Kentucky Sports: Morning Quickies -- UK Football Recruiting Edition

Kentucky got two big football commitments from Florida yesterday, Jojo Kemp and Jeff Badet. Mark Stoops is building a high-quality recruiting class that looks to be one of the best in recent UK history. Kentucky now has 8 pledges from players with a 5.7 or higher Rivals rating.

Tweet of the Morning:

5,000 people showed up for Indiana's Gameday today. That's sweet. 17,000 more and they could have had Kentucky's Gameday

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 2, 2013

I guess basketball is different up there after all.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• As expected, Jeff Badet, JoJo Kemp commit to Kentucky // OrlandoSentinel.com

  Via Mr. Hanky. This was discussed extensively yesterday.

• Miami Hurricanes pull offer from Denver Kirkland // MiamiHerald.com

  With less than a week before National Signing Day, UM pulled a scholarship offer from Booker T. Washington All-American offensive lineman Denver Kirkland, angering Booker T. coach Tim "Ice" Harris.

  Interesting.

• Q&A with UK RB commitment Jojo Kemp // Recruiting
  This kid is a high-quality commitment. Stoops is getting it done in recruiting.

• Q&A with new UK WR commitment Jeff Badet // Recruiting
  Nice work by Steve Jones getting these two interviews so quickly.

• Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame adds five // Kentucky.com

Kentucky basketball

• Ten things to know about Texas A&M // John Clay's Sidelines
  I'm really glad that the Aggies broke that losing streak before we go down there.

• Noel, UK Wildcats thinking revenge against Texas A&M // Cincinnati.com
  Payback, whatever. Just win the game.

• Noel: Defense is ‘under-valued’ // Jerry Tipton on UK basketball
  Noel is right that defense is under-appreciated nationwide, but here in Kentucky, it has become something of a point of pride.

• Calipari admits when a team makes a run his Cats do not have good thoughts about winning // vaughtsviews

  If there is one player John Calipari is going to trust on the court or maybe even continue to play if he is not playing well it is freshman center Nerlens Noel because of his Michael Kidd-Gilchrist like will to win.

  Hey, Nerlens -- spread that around, will ya?

• Ex-Cat Ron Mercer helping Nashville prospect handle bright lights // Kentucky.com

  Jalen Lindsey, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Nashville, is keeping his options open in hopes of receiving a scholarship offer from Kentucky or North Carolina. He is also being heavily recruited by Louisville. Former UK standout Ron Mercer, a Nashville native, helps mentor the high school junior.

  Having Ron Mercer involved cannot hurt our chances -- if Calipari decides to extend an offer, that is.

• Oregon back on the list for UK target Aaron Gordon // NextCats
  I'd love to have Gordon, but part of me keeps saying he is staying out west.

Other UK sports

• Cats can't catch Tigers, but plenty of promise lies ahead // Cat Scratches

  Though the Wildcats fell to the Tigers, 195.875-195.25, and head coach Tim Garrison doesn't believe in moral victories, Friday night's performance exhibited great potential for just how good this team could be later in the season.

  Wow. Losing to the #6 team in the land by less than a point is a fine performance.

• No. 8/7 UK Hoops Meets No. 13/14 Georgia Sunday in Memorial // UKAthletics.com
  We'll have full coverage, of course.

Links posts

• Kentucky Sports Radio // Saturday Morning Links
• John Clay's Big Blue Links // Sidelines
• Tom Leach // Saturday Links

College football

• Texas: Applewhite ‘engaged in inappropriate, consensual behavior’ with student // CollegeFootballTalk
  Four years ago? And this is just coming to light? Well, it's not that big of a deal, evidently. If he managed to save his marriage, that's a positive most people in this situation don't achieve.

• Spurrier has no interest in texting recruits year round // Saturday Down South
• Major Applewhite 'scandal': Why is this news? // SBNation.com

• Opinion: Spending on college football programs spins out of control // NJ.com
  The constant tension between academia and sports.

College basketball

• Men's college basketball scoring hitting new lows // Houston Chronicle

• College basketball on television February 2 // John Clay's Sidelines
  Good to know.

Other sports news

• ‘Outside Shot,’ by Keith O’Brien // NYTimes.com

  This is a recently-written tome about Scott County basketball. The New York Times gives it a good review, and you can see the book's trailer here.

• John Wall injury: Wizards star leaves game with shoulder injury // SBNation.com