Today is a big day in college basketball. Many top-ranked teams will be playing, and for the first time in a few years, the Wildcats won't be among them.

But Kentucky has plenty of challenge down on the Plains of Auburn without the services of Willie Cauley-Stein, who isn't making the trip.

Tweet of the day:

Cal tweeted that cauley-stein did not make trip to auburn

— Jerry Tipton (@JerryTipton) January 19, 2013

I don't think anyone is surprised. Get well soon, big guy.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• Stoops says rebuilding Kentucky football starts with building relationships // Football | Kentucky.com

  "We'll be getting out into Kentucky, just shaking hands and trying to meet people," Stoops told the Herald-Leader in an exclusive interview on Thursday in his new office.

  This guy is exactly what Kentucky football need. Young. Aggressive. Determined. I'm developing a serious man-crush on Coach Stoops.

• Kentucky Sports Radio // Another Kentucky Football Recruiting Weekend Preview
  This is another big weekend for UK, and I like who is looking at us.

• John Clay: Preparation at the heart of Stoops' plans for Kentucky // Kentucky.com
  Preparation is the key to success.

• Offensive coordinator Neal Brown not surprised by excitement over Kentucky football | vaughtsviews

  "I am not surprised by the excitement. I grew up here. I watched when coach (Hal) Mumme came in here with (assistants) Mike Leach and Tony Franklin and Sonny Dykes and Chris Hatcher and those guys. I watched the state become football crazy," Brown said.

  He's right. I remember it well, and I used to watch Hal Mumme's show on Sunday religiously. I don't think I every saw Joker Phillips' show, or Rich Brooks' either, for that matter.

Kentucky basketball

• Calipari says Wiltjer demonstrating that he can do more for Kentucky // vaughtsviews
  Nice adjunct to my earlier article.

• UK's Cauley-Stein has 'minor procedure' on knee // The Daily Record
• Matching Up: Breaking down how Auburn stacks up against Kentucky // al.com
• With or without Cauley-Stein, it's just another 'Super Bowl' on the road for UK // CoachCal.com

Other UK sports

• Gymnastics Wins Top-15 Showdown // UKAthletics.com

  Kentucky is off to the best start in school history as the Wildcats have never before topped 195 in all three meets to begin the season.

  Gym Cats!

• No. 5 UK Hoops Plays Host to Auburn in Sunday's 'We Back Pat' Game // UKAthletics.com

  The "We Back Pat" initiative is focused on bringing awareness and recognition to The Pat Summitt Foundation, a fund of East Tennessee Foundation, and its fight against Alzheimer's disease. At every SEC women's basketball game – 17 games in 14 cities – a variety of efforts including promotional public address announcements and video endorsements will help to increase awareness of the foundation and its mission. Players will also be showing their support by wearing "We Back Pat" t-shirts during warm-ups before the game.

  Awesome. This should be another good one.
• No. 9 Men's Tennis Serves Up 2013 Dual Match Season with Doubleheader // UKAthletics.com

Links posts

• Tom Leach // Saturday Links

College football

• Manziel gets more press after speeding ticket // NBC Sports
  It is unacceptable for judges to be posting stuff on Facebook about cases before them. Unacceptable.

• Manti Te'o interview: ESPN releases edited transcript // SBNation.com
  Strange days, indeed.

• Updated: Manti Te’o admits ‘catering’ his stories about Kekua // CollegeFootballTalk
  Reminds me of a song fronted by Linda Ronstadt, one of my all-time faves:

  Hey, lies, lies, I can't believe a word you say.
  Lies, lies are gonna make you sad some day.
  Someday you're gonna be lonely and you won't find me around.
  

  Just sayin'.

College basketball

• College basketball on television for January 19 // John Clay's Sidelines
  Some good ones today, and a long time before the Kentucky game.

• SEC showdown pits Tigers against Gators // Bradenton Herald
  Game looks very one-sided right now.

• In Men’s College Basketball, ‘Missing a Little Something’ - NYTimes.com

  "Guys are more athletic and can get out and run," the Big Ten Network analyst and former Ohio State all-American Jim Jackson said, "but talent-wise, we’re missing a little something."

  There has been a culture change going on for years in college basketball - an emphasis on athleticism and a de-emphasis on skill and shooting.

Other sports news

• Wizards vs. Nuggets final score: John Wall leads Washington to shocking upset // Bullets Forever
  Ladies and gentlemen, his name is John Wall!