Big Blue Linkapalooza: Jorts Day Edition

Normally, we name our game-day linkapaloozas after the team we are playing, but today is special -- today is Josh Harrellson's senior day, and it has been unofficially declared "Jorts Day" by the Kentucky blogosphere in honor of Josh's preferred summer fashion.

We here at A Sea of Blue want to congratulate Josh on his senior season, no matter what happens from here on out.  In my view, Harrellson is the most improved player in all of college basketball, and it isn't even close.  Not only that, he has been invaluable to this Kentucky team's success considering the difficult circumstances that forced him into service as a starter.  He not only embraced that role, but he maximized his talent and contributions to the team in positive ways that nobody could have anticipated given his efforts of previous years.

Congratulations, Josh.  You have earned a place in Kentucky lore not with your antics, but with your effort.  That is definitely something to be proud of.

Now for the links:

• Harrellson went from forgotten man to senior force :: Lexington Herald-Leader
  Josh Harrellson as a "force." Seems like we are living in an alternate reality, but it's nothing if not true -- he is certainly a force on the glass.

• Josh's journey winding down :: Evansville Courier & Press

  Calipari responded [To Harrellson's tweet] by suspending Harrellson’s account and ordering him to endure 30 extra minutes of running before practice. The punishment was supposed to last 30 days. Three months later, it’s become a part of Harrellson’s daily regiment and one of the reasons he’s been able to flourish.

  What an amazing story.  A rogue tweet turns a player from a non-entitiy into the most improved player in the country, in this writer's humble opinion.

• Harrellson plays way into picture :: Cincinnati.com

  "As a coach I just want to see players max out," Calipari said. "I don't know if I've ever coached a player that has gotten more out of his body and his skill level and his athleticism than Josh Harrellson, and I've coached a lot of players."

  That's just about the highest praise there is coming from your coach.

• The Buzz on Kentucky Basketball: Jorts Day Edition
• Josh Harrellson: "I Think I'm A Little Kid" :: LEX18.com
• Calipari on Josh Harrellson :: Vaught's Views
• Mark Story: Top five senior send-offs in Rupp :: Lexington Herald-Leader

• Ex-UK coach Sutton, Knight, six others voted into Hall of Fame :: Lexington Herald-Leader
  Congratulations to coach Sutton and coach Knight, as well as all the rest.

• Video: Doron Lamb talks about team’s confidence :: John Clay’s Sidelines

• UK’s Mark Crawford arrested on traffic charges :: CollegeFootballTalk
  I wonder how his license got suspended?

• Kansas State Wildcats vs. Texas Longhorns :: ESPN
  Suddenly Texas doesn't look quite so tough.

• Red Outlasts Kentucky :: The Cornell Daily Sun

• Inside the SEC: Divisions out of balance? | al.com

  Some SEC coaches believe it's a perfect example of why the conference should re-seed the tournament without taking divisions into account -- or possibly reward the division champs with byes and then re-seed the other 10 teams.

  Now, that's not a bad idea -- give the division champs the respective #1 seeds and reseed the rest.  That keeps the divisions relevant without being unfair to everyone else.

• Brandon Knight SEC Freshman Of The Week :: Lexington, Kentucky
  Great. I'd like to see him earn it all over again tonight.

• Official records have Calipari still 42 short of 500 wins :: Lexington Herald-Leader
  Guess who.

• UK gets Vanderbilt again. The key: it’s at home :: The Kentucky Kernel
  After the victory over Florida, Kentucky's confidences should be soaring.

• Basketball Prospectus :: Tuesday Truths: March-at-Last Edition

  Meantime, at the risk of repeating myself, remember one thing: No one's noticing because this team's [Kentucky's] losing more games and there's no John Wall, but the offense in 2011 is just as good as it was in Lexington in 2010.

  People are ignoring Kentucky.  Not Ken Pomeroy and John Gasaway.

• Kentucky Sports Radio " Blog Archive " Welcome to Kentucky Jorts Radio

  How about some good late-breaking news right out of the gate? Shabazz Muhammad will attend Jorts Day festivities, according to the Premier Ball’s Twitter account. Muhammad was scheduled to attend Louisville’s game with Pitt Sunday but canceled due to a lack of scheduled denim. He ranks as the #3 overall player in the class of 2012 and the top shooting guard. If Cal can get him to wear jean shorts, you can assume it’s a done deal.

  If Jorts Day is responsible for landing Muhammed, I'd say that's one more story in the burgeoning legend of Josh Harrellson.

• Knicks Waive Azubuike, Buy Out Brewer :: ZagsBlog.com
  Bad news for the former 'Cat and former Gator.

• In seeding, Louisville basketball should beat out Kentucky :: The Courier-Journal

  The Cardinals have done better work in a more formidable league. They have a better record (5-4) than Kentucky (3-4) against teams in the current Associated Press Top 25. They have eight wins against top-50 teams in Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings. UK has six.

  There is still quite a bit of basketball to be played, Rick.  Why don't you save this article for another week at least?

• The Charlie Sheen of college basketball :: Beyond the Arc
  Heh.

• Former UK Quarterback Ryan Mossakowski Taking Visits
• John Calipari SEC Teleconference: Vanderbilt
• Don’t be denied. :: Get The Picture

• Beating Vandy Is A Must For Postseason Plans :: LEX18.com
  Tonight is yet another important game in a string of important games.

• Win the SEC, and Alabama deserves an NCAA bid :: al.com
  Alabama absolutely deserves a bid if they get to 12 wins, and I think they'll get one. At 11, with their RPI and SOS, they will be a bubble team for sure.