(Photo via Getty Images)
When Anthony Davis demanded a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans back in January, the Los Angeles Lakers immediately jumped out as a frontrunner to land the former Wildcat.
At the time, the connections made sense. Davis has reportedly been friends with Lakers star LeBron James for several years now, both parties share the same agent, and each team has trade pieces that the other would likely be interested in. For the Lakers, they can pair Davis and James together to give the franchise two of the top five players in the league. For the Pelicans, a mix of young talent in Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and draft picks, giving them a solid jump to their rebuild.
While it seemed to be a solid trade match, the Pelicans refused to entertain any trade offers from Los Angeles throughout the season and at the deadline. The strong-arm tactics used by former team president Magic Johnson, general manager Rob Pelinka, and Anthony Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, reportedly rubbed the team the wrong way and they had no interest in giving the Lakers the superstar they were looking for.
When the Lakers received the No. 4 pick at the NBA Draft Lottery this past week, however, most assumed that prized piece added to the team’s assets would give the Pelicans no choice but to reevaluate their stance on Los Angeles as a potential trade partner. Under newly-hired general manager David Griffin, they’d have to accept the trade offer they felt was best overall, regardless of franchise, right?
Well, not exactly.
According to veteran journalist Jackie MacMullen, New Orleans won’t be backing off from their stance on the issue. In fact, she says there is “scuttlebutt” that owner Gayle Benson will only trade Davis to the Lakers “over [her] dead body.”
“We have been told, I think, through channels — most of us have heard this same scuttlebutt,” MacMullen said on the Hoop Collective podcast with NBA insider Brian Windhorst, “that Gayle Benson has basically told [Anthony Davis], ‘To the Lakers, over my dead body.’”
WDSU reporter Fletcher Mackel talked to Benson, who refuted the phrasing of the report, saying it was “completely untrue” and “absurd” that she wouldn’t look at the best available option for her franchise.
That being said, MacMullen is known as one of the most well-connected reporters in the NBA and is not known for discussing rumors and speculation unless she is certain there is at least some bit of truth to them. With all of the tension during trade discussions – or lack thereof – this season, it’d be silly to think the New Orleans front office is ecstatic about the opportunity to speak with the Lakers again.
While the ultimate goal for David Griffin is to convince Davis to rethink his trade request and play with Zion Williamson in New Orleans moving forward, Shams Charania of The Athletic has already reported that the former Wildcat isn’t backing down.
The New Orleans Pelicans are now set up to be Zion Williamson’s franchise to lift, and No. 1 pick could ease potential trade of Anthony Davis. His stance on a trade has not changed, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 15, 2019
According to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, if the Pelicans can’t convince Davis to return, they will reach out to the Celtics about a potential deal. With trade assets such as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier (via sign and trade), and a plethora of draft picks, there is likely something in Boston’s treasure chest of pieces that is appealing to the Pelicans and their upcoming rebuild.
There have been reports that Davis hasn’t moved from that stance, and if such is the case, sources here told the Herald the Pelicans will reach out to the Celtics as the most obvious trade partner. The Celts may still not be sure about a deal because it’s not known yet what the Pels will want in return for the All-Star, but there seems to be a belief that they’d be able to work things out.
A trade is going to happen in the coming months, but where?
UK Athletics
Good morning and happy Saturday, BBN.
Let’s dive right in.
UK Baseball’s season is on the line
Sitting at 26-28 on the year, this season hasn’t been too kind for the Kentucky baseball team.
And there’s a chance that it all might come to a close this afternoon.
In the team’s regular season finale against No. 2 Vanderbilt, there is a specific list of scenarios that need to take place if the BatCats want to participate in the SEC Tournament.
Currently tied in the standings with Alabama and South Carolina going into the last game of the season, here are the three scenarios in play:
- Three-way tie, Kentucky is in.
- Two-way tie with Alabama, Kentucky is in.
- Two-way tie with South Carolina, the season is over.
In short, Kentucky needs to get a win today and/or hope the Crimson Tide and Gamecocks lose.
Senior Day at Kentucky Proud Park. Come support Marshall Gei, Ryan Johnson, @arodszn and @TheRealShinny!
? No. 2 Vanderbilt
? Kentucky Proud Park
? 2 p.m. ET
? SEC Network Plus
? https://t.co/bHSrGe4I58
? https://t.co/hzTqRkwgP1#WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/3N3dD5riO5— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) May 18, 2019
Opening pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. ET at Kentucky Proud Park.
Come out and support your Wildcats on Senior Day.
The 144th Preakness Stakes
Just two weeks after the most controversial Kentucky Derby in event history, we’re ready for the 144th running of the Preakness Stakes.
Set to run at 6:48 p.m., Improbable is currently listed as the favorite at 3-1, followed by Alwaysmining and Bourbon War at 5-1, War of Will at 7-1, and Owendale at 9-1.
For the first time in 23 years, the Derby winner will not be participating in the Preakness, as Country House is dealing with a cough. Code of Honor and Tacitus, the other top-three finishers at the Kentucky Derby, will not run, nor will Maximum Security, the original Derby winner who was disqualified for riding out of his lane.
Maximum Security’s owner wants a rematch
Speaking of the controversial Kentucky Derby finish, the owner of Maximum Security, Gary West, is looking for a rematch.
On Friday afternoon, West offered up $20 million of his own money to the owners of Country House, War of Will, Long Range Toddy, and Bodexpress if any of the horses could defeat Maximum Security in a race before the year ends.
An interesting update, Gary West is offering $20 million of his own to the owners of Country House, War of Will, Long Range Toddy and Bodexpress if any of them finish ahead of Maximum Security the next time any of them face pic.twitter.com/TbG5QTJZq6
— Annie Moore (@AnyMoreSports) May 17, 2019
After a ridiculous stretch of lawsuits and threats of taking this to the higher courts, this is the first move I can get behind.
Rematch. The race of all races. Pay-per-view. Winner gets all the money and bragging rights.
Tiger misses cut at PGA Championship
The Master’s hangover was real for Tiger Woods last night.
Shooting 3-over 73 on Friday, the 43-year old missed the cut on Friday evening at the PGA Championship, just his 19th missed cut on Tour as a professional. Through two days, Woods shot 5-over 145 at Bethpage.
Brad Koepka is the event leader with a -12 through two rounds, followed by Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth at No. 2 with a -5 for each.
Tyreke Evans banned from NBA
One of John Calipari’s very first one-and-done talents is in pretty serious trouble.
Former Memphis Tiger Tyreke Evans, now a 10-year veteran in the NBA, has been banned by the NBA for violating the terms of the NBA/National Basketball Players Association anti-drug program.
