Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
Interesting nugget from the C-J’s Jody Demling this morning about junior star Derrick Willis. Willis has been getting serious looks from Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, and Indiana, and had a chance to visit all 4 schools in one way or another this weekend. He chose to attend Louisville’s Red-White scrimmage and Indiana’s Hoosier Hysteria, while also visiting practices at UK and Purdue. And he had some interesting comments, especially about our rivals up the road:
“It was a lot of fun to watch (the scrimmage). I was a little disappointed in the turn out by the fans, but other than that it was just fine.”
Whoops. Whether or not you agree with the big spending on UK’s Midnight Madness, there is a method to that strategy. Wheras Kentucky’s event, and many others across the country, are over-the-top and about more than basketball, Louisville choose to just have a scrimmage. The turnout to those 2 events proves which one was more fan friendly. The official attendance at the scrimmage was just over 11,000. That is barely 50% capacity at the Yum Center. Kentucky could have filled up a 50,000 seat stadium if they wanted to.
But besides that, Willis had these comments about the other schools he visited:
Indiana: “It was real entertaining and I had a really good time. I like the tradition and they have fans that are really behind the team. I liked it a lot.”
Purdue:”I saw the weight room, talked to the strength coach and watched them practice a little. They showed us around and we hung out a little.”
Kentucky: “It was good. I got to see some real talented players.”
Willis had committed to Purude before backing off of that earlier this year, but his comments since that time still seem to suggest Purdue is high on his list. He doesn’t list any favorites, but the Boilermakers would be the leaders if he was to list one.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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October 16th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
What did you expect from UL?
October 16th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Purude
October 16th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
You should’ve checked out the madness at Rupp, We care about our team, Thats why we are the best fans in the nation!
October 16th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
ul is disappointing!! he should have came to a real event, BIG BLUE MADNESS!!!
October 16th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Okay BBN let’s not take that comment into more than it is UL has never really made a big deal out of the first day of practice and you know how we are as fans. So lets be fair UL fans due support their team. And I hate to say it they have a more hip city and diffrent type of fan I beleive if they wanted to make a circus of it their production would be like a for real hip hop enviroment.
October 16th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
You’re just jealous of 4th Street Live, Derrick
October 16th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
slow, unathletic, pass on this one
October 16th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
surprise! whaddya expect from losers?
October 16th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
what is the word on Chris Walker–sounds like he loved some Kansas. I think he will be good. Anyone know how we stand?
October 16th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Louisville may have half of the population of Louisville/Jefferson County area as fans. However, the other half of the Louisville/Jefferson County area is made up of Kentucky fans, and these UK fans have 10 times the PASSION of their UofL counterparts. Therein lies the difference between the fan bases. In short, in the only county that UofL can match UK in the overall number of fans, they still lack greatly in overall FAN SUPPORT. By the way, in Kentucky’s other 119 counties, it’s not even close on either count for UofL, as Kentucky reigns supreme both in the overall numbers of fans and in the level fan-support.
Is Kentucky the Commonwealth’s team? You damn right it is!
October 16th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
5- what?
October 16th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
5 – Sounds like you need to move to Louisville then.
October 16th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
I didn’t give the courier journal permission to print that. Demling needs to start looking for a new job!
October 16th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
backshear still has not been cleard to play i guess hes frade are not good lol http://eye-on-college-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/32746281?source=rss_blogs_NCAAB
October 16th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
blackshear still has not been cleared to play i guess his grades are not good lol http://eye-on-college-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/2 6283066/32746281?source=rss_blogs_NCAAB
October 16th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Young man just realized something it has has taked Pitino years to figure out – PITINO AND uofl DO NOT MEASURE UP TO CAL AND UK (in more ways than one, wink).
October 16th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
7 — Wrong. Certainly not slow or unathletic. Very long, very skilled, excellent ballhandler, and a great shooter.
October 16th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
How about spelling his name right BTI?
October 16th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
5-I do live in louisville just like owner of this site! it is what it is
October 16th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
willis would make a great Wildcat
October 16th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Louisville tried to have Midnight Madness Pitino’s first year there. The results were very similar to the other night (half full arena), so now they pretend it’s not something they want to do.