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The Cleveland Cavaliers completed the 4-0 sweep of the Boston Celtics yesterday afternoon but not without some damage. Cavs forward Kevin Love suffered a dislocated shoulder thanks to what looks like a dirt play from Boston's Kelly Olynyk.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) April 27, 2015
Reports vary on when Kevin Love can return, two weeks seems to be the optimistic timetable, but no question that this hurts Cleveland's title chances. That being said, having LeBron James and Kyrie Iriving as your stars has to make you feel good.
The game itself almost devolved into a complete brawl with hard fouls committed by the Cav's Kendrick Perkins and JR Smith. It's a good thing this one is over because another game could have been even uglier than this one.
Tweet of the Morning:
I'm coming for everything they said I couldn't have
— Mychal Mulder (@MychalMulder) April 26, 2015
No official word yet on how Mulder's visit to Kentucky went this weekend, but he was all business. I would be shocked if he isn't a Wildcat by midweek.
On to the Quickies!
Kentucky Football:
- Bud Dupree will work out with the Washington Redskins, who have the fifth overall pick in the NFL Draft. I cannot wait to see where Bud ends up on Thursday.
Kentucky Basketball:
- Five star stand out wing Brandon Ingram makes his decision today. Most experts have him staying home in North Carolina in order to attend Duke, but Kentucky is very much in the mix. It would be a huge get for John Calipari and would soften the blow of the current recruit misses. It isn't likely, but we will keep you updated either way.
- John Calipari, and seemingly every big name coach in the country, took in the Nike EYBL in Lexington over the weekend to check out the future stars of college basketball and the NBA. Malik Monk was the stand out performer. The 6'3, 170 lb shooting guard from the class of 2016 opened the day Saturday with a 39 point, 11-17 from the field performance in front of Cal and Kenny Payne. I would say he is a priority.
- It's been almost a month since the Wisconsin Badgers stunned the 38-0 Kentucky Wildcats in the Final Four, making them 38-1, and John Calipari is just now really talking about it. Consider:
You know, it never entered my mind that we were going to lose," Calipari told The Associated Press as he walked out of the high school gym. "When we were up four with 5 minutes to go, I thought it was over. Even when Wisconsin made that run, I thought we'd figure it out.
"We never, in my time at Kentucky, we just don't lose that game," he added.
Yeah, that one still hurts me. Can't imagine how it feels to the coaches and the players.
Other Wildcat Sports:
- The Bat Cats headed into a Sunday game against the #5 Florida Gators looking for a sweep, the first in 20 years over the Gators, but came up short losing in a 10-1 blow out. Still, Gary Henderson's team is in good position for the SEC tournament. They are back in action on Tuesday at 6:30 PM against the detested Louisville Cardinals at Jim Patterson Stadium.
- The Wildcats softball team didn't have such a good weekend. They were swept by the #14 Georgia Bulldogs that culminated in an 8-4 loss yesterday. They have struggled mightily in SEC play, going 5-16. It's been a disappointing season for sure.
- The 13th annual Catspy Awards get underway tonight at 7:30. The awards show honors all of Kentucky's student athletes, showcasing categories such as Community Service, Wildcat Pride, Rookie of the Year, The Bill Kightley Award, Academic Team, and Mr. and Ms. Wildcat.
College Basketball:
- Tom Crean and Indiana basketball received some good news yesterday when senior point guard Yogi Ferrell opted to return for his senior season. With his return, along with James Blackmon, Jr., Troy Williams, and freshman Thomas Bryant, Crean has a really good team. But it's Tom Crean...
- Texas also received some good news as Shaka Smart will get junior point guard Isaiah Taylor will return next season. It will be interesting to see if Smart can do more than former Longhorns coach Rick Barnes ever did with the talent that he had.
- Ben Howland thinks that Malik Newman is definitely an NBA player. Newman has talent, yes, but I'm not so sure he's a one and done caliber player right now. Nevertheless, Howland should be excited about the huge commitment and Mississippi State has a formidable future with him at the helm.
Professional Basketball:
- It was a big weekend in the NBA playoffs. As previously noted, the Cavaliers swept the Celtics. Other teams that enjoyed sweeps were the Washington Wizards over the Tronoto Raptors, and the Golden State Warriors over the New Orleans Pelicans.
- The New Orleans Pelicans will seek a max deal with budding super star Anthony Davis. Well, duh.
- The LA Clippers tied the series 2-2 with a win over the San Antonio Spurs, and the Dallas Mavericks stayed alive by defeating the Houston Rockets. The Rockets lead the series 3-1.
- In that Wizards 125-94 blowout over the Raptors, John Wall had another peach of a game with 14 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds. Keith will have more of this later as he responds to the continued buffoonery of ESPN expert blowhard Colin Cowherd.
Random News:
- Bill Belichick, Russel Wilson, and Frank Kaminsky were all caught creeping on beauty Chrissy Teigen at the White House Correspondents dinner. We all knew Belchick was a creep, but we expect better from you Russell and Mr. Tank. Although, Teigen really is quite the looker.
- I'm an avid fan of the series Game of Thrones on HBO and of the books by George R.R. Martin. It had been hinted at that this season would take a huge departure from the books as the show has passed up Martin's novels (he still has two more to finish before it's all said and done), and last night was the first time that the television incarnation took that departure. I loved every second of it and I can see where the books are going. Warning: Spoilers.
- Also in TV land, Mad Men finally went somewhere in its final season. Only two episodes left until we find out how the Saga of Don Draper ends. I expect those episodes to be quite busy. Again: spoilers.
- President Ulysses S. Grant turns 193 years old today. Here are 10 interesting facts about the Union General turned President.
I end this edition of the Quickies on a sad note as Big Blue Nation lost one of it's sons over the weekend. Mike Phillips died tragically over the weekend due to an accidental fall at his home. He was 59. He was one of the original Twin Towers, along with Rick Robey, on Kentucky's 1978 national championship team. He was far too young and we all will miss him and are forever grateful for his time at Kentucky.