Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the Big Blue Nation, and welcome to the Tuesday Morning Quickies.
Finally, the SEC has released the schedules for the 2020 football season, and as you might expect, Kentucky’s is a tough one, with the Wildcats facing five top-25 foes this year including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee. But to be honest, most of us are just hoping to have a season. I second Jason’s opinion that even if we don’t make a bowl, just playing this fall would be a victory worthy of celebrating.
Moving on to basketball, two bits of news came out last night that cast some doubt on the eligibility of Joey Gatewood and Oliver Sarr — both in football. Two football transfers were denied a wavier to their year-in-residence requirements in their bids to play immediately. Jason has all the details here if you haven’t seen it, but the player profiles are very similar to Gatewood and substantially similar to Sarr. Sarr’s loss of his coach could help his case, but the NBA draft postponement might offset that positive. Keep your fingers crossed.
Finally, more on the basketball front. The NCAA has said it will decide on basketball season by mid-September. The first games are currently scheduled for November 10th, but the NCAA said it is developing contingency plans in case the pandemic forces a delay. Given the fits, starts, and understandable but annoying hand-wringing we have seen so far, this is probably about the best we can hope for.
Tweet of the Morning
So sadden to hear of the passing of former UK assistant Boyd Grant who was on Joe B. Hall’s first UK staff (1972-74). He left UK to be head coach at College of Southern Idaho, then Fresno St and Colorado St. He was 87. Grant is standing next to Kevin Grevey (35). @KentuckyMBB pic.twitter.com/y6S3pDFWA8
— Oscar Combs (@wildcatnews) August 18, 2020
Rest in peace, Boyd Grant.
Your Quickies:
Kentucky football
- UK goes to auburn for its first season opener against an SEC team in 60 years. Something to tell your kids about, I guess.
- Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated has ten thoughts on the newly-announced Kentucky schedule. Here’s a teaser:
1. Auburn is not a bad first week opponent for Kentucky
Read that one again, it’s not a frequently-expressed opinion. But it may be right in this case.
Kentucky basketball
- Recruiting expert explains why UK’s chances for landing top 3 2021 recruit Paolo Banchero may have just dropped.
- Keion Brooks Jr. selected to serve on the newly-formed National Association of Basketball Coaches Player Development Coalition.
Links posts
College football
- Amid mounting pressure, the Big Ten has some explaining to do. When someone says the Pac-12 looks good by way of comparison, you have to take note.
- The “extra year of eligibility” argument is raising its head again. At this rate, we might as well declare everyone eligible until they are 30 or have played four full seasons.
- If college players get sick from COVID-19, expect lawsuits to follow, says the Captain Obvious of the beltway press, the WaPo. We sue for everything else, for heaven’s sake, how could college sports be excepted?
- More on the Big Ten situation
This could matter if Nebraska and/or Iowa decide to challenge their BIG 10 contracts so they can play in the Fall.
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) August 18, 2020
They could seek a temporary injunction based on fundamental unfairness in the decision making process. Not a slam dunk, but a possible opening under Antitrust Law. https://t.co/CRt34Vblaf
College basketball
- Arkansas fans weep bitter tears as star Isaiah Joe jumps back into the NBA Draft and sends Arkansas’ 2020-21 season hopes back two steps.
Other sports news
- I did not know this, but Twitter parody artist @NotJerryTipton, who’s real identity was Lee Stewart, an Alabama attorney, has passed away at 52 years young. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will be missed for his hilarious, irreverent commentary.
- Kentucky deputy AD DeWayne Peevy has been offered the position of Director of Athletics at DePaul.
- Question that deserves to be asked:
If baseball's myriad unwritten rules are so essential, might someone wish to write them down? Just a thought.
— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) August 18, 2020