The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Sunday Comprehensive Edition
by Truzenzuzex on Apr 25, 2010 10:37 AM EDT
in News
10 comments
Today we have a ton of links and commentary from all around the Big Blue Nation and beyond.
-
A spring look up and down the depth chart | KentuckySports.com
Right now, our biggest concern has to be the lines. We lost most of our experience and a lot of size the last two years, and now the time has come to pay the piper. -
Hartline sends his haters a message | KentuckySports.com
In the early practices, it became clear Hartline had an advantage, an experience advantage. And, yes, Phillips said Saturday that Newton and Mossakowski had closed the gap between the middle of spring and the time the coach wrapped up the Blue-White Game under threatening skies Saturday, and the coach wasn’t ready to make any proclamations.
The battle for QB isn't over. Based on this comment, it's really just beginning.
- No. 16 LSU softball defeats Kentucky | theadvertiser.com | The Advertiser
-
Tailback Russell stars in UK scrimmage | KentuckySports.com
"Defensively, I thought the first-team defense swarmed the football," Phillips said. "Trevathan showed up all over the field. We've been getting on Danny, trying to get him to be more of a leader. Sometimes guys don't think they're leaders, but he showed it today the way he played."
This, along with Russell's emergence as the #2 RB, is encouraging. I am concerned about the D-line, but it looks like everyone behind them is playing well enough right now.
Much more after the jump.
Patrick Patterson: The Legacy
by Ken Howlett on Apr 23, 2010 4:30 PM EDT
in Commentary
68 comments
Most Kentucky basketball fans hold a special place in their hearts for all those who once donned the blue and white of the Wildcats. Whether the player sat on the bench, farthest from the coach, or sat for a Sports Illustrated cover. UK fans admire and respect those skilled enough to call Lexington home during their college years.
But every once and a while, a player comes along who transcends the admiration and respect afforded nearly all those who romped in Rupp Arena, Memorial Coliseum, or Alumni Gym. Some players, upon departure, find themselves thrust into a fraternity of greats, who for varying reasons, find themselves atop the pedestal, worshiped as heroes. Ralph Beard, Rupp's Runts, Dan Issel, Kyle Macy, Kenny Walker, The Unforgettables, Jamal Mashburn, Tayshaun Prince, and Chuck Hayes among others ... they all denote greatness. Whether for winning championships, or making a unique, indelible mark on the Kentucky basketball program, they are universally beloved by the Wildcat faithful.
And this year, we once again find ourselves hanging a banner in our hearts, this time for Patrick Patterson.
68 comments | 1 recs |
Kentucky Basketball: The Unforgettable John Wall
by Truzenzuzex on Apr 23, 2010 8:46 AM EDT
in Commentary
52 comments
We knew that John Wall was only going to be in Lexington one year. We knew he would almost certainly be a very good player. What we did not know is that he would find a way to make off with the hearts of every fan in the Big Blue Nation.
Hype. We heard it. We maybe even believed most of it. But for once, and that once comes along very rarely, the hype turned out not to be. Instead, the hype was just a premonition of reality.
When Wall came to Lexington, it was amongst much fanfare. Everyone had heard of him, everyone knew the stories about his breathtaking speed with the ball, his leaping ability, his great passing skills and astonishing ability to finish plays. We had heard the stories that he got into a bit of trouble as he was finishing his fifth year at Word of God Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he was cited for trespassing for wandering through the open door of an empty house. Some had doubts about his ability and his character.
"Just another player using college as a temporary stopover to the NBA," the critics said. Just another one-and-done staining the reputation of the amateur game, hurting the academic reputation of whatever college he goes to. We heard all those things as well as the hype. They were all wrong.
The hallmark of true greatness is making the spectacular look ordinary. Tiger Woods, moral turpitude aside, is such a talent. Woods makes golf look so easy a child could do it. John Wall did that, too. He made the wickedest, ankle-breaking crossover look effortless, the one-man fast break look like a normal state of affairs, and the lane penetration and kick out the easiest thing in the world.
Wall made college basketball at its highest level look so easy that we began to take him for granted, some wondering if DeMarcus Cousins was actually better. Few realized it was Wall who contributed mightily to Cousins' rise, as well as the rise of Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton. There is no doubt that without Wall, the rest of UK's "one and dones" would not be as highly thought of after one year as they are now.
52 comments | 1 recs |
NFL Draft Open Thread
by Truzenzuzex on Apr 22, 2010 6:47 PM EDT
in Open Thread
5 comments
The NFL draft first round happens tonight at 7:30 PM on the NFL Network, and the second and third rounds take place on Friday starting at 6:00 PM, with rounds 4-7 going down Saturday starting at 10:00 AM.
You all know that I am utterly clueless on the NFL draft, but you can follow the action on live on SB Nation.
