Kentucky Wildcats: Morning Quickies - Rivalry Eve Edition

Today is Rivalry Game eve, so naturally, it's what's on everybody's mind ... including yours truly.

Tweet of the Morning:

Two elite programs led by men who hate each other, and one of those men used to coach the other team. Yes, UK-UL > UNC-Duke, at the moment.

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) December 28, 2012

Parish gets one right, except for one thing -- "at the moment." Always has been, always will be.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• Trinity standout James Quick got used to not seeing Kentucky coaches at Trinity | vaughtsviews

  “Usually when coaches come to the school you see the coaches and you do not see the Kentucky coaches much at all. I really can’t tell you why,” Quick said. “At first, it surprised me that the Kentucky coaches weren’t at school. After a while, though, you just got used to it and knew they were probably not going to come. I think that’s going to be different now.”

  I sure as heck hope so.

• Which new SEC head coach has the best chance to win next season? // Saturday Down South
  So SDS thinks UK will win only 4 games next year. Do you agree?

Kentucky basketball

• CRAWFORD BLOG: Pitino says UK "is like a premier team in the co //WDRB 41 Louisville - News, Weather, Sports Community

  "Like Kentucky, we have a lot of upside," he said. "Gorgui (Dieng) is nowhere near his potential. WB will get better. The only guy who really needs to focus in and get better is Chane Behanan. He's still not near where I had expected him to be. I'm hoping he'll really improve in the next 2-3 weeks."

  Just so long as he doesn't do it tomorrow ...

• Ira Combs Weekly Column

  Simply put it's the Battle of the Bluegrass week across our Commonwealth and the fans regardless of the two coaches opinion will make it special this year just like in the past.

  That's true. The coaches of UK and UofL simply don't get this game, and I don't believe they ever will.

• Will Kentucky fans invade Yum Center again? // John Clay's Sidelines
  Tom Jurich is a blowhard. There, I feel better.

• Conference Power Rankings: SEC // ESPN
  Once again, we see a bit too much being made of Harrow. Yes, he's important, but there are other things on this team that are more important.

• Calipari will always expect more from Alex Poythress and Cats will need more to win SEC // vaughtsviews
  It seems strange to refer to a freshman who is #15 in eFG% and #19 in true shooting % as a "disappointment," but so far, that's how UK fans see Poythress. And rightly so, because he is by no means playing to anywhere near his potential.

• Weekend Watch: Kentucky-Louisville // ESPN

  On the offensive end, Louisville has weapons and depth, but the Cardinals are not a great shooting team. If you can limit Louisville in two areas -- turnovers and offensive rebounds -- you have a shot to win. The Cards generate a lot of offense off opponents' miscues and second shots.

  Jay Bilas echoing yours truly.

• Kentucky Sports Radio // Demarcus Cousins Obviously Frustrated in Interview
  Not sure if this is how Cousins looks when he's frustrated or remorseful.

• Coach Cal to the Nets? // CollegeBasketballTalk
  Moving on.

• Kentucky Sports Radio // Fantastic Fibber: Rick Pitino’s 4 Greatest Lies
  Heh. Only a fool would take anything Pitino says at face value when it comes to basketball.

Links posts

• Big Blue Links // John Clay's Sidelines
• Tom Leach // Friday Links
• The Morning Mix // Troy Machir, CollegeBasketballTalk

College football

• Breaking: Texas Longhorn Players Questioned in Sexual Assault Investigation // Burnt Orange Nation
  Ugh. Bad news for the Longhorns.

• Open thread: Share your mock draft // SBNation.com
  Why not?

• Friday college football bowls: Independence, Russell Athletic, Texas up next // SBNation.com

College basketball

• 3-point shot: UCLA looking up // ESPN
  UCLA has serious talent. They could become a threat if they figure it out.

• Good 'N Plenty: Where's this season's Jimmer or Anthony Davis? // CBSSports.com

  Pitino can finally stand toe-to-toe with Calipari this Saturday afternoon. In fact, the Cardinals are a prohibitive favorite heading into the contest. Pitino still doesn't possess the high-end talent of Calipari, who has a trio of likely lottery picks in Noel, Poythress and Goodwin, but what he does have is enough quality players, experience and the return of big man Gorgui Dieng.

  For once, Goodman is right.

Other sports news

• Bomani & Jones says goodbye to 2012 // SBNation.com
  Very funny, and most probably right.

• The future is already here: How the Pistol Offense is changing the NFL // SBNation.com
  Outstanding read. Football fans will enjoy this.

Other news

• One in four Americans now owns a tablet, according to Pew Research // The Verge
  News you can use. I'm one of the 3 who don't right now. Too much touch typing required.

• Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Commander in Gulf War, Dies at 78 // NYTimes.com
  May God grant his family peace, and heal their hurts from this loss. He will always be remembered fondly by most Americans.