According to official NBA rules, players can be disqualified for “testing positive for a drug of abuse, or if he is convicted of or pleads guilty to the use, possession or distribution of a drug of abuse.
ESPN reports that the potential drugs included on thee list are “amphetamine and its analogs, which include methamphetamine; cocaine; LSD; opiates, including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP.”
He is eligible for reinstatement in two seasons.
Vince Marrow is as plugged-in to the heartbeat of the Kentucky football team as anyone, and he has a good feeling about the Cats’ chances during the 2019-20 season.
The Big Dog made a surprise appearance on KSR this morning, where he chatted with our own Matt Jones about next year’s roster. First and foremost, he’s feeling good about his Wildcats.
“I think we’re going to be very good, I really do,” Marrow said. “The schedule sets us up.”
While Marrow recognized the team lost a lot of talented players to the NFL Draft this year (although, he argues more Kentucky guys should have been selected), that doesn’t mean this automatically turns into a “rebuilding” year for UK. Just because they lost experience doesn’t mean the Cats are downgrading their talent. In fact, Marrow argues they’ve done the opposite.
“Here’s the difference: I think we had experience with those guys, the class that just left, because they played a lot. But… our running back room may be more talented than Benny [Snell], and he’s the all-time leading rusher here – the potential is better.”
That potential doesn’t end with the running backs.
“The tight end potential is better,” Marrow continued. “Y’all loved CJ Conrad; y’all are going to love Justin Riggs. Justin Riggs is one of the most complete tight ends that, when I look at it as an NFL guy, he’s 6’6″, 260 and running a 4.7, so he’s going to be a good player.”
He also added some praise for Kentucky’s quarterbacks – both of them.
“I think Terry Wilson is going to be 110 percent better,” Marrow said of the Cats’ starter. “I loved the way he played, but you know, you’ll always have critics.”
And as for the Cats’ backup? Well, that’d be Sawyer Smith, and Vince Marrow is pretty happy with him, too.
“He was tutored by Neal Brown; came in and won nine games [for Troy] when their quarterback got hurt. He wanted to be here; he wanted to be here.”
That last part could be confirming the idea Smith was the one who actively reached out to the Kentucky staff, realizing they needed a backup QB option for next season.
But Marrow is always honest, so he did mention one position of concern: the cornerbacks.
“The only thing I’m worried about, and [cornerbacks coach Steve Clinkscale] is going to get mad at me for this, our corners.”
He reminded listeners of his similar worries last season with the team’s defensive line, and he says he was proven wrong, as “it ended up being the best position… The D-line played very well.” But the corner position is going to look very different than it did last year, with the Cats losing years of experience and NFL-level talent in Lonnie Johnson, Derrick Baity and Chris Westry.
To compensate for some tough losses at that position, Stoops, Marrow and the rest of the staff hit the recruiting trail. They brought in two JUCO transfers: Brandin Echols (a former three-star prospect) from Northwest Mississippi Community College and Quandre Mosely from Eastern Arizona Community College. They’ll also have Jamari Brown, Stanley Garner and Cedrick Dort Jr, who all took a redshirt last year.
Even with his worries at corner, Vince Marrow is ready to prove the haters wrong – again.
“Look at the pre-season rankings again. Look at all this stuff again,” Marrow said of a national bias against the Cats. “Hell yeah, it bothers me. It might not bother everybody else, but it bothers me.”
Let’s hope that bother once again pushes that Cats to a successful season – and provides some extra motivation for the cornerbacks.
UKathletics
In front of the fourth-largest crowd in school history, Kentucky drops game two to No. 2 Vanderbilt 12-4.
Another game and another big inning kills the Cats this season, which has seemingly been the case for the fresh-faced Kentucky squad. Heading into the third Kentucky was tied with Vanderbilt 1-1 after a Vandy home run in the second, then a Dalton Reed sac-fly tied it up in the bottom half, but then Vandy had a six-run inning that put the Cats in a big hole early.
The inning started with a leadoff walk, which has also been kryptonite to the Cats this season. Austin Martin, who reached on the walk advanced to third when he stole second, but a throwing error by Coltyn Kessler allowed him to move into third with no outs. After the error JJ Bleady hit a home run which was followed by another walk, this time to Ethan Paul then Philip Clarke knocked him in with an RBI double. After a single, a double, and a walk, Julian Infante brought everyone home on a two-out double to put Vandy up 7-1.
The Commodores got one more in the fifth on a fielders choice to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
Kentucky would get back within striking distance in the bottom of the fifth when Zeke Lewis scored on a wild pitch, then Eliott Curtis doubled to bring home Ryan Shinn and Ryan Johnson to cut the Vanderbilt lead to just four.
However, Vanderbilt would come back for in the sixth with one more run on a sac-fly, then they would put the nail in the coffin on a three-run home run in the eighth from Ethan Paul to make it 12-4 while the Kentucky offense stayed silent as the Cats drop the second game to Vanderbilt.
However, South Carolina and Alabama are both trailing big late in their ball games, so the tie once again doesn’t move. The situation Kentucky will need to avoid tomorrow is a loss and an Alabama win or a South Carolina win without an Alabama win.
Kentucky will try to finish this season with a MUCH needed win on Senior Day tomorrow from Kentucky Proud Park with Zack Thompson on the mound. First pitch will be at 2:00 pm ET on the SEC Network.
Go Cats. @BrentW_KSR
KSBar and Grille is the place in Lexington to catch University of Kentucky games (pre and postgame too) as well as other events such as the NBA Playoffs, UFC fights, the World Cup, MLB games, PGA tour events, and more.
KSBar might be known for their smoked wings but don’t miss out on the brisket platter, fried katfish, chicken and waffles, and the great assortment of burgers. Start off with the house chips loaded to the ceiling smothered with pulled pork or chicken straight off the smoker topped with the house BBQ sauce.
Head to the KSBar and Grille website ksbarandgrille.com to see a full menu and drink list.
Be on the look out for different specials and events.
KSBar and Grille is located at: 1030 South Broadway, Lexington, KY 40504
You can be a part of KSR’s Top 10 Tweets by using hashtags like #KSR #BBN or #KSRtop10. You can also nominate tweets by mentioning them with the hashtag. If we like what we see, it could be posted the next day.
If you are interested in sponsoring KSR’s Top 10 Tweets, please contact us at Via Email.
#10
Hey, @KySportsRadio …pack a suitcase. I can’t drive until further notice. Putt for prison is Monday. Kids have something every night next week. And, I have closings every day. #drivingMissDaisy
— Amanda Lemond (@mandylemond) May 17, 2019
Bosses orders.
#9
Congratulations to former @KentuckyMBB great, @MikePratt22 on his introduction into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame!!! #bbn #ksr @gbbcountry @vaughtsviews @BrentW_KSR pic.twitter.com/QfAmXfkjsR
— Michael Rains (@RuppArenaMike) May 17, 2019
Kentucky lives in the Hall of Fame.
