Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
After ten days away from UK land, I am ready to get back into it and see what has happened. The reality is that very little went by since I left on May 18th, but from what has, a couple of thoughts:
— The schedule changes by Calipari ended up doing what I thought they would, providing UK with the best non-conference schedule in America for the forseeable future. Kentucky has added a home game versus Baylor this year, followed by what amounts to a neutral site game versus the Bears next year. I am not sure how Calipari got Baylor to agree to that, but more power to him. Then the announcement of the renewal of the North Carolina series (which was only postponed a year so that UK could play a road game at UNC on different years than when they are at Louisville) and a possible series with Duke are also both great additions. The last is particularly intriguing as it could end up quickly becoming the biggest non-conference game in college basketball every season. A source tells KSR that UK and Duke are considering playing at locations all over the country and marketing the game as an event every season. Possibilities include playing it in historic locations like Madison Square Garden or NBA Arenas as in LA. Or the game might actually be at the site of that year’s Final Four, allowing the venue to go through a test run of such a basketball game and both teams being able to play on the court where the title game will take place. Either way, if that game occurs, it will be a college basketball superstar event year in and year out…and that is nothing but positive for UK basketball marketing, especially when conference play provides few such opportunities. Even after all the whining from media and some fans about the UK schedule, here is where it stands for the next two seasons as of now:
2012-2013
at Louisville
Duke
Baylor
Maryland
at Big East opponent
2013-2014
Louisville
at UNC
Duke
Michigan State
Baylor
Big East opponent at home
Holiday Tournament
What you are left with is a solid schedule this year (I will make you a bet that there will be fewer than 3 teams in the Top 25 with five scheduled non-conference games versus BCS opponents) and a MONSTER haul in 2013-2014 when UK should be loaded. Indiana who?
— As for the Big East road game this season, I expect Kentucky will end up on the road in South Bend to play Notre Dame. Georgetown was thought to be the pick, but scheduling issues with their arena made the lineup change. While it is not done yet, most talk seems to be a game at Notre Dame, the first such trip since Billy Clyde kicked Jodie Meeks off the team in the NIT in his final game.
— It looks as if, barring a major change, UK recruiting is probably done for 2012. Montrezl Harrell and UK never got off the ground as the relationship between Harrell and the former coach of his former school makes Louisville the likely destination, giving them their 24th player. Kentucky had interest in Harrell, but their sights are focused on 2013, where they could get 4 or 5 of the top 10 players in the class, an unfathomable and unprecedented haul. Kentucky will probably keep an eye on Tony Trocha, the Colombian player who is attempting to reclassify to 2012, but as with Harrell, the options for 2013 are so strong, that it would surprise me a bit if it got very far between the two parties.
— Along those lines, I have had three basketball people I respect (as opposed to others like BTI or The Truth) who have told me repeatedly, “dont sleep on Willie Cauley.” A couple had heard me say on the radio that UK would have a six man rotation next year with the addition of Julius Mays, but these basketball folks disagree with me. As one told me last week, “Cauley is farther along than Eloy Vargas. Remember this is a kid who was an all-state Wide receiver in Kansas…that means he can run, jump and catch and he wont be some awkward kid who can’t play.” It is easy to forget that Cauley was a consensus top 50 player last year as well. He is no slouch, and from now on, taking the advice of these oracles, I will say Kentucky has a seven man rotation (at least, pending any development from Hood or Twany) next season.
I will have more on radio tomorrow as we get ready to get our week rolling after the holiday. We will have coverage of UK baseball in the NCAA Tournament from Gary, Indiana and get out basketball recruiting for 2013 rolling. Over the next month, we will be going to two AAU Tournaments, the NBA Summer league, a baseball road trip and maybe the Olympic team training with Anthony Davis. It will be fun and as KSR in summer begins, that means info mixed with a bit more ridiculousness than usual. Hope you will enjoy.
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May 28th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
“the edition of Julius Mays”? “a big more ridiculousness”? Looks like somebody is still in vacation mode.
Welcome back, Matt.
May 28th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
With the way these schedules are coming out, does it seem farther and farther that Cal would bolt to the NBA?
May 28th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Haha I was a little slow to get back up to speed…but I will fix it
May 28th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
You forgot the Gillispie podcast.
May 28th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Well Matt, I never thought I’d say this… but… welcome back. It has been especially rough around ksr land without ya.
I think you have proven to everyone how valuable you are to the ksr brand by the level the crew allowed things to drop in your absence. Ok, no more ‘vacations’ of more than 3 days.
Oh, and don’t make me regret these kind words by talking about obama or the White House visit in the near future, please…
May 28th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
I have said it before. Willie will be a star. He is the forgotten recruit who you won’t forget after next season. He will be able to play the 4 or 5 and give us much needed depth at both spots.
May 28th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
#2, I agree. It seems as if Calipari is making moves to escalate the game to near college football level. Kentucky is one of the 4 programs that can start the trend. I think, in his mind, the dream job list that allows him to make a mark for the future of basketball consists of UK, Duke, UNC, UCLA, Knicks, Lakers, and Celtics. He only needed to get one.
