If you did not check ESPN often today, you might have missed that Louisville hosted the Kentucky Senior Olympic Games this afternoon. It was a great event once again and as in years past, the star of the Kentucky Senior Olympic Games was once again Radio Ron. The KSTV legend entered 12 events in the 75-79 age category and once again, took 12 gold medals. He became like a combination of Bruce Jenner, Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson and Jaleel White, taking down all competition while bring home the gold. Radio Ron has already been featured in the Courier Journal this week and his amazing talent (which includes the ability to croon hits from the Standards era) led him to get a tryout with “America’s Got Talent.” We met Radio Ron last year at the KSTV Casting Call and like with this year’s edition, it was great to meet a person who should get noticed on a larger scale. Since that time, he has made regular appearances on the show, calls in often to the radio and is a celebrity along the Big Blue Nation. We congratulate Radio Ron on his triumph today, while also saying “you’re welcome” to all the ladies out there for giving them a screensaver that will do them well after they finish their copy of “50 Shades of Grey.”

To the NEWS!:

— It was the first really slow day of the post National Championship news cycle as most of those around UK land are on vacation and very little is taking place. The biggest news is that the UK basketball schedule is likely to get released at some point next week. Kentucky has taken a bit of heat nationally for having a somewhat reduced non-conference schedule, but my guess is that when all is said and done, the schedule will be as difficult as anyone’s in the nation. The Cats are already scheduled to play a road game at Louisville, Maryland in Brooklyn, Duke in Atlanta and Georgetown in Washington DC (where interestingly, it was announced today that the East Regional will be held next year for the NCAA Tournament). There has been some speculation that a neutral site game is still to be added, but a source tells KSR that there have been a few hiccups in that game that could cause it to be postponed to next year. Mitch Barnhart told KSTV that there would be at least one more marquee home game added to the schedule, and when it is released next week, the release of that game will be the biggest news. If that marquee home game is a BCS school (which I am told it likely will be), then the Cats will play at least five BCS opponents in the non-conference, an amount that I would guess will be matched by very few schools in the Top 25.

— Much time was spent on radio and on the blog today talking about the interview with David Williams on the issue of football stadium renovations. If you scroll below, you can read most of the relevant information. What has been interesting to me however is the ambivalence of so many to Kentucky football at this time. While those that care about the program are deeply interested in this issue (I have had more feedback about this interview than almost any I have ever done), many more seem to care not at all about the future of the biggest money generator in the Athletics Department. I often get criticized for not focusing enough on football, but the reality is that when football is the subject, the site numbers go down, the phone calls dry up and the talk becomes only with the diehards. The much larger audience is engaged with basketball and even couch surfing, but football only draws the passion of a select few. In all the talk about who needs to do what to get renovations or excitement in the program, this truth needs to be accepted as well. Our fans care, but not nearly at the level of most of our opposition…a select few are passionate, but that passion pales in comparison to that seen in the basketball Big Blue Nation.

— John Calipari is being floated as a possible Olympic coach in 2016 after the retirement of Coach K. Calipari has already received international experience with his work on the Dominican Republic team (which will continue this summer) and has a great relationship with many of the players that are likely to make up the core of the 2016 squad (Lebron, Rose, Wall, Cousins, Davis, etc). If he were to even be in the running for that job, it would showcase just how full circle his career has come in the last decade, from the controversial coach to the flag bearer for a country. If asked, I am sure he would jump at the chance and if he somehow gets the Dominican team qualified to this year’s Olympics, he will be one of the sure-fire top candidates.

— It is worth noting one last time that the NCAA changes on the charge call could be huge in college basketball next season. The college game was severely hampered last year by the tendency of referees to reward nearly every defensive player who attempted to slide in and take a charge at the last minute. The NCAA noted this tendency in its rules alteration and said that there should be more latitude given to offensive players to get to the basket, especially after leaving their feet. If the referees take the suggestions seriously, and my guess is that they will, a team like Kentucky, that uses penetration much more than other teams, will surely benefit. Kentucky was hindered often last season by overzealous, charge happy referees. This year they may get the benefit of a different style.

We will be back at it tomorrow on the radio and will begin looking at the 2013 recruiting class targets for UK. It is shaping up to be a HUGE haul for the Cats. Until then…

LeBron, Ashley Judd, Drake, Jay-Z and now….Fabolous? Brooklyn rapper Fabolous recently released a song referencing the Kentucky Wildcats, essentially jumping on the bandwagon of celebrities already repping UK. Take a listen to the video above, the reference comes at the 1:19 mark of the song.

Go ‘Cats

Kyle Wiltjer just tweeted this picture out, which I assume means he got a 4.0 this semester. While I have no verification of this, it looks pretty official to me, so why not say CONGRATS KYLE! Smarty pants.

Today’s interview with David Williams on KSR was a good learning experience for me. I learned that good politicians (of which he is one) are (a) good at answering the question they want, rather than necessarily the one you asked and (b) don’t love the confrontational style that we like on KSR. With that said, Senator Williams was interesting to speak with and offered to come back at any time on the show. He is a somewhat gruff guy that isn’t quite “warm and fuzzy”, but while we don’t agree on this (or likely much else), I always appreciate anyone willing to actually debate their position with one who disagrees. The only time he really seemed to get upset at me was when I suggested his position was liberal (government oversight on spending projects even if the market would allow them) and mine conservative (allowing the Universities to get funding if the market deems the project repayable). While I dont mind being called a liberal, Senator Williams is not quite as fond of the term. Nevertheless, he said he enjoyed talking about these issues and even laughed at the back and forth saying, “this is just how you and I talk to each other.” In the course of the conversation, I thought he touched on some important points, although he didn’t truly answer my question as to the justification for Kentucky remaining the only state in the SEC to not allow their major Universities to initiate bonding projects on their own. He also noted that in his 10 years as Senate President, he and Mitch Barnhart have never had a conversation, a fact that while understandable (those conversations likely go through the UK President), probably should be changed.

However, Williams did make one very important point. Williams said unequivocally that he would support a Commonwealth Stadium renovation that was given with dedicated revenue (which virtually any such renovation project could easily have), if it was apart from the other academic UK requests. This is an important step for Commonwealth Stadium renovation possibilities. While Williams has never said he was against such a request, he has also never said he was for one either. Many I have talked to behind the scenes in UK athletics, including former members of the UK Athletic Board, did not think Williams supported such requests. Now that he has said publicly he does, the makeup for such proposals can change. Williams is clear that a Commonwealth Stadium proposal detached from other University projects (where the dedicated revenue is more indirect) will have his support. This is a HUGE hurdle.

So now the ball moves into another court. For a major Commonwealth Stadium renovation to take place, it now must be supported by UK President Eli Capilouto. In the last budget, a Commonwealth Stadium renovation was included, but was tied to academic projects without dedicated revenue. Williams was clear that he would not support such a request. But with UK Athletics able to create a Commonwealth Stadium project with its own dedicated revenue, it is now up to Capiluoto to allow it to happen. There are other projects on campus that need funding, but presumably Williams’ statement today suggests that an approval of a Commonwealth Stadium project set alone, would not have a negative impact on the UK academic projects. To put it another way, if a pool of bond approval exists for UK renovations, Williams’ comments suggest that the Commonwealth Stadium project could be approved without affecting that pool. That means it is up to Capilouto to approve such an individual request.

