Tonight is Kentucky's biggest test since the loss to Texas A&M - on the road in Birmingham against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Both teams are 3-1, and the Tide just knocked off A&M at home.

Tweet of the Morning:

Bill Raftery, when told Sean McDonough lost his voice and couldn't work Big Monday: "Why? That makes him the perfect play-by-play guy!"

— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) January 22, 2013

Heh. Funny.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• Can Mark Stoops Save Kentucky Football in 2013? // Opposing Views
  He doesn't need to "save" it, he just needs to revive it.

• Help is on the Way // Ky Cat Stats
  We need more, but this is a start.

• SEC East recruiting needs // Saturday Down South

  The biggest position of need for Kentucky is "Yes".

  Well, that's true, but there are some things we need more than others, mainly secondary depth and D-line size.

• Mark Story: Joker has every right to try to woo Franklin Co. star Timmons to Florida // Kentucky.com

  Some UK fans are calling Joker Phillips a pigskin Benedict Arnold because Florida — where Joker is the new wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator — is making a late bid for Ryan Timmons, a dynamic playmaking wide receiver from Franklin County who is a UK recruiting priority. They are wrong.

  Of course they are wrong. UK recruits in Florida, and Phillips doesn't work here any more. We fired him. If he wants to steal guys from us, he's not only within his rights, he'd be within his rights to enjoy every minute of it.

Kentucky basketball

• All of a sudden, Notre Dame struggling // ESPN
  Not good news for Kentucky. Makes our loss to them suck even more.

• Nick Saban John Calipari linked by success, approach // ESPN

  Saban and Calipari, Calipari and Saban. Say it enough times and it will stick with you, like apples and oranges. They're a study in how two wildly different coaches can yield similar results. They're a study in mathematics. They apply different formulas yet end up with similar outcomes; Calipari is the soothsaying salesman with charm to spare and Saban is, well, none of those things.

• Auburn win showed Kentucky basketball can play hard, have fun // The Courier-Journal

  A funny thing happened Saturday night at Auburn: The University of Kentucky basketball team looked like it was having fun. The players smiled, celebrated, showed some emotion for once.

  Funny thing, indeed.

Other UK sports

• Guest Post: University of Kentucky Dance Team finishes top 10 in both Hip Hop and Pom Pom // vaughtsviews
  Congratulations to the Dance Team! Awesome performance.

Links posts

• BBL: Report says Louisville’s Clint Hurtt facing allegations // John Clay's Sidelines
  John Clay's Big Blue Links.

• Wakeup Call: Thad Matta signs long-term contract extension // CBSSports.com
• The Morning Mix // Troy Machir, CollegeBasketballTalk

College football

• Report: Louisville football's Clint Hurtt faces 'hefty allegations' from NCAA // The Courier-Journal
  Looks like Louisville football will be in for some butt hurt in the second degree.

• Teddy Bridgewater: Kentucky Sportsman of the Year finalist // Kentucky.com
  Wow, congrats.

• College football coaching salaries: 10 of 2012's most costly winners // SBNation.com
  Seems to me Charlie Weis is always on lists like this. Mike Leach is a newcomer, though. Mack Brown might be on here from now on.

College basketball

• Missouri's Haith faces NCAA notice of allegations in Miami // Shapiro case - CBSSports.com
  Jeff Goodman's original reporting on the Haith matter.

• Forde Minutes: Butler's flair for the dramatic doesn't excite Brad Stevens // Yahoo! Sports
  Pretty sure he's a Vulcan. :-)

Other sports news

• Monday's Mailbag: Breaking down the Bulls

  Do the Bulls regret drafting Marquis Teague, or is it still too early to tell?

  Terry, it's way to early to tell. First of all, let's remember that Marquis is only 19, the team's third-string point guard -- fourth on the depth chart upon Derrick's return -- and has had limited opportunities to play.

• New Orleans Hornets rookie Anthony Davis injures ankle vs. Sacramento Kings // ESPN
  Aaarrgghhh....!

Other news

• Hooters revamps look, aims to be family-friendly // Green Bay Press Gazette
  Nooo...