Another Super Bowl has come and gone, and by my lights, it was a really good one. I don't watch pro football much, but I always enjoy the Super Bowl and all the things associated with it.

My opinion: A very mediocre year for the commercials, I only remember the one where the dog buried the cat and tried to bribe the owner with Doritos. Pretty funny.

Now, for the news:

Kentucky "absolutely" getting better and unselfish play is a big reason why // vaughtsviews

Larry Vaught gets it exactly right:

Jones deserves credit for UK’s recent surge, too. He’s become more physical and assertive. He had 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. It should be obvious now that his mid-December finger injury bothered him more than many, maybe including Calipari, wanted to believe.

But what is most impressive is his attitude. He has his smile back. His swagger is back. Yes, he will pose or flex for the TV cameras, but that’s part of him having fun. He’s not belittling an opponent as much as that is his way to enjoy the moment.

Report: Nerlens Noel to visit Kentucky // Jody Demling – Recruiting

No doubt he will visit here. I just hope he does more than visit.

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There's been a lot going on the past few days, and it's time to take a minute and catch our breath.

Here are a few of the big stories in and around the Big Blue Nation the last few days.

Here we go:

Turns out an idea for May Madness isn’t so crazy // Beyond the Arc

"It would be a jolt — the traditionalists would go crazy — but there’s some merit to that idea," former Virginia and Xavier coach Pete Gillen told Wolken. "I’m partial, but I think the tournament is the greatest 3½ weeks of the sporting year. I think the tournament is powerful enough that it could be pushed back."

Honestly, I could get used to anything. But this is unlikely.

Calipari has spoken favorably about basketball being a one-semester sport, in case anyone has forgotten.

Video: John Calipari sends a message to officials // John Clay's Sidelines

Let's be honest -- Kentucky has been called for a lot of charges because, well, they charge a lot. The problem that Calipari is trying to highlight is that some of them, a good number, in fact, have been incorrectly called.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease ...

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There has been some hue and cry for Trent Johnson, coach of the LSU Tigers, to take further action against Malcolm White for his take-down of Anthony Davis over the weekend, and it seems that wish will be granted, at least to some extent. But probably not enough for some.

Read the links for that story, and more:

LSU coach says flagrant foul on Davis "was just a stupid play" by his player // vaughtsviews

"I am not going to disclose that with everybody. I will deal with that," the LSU coach said. "This game is meant to be played a certain way. I told Malcolm that was very distrubing to be. I will deal with it in-house, but I am not going to make it a big thing (publicly)." [SIC]

For at least a few Kentucky fans, that probably won't be enough.

Tom's Take: Katz on the Cats // Tom Leach

Who would get your vote today for SEC Player of the Year? We put that question to ESPN ace college basketball reporter Andy Katz on today's "Leach Report" radio show and he said he would lean to Anthony Davis over Miss State's Arnett Moultrie.

What do you think?

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This is your open thread for today's basketball action, and to comment on a few stories I have listed, or whatever you can find to add to them. Treat as an open thread.

Links:

47 Cats Make SEC Honor Roll // Lexington, Kentucky

A total of 47 University of Kentucky student-athletes were named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll for fall sports, the league office announced. Kentucky had the fourth-most honorees out of all 12 SEC schools.

Very good to see.

Scathing memo urges referees to enforce sportsmanship rules - Seth Davis - SI.com

In his memo, [NCAA national coordinator of officials John] Adams specifically urged referees to enforce rules against taunting, profanity, and gestures like "waving off" an official after a call. He also reminded them that coaches should be immediately penalized if they leave the coach's box to complain about a call. "These types of actions call for technical fouls. Call them!" Adams wrote. "Your coordinators and commissioners will support you."

Hat tip: KSR. KSR wonders if this means a sudden increase in technical fouls, and I'd say it very well could. I hope coaches have taken appropriate note, and advised their charges accordingly. Also, Calipari might want to rethink his language during games.

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Anthony Davis is getting all sorts of love today from just about everywhere, and he is a factor in the National Player of the Year race.