May 28th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
It better be the toughest non conference schedule because the SEC is a joke outside of Florida and UK. SOS doesn’t lie.
May 28th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
8…. SOS also doesn’t matter
May 28th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Seriously, thanks for coming back. It was PAINFUL here without you. KSR was starting to make me feel so negative…
May 28th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Even Matt has low standards as far as writing quality. I have come to the point where I can ignore that on KSR and enjoy the entertainment quality of the posts and the comment sections. People are so easily trolled here, it is almost sad – look at the response to the NJTipton posts. We Kentucky fans as a whole need to grow more backbone.
May 28th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
As a season ticket holder, I must say the home slate sucks a@s.
May 28th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
The 2013-2014 schedule is stacked and I like it! Hey Matt welcome back, were you able to get into the Middlesboro Cracker Barrel?
May 28th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
welcome back we have alot to talk about on the radio tomorow
May 28th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Matt – I agree that I like what Cal has done with the scheduling. An annual game with Duke would definitely make up for having IU removed from the schedule. I was one of those that took CAL to task about the IU series and still wish that game wasn’t going away but CAL has risen to the occasion yet again. Adding Duke may not have quite the same history and regional meaning as the IU game, but it has a lot more national flare and will be exciting.
May 28th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
12) I agree, the home schedule is trash and most of the sec is an embarrassment.
May 28th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
It will definitely be at least a 7 man rotation and I agree about Cauley being one of those guys, but for different reasons. Last season Anthony Davis averaged 32 minutes per game. I know that CAL would like for NOEL to play similar minutes, but playing that many minutes is a lot to ask of a freshmen center. I think Goodwin and Poythress are the kind of athletes that will be able to play as many minutes as CAL wants right out of the gate. I am not sure about Noel though. Also, Davis was great at blocking shots while staying out of foul trouble…..a skill that many shot blockers struggle with. While Noel is an extremely gifted shot blocker too, I will be interested in his ability to stay out of foul trouble.
May 28th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Welcome back. Matt! Hope you had a great vacation. Looking forward to having you back on the radio.
I love what Coach is doing with the schedule and glad he’s encouraging Coach K to join the party.
May 28th, 2012 at 11:56 pm
I can’t help but think Polson is higher on the depth cart then Twany. Polson played spot minutes as a freshman and held his own. I don’t think he will be in the regular rotation but he his capable of stealing some minutes in a pinch. Twany is a practice player. That being said I would trade places with him he is living out the dream of every Kentucky boy. Hood should be able to show what he can do. Hope he can live up to the hype out of high school
May 29th, 2012 at 12:19 am
I would rather have Duke every other year than IU every year. Get them every year is just a bonus. Cal was put on this earth to be our coach dude just gets it.
May 29th, 2012 at 8:15 am
Cauley is far and away in this coming years rotation of players. He is better than most are crediting him and will be highly motivated. Noel will have his hands full in practice and Cauley WILL be playing…a bunch!!!
May 29th, 2012 at 8:52 am
Dont fool yourselves, a game with the consensus No. 1 team this upcoming season would have been better. Everyone else in the nation knows Cal ducked IU. Time you guys got it, too.
May 29th, 2012 at 8:52 am
What Holiday tournament will UK be playing in during the 2013-14 season?
May 29th, 2012 at 8:58 am
unfortunately for you all, IU will only be the consensus No. 1 team until they play their first road game. You can’t win away from the piece of crap high school gymnasium you call Assembly Hall. No one outside of IU cares about IU…you will go back to being irrelevant by the end of Nov.
May 29th, 2012 at 10:10 am
That argument doesnt even make sense. People
use it of course, but yeah, IU has never been irrelevant. Not with 5 titles. Some school have more
But not many. Were way more relevant than, say, Syracuse or Georgetown or Ohio St or Florida. Or the entire SEC minus UK and that comprises the bulk of your schedule. So relevance is meaningless. IU is No.1 and it wont be the entire year, but team is loaded and everyone else in the nation knows whats coming. Id say settle it on the court, but, yeah, you ducked it because Cal knew he’d get the shit kicked out of him at Rupp this year and maybe be worshipped a touch less. I like the guy and his run but its gonna come crashing down soon. Twice before and as IU proved hiring Kelvin Sampson, no one truly changes. Soon
May 29th, 2012 at 10:47 am
25 – you’d say settle it on the court but your coach refused to play us in your own state. We were willing to play in neutral sites so we didn’t have to endure the crudeness of your fan base, but you all ducked. No one is scared of you.
May 29th, 2012 at 10:52 am
and another thing, 25…just bc you’ve won 5 titles in the past doesn’t mean you aren’t irrelevant. Hell its been 25 years since you’ve won one, so your case for relevancy is weak. Madonna sold millions of records and won several Grammys but she is quite irrelevant in today’s music world. You are the Madonna of NCAA basketball…congrats.
May 29th, 2012 at 11:23 am
Is that the cast from Glee?