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Kentucky Wildcats Morning Quickies: Ken Norton Edition

News and commentary from around the Big Blue Internet. Tyler Ulis embraces the competition at Kentucky. The public gets a look at the proposed new Rupp Arena. More.

Former heavyweight boxing champ, Ken Norton.
Former heavyweight boxing champ, Ken Norton.
Rick Stewart

Ken Norton, the man who broke the legendary jaw of Muhammad Ali in 1973, has died. Rest in peace.

Tweet of the Morning:

For me, it's hard to believe it's taken so damn long to get here.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football
Kentucky basketball
  • Three ESPN writers opine on which coach has "the most on the line" this year. Myron Metcalf, no surprise to me, picks John Calipari. I suppose if this team performed far below expectations he'd have a point, but let's be honest — the odds are very much stacked against that. Almost anyone with basketball acumen who has seen the incoming players play understands this much — they could even play for Isaiah Thomas and be highly successful.

    Given that, Calipari would seem an odd choice. Metcalf justifies it thus:

    So what could go wrong? Well, last season, another talented young crew in Lexington lost to Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT. Was that a fluke? There’s immense pressure on Calipari and this Kentucky squad to prove that it was. He’s always been a premier recruiter, but recruiting alone, as we learned last year, is not the only quality that breeds success within the coaching ranks.

    Metcalf perfectly well knows last year's team lost it's best player at a crucial point in the season, but he doesn't seem to mention that even in passing. I wonder why?

    Jason King and Dana O'Neil make much smarter choices, but the winner, hands down, is King. Steve Alford has a major uphill battle to win over Westwood, and they are not inclined to give him much of a chance. Dana O'Neil's choice of Josh Pastner is also good, just as good as Alford.

  • Ben Roberts says Tyler Ulis embraces competing against the best at Kentucky. Well, if that's really his attitude, then he has come to the right place.

  • Alan Culter caught up with former Wildcat Andre Riddick. He has some interesting comments.

  • All Kentucky's coaches showed up at Devin Booker's high school gym Wednesday.

  • Public gets a look at the redesigned Rupp Arena at a hearing last night.

  • The entire "Meet the Wildcats" series. Good stuff.

Links posts
College football
  • Teddy Bridgewater's Heisman odds have dropped significantly.

  • I haven't really been following this whole Bo Pellini thing and the expletive-laced rant that produced some national controversy. But Corn Nation has a funny take on it.

    College football coaches swearing. Hmm. What a novel concept. I hope I don't have to apologize for my swearing, it would take a long [expletive] time.

College basketball