#8
Who ready for the Snell yeah online drop??!?!?
— Mr SNELL YA LATER?? (@benny_snell) May 17, 2019
#7
Not Anthony Davis, not DeMarcus Cousins, not John Wall but Enes Kanter and/or Eric Bledsoe could be the first Kentucky alumni in the Calipari era to get to the NBA Finals.
— Josh Eberley ?? (@JoshEberley) May 17, 2019
Eric Bledsoe 2019 NBA Champion has a nice *ring* to it.
#6
Look, Kentucky and Memphis need to play this season. Whatever it takes, get it done. That would be the most must-see game in all of college basketball.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) May 17, 2019
I’m here for it.
#5
Vince Marrow on Xavier Peters: “There is a very, very strong possibility that he’ll be eligible this season. He’ll be a freshman.”
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) May 17, 2019
Josh Allen 2.0?
#4
FINAL – (14) Kentucky 7, Toledo 2
The Wildcats advance into the winner’s bracket and will face Virginia Tech tomorrow at Noon ET! #WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/WE9jsHQ40U
— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) May 17, 2019
Doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, UK Athletics keeps getting it done.
#3
Memphis fans are like the Divorced 50 year old who goes and gets a beautiful young Girlfriend and then all of a sudden believes his life has meaning again
Reality: She will leave you soon with less money and the sad realization that your best days are gone and won’t return
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) May 17, 2019
Spicy Twitter Matt is the best Matt.
#2
KSJail is installed and ready to go! Good luck @ryanlemond ! Monday is going to be fun! @DrewFranklinKSR @AndrewJefferson @KSBarAndGrille @KySportsRadio @MariaT_KSR Big thanks to @Xy13Kyle for helping me install pic.twitter.com/HR36uMTyim
— Casey Clark (@Clarkmanship) May 17, 2019
So who’s getting locked in first?
#1
I agree with @DrewFranklinKSR that @ryanlemond needs a prison tat@KySportsRadio @ShannonTheDude pic.twitter.com/0SeOlI3Vu8
— John Robic’s Hair (@JohnRobicsHair) May 17, 2019
You mean a different one than what he already has???
PJ Washington did something this afternoon he’s become very familiar with thanks to his two seasons at Kentucky – fielding questions from the media. The NBA prospect met with reporters Friday afternoon during the Combine, giving him ample opportunity to reflect on the two seasons he spent in a Kentucky uniform.
The main point of conversation, of course, was his decision to return to school this time last year. In the one-and-done era, Washington’s choice to remain in Lexington for a sophomore season dramatically altered UK’s success in 2019 – and his own career. Although it wasn’t necessarily an easy decision, it was a simple one.
“I feel I grew in every aspect,” he said of his sophomore year. “That was the main [reason] to go back. To better myself and better my game.”
He took the feedback he got from NBA coaches and teams following his freshman year and learned from it. He drastically improved his offensive abilities, specifically his contributions from behind the three-point line.
“When I came back, I just made a commitment to myself that I was going to try to get better each and every day,” Washington said. “Work on some of the things that they told me to work on. I feel I did a great job of that… I feel I pretty much earned myself to be here.”
Washington also revealed he interviewed with 13 NBA teams, which he compared to the repetition of media opportunities and job interviews. Despite the repetition, one team stood out as one of his favorites: the San Antonio Spurs.
While Washington (as well as Keldon Johnson and Tyler Herro) are at the Combine, a pair of former teammates has a similar decision to make. EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards have not made formal announcements regarding their plans for next season, past their initial announcements stating they would be “testing the waters.”
While it’s generally believed Richards will return for a junior season, Montgomery’s future is considered a bit more uncertain. Although he did not receive an invite to this year’s NBA Combine or G-League Elite Camp, he could technically still decide to leave his name in the draft. And even though Montgomery’s decision could be compared to the one Washington made last year, Washington says it’s not his place to offer up any advice: “their decision is for them, and my decision was for me.”
“I haven’t really talked to them,” Washington added. “I feel like the best thing for them is to just talk to the people around them the most. And talk to Coach [Calipari] as well. I feel Coach has done a great job with all of us. He wouldn’t lie to them.”
Photo via Endless Motor
Jaden McDaniels is still quiet as a mouse regarding his will-he or won’t-he commitment that’s down to Kentucky and Washington, but his brother, Jalen, is breaking his silence. In a new report from Jerry Tipton and the Herald Leader, Jalen weighed in on his brother’s pending decision. Unfortunately, he seems as confused as the rest of us.
When will a decision be made?
“Whew, man, I’m wondering the same thing, honestly,” Jalen said Thursday. “I mean, honestly. I feel like it should be coming soon, though.”
He’s also not sure why it’s taking this long.
“To be honest, I don’t know what’s holding it up,” Jalen said. “I know it’s between two schools. He’s just trying to make the right decision.”
Although there is definitely some McDaniels recruiting fatigue, it’s certainly not caused by Jaden McDaniels himself. The five-star prospect has remained silent throughout this entire process, leaving some with questions regarding his ability to handle the spotlight that comes with playing basketball at Kentucky. His brother isn’t convinced that would be an issue.
“He’s a low-key guy. He doesn’t get caught up in that. Like, the attention doesn’t mean a lot to him,” Jalen says. “He knows it comes with it, but something that he doesn’t get caught up in it. So I feel he’d do fine.”
Sharife Cooper of the AOT Running Rebels. (Photo via Jon Lopez / Jon Lopez Creative)
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of embarking onto my first trip as a media member at the Nike EYBL. Session I took place in Atlanta back in April and you might recall some of the great work Jack Pilgrim did when he was down there. Session II was in Indianapolis, which is the one I attended. And I was absolutely blown away at the level of talent that was being showcased on all eight courts.
There was a group of prospects in particular that I tried to focus my attention on – players on Kentucky’s radar for the classes of 2020 and 2021 such as Cade Cunningham, BJ Boston, Terrence Clarke, and a few others. Every player was scheduled to participate in four games throughout the weekend, giving me enough opportunities to at least gain a basic understanding of how good these 17- and 18-year olds are at this moment and how good they could be going forward; whether that’s at Kentucky, another top-tier program, or even the NBA. Here’s a quick rundown of the prospects who impressed me the most.
N’Faly Dante – 2020 (five-star recruit – Wichita, KS)
*6-foot-11, 230 pounds – center: Averaged 11.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks through eight EYBL games while shooting over 76 percent from the field.*
The No. 10 overall prospect in 2020 according to 247 Sports, Dante is an ideal blend of old-school post play mixed with impressive quickness. At nearly seven-feet tall, Dante can move like a wing. There were a couple of instances where he would suck in a rebound, swivel his head 180 degrees, and begin to sprint down the court with his eyes surveying every option. What impressed me the most when he did this was his decision making. If Dante knew he didn’t have an alley for himself, he’d dish it off to a teammate for 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 opportunities.
