Big Blue Madness Linkapalooza: LeBron 9 Edition

Today's edition is brought to you by the new shoes of the Kentucky Wildcats for this year, pictured at right.  These are the Nike LeBron 9s, which will be worn by Kentucky as well as the Miami Hurricanes and Ohio St. Buckeyes.  From the press release:

Light yet powerful, like its namesake, LeBron James -- and designed in conjunction with his insight -- the LEBRON 9 is the first shoe to integrate Flywire technology and Hyperfuse construction in the upper for superior support. The shoe also combines Max Air 180 and a Nike Zoom unit for comfort and responsiveness.

Sounds nice.  Now, for the news:

• Mike DeCourcy talks about expectations, freshmen, and angry Louisville.

  If Kentucky fans have been uneasy about the program’s reliance on freshmen, Louisville fans have been downright angry since Calipari suggested that whereas Michigan has a Michigan State and North Carolina has Duke, "It’s Kentucky throughout this whole state."

• Mike Miller talks Kentucky at Beyond the Arc.

  
  Davis is a natural shot blocker, but raw on offense. Kidd-Gilchrist is a more accomplished defender. Teague is fast, but is a savvy playmaker in a half-court offense? Jones and Lamb can handle themselves, but it’ll be interesting to see how Kentucky’s offense fares early on. (The defense should be superb from day 1.)

• This must've been tough for Mike Rutherford to write ...

  1. Kentucky
  
  The Godfather of the modern Midnight Madness. Other programs beg their fans and students to show up by luring them with the promise of glitz and prizes, while at Kentucky the fans camp out for three days just to have better odds of getting a good ticket. UK does not disclose any of its guests or activities beforehand, but rest assured it's going to be impressive...and at least 23,000 fans will be there to see it.

• Thomas Beisner teases us with a dance possibility at BBM.

  John Wall created a national frenzy two years ago with a little flick of his wrist and bob of his head and Josh Harrellson came through last year and wowed the crowd with "The Carlton". Now Kentucky’s two young stars appear ready to be the next chapter in the Big Blue Madness book of dance. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist told KSTV yesterday that he not only has a dance planned for tonight, but Anthony Davis is in on it too. He didn’t give any hints, but he hit Dewayne Peevy with a wink and a smile and promised it would be good.

• Chip Miller at The UK Nation talks about how Calipari would coach LeBron.

• Front Row Podcast: UK’s John Calipari -- ESPN Front Row
  Cal talks with ESPN's Doris Burke.

• Big Blue Madness Schedule update.

• Kyle Tucker reports that Mitch Barnhart is leaving no doubt about Joker Phillips' status.

  "He's my football coach, and I intend to ride this thing for the long haul with him and make this thing work," Barnhart said. "This is my 10th year (at UK). If they know one thing about me, I'm stubborn. I'm going to fight through stuff. My great frustration in the world we live in today is it's a microwave society. We have determined that everything must happen instantly. And if it doesn't, we're on to the next thing.

• The Recruit Scoop tracks recruiting visits to Madness across the fruited plain.

• Big Least to invite Boise St.?

  According to the New York Post, and citing unnamed sources, the Big East will issue invitations to Boise State, Air Force, Navy and UCF — those first three institutions would join as football-only members – once the exit fees are increased.  The Post reports those invitations could be made as early as this weekend.

• Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel tells us what to expect at Big Blue Madness.