The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Sam Houston State Edition

Tonight, the Wildcats take on the Bearkats of Sam Houston State, a team I know absolutely nothing about, as their opening round game in the Cancun Challenge.  Rumors have been swirling about the availability of Darnell Dodson and John Wall, but I have heard nothing definite.  The closest I can come is:

• Calipari is very unhappy with Darnell Dodson at the moment (that could explain why it took him so long to get into the game on Monday).
• Calipari is getting happier with DeAndre Liggins.  Happy enough to play him?
• John Wall's uncle passed away earlier this week. Our sympathy goes out to his family.  I have no idea if he will play or not, but I suspect he will.

In other news worth highlighting, UK just secured another football recruit, Avery Williamson, a Rivals 3* linebacker out of Milan, Tennessee.  Willimson impressed at Lane Kiffin's Tennessee Camp and is one of the very best in the Volunteer state.  Even though UT was not heavily recruiting Williamson, UK has had great success with the overlooked players from Tennessee and Georgia.

And finally there is this item about one of my favorite players, Chuck Hayes.  I somehow missed this when it come out (I'm sure somebody linked it, though) but I think it deserves special attention.  I love Chuck Hayes, and when he gets accolades, I like to put it on the front page.

The news follows the jump.

• Rich Brooks & the SEC Teleconference « Over The Pylon
• Blogpoll Week 11 - CBSSports.com
• Cats aren't fooled by Georgia's sub-par stats | KentuckySports.com
  "Georgia's still Georgia," sophomore offensive tackle Brad Durham said. "They're still big and athletic and, defensively, they're huge up front."
  
  I think the "Georgia is Georgia" part was all that needed to be said.
• Wildcat Blue In a Sea of Orange: Rich Brooks is making the bowls despite the absence of "star recruits"
• Calipari's Cats Get Taste Of Kinder, Gentler Coach
  Calipari had been hoping for a moment like this early in the season, a chance for him to see how his talented but largely inexperienced squad reacted to adversity for the first time.
  
  "I was ecstatic," Calipari said.
  
  I'm thinking Gillispie would have done this ... ah ... a little different. And his team was shocked.
  
  "I’ve not really seen anybody be positive when you’re down 18, but he was," Miller said.
  
  Calipari evenly — but not harshly — challenged his players to prove themselves.
  
• Basketball recruiting: The strength of Memphis' class was a major statement by first-year coach Josh Pastner - ESPN
  With a few players graduating and a few anticipated early departures, the Wildcats are going to have a few need areas to fill. Look for UK to make a push to get a point guard, a shooter and some size. The Wildcats could get a head start on filling these needs if they get a commitment from Tobias Harris (Brookville, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills), who plans to announce his decision on Thursday. They also are in the running for unsigned prospects Brandon Knight (Coral Springs, Fla./Pine Crest), Josh Selby (Baltimore/Lake Clifton), Doron Lamb (Laurelton, N.Y./Oak Hill Academy) and Terrence Jones (Portland, Ore./Jefferson), among others.
  
  With Calipari at the helm, I'll worry about recruiting when he gives me a reason to. Until then, I expect a top five class every year.
• Tobias Harris! Tobias Harris! Tobias Harris! - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
  Kentucky will not get Harris, IMO, but here is some info in how his recruitment is going.
• Don't Bet On It!: Around the SEC - Dawg Sports
• Texas Overwhelms Western Carolina 73-41 - Burnt Orange Nation
  * And yes, I hope Kansas fans see this, and react to this. Not because I want a chest-thumping war, but because I think this is our rival in basketball. Rick Barnes and Bill Self see it the same way, and I'm all for it. The Texas-Kansas back-and-forth over the last 6 years has been the best kept secret in college hoops, and I absolutely love that we have a powerhouse like Kansas to constantly measure ourselves against. They're smart fans: I think they see it, too. This should be the most fun season to date.
  