There wasn’t a more dominant player in Session II when it came to scoring in the paint than Dante. He’s attempted all of zero three-pointers throughout the first two sessions but controls such a refined game down low that he has a mismatch almost every time he’s on the block. His moves are quick. He wasn’t one to hesitate. Even though he’s only recorded four total assists at the EYBL, he showed the ability to make accurate passes out of the post. He’s wasn’t big on commanding the ball on the block, but he typically made the right play whenever he did.
He’s the perfect lob target and mimics that on the defensive end of the court with explosive shot blocking abilities. The bounce in his step is surprising for his size.
The Crystal Ball prediction on Dante from 247 Sports currently has LSU as the favorite (43 percent) to land the big man with Kentucky not too far behind (29 percent). However, lead expert Evan Daniels is currently undecided on Dante’s college landing spot.
Jalen Johnson – 2020 (five-star recruit – Milwaukee, WI)
*6-foot-8, 215 pounds – combo forward: Averaged 15.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game through seven EYBL games while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 13.6 percent from three.*
The No. 3 overall prospect in 2020, Johnson is a point guard in the body of a modern-day power forward. As evident by his 6.6 assists per game – despite standing at 6-foot-8 – the Wisconsin product loves to run the break, lead the offense, and create havoc for the unlucky defender who stands in his way.
I didn’t get to see nearly as much of Johnson as I did some of the other top recruits, but just a glimpse of his talent is all I needed to convince me he’s got what it takes. He’ll have to improve on his outside shooting (3-22 so far at the EYBL) and his decision making on those shots (a good chunk of them were contested or not within the flow of the offense), but there is no denying his diverse skill set. He can pass, score from practically anywhere within the perimeter, rebound, and even play a little defense. If you force him left, he’ll gladly finish with his left hand – and he’ll do it relatively easy.
He showed shades of Kevin Love with the way he would swallow rebounds off the defensive glass, immediately look up the court, and sling a 50-foot pass right on the money to a teammate for an open layup.
An easy comparison would be that he fits the mold of Jarred Vanderbilt or even Lamar Odom (Johnson is right-handed, by the way), but Johnson’s offensive game is already so much more fine-tuned than either of those players at his age. Imagine if Vanderbilt’s elite rebounding abilities were transferred to an unstoppable pull-up jumper. Then you have a better idea of the type of player Johnson is. It didn’t take long to understand why he’s a top-3 prospect in his class.
The Crystal Ball prediction currently favors Duke at 93 percent and lead expert Jerry Meyer predicted back in September that the Blue Devils would ultimately be his choice. But our own Jack Pilgrim reported back at the Atlanta session that Johnson said Kentucky was his “dream school” growing up and he’s supposedly going to be making his decision sometime within the next few months.
Terrence Clarke – 2021 (five-star recruit – Boston, MA)
*6-foot-6, 180 pounds – shooting guard: Averaged 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists through eight EYBL games while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three.*
The No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2021, Clarke is a heavy Kentucky lean. The first thing I noticed about the high school sophomore is his gravity-defying athleticism. Then, after you’ve watched him for a few minutes, you realize he’s a born scorer. He’s a player that can fly high but showed a tendency to probe and let things develop instead. He told me in Indy that he wants to “be known as a guard”, not a wing.
It didn’t matter where he was on the court – in the paint, mid-range, beyond the arc, attacking the rim, pushing the pace – Clarke’s main goal was to put the ball in the basket. And he did so better than the majority of players I watched, including all the 2020 juniors.
That isn’t to say he’s a “ball hog” by any means. Clarke had no issue deferring to a teammate if they had a better look and he did a solid job of making the right play. I also don’t think I watched a player who shows more personality both on and off the court.
When in the game, Clarke was vocal. His body language was constantly changing and he never was short on words to teammates or quick asides with a referee. Occasionally that led to him being annoyed and standoffish, but his overwhelming desire to compete outweighed that. Off the court, he was a goofy, entertaining, accessible, and an approachable player. It clears he enjoys being in the spotlight, but not in a negative connotation. He’s a player that would have zero issues stepping under the microscope of being a Wildcat and beating even his own expectations. I personally believe that to be a huge indicator of whether or not a player can thrive within the Kentucky program. He checks that box with a giant permanent marker.
The Crystal Ball prediction currently has Kentucky as the outright favorite, although only two analysts have made that claim. Tony Barbee has been on Clarke hard and that will only escalate once he enters his junior season.
Cade Cunningham – 2020 (five-star recruit – Montverde, FL)
*6-foot-6, 215 pounds – forward/guard combo: Averaged 23.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists through eight EYBL games while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from three.*
The No. 7 overall prospect in the class of 2020, Cunningham is another player who mashes several different skill sets into one unique bundle. The Montverde Academy player is built with a sturdy 6-foot-6 frame but was installed with hardware similar to a lead guard. Like Clarke, Cunningham also said in Indy that he wants to play point guard at the next level and he already feels comfortable being recruited for that position. His passing ability is well above-average and he has an entire backpack filled to the brim with dribble moves.
There weren’t many players at this event with a more NBA-ready body than Cunningham. He physically looked more like a five-year veteran of the Miami Heat than a junior in high school. And he even played like it. Cunningham has been one of the top – and most consistent – scorers through the first two EYBL sessions. He finished his final game in Atlanta with 32 points and followed it up with 30 points and 28 points, respectively, in the first two games at Indy.
His size and athleticism allow him to get to almost any spot on the court whenever he desires. If you impede his progress, he’ll just bully you into the post where he can either flip up a score or slip a pass to a cutting teammate. There isn’t a spot on the floor he can’t create offense from.
The Crystal Ball prediction currently favors Kentucky by a wide margin and lead expert Jerry Meyer listed the Wildcats as the favorite in late 2017.
Sharife Cooper – 2020 (five -star recruit – Marietta, GA)
*6-foot-0, 160 pounds – point guard: Averaged 28.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists through eight EYBL games while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 25 percent from three.*
The No. 18 overall prospect in the class of 2020, Cooper was the player that impressed me more than anyone else at the event. He was the best instinctual passer I saw all weekend and it wasn’t particularly close. The creativity and ease he was able to make some of his passes literally dropped my jaw to the hardwood. He knew when and where his teammates would be open well before they did.