The question is, will he? The reality is that UK likes to bundle athletic projects (which have wide support) with academic renovations where dedicated revenue isn’t as clear. Some believe that the President and Board of Trustees do not want the athletic requests separate, as the support for them in the legislature drags along other academic requests. If this is true, President Capilouto may not allow an individual Commonwealth Stadium request, EVEN THOUGH it can (a) easily be approved and (b) easily paid for with directed revenue. Barnhart will not likely come out publicly and put the onus on his boss in this way, but the reality is this is where the next step lies.

Even if you believe (as I do), that David Williams and the Kentucky Senate should allow UK to do its bonding on its own, it was clear by his statements today that it won’t happen as long as the Kentucky Senate leadership is in its current state. With that road closed (at least until a change in the leadership’s position or a change in the leadership), that means that the future of any Commonwealth Stadium renovation lies with the UK President. IF he allows it to be an individual request apart from his academic requests, it will be approved. If not, the future does not look as bright. All eyes on Eli.

SI.com’s Sam Amick is looking ahead to an NBA draft that will be crawling with former Kentucky Wildcats. Amick says that there is a bit of risk with every pick and compares it to gambling. In the first part of a three part series, he lists the players that he would consider as “Hitting the Jackpot” if a team was in line their services. These are the premier, can’t miss prospects of the draft.

1. Hitting The Jackpot (four players): The talent is immense and the upside is as trustworthy as there is in the draft. See below for an evaluation of Davis and the other three players in this group

Obviously Anthony Davis is going to be apart of the list, but another Wildcat makes an appearance too.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky, freshman small forward (6-7, 210): He was Robin to Davis’ Batman at Kentucky, in large part because of his commitment to playing both ends of the floor (he was only fourth on the team in scoring at 11.9 points). It’s unclear whether he can evolve into playing a lead role, but he has no shortage of casting calls because of his versatility and the leadership he showed during the Wildcats’ championship run.

For all of the attention paid to Davis as Kentucky’s top talent, Kidd-Gilchrist was regarded as the team’s glue. Coach John Calipari routinely praised him for being the emotional leader, and Kidd-Gilchrist was the captain of the Wildcats’ 8:30 a.m. workouts before scheduled practices.

It’s hard to tell how good he can be offensively because of the deep surrounding talent at Kentucky, but he has been compared to New Jersey’s Gerald Wallace in terms of his athleticism and attacking mentality. Kidd-Gilchrist had two of his best offensive games in the NCAA tournament, scoring 24 points on 7-of-15 shooting against Indiana in the Sweet 16 and 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting against Baylor in the Elite Eight.

He might have the best motor in the draft, and nothing makes scouts happier than a player who never stops. Kidd-Gilchrist is also a tenacious defender with a 6-10 wingspan. His inconsistent perimeter game is a concern, but his work ethic and approach have NBA teams drooling.

“He has all the intangibles,” one assistant general manager said. “And he plays extremely hard.”

Yup. That’s about right. Here’s what he had to say about the Brow:

Anthony Davis, Kentucky, freshman power forward (6-foot-10, 220 pounds): As if his top-dog status hasn’t been established already, I spoke with another general manager to inquire about Davis’ incredible potential. To review, my May 1 report had executives comparing Davis not only to Blake Griffin but also to future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. Sure enough, the consensus continues.

“He could be every bit as good as KG,” the GM said. “KG, [Tim] Duncan — that’s this guy’s upside. There’s no telling how good this guy is going to be.”

Whereas most No. 1 picks have already showcased most of their skills by this stage, the fact that Davis didn’t become a big man until a growth spurt during his junior year in high school likely means the evolution is just getting started. His defensive presence has been well-chronicled (he led the nation with 4.6 blocks), but the GM sees plenty of offensive potential as well.

“He’ll start doing things in a couple of years, and you’ll be like, ‘Wow,’ ” he said.

Also listed by Amick as can’t miss prospects are Kansas’ Thomas Robinson and Florida’s Bradley Beal. The draft is June 28th and it’ll be pretty much blue and white throughout. Is there anyway we can prevent all of them from being sentenced to Charlotte?

Go Cats.

Although the Clippers eventually fell to the Spurs in Game 1 of last night’s Western Conference semifinals, former Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe put on a show. By this point you’ve probably already heard about his 23 point performance that allowed the Clippers to stay in the contest with the Spurs. His play last night is starting to cause some serious buzz among the media. Malcom C. Brown of Sporting News is calling for Eric Bledsoe, normally a key contributor off the bench, to get the start in Game 2 of the series.

Chris Paul needs assistance, evident when he dribbles the ball for the majority of the shot clock leading to inexplicable jump shots from Blake Griffin. To whom can the Clips look?

 

Enter Eric Bledsoe. The X-factor of a struggling Clippers squad, Bledsoe erupted for 23 points in 27 minutes against the Spurs in Game 1. Bledsoe, John Wall’s former backup at Kentucky, is capable of putting up efforts like that nightly, if he gets the minutes. The problem is, he hasn’t been. Bledsoe is averaging just 15.5 minutes in the postseason.

Brown makes it clear in his article that he believes Bledsoe’s performance so far in the playoffs has earned him a starting role. He even claims that the series will likely end in a 4-0 sweep if the change isn’t made soon. Coming off of one of his best games as a pro, it will be interesting to see if the push for Bledsoe to crack the starting line up for the Clippers gains more steam.

In perhaps the most powerful line of the piece by Brown, he simply states about Bledsoe: “All he needs is an opportunity.”

Now, The Article Links-

Agent David Falk tells the Charlotte Observer the NBA will have a one-player draft this year

Anthony Davis will be in Bowling Green on Wednesday, May 16th, signing autographs at Kroger on the 31-W bypass from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Cincinnati and N.C. State are on Montrezl Harrell’s short list

Sean Woods has plans to lead his new program to an unforgettable status of its own

Joe Crawford tore a knee tendon Sunday while playing for a team in Israel- the injury is expected to sideline him for four to six months

Last week our own Matt Jones sat down with UK’s athletic director Mitch Barnhart to discuss a myriad of issues facing Kentucky’s football program. The topics included stadium renovation, the negativity surrounding the team, and the big elephant in the room, the job status of football coach Joker Phillips. Many Kentucky fans have long wanted Phillips out as head coach because they feel as an SEC program the Wildcats should be more competitive. They also believe that there has to be a better head coaching option than Phillips and, if contacted, would be happy to be the head coach of a SEC school. Honestly, I can’t fault the fan that thinks like this. Football is currently at the forefront of American sports and every fan wants to be associated with a winning program. Heading into this season Phillips will experience the most pressure from the Kentucky faithful that he has seen in his short career as head coach. It’s a weird situation for Barnhart, because on one hand Phillips’ team could be more competitive than last year but the standings might not necessarily reflect it. He would then face the tough challenge of staying with Phillips or conceding to a rabid fan base calling that has been calling for Phillips’ head. Looking at the Wildcats schedule for the 2012 season, this scenario is not completely farfetched. Phillips’ team might be more complete and still only manage a similar five wins. So what would be Barnhart’s next move? I think that despite the record this season that Coach Joker Phillips deserves more time to develop Kentucky’s program and here’s why:

-Changing the culture of a program takes time. Fans talk about the Rich Brooks’ era as if Coach Phillips was replacing Nick Saban. Yes, Brooks took Kentucky to four straight bowl games but we are quick to forget that there was three straight years of atrocious, sub-.500 seasons to begin his tenure. Coach Phillips should at least be given that much time to provide a winner. Phillips always talks about getting UK Football to a point where it’s competing for major BCS bowls, and even a national title, one day. I’m not quite sure he ever reaches that level, but I do think that he can get this program to great heights. Continuity and time are key factors in producing a winner in the game of football.  Coach Phillips has a great staff in place with a great plan, but needs time to recruit the right players to be able to compete in this league.

