Everyone has an opinion about Andrew Wiggins' ultimate college decision, but I know where he will go. Well, I kind of know, anyway. Consider this, perhaps one of the great truisims ever produced from a Hollywood movie:
This is where Wiggins is likely to go -- wherever his heart says to go. Every one of Calipari's recruits have said that the Kentucky staff was where they felt most comfortable. Forget all the head stuff that his brother Nick tells you. It's Andrew's heart that will make the decision.
Tweet of the Morning:
Russ Smith and Dieng are gone, but with Chane Behanan back Louisville has a chance to repeat as national champs: cbssports.com/collegebasketb…
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanCBS) April 11, 2013
No, they really don't.
Your Quickies:
Kentucky football
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SEC East Historical Series Maps // Team Speed Kills
This is a bit of a drill-down to specific teams, and is pretty interesting. Notice that our ties are strongest with Tennessee and Florida.
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Kentucky Sports Radio // Denzel Ware has decommited from UK
I guess it is now official. Rivals shows a Florida offer and Ware shows high interest in The Gators. So, why hasn’t he committed? Pretty obvious the Florida offer is a non-committable offer at this time. (Hank)
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Deshon Cooper - Highlight Videos, Schedule & Roster // Hudl
This is the first recruit that I’ve seen who mentions Louisville’s Sugar Bowl win, but I don’t follow UL recruiting except in terms of a common recruit. (Hank)
More here:
Auburn and South Carolina will receive summer camp visits and he’ll travel to see Louisville for a Junior Day very soon. "I’m anxious to see Louisville. When I watched the Sugar Bowl, they really impressed me."
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There’s a lot of excitement for football in Lexington this year. Head coach Mark Stoops’ first Kentucky team will hold its spring scrimmage at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Wildcats have sold more than 30,000 tickets to the Blue/White game, which has already set a new attendance record. Fans are hoping Stoops and Kentucky can follow the lead of James Franklin and Vanderbilt in becoming a winner in the SEC.
I even heard some A Sea of Blue readers were getting together for this event.
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Quarterbacks prepare for big test in spring game // The Kentucky Kernel
Come Saturday, the three quarterbacks will put their skills on display for the viewing public for the first time. It’s the last time the coaches will see them before fall camp starts in August.
I expect a full report from those of you attending the spring game.
Kentucky basketball
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Hey Kentucky, it's your turn in 2014 // WashingtonExaminer.com
According to the early oddsmakers – not to mention college basketball experts – it won’t take Kentucky long to trump the Cardinals. Perhaps the wait only will last until next spring.
That’s the plan.
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Kentucky is the state of championship basketball
Another NCAA tournament title game has come and gone, and yet again the championship trophy is headed to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The scary part? It could be back in the same state again next spring.
Scary? Well, yes, I guess so. I don’t know why this seems like such a surprise, but I guess it’s because this is the first prolonged period of coaching stability among both programs.
If both Louisville and Kentucky can avoid running afoul of the NCAA for a while, you could see Kentucky rack up as many as five more NCAA titles in the next ten years. Louisville is likely to add at least one more before Pitino hangs up the whistle.
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Why Will Andrew Wiggins Choose Kentucky? // kentuckybluesportsnews.com
This is a pretty well-reasoned article. Judging from the response from most kids I’ve listened to after committing to Kentucky, it has been the comfort level with the staff that was the deciding factor.
That’s also most likely going to be the case with Wiggins as well. The heart wants what the heart wants, it is said, and if Wiggins’ heart is with Kentucky, his head won’t matter. If it’s somewhere else, then look for him to go there.
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Coach says Dominique Hawkins believes he can play next season at Kentucky // vaughtsviews
"He believes he is going to play next year," said Madison Central coach Allen Feldhaus. "He may not show it, but he’s confident he can compete and play. He’s not going to back down."
I believe he will play, also, perhaps more than anyone thinks. No, not 20 minutes, and maybe not even ten, but I think you’ll be surprised.
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Archie Goodwin is not lacking confidence // John Clay's Sidelines
Goodwin has the talent, and the determination. I think he may well surprise some people.
- Hawkins will be 17th Mr. Basketball to play at UK // Kentucky.com
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I wanna see you walk the walk, big boy. Talking the talk is easy.
Other UK sports
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Freshmen Barrett, Cody Highlight No. 13 Baseball's Win // UKAthletics.com
We needed that one. Now, we need to roll the Vols this weekend.
- Lawson Earns 182nd Win, Becomes Program's All-Time Win Leader // UKAthletics.com
Links posts
College football
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SEC Football: Not Adding Louisville Cardinals a Mistake by Conference
Say what you want as fans of the Kentucky Wildcats and all of its glory in basketball, but was it right of the SEC to believe the conference was only big enough for one proud school from the Bluegrass State? You also can’t be rational if you try to state the significance of the Wildcats or even the Missouri Tigers as being more viable football options than even the Louisville of a few years ago.