At an even 6-feet, he’s a bit undersized compared to the John Wall and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander types that John Calipari typically brings in, but don’t let that deter you from jumping on the Cooper bandwagon. He plays bigger than his size and has underrated strength that allows him to create openings that wouldn’t normally be there. His 8.2 assists per game are the second most among all EYBL players. I can’t stress enough how unreal he is as a passer and how he did so with complete confidence in himself.
Not to mention, he can shoot the lights out, too. His 28.1 points per game are the second-most among all EYBL players who have played at least four games. Bump the requirement up to eight games as he’s been the top scorer of the entire event. I’m convinced the only reason he isn’t ranked higher than 18th is his size. He’s so deceptively strong with the ball in his hands that you can’t bump him out of position and he’s crafty enough when penetrating that he can avoid contact altogether. Not once during any game did his facial expression look anything other than stoic. He was a straight-faced assassin all weekend. I don’t want to make the “Tyler Ulis with a few extra inches” comparison, so I’ll just speak it into existence and leave it at that.
The Crystal Ball prediction currently favors Auburn at 89 percent with lead expert Evan Daniels picking the Tigers last May. Kentucky is still in the running for Cooper and he himself mentioned only UK and Auburn as the two schools going after him the hardest. Kentucky fans should want this kid. He’s going to be special.
I know it’s really early still, but this one is very interesting.
ESPN’s Bracketology guru, Joe Lunardi, posted an update to his Early Bracketology yesterday, and he has some interesting matchups in Kentucky’s road to number nine.
According to Lunardi, the Cats would be a number one seed in the south region in next year’s tournament. To most people, that is not shocking for this team coming in. With big talent coming back plus the fresh talent coming in, Lunardi’s isn’t crazy to foresee the Cats as a No. 1 seed. Here’s a look at Lundardi’s placements in the Cats’ region.
via ESPN
There are three things I see that are very interesting to me from this (very early) bracket.
Abilene Christian
First on the list is another possible matchup against Abilene Christian. Good news: the player who took Nick Richards’ feet out from under him was a senior. So, there is NOT a possibility of this happening again.
Yikes pic.twitter.com/2dXxutcAFn
— Liz Gonzales (@TheLizGonzales) March 22, 2019
I am glad he did not get hurt -I was scared he did something to that shoulder. I had a front-row view of Richards’ nasty fall, as I was sitting in the band section. Richards was obviously in pain, and I’d never heard him scream like that before.
Texas Tech
In this scenario, the Cats might have to face off against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. This is the same team that was the National Runner-Up and came pretty close to being the National Champion just a few months ago.
Now, it would be a different team. Next year, the Red Raiders will have lost seniors such as Norense Odiase, Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens. Also, the Red Raiders would be losing Jarrett Culver to the NBA draft, as he’s being projected as a top-10 pick.
This still would be an interesting matchup, with the addition to talent coming in such as Virginia Tech grad transfer Chris Clarke. Lastly, it will be a home game for the Red Raiders in Houston. Another draw that might put the four seed in a better location than the one seed.
Three Kentucky state schools in one bracket
Okay, now for the craziest one of them all. Lunardi has not one… not two… but three Kentucky-state schools in the South Region: Kentucky, Louisville and Western Kentucky.
First, I’m glad to see he expects the Hilltoppers to earn the bid.
However, I first laughed seeing this – Kentucky and Louisville? As the one and two seeds in the same region? This would probably never happen, but could you imagine that Elite Eight game?
For Louisville to get to H-Town, they would first have to see a possible matchup with Florida. This would be a rematch from the west regional final in 2012. I know… it is vacated but still, it’s something to think about.
Hey, I know it is early, but this is something to look at during this dead period of basketball. And beside, it’s never too early to think about March.
What do you think about the draw Joe Lunardi has given the Cats?
To see Lunardi’s full (early) bracketology, click here.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
In case you hadn’t heard, Memphis picked up a commitment from a five-star basketball player this afternoon.
That’s not to be confused with the other five-star they pulled in earlier this week. Or the top-rated grad transfer they secured last Saturday. Or the four-star guard they got last Friday.
That’s right, Memphis is on a recruiting run for the ages right now, one which – at least for now – has landed them the No. 1 recruiting class in the country.
Overall, the Tigers have commitments from two McDonald’s All-Americans (James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa), six Top 100 players (Wiseman, Achiuwa, Boogie Ellis, Lester Quinones, D.J. Jeffries and Malcolm Dandridge) and one of the top grad transfers on the market (Rayjon Tucker, who averaged 20 points at Little Rock last season). Add them in with a couple returning players, and it’s indisputable that Memphis will have one of the 3-4 most talented rosters in the country next season. I fully expect them to start the year ranked in everyone’s preseason Top 10.
To Penny Hardaway’s credit, he has done what he said he would do when he was hired a year ago. He has convinced the top players across high school basketball to come to Memphis. To his credit he hasn’t relied solely on the players he coached in high school or AAU, but has brought in the best players from across the country, ranging from New York (Quinones, Achiuwa) to California (Ellis) and everywhere in between.
Now to the more interesting part of the equation: Penny Hardaway has signed one of the most talented recruiting classes in the country. But will he be able to win with it? That right there might be the single most fascinating question in all of college basketball heading into the 2019-2020 season.
Now to be clear, I’m not as “Anti-Penny” as many others out there. I do understand why he frustrates opposing fan-bases with his confidence (some would say “cockiness”) and bravado on the recruiting trail. Him taking unprovoked cheap shots at Rick Barnes last season certainly didn’t help things.
At the same time, I never believed the notion that he was some AAU hotshot who was destined to be a failure as a college head coach. This is a guy who played basketball the highest level, and brought in a staff full of sharp, smart basketball minds, which includes a former NBA Coach of the Year in Sam Mitchell. That staff, including Penny, knows basketball.
Memphis has at least 4 guys (Wiseman/Tucker/Boogie/ Precious) who think they'll be in the NBA next year. DJ Jeffries, who decommitted from Kentucky over depth concerns + two more Memphis kids (Harris/Lomax) who expected bigger roles next season. That's a LOT of guys to keep happy
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) May 17, 2019
On top of their X’s and O’s prowess, Penny also entered college basketball with an understanding of how the AAU and recruiting game work as well. Unlike other guys who came from the NBA (Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Avery Johnson) he wasn’t going to be overwhelmed by the recruiting aspect of coaching college basketball.
Again, I liked the Penny hire last year, and for the most part I thought he did pretty good in year 1 at Memphis. He inherited a mostly “bleh” roster and led them to a 22-14 overall record and a fifth-place finish in the AAC, where all four of the teams who finished ahead of him (Houston, Cincinnati, UCF and Temple) made the NCAA Tournament. His team got better as the season wore on, winning five of its final six regular season games and beat a couple teams that ended up making the NCAA Tournament.