What I will do is list the players, position, projected draft round range, projected pick if known, and comments:
| Player | Pos | Round | Best Pick | Comments |
| John Conner | FB | 4th - 6th | #182 | Ranked between #1 and #5 Fullback |
| T.C. Drake | TE | N/A | N/A | Ranked between #30-48 Tight End |
| Zipp Duncan | OG | NA | NA | Ranked between #17 and #43 Offensive guard |
| Justin Jeffries | OT | N/A | N/A | Ranked between #36 and #53 Offensive Tackle |
| Micah Johnson | ILB | 6th – FA | #255 | Ranked between #6 and #22 Inside Linebacker |
| Trevard Lindley | CB | 4th - 6th | #286 | Ranked between #17 and #33 Cornerback |
| Sam Maxwell | OLB | 7th – FA | #320 | Ranked between #19 and #37 Outside Linebacker |
| Corey Peters | DT | 5th - 6th | #162 | Ranked between #10 and #18 Defensive Tackle |
| Alfonso Smith | RB | 6th – FA | #326 | Ranked between #19 and #27 Running Back |
Additional reading:
Good luck to our seniors!
John Calipari: Burnin' Down the Bird House
by Ken Howlett on Apr 22, 2010 6:22 PM EDT
in Commentary
37 comments
"He must be butter, 'cause he's on a roll!"
Recycled by Ken Howlett, circa 2010
En fuego ... about that there is no doubt. Our man, John "Reel 'em In" Calipari, is on a path untraveled by most mortals, until now.
With the larcenous procurement of 2011 No. 2 ranked recruit Marquis Teague (6-2, 170 lb guard), out of Pike High School in Indianapolis, Calipari has now gained either a signed LOI, grant-in aid papers, or verbal commitments from five of the top rated prospects in the country ... over the last nine days! But, it's today's Teague commitment that should bring the broadest smile to the faces of Calipari and all those considered Big Blue fanatics. Not necessarily because of the considerable talents Teague brings to the court, but rather, because Teague had been the apple of Louisville coach Rick Pitino's eye for at least two years. In poker parlance, Pitino went "all-in" on Teague a while ago. But like Chris Moneymaker, from out of the BLUE came Calipari, sending Pitino home broke, and searching for an alibi.
To illustrate how entrenched Pitino's position was, here is a transcription of an audio tape made as Teague announced for UK. The conversation, between Pitino and ex-'Cat/current U of L assistant Walter McCarty, took place somewhere deep in the bowels of Card headquarters:
37 comments | 2 recs |
Marquis Teague is a Wildcat
by Truzenzuzex on Apr 22, 2010 1:56 PM EDT
in News
92 comments
Here are a few observations about the verbal commitment of highly-ranked 2011 recruit Marquis Teague today:
- The Indy Star live feed was an epic, galactic fail.
- John Calipari was behind years versus Pitino on Teague. He made it up like Zenyata at Oaklawn, and it probably wasn't any closer at the finish.
- Will Rick Pitino start getting the Tubby Detractor moniker of "plowhorse?" Stay tuned ...
- Rick Pitino's karmic burden was just too heavy for him to drag Teague over the finish line.
- Lebron James did not call Teague. He used a Vulcan mind-meld to finish the job off for Calipari.
- I just saw a mushroom cloud appear somewhere over downtown Louisville.
- Louisville Cardinals flags around the neighborhood are flying at half mast.
- Matt Jones just floated by in a suit on what looked like a magic carpet.
- The Calipari hate-o-meter just pegged and bent the needle into a U-shape.
More later.
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
[UPDATED 4/10/2010]
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
Southeastern Conference Standings
(updated 3.30.2010 at 9:25 PM EDT)
| East | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
14 | 2 | 35 | 3 |
|
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
12 | 4 | 24 | 9 |
|
Tennessee Volunteers
|
11 | 5 | 28 | 9 |
|
Florida Gators
|
9 | 7 | 21 | 13 |
|
South Carolina Gamecocks
|
6 | 10 | 15 | 16 |
|
Georgia Bulldogs
|
5 | 11 | 14 | 17 |
| West | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Mississippi Rebels
|
9 | 7 | 24 | 11 |
|
Mississippi St. Bulldogs
|
9 | 7 | 24 | 12 |
|
Arkansas Razorbacks
|
7 | 9 | 14 | 18 |
|
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
6 | 10 | 17 | 15 |
|
Auburn Tigers
|
6 | 10 | 15 | 17 |
|
LSU Tigers
|
2 | 14 | 11 | 20 |
Wildcats Basketball Schedule
Last 5 Games
|
West Virginia
|
Sat 03/27 | L 66 - 73 |
| Cornell | Thu 03/25 | W 62 - 45 |
|
Wake Forest
|
Sat 03/20 | W 90 - 60 |
| East Tennessee St. | Thu 03/18 | W 100 - 71 |
|
Mississippi St.
|
Sun 03/14 | W 75 - 74 |
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
