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Today's quickies contain a lot of stuff about the APR. Good APR for Kentucky, bad APR for the Connecticut Huskies and some other programs including Sean Woods' old school.
Your Tweet of the Morning:
Only 116 days until college basketball season officially begins.....#countdown
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 21, 2012
Your Quickies follow the jump.
Kentucky posts passing APR score again // CoachCal.com
If it’s a one-and-done school, why does Kentucky continue to pass the academic mark?
A question only Bob Knight can answer.
3-point shot: Calipari newcomers impress // College Basketball Nation Blog - ESPN
1. Kentucky coach John Calipari took a brief break from coaching the Dominican National team to come home to Lexington and work out with his newcomers under the new NCAA rule allowing summer workouts if players are in school. It might as well be spring training for Calipari. He’s giddy about what is ahead despite returning only one player who contributed significant minutes in Kyle Wiltjer. The latest player to raise Calipari’s expectations is the least heralded of the four freshmen -- 6-10 center Willie Cauley. "He’s so skilled, real skilled,’’ Calipari said Wednesday night. "I was stunned how good he was.’’ Calipari is already considering playing Cauley, as well has heralded 6-10 recruit Nerlens Noel together on a frontline with 6-7 Alex Poythress rotating in, as well. "Noel is so good he could guard a three man, too,’’ Calipari said. Kentucky has had four workouts so far with the team.
Reports like this is why I am so high on next year's team.
Look, I understand after last year how many may be reluctant to get their hopes up that this year's team could be as good, or even better. But they can be. And they might be.
The nine other men's basketball programs ineligible for the postseason next year are all lightweights compared to UConn. They are Cal State Bakersfield, Jacksonville State, Mississippi Valley State, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Towson, Arkansas Pine Bluff, UC Riverside, UNC-Wilmington and Toledo.
Hate to see Sean Woods' old school on there. Jacksonville St. as well.
Four-team playoff proposal heads into homestretch // Yahoo! Sports
If the long slog toward a college football playoff were the Tour de France, the only thing left would be the ceremonial victory lap down the Champs-Élysées.
The guy in the yellow jersey, sipping champagne as he rides? That would be Mike Slive.
Read the whole thing.
Question: Where does Marquis Teague seem to be fitting into the draft projections now that teams are taking a close look at him? What are seen as his weaknesses?
Kamalsky: "Teague will likely be the third point guard off the board after Damian Lillard and Kendall Marshall
I still don't get why Marshall is considered ahead of Teague. I think the GM or DPP that makes that call will live to regret it.
Morning Five: 06.21.12 Edition // Rush The Court
15 of 22 UK athletic teams surpass national APR
The NCAA released its Academic Progress Rate report Tuesday, showing that all 22 of the University of Kentucky sports teams surpassed the NCAA cut score and that 15 of the 22 squads exceeded the national average for public universities in their sports.
Well, good!
Draft patterns from colleges and conferences over the past decade // CBSSports.com
Nice work by Matt Norlander. After this year, things will be vastly different, as Kentucky is almost certain to be the leader, and drag the SEC to near the top.
ESPN discusses Kentucky football’s X-factors // John Clay's Sidelines
Kentucky football picked up a commitment over the weekend // KentuckySports.co Football | iHigh.com
What seemed to kind of go under the radar is Joker Phillips and company picked up a commitment for the 2013 class. Jake Boynton, a offensive lineman out of Marietta, Georgia is listed as a 3-star. He stands at 6'7, 270lbs and is considered a kid who developed later in his career and has recently been recruited by top programs like Clemson, Georgia Tech, South Florida before choosing Kentucky.
I like that size!
McKinney also singled out Terrence for his intensity during the workout, an encouraging sign for a player who early last season saw his focus and intensity questioned by Kentucky coach John Calipari. Built like a tank and measuring out with PF size (6'9.5" in shoes, 7'2.25" wingspan, 252 pounds), Jones has been labeled a tweener by some, but I like him most as a face-up four whose versatility can keep opposing power forwards off balance.
I think this is the correct description of how Jones will be best used.
NBA Draft: Daring To Dream Of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist // Sactown Royalty
Right now, I have no fear in losing my favorite prospect at No. 5, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, because I have no expectation that he'll be on the board ... despite all indications being that there's a significant chance he'll be on the board. As James Ham reported, Harrison Barnes has canceled his Friday workout in Sacramento. He and Bradley Beal visited Cleveland (who picks No. 4) on Saturday. The decision to pull out of the Kings workout was made in the ensuing days. You do the math. Beal also won't work out in Sacramento, indicating that his agent believes his floor to be No. 4. (That Beal met with Cleveland on Saturday indicates that he does not have a promise from Washington at No. 3. But the reviews of Beal's workout in D.C. were exceptional.)
MKG to Sacramento with the Big Cuz? Wow, a frightening combination of intimidation and intensity. I think I could love me some Kings if that happens.