For the most part I thought Penny actually overachieved in Year 1. And I thought his ability to get the most out of a below-average roster was a positive sign heading into Year 2 at the school.
Still, for as good as he was in Year 1, he is in store for something completely different heading into next season. Understand, there is a big difference between taking a rag-tag group of guys and getting them to overachieve like he did this season, as opposed to what he will face next season, with a roster full of big-time recruits, with NBA dreams and the expectations and egos that come along with it.
Ultimately that will be the story of the 2019-2020 Memphis Tigers: Can Penny keep everyone happy?
It will be fascinating to watch, and something that is impossible to know the answer to. Penny isn’t John Calipari or Coach K, and hasn’t been juggling talented rosters for decades at a time. Quite the opposite. He’s a coach who has never been on this stage, with this pressure and this level of expectations before. Even more, he is doing it with a lot of kids (and their families) who he has known for years, and who at times he coached in the high school or AAU levels. What will happen when he has to tell a kid (or a mom or dad) who he has known for a decade that they simply aren’t good enough? Or what happens when he has to tell a Top 50 recruit that he is headed to the bench?
These are the things that no one has an answer to right now.
And at the sake of using the rest of the article to break down Memphis’ depth chart, here are some of the issues I believe could pop up next year.
- He has, at the very least four players who expect to use Memphis as a one-season springboard to the NBA next season. And honestly that number might be conservative. They are James Wiseman, Precious Achiuwa, Rayjon Tucker and Boogie Ellis. Can he keep all four happy, especially the first three, if they aren’t the focal point of the offense?
- Ellis committed to Memphis in large part to prove to the NBA that he can play point guard and run an offense. This despite the fact that he’s really more of a scoring/combo guard than he is a true point. Can he run an offense and keep others happy, while also getting his own offense?
- D.J. Jeffries decommitted from Kentucky, because he wasn’t happy that they continued to recruit players at his position even after he committed. Well guess what? Achiuwa plays the same position, is a better player and will almost certainly start over him. How will that fly with Jeffries?
- Tyler Harris (Memphis’ leading returning scorer) and Alex Lomax (a former Top 150 recruit) are both Memphis kids who played for Penny in high school. I’m guessing that both assumed they were headed for bigger roles next season. What happens when they get bumped down the depth chart by the newcomers? Especially since they are both from Memphis, with ties to Penny dating back to their AAU days? How will that fly with their families, and in the community?
- How do Lester Quinones (a Top 50 recruit) and Rayjon Tucker (a grad transfer) co-exist, when they’re basically the same player? Tucker has declared for the draft and will could potentially stay in. But if he doesn’t, can they co-exist?
Add it up and you have a lot of kids, with a lot of expectations and it will be fascinating to see if Penny is able to keep them all happy.
In the end, maybe Hardaway really is that good of a coach, and maybe he figures out a way to maximize all those players and allows Memphis to reach its potential. Maybe Memphis will live up to that preseason Top 10 ranking and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
But the reality is that this is basketball. We just have too much of a track record (at all levels) that when you have one ball, and that many superstars, it’s hard to keep everybody happy.
Will it work? Won’t it?
This may be the single most fascinating question in college basketball entering the 2019-2020 season.
via UK Athletics
Kentucky’s path to their second appearance in the Women’s College World Series is off to a great start as they beat Toledo 7-2 in the first round of the Lexington softball regional.
It was a bumpy start to the day for Autumn Humes and Kentucky when Toledo jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-out rally that saw the Rockets get five base hits and load the bases, but Humes limited the damage holding the Rockets to just two runs.
After the bumpy start for Humes, she settled in nicely as she only allowed two more hits the rest of the afternoon in five innings of work while familiar faces on the offensive side led the way for Kentucky.
The Cats quickly Responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the first, two of them coming from the best hitter in UK history when Abbey Cheek blasted a two-run double. Cheek advanced to third on the play, but if you ask me, I believe the play should’ve been ruled a triple for Cheek.
Kayal Kowalik followed Cheek with a single. Then she got brilliant on the basepath when she pulled a Bennie and the Jets pickle play, where she intentionally got caught in a rundown between first and second to allow Cheek to score. Not only did Kowalik allow Cheek to score, but she even beat the pickle and made it into second safely which allowed Lauren Johnson to knock her in with an RBI single to put the Cats up 4-2 after one.
After four innings of stagnant offense from both teams, Kentucky got back on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Alex Martens launched the ball off the scoreboard for a two-run home run to put Kentucky up 6-2.
Alex Martens and the scoreboard must not be friends??#NCAASoftball | @UKsoftball pic.twitter.com/45neJvXDaO
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 17, 2019
After the home run, the Cats would load the bases, and senior Kelsee Henson flew out to left field to score a tagging Kayla Kowalik to put Kentucky up 7-2.
Freshman Meghan Schorman shut down the Rockets in the final two innings to give Kentucky their seventh straight victory in the NCAA Regionals.
With the victory, Kentucky advances to the winner’s bracket where they will face Virginia Tech at noon tomorrow at John Cropp Stadium.
Go Cats @BrentW_KSR
There is an ample void at Pimlico this week with neither Derby winner contesting the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Country House got the sniffles after his victorious runner-up finish in Louisville. Rather than further proving his mettle on the race track, Maximum Security is bedded down at Monmouth Park while his owners seek retribution in the courtroom. Alas, this decade will not see a third Triple Crown winner like we had in the 1970’s. However, the absence of the first four horses to cross the finish line in the Derby does make for an interesting betting race in Saturday’s Preakness. Here is a look at the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown along with a few of the stakes races on the undercard:
Photo courtesy of the Bloodhorse.
Race 5 – the JAMES W. MURPHY
Real News appears to have a decided pace advantage as he exits a solid runner-up effort behind Breeders’ Cup winner Bulletin in the Palisades at Keeneland. Rosario should have him on the muscle from the break and he could prove tough to catch in a relatively paceless affair. Thomas Shelby was a $525,000 2yo purchase last March, and the son of Curlin makes his grass debut in this spot. His best efforts to date have come over the synthetic surface at Turfway, indicating the lawn may be to his liking. Wesley Ward excels moving his pupils from the main track to the grass, and this one could surprise at 12/1 on the morning line.
Race 7 – the SEARCHING
Osare makes her 4yo debut for Jonathan Thomas and the half-sister to Arrogate figures to have plenty of upside with only 4 career starts to her credit. It won’t take a stratospheric leap forward from her Dueling Grounds Oaks performance at Kentucky Downs last summer to find the winner’s circle in this spot. She is training well, and Thomas can definitely have them ready to run off the bench.
