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Good morning Big Blue Nation!
The state of Kentucky isn’t known for football. Basketball is King ‘round these parts. But two of the nation’s premier college running backs both have ties to the Bluegrass state.
According to Athlon Sports, Benny Snell and Damien Harris are two of the top 50 running backs in college football. Snell will be the Kentucky Wildcats’ premiere player on offense and Harris is a native of Kentucky.
Snell checks in at 12:
12. Benny Snell, Kentucky
With Kentucky’s offense breaking in a new quarterback, Snell should expect another heavy workload in 2018. After rushing for 1,091 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman in 2016, Snell improved on those totals last fall. Over 13 games, Snell rushed for 1,333 yards and 19 touchdowns. Snell leads the way among returning backs in the SEC.
And Harris checks in at 8:
8. Damien Harris, Alabama
Alabama’s backfield is loaded with talent and options for new play-caller Mike Locksley, but Harris passed on the NFL for another year in Tuscaloosa and a chance to anchor the ground game once again. Harris has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns and averaged 7.4 yards per rush on 135 carries last fall. The Kentucky native has yet to eclipse more than 20 carries in a contest but that could change in 2018 with Bo Scarbrough leaving for the NFL.
Well deserved for both players.
Tweets of the Day
I think there has been some misunderstanding with my family... my eldest brother and sister are both college graduates. My younger sister and brother both have received full scholarships... Yes we are refugees but we are NOT poor, we are black excellence!
— UPMΛN™ (@WenyenGabriel) June 2, 2018
The common thought was that Wenyen Gabriel chose to stay in the draft in large part to help support the family. This is not the case and he wanted to make it clear.
Here’s what makes me mad about UK/SEC alcohol policy. Wealthy donors are allowed to drink and are sold alcohol by the school via the club sections
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) June 1, 2018
But average fans are banned from buying it. It is hypocritical a perfect example of UK not paying attention to the average fan
I concur.
With two great Italians: soccer great @vieri_bobo and Hollywood star @danny_abeckaser! pic.twitter.com/ApHQxrkUmx
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) June 1, 2018
Calipari showing off his Italian pride.
Quickies
Brad Calipari finding success in Europe | Lexington Herald Leader- Brad toured Europe with The Global Sports Academy team and had a good run of games. They moved him from shooting guard to point guard and the fit was natural.
Kentucky tied for fourth best odds for national title | Courier-Journal- Kentucky and Gonzaga are both 10-1. I think the addition of Reid Travis, if it happens, will make Kentucky the favorite.
Kentucky may miss Gabriel more than we realize | Cats Pause- Gabriel’s ability to stretch the floor set him apart from other bigs and his hustle plays will be difficult to replace.
On Kentucky and the transfer rumors and stay/go stuff: just gonna note that I think Wenyen Gabriel is getting way undervalued here. Per HoopLens: Kentucky was 3 points per 100 possessions better on O with Wenyen on the floor, and a whopping 9 points per 100 better on D.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) May 30, 2018
UK track and field earn awards | UK Athletics- Coach Floreal swept the Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year Award for the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn picked up the award for the ladies and Tim Duckworth was the Athlete of the Year.
Terry Wilson working out in Arizona | Courier-Journal- Prospective Kentucky QB Terry Wilson is getting some extra work this offseason in Arizona. Wilson’s athleticism is his greatest attribute but he is working to fine-tune his throwing mechanics heading into summer camp.
John Beilein interviews with Pistons | CBS- The Michigan head coach has built quite the program for the Wolverines but he may not be there for much longer. After dismissing Stan Van Gundy, Beilein is in their crosshairs.
Tristan Thompson’s fine for a flagrant foul reduced | ESPN- Thompson was hit with an extremely bogus flagrant foul near the end of regulation in Game One of the NBA Finals. The foul was also reduced from a flagrant 2 to a flagrant 1.