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Well, if you don't know it by now, the SEC handed out its awards today, and many Kentucky Wildcats featured prominently in them. Most surprising to me, the politics did not prevail this year and John Calipari managed to get tabbed SEC Coach of the Year. I'm happy for him, but I would not have complained if Cuonzo Martin had won.
Today's links:
After perfect SEC run, Kentucky still No. 1 in coaches poll
The Cats completed their perfect run through the Southeastern Conference regular season with a win over Florida Saturday afternoon.
Despite Calipari's cries, Kentucky is the SEC's best basketball team // al.com
"The one advantage that Kentucky has over just about everybody across the country is that there's really not one guy on their team that doesn't score," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "You have to honor everybody."
That's a very good point by Fox, and one that gets overlooked a lot.
Joakim Noah Passing Up NBA Millions Was "Illogical," And Awesome // Alligator Army
Very interesting take here at AA.
Batting Around: Week 3 // Garnet And Black Attack
9.) Kentucky Wildcats (11-0) - Kentucky swept a menagerie of opponents last week that included Morehead St., Xavier, and Chicago-Illinois. An 11-0 record is nothing to sneer at, but considering the highest RPI that one of their opponents ended 2011 with is Eastern Michigan at 123, I'm not drinking the blue Kool-aid just yet. In fact, the average 2011-ending RPI of Kentucky's opponents this year is a robust 210. That number climbs to 223 if you take the number of games played against each opponent into consideration. Kentucky leads the league in batting average (.334) and fielding percentage (.983). Could we be seeing the rise of a new power in the East this year?
I'm not drinking the Kool-aid yet, either.
Good analysis, but it's also important to consider the possibility that Davis is not of this earth. We've all seen Men In Black. Did you see the way he pulled that rebound out of nowhere? Almost like his arms stretch forever while he just hovers in the air like that? Yeah. Either Davis is an evolved, extraterrestrial life form, or he's part of the same Nike science experiment that brought us LeBron James.
Heh. I think he's been irradiated by space radiation and is the real-life Mr. Fantastic.
Race for top seeds: Kentucky, Syracuse and two question marks // Fox News
No matter what Kentucky and Syracuse accomplish in their respective conference tournaments, both are locked into the top line when the brackets are unveiled this Sunday (can you believe it's here already?). The Wildcats are the nation's top team, and regardless of the SEC's reputation this season, it is nearly impossible to run the table in your league, taking every team's best shot and winning, in Kentucky's case, eight conference road games.
Kentucky coach John Calipari: 'I've got maybe the best job in basketball' // Sporting News
" I’m not going to badmouth another school. I never talk about other programs. I tell them walking in, "We will never speak about another program—unless it’s positive." Then I say, "Now, they all talk about us." And inevitably, the parents say, "They do." And that’s OK. It shows you we’re the ones they’re worried about." -- John Calipari in response to a question by The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy.
It's "a safe bet" the Orlando Magic will deal reserve center Daniel Orton before the March 15th NBA trading deadline, reports Steve Kyler of HOOPSWORLD, if they can find a team willing to give up a draft pick for the 21-year-old rookie. As Kyler notes, such a trade "opens up a roster spot" to facilitate another deal with a different team. Orton "desperately wants a chance to play," Kyler says, and "he serves no role in Orlando."
Not surprised.
CBB's National POY: Anthony Davis or Thomas Robinson?
Lost Lettermen debate the question.
If Florida, Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State can't whip the Cats in the friendly confines of their own backyard then how can they conquer them in Rupp Arena South which is exactly what the New Orleans Arena will be come Friday afternoon for the entire weekend. Plus UK still needs to finalize that no brainer of a 1st round site in Louisville's KFC Yum Center with three more wins because we all know the NCAA selection committee is just waiting for any excuse to send them somewhere father away.
Can Divisional Realignment Fix SEC's Scheduling Issues? // Team Speed Kills
A worthy look at the SEC football problem.