Lots and lots has happened this week.  New blogging platform here at A Sea of Blue, the whole Tipton thing, Jasper probably leaving, Jon Hood committing ...

The list of things to discuss seems endless lately.  On thing is for sure, the whole recruiting thing for coming years has been rendered a lot less interesting.  If Gillispie continues at the rate he is going, he will have the classes for the next three years filled by the end of the summer.

  What a concept -- not having to live and breathe recruiting every waking moment.  I for one am ready to move on to some other subject.

So what did you want to talk about again?

Oh yeah, I almost forgot:  Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there.

Here is a guy who gets it.  I wonder why some feel so unencumbered to misbehave on the Internet.  Maybe everyone should be required to post comments under their real name.  That would probably change the tone from disrespect to discourse in a hurry.

Not much happening as we wait with bated breath on word from Josh Harrellson's school of choice.  While we wait, I hunted around for a few things of interest.

First up, this piece by ESPN entitled "Pat Riley through the years"  Follow the legendary Rupp's Runt, former NBA player and current coaching legend a decade at a time, and marvel at his outstanding achievements.  Riles is truly one of ours, and a Wildcat to be proud of.

Marc Maggard is reporting that Flemings was warned by Gillispie against missing any more class during his visit to Femings home.  Flemings promptly missed his next class the following day and Gillispie withdrew the offer.  Don't know what to make of it, but it sounds plausible to me.

Speaking of Maggard, he just got off the phone with Harrellson and recorded the interview.  You might find it uplifting, so check it out while you're there.  Sounds more promising than Tipton's comments linked below.

Discuss.

Update [2008-4-29 7:17:54 by Truzenzuzex]:  More Tipton on Kecman.  Looks like Tipton's sources are pretty good, but don't be shocked if Kecman picks OSU formally today.

Update [2008-4-29 7:24:47 by Truzenzuzex]:  Pat Riley stepped down as Miami Heat coach yesterday, but remains team president.

Jacob Tamme is the first Cat taken in the NFL draft (check round four at the bottom).

I will post updates as I have the time.

All this post needs is -- your comments!

Update [2008-4-27 14:4:28 by Truzenzuzex]:  Now Keenan Burton to the Rams.

Update [2008-4-27 14:4:28 by Truzenzuzex]:  Fifth round, still no Woodson or Woodyard.

Josh Harrellson, the 6'9" 270# big man from Southwestern Illinois Community College will visit Kentucky on April 18th, along with the group of Cat recruits participating in the Derby Festival Classic that weekend.

What a busy weekend for recruiting that will be.

This is an open thread.  Talk about Wildcat recruiting, Joe and Ramel at Portsmouth or whatever else floats your boat.

Well, we have this for all you Florida fans out there.  I don't think Speights will go in the first round, but some projections have him there.  Vince Gagliano over at Orange and Blue Hue has thoughts.

K.C. Ross-Miller, UK signee for 2010, is ranked 20th in the class according to ESPN.  Jodie Demling has the goods.

The Cats take on the Louisville Cardinals tonight in baseball.  Kentucky is currently ranked 9th in the nation, and the Cardinals aren't quite the same team as the one that went to the College World Series last year.  Get Blitzed has lots of details.

Jeremy Jarmon is back on the gridiron for spring practice after having his knee scoped last season.  In other football news, Rich Brooks says the offensive line is getting deeper.  Good.  Now if we can only get some quality depth in the D-line.

This is an open thread.  Let's hear 'em if you've got 'em.

Well, there just isn't one heck of a lot of Wildcat-related news out there today, and I have spouted enough opinion for at least one more day.

Tonight, it's Kansas and Memphis playing for the big prize.  That pleases me.  Both teams have been very good all season, and both teams defeated very tough competition to get into the final game this year.  I really don't care which team wins, myself -- I picked Memphis in my bracket, but even if I get that right, nothing can rescue the debacle that was my 2008 picks.

This should be a very entertaining game with both teams fond of pushing the ball up and down the floor.  Derrick Rose has become just amazing right in time for March, much as Ron Mercer did for the 1996 Wildcats.  Kansas wore out a very talented UNC team to the surprise of almost everyone.  Both teams are talented and deep.  I suppose I would give the edge to Memphis because I believe they are slightly more skilled overall, but the difference is very small.