Race 9 – the VERY ONE
Jo Jo Air made a big leap forward taking the William Walker against fellow sophomores on opening night at Churchill, besting Breeders’ Cup winner Bulletin among others. She fired a 5 furlong bullet in the interim in :59 and 1 around the dogs at Keeneland. This filly is doing well right now, and Ward is a “run them when they’re right” kind of trainer. Expect this Scat Daddy filly to best her elders and look good in the process.
Race 10 – the Grade 3 GALLORETTE
Joel Rosario looks well positioned once again to ride pillar to post in a two-turn contest on the Pimlico lawn. Mitchell Road reeled off 3 straight over 3 different race tracks this winter, most recently edging Beau Recall in New Orleans. That Brad Cox trainee came back to capture the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on the Derby undercard. The Bill Mott trained daughter of English Channel should offer good value with the presence of two Chad Brown fillies in this spot. I’m So Fancy was successful earning Group 3 accolades in Ireland and makes her 5yo debut on this side of the pond for the very capable Arnaud Delacour.
Race 11 – the Grade 3 CHICK LANG
Pyron and Preamble look well positioned to battle it out in deep stretch and pick up the pieces left by likely pacesetters Malpais, Cabot, and Gladiator King.
Race 12 – the Grade 2 DIXIE
If there was an award for 2nd half 3yo champion, Catholic Boy would have taken last year’s prize. The More Than Ready colt reeled off three impressive conquests capped by grade 1 mile and a quarter coups on both turf (Belmont Derby) and dirt (Travers). His versatility on this surface should serve him well, but he will need to bring his running shoes to find the wire in front of Inspector Lynley who has 2 wins from 3 starts already this term.
Race 13 – the Grade 1 PREAKNESS
Improbable and War of Will will vie for favoritism as the two highest finishing Derby runners contesting this middle crown jewel. War of Will had a much debated, compromised trip in Louisville. Whether that was of his own doing or that of the first place finisher, the War Front colt did appear to be full of run rounding the far turn. Negotiating a cleaner trip this time around may not prove to be a trivial task as his poor luck at the Derby draw followed him to Baltimore. Mark Casse must be pulling his hair out. Improbable didn’t really have an excuse, but can definitely benefit from the cut back in distance. With 7 victories to their credit, no team is better than Bob Baffert and Jimmy Barnes at bringing a Derby runner to the Preakness. Local hopes rest with Alwaysmining who has reeled off six straight across town at Laurel Park. In one of those wins he beat the re-opposing Win Win Win (beaten 8 1/2 lengths in the Derby) by a length and a half. Another victory saw him best Gray Magician, dead last and 26 lengths adrift in the Derby, by a widening 4 1/4 lengths. Anothertwistafate did not have the greatest of trips in the Lexington at Keeneland, and is among the more intriguing new shooters. The Scat Daddy colt should get a nice stalking trip from his outside draw. Chief amongst the group of non-Derby starters are Owendale, a powerful winner of the Lexington, and Bourbon War, who competed admirably in the preps at Gulfstream that proved to be strongest on Derby day. Owendale affirmed his readiness for this appointment with a :59 and 1 bullet at Churchill last Saturday for Brad Cox. He looks like a very live shot to upset in Cox’s first appearance in a triple crown event.
Since the hiring of Eddie Gran and placing Stephen Johnson behind center, the Kentucky football program has been on a remarkable run. The Wildcats have won 24 games in this time, have been to three consecutive bowl games, and have four top 25 victories. All of a sudden the results are starting to show up for Mark Stoops and we’re starting to see the national media take notice.
Regular-season conference records for SEC football teams last three years:
Alabama 23-1
Georgia 18-6
LSU 16-8
Auburn 15-9
Florida 14-10
Kentucky 13-11
Texas A&M 13-11
South Carolina 12-12
Miss. State 11-13
Mizzou 10-14
Vanderbilt 7-17
Ole Miss 6-18
Tennessee 6-18
Arkansas 4-20— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) May 15, 2019
Fresh off their first double-digit win season in over four decades, the Wildcats now appear to be in a great position moving forward. UK has solid roster balance with proven depth at most spots. The coaching staff has a wave of momentum on the recruiting trail with eight home games looming for this upcoming season. It would be hard for things to be in much better shape for the program, but getting to this point has taken some consistent victories over division opponents.
It’s clear that UK still has a ton of ground to makeup to catch what Kirby Smart is cooking in Georgia. Even with the win in The Swamp to end the streak under their belts, the Wildcats are still behind Florida. Despite their struggles this decade, UK has only been able to claim two victories against Tennessee with zero coming away from Lexington. Where the Wildcats have made their hay is against the rest of the division.
Since 2016, Kentucky is an impressive 9-0 against Missouri, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. However, this process has not come easy. Kentucky has won six of these nine football games by one possession and seven of these nine squads have been bowl teams at the end of the season. This is an incredible run that has been filled with some very dramatic moments.
One last drive. @UKFootball came through in the clutch with the season on the line.
Terry Wilson and C.J. Conrad take us through their game-winning touchdown against Missouri. pic.twitter.com/x1QVR82L3Q
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 2, 2018
Kentucky is 13-11 in league play in the last three seasons with nine victories (69.2%) coming against their division foes they have so much in common with. For the Wildcats to get to bowl eligibility, the recipe has always been the same. Take care of business in the non-conference, pick up an upset or two, and beat your common conference opponents. The Wildcats have done this and more during this recent run.
Entering the 2019 season, however, the task will be tall to continue this dominance. Missouri is fresh off a top 15 S&P+ finish with Clemson grad transfer Kelly Bryant in CoMo ready to take over for second round pick Drew Lock. The Tigers will be on nearly every preseason top 25 poll and could very well be undefeated when they roll into The Kroge on October 26th. South Carolina returns fourth-year starter Jake Bentley at quarterback with a defense that should be the best of the Will Muschamp era in Columbia. Vanderbilt loses four-year starting quarterback Kyle Shurmur, but has three NFL talents in running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, receiver Kalija Lipscomb, and tight end Jared Pinkney. Sooner or later that close game success could start to go the other way.
This run has been impressive, but Kentucky has to start winning consistently against the big three in the SEC East. After going winless against the trio of Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee in his first four years, Mark Stoops finally got on the board and recorded a win in each of the last two seasons. However, he’s currently 2-16 against the trio in his coaching career.
Kentucky’s program is in a very good place. The Wildcats are fresh off three a top 15 finish highlighted by a win in The Swamp and a Citrus Bowl trophy due to the New Year’s Day victory over Penn State. Kentucky just had the best NFL Draft in program history and it’s starting to feel like Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow are putting together a top 2o class for the 2020 recruiting hall. Now the next step is to start consistently collecting victories against the historic divisional blue bloods.
