blue. Matt Jones at KSR is reporting that the Point Guard duo will be eligible for play next year. This is GREAT news for UK Basketball as I beleive it ensures at least 26 wins and a promise of at least a Sweet 16 appearance this season.
Gillispie is bringing in the talent. UK Basketball will continue to improve under Gillispie.
Great news Cats fans. UK is back.
Look for Liggins to start right away at PG. Kevin Galloway should spell both guard positions unless Meeks is not 100% at the beginning of the season.
The 2nd year of the Gillispie Era is going to be a good year to be a Cat fan. This team is gonna sneak up on some folks. I hope they punch UNC in the mouth and lay ‘em out on the floor. That would be a hell of a way to start the season.
Clinton won the Kentucky primary. But it’s a victory of scant political value in a Democratic presidential race moving inexorably in Obama’s direction. The Illinois senator is favored to win in Oregon, where 52 delegates are at stake.
I knew my State would repudiate that mad charlatan. Good Job, Kentucky!
NOW. Do the right thing and vote for John McCain in the general election.
It’s being reported over at the Catspause by Jeff Drummond and Crew that Vinny Zollo has committed to play for Billy Gillispie at the University.
Zollo is a 6′ 7″ 215lb Power Forward out of Ohio. He’s expected to grow to 7″. But he’s no Giant Project in the Tubby Smith recruiting mold. This kid is highly regarded and has a reputation as an extremely hard worker.
According to KSR, he’s a huge Tyler Hanborough fan. That’s fine by me. Psycho T is a great college basketball player.
Good Job Coach G. Keep ‘em coming.
Welcome aboard the Big Blue Train Vinny! Looking forward to watching you win that Championship.
I guess the important thing to do is follow my dad’s advice. Yikes, did I really just say that? But, seriously though, father knows best and he told me to love what you do and it won’t feel like work.
Nuxhall and Keightley followed those words until they left this world. And while it is sad to think that two legends in their own rights are gone, hopefully we can learn from the lives they led.
Jenny Elder Richmond Register
The Keightley family requests memorial donations be made to:
The Bill Keightley “Mr. Wildcat” Basketball Managers Scholarship Fund
UK Office of Development
100 Sturgill Development Buildings
Lexington, KY 40506-0015.
The Cats make the tournament in 2008 as an 11 seed in the West Region. A 12-4 run in the SEC regular season makes it possible.
First opponent: Marquette. 2:30 EDT in Anahem, California
UK has met Marquette in the NCAAs 9 times. This will be the 10th. Marquette has won the last two meetings with UK in the tournament. The last being the year that Dwayne Wade showcased his NBA Superstar potential and Bogans broke his ankle in the Wisconsin game. I haven’t seen any Marquette games this year. But from all I’ve read, UK is a slight favorite for an upset bid in round 1. If UK loses this game, it will be the first 1st round loss in over 15 years.
From the UK presser today, an interesting tidbit. Perry Stevenson was asked about UK fan expectations. Here’s the quote:
“We became a blue-collar team,” Stevenson said. “We come out and scrap and fight.”
As you can see, Perry Stevenson is UK’s shot blocking phenom. Here’s to him swatting a dozen or so Marquette shots today. His emergence along with Jasper and Ramon Harris are the reasons that UK can still win minus Patrick Patterson. Perry really picked up his play though. A fairly amazing transformation from his Frosh campaign.
Perry has benefited from the loss of Patrick Patterson somewhat. Pat being out has given Perry room to grow and experience this year. I don’t think he would have been forced to grow as much if Pat was still in the game. Next year should see those two wreaking havoc down low and inside/out on teams. With the additions coming in, I think UK will be in fine shape for 2009.
But first this season must be played out:
GO CATS!!! BEAT MARQUETTE!!!
For all of you doubters, I’ll leave you with this:
“He just had so much belief in us,” Bradley said. “It was hard to doubt ourselves.”
Ramel Bradley on Coach Gillispie
I say the Cats advance in a bruiser. Final Score: Cats – 56 Golden Eagles – 50
Nothing wrong with that. This little “commercial” is from a Basketball Reel to Reel that I was able to get off of ebay a few years back. I had it converted to digits and now that I have a way to share it (this blog), I’ll be posting it on the blog over the next week. It’s a three part film on Individual Offense. It’s part of a larger effort with three other coaches and Coach Rupp explaining different aspects of the game. Of course, the game has changes a bit since these coaches were in their prime. I can’t find any information on the film on the web and the actual reels are in my storage room back in Kentucky. But I’ll post as much back ground information as I can gather.
I always find it interesting to hear Coach Rupp talking. You can tell the man has a love for Basketball and for the University of Kentucky. He smiles a lot in this film and talks to his team. From what I’ve read, he didn’t do that often in practice. So these film productions may have been a welcome respite from what I’ve read were immensely difficult practices in the Rupp Era. This film gives a quickshot of Harry Lancaster–Rupp’s longtime assistant.
![[Clinton]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-BM234_elex05_20080520154334.jpg)