-SEC dominance. Speaking of the SEC, it has been the premiere league in college football for a while now. The champion of the BCS title game has been from the Southeastern conference every year since 2006. Unluckily for Phillips he might have run into the peak of the dominance while trying to establish himself and his program. Along with winning every championship, this league has produced the most NFL players in that span as well. There were two SEC Championships games this past year for God’s sake, and one was the National Championship.

-Beating Tennessee. With halting the 26 game losing streak to the Vols, Phillips removed one of the darkest clouds over Kentucky football in its history. That should count for something right? Most fans were overjoyed with the fact that the Cats were able to take down Rocky Top but still managed to give Phillips no credit. The new generation of Kentucky fans have been waiting their entire lives for this to happen, and yet continue to call for Joker’s resignation. Is that fair?

As a fan base there should be a lot more support for a guy who is a former player and alumni. I respect Mitch Barnhart for the firm backing and retaining of Coach Phillips. His livelihood is based on hiring successful coaches in Kentucky’s athletic department and his support of Phillips shows that he is fully confident in him getting the job done. Coach Phillips has said all of the right things in his tenure and continues to make progress toward making the Wildcats nationally competitive. He seems to be recruiting a little better out of the state than Brooks did at this point, and as was said in the interview, that’s where the talent is. I’m fairly confident he will deliver a winning program if it he is given the time to do so. I’m curious to see how this plays out. Is the roar from the fans and media too loud for Barnhart to ignore, or does Phillips and his Wildcats surprise the world and deliver seven or eight wins? We shall see.

Do you know what happened five years ago today? Other than the Spurs taking a one-game lead over the Suns and Nicolas Sarkozy taking office as President of France, of course.

I’ll give you a hint. It went a little something like this…

Guess Who’s Back: Patterson to Kentucky

Two days ago on this very blog, we called it Black Monday. Three high school recruits picked other schools for various reasons and it looked as if Kentucky could end up with no new signees for 2007 and a roster that was, to put it mildly, guard-heavy. But oh how the world can change in 48 hours. Patrick Patterson, the recruit thought to be the longest shot for UK, picked the Cats, ending a two-year odyssey that had made him the most famous UK recruit since a guy named King Rex. With that commitment, Kentucky not only vastly improved its team next season and for the forseeable future, but it also sent a signal to the college basketball world. The Cats are back on the recruiting front folks, and the days of “below average Kentucky talent” are coming to an end.

This day has been a long time coming both for the program, and Kentucky fans. Patrick Patterson has spent the past year on everyone’s lips, with individuals who heretofore had no knowledge of recruiting following his every move. Everyone has a story of a Patterson question or comment over the past season and as Patterson’s ubiquitousness seemed to know no bounds. His visit to UK during Midnight Madness was a spectacle, with fans chanting his name and spotting him at activities all around the city. His games in Kentucky were highly attended affairs that featured multiple “We want Pat” chants. And the cities of Ashland and Huntington produced boatloads of UK fans making their intentions clear for over a year. Everyone wanted Patrick and the Patterson talk dominated all recruiting chatter for over 12 months.

And then just like that, it ended. Patrick sat down at a table with three hats and he picked up the worst looking of the group aesthetically but the best looking for the fans in attendance. In so doing, he gave another injection of excitement into a basketball community that has been falling over itself with giddiness in the past few weeks. Already there are naysayers and those who attempt to ruin the moment. At the head of that line is Jeff Goodman of Foxsports who criticizes the Patterson’s for not letting Florida and Duke know the result before the press conference. Of course what Jeff fails to say is that if they had let those schools know, Jeff and other recruiting gurus would have found out the result prior to the announcement from loose-lipped assistant coaches of the two losing programs (notoriously free with info) and ended the surprise of the Patterson announcement, thus upstaging the kid. That is a win for Jeff Goodman, but a loss for Patrick Patterson. Goodman criticizes the Pattersons for having the entire family talk and take in the moment….but I applaud it. I found that to be refreshing…..a family enjoying a moment hard-earned…..and in the process making the media wait. Good for them, no matter what Goodman says.

When Patterson said after a pause, “I will be attending the University of Kentucky,” an entire state literally let out a collective cheer. The cheer was in part for Patterson, but it was about a greater point. Patterson’s decision was a collective signal that UK is back as UK, a school able to beat Duke and Florida out for recruits and ready to rock the college basketball world again (a point also made today in another very well-written piece by John Clay). Will Patterson be a superstar on the court? I think yes, but in some ways it doesnt matter. What matters it the perception that he was the hottest recruit in America and Kentucky got him…..that is UK basketball and it feels good.

Patterson’s commitment to Kentucky ranks up there with John Wall (we call it a tie) and Jamal Mashburn. He came at a time when the program was down, and as Matt pointed out in the now historic blog post, he let everyone know Kentucky was back in the forefront. We won’t talk about what happened with the coach who brought him in.

The commitment also launched the growth of a young website called Kentucky Sports Radio — and we thank him every chance we get.

With only eleven days until my own nuptials, I figured I’d give the nod to this group of happy Cats fans as Fans of the Day. Congrats to Justin and his beautiful bride. I hear the secret to a happy marriage is proper three goggles form, and if so, you guys are all set.

Notes?

– We showed you Jabari Parker’s Sports Illustrated cover last night, but the story inside is even better. Parker, the number one recruit in the 2013 class, is a devout Mormon, and says he may have to make a choice between going to the NBA after his freshman year of college, or going on a two-year faith-spreading mission like his older brother. It’s a decision most kids his age wouldn’t think twice about, but here’s hoping Parker mulls it over during his freshman year in Lexington.

– Thoughts go out to the family and friends of Harry Stephenson, the former men’s basketball coach and athletic director at Transy, who died yesterday at the age of 95. In addition to coaching basketball, Stephenson also coached baseball and men’s golf, and was considered by many to be a pioneer in the Kentucky sports officiating, organizing several officiating clinics across the state.

– Can’t wait to see Sean Woods in a Morehead State polo? Jason Blanton of the Eagle Sports Network sat down with Woods to hear his thoughts on the job and where he wants to take the program.

– Looks like Gregg Doyel agrees with me that Cal would be the perfect replacement for Coach K as the coach of Team USA in the 2016 Olympics….

USA players WANT to play for Coach K. Top coach I see who fits that bill for 2016? John Calipari.

— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelCBS) May 16, 2012

Drew posted the podcast below, so scroll, scroll, scroll…

On this morning’s radio show, Kentucky Senate President David Williams, who was the captain of his high school football team and participated in intramural sports while at the University of Kentucky, joined the KSR cast to discuss bonding (not the couch surfing kind) and Commonwealth Stadium. Senator Williams made it very clear that he will support funding for major Commonwealth Stadium renovations if brought to him separately. That means the the future of Commonwealth now sits on UK President Eli Capilouto’s shoulders to get things done. If Capilouto requests it apart from other funding, it gets approved.

