For the past couple of years, I don’t know where I’d be without you guys.
Thanks for all the information, game previews, game recaps and all the other stuff that you guys do on the blog.
I’ve been overseas for a while now and without you guys, I’d be blind on Kentucky Sports.
P.S. WildcatRick hooks me up, too (so don’t get sulky Rick…lol)
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.
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.
Time to man up Coach G!
What do you think?
During the Tennessee game. This pass had me running around the room screaming like a mad man at 2 AM.
Damn, it’s good to be a Kentucky fan!
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.
Associated Press
Meeks gets 45 in 79-63 Win over Arkansas and John Pelphrey
Gillispie talks about Galloway and Patterson.
Next victim: Vanderbilt!
Jay Bilas has an opinion and I like it.
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.
Crazy…
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 cumberlandredskinHere’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?post by JayB: Minnesota….True fans will anyways
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]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-BM234_elex05_20080520154334.jpg)
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.
Gillispie gets another one.
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.
Vinny Zollo Interview with Marc Maggard
Interesting commentary on “forward recruiting” from A Sea of Blue
WCN recruting Vinny Zollo page
Opinions, comments, smart remarks?
Mr Bill Keightley aka Mister Wildcat honored this year in CBS’s National Championship One Shining Moment Video Montage.
Being left speechless is a rarity for this reporter for those of you who know me.
As I looked at the lives of both men, the quality that stands out the most is loyalty.
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:
Or as Kentucky forward Perry Stevenson remarked when asked what Wildcats fans expect from their beloved basketball team: “Seven championships in six years.”
Hilarious and a nugget of truth as well.
“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.
I hope y0u enjoy.
That’s the claim at any rate.
I laughed when I read the statement. Then I had to ask myself; “Who on earth is Don Meyers and who are the Northern State Wolves?” Ranked #15 Nationally at what? Over the past few years, High School powerhouse Oak Hill has been ranked #1 nationally several times. Good for them. It’s just not the same as being the #1 or # 25 ranked NCAA Division 1 Team. Likewise with a JUCO Coach or a Division II Coach and All Time Wins. No comparison. Period. End of story. End of debate.
The Keloland TV Station website is claiming that Northern State Coach Don Meyer has surpassed Adolph Rupp on the All Time Wins list. Claiming that Coach Meyers is now Number 3 and Coach Rupp is now down to Number 4. I have to call them on this one. I think it’s bogus. There is no comparison. If you are going to include Division II schools on the same list as Division 1 schools, we may as well include JUCO and the lower Divisions as well. Why not lump in High School Coaches as well?
I’m sure that Don Meyer is a fine coach. I’m sure he has accomplished much down there in the little leagues. That said, it’s no comparison.
Adolph Rupp won four NCAA Championships. He won the NIT when it was the BIG GAME in town. He placed so many players on the All America lists that they named the NCAA National Player of the Year Award after him. Adolph Rupp coached 28 future NBA’rs. The 1948 USA Olympic Basketball Team consisted of 7 Kentucky players and the starters from the ‘48 Philips 66 Oilers Championship team. Coach Rupp was assistant Coach to Bud Browning of the Phillips 66 Oilers. Coach Rupp has a 23,000 seat capacity Arena with 7 National Championship banners flying inside.
A Division II coach is not on the same plane of existence as the Baron of the Bluegrass. No debate necessary. That’s why it hasn’t made the news on any real level. It’s not news. Keloland TV is erroneous in it’s statement that Don Meyers has passed anyone on the All Time Wins list. It’s a pipe dream and it’s up in smoke. A Coach at Division II should not be mentioned in the same breath as Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith and Bob Knight. You may as well include Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp on the list of All Time Winning NBA Coaches. You just can’t do it. 800 wins at Division II–while a great achievement at that level–does not compare to 800 wins at Division 1.
This is the House that Rupp built.
Coach Rupp was interviewed by Claude Sullivan after the 1966 National Championship loss to the Texas Western Miners.
Claude Sullivan: OK, well it’s a tough one to give tonight because everybody in Kentucky and on this Standard Oil network, who was listening. I know that almost everyone of them was for these Kentucky Wildcats. And of course, it’s a heart-breaking thing because a journey that Adolph Rupp talked about earlier that began back in December, ended here on heartbreak highway tonight. For the Wildcats who now are sitting dejectedly across the floor. They came into this thing heavily favored, maybe that hurt them. The way these Washington papers played it up today as no contest, they thought Kentucky was going to walk away with it, maybe that hurt the Wildcats more than anything else.
