Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Jack Nicholson must be happy as the Lakers made it to the Finals last night, ensuring that whoever they play in the next round, we will get plenty of flashbacks to the “good old days” when they played in the 1980s. Jack lives a great life…party on a boat with ladies and eat hoagies…what else can you want.
As you may have seen, I have been off on the road for the past couple of days chasing down the law in Southwestern Virginia. I was in towns named “Gate City”, “Lebanon” and “Nickelsville”….if you have ever been to any of these places let me know….because I think the Johnny “The” Bruce and I were the first visitors. This weekend is the official Mosley wedding, which means I will be in Leslie County enjoying the ambiance of my favorite Tim Couch county. While on the road, I did an interview with a radio station in Atlanta and they asked about next season’s confirmed basketball roster….and it was quite striking. In terms of scholarship players for next year, here is who we KNOW will be on the team:
Jared Carter
Jodie Meeks
Perry Stevenson
Ramon Harris
Michael Porter
Patrick Patterson
AJ Stewart
Kevin Galloway
Josh Harrellson
Darius Miller
That is a total of 10 scholarship players. That leaves three open scholarships that could be filled by Derrick Jasper (who I was told expected to get his release yesterday but I havent heard whether he actually did), a qualified DeAndre Liggins or one of the transfers (Kelly or potentially “done deal” Pilgrim) or Hunter McClintock. I dont expect Billy to fill all the spots as he needs to save scholarships for the next year when he only loses Carter (and potentially Patterson) and already has commitments from Vilarino and Hood. Nevertheless, when you look at the above list and take out who I think is likely to not contribute a great deal (Carter, Porter), then you see that guys like AJ Stewart, Josh Harrellson and Kevin Galloway will have to bring it next year and one of the walk-ons (watch out for Mark Krebs) may need to step up his game as well. Should be interesting.
But as long as Meeks and Patterson are healthy, I dont think there is another SEC team with a better 1-2 punch. So we got that going for us…..which is nice.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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May 30th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Great to have an MJ post for lunch.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
or maybe a MJ post
May 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Nice Breasts
May 30th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
we arent in the clear yet
May 30th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
yeh matt, ive been to gate city, i live across the mtn in harlan. not much over there huh?
May 30th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Come on Matt. I went Law school in Grundy, Virginia. Its pretty similar to most towns in Easter Kentucky. But there is not much there either..
May 30th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Yeah been to gate city plenty of times….grew up in Johnson City, TN…always drove up there to get lotto tickets before TN got the lotto
May 30th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Is that a picture of Phil Mickleson?
May 30th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
“done deal Pilgrim” I love it.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Boobies!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
PS: Matt, Jack has seen 3 finals in this decade…
May 30th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
#8 - funny
May 30th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
PS - Porter will be on the team next year but WILL NOT be a scholarship player. He will have an academic scholly from UK and not an athletic scholly from the BBall team.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Is it for certain that Michael Porter can’t become a good player? He’s athletic and he works hard.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
13. You sure about that, me, not so much.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
11. Since you’re correcting people Jack has seen 4 finals this decade.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
The Cats are gonna need to hold most of their opponents to the 50 point range, I don’t see alot of scoring coming out of that list.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
14. What makes him athletic? The slow or non jumping gene. Athletic would be one of the last words I would use to describe him.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
im gonna look into Kornheiser’s crystal ball and predict heart problems for the fool who wears the dark sunglasses to lakers games
May 30th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
i mean, who’s the frickin loser who camps out to take those pictures
May 30th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
“Gate City”… yes sir, go through there often, one word comes to mind… SPEED TRAP…
May 30th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
21) That is 2 words
May 30th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
OK, go crazy with this one:
One Ate the Cuckoos Nest
Fatman
As Hefty as it Gets
Hoagie Attacks!
A Few Good Foot Longs
May 30th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
13) Is there a source for that?
May 30th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
14) 100% certain on that fact!
24) Yes, it came directly from Coach BCG on a late season call in show. Check out ukathletics.com. BCG mentions a new NCAA rule that allows players who qualified for academic scholarship and had been under athletic scholarship for at least one year to switch over. BCG said Porter will be taking this option for the rest of his career. Its kinda like what Marquis did (although his was through hardship and financial aide) when we needed some schollys, its really a win -win situation.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I wouldn’t put Porter in the can not contribute list. I like Porter, he is a hard worker and a smart ball player. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him contribute next season especially if he has too!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
for those Seinfeld fans out there I think Ole Jack need “a bro”.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
26) I agree and I also think that moving him off of athletic scholly might take some pressure off of him (at least from SOME fans). I dont think anyone can ever say that he isn’t a great non-scholly player. He is tough and solid and while he’s not going to do anything amazing out there or drop 35 he does the little things to help his team win.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
27) MAN-ZERE!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
28 Matt, Because of this wonderful post, when you are dying, on your death bed you will receive total consciousness. Courtesy of the “Big Hitter” Dalai Lama.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
30) gunga-galunga!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
“Big hitter the Lama…LONG.”
May 30th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Thanks 25.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
“Flowing robes, grace….striking!”
May 30th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
33) No problem! If you happen to find exactly which call in show it was talked about let me know.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
35) I did a quick look but didn’t find it. I’m putting some feelers out for it now.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I believe Porter can contribute significantly next season.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Yeah, when he played last year (and he played A LOT at the beginning of the season), he really looked like a contributor
May 30th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Am I detecting a hint of sarcasm from Mr. Jones?
May 30th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
(for 26) Not questioning Porter’s intelligence, but what has he done on the court that anyone could describe him as a smart player?
