Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
It was a great Sunday here at the Kentucky Sports Radio Compound as we had one of the great sporting events of the year, the Daytona 500 won by Ryan “I dont have a neck” Newman. Every year I look forward to Daytona for the pageantry, the racing action and the chance to hear “Boogity Boogity Boogity” one more time to start a new Nascar season. This year’s race had all the makings of a great event. It was the 50th Anniversary of the “Great American Race” and to commemorate the event, NASCAR brought out all the living drivers who had won the event. Since many had died (and a number at Daytona), it was only a few people with Cale Yarborough, AJ Foyt, Richard Petty, etc and then the second tier guys like Derrick Cope and Geoff Bodine who loved finally getting a call that made people remember who they were. The race had a pre-race concert that featured (I am not kidding) Chubby Checker, Michael McDonald and Kool and the Gang. Seriously. Could this be the worst lineup in the history of major sporting event pre-game ever? Is it even possible to put a musical act together that would have been worse? Add to it that Chubby Checker did quite possibly the worst lip synching job in the history of that noble tradition, and the pre-race show was a bit more than I could imagine. AS for the race itself, Kyle Busch (known as “Shrub”) led throughout most of the race….Tony Stewart (known as “Smoke”) led with one lap to go, but was then passed by Ryan Newman (known as “No-Neck”) to win the race and give Roger Penske his first Daytona 500 win. A great day for NASCAR and America….and I am told that the next race pre-game festivities is to include a lineup of Snow, Gary Puckett and Ronnie Milsap, so the hits keep on coming.
To the news….
(1) LSU AFTERMATH: The importance of the win on Saturday cannot be overestimated as we hit the final six game stretch. By winning the game, the Cats moved up to 71 in the RPI and slowly laid claim to emerging as a tournament team from the SEC. With Florida’s loss to Vandy this weekend, the Cats are emerging in a pack of teams with the Gators, Arkansas and Ole Miss as fighting for spots 4-7 in the NCAA pool and the Cats can lay claim to being ahead of all these teams as they play each of them over the next three weeks. The Cats go into a three game homestand, where each game will see them favored and with a home court edge that may be crucial in the final minutes. As for the LSU game itself, the team came home relatively injury free (a huge difference from nearly every other game this year). In addition, the big man Morakinyo Williams (aka “The Member”) was suspended for the game, as potentially was one of the walk-ons as well. More should come about this decision later in the week. As for now however, the core of the team is getting healthy and hopefully has gotten over the debacle in Nashville. Georgia comes in on Tuesday and the Cats have business to take care of.
(2) APPLETON AND JONES: With every game that goes by, the thought of this team needing to replace the duo of Smooth and Joe C becomes more and more apparent. This weekend Tyrone Appleton made his visit to Kansas and the early reports of the visit are not good for the Cats. Appleton told a Kansas website that the visit went great and that he is likely done visiting schools….tough news for the Cats who hoped to get him in town next weekend for the Arkansas game. Appleton said he may have a decision this week, which would likely point to a Jayhawk destination for the JC point guard. The Cats have increased the heat recently with Verdell Jones, the Chicago point guard that is one of the best players left uncommitted at this time. He told the Cats Pause earlier this week that the Cats were near the top of the list and that he hoped to visit again before the end of the season. The folks I talk to around UK are high on Jones and it may be the case that he becomes priority #1 soon if Appleton heads to the Big 12.
(3) INDIANA COACH: With the demise of Kelvin Sampson all but inevitable, talk has been rampant as to who the replacement is likely to be for our friends decked in red to the North. Many have speculated, including me, that Bruce Pearl would be a great hire for the Hoosier nation with his Indiana ties, however I am of the belief that IU has dropped as a program and Tennessee has risen enough as a program that such a move would likely not take place….something unthinkable even five years ago. But now comes word that Scott Skiles, former Bulls coach and NBA player, is the potential replacement and could be announced soon after Sampson is let go. That would be a quick move and somewhat of a strange one, considering that Skiles has no college coaching experience. To me IU is the 6th best job in the country (behind UK, UNC, UCLA, Duke and Kansas), and it seems that a more top flight coach could be procured….but in this day and age of many schools paying big money for their coaches, who knows.
(4) DEANDRE LIGGINS AND KC ROSS-MILLER: Two reasons to be excited about the future of Kentucky basketball. First, DeAndre Liggins played in Louisville this past weekend and looked very good. He is a classic “better player than the numbers suggest”, although his numbers were very good with 10 points, 12 boards and 6 assists. Liggins is very athletic and a classic Gillispie player. He will come in, play great defense and contribute to the team flow of the game. I do however worry whether he and Darius Miller will be able to replace Crawford and Bradley’s scoring. This however will not be a worry about 2010 commitment KC Ross-Miller, who continues to be amazing in his sophomore season. 30 plus point games have been the norm for Miller, who continues to rise in the rankings due to his great high school play. Look for him to be a top 15 player when his class rankings are updated this summer. With he and Dakotah Euton, a good base is set for this long-term recruiting.
More throughout the day today, including an update on a potential new opponent for 2009 against UK basketball…..
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February 18th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Disappointing news concerning Appleton. Sure would have like to see him in Wildcat blue. Let’s hope BCG can reel in Jones.
February 18th, 2008 at 1:04 am
I think BCG is really hitting the recruiting track hard and it will show a little next season, but his 3rd season will be the kicker. Replacing Joe and Ramel will be hard, but should only take a couple of other guys a year to get to that level. I was hoping that Joe and Ramel would play this good when they were juniors instead of just now doing it their senior season. I guess it is good that they decided to finally play a little.