Senator Williams also made it very clear that he played high school football and was MVP his senior season. He is also unaware of the ‘Silent Mode’ option on all iPhone models.

Have a listen, beginning at about the 21:00 mark of Hour 1 for the interview.

pic by Brett Dawson

This is the scene in Lexington, where the waters outside of Rupp Arena are red as a sea about to be parted. The waters were supposed to be dyed pink for Breast Cancer Awareness and the showing this Friday of “Pretty in Pink” at Triangle Park. The dye got messed up and now it is red and extremely creepy. If you are planning on going and filming a vampire movie, now is the time.

(Britney McIntosh/UK Athletics)

Just when we thought the Kentucky baseball team was going to close out the season on a run, they let one get away to in-state foe Murray State in Paducah. The Cats lost 7-3 Tuesday night at Brooks Stadium, taking the Breds (as they’re nicknamed in baseball) best punch. Murray threw seven different pitchers in the ballgame, including all three of their regular weekend starters. Kentucky on the other hand, was more reserved in who took the mound, saving the arms for this weekend against the final Southeastern Conference opponent of the regular season, Mississippi State.

The loss doesn’t look good, no matter what. Murray is 23-30 on the season, and the No. 2-ranked Wildcats had no business not only giving up seven runs on ten hits, but putting up a meager three runs and not capitalizing on multiple Murray errors. This is Kentucky’s third out-of-conference loss this season, with the other two coming at the hands of Louisville.

But the Cats have got to finish strong despite the minor setback, because they are currently in sole possession of first place in the SEC by a half-game. Leading South Carolina, with a couple of wins on the road it can likely seal the deal for an SEC crown.

The Gamecocks are battling LSU to end their season and will be tough to get the sweep on the Tigers. Regardless, the old saying is true here; Kentucky is in control of its own destiny. Win out and it’s a no-doubter, lose one or two and you have to hope for some help from LSU. But things can get complicated when you consider LSU is only one-game back from the SEC lead, so you don’t want too much help.

The series in Starkville will open up on Thursday at 7:30, and continue on Friday at 8:00 and Saturday at 3:00. The games will be broadcast on UK IMG radio 630 AM WLAP in Central Kentucky, or 1080 AM WKJK in Louisville. You can also follow along with Gamecasts on the UK Athletics website.

On Monday, we posted part one of Matt’s exclusive interview with Mitch Barnhart for KSTV. Today, you get part two.

Watch as Matt and Mitch discuss John Calipari’s future in Lexington, basketball scheduling, and a little more about football. I can assure you this is as open as you’ll see Barnhart in any interview.

Enjoy.

Or Arlington!

Or Washington D.C.!

Or Los Angeles!

According to Andy Katz of KSR podcast absence fame, the four regional sites for the 2013 NCAA Tournament are Indianapolis, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Arlington. The Cats will have to travel through one of those stops before settling down in Atlanta for the Final Four.

I’m saying it right now… We’ll do the radio show live from the NCAA Headquarters if UK plays in Indianapolis.

Make it happen.

Sad news from the Middle East this morning: Joe Crawford tore a knee tendon during a game for Israel’s Maccabi Rishon on Sunday and is expected to be out 4-6 months.

This is a major setback for Crawford, who has had an excellent season for Maccabi Rishon so far, leading the team in scoring with 19.3 points per game, along with 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time, as Crawford’s stellar play had several NBA and high-level European pro teams interested.

Best of luck to Crawford in his recovery. I hear Ramel Bradley is a great nurse.

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Spurs last night in the first game of the series, but Eric Bledsoe made us all proud with his individual performance. Mr. Crank That Mustard stepped in and matched a career-high 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting when Chris Paul couldn’t get it going. Bledsoe also added four assists and five rebounds in his 26 minutes of action.

After the game, I was one of the many people who stayed up late to catch the #shirtoff between Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. It was one of the funniest things the TNT crew has done, and that’s saying a lot. I loved when Barkley got serious about America’s obesity problem and said “There’s too many fat asses out there.”

Who you got? Chuck or Shaq?

Matt Jones will be talkin’ politics during the first hour of Kentucky Sports Radio radio with a man who knows everything there is to know about the happenings around the state, specifically 1540 University Drive in Lexington, KY. I’ll be co-hosting this morning to discuss Commonwealth Stadium bonding issues.

Kentucky Senate majority leader David Williams will be on at 10:30, too.

It will be Williams’ first extensive interview on the subject so you won’t want to miss it.

Join in on the fun by calling (502) 571-1080 or send a text to the TEXTING MACHINE at (317) 385-5148

Listen to Kentucky Sports Radio

How do I basketball?

In the hubbub of all of yesterday’s disappointing news, and the excitement on Monday from the commitment of Julius Mays, something from last weekend slipped through the cracks that I think is actually pretty neat.

Quick warning: it involves Louisville.  And not in a degrading way.  I know, heresy.  So if that makes you want to skip right on by, I understand.  But give it a shot, and maybe you’ll crack a smile.

During the course of Louisville’s College of Dentistry graduation, former Card Kyle Kuric gave the graduates, and the crowd, quite a surprise with an unexpected proposal to his long-time girlfriend.  It wasn’t anything particularly poetic, just a few words and a drop to one knee, but it’s worth a look regardless:

Maybe it’s not the biggest sports news (there’s not much right now), but it is uplifting and genuine and heartfelt.  I thought maybe we could use a little bit of that today.  Congratulations, Kyle.

Bond. James Bond.

Depending on your age, a different voice spoke those words in your head. For the wiser readers among us, it’s the original Bond, Sean Connery. For others, it’s Roger Moore, whose tenure at Bond is currently the longest at twelve years. The Bond buffs among us many remember Timothy Dalton’s brief time as 007 in the late ’80s. My generation? Pierce Brosnan, baby. Brosnan became Bond in 1995, in the series’ first film in six years, “GoldenEye.” My father is a huge James Bond fan. So much so that his marriage to my mom almost ended right after it began. My dad took my mother to see a Bond movie shortly after they got married and on the way home, decided to test out some of 007′s fancy driving tricks, doing doughnuts and 360′s in the parking lot before my mom made him stop. Since, she has refused to see a Bond movie with him, so instead, my dad made us his Bond movie pals, taking us to see every single one in the theater, thankfully without the crazy driving antics.

Brosnan was a natural Bond: smooth, charming, and witty, and despite the terribleness of some of the actresses across from him (looking at you, Denise Richards), capable of carrying a film. Sure, Daniel Craig brings a certain ruggedness to the role, but for me, James Bond will always be Brosnan, suavely sipping on a “shaken, not stirred” martini with a smirk (hear that, Heineken?). After Brosnan turned in the keys to his BMW and Aston Martin, he’s tried to shake the trademark role with parts in “The Matador,” “The Ghost Writer,” and even “Mamma Mia!” He’s also had memorable parts in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Thomas Crown Affair,” and “Mars Attacks” (okay, that last one maybe not so memorable, but fun fact: to this day, that movie scares me to death); but, he’ll always be Bond to me. On your 59th birthday, this one’s for you, Pierce.

News and Views, please.