Your links:

Link: Davis the best defensive prospect since the 1980's - Kentucky Wildcats

I'm just struggling to find an NCAA player [to compare to Anthony Davis] who had so many blocks and steals while fouling so rarely. Check his latest stat line. The 27 points on 12 shots is impressive, as is 14 boards. To me, the most staggering aspect is, "seven blocks, no fouls."

As I mentioned the other day, Anthony Davis, the NCAA leader in blocked shots, averages just over 2 fouls PER GAME. That's unheard-of. Only 43 college players average fewer fouls per game than Davis.

Freshman of the Year: Nash makes his case - CBSSports.com

1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky (Last Week: 1): 13.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 4.7 bpg, 62.9 FG% Davis didn’t have his best offensive week the past two games, going just 3-for-12 from the field for 15 total points. He’s still a menace defensively and on the boards.

Bilas: Anthony Davis is Best Big Man in College Basketball

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Well, today the new Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniforms were unveiled. Reaction has been decidedly mixed.

Now, for the links:

Calipari: To want more you have to ask for more // CoachCal.com

"You could tell I wasn’t happy with some stuff," Calipari said. "And I wasn’t happy because, again, we weren’t talking. They got layups because we had two guys come together and didn’t speak to each other. ‘Well, I thought he was going to stay and … ‘Come on, man, just talk. Just say, ‘I got him. You got him. Help me.’ Again, we’re into our own thing right now and you’re can’t be a special team and be that way."

Kentucky Wildcats 57, Georgia Bulldogs 44: The Instantaneous Ill-Informed Roundball Wrapup // Dawg Sports

This game was as frustrating as the loss to Ole Miss, but for an entirely different reason. The Hoop Dogs proved at the beginning of the night that they are capable of playing with (quite literally) the best team in the land, but they were unable to hold on despite solid efforts from Djurisic (10 points, 5 rebounds), Robinson (6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists), and Dustin Ware (12 points, 2 steals).

The ACC and SEC Blog: Will Kentucky Transfer Stacey Poole Help Get Georgia Tech Back On Track?

A Q&A I had about Stacey Poole Jr.

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Monday when the polls come out, the Kentucky Wildcats will once again ascend to the pinnacle of the college basketball world after the Syracuse Orange suffered their first defeat at the hands of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend.

Also, the college sports world is in mourning as former Penn St. Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno passed away today due to complications from recently diagnosed lung cancer. Our prayers go out to the family, to State College in Pennsylvania, and to all his friends and fans.

Here are your links:

College football reacts to the passing of Joe Paterno // CollegeFootballTalk

Here are but a few of the numerous statements — pay particular attention to the one released by the Ol’ Ball Coach; it’s pretty damn cool – that have been released since Paterno’s death Sunday morning.

Updated Top 25 (and one) // CBSSports.com

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Today is just another manic Thursday around the Bluegrass. Kentucky is getting ready for their next SEC opponent, Kevin Stallings is whining again, and the "Blarge" is discovered in the CAA rulebook, (combination of "block" and "charge").

As an aside, the "blarge" is more properly called a simultaneous personal foul, or a double foul by the official NCAA rulebook:

Rule 4 Section 29 Article 2(d) - Double personal foul. A double personal foul occurs when two opponents commit personal fouls against each other at approximately the same time.

Manamana.

Today's news:

Along Came Jones // Tom Leach

At Auburn, TJ got his offense going after he made a couple of steals. Against Arkansas, he was fierce in attacking the boards from the outset and the offense eventually came. Now, things are starting to click.

I think this is right.

Teague Time // Tom Leach

Teague was a pass-first point guard from start to finish and that hasn't been the case to this point. He was magnificent in setting up teammates and in recognizing how to control the tempo like great point guards do. The shots he took were late in the shot clock when his ability to take his man off the dribble becomes a key asset--one that is especially important to have in March, when the games tend to slow down and defenses get better the deeper you go into the tournament.

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