Thursday Quickies: Winning Awards Edition

Big congratulations to Mitch Barnhart on racking up the Athletic Director of the Year award!

Barnhart, the University of Kentucky’s AD since 2002, received the award last night from the Sports Business Journal, and for good reason.

Across the board, UK Athletics had solid seasons. From football to a national champion rifle team, from men’s soccer to volleyball, then men’s basketball and softball, it’s been a great year for UK Athletics and recognition is far from lacking for honoring Barnhart for his leadership of the program.

“I am honored and thankful to represent the University of Kentucky in receiving this award,” Barnhart said in a press release. “It’s truly a testament to the incredible work our student-athletes, coaches and staff have done to build a program to make the Big Blue Nation and the Commonwealth proud. I also want to say a special thank you to my wife, Connie, and my entire family for taking this journey with me. We have much work ahead of us though, and we can’t wait to do it.”

Barnhart has a few detractors out there, but his record of success in UK Athletics speaks for itself. Additionally, everyone who has met Mitch Barnhart talks about how friendly he is, so I am glad to see him be recognized and the UK Athletics program be spotlighted.

Congrats on your award Mitch!

Tweets of the Day

Go Mitch!

Quickies

Where does Kentucky go after losing Jaden McDaniels? - Courier Journal

The focus now turns to EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards testing the NBA waters.

Penny and Cal in talks over matchup - Cats Pause

The matchup, if it happens, seems likely to be a neutral site in Nashville.

Football Cats face favorable schedule in 2019 - Cats Pause

The losses on the roster are helped out by a favorable looking schedule.

Six different Cats named to Athlon’s preseason All-SEC team - Herald Leader

Drake Jackson led the way on the first-team All-SEC team.

Eric Bledsoe named to All-Defensive First Team - ESPN

Congrats to Eric Bledsoe!

UK Softball heads west for super regional - KSR

Good luck to UK Softball and Rachel Lawson!

Juwan Howard comes back to Michigan - Yahoo

Will Howard succeed or fall short of expectations like many others before him making the jump from player to coach?

If Durant comes to the Knicks, what happens with Kevin Knox? - KSR

Knox could still have a major role on the team with Durant in town.

Evaluating the options for Anthony Davis - The Ringer

Davis could create a scary tandem with Zion Williamson in New Orleans.

Bucks coach tells Drake to stay off the floor - Yahoo

He’s just saying what we all thought, right?

2021 and 2023 NFL Draft locations named - CBS

The 2021 draft is headed to Cleveland it appears.

Mike Brey thinks coaches who break NCAA rules should be fired - USA Today

He wants to know why AD’s and presidents aren’t dropping the hammer.