– Tuesday got off to a sad start, with the news of former Cat Michael Porter’s arrest on sexual abuse and sodomy charges. For those who haven’t heard (where have you been?), Porter will face six charges of sodomy in the third degree and two charges of sexual abuse in the first degree for alleged sexual acts with a female minor, whom he met at a church function back in 2009. Porter entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday afternoon, and was released after paying a $22,000 bond. He will wear an ankle monitor, unable to leave the state until his preliminary hearing on June 4th.

The news is troubling, and if the allegations are true, disgusting, disturbing, and every other word in the book. It’s best not to dwell on it until the hearing in June, but my thoughts go out to all of the families involved.

– Hooray, change of subject! Tuesday afternoon, we finally learned the intentions of Amile Jefferson, who picked Duke over North Carolina State and Kentucky. The news was not shocking; most suspected Jefferson was favoring Duke and NC State over the Cats all along, but in these high times, it still feels a bit odd to see a top recruit pick against the Cats. Jefferson said that academics were a big part of his decision, and that “Duke is a once in a lifetime opportunity and something you don’t pass up on.” You’re right, Amile. We all dream of losing to Lehigh in the first round. See you in November.

– With Amile going elsewhere, all eyes are on Montrezl Harrell, Kentucky’s next option at power forward. Harrell still does not have a release from Virginia Tech, according to Hargrave coach AW Hamilton. However, it seems to be a matter of time, as Virginia Tech’s new coach James Johnson said over the weekend that he would grant him one, at which time he’ll decide between UK, Louisville, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, Providence, Xavier, Cincinnati and Alabama. Complete the puzzle, Montrezl. (At times like this, I wish that “l” wasn’t silent.)

– Speaking of funny names, Rick Pitino added Michael “Dark Slime” Baffour to his roster today as a walk-on to replace Elisha Justice. Yep, Dark Slime.

– If you didn’t see it earlier, congrats to Brandon Knight, who finished eighth in the Rookie of the Year voting.

– I see you, Eric Bledsoe. At halftime, Bledsoe has nine points in eleven minutes as the Clippers trail the Spurs, 57-49. And hey, Mike Fratello: Bledsoe did start in college, thank you very much. UPDATE: Bledsoe absolutely killed it last night, finishing with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

– It was a tough night for the Kentucky baseball team, who lost to Murray State 7-3. It marks the first time the Racers have beaten the Cats since 1997. The Cats head to Starkville to finish up the regular season against Mississippi State this weekend before next week’s SEC Tournament.

That’ll do for now. In the morning, we go on “Montrezl watch,” so wear comfortable shoes and bring a snack.

Check out this week’s Sports Illustrated cover boy: Jabari Parker, the top recruit in the 2013 class. The magazine calls Parker the “best high school player since LeBron James.” Good thing he’s been high on Cal’s list for a while now…

Keenan’s attempting an NFL comeback from this season-ending injury in 2009 (photo via here)

During the Rich Brooks’ era, a certain Kentucky wide receiver consistently stood out during his four year career and made us all believe he would enjoy a long, sustainable professional career in the NFL.  Despite only playing eight games in his first two seasons as a Cat, Keenan Burton left a lasting impact with both his receiving stats and his class’ success on the field.  Here’s his Wikipedia page recap of his statistical career:

Burton played in 45 games total in his career at Kentucky as a wide receiver and kick returner. He ranks fourth in school history in receptions, third in receiving yards, second in touchdowns, and he ranks third in all purpose yards and was the fifth player to amass over 4,000 all purpose yards

Unfortunately, Burton had a season-ending knee injury (seen above) while with the St. Louis Rams in 2009.  While Spagnuolo said they were going to “miss his leadership”, Keenan was released in September of 2010.  He has not made his way back to the NFL field in two seasons, but he did sign with a UFL team in August of 2011.

Plenty of Kentucky fans have probably been wondering what happened to Keenan.  News has come out in that past couple days that Keenan Burton is attempting a comeback, attending the Arizona Cardinals minicamp this past week (source).  While it is entirely too early to tell if this legendary Cat will actually make the team or see the field this coming season, it is great to hear that he is working hard and putting himself in a position to succeed again.

Keenan did some great stuff at UK and UofL/LSU/UGA victories and bowl game streak will always be UK football highlights.  I’ve come to learn more about Keenan in an odd way through my girlfriend and her friends — apparently his father, Ed Burton, is a legendary figure at DuPont Manual High School in Louisville (right across the street from UofL), where Keenan also went to school.  Ed is a former Morehead State athlete who works at the school and is known as a legitimately friendly and awesome guy around town.  His cult status among students caused a lot of Louisvillians to cheer for Keenan at UK.  Ed also posed for this epicly awesome picture that Keenan posted to Facebook, so he’s cool in my book:

Like a boss.  I love it.  I believe that is a young Keenan Burton, too.

We here at KSR sincerely wish Keenan the best of luck.  He gave us a lot of happy times as UK football fans, and we all know he has what it takes to be a legitimate NFL receiver.  He recently tweeted “we will see” and that he’s not sure if he will end up an Arizona Cardinal.  Regardless, we’ll always be thankful Keenan didn’t become a Louisville Cardinal.

Best of luck, Keenan.  Go Cats!

First, a former Cleveland Indians Announcer who has found his way to Lexington:

And, a young man named Woody Cherry who is as likable as he is knowledgable:

Edward Aschoff over at ESPN’s SEC blog wrote up a little wrap up of the Wildcats’ spring campaign. He provided both three things that he believes Joker Phillips and the team answered during spring ball and three questions going into the season. One interesting point that Aschoff found to be an ‘answer’ was the repositioning of Marcus Caffey from running back to corner back. He says:

3. Caffey’s move: Kentucky entered the spring trying to replace two starters at cornerback, so the staff moved running back Marcus Caffey there. The experiment appeared to work, as Caffey was one of the more impressive looking players this spring. He caught on quickly at his new position and ended the spring as a starter. He’s also a bigger body and the coaches say he’s very durable. Both will come in handy against bigger receivers in this league.

Trevard Lindley was the last impact corner that the Cats had and even he struggled at times during his junior and senior seasons. If Marcus Caffey can step into his new position and make plays in an area of real need, he may be the best product of the offseason. The Cats return only five starters on the defensive side of the ball so players will need to step up in a big way this year if we’re going to avoid last year’s blowouts.

Aschoff went on to question the confidence in the quarterback position. While Maxwell Smith was thrown into the fire after Morgan Newton’s injury last season, he only showed flashes of promise. It’s possibly the most UK thing in the world to have the most memorable quarterbacking show of the season put on by a wide receiver, but without the shoulders of Matt Roark to place our burdens upon this season, who is going to step up?

3. Smith as the guy: Outside of the spring game, Maxwell Smith had a pretty impressive spring in Lexington. He seemed to develop his game the way the coaches wanted and needed him too, but his mistakes in the spring game brought some worry. He rushed his play and reverted back to some bad habits. While he’d be the starter if the season started today, the coaches hinted that the race is still open with Morgan Newton coming back from shoulder surgery and incoming freshman Patrick Towles arriving this summer. Smith might have improved, but Newton and Towles will get every chance to win the starting job. If Smith regresses again, he might fail to win the job he thinks is his to lose.

Three way quarterback controversies are never a good way to start a season. Hopefully, one of them can emerge and win the spot outright. Otherwise, the offense may provide more question marks than the defense.

