Kentucky Wildcats Quickies: Program Appreciation Edition

Good morning Big Blue Nation. As we all sip our morning coffee and browse the different sports websites the dominant story is going to be the scandal involving the Louisville Cardinals and the stripping of their 2012 and 2013 NCAA Final Four and National Title banners.

I reacted to this yesterday and took some flack from UofL fans because I am a UK blogger writing about a UofL story. The fact is this isn’t only the biggest sports story in the state of Kentucky, it’s the biggest sports story in the Country. So yes, we are going to cover this story here on A Sea of Blue. Not only is UofL the second biggest University in the state, but Rick Pitino is a former Kentucky Wildcats head basketball coach and he won a title here. So yeah, it’s a big deal to Kentucky fans for multiple reasons.

But instead of titling this edition of the Quickies based on the scandal, I am going to focus on being appreciative of cheering for a team and a program that isn’t a rotting cesspool. We should all be appreciative that there isn’t multiple scandals floating around campus.

We should appreciate the class of Mitch Barnhart, John Calipari, Mark Stoops, Nick Mingione, Matthew Mitchell, and all of the other coaches and administrators that work so hard to make UK a great place.

We should appreciate that we don’t have to try to defend what happened with Katina Powell and Andre McGee in Minardi Hall like so many UofL fans and radio personalities were doing yesterday and are doing today.

Tweets of the Day:

UofL Fallout Quickies

Louisville's claim of NCAA victim status rings hollow | Lexington Herald Leader
Louisville will appeal NCAA punishment, which could include removing 2013 banner. Given salacious violations, however, it’s in no position to complain.

Should NCAA's historic punishment of Louisville make UNC nervous? - Yahoo
Rick Pitino sounded a defiant tone after the NCAA levied its punishment on Thursday, but the deed may already be done in the case of the Cardinals' national championship.

Louisville, Pitino fail once again in response to NCAA punishment for sex scandal - ESPN
The NCAA charged Rick Pitino with a failure to monitor his program, but his defiant response to those charges is his real failure. Louisville will fight to keep its national championship, but it has lost its chance to reclaim its dignity.

The 10 Craziest Moments from Yesterday- KSR- The portions on Rick Pitino’s behavior are especially cringeworthy. It’s absolutely astounding he still has a job as a head basketball coach at the D1 level.

NCAA ruling puts coaches on Notice- CBS- Gary Parrish focuses on the fallout in regards to coaches and their excuses of not knowing what is going on in their own programs.

Quickies

Cats land JuCo Domonique Williams - 247
Kentucky has added another member to their 2018 recruiting class.

‘Magnetic personality’ helps Fox gain on Ball as Draft nears | Lexington Herald Leader
In mock drafts, former UK player De’Aaron Fox has steadily been considered no better than the third-best point guard available. Draft analyst Fran Fraschilla of ESPN said Fox has elevated his profile because of his “magnetic personality.” Fraschilla sees Bam Adebayo among “sleepers” in next week’s NBA Draft.

Monk’s athleticism, potential excite NBA teams - CoachCal.com
“What I would say – just taking about Malik – what Malik is, (is) an elite, special athlete/talent,” Calipari said. “When he gets in a zone and he just locks it down, you just kind of sit there and say, ‘Oh my goodness.’ … He would be one of those guys for the Knicks that fans would pay to go see and say, ‘I gotta see what he’s gonna do today.’ ”

Evan Daniels previews John Calipari's USA coaching experience - KSTV
This Sunday, John Calipari will begin his summer gig as coach of team USA’s under 19 basketball team.

Rich Brooks: UK will hold reunion for 2 bowl teams under his leadership - SEC Country
Former Kentucky coach Rich Brooks says a reunion is coming. On Thursday, Brooks used Twitter to relay word that the Wildcats will hold a reunion for the 20

Ex-Cat Monk can shoot the three, but can he be No. 3 pick? | Lexington Herald Leader
If the former University of Kentucky guard is starting to get nervous about when he might be chosen, he didn’t let it show during a post-workout interview with the media.

Lonzo Ball may talk to other lottery teams than Los Angeles Lakers - ESPN
Lonzo Ball continues to mull whether he will talk to teams that have lottery picks below the Lakers, a source said.

Busch aims to reassert dominance at Kentucky Speedway | Lexington Herald Leader
To say that Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski have dominated NASCAR racing at Kentucky Speedway does not give the duo enough credit.

NFL teams that could disappoint, overachieve in 2017 - NFL.com
Are Dak Prescott's Cowboys in for a post-breakout swoon? Will Kyle Shanahan spark the 49ers? Marc Sessler eyes three teams in danger of flopping -- and three poised to outshine expectations.

Criminal charge, lawsuit result from closed restaurant | Lexington Herald Leader
A theft charge over unpaid wages has been filed against the owner of a failed Lexington restaurant at the center of a lawsuit over overdue rent that is preventing another eatery from opening in the same space. While they operate a recently opened burger restaurant, Krim Boughalem and his wife, Andrea Sims, are embroiled in two legal battles tied to National Provisions, a restaurant that they closed nearly nine months ago.

100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time- Rolling Stone- I’m not a big country fan, but there are some artists on this list that I greatly admire. There are also artists on here that I think it’s a stretch to call them country (Keith Urban, Taylor Swift in particular)