Big Blue Linkapalooza: Memorial Weekend Edition

We'll be catching up on the stories from this weekend, and they are many.  The big news is that Jim Tressel has resigned as head coach of the Ohio St. Buckeyes.  This is a serious blow to one of the great football programs in America.  Of course, they will recover, but what can it mean that both OSU and the Michigan Wolverines will likely suffer through NCAA sanctions at about the same time?  You have to think that the Big Ten's reputation for NCAA compliance has been dragged down to near the level of the SEC and Pac 10, at least for the moment.

In other news, Kevin Ware has allegedly committed to Louisville.  Hopefully, that lasts longer than his commitment to UCF.  I wonder if Brandon Bender was involved?

Now, for the rest of the news:

• The Jiri Welsch-Rajon Rondo Connection
  Sometimes, a weak player can make you strong.

• Rush The Court :: Who’s Got Next? Illegal Benefits, Kentucky Spotlight, Shabazz Muhammad and More…
  Lots of good recruiting stuff here.

• UKAA fields questions on academics, football funding :: Lexington Herald-Leader

  Although the meetings were called to approve an $83.6 million budget for 2011-12, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and UK president Lee Todd repeatedly noted how UKAA's donation to the school exceeded the $1.7 million annual allocation for non-athletic scholarships. That included an additional $2.1 million generated from licensing fees in 2010-11 and a $1.8 million payment for the use of UK offices and services.

  Good to see athletics defend itself against charges they aren't doing enough. They never will, for some, even if they give every penny they earn to the school.

• 2011 NBA Draft: Point Guard Prospectus | NBADraft.net

  Brandon Knight (Freshman, Kentucky): The freshman from Kentucky is gaining momentum as the second highest rated point guard in this year’s class. Some analysts would argue that he is a better overall prospect than Irving due to his athleticism and his clutch body of work in college. Knight possesses terrific size for a point guard standing 6’3" with a 6’7" wingspan. The Kentucky product is a solid athlete with a real knack for scoring. That being said, it’s difficult to find a great comparison for Knight in the context of today’s crop of young NBA point guards. Knight is a bit more explosive than his classmate, Irving, but he’s not at the level of Derrick Rose or John Wall. He is a better perimeter shooter than Rose or Wall were during their freshman campaigns, but Knight does not convert at the rim with the success of his John Calipari-coached predecessors.

  Read the whole thing.

• Identifying the top over/underachievers in college basketball's modern history :: ESPN
  For those of you who dislike Pat Forde, you might want to skip this.

• USC will be watching to see how Ohio State fares - Sports- NBC Sports

  The severity of the penalties is almost unprecedented in major college football. The refusal of the NCAA to modify them angered USC officials and fans even more.
  
  But now it's the people at Ohio State who have reason to be nervous.
  
  USC this week grudgingly accepted its penalty, and said it would make do with fewer players. Those around the university, though, made it clear that they would be watching what happens with Ohio State and coach Jim Tressel before finally considering the matter closed.

  I offer this pretty much without comment.

• Barnett responds to A-HOPE story; Glass, NCAA offer no-comments :: The Hoosier Scoop
• COLUMBUS, Ohio: Ohio State declines to give info on Pryor, mentor :: Kentucky.com

• DeAndre Liggins :: SwishScout
  Some of the things they say in here indicate they haven't really watched Liggins much, and I think they are wrong about his placement, but there is a lot of good stuff here.

• Kentucky/Joker Phillips featured on SEC Spring Football show

• Who is Twany Beckham? - KentuckySports.co Rival Kentucky Sports Blog - KentuckySports.co

  We all remember the hilariously stupid fight between teammates Renardo Sidney and Elgin Bailey in Hawaii that was shown on ESPN and all over YouTube for days after. This fight and other undisclosed problems off the court helped push Twany Beckham to pack his bags and leave (can't say I blame him, who would want to play for Mississippi State anyways).

  Word.

• Five for the Weekend: 'South Park' goes way over the top :: NCAA Division I Mens Basketball - CBSSports.com
  So another point guard falls in John Calipari's lap. Surprised? Not Gary Parrish, who also shares his opinion on the episode of 'South Park' that took shots at the NCAA in Five for the Weekend.

• Ohio State needs to hit scandal head on - College Football - Rivals.com

• USC Trojans 'vehemently' disagree with appeal ruling - ESPN Los Angeles

  "We respectfully, but vehemently, disagree with the findings of the NCAA's Infractions Appeals Committee," the university said in a statement. "Our position was that the Committee on Infractions abused its discretion and imposed penalties last June that were excessive and inconsistent with established case precedent."

  Is that how it is?  You "vehemently disagree?"  Good luck with that ...

• 76ers Jodie Meeks goes back to school in Kentucky :: USATODAY.com

• Dick Vitale Thinks Bob Knight Should Be Penn State's Next Head Coach :: SportsBully.com
  Heh. Penn St.

• Cavs trade, the remix

  Enes Kanter had a tremendous combine and is skyrocketing up teams’ draft boards. There is a strong possibility he could be drafted second, whether the Timberwolves keep the pick or ultimately trade it.

  I had a feeling that Kanter would go higher than many expected.  We'll see, but it looks to me like the Combine convinced some who hadn't seen him much of his tremendous skill.

  For the 89,256th time, I find myself lamenting the NCAA decision that deprived him of his amateur status, and Kentucky of his talent.  Hat tip:  Spam's.

• Ballin' is a Habit: Weekend Dump: Part Deux

• Basketball program needs strong nonconference schedule - The Daily of the University of Washington

  And just a year ago, Terrence Jones and Enes Kanter retracted verbal commitments to the UW to join the evil John Calipari at Kentucky.

  Heh.  Embrace the hate.

• Calipari Could Have Recruiting Edge With Dominicans :: ZagsBlog.com

  "If I’m a coach of a National Team and I can promise that player a roster spot on an Olympic Team at 16 or 17 years old, that gives me an unfair recruiting advantage," a well-placed source said. "I can use my position to access and spend more time with potential recruits.

  He has an unfair advantage already.  Calipari is the best recruiter in college basketball bar none.  It can't get any more unfair than the last three years have been.

  To the "well-placed source":  Pull your panties up and quit whining.

• Keg In The Quad: Jim Tressel Finally Admits He Cheated
  Tressel resigns. Not surprising.

• Monday's Wildcat Links --Tom Leach
• LOUISVILLE, Ky.: Tom Watson wins Senior PGA in playoff :: Kentucky.com
• Kentucky Wildcat Football: Joker works Stephenson Pipeline, lands WR for 2012 class

• Dirk Nowitzki Considered Playing College Basketball
  I think most of us already knew this.

• Coach Cal makes right calls when it comes to charity, too - NCAA Division :: Mens Basketball - CBSSports.com
  Great story.