Clarity on the UK Football funding issues may be on the way…or at least a step towards clarity. Kentucky Senate President David Williams will be in studio on KSR Radio tomorrow to discuss the issue of UK football facility funding. As many of you who have followed the discussion over the past year surely know, most around the UK athletic program say that the reason major renovations cannot be undertaken is due to the stalling of such projects in the Kentucky State Senate. In the video below, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart says just that. Now David Williams will answer those comments with us tomorrow in what I believe to be his first extensive interview on the subject. It starts at 10:30 am on the show (12 affiliates around the state and streaming on Talkradio1080.com. Make sure and listen.

If you enjoy reading articles about the UK men’s basketball team, please visit my webpage at http://kybasketball.blogspot.com.  You can also follow my webpage on Twitter. My webpage has been around for several years and I update it several times per day so UK basketball fans have access to the best and most recent articles about the team.

Now, The Article Links-

Brandon Knight was 8th in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting

Eloy Vargas will conduct a youth basketball camp at Perry County Central High School on Thursday, May 17 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Calipari will attend Dick Vitale’s seventh annual gala at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota to benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research on Friday

Michael Porter will be released from police custody after his bond is paid and with an electronic monitoring bracelet on his ankle

After winning the national championship this season, many pointed to Calipari’s mixture of talented freshmen and experienced returning players as one of the tipping points for his team finally claiming the coveted title. Having Anthony Davis never hurts either. But the return of three key players with significant experience, Doron Lamb, Terrence Jones and Darius Miller– factored into the equation for this year’s success. With the departure of six key contributors from last year’s team, the experience on the roster heading into next season is a legitimate question mark. On Sunday night when Julius Mays committed to Kentucky, the landscape for returning experience changed a bit. Let’s take a look at the numbers related to experience heading into last season versus heading into next season.

Last season’s players with significant experience:

Darius Miller

-3 seasons at Kentucky (2 under Calipari)

- Junior Year: 37 games started, 31.0 mpg, 10.9 ppg

- Sophomore Year: 32 games started, 21.2 mpg, 6.5 ppg

- Freshman Year: 2 games started, 21.2 mpg, 5.3 ppg

Doron Lamb

- 1 season at Kentucky under Calipari

- Freshman Year: 14 games started, 28.4 mpg, 12.3 ppg

Terrence Jones

- 1 season at Kentucky under Calipari

- Freshman Year: 35 games started, 31.5 mpg, 15.7 ppg

Next season’s players with significant experience:

Kyle Wiltjer

- 1 season at Kentucky under Calipari

- Freshman Year: 0 games started, 11.6 mpg, 5.0 ppg

Ryan Harrow

- 1 season practicing at Kentucky under Calipari

- Freshman Year (N.C. State): 10 games started, 23.0 mpg, 9.3 ppg

Julius Mays

- Freshman Year (N.C. State): 3 games started, 13.0 mpg, 4.6 ppg

- Sophomore Year (N.C. State): 3 games started, 18.5 mpg, 4.6 ppg

- Junior Year (Wright State): 28 games started, 33.4 mpg, 14.1 ppg

I think the key here when looking at the experience levels of each of these groups coming into next season hinges on a few key factors such as: the caliber of team (Kentucky plays at a higher level than Wright State, for example), experience in Calipari’s system in particular and NCAA tournament experience. Calipari inherited an experienced group of players statistically when he arrived at Kentucky with players such as Patrick Patterson, Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris. Unfortunately those players did not have significant NCAA tournament experience like Doron Lamb, Terrence Jones and Darius Miller had coming into last season for Calipari. Outside of Kyle Wiltjer’s experience as a role player on a national championship team, the significant NCAA tournament experience of making a deep run is lacking for next year’s group.

For a team heading into next season loaded with top 2012 incoming freshmen prospects, it is important to note that the three players mentioned above (not even mentioning the experience–though not necessarily significant of Jon Hood) do enter next season with Division I basketball experience. Between the three players they have started 44 Division I basketball games. They have averaged a combined 19.9 minutes per game. Add to that the fact that Ryan Harrow has practiced under Calipari for an entire year. He should be well versed in Calipari’s system by now and ready to step into the point guard role.

While this group of 3 players clearly does not have the same level of experience and significant NCAA tournament experience as the Final Four returning group of Miller/Lamb/Jones, the experience they do have cannot be discounted. When meshed with the talented young freshmen, combined with a wide open men’s college basketball landscape heading into next season– Calipari might have the right mixture of youthful talent and experience to make a deep NCAA tournament run.

SI.com takes you behind the scenes as your favorite basketball player prepares for the NBA draft. His work ethic is unbelievable.

“He’s probably the hardest worker I have ever worked out.”

Earlier today, Drew mentioned some of the changes the NCAA Rules Committee released yesterday, specifically new guidelines for blocking and charging calls. Also listed in the changes was this fun little tidbit about coaches’ sideline antics:

Committee members believe the following behaviors hurt the image of the game and should result in a technical foul against the coach or other bench personnel:

• Comments directed at or referring to any game official that question the integrity of an official (repeated references to the number of fouls called against each team; suggesting an official is cheating” a team, etc.).
• Profane, vulgar, threatening, or derogatory remarks or personal comments relating to race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation directed at or referring to any game official or opposing player/bench personnel.
• Prolonged, negative responses to a call/no-call that are disrespectful or unprofessional and include waving or thrashing the arms in disgust, dramatizing contact by re-enacting the play, or running or jumping “in disbelief” over a call/non-call.
• A negative response to a call/no-call that includes approaching/charging an official in a hostile, aggressive or otherwise threatening manner; emphatically removing one’s coat in response to a call/no-call; or throwing equipment or clothing on to the floor.
• Continual criticism during a game regarding the same incident after being warned by an official.

Somewhere, Bobby Knight just threw a chair.

Seriously though, these changes will have an impact on the game’s most colorful characters, including our own leader, who put on some pretty hilarious displays this past season. Let’s look at the new rule’s biggest offenders and rank them on their odds on getting T’d up more often next season:

Cal the Crazy
School: Kentucky
Patented move: Exasperated WTF face, with occasional ridiculous gestures. Examples include: funny faces, dribbling/play re-enactments, and mock smiling/laughter/applause. Often times follows the ref along the floor for maximum venting.
Odds he’ll be T’d up more in 2012-2013: 4-1

“Cryin’” Coach K
School: Duke
Patented move: Crying to the refs about every.single.call.
Odds he’ll be T’d up more in 2012-2013: 50-1 (They love him too much)

Frank “Crazy Eyes” Martin
School: South Carolina
Patented move: “If I don’t kill you, I will at the very least scare the living daylights out of you”
Odds he’ll be T’d up more in 2012-2013: 3-1

Tom “Clappin’” Crean
School: Indiana
Patented move: Obnoxious clapping, with the occasional “look at my butt cut quiver with anger” outburst
Odds he’ll be T’d up more in 2012-2013: 6-1

Rick “The Schtick” Pitino
School: Louisville
Patented move: Routinely throws refs under the bus, gets T’d up for shouting things at his own players
Odds he’ll be T’d up more in 2012-2013: 8-1

And just for fun…

Mike Davis
School: Formerly UAB (formerly Indiana)
Patented move: “Head on, apply directly to the forehead.”

Which coach do you think will suffer the most from the NCAA’s harsher guidelines for technicals?

Amile Jefferson just announced that he’ll be taking his talents to Krzyzewskiville to play for the Duke Blue Devils. No word on whether or not he plans to change his last name to Plumlee.

