Big Blue Nation Linkapalooza: All About The Madness Edition

Today's Linkapalooza is all about the reviews of Big Blue Madness, some stuff about other "Madnesses," and a bit about conference realignment.

• Eric Lindsay writes about the freshmen at Big Blue Madness.

  "I was nervous at first, seeing 24,000 people out there," said Anthony Davis, who is widely regarded as the top freshman in the nation. "I didn’t know what to do. My first shot, I missed an easy layup."

• Guy Ramsey writes about the top five moments at Big Blue Madness.

  Matthew Mitchell didn't do a tongue-wagging dunk like that MJ, but he did break out a white glove a la Michael Jackson.

• Full text of John Calipari's speech during Big Blue Madness,

  I liked this part:

  We do more than move the needle, we are the needle. ... We Are UK.

• Kyle Tucker writes about Big Blue Madness.

  It was a showman’s speech on a night that was one big, glitzy production meant to fire up the fans and entice recruits. There were several of the latter — all heavily sought from coast to coast — in attendance Friday.

• Dana O'Neil writes about Madness.

  Welcome to Big Blue Madness, an idol-worshiping of teenagers that would make Justin Bieber jealous. There was a countdown clock, pyrotechnics, dancing, locked-out NBA stars, spotlights, and even a little basketball tossed in.

• James Pennington quantifies Big Blue madness with at dB meter.

  The loudest sequence of the night was the introduction of a group of UK alumni now in the NBA, and the loudest single moment came from within that sequence when John Wall was introduced. Wall’s introduction spiked the meter at 110.1 decibels.

• Anthony Wireman has video of a couple of Madness moments.
• Clay Jackson has several nice photos of Madness.
• True Blue Kentucky says Teague is ready to work.
• USA Today says Big Blue Madness was extravagant.

• Midnight madness around the NCAA.

  Coach John Calipari made it clear what this season's goal is by saying it's time to turn the page from anticipation to preparation.

• Mike DeCourcy says that Calipari has the parts. The question is how to arrange them.

  Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness celebration Friday evening was as much a rock show as a basketball exhibition, as much a political convention as an athletic event.
  
  There were enough flashing lights to give an eggplant a migraine. The pulsating music might have broken windows in Frankfort. And it was punctuated by a 10-minute speech from UK coach John Calipari, a figure so polarizing he ought to have his own show on the Fox News channel.

• Vandy has first madness in 6 years - College basketball- NBC Sports

  Stallings sent 3,500 fans at Memorial Gymnasium into pandemonium when he made a half-court shot from behind his back — on the first try.

  3500?  Really?

• Andy Katz writes that the Big East has invited 5 schools to join.

  If all goes according to plan, the Big East will end up replacing outgoing Pittsburgh, Syracuse and TCU with full-time members Houston, Southern Methodist and Central Florida, while adding Air Force and Boise State in football only.

• ESPN Reports that Boise St. not jumping at the chance to join the Big East

  The official said Boise State has concerns about the commitment of the Big East's current members.

• 2 Jayhawks freshmen can't play this season - College basketball- NBC Sports

  If all goes according to plan, the Big East will end up replacing outgoing Pittsburgh, Syracuse and TCU with full-time members Houston, Southern Methodist and Central Florida, while adding Air Force and Boise State in football only.

• David Briggs of the Columbia Daily Tribune writes that the cost of leaving a conference is negotiable.

  The letter of the law is deceptive. Per Big 12 bylaws, schools must give two year’s notice to leave the conference. If Missouri alerts the Big 12 between six months and one year before leaving, 90 percent of its conference television revenue over a two-year period would be withheld. MU expects to earn about $13 million this year, which would mean a projected $23.4 million penalty.
  
  But one former sports agent compared the conference contract to the astronomical room prices posted on the inside of hotel doors.
  
  "No one ever pays that amount," said Robert Boland, who teaches sports business at New York University.