May 30th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I think People need to get off Porter’s back. Yes he’s athletic, otherwise USC would not have recruited him so heavily to play DB. He has great court sense, and though lacking at times, His on court decisions are intelligent. Kinda reminds me of Patrick Sparks. His shot is good when he’s open, but as with all our”scorers”, lacks consistency. He will get PT and he will contribute.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Guys the only team Michael Porter made a contribution to last year was UAB. Without him Kentucky wins that game easily. I hope to goodness you guys that think he can’t play weren’t Saul haters.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
42 Who recruited Porter?
May 30th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
(for 40) First off his Dad is a basketball coach, which usually translates to a smart player. I think he has a good eye for the game. He knows when to speed up the tempo and when to slow it down. Too many times I have seen point guards pound the ball up the court. Porter will pass the ball up the floor and try to speed up the tempo, that’s what I seen. He did not make a lot of stupid decisions (like early season Bradley!) He is not very athletic, but UK doesn’t need a driving out of control shoot first point guard. I think he will be a solid role player. Get open looks for Meeks and get the ball in the post to Patterson. He also gets after it on defense.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
#18-Nice racist statement.
He is athletic, not a great ball handler. he can dunk for a short guy and is also a good defeneder with lateral quickness. he struggles with is offensive game though.
Further, he was a top FS prospect out of Cali but opted for basketball.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I have to disagree with the contention that Porter is anything more than a role player. I love his effort and he represents UK well. However, he is a turnover machine. I can understand turnovers resulting from defensive pressure but walking as many times as he did at the college level is inexcusable.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Whether Porter is on an athletic sholarship or an academic bottom line is that if we have to count on him to contribute we are in trouble. He is athletic, but he doesn’t have any basketball skills. If he were extremely athletic it would make up for his lack of bball skills but he isn’t. All we can count on him for is to handle the ball and not turn it over and to play solid “D.” Of course he would have to make great strides to help us with either of these aspects.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Porter is not good, plain and simple. He is a nice guy (I don’t really know), but look at the stats. Watch what happens when he is running the team. And wake up people, he was not offered a scholarship to play football at USC. He does not handle the ball well. You say he is a good shooter when open, but getting open is hard to do in Division 1 basketball, especially when you aren’t athletic. I am just stating the facts and not being a hater. The kid plays hard, but so would I! I really loved it when #45 said he can dunk, like that matters. I bet every player at EKU can dunk.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I’m not sure either what Porter has done for anyone to call him a smart player. He didn’t help us in any game last year. I don’t remember one game where he did more good things than bad. He is not Patrick Sparks and he shouldn’t remind anyone of PAT. Pat had more basketball skills than just about anybody just wasn’t overly athletic and gained weight under Tubby. PAT had mad range, could handle the rock, passed the ball great and made great decisions. Hell he one us a few ball games all by himself. Pat is the typical coaches son. Michael Porter is not.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I wonder if KWC would take Michael Porter off our hands. I’m not so sure they would.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I hope Liggins qualifies and then I think we should get McClintock.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I thought Porter played much more within himself in the later part of the year. The kid was thrust in a role he wasn’t ready for early in the year. We shouldn’t blame him for that. Porter probably will never be a go to guy, but he will fill a role. And no one here knows how much he will develop.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I predict Porter will play better next year, just for the fact that he is being coached now by someone who improves players skills. During the infamous UAB game Porter had only had about a month or so of BCG’s tutelage.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I think Mark Krebs is twice as good as Michael Porter.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
#52 Lets hope he is ready for his role this year. You know his role as a basketball player at the University of Kentucky. I do however believe he will play better this year. Only because I think it would be hard for him to play worse.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Hey all you Porter downers…go over to A Sea of Blue and read some things over there.
Ken Pomeroy has a very interesting post, as does Ken Howlett.
Go Big Blue!
May 30th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
and #53, I agree.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Just a note to Matt Jones…
I love Mr. Jack Nicholson as an actor, one of my very favorites as he got older, and even when he was younger!
May 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
All of you Porter apologists ask your self this: Does an Elite Eight team have room for a player of his caliber? Better yet, does any of the UK championship teams have a player of his caliber? The answer is clearly no. He was played last year out of necessity, not talent, and if he plays this year and even has the opportunityto be a contributor, then we are in BIG trouble.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I been to Gate City and that area. Really great high school football
there. Big Stone Gap is where the Jones brothers are from (Julius
and Thomas). Not much else. Virginia Tech gets lots of kids from
that area.
May 30th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I think Porter will improve greatly this year and be able to be effective off the bench when the starting lead gaurd needs a breather
May 31st, 2008 at 12:11 am
Are those Natty Lights he is soaking?
May 31st, 2008 at 11:14 am
45. What exactly was racist about my statement? What do you think of when you hear the word athletic? If he can’t run fast or jump high then he isn’t athletic. It could be him or Brandon Stockton nothing racist there. When have you ever seen porter dunk? I watched every game last year and never saw it. The only reason we ever recruited him was to have a shot at his teammate. And anyone who thinks he’s gonna get tons better this summer is foolish very few players make big leaps between year 2 and 3. If you’re gonna improve it’s usually between year 1 and 2.
June 1st, 2008 at 9:33 am
i tend to agree with #52. and #63, porter IS between year 1 and 2 under BCG, which i think is worth something. I think he can play and not hurt us as long as he’s not playing more than 10 min. and doesn’t try to do too much (ala late this past season). And he won’t be a “waste of a scholly” anymore, so why complain?