Dear self-important writer: How does it make business sense to add Louisville? The SEC already has 2 national powers in basketball to go along with the five or six they have in football. They have the Louisville market already with Kentucky.
Why add a school that brings a very limited new audience to the league? It made much more sense for both the ACC and Louisville to move to that league.
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10 Most Corrupt College Athletic Programs // Associate Degree.com
You mean we don’t even make the top ten? (via Hank)
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College Football (FBS) and NCAA Probation // FootballGeography.com
When you see this, you don’t wonder why SMU was once given the death penalty.
A total of 17 years on probation? That’s the definition of an unrepentant serial offender.
Southern Cal has 16 years, another massive number. Kentucky’s among the pikers in this group with only 6 years. (Via Hank)
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Florida DL coach Bryant Young abruptly resigns // College Football News | FOX Sports on MSN
Interesting. I wonder if this will have any impact on Ware’s decision? Or perhaps it already has? (via Hank)
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Neck injury could sideline Clowney for what’s left of spring // CollegeFootballTalk
In its Tuesday practice notes, South Carolina noted that Clowney has a neck sprain and his availability through the rest of the week is TBD. And by TBD, we mean he’s probably done for what’s left of spring drills.
Hmm…
College basketball
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Late in the summer, he closed his recruitment for good, pledging to Michigan before starting a senior season that saw him average 24 points per game, lead his team to the state finals, and win Ohio Mr. Basketball. Even without Sullinger, Trey Burke was winning in impressive fashion.
This is an excellent piece on Trey Burke. You can’t help but think his resume is really similar to that of Dominique Hawkins.
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Cody Zeller set to join Indiana teammate Victor Oladipo in draft // CBSSports.com
.Sophomore forward Cody Zeller will announce Wednesday afternoon that he, like junior guard Victor Oladipo, is entering the 2013 NBA Draft, sources confirmed to CBSSports.com. Both are projected top-10 picks, according to CBSSports.com.
Indiana now has a serious rebuilding job on their hands.
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Michael Carter-Williams leaving Syracuse for NBA // CBSSports.com
Syracuse sophomore guard Michael Carter-Williams has decided to leave college after two seasons.
Most of the expected dominoes are falling now.
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SEC mum on decision not to retain director of officials // John Clay's Sidelines
Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News reports that Boudreaux was not a full-time employee of the SEC but made $114,300 in 2011-12 as an independent contractor hired by the league. The SEC’s director of officials for football is a full-time position.
Interesting. I wonder if something is afoot …
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3-point shot: Doug McDermott's choice // ESPN
Creighton’s Doug McDermott is nowhere near close to making a decision on whether to declare for the NBA or return to the Bluejays, his father and coach Greg McDermott said. Greg McDermott said Doug will take this call down to the NBA’s April 28 deadline – the only one that really matters.
Interesting. I’ve seen very good arguments that he should go, but my heart think he’ll stay. We’ll see.
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Russ Smith and Gorgui Dieng will remain in draft // John Clay's Sidelines
C.L. Brown of the Courier-Journal tweets that after Louisville’s championship celebration and pep rally tonight, coach Rick Pitino said that Russ Smith and Gorgui Dieng will go into the NBA draft, but that Chane Behanan will return for his junior season.
I am surprised about Behanan, especially considering that he almost jumped last year. Good for Louisville, that definitely helps them for next season, which was looking fairly grim to me.
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Big news for LSU basketball fans – all 35 of them.
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Phil Pressey enters the NBA Draft, signs with an agent // CollegeBasketballTalk
Mizzou in a rebuilding mode next year.
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UConn blows out Louisville for women's basketball title // CNN.com
The 33-point margin is the largest in the history of the tournament final.
Ouch. Well, at least we got beat by the eventual national champs. Not sure that’s much help.
Other sports news
- 2013 Masters TV schedule and coverage for Thursday // SBNation.com
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Anthony Davis, Hornets hopeful knee injury is not serious
Davis, who was knocked over and then landed on by Thornton, will undergo tests in New Orleans on Thursday. He limped off the floor under his own power during the game, then walked slowly out of the arena afterward without assistance. Hornets coach Monty Williams was cautiously optimistic about Davis’ prognosis.
ACL tears usually cause too much pain for a player to walk out on it, but not always.
I hope it’s not a serious injury. Davis has been fragile this year, and I am not terribly surprised. I just hope he can develop enough resilience to have a long career.
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Masters shots to remember: Tiger Woods and the chip
In case you’d forgotten, the Masters begins today.