  I think Peter's right. The Kansas-Texas rivalry has really been heating up over the years. Who knows, one day it may be as recognized as it deserves.
• Rush The Court " Blog Archive " Memphis Learns Its Fate, Can’t/Won’t Tell Anyone the Results…
  Does the NCAA not understand that operating in this manner in no way engenders public trust and faith in the fairness and equitable nature of the system? Do they not see that, regardless of the strength of their argument on the merits, John Q. Fan reads this and can only conclude that the NCAA is hiding the ball so as to get its way in the end? Are they too dense to realize that a simple and consistent application of rules and policies are the first step toward removing much of the thinly-veiled cynicism that those still following big-time college sports have for it?
  
  I'm afraid I can't improve on this at all. Must read.
• StraitPinkie.com Previews Sam Houston State at Kentucky | straitpinkie.com
• Cats say Miller fits dribble-drive | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
  Two weeks ago, Calipari said, he noticed that Miller's shoulders were leaning back on his jump shot. Instead of going straight up with a shot, he was fading away from it. The result was a flat shot.
  
  But the observation slipped Calipari's mind.
  
  Let's hope Miller has it working now. We need a bit more out of him.
• A healthy dose of Patterson, sound defense keys to Kentucky's 2009-2010 seasons
• " SEC links: Can Georgia stand a little praise? John Clay’s Sidelines
  John Clay's SEC links
• Jeff Sheppard Podcast: Titans of Kentucky – LostLettermen.com
• What Everyone Needs to Know About The DDMO
  A really nice set of principles for the DDM offense. Very interesting.
• " Video: John Calipari before today’s practice John Clay’s Sidelines
• Cobb may not play at Georgia | Vaught's Views
  Uh-oh. I hope that shoulder can heal in three days.
• ZAGSBLOG " Doron Lamb Weighing Options; Pitt Signs 3
• Tom Leach - Kentucky Football, Kentucky Basketball, UK Football, UK Basketball
  Tom has a several new podcats up you will want to listen to.
• Miami Coach Not Impressed By Lexington Reporter's Question - Media Meltdowns - Deadspin
  A reporter asked Miami of Ohio coach Charlie Coles (a 17.5-point underdog last night) how he let the Kentucky game "get away from him." He was not amused.
• Memphis Tigers Fall (Barely) to Top-Ranked Kansas | Tiger Blue | Memphis Flyer
  If you’re a college hoops fan, you gotta love Dick Vitale’s enthusiasm. But objectivity? His unbridled defense of the Memphis program in respect to the allegations that Derrick Rose had a proxy take his SAT for him was hardly a broad assessment of the matter. Long tied to the mast of college basketball, Vitale should show greater concern for the shortcuts players are bound to take to skirt the NBA’s draft restrictions. Whether or not Rose is guilty, the allegations are serious. And whether or not they impact programs competing for a national championship, such transgressions have to be fought by the NCAA.
  
  I didn't hear Vitale's comments, but I do agree that the allegations are a serious matter, even if I don't agree with the disposition of the case. We cannot allow rampant academic fraud in college sports, and the NCAA is the last bulwark against that. So while I disagree with how the NCAA handled the Memphis case, I do agree that allegations of fraud are of grave concern.
• About What You Expected: Louisville 96, Arkansas 66 - Arkansas Expats
  As the second half dragged on, I found myself begging for the game to end, but overall, it's hard to get too upset up about the outcome. The Hogs played hard, but they are severely short-handed right now, and Louisville is a Top 20 team. Anybody who didn't think the game had a strong likelihood of playing out this way is living with a healthy dose of denial.
  
  Big win by Louisville.  But Pitino's Sypher woes continue.
  
• LSU Tigers defeat Western Kentucky in men's basketball | LSU Tigers Central - - NOLA.com
  A bit of a surprise. Western has a good team, this was a solid win for LSU.
• Kentucky sophomore one of SEC's most dangerous players || OnlineAthens.com
  "He [Randall Cobb] might be the most talented player in the Southeastern Conference today," said Georgia coach Mark Richt, gearing up for Saturday's game against Kentucky. "We know what he did last year. He just about single-handedly beat us himself."
  
  High praise from the Georgia coach.