Kentucky Wildcats: Morning Quickies - Dodgeball Edition

Seems that John Calipari is having the team play a little dodgeball to lighten them up a bit. I do hope he's seen this video:

Tweet of the Morning:

Happy Birthday Rajon! bit.ly/12WnLwk (New Post)

— CelticsLife.com (@CelticsLife) February 22, 2013

Indeed. Happy birthday and a quick recovery to Rajon Rondo. Can't wait to see him back on the floor.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• Tim Brando talks to Mark Stoops about the 2013 recruiting class:
  

Kentucky basketball

• Huntington Prep-Montverde game has been canceled // NextCats
  Drat.

• Kentucky gets first look at Missouri's unpredictable Pressey // Kentucky.com

  "When I say I know every way to lose a game on the road, I know every single way," said Pressey, the only holdover player from last year's team. "I know from now on, when I go on the road again, I've been put in every possible situation I could be put in. I'm going to know how to read that situation."

  When I say I hope he finds one more way, I mean no disrespect. We're a little desperate around here...

• Kentucky basketball dodged balls and bullets // The Courier-Journal

• Ryan Harrow pays off gamble to ask Calipari to start with ‘terrific’ play versus Vanderbilt // KyForward.com

  "Any time guys come at me with stuff like that, it’s easy for me because it takes it off my plate," Calipari said of Harrow’s request to start. "Now it’s on their plate. You want to start, OK, great, here you go, go start. And I thought he was terrific today, but that’s how he’s got to play for us."

• Saturday's "GameDay" showing in Rupp loaded with story lines // Kentucky.com
  I sure hope we can beat 5000. 22,000 would be nice, but 15k is okay, too.

• Can Nerlens Noel Still Win SEC FrOY? A Look at the League’s Race // Rush The Court
  I think so.

Other UK sports

• Five-Run Fifth Lifts Kansas State to win over No. 8 Baseball // UKAthletics.com
  Kentucky falls to Kansas St. in their first game in Myrtle Beach. It is the Wildcats' first loss of the season.

Links posts

• Kentucky Sports Radio // Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog’s Article Links
• Tom Leach // Friday Links
• The Morning Mix // Troy Machir, CollegeBasketballTalk

College football

• LOUISVILLE, Ky.: Louisville AD: Hurtt to remain on Cardinals staff // Kentucky.com

• Tim Sullivan : Louisville football's defensive line coach Clint Hurtt helps his case // The Courier-Journal

  Clint Hurtt is entitled to the presumption of innocence. He deserves his day in court. He has a right to be heard, to answer the allegations leveled against him, and to be judged based on all of the available evidence and not just the word of some sleazy jailbird.

  I hope there is more evidence than just the word of Nevin Shapiro, and I expect there is. What Sullivan needs to accept is that just because Shapiro is a sleazy con artist doesn't mean his testimony is false.

  Louisville may use the NCAA's missteps as justification to retain Hurtt even if he is blameworthy for the charges made by the NCAA. I frankly don't care -- schools have a right to employ who they will, as long as they are willing to accept the consequences. If Hurtt winds up with recruiting restrictions or worse, Louisville has to make a business decision, and I could care less what it is.

• Miami's NCAA defense has sudden change of tone

  "It's unprecedented," said David Ridpath, an assistant professor of sports administration at Ohio University and a frequent critic of the NCAA's enforcement arm. "In many ways she's thrown down the gantlet and challenged (the NCAA): 'Bring it on.' "

  I predict she loses, and loses huge. We'll see if I'm right. Via Mr. Hanky.

• State drops case against Florida player // The Courier-Journal

  "Ownership or control of the substance must be proven. When multiple people are in a car where marijuana is found, that same rule applies. There were no facts to show ownership or control by Purifoy as opposed to the other defendants, which compels dismissal of the charges.''

  The lesson to be learned here -- if you're gonna smoke ganja, make sure you do it with friends. Or, maybe be sure you are a Florida football player. Either way. Hat tip: Mr. Hanky
  

College basketball

• Whoa. Cool. Via CBS Sports:
  

• The RPI is Not the Real Predictive Indicator // The Harvard College Sports Analysis Collective

  The Harvard Sports Collective shows why they are Ivy Leaguers, and debunk the NCAA claim that the RPI had "the highest level of predictive value." That claim was always going to be nonsense, and experimentation shows that it is, in fact, nonsense.

  The NCAA should really just shut up about the RPI and recognize that it is an inherently flawed measure. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be used, but the sooner they understand its weaknesses, which they apparently don't now, the better.

• Another downturn for Tubby Smith at Minnesota // John Clay's Sidelines
  One day you're Denny Tarrio, and the next day you're the floor.

• SEC: Don’t look now, but here come the Hogs // John Clay's Sidelines
  I thought they'd be good this year, I just thought they'd be good sooner...

Other sports news

• Patrick Patterson talks about getting traded to the Sacramento Kings from Houston:
  

• Will Randall Cobb join others in future holdouts? // Lombardi Ave
  Hope not ...

Other news