According to Sports By Brooks, the evil forces of ESPN, high in Barad-dûr their towers in Bristol, have decided that Bruce Pearl's NCAA-violatin' ways are just too hot for them.  They were able to ignore similar problems with Tyrelle Pryor and Lou Holtz, but Brucie's just out of luck.

Hey, I'm not complaining.  I can't stand the guy.

Now, for today's links:

• Prospect Devonta Pollard uses hoops to deal with loss

  Devonta's father died of cancer two years ago, and his family's house in Portersville, Miss., burned to the ground two months ago.

  It's been a really rough stretch for the Pollards.

• NFL lockout gives undrafted free agents more uncertainty than usual

• Kentucky to Unveil New Football Uniforms
  I get nervous whenever I see the word "Oregon" mentioned in connection with football uniforms.

• Rest in peace, Jonathan McIntyre.
  Very sad to hear about his untimely death. Our prayers go out to his family.

• Coaching keeps co-defensive coordinator Rick Minter young.
  Hopefully, his defensive schemes will help keep Joker Phillips employed.

• Does Kentucky football really need to win big to get attention?
  From the national press, yes. From Kentucky fans, maybe not so much, but winning certainly helps.

• NCAA eases communication restrictions for injured Michigan recruit.

  Via Rush the Court. The NCAA doesn't always get it wrong.

• Scarbinski nails it.
  John Calipari, and Nick Saban, are worth every penny.

• Kentucky Set For Strong Out of Conference Schedule
  Indeed.

• Looking Ahead To 2012: Top Forwards
  There are some good ones in here. I still think that it will be interesting how Calipari handles Gilchrist and Darius Miller. Both bring different things to the floor.

• NBA Players to Join Exhibition Tourney in China During Lockout?
  Interesting. Maybe we'll be watching Euroleague and Chinese basketball instead of the NBA this year.

• Saturday Down South thinks UK will have a losing record this year in football.
  It could be, I suppose, but our schedule is so comparatively favorable, it would amaze and bitterly disappoint me if Joker couldn't scrape together six wins.

• Is the NBA ready to write off the entire season?

  Two experts interviewed on an ESPN Radio podcast agreed that NBA owners appear willing to sacrifice the upcoming season to gain the concessions they are seeking from players.

  Lockouts are no good if the owners are not willing to go all the way, just like strikes are no good unless labor is willing to go all the way.

• Introducing the UnderKanter!
  Very cool video on KSR.

• College basketball's best 3-point shooters

  Lamb makes the list, as you might expect.  Via Anthony Wireman.

• Laura McKeeman tells Larry Vaught that some players worry about UK because it is a basketball school.
  I agree with her that it isn't really realistic for UK fans to expect to compete for an SEC East title this season (or most seasons, for my money). But she does pick UK 4th, and I think that's realistic.

• Calipari, Pitino Expected to Attend AAU Event in Chicago.
  Think they'll canoodle?

• Is Bill Self playing the package deal game?
  Mike Miller thinks so.

• Guy Ramsey at Cat Scratches has a Web Wednesday set of links.
  Check 'em out.

• "Must see" games filled with Wildcats.