So who will I pull for?  I have no idea.  Maybe one or the other can win me over, but at this point, either one could win and I would be just fine with it.  Both teams have done a great job this year, and both teams are going to lose a whole lot after it's over.

So what are your thoughts?

Sorry I didn't get this up sooner, but I just got back from a workout and was a little late to the game.

Here is your open thread for the Final Four.  First game is Memphis vs. UCLA, and the second is Kansas vs. UNC.

Go Tigers!  Go Jayhawks!

Your thoughts?

I have a busy early morning today, so I don't think I'll get around to updating the blog until sometime this afternoon.  Until then, I just have a few quick things:

• Josh Harrellson is reportedly released from Western Illinois.  Jody Demling has that, and a lot more.
• There are many great memorials and retrospectives about Bill Keightley out this morning, too many for me to do justice to in this quickie.  Check out the usual sites and I'll have more links and stuff on this story later.
• For the Gridiron Felines, the wide receiver spot is wide open.
• Niya Butts, an assistant to UK women's basketball coach Matthew Mitchell, gets the head job at Arizona.
• Bill Self's attorney says, "Never say never."
• John Cohen, the UK baseball coach, is waffling on rumors he may take over for his mentor and coach at Mississippi State.  Say it ain't so, John!
• More on the Scotty Hopson aftermath.
• The Dagger has more on the Gillispie-as-OSU-target story.

That's all, folks.  Make yourself heard below, I'll be back this afternoon.

According to this site, Paintsville's Landon Slone has decided to walk on at UK.  Jodie Demling recently discussed this possibility.

While I believe the guy above, this right here is another matter.  I think every UK fan would love to have a player like Stephen Curry at UK, but let's get real, guys -- Stephen is not walking through that door, and guess what -- Tubby Smith didn't recruit Curry while he was at UK (but wishes he had).  Now, there's a shock.  All this Curry angst is good for a giggle.

Update [2008-3-31 17:26:56 by Truzenzuzex]:  Incorrect link fixed.

Then, there is the story that just won't die.  Bleh.

Here's an Atlanta Falcons fan who thinks Woodson will fall to the third round, and thinks he would be a great pickup there.

This doesn't prove anything about my complaint below about semi-home games, but it does add a bit of fuel to the fire.

I neglected to mention that Darren Horn is expected to be announced as the new South Carolina Gamecocks coach tomorrow.  It's hard to blame anyone for taking a 600K+ pay hike.   Thanks to several readers for bringing this to my attention.

Comment away.

South and Midwest brackets tonight.

Memphis vs. Michigan State is an interesting matchup if you are not a Kentucky fan.  I could care less who comes out of that one, but I suppose that due to my loyalty to the South (and the fact I picked them to win it all in my bracket), I'll have to pull for Memphis.

Stanford vs. Texas is another one for which I don't have much of a rooting interest, but I like Texas better than most California schools.  Texas is a great state I have visited a few times and really enjoyed, and I don't really hate anything about them.  So they get my nod.  Plus, Peter Bean of Burnt Orange Nation has been a something of a mentor to me on this blog, and that makes it easier for me to like them.  Not only that, I'm glad Rick Barnes didn't want to come to Kentucky -- I don't think he would have been  fit.  Hook 'em Horns!

Kansas vs. Villanova is a game I won't watch unless the other one is boring.  I have no great love for Kansas, and Villanova's name says it all to me -- similar to vanilla.  Booooorning.  Likely no watchy.  Kansas should beat the beans out of them, anyway.

Wisconsin vs. Davidson is slightly more interesting.  This Curry kid for Davidson has got my full attention, and I want to see him play.  It would be wild if Davidson won the NCAA tournament, and a big boost for the mid-majors, which I have a serious soft spot for.   Plus, they are called "Wildcats."  That's more than enough reason to pull for Del Curry's kid, as if being Del Curry's kid wasn't enough all by itself.

There's mine.  How 'bout yours?  The world awaits your wisdom below.