Adolph Rupp: Seems, they made about 17 more free throws than we made, and I think that was the entire story of the game. We made, more, five more field goals than they made, that’s the fact of the case. But we didn’t play very good tonight. Texas Western made a lot of mistakes against our press, and I was sure we’d catch them. But I think it will show that the shooting average tonight did not take care of us at all. In the first half it was 33%, and I don’t believe it was much better than that in the second half.
And I’ve always told you on this program that shooting has taken care of us, but tonight it didn’t. And I don’t think we had a single boy that played up to par tonight.
Claude Sullivan: Coach Rupp I’m sure that a lot of people will be asking you, ‘How good is Texas Western’ ?
Adolph Rupp: Well, the way they handled the ball tonight, it’s a good ball club. I put them in the same class with Michigan, I put them in the same class with Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, teams like that. I think they’re a good ball club. They hit tonight, they hit very well tonight. They hit the clutch baskets when they needed it. We got them down there in the second half, I think we got them down to one point one time, two points another time, but we never could get the clutch basket. And it was our shooting that hurt us tonight. We missed shots. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the rebounding doesn’t show that we stayed on the boards with them pretty well, in spite of the fact that they’re much bigger than we were. But we just couldn’t shoot well.
Claude Sullivan: Coach Rupp did you feel that in the beginning of the game when after nine minutes you only had nine points, that it was bound to break for you with such a slow start.
Adolph Rupp: Yep, I told the boys at the half, I said we can’t play a miserable second half the way we played this first half. We gave them four baskets the first half that we shouldn’t have given to them. And, those two steals. I told the boys in the locker room, just before they came out at the beginning of the ball game, that they double team the boy bringing the ball up. But you can’t dribble the ball with your head down and not look around to see what’s going on, and that’s exactly what happened. Those were the two baskets, I believe, that hurt us early in the ball game. Then we gave another one by throwing the ball away, and they took it and threw it in and it got them a six point lead. And we never were able to get the momentum going after that. We started pressing a little bit then then and I think that’s the story.
Claude Sullivan: Well we’ll be back here at College Park talking with Coach Rupp in just one minute.
Claude Sullivan: Well the college basketball season is over, Coach Rupp, what are the plans now ?
Adolph Rupp: Well it’s been a long year, it’s been a good year, it’s been a better year than any of us ever dreamed it would be. Now then of course we’ve got to go out, we had a miserable recruiting year last year, one of the worst we’ve ever had. And we’ve got to go out and find us some boys, with size. This little button kid has gotten us an awful long way but, but it proves what I’ve been saying all year long, that when you get in there with those big guys who can dunk that thing, you’re going to be in trouble and that hurt us tonight, badly here. This team was very quick, they’re very fast, and although we did have five more field goals, they stepped up to that free throw line, they just got all the breaks in that way. So, I guess we just have to start a new string somewhere along the way and that’s just the way it’s going to be.
Claude Sullivan: Well, Coach Rupp, thank you very much for the visit, not only tonight but all season. We’ve certainly enjoyed being with you, it’s been wonderful. We’ve enjoyed it, and we’ll look forward to another year.
Adolph Rupp: Claude, thank you and thanks to the sponsors who have made this program possible, and I’ll come up and help you broadcast one of the Reds baseball games some day.
Claude Sullivan: Needed, he will be a knee high. Thank you coach and we’ll hold you to that promise.
Here at courtside at College Park Maryland, the Baron Rupp has bowed out for another college basketball season with a record of 27 and 2. Finished second in the NC double A’s, but for the first time in five tries, has lost the championship game.
________________________________________________
I always enjoy hearing or reading Coach Rupp talk about Basketball. I’ve recently purchased two of his books on coaching basketball. I purchased some original reel to reel footage of Rupp as well. Eventually, I plan on posting clips of Coach Rupp on here. Note in his comments the need then for the big man and the challenges of finding quality bigs. Gillispie is confronting that same challenge today. Another similarity to the present. Coach Rupp was a huge proponent of the Man to Man Defense. He felt that Zone Defenses should be used sparingly if at all. Gillispie is also similar to Rupp in that he is hot and heavy on discipline and conditioning.
