Kentucky Wildcats: Morning Quickies - Big Blue Nation Cares Edition

I should mention that America has re-elected president Obama to another term, in case you live under a rock or were blissfully unaware of election day yesterday. Congratulations to him.

Tonight, the Big Blue Nation Cares telethon takes place where Kentucky Wildcats fans have an opportunity to show their support for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Tweet of the Morning

Some say ignorance is bliss. Others say that it's merely a quality many of their facebook friends possess.

— Chris Thomas (@ChrisThomasKSR) November 7, 2012

Heh. Word.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• Jacob Tamme believes in Barnhart and trusts he will make great decision on new coach // vaughtsviews
  I also trust that Barnhart will do a good job.

• Brent Pease Interested In The Cats? // Ky Cat Stats
  The question is, are we really interested in Pease? Myself, I prefer others.

• Adam Himmelsbach : Joker Phillips' bond with team is tight as ever // The Courier-Journal

  I can’t imagine being fired from a burger joint, then standing outside and telling everyone that the place made the best burgers ever. Or being fired from a bank and telling everyone it was still a wonderful spot to stash their pennies.

  He's right. Think about that for a minute, and you'll discover the true depth of Joker Phillips' love for this program. It is truly impressive.

• Fired Kentucky coach: Team on verge of 'huge move' // The Clarion-Ledger

  Junior linebacker Avery Williamson said it was important to the team for Phillips to finish the season.

  "We definitely wanted him to coach" the last two games, Williamson said. "He’s been coaching us all year and we didn’t want him to go out on that note."

  It would be wonderful if these young guys could find a way to send Phillips out in style. It's a tough row to hoe, though.

• Jonathan Scuette at KSR breaks down the numbers on Dykes
  I like Dykes. I don't think he is the only guy we should be considering, but I like him and I like what he's done.

• Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease kind of denies interest in Kentucky job for now // vaughtsviews
  I'm with Hoboat on the general idea that we need a coach with head coaching experience. Hiring a coordinator is not something I'm completely negative to, but Pease's short tenure and the rather uninspired offense he runs at Florida does not make me want him much.

• Why Phil Fulmer would be the right hire? // Ky Cat Stats
  The more I think about Fulmer, the less I like the idea of him as Kentucky coach.

• Joker Phillips says Barnhart never said no to anything he asked for to help the players // vaughtsviews

• Scout.com $$ // Washington Reopens Recruitment
  We're going to lose some recruits and players. Happens every time there is a coaching change. That doesn't mean it isn't worth it.

• Just give the job to John Calipari, amirite? // Forever Saturday
  New blog to me. If you ignore the stuff about Petrino, which to me, displays a certain ignorance about Kentucky's place in the football world, it's mostly worth a look.

• Rex Ryan ‘most overrated NFL coach’ according to players poll // SI Tracking Blog
  For all you Rex Ryan fans out there.

• Misery Loves Company: These 4 SEC defenses are bad // Saturday Down South
  Look at the bright side -- Tennessee is at the bottom of more lists than us, and they have a weaker schedule.

Kentucky basketball

• Preseason American Family Insurance ALL-USA Team
  The Harrisons, plus three other UK recruits are on this list.

• Freshman stars are tall, talented // The Kentucky Kernel
  This Kentucky team may be longer even than last year. I like that.

• Best and worst case scenarios for the Cats // The Kentucky Kernel
  To me, the best and worst case scenarios revolve around injury. If UK remains injury-free, this team is almost certainly an Elite Eight team or better. Injuries would render it less than that.

• John Calipari salutes Nerlens Noel's coachability // Kentucky.com
  You think you know how good Noel's going to be, don't you? Trust me, you don't.

• 'Thumbs Up For Lane' lived on Monday at Rupp Arena // CoachCal.com
  Wonderful stuff. Too bad more people don't see this.

• Forward-thinking Joe Lunardi has UK as a No. 1 seed // John Clay's Sidelines
  I'm comfortable with this pick. I think UK will be a #1 seed.

• SEC basketball again expected to revolve around Kentucky // al.com
  I agree with Vitale about Arkansas. We aren't talking much about them this year, but they are really recruiting well, and Anderson's system is a proven winner.

• Jerry Tipton sizes up the SEC : 2012-13 College Basketball Preview // Kentucky.com
  Tennessee #2? That's a bold pick. I think Florida will be a little better, but the Vols should be right there. I'm not that sold on Mizzou.

• Big Blue Nation Cares telethon tonight on WKYT
  Great cause. I encourage you to pitch in if you're willing.

Other UK sports

• UK Hoops’ season best and worst case // The Kentucky Kernel
  Does the worst -case really seem possible to anyone? Not to me. But the best case, now that seems downright likely.

• Senior leader Mathies a quiet leader // The Kentucky Kernel
  The one big difference between the men and women's team this year is leadership. There is no real doubt who leads this women's group.

• UK Soccer's Brooke Keyes Named to SEC Community Service Team // UKAthletics.com
  University of Kentucky women's soccer player Brooke Keyes was placed on the 2012 Southeastern Conference Community Service Team, it was announced Tuesday by the league office.

Links posts

• The Morning Mix // Troy Machir, CollegeBasketballTalk

College football

• Johnny Football is mighty tough. // Tuscaloosa News

College basketball

• Veteran ref Joe Forte: ‘We’ll do a better job’ with block/charge calls - NCAA Basketball // Sporting News
  I hope so. I really do. It was a fiasco last year.

• SEC men's basketball: New teams, new dynamic // The Montgomery Advertiser
  I think that Missouri and Texas A&M are valuable additions to the SEC basketball picture, and makes our league tougher.

• Morning Five: 11.07.12 Edition // Rush The Court
  Indiana loses two freshmen for nine games. I blame John Calipari.

• NCAA's Indiana suspensions just plain silly // ESPN

  Actually, no, NCAA Enforcement Zombie Squadron, he really does not. There is the spirit of the law and the letter of the law, and then there is sticking so closely to the letter of the law you become so stupid and inflexible that the entire point of the law in the first place goes whizzing by your head so fast you don't even see it, like a housefly on the highway. This is one of those times, guys.

  Well, whatever. For my money, the rules are the rules, slippery slope, all that. Should the NCAA change their definition of booster to include a reasonable time frame? I think so. But applying the rule as it exists is certainly defensible, notwithstanding the angst we see from Brennan and others.