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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the Big Blue Nation, and welcome to the Friday Morning Quickies. I am your host today after missing Tuesday due to our annual golf outing.
The big news of this morning is very sad: Former Wildcat Bret Bearup, 56, has died. As of this writing, the cause of his death is not known.
I was in the Navy when Bearup played, so I rarely got to see him, save for two regretful memories: The overtime loss to Louisville in the Midwest Regional Final in 1983, and the horrible loss to Georgetown in the 1984 Final Four.
Bearup played well as a freshman, earning over 9 minutes per game, then sat out his sophomore year. Never more than a role player, he was a strong post defender and good rebounder. His brother Todd played for Kentucky ten years after Bret. Bret was a McDonald’s and Parade All American, and academic All-SEC his senior season.
We here at A Sea of Blue lament his sudden passing and wish him godspeed, and our prayers and thoughts go out to Bret’s family and friends.
Tweets of the Morning
for BretBearup’s family and to you big guy RIP!
— Mike Pratt (@MikePratt22) May 18, 2018
So say we all, Mike.
Sad to hear that Bret Bearup passed away suddenly. A former Kentucky player for Coach Hall, I’ve known Bret since my days at UMass. He was always a loyal and good-hearted person who loved the game of basketball. He’s going to be missed. Prayers for him and his family.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 18, 2018
To my hero,
— Benjamin Bearup (@TheAviationBeat) May 18, 2018
This goodbye is only temporary. I look forward to reuniting with you one day.
I will forever cherish the moments we spent together.
Rest easy, Dad. @BretBearup pic.twitter.com/94NpQ68av7
RIP to former Kentucky Wildcat Bret Bearup, who passed away at the age of 56. Bearup was a prominent influence on the basketball scene for many years, and was such a fun person to be around. Sad day. pic.twitter.com/WgRuzWIXFb
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) May 18, 2018
Your Quickies:
Kentucky football
Kentucky basketball
- For those of us wondering about PJ. Jason also has more in case you missed it.
PJ Washington acknowledged that there's no way for a player to know conclusively that he'll be taken in the first round. He said he has two more team workouts, then will decide. May 30 is NCAA deadline.
— Jerry Tipton (@JerryTipton) May 17, 2018
- So now that Archie Miller has landed Romeo Langford, will negotiations on a renewal of the rivalry with Kentucky begin? I predict it won’t until AD Fred Glass moves on.
- Julius Randle had nice things to say about Coach Cal during the NBA Combine.
- UK commit DJ Jeffries dropped 14 spots in 247Sports rankings to #36.
- Kentucky is Vegas-bound in 2019. I’m there, baby, no doubt with a lot of company.
Other Kentucky sports
- Bat Cats hitting let them down, drop first of series to Vandy. Second game of the series is tonight at 7:30 on SECN+.
- Kentucky track & field will have 40 entries at next week’s NCAA East Preliminary Championships.
- Kole Cottahm and Luke Heyer named Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists. This award is for the top NCAA baseball player in the nation based on their on-the-field performance.
Links posts
College football
- Texas pushes back a football series with Ohio State to schedule one with Alabama.
- Nick Saban is not amused by UCF’s claim to the NCAA football title.
- Somehow I missed the news that Mike Slive has died.
College basketball
- Dogs and cats living together: For once, Gary Parrish and I agree — expanding the NCAA Tournament would not be a good thing. But where we also agree is that it wouldn’t be the end of the world, or anything.
- Michael McCann of Sports Illustrated analyzes the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Christie (or Murphy) v. NCAA (the gambling decision) on what it means for the NCAA. As always, it is worth the half-cup of coffee it takes.
Related: Las Vegas can now host NCAA championships.
Other sports news
- Can Justify win the Preakness in the same muddy way as the Derby? John Clay has thoughts.