Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
I can hear you now: “When did Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf become UK fans?” Look a little closer…there you go. See that three goggle? Don’t worry, it took me a minute, too.
It’s been a busy Monday, so let’s get right to it…
– At his pre-South Carolina press conference, John Calipari echoed his comments earlier in the day about his team being in flux and their struggles to embrace the physical nature of the game. He went as far to call the team “soft,” singling out Archie Goodwin, Ryan Harrow and Alex Poythress for their lack of mental discipline and tendency to “play for a little bit, then just stop.” Cal said that their softness has become a liability: “when it really gets rough and tough, we got a couple guys that just can’t be in the game, and that’s what hurts you.”
– Poythress in particular balked at talk about this team being soft while taking questions from reporters. Why? Cal chalked it up to embarrassment: “It’s embarrassing when you say to a guy, ‘You’re soft.’ So when I tell them, ‘You’re not tough enough, strong enough,’ that’s embarrassing.”
– Cal used Kyle Wiltjer as an example of a player whom he had to call out for poor play that used that criticism as fuel towards changing his game for the better. Now? “Kyle Wiltjer changed his mental attitude toward practice; he loves walking in. He’s changed how he approached practice, his habits in practice, and it’s changed him. Now they’ve all seen it, but here’s what it is: really hard. ‘I think I can still get what I want without working.’ No, nothing in life is that way. Anything worth having is a dogfight to get. Stuff that’s free and all that stuff, it’s not worth having anyway.”
– Ryan and Archie’s softness means some of their minutes may go to Willie Cauley-Stein. Cal said he didn’t play Willie in the second half on Saturday because of how well Nerlens was playing, which may mean that the days of the Twin Tower lineup are over (thank god). Excuse me while I go pour out a little ketchup and mustard for it…
– One player Willie won’t be taking minutes from? Nerlens. “Nerlens deserves to play, he needs to be on the floor. You can’t say, ‘I’m going to take 15 minutes from Nerlens.’ Ain’t happening.”
– Why not? Because Nerlens is a beast, that’s why. He won both SEC Freshman of the Week and Sports Illustrated’s National Player of the Week for his performances against Ole Miss and Texas A&M. Here’s what Seth Davis has to say about the “Human Eraser”:
This is the first time in the long, storied history of the Fast Break that our POW went through an entire game without scoring a single field goal. That’s how good Noel was in all other aspects of the game last Tuesday night at Ole Miss. It was a performance for the ages — Noel had 12 blocks, seven rebounds and two assists in the Wildcats’ season-turning victory. The most impressive aspect was the fact that Noel played the final 10 minutes with four fouls. Noel is obviously not a polished offensive player (especially from the foul line, where he is shooting an unsightly 53.6 percent), but he followed that up by scoring a season-high 19 points (to go along with 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks) in UK’s overtime win at Texas A&M. Noel is getting more confident every time he steps on the floor, which is why this young Kentucky squad is rounding into form.
– For the first time in a month, the Cats received votes in both polls. Kentucky received four points in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll, putting them at #38, and 21 votes in the AP Poll, which put them at #34. Kent Taylor reports that seven AP voters had UK on their ballots this week, with Hugh Kellenberger of the Clarion-Ledger ranking them the highest at #20. Don’t call it a comeback.
– Signing Day is so close I can taste the fax toner. Don’t forget that tomorrow at 1 p.m., Franklin County star Ryan Timmons will announce his decision. We’ll have a live stream of the announcement on the site and maybe if you’re good, a live blog.
On today’s show, Matt, Ryan and Drew were all in studio to recap the Cats’ OT win over Texas A&M, the latest in football recruiting, and of course, the Super Bowl. Have a listen at TalkRadio1080.com.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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February 4th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
I hope Cal does sit some of these pansies. I’d rather go down fighting with lesser players than be humiliated by a few who either don’t get it or won’t get it.
February 4th, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Word is Florida doesn’t have room for Timmons. Does this make him ours? I hope so! Go Cats!
February 4th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
sure hope we get timmons
February 4th, 2013 at 4:18 pm
I thought that was Dana White at first
February 4th, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Why doesn’t Hood play more?
February 4th, 2013 at 4:27 pm
Give a shout out to Brandon Webb who retired today
February 4th, 2013 at 4:35 pm
5) because he’s not good enough
February 4th, 2013 at 4:39 pm
Can Steffi not afford a decent hair cut? Sheez.
February 4th, 2013 at 4:40 pm
Good for Cal finally putting it out there. You want to see young men grow up and learn but at some point it has to start to stick. I don’t like it that he had to do this but with the home stretch of the SEC comeing up and NCAA Tourney bid on the line, I understand.
We’ll have to see what the players do with it.
February 4th, 2013 at 4:44 pm
My head is so smooth, you can see right through it…
February 4th, 2013 at 4:44 pm
Metta World Peace straight bodied up Brandon Knight. He got him up close like a boxing match then delivered the uppercut. Caught in his grasp, Knight looked like a fly trying to evade a spiders nest. “That little guy.. I think hes a SG or PG or whatever he is…” LMFAO!
February 4th, 2013 at 4:46 pm
“He’s a small guy” … “He’s a tough point guard or shooting guard or whatever he is”
February 4th, 2013 at 4:49 pm
Is Ryan’s announcement at 1:00 p.m. EST or CST -
February 4th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
New Orleans Perry Walker linebacker Lyn Clark visited Louisville last weekend. After returning home Sunday, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound star made his college choice public.
“Officially an Louisville Cardinal!!!” Clark tweeted ust after midnight after the Super Bowl Sunday.
A one-time Tulane commitment who also considered Louisiana Tech, Clark’s senior film impressed both Louisville and Kentucky coaching staffs in recent weeks.
Clark landed late offers from Louisville and Kentucky and he picked the Cardinals after his visit.
February 4th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Lol I love the updates but I really wonder how dead the twin towers really is. In your article you claim that Nerlens won’t be coming out and Willie will be getting more time. I wonder how that is going to work out haha.
February 4th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
14) Wrong site. … Tard.
February 4th, 2013 at 5:14 pm
Why are we suddenly down on the twin towers now? It works well to start the game. It only flounders when we breakdown. But that’s not on the lineup, it’s on the players for being inexperienced.
February 4th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Sometimes I have no idea why some comments get removed. No clue at all. Is there a list of do’s and don’ts anywhere?
February 4th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
#15 – wondering that myself. Two statements seem to contradict themselves.
February 4th, 2013 at 5:55 pm
Although Stoops has had a good recruiting effort according to Kentucky standards, I just looked at the top 300 recruits on the ESPN, we have…. NONE of them, not one!!! Really sucks!!
February 4th, 2013 at 5:59 pm
20- that’ll be enough realistic talk out of you Boss. Just allow the rest of us to dream about an Sec Championship at least once in our lifetime….
February 4th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Hood is plenty good enough to be playing especially when considering the performance of those playing now…
February 4th, 2013 at 6:55 pm
Can anyone tell me where the picture of andre and steffi is taken from?
February 4th, 2013 at 7:07 pm
#22 BUNG has got it correct,it is beginning to look as tho Cal is trying to get this team in the pros than getting us in the tourney.I love Cal, but I think he should concentrate more on finishing strong, HOOD could be the answer.Thanks BUNG
February 4th, 2013 at 7:59 pm
What makes you think they’re uk fans miss Tyler Thompson
February 4th, 2013 at 9:22 pm
#25 look between them, in back. They may not be, but the person behind them is.
February 4th, 2013 at 11:10 pm
#23 – it was at WWE Raw in Las Vegas