Today's edition of the Big Blue Daily Mail comes near the end of a four-day stretch in which Kentucky continues to win games in every discipline -- men's basketball on Friday, football on Saturday and women's basketball on Sunday.
Tonight, the Wildcats welcome the Miami (OH) Redhawks into Rupp Arena for a men's basketball contest that will see John Wall and Eric Bledsoe play together for the first time this season. I expect some serious fireworks as UK puts its best team on the floor.
After Xavier Henry's 27-point performance on Friday night, some are now hoping that Wall will somehow improve on that. Not only is that not necessary, it is not even desirable. College basketball is a team game, and what I hope to see tonight is team basketball -- and I expect I will.
Midnight tonight marks the beginning of the 24 hours of hoops marathon on the ESPN family of TV stations. Rush the Court, incredibly, will be live-blogging the entire marathon. All I can say is, "You go, guys." Be sure to check back with them frequently to find out what's happening from work.
The news follows the jump.
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Wildcat Blue In a Sea of Orange: What a difference a Cobb and Locke make! UK becomes bowl eligible with 24-13 win over Vandy
I know that a lot of Kentucky fans are impatient to take the next step and they are now even questions the strength of schedule that allows UK to become bowl eligible. I have said before that as long as Florida can compete for national titles and be a top the BCS polls by playing 3 patsies and FSU every year, I have no problem at all with UK playing UL and teams like EKU and WKU.
Paul makes a great point here. For the schedule detractors, keep in mind that many successful teams in the SEC use the same strategy as UK. -
Wildcat Blue In a Sea of Orange: Will other prospects join Stacey Poole in early signing period?
Paul Jordan and Wildcat Blue in a Sea of Orange bring us a good recruiting update. -
RedHawks will have their hands full at No. 4 UK
"Kentucky ... I don’t know if we’ve played anybody that talented before," Coles said. "It’s by far the best freshman group we’ve ever gone up against."
UK probably has the best freshman group in at least the last 20 years. -
UK's Wall ready for college debut | KentuckySports.com
With his belated college debut at hand, Kentucky freshman John Wall expects to be nervous at tip-off Monday night against Miami (Ohio).
"If you don't have jitters going into a game, you're not a basketball player," he said Sunday.
Heh. I agree, especially when you are going to be playing under an electron microscope and expected to jump over tall players with a single bound. - Danny Jett's Inner Circle: A Redhawk Review......A Look At Miami (OH)
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Vols lose to Ole Miss: 3 Tennessee football players arrested could have caused loss
Excuses, excuses. -
Rush The Court " Blog Archive " Morning Five: 11.16.09 Edition
There will be no criminal charges filed stemming from the brawls between the Kansas football and basketball teams on September 22 and 23 of this year, but it would have been nice if Bill Self had taken more of an active role in punishing those responsible.
Offered without comment. - Rumely sets UK assist mark | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
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Heels hang on to beat Valparaiso - North Carolina - NewsObserver.com
The sixth-ranked Tar Heels (3-0) managed to top Valparaiso 88-77 Sunday at the Smith Center, but if their performance continues to look effort-less instead of effortless, it could be a bumpier-than-expected season for what's left of the defending national champions.
UNC will get better. Don't get cocky. -
5 things to watch this week - Beyond the Arc - msnbc.com
Let the hype begin!
Two heralded freshmen make their debuts Monday: Kentucky’s John Wall and Cincinnati’s Lance Stephenson. Expect fireworks from both.
Indeed. -
Cats fans to see full backcourt | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
Wall, a 6-foot-4 point guard, is regarded as the nation's best incoming freshman.
He'd have to put on quite a show, though, to have the season's splashiest debut.
I just want the guy to play well. Forget Xavier Henry's great performance, just go out there and play. -
Miami (Ohio)-Kentucky Preview - Nov. 15, 2009 - NCAA Division I Mens Basketball - CBSSports.com
Behind one of its talented freshmen, Kentucky played well in its season opener. Things could go even better when its top recruit finally takes the court. -
UK notes: Miller 'trying to figure it out' | KentuckySports.com
Miller said he couldn't explain his slow start to the season: averaging 7.5 points in two exhibition games and then going scoreless (and taking only four shots) in 32 minutes against Morehead State.
Darius Miller is a great player, he just has to be more aggressive offensively. -
CatsPause.com - Calipari warns 'old school' Miami will be challenge
"They have a nice little scheme that they are running. It looks a lot like a Florida team," UK coach John Calipari said Sunday. "If you try to go under, they roll. They'll slip the screen. A lot of the stuff is the same as the way Florida plays." - March Madness All Season: Friday, Nov. 13 Observations
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UK notebook: 'D' is key to Cal's success | KentuckySports.com
Despite the hubbub about Kentucky players needing to adjust to the dribble-drive offense, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas says there's a bigger — and more important — adjustment the Wildcats must make for new coach John Calipari this season.
"I think that biggest adjustment will be on defense," Bilas said on an ESPN teleconference last week. "Cal's teams won over the years not because of offense."
Bilas, as usual, gets it right. -
No. 1 Jayhawks in Tigers' sights "
"Yeah, it's been a while since Memphis has been an underdog, so a lot of people will be rooting for us," junior guard Roburt Sallie said. "It should be an exciting game. Everybody wants to see the No. 1 team go down." -
Miami’s point guard, defense worry Calipari | Vaught's Views
- Wildcat Blue In a Sea of Orange: Calipari still mum on Liggin's status