Kentucky has emerged as the best middle tier program in the SEC East by their ability to consistently win close football games against common foes. This has given them a chance to compete for a divisional crown into November and reach two bowl games in the Sunshine State. But for the program to take the next step, the Wildcats have to start consistently collecting wins versus the big three. The streaks against Florida and Tennessee have been snapped, but now the Wildcats must start collecting wins more consistently. Ending the nine-game losing streak against Georgia would help the cause. So would beating Missouri, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt every season.
(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Good afternoon, folks. Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins could both be out until Game 5 of the WCF. Let’s talk NBA Playoffs.
RECAP
(3) Trail Blazers – 111 @ (1) Warriors – 114 (GSW leads 2-0)
- Depending on how the rest of this series goes, we might not see Kevin Durant or DeMarcus Cousins suit up for the Warriors until the NBA Finals. Both players are scheduled to be reevaluated in one week and could be cleared by then. However, their team might not even need them. After Golden State overcame a 15-point halftime deficit in Game 2 without those two All-Stars – one of them being a former MVP – it’s hard to imagine this series going the distance. As of April 19, according to Oddshark, only 20 NBA teams have come back to win a series after losing the first two games. Out of a possible 282 examples, that’s a little over seven percent of the time. Factoring in that the Warriors are the Warriors and my hope for Portland wanes. They had to steal Game 2 on the road, and they damn near did it.
- Because as I said, the Blazers held a 15-point lead at halftime. Damian Lillard didn’t even score a point through the first 20 minutes of the game and the Portland bench was in a rhythm. Everyone from Al-Farouq Aminu (nine points, six rebounds) to Seth Curry (16 points, four made triples) to Mo Harkless (12 points, four rebounds) made an impact in this game, most of it coming in the first half. CJ McCollum dropped 16 points through the first two quarters and the team as a whole couldn’t miss from deep.
- But if you’ve watched the Warriors over the past few years, you’d know how much they adore third-quarter runs where they suck the heart and soul out of its opponents with a barrage of triples and Draymond Green alley-oops. Golden State posted 39 points in the third compared to only 24 from Portland. 13 of Klay Thompson’s 24 points came in that period. Steph Curry finished with 37 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Despite his brother, Seth, knocking down a massive three-pointer to give Portland a one-point lead with only a minute left, the elder Curry got the best of his sibling at the final buzzer. Andre Iguodala stripped Lillard on a would-be game-tying triple and immediately sprinted to the locker room in disbelief of his own greatness.
Iggy with the game winning steal ? ? pic.twitter.com/bjZkKYArBv
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 17, 2019
Andre Iguodala looking at his hands as he runs back ‘AY, THESE MOTHA F*CKAS IS CRAZY’ ??? pic.twitter.com/ThBVBPtrK0
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 17, 2019
- Enes Kanter played only 19 minutes and was the only Blazer who didn’t look comfortable. Whether or not he’s just going through a rough period, struggling with playing while fasting, or just not a good matchup against the Warriors, Kanter has not played up to expectations through two games. The former Kentucky big posted four points and five rebounds, missing a good chunk of the second half. ESPN’s Doris Burke said that Kanter couldn’t even take a sip of water until the sun had officially gone down, which didn’t happen until around 8:20 P.M. on the West Coast. But Portland still needs everything it can get from Kanter (especially since backup center Zach Collins registered five fouls in only eight minutes) no matter what his production level is. He’s a big body that has shown his competitiveness can allow him to at least survive on defense and he’s been a reliable safety valve for Lillard/McCollum under the basket. I don’t know how he’s going to be able to do it without water/food/energy, but it only makes me want to root harder for him whenever he does step on the court. I respect the hell out of Kanter for what he’s doing both on and off the court during the most important playoff run of his career. There’s a lot to be said about a man who is that committed to what he believes in. It’s admirable.
- Game 3 will head to Portland and tip-off on Saturday night at 9:00 P.M. EST on ESPN.
STATISTICS
| Player | Result | Points | FG (3FG) | Reb. | Ast. | Steals | Blocks | TOs | +/- | Mins. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enes Kanter (POR) | 111-114 L @ GSW | 4 | 2-3 (0-0) | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +4 | 19 |
| DeMarcus Cousins (GSW) | 114-111 W vs. POR | DNP-Quad | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Skal Labissiere (POR) | 111-114 L @ GSW | DNP-CD | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
TONIGHT IN THE NBA
8:30 (TNT): Raptors (Meeks) @ Bucks (Bledsoe) (MIL leads 1-0)
Over the course of the Mark Stoops era at Kentucky, the coaching staff’s recruiting philosophy has changed quite a bit. At the beginning, they tried to sign any and all of the the top three and four-star prospects they could get their hands on, no matter where they came from.
As they’ve established themselves on the recruiting trail and wins are coming at a more consistent rate, the staff has been able to be a bit more selective with high-level prospects and their focus has shifted a bit.
Among many other areas of focus, keeping Kentucky’s top high school talents in-state has become one of the staff’s biggest priorities as of late.
After signing five in-state talents in 2019, they’ve already got two of the top 2020 prospects in the state committed to Kentucky in John Young and Beau Allen for 2020. And it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon.
In an interview with KSR this morning, Kentucky recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow said that Mark Stoops told him specifically that he needed to recruit the state of Kentucky harder and keep them from going to other local schools.
“When Mark Stoops came to me last year, he was like, “We need your presence more in Kentucky.” We were losing a lot of the top guys, they were going other places.”
According to Marrow, that momentum shift happened back in 2016 when Kentucky defeated Louisville on the road with Heisman trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the Cardinals.
Ever since, recruiting in-state talent has come easy for the UK coaching staff.
“I think when we beat Louisville two years ago with Lamar [Jackson] down there, it showed people we were on the right track,” he said. “But still, we had to really get down and recruit harder in Louisville. I think in the past, we were recruiting kids [from there], and they were using negative stuff against us. I’m not going to go into what they were saying, but once I went down there and cleaned that up, it improved.”
Marrow said that in the past, Louisville negatively recruited against Kentucky, which hurt them with some of the local talents. Now, he has found a way to combat that.
“Louisville, being a city school, they were getting a lot of inner-city kids,” he said. “I don’t know what they were telling them, but I tell them now, “Look, we had the first African-American players in this league. We have a very diverse culture.”‘
A big part of that, he says, was Bobby Petrino’s old coaching staff at Louisville and what he was feeding some of the in-state kids on the recruiting trail.
“And that was the old staff, not the new staff,” he said. “I don’t mind some of the guys on the new staff.”
To put it simply, he wasn’t a fan of Petrino and his assistants.
Not in the slightest.
“No, [I wasn’t a fan of the old staff at UofL],” Marrow said. “No. Not at all. Not at all.”
We couldn’t agree more, Vince.