Last night, my neighborhood was one of many who lost power during the storms and led to a chain of events that prevented blogging today.  But thankfully, JC25 has my back.

Now, for today's links (and a few from yesterday):

• Chat: Chat with Dave Telep - SportsNation - ESPN
  Want to catch up on basketball recruiting? You can't do any better than Dave Telep, and he has a ton of stuff in this chat transcript.

• What conference fared best in APR? - College Basketball Nation Blog - ESPN

  This stuff isn't always within a coach's control. And coaches can game the system to produce the results they want. But coaches who complain about the current system hampering recruiting or draft opportunities probably need to simmer down. If Kentucky can do it despite having five players drafted in the first round of the 2010 draft, I'm guessing other programs don't have much to complain about.

  Heh.  Word.

• PISTONS: Landing Spot -- Kanter this years' DeMarcus Cousins

  More and more, it looks like Enes Kanter is this year’s version of DeMarcus Cousins – the player generally considered the best big man in the draft, and one that probably will be out of reach for the Pistons, yet given a slight chance to drop to their range because of some nagging questions.

  Interesting take.

• The Return of Jones and Lamb Makes a Big Difference :: kentucky.straitpinkie.com

• SLAM ONLINE | " Draft: Brandon Knight, No. 3

  Knight’s upside is higher than Walker’s, and some argue Knight may even turn out better than Kyrie Irving. He is a silent killer, saucing the competition at every level he’s played. He averaged 33 points per game his senior year of high school, then posted a relatively quiet 17, 4, and 4 in Lexington. His crafty arsenal of moves, endless motor, and tremendous upside make him the fourth pick.

  I think he meant "third pick" there, but he makes an excellent case for Knight at that spot.

• What is Jim Delany up to? :: Barking Carnival
  No good, most likely.

• No More Pretend Time — The Lockout is Around the Corner :: All Celtics, All The Time

• 2012 Mock Draft :: NBADraft.net
  Interesting. I don't buy Terrence Jones at 14, though.

• THE CURIOUS INDEX, 5/25/2011 - Every Day Should Be Saturday
  Heh. Very funny.

• Alabama Basketball: Breaking Down the 2011 Recruiting Class :: isportsweb
  I wonder if the Alabama Crimson Tide fans truly appreciate what they have in Anthony Grant?

• Vol Villains Quarterfinals: John Calipari vs. Geno Auriemma - Rocky Top Talk

  Cal has beaten very successful Tennessee teams, but again, Auriemma has beaten a number of Lady Vol squads that would've been National Champions had the outcome been different. They are excellent villains to have in our two biggest basketball rivalries (you know, if UT and UConn would actually play again). But there can be only one.

  Heh.

• CoachCal.com :: Pleased by the APR and Proud of the Program

• SEC Plans to Discuss Oversigning Reforms - WSJ.com

  The Southeastern Conference plans on discussing ways to address oversigning—the practice of signing more players than a team has room for—at its meetings next week in Destin, Fla.

  Good.  This has been going on too long.

• Ray Small tells all: Ex-Buckeye says he sold memorabilia, some players don't 'think about' rules
  More allegations surrounding memorabilia and car-selling in Columbus.

• UK recruiting: Point guard Harrow picks Kentucky :: Lexington Herald-Leader
• Kentucky goes transfer route, gets Ryan Harrow - CBSSports.com

• Accused Auburn tree poisoner pleads not guilty - College football- NBC Sports
  There's a crime I've never heard of -- "desecrating a venerated object."

• NBA.com's Dortch sees a "place up there" in NBA for Kentucky's Liggins :: Vaught's Views

• Kentucky has a new emphasis in the gym - SEC Blog - ESPN
  It's so good to have Rock Oliver back. Only he would focus on the neck as an important part of strength training, but it makes a lot of sense for football players.

• Kentucky Sports Radio :: Which Role Player Do You Want To See Make ‘The Leap’?
  All of them? Seriously, the players we need most to make the leap next year are Vargas and Hood.

• All eyes on UK softball this weekend

  Since receiving official word Sunday night that the UK Softball Complex would be one of eight sites to host a Super Regional, Kentucky officials have been busy transforming what was once a 500-seat venue into a 1,200-seat facility that has the feel of a big-time college softball stadium.

  This is a big deal for UK softball.  I am very excited about the games this weekend.

• Woolard Hired as Associate AD of Basketball Operations

• UK athletics committee addresses support of football program | University of Kentucky Sports News | Lexington Herald-Leader

  "We're very competitive," [Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart] told members of the Finance Committee. "Are we going to be first? Certainly not. . . (But) We're not in the position that everybody has made us out to be."

  Hmm.  This is different, coming from a "football" guy.

• Barnhart: Henderson will return
  I think it's too soon to fire him, but he must be considered on the "hot seat."

• $1.95 million in Commonwealth Stadium upgrades passed Thursday