Moving on…

Amile Jefferson is expected to announce in T-Minus 66 minutes. Hearing that UK isn’t a likely destination.

— Evan Daniels (@EvanDanielscout) May 15, 2012

Amile Jefferson needs to get over himself. HS kids with press confs? it’s sad that the media is putting so much pressure on kids.

— JDubbie (@JDubbie) May 15, 2012

Talked to 2 coaches this morning. Both have no idea what Amile Jefferson is going to say today.

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 15, 2012

According to coach Polykoff, no hats today for Amile Jefferson.He’s prepared a short speech and will pick his school.

— Pack Pride (@PackPride) May 15, 2012

Good chance everyone (including the schools) will be learning Amile Jefferson’s college destination at the same time.

— The Wolfpacker (@TheWolfpacker) May 15, 2012

Just talked to amile Jefferson on Skype, he says he wanna play for coach gottfried. Everybody love coach

— Lee Whitley (@LeeWhitleyIV) May 15, 2012

The question of the day … Where is Amile Jefferson going? My answer: I really don’t know.

— Evan Daniels (@EvanDanielscout) May 15, 2012

Amile Jefferson (#25 2012), elige destino en 1 hora. Casi seguro que no escoge a Kentucky. Que se prepare para los insultos via twitter.

— 30pts 0ast (@30pts0ast) May 15, 2012

One hour…

A group of scholars and administrators from Shanghai University were on campus yesterday and I’m told they specifically asked for Tuesday’s afternoon notes and podcast. Well, not really. But I’m saying they did anyway.

去猫。

— I’ll lead off with the Michael Porter saga that seems to have everyone in Big Blue Nation shocked, disgusted, and disappointed. More details have surfaced and it turns out there is only one victim, a girl he met at a church function in 2009. The two engaged in consensual sex acts when she was 14 and 15. The most disturbing part of the story — well, other than the fact she was 14 — is Porter was a group leader at the church function where they met, someone there to be a role model and positive influence in the lives of the church’s youth.

Porter entered a plea of not guilty this afternoon. He was being held on a $22,000 bond and was released to a third party. The court ordered him to wear an ankle monitor and to not to leave the state. He is due back in court on June 4 for a preliminary hearing.

— In recruiting news that’s not really news, Amile Jefferson will announce his decision at 4:00 p.m. But you knew that already because we’ve written it 58 times since last week.

— When Adam Zagoria doesn’t know, no one knows.

Talked to 2 coaches this morning. Both have no idea what Amile Jefferson is going to say today.

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 15, 2012

— According to Ryan Gosling Jeff Borzello, Montrezl Harrell still hasn’t been granted his release from Virginia Tech. Harrell has asked for a release from his LOI and Virginia Tech is expected to give it to him; it just hasn’t happened yet.

— And from the rap game, Fabolous regrets not being a Kentucky Cat in his latest rap ballad, “My Team Winning”:

Should’ve been a kentucky cat in the game, thats how wild I am // They look like thugs but aint really thuggin’, call them Pac Hologram

Unnnnnn!!!!!

— Listen to today’s podcast, especially if you know someone who has a couch Matt and Ryan can sleep on. You’ll know what I’m talking about after you hear the show.

Still need some souvenirs to commemorate #8?  Did you forget to buy the mouse pad when you rushed to the store after the game? You lost your coffee mug, didn’t you?

Don’t worry. We got you covered.

We’re giving our readers 25% off all National Championship accessories at the KSR Shop online. That’s cups, decals, banners, pins, seat cushions, key chains, sock monkeys and anything else you can think of that has space for a UK logo on it.

Just head over to the site, click what you want, and the discount will automatically be taken off. No coupons or secret passwords required.

Go Cats.

It’s no surprise that Kentucky shattered the mold of “experience wins titles” a season ago, when a star-studded lineup of freshman plowed their way through the NCAA tournament en route to a championship. But Calipari seems to have affirmed the notion that one-and-done’s can win.

Yahoo! Sports put together a pre-season All-Freshman team for next season, and Kentucky landed two players on the roster. One thing to note: This isn’t the 12 best freshmen in the class, rather a team that is built and could compete well together. Take a look at the full article, and read the buzz for each player.

Starting lineup:

PG Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell (Indiana)
SG Ricardo Ledo (Providence)
SF Shabazz Muhammad (UCLA)
PF Mitch McGary (Michigan)
C Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)

The NCAA is investigating Noel’s background, specifically his ties with two men from the Boston area, where he grew up. Regardless of the inquiry, Noel is a defensive difference-maker. While he lacks bulk, he is athletic and already has advanced shot-blocking techniques. His offense remains somewhat raw, but his defense and rebounding make up for that. Noel reclassified as a senior during the school year.

Bench:

PG Marcus Paige (North Carolina)
SG Rodney Purvis (NC State)
SG Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State)
G/F Kyle Anderson (UCLA)
SF Winston Shepard (San Diego State)
PF Alex Poythress (Kentucky)

UK famously lost its top six players from its national title team, meaning Pothyress should slide right into the starting power forward role left vacant by Terrence Jones. He is athletic and runs the floor extremely well for a big man. He handles the ball well, and possesses a solid all-around offensive game; he can hit the 15-footer and also can put the ball on the floor and slash to the rim. He puts his athleticism to good use on the defensive end as well.

C Przemek Karnowski (Gonzaga)

Do you think that starting five could compete with any team in America? As much as it hurts to admit, Yogi Ferrell is the real deal and will be a stud for the Hoosiers. With him distributing to Noel in the paint, and Muhammad on the wing, there’s a ton of athleticism that most teams simply couldn’t stop.

One player that’s not a real dramatic pick is Mitch McGary, the former Kentucky recruit. His ranking stock plummeted with a mediocre season for Brewster Academy, most notably by his lack of ability to score. However, with so many players on this team already that can score, having a big body like McGary’s might not be a bad thing.

As a likely member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team this summer in London, Anthony Davis has the chance to be one of the most accomplished basketball players ever in a single calendar year. Davis, already a National Champion, Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, and winner of 6 National Player of the Year Awards, will likely also be the #1 pick in the draft and quite possibly an Olympic Gold Medalist all in one calendar year. Below is a list of others who have put together similar achievements in a single calendar year. Perhaps, you’ve heard of them…

Bill Russell (1956): National Champ, 2^nd overall pick in NBA Draft, Olympic Gold Medalist

Jerry Lucas (1960): National Champ, MOP of Final Four, Olympic Gold Medalist

Michael Jordan (1984): Olympic Gold Medalist, 4 NPOY Awards, 3^rd overall pick in NBA draft

Patrick Ewing (1984): National Champ, MOP of Final Four, 1^st overall pick (edit: not in the same season), Olympic Gold Medalist

Christian Laettner (1992): National Champ, 7 NPOY Awards, 3rd overall pick, Olympic Gold Medalist

Michael Jordan (1992): NBA Champ, NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, Olympic Gold Medalist

Kobe Bryant (2008-09 [edit]): NBA Champ, NBA MVP, Olympic Gold Medalist

Jordan’s accomplishments in ’92 and Kobe’s in 2008 are obviously incomparable to the feats of college players, but out of Olympians who have competed before playing their first NBA game, I’d give the nod to Patrick Ewing and the guy from Duke for having the most impressive accomplishments in a single calendar year; however, Davis has a chance to out-perform both of those guys.

