Big Blue Nation Linkapalooza: Alabama Edition
by Glenn Logan on Jan 10, 2012 9:35 AM EST
in Kentucky Wildcats News
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PrintLast night, the Alabama Crimson Tide completely dominated the LSU Tigers offensively and defensively. Those that thought that game was boring need to forget football and pick up basketball, in this writer's humble opinion. Even my wife, who doesn't care for football, found this game infinitely more interesting than the Fiesta Bowl score-a-thon. I did, too. Your mileage may vary.
Now for the links:
Notebook: Teague managing great expectations // CoachCal.com
Davis is blocking 14.6 percent of the shots taken against him, according to kenpom.com, the sixth-best mark in the country. Going into Sunday, only 49 teams(!!!) have more blocks than Davis, and he’s on pace to finish in the top 10 on UK’s career blocks list in just one season.
Davis has blocked more shots himself than most teams this year. What a stat!
UK women make 14 three-pointers in record-setting rout // Lexington Herald-Leader
It was the Cats' largest margin of victory ever in a Southeastern Conference game and they did it behind hot shooting from three-point range, hitting 46.7 percent (14-for-30) from there.
Bracketology 2012: At Midway Point, Syracuse Leads The Way, Baylor Earns 1-Seed // SBNation.com
Practice report: Preventing midseason lull, Coach Cal ups intensity level // CoachCal.com
Just because the Cats have started to make free throws doesn’t mean Calipari is going to stop doing the end-of-practice free-throw sprints. For every free throw the Cats miss, they’re running 33-second suicides. Last game the Wildcats missed six, so they were due six sprints Monday. Cutting them a favor, Coach Cal gave each player who missed a free throw last game a chance to make one this time for a chance to eliminate one of the sprints."Since we started running, have we missed free throws?" Calipari said. "We were second-to-last in our league before we started running and now we’re the best in our league. You want to know why? Because you dudes don’t want to run. We have the ability to be the best free-throw shooting team in the country."
This will please all you free-throw bangers out there.
Estes: 'Dominating night' gives Tide worthy title // NBC Sports
Call it boring, call it tedious, call it downright dull. Call it whatever you would like. The Alabama Crimson Tide, like the honey badger, don’t care. Just as long as you call them national champions.
I call it good SEC football, and I thoroughly enjoyed the game.
Jarnell Stokes on floor at UT // timesfreepress.com
We have to keep an eye on this guy. He is really gifted - so gifted, I don't remember UT ever getting a player of this quality.
Mark Story: Joker Phillips' seat will still be hot next season // Lexington Herald-Leader
Reason(s) for hope in 2012: Quarterback Maxwell Smith showed significant promise when pressed into a starting role as a true freshman late last season. Due to injuries and other factors, the California product did not bring a great deal of experience playing high school football to UK, meaning he could take a major step upward next season.
There are also reasons to worry. Read the rest for more.
Kentucky Sports Radio // Odd Jerry Tipton Interaction of the Day
Jerry can definitely ask odd questions.
Khem Birch chooses UNLV over Florida // CBSSports.com
Interesting. UNLV is starting to make some major recruiting noise, and Donovan has lost a couple of last-second pickups.
Everything Kentucky: Future Cats - Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress Video
Notebook: Calipari, Cats open road SEC schedule // Kentucky Wildcats
The big topic heading into this week is the fact that the Wildcats are hitting the road in conference play for the first time with trips to Auburn (8 p.m. Wednesday) and Tennessee (noon Saturday). Anyone who follows Kentucky basketball will remember the struggles UK had on the road a season ago, losing six of eight games in conference away from Rupp Arena.
Indeed, who can forget?
Rankings/Awards update // The Kentucky Kernel
As for what he learned last year about the road struggles, Calipari said, "The execution of last year’s team probably cost us more than anything else. We just weren’t ready." He said this year, UK could be better prepared for the road because "this year’s team is a little farther advanced, because I had a better idea of how this team would have to play."
Jim Harris' Notebook: Gillen Says Kentucky 'An Unbelievably Talented Team' - ArkansasSports360.com
Former Virginia and Xavier head basketball coach Pete Gillen likes two teams from the state of Kentucky to advance to the NCAA Final Four this year: Kentucky, because of the Wildcats "unbelievable" talent, and upset sleeper pick Murray State.
Wow. Murray is a bold pick to go to the Final Four. UK, not so much.
Early upsets show Calipari SEC road games will be "hard" to win again this season // vaughtsviews
"Last year we were 2-6 on the road (in SEC play) and were only a basket or two away from winning the national title. People do not give these teams and coaches enough credit. It’s hard to win on the road (in the SEC)."
Great point there. Too often, we take the SEC road for granted. It will be tougher this year than in recent years, although I do think UK is better prepared this year than last.
The Story of How Rick Pitino Ended Up in Kentucky
I'm reading this book right now, and it is fascinating. Pitino turned the job down, and interestingly enough, P.J. Carlesimo played a major role in avoiding a knock-down drag-out between Rick Pitino and Joanne.
Men's basketball holds fast at No. 2, UK Hoops up to No. 9 // Kentucky Wildcats
The Poll Attacks // CBSSports.com
SEC Morning Five: 01.10.12 Edition // Rush The Court
Will Birch’s arrival help UNLV get Shabazz? // John Clay's Sidelines
Jeez, I hope not.
No Split Championship: Alabama #1 in the AP Poll // Roll 'Bama Roll
Alabama A Lot, LSU Nothing // And The Valley Shook
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The day Tipton retires will be a day of celebration throughout the Commonwealth
Dayman, Fighter of the Nightman, Champion of the Sun
+1
Not a fan of baseball any more, but I was when Larkin was playing.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Those AD block numbers
are just plain SICK!
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro...Hunter S. Thompson
No kidding.
