Kentucky Wildcats Morning Quickies: Brandon Knight Edition

Gooooooooood morning and happy Monday to those of us slogging to work for what in the Midwest are nonseasonal temperatures. Global warming doesn't have to be all bad, apparently. Here's to a good week!

Tweet of the Morning:

LSU lost to Houston today. Previously to Marquette, N.C. State and Charleston. And almost to North Florida. With the best player in America.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) December 14, 2015

How does one talk to their children about Johnny Jones?

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• CJ Johnson was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game. He led the SEC in tackles for a defensive linemen, and took that second-year JUCO leap. I like the development Jimmy Brumbaugh conducts with the defensive linemen.
  
• UK got an important commitment from an outside linebacker over the weekend. UK has to have a pass-rush next season without being forced to rush five or more players on passing downs.
  

Kentucky basketball

• The women beat up on Middle Tennessee State yesterday and remain unbeaten. Thus far, the slew of transfers haven't hurt the team. Makayla Epps will rightfully be in All-America Team discussions. Photos!
• Wenyen Gabriel is wise beyond his years.
• Tai Wynyard ready to bring his physical nature to Lexington. I'm personally ready for the first half-and-done player.
• The top 2017 recruit likes Kentucky. I've come a long way from the pre-Cal years when I actually rode the roller-coaster of emotion in basketball recruiting. Now, I'm spoiled to the point where I don't think about it anymore, and just assume UK will be more than fine. What a luxury.
  

Other Kentucky sports

• I got nothing after spending 10 minutes searching the interwebs. Wild Weasel and others, please help a brother out.

College football

• Robert Nkemdiche fell out of a window. Commence speculation.
• Derrick Henry unsurprisingly won the Heisman. I remember his recruitment, and thought he was one of those "can't-miss" recruits, but he actually surpassed that to win college football's flawed, but most important, award.
  

College basketball

• Michigan State beat Florida to remain unbeaten, and presumably stay ranked at #1.
  
• The nation's top-scorer plays for a historically black, private school in our nation's capital.
  

Other sports news

• Brandon Knight hit seven three-pointers last night.
  
• Nerlens Noel suffered an eye injury over the weekend.
• Randall Cobb had his best game of the season yesterday.
• Russel Westbrook: Unreal.
• How The Warriors Streak Ended.
  
• The best UFC card in quite a while did not disappoint Saturday night. Two champs were newly crowned, and violence was abundant. The good times continue with another strong card this coming Saturday.

Other news

• Do we have any Serial listeners? I enjoyed the first season, and the second season has begun with another great story. Explainer.
• The Independence Day 2 trailer made me feel things.
• Did you know that Endor is the size of Mercury. That sound you hear is millions of Ewoks crying out in terror.
  
• The best book I read this year (despite being published in 2012) is Behind the Beautiful Forevers. Put this book in a loved one's stocking this holiday season. Most pop culture focuses on characters financially well-off (presumably for aspirational purposes) which makes this story even more eye-opening. Wrought, beautiful, and moving. Please read.
• Apropos of nothing, here are my favorite TV shows this year. I apparently don't watch basic cable:
  

1. The Americans (FX). No one watches this show which is a shame. It's been my favorite show for the last three years, and it somehow continues to get better.
2. Fargo (FX). A great first season gets even better despite introducing a new story and characters. Show-runner Noah Hawley is great at his job, and now I want to read his novels.
3. Transparent (Amazon). Great acting and story. Jeffrey Tambor has now starred in The Larry Sanders Show and Arrested Development. Has any other TV actor had a better run on prestige shows?
4. Mr. Robot (USA). I binged this show over a long weekend. Smart, timely, and respectfully captures mental illness.
5. The Leftovers (HBO). I wasn't a fan of the debut season, but stuck with it for a second season that was improved. A show about grief and loss, found its stride this fall and was even able to be uplifting at times. Also, incredible opening title song.
6. Mad Men (AMC). Farewell Roger Sterling and Sally Draper. One of my favorite shows of all-time ended on a strong note after taking a step back the last few years.
   
7. Review (Comedy Central). A truly hilarious show that isn't afraid to be dark.
   
8. Master of None (Netflix). Despite its issues, mostly the acting, it accurately portrayed the current dating scene, social media, and foodie culture. Funny too!
9. You're The Worst (FX). The third FX show on my list. The first season was funny but simple (and that's not a bad thing!), but the second season went deeper with a thoughtful representation of clinical depression. Unexpected but well-executed, and still very funny!
10. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix). I think we can all agree this show has the best opening title of any TV show ever, first and foremost. It distracted its audience with humor while subtlety inserting its message.

Honorable mention: Broad City, Nathan For You, Inside Amy Schumer, The Knick, The Man In The High Castle, Louie, The Jinx, Documentary Now!, Jessica Jones, and Halt and Catch Fire.