Ewing didn’t win any National Player of the Year Awards in 1984 (he did in 1985) and Laettner didn’t win the Final Four MOP (Bobby Hurley did). Laettner also was not the the first pick in the NBA Draft as Davis will be.

If Davis is drafted #1, makes the Olympic team, and wins a Gold Medal…is he the most accomplished player in a single calendar year in basketball history? I’d say it would be hard to argue otherwise, and he had a 3.7 GPA through it all.

Agree? Disagree? Did I leave anyone out of the conversation? Sound off in the comments section or let me know via Twitter @wilmhoffKSR.

It makes me shudder to mention his name in this sacred space, but news broke yesterday that Coach K will be coaching his last Team USA this summer in London. The current Team USA, which may include our own Anthony Davis, hasn’t even started practicing yet, but there are already people speculating about who will coach the next Team USA in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. IBTimes.com has a list of five possible replacements, with a familiar name coming in at number four:

1. Jim Boeheim
2. Mike D’Antoni
3. Erik Spoelstra

4. John Calipari
Calipari is one of basketball’s premiere coaches and is coming off an NCAA title with the Kentucky Wildcats. There’s no denying Calipari would like to get a chance to rewrite his NBA legacy after failing as head coach of the New Jersey Nets. Coaching Team USA gives Calipari that chance while also upping his credentials as a hot NBA coaching candidate should he lead USA Basketball to gold.

5. Phil Jackson

Let’s gloss over the last part of that blurb and analyze Cal’s chances at coaching Team USA. Cal has already agreed to coach the Dominican Republic team this summer (including a scrimmage against Team USA), a move which many see as padding his international coaching resume. With a National Championship under his belt, and more ties to the NBA than many college coaches, the idea isn’t so absurd. In fact, consider what Team USA may look like in 2016. Anthony Davis may already make the 2012 roster, with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins playing for the USA Select squad that will prepare the team for the Olympics. Add in a slew of rookies headed into the league, and many more following in their footsteps over the next four years, and it’s not insane to think that a good portion of Team USA 2016 will be former Wildcats. Who better to coach them than Cal?

Some may argue that Cal’s history and reputation would make him a risky choice to represent USA Basketball; yet, I’ll argue that his success this past season has made him part of the conversation.

What say you? Will Cal get a chance to coach Team USA in 2016?

The NBA Rookie of the Year trophy is now the nicest thing in Cleveland, thanks to Kyrie Irving and his 18.5 points per game. Irving received 117 of the 120 first place votes to win the award for the 2012 season. Coming in a close 8th was Brandon Knight, who picked up six second place votes and three third place votes.

Former Morehead State beast Kenneth Faried, Kawhi Leonard from San Diego State, and Iman Shumpert from Georgia Tech were the only other rookies to receive a first place vote.

2012 NBA Rookie of the Year Voting Results

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland*
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota
Kenneth Faried, Denver
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio
Iman Shumpert, New York
Klay Thompson, Golden State
Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento
Brandon Knight, Detroit
Chandler Parsons, Houston
MarShon Brooks, New Jersey
Kemba Walker, Charlotte
Josh Selby, Memphis

It’s interesting to note that 7 of the top 10 picks from the 2011 draft didn’t receive a single vote, further proving that NBA GMs and scouts know absolutely nothing.

Apparently, the NCAA rules committee is no different than you and I when it comes to watching officiating in college basketball, specifically in the paint. Yesterday, in an official release from the No Consistency At All organization, the committee expressed its frustration in the way blocking and charging fouls were called last college basketball season. It is a complaint we voiced over and over and over and over again after watching countless questionable charges called on Marquis Teague and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

To help address the issue, the committee approved guidelines that are supposed to help the officials, I guess.

– Before the offensive player (with the ball) becomes airborne, the defender must have two feet on the floor, be facing the opponent and be stationary to draw a charge. Otherwise it should be a blocking foul.

– Secondary defenders (help defenders) moving forward or to the side are also in violation, and these should be blocking fouls.

– Contact that is “through the chest” is not de facto proof of a charge. The rule in its entirety must be considered before determining a foul.

– In some cases, it appears that a defender is being rewarded solely for being outside the arc, without considering the other aspects of the rules.

The rules committee plans to continue to work over the next year to improve the consistency of calls made around the charge circle. The circle made its college basketball debut in the 2011-12 season and it was clear that it was an advantage for the defense, despite being implemented for the offensive player. Officials were looking to the defender’s feet, instead of the play, and then rewarding them with a charge call if they were outside of the circle on collisions during drives to the basket.

The committee is looking to give the benefit of the doubt back to the offensive player on 50/50 plays and to prevent defenders from sliding into position underneath an already airborne player.

We’ll let them slide with the poor officiating last year, considering the circle was new and everyone was just adapting to its influence on the game. But there is no excuse next season. I don’t want to see an Alex Poythress poster going the other way because Chane Behanan had his heels outside the circle.

Get it right, stripes.

It’s news you never want to wake up to, especially coming from a former Kentucky basketball player, but the Michael Porter story cannot be ignored. Tune in to Kentucky Sports Radio radio this morning to hear what Matt has to say about the former KSR podcast guest’s troubling arrest, plus some more positive talk from around Big Blue Nation.

Join in by calling (502) 571-1080 or send a text to the TEXTING MACHINE at (317) 385-5148

Other topics include:

– Amile Jefferson to announce today

– The NCAA is disappointed in block/charge calls

– The business side of UK Athletics

– Something about Ryan Lemond’s health

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Well, after months of searching, I finally found Drew Franklin’s perfect restaurant vacation spot workspace.  If anything happens over the next couple weeks and we can’t find him, I know the first place I’m looking.  And it’s not behind the fake ficus tree in Kate Upton’s dressing room this time.

The big news for today is Amile Jefferson’s announcement at 4 p.m., which we’ll have for you as soon as humanly possible.  It’s always a big day when a recruit decides, and this is no exception.  However, from an objective standpoint, the prospects for landing the elite forward out of Pennsylvania look pretty dim.  Adam Zagoria says that, unfortunately, Amile is likely to pick either Duke or N.C. State.

But have Kentucky fans lost hope?  Of course not.  On the very same page that says multiple sources believe Jefferson is headed to the ACC, there was a poll asking readers which school they thought he would attend.  The results?  Less than surprising:

I’m convinced that if everything in life was decided by internet polls, Kentucky would rule the entire world.  Well, except CollegeGameday.  That one, uh, sort of slipped by us.  Everything else, though, we’ve got on lock.

But regardless of the outlook for Mr. Jefferson, we have to be hopeful.  Not only hopeful that Calipari can pull a last-minute sneakaroo and nab a talented capstone for an already great class, but also hopeful that, should that not work out, next year’s team will be just fine regardless.

So while today will still be a refreshing kind of day (in the “F5″ sense, not the “internet and tacos by the beach” sense), I won’t be needing my Tums.  If there’s one thing Calipari’s brought back to Kentucky… well, it’s being national champions.  But if there are two things he’s brought back, the second of those is peace of mind.  I’d love to see Jefferson throw on a UK hat, but even if he doesn’t, I’m still confident we’ll have a great team.

That doesn’t mean I won’t be checking my Twitter all day long, though.  More at four!  Stick around all day, we’ll give you updates as we hear them.