I am just amazed when I see them.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Road woes
Last season hammered home the lesson that road record is not a great predictor of tournament record. It’s still little solace after a UK loss. I can take a road loss to a good team in stride, but I hate losing to stinky teams. I suppose the most important to thing to me is for the Cats to stay healthy through the rest of the season, with keeping the home win streak alive in second place.
I don’t see how Khem Birch could have any affect on recruiting Shabazz, good or bad. He’s a Canadian from a different graduating class who will only be eligible for one semester of Shabazz’s one year in school.
As for the football game, I watched most of the second quarter. It reminded me a lot of soccer. I can appreciate the skill that went into both Bama’s slow and steady offensive progression and defensive domination, but it’s not fun to watch for me. Much like the World Cup, I need either a significant rooting interest or big plays to keep me engaged in that type of football game. I actually prefer a team USA soccer match to a turnover-free defensive struggle in football because play stops less frequently in soccer (which makes it more like my favorite sport, basketball). There’s just way too much dead time in that type of football game for me.
That dead time comes in handy
if you are posting on the game threads.
Making waves in a sea of blue.
True
During UK games, the dead time is filled with one of three things: 1) me complaining about UK playing down to an inferior opponent, 2) me thinking about complaining about UK playing down to an opponent, but not complaining out of deference to those around me, or 3) me excitedly discussing how UK is managing to keep it close versus a more talented team.
During non-UK games, the dead time is filled with trying to find other entertainment options. During the game last night, options 2 and 3 were, I kid you not, a Bulls-Pistons game and an Idina Menzel concert on PBS. Eventually Idina won. That lady can really sing.
ROAD GAMES!!!!
Gotta love em!! I hope UK goes undefeated in conf play. It will take incredible defense to do so but I think this team can do it.
I have kleptomania,
but when it gets bad,
I take something for it.
They certainly CAN go undefeated in conference play.
But I predict a loss, or two, on the road.
What I dread is that road loss that I don’t predict. Those hurt.
But if we’re firing on all cylinders in February, I’ll be a happy dude.
And that's certainly when we'll need to be firing on all cylinders...
Feb is tough for us this year! But, on the other hand, it’s a heckuva primer for SEC & NCAA tourney play. Just have to see how it plays out.
If your wings don't sweep....
Hoc Et Illud (This And That)
1) Confirmation, IMO, that Nick Saban is best college coach in America. Not that he bested Les Miles and, yes, recognizing Tide’s enormous talent, still ‘Bama was ultimately prepared and executed to near perfection. Isn’t that the epitome of coaching metrics?
2) Has anyone noticed that Charlie Strong is kicking Joker Phillips’ butt in recruiting?
3) Tomorrow’s BB game — first SEC road game — will provide me a good metric for judging Cats. ’Dores beat Auburn by 30 in Nashville, UK winning by half that margin will be acceptable. Odds of a zero-loss SEC season are quite high.
4) Barry Larkin was a good player but HOF? Confirms my contention that requirements for entry to Cooperstown continue to be diluted.
"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
Larkin
A very,very good shortstop but worthy of being in the HOF? I’m not sold but I think with more and more players on the ballot connected to steroids it’s easy to vote a guy like Larkin in.
by maysvilleblue on Jan 10, 2012 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
Agree re Larkin
The point about steroids is subtle and probably has some truth.
by darkandbloody@gmail.com on Jan 10, 2012 9:39 PM EST up reply actions
Larkin has batting stats close to Jeter and was a better fielder.
Larkin is also very similar to Alomar, who was already in the HOF, while playing a more difficult position and not spitting on an umpire. The only knock on Barry is health which lowers his cumulative stats, but I think he should have been voted in last year.
I'm going to have a stroke with you all talking like this
(inhales)
3 time gold glove winner (should have been 6, but Ozzie got the “Hey he used to be good” vote 3 times even though Larkin had the better UZR..sorry STL Hugo)
12 time all star, 9 time silver slugger winner, 1995 MVP, first 30/30 SS in history…..I could go on.
Dayman, Fighter of the Nightman, Champion of the Sun
Larkin definitely belongs in the Hall
Terrific player and like Alan Trammel (who also should be in) his offensive ability has been overshadowed by Jeter, A-Rod, and in-his-prime Nomar.
Statistics is the part of mathematics that God didn't invent. - Ethan Smith
Long day in North Bama...
“Roll Tide” is all I’ve heard today. Hope to repay the favor in April!
If your wings don't sweep....
Had lunch with a 'bama grad yesterday.
I sincerely wished him luck in the championship game. He said, just as sincerely I believe, that his greatest happiness would be a championship in Tuscaloosa followed by one a few months later in Lexington. Alabama football fans and Kentucky basketball fans are cut from the same cloth.
Slogan for the NCAA: If it ain't broke, break it.
I fell asleep watching the borefest
College FB never really has stroked me and it’s primarily because of the eternal debate regarding who is the actual champion. I do watch the Cats play, if you want to call that watching real FB, but my favorite sports have always been the NFL and college BB.
The viewing ratings were interesting this pass weekend and Monday evening, The Bronco’s vs Steelers gather a 26% viewing audience while the Bama vs LSU game was a measly 13.8. Easy to understand really at least there was some scoring and intrigue.
A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!
I totally agree
And I tuned away from the game shortly after halftime. You don’t always get a great game in a championship…remember all the Super Bowls that were real stinkers…but that game had to be one of the worst. And for me it didn’t settle a damn thing as far as who was really the best team in college football. Like you, I can’t get all giddy about college football because of the way the national championship is decided. Not having some kind of playoff is the most ridiculous thing in all of sports. And the so called +1 thing won’t do it for me either.
by maysvilleblue on Jan 10, 2012 8:41 PM EST up reply actions
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