February 18th, 2008 at 1:18 am
One thing to keep in mind while worrying about suitable scorers to replace Joe & Ramel– Meeks (to a lesser extent b/c of his continued injury) and Jasper will be juniors. Each has shown huge potential to be great shooters, they will have another year of experience (technically, even though each sat at a number of games this season), and several more months to work & develop with BCG. They will be familiar with the offensive sets, they will know how much effort is expected, and each will be better than they have been thus far. I anticipate big numbers for both of them next year & we’re adding Liggins & Miller, which should really help the transition w/out Bradley & Crawford. We thought it would be hard to manage without Morris, yet here UK sits– celebrating 2 of our less-heralded players (who have quickly become favorites). We’ll be just fine!
February 18th, 2008 at 1:24 am
We should be a much better defensive team, which should out weigh the offensive loss.
February 18th, 2008 at 1:57 am
I wonder if when Sampson is fired if Jordan Crawford would consider transferring to the school where his big bro played. If he did would he still be forced to sit out the year with these circumstances?
Any news on the Hopson Saga??
February 18th, 2008 at 2:06 am
5, Yes he would have to sit out a year.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:41 am
Meeks and PP should take over the scoring load. I’m looking for Perry to really improve from this season to next….We have sen glimpses of what he can do…Ala the Tenn Game. He needs a badass nickname like Tough Juice…haha
I’ll miss Smooth….despite that he scares the shit out of me sometime w/ the rock
go Cats
February 18th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Matt, have you heard the Bud Mackey to UK rumors, read it over on TCP? Apparently on his myspace it says Kentucky Wildcats here I come
February 18th, 2008 at 5:30 am
vanderbilt coach would be a great hire for indiana
February 18th, 2008 at 6:55 am
After Sampson IU should get a coach clean with the NCAA and with the law. Skiles has had several legal problems over the years. For example, while at Michigan State he served some time in jail drugs and/or DUI. If they want a coach with NBA coaching experience they could go with an IU grad, Randy Whitman. However, Dan Dankich is an assistant at IU now and would be a likely interim choice if Sampson is let go before the season is over. If Dankich is the interim and has a solid end of season, he just might get the full-time nod. Hoosiers love their former players such as Dankich, while after a great Indiana high school career Skiles spurned IU for MSU.
February 18th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Hey Matt I read on Wildcat Nation and then checked myself that Bud Mackey has “Kentucky Wildcats here I come” posted on his myspace page. Any news on that?
February 18th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Everyone is totally overlooking the Snow and Ronnie Milsaps comment. “smoky mountain rain” followed by “informer.” That, my friends, is America at its greatest!!!
February 18th, 2008 at 7:58 am
For those interested, here is Bud Mackey’s myspace…http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofi le&friendid=38857255
February 18th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Here’s the real BIG news of the day, I’M BAAAAACK in an all new HAMMERTIME!
Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp8hdr0eU0g
February 18th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I’m not a huge “Informer” guy, but if Ronnie Milsap is scheduled to do anything at all,
pencil me in. Ronnie Milsap has never had a bad song…ever.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Come on Matt Jones…. Is there any question that IU is a much better basketball power than TENN???
I normally agree with you, but in Basketball, you have UK, UNC, KANSAS, IU, UCLA (only because of titles!), and everyone else!
February 18th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Is it possible that he is saying, ‘here I come to play against you.’?
Rough news for IU they are an elite program, and are bigger than all of this.
Does anyone have anything on GJ Vilarino? Does he still suck, or has he withdrawn from his scholarship?
February 18th, 2008 at 8:38 am
#16- It’s a kick in the nuts, but you have to include Duke… and Louisville also comes close to breaching that upper echelon.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Do we really want a drug dealing kid on our team? Anything goes wrong and we are the laughing stock of NCAA basketball. I can’t see Billy gambling on this kid.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:33 am
the guy in the bottom right of the pic can’t wait to drink gravy outta that trophy.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I kind of figured it would be hard for us to land a Juco kid right now because they only have two years and want to win now. Kansas is prob ably a perfect fit for Appleton, but he won’t come in and play right away. They have a couple of point guards that will probably play in front of him so I don’t see why he would go there. I would much rather have Appleton that Verdell Jones. I watched a youtube video of him playing agains Jared Bayless and while he scored 28 on him he is not the quick slashing defensive stopper that Appleton is. He is however Long and Lannky and would probably fit in good with Liggins and Miller who are both very long and lanky type players. Jones is smooth and smart with the ball I just question his ability to get to the rack. I really hope we can add either a big or a scorer for 08 like Brad Tinsley or Jeff Taylor and /
February 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
“Bud” should probably not have a friend named “dro”. Just a thought.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Why all this Tn love? One good season and you’re elevating them to elite status? What have they ever won
February 18th, 2008 at 9:52 am
NASCAR = Non Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks
February 18th, 2008 at 10:02 am
NASCAR = snore
February 18th, 2008 at 10:25 am
mlb fake trade prank
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/-Trade-to-Japan-leaves-Kendric k-in-shock?urn=mlb%2C67246
February 18th, 2008 at 10:27 am
What’s up with the comment on Mackey’s my space page?
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&frien did=38857255
February 18th, 2008 at 10:34 am
#18, I would agree with you that Duke, and UofL have to be included in the top 10, but not top 5. Duke plays in front of 9000 fans. If they built a 20000 seat arena, they could not fill it!!! Duke was nothing until Coach K, and probably won’t be anything once he leaves. That year he sat out with a back injury, they had a losing season! Grant it, they do have 3 titles!
February 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Can you people read? At no point does he say Tennessee is ahead of Indiana. He said Indiana has fallen recently and Tennessee has risen. That doesn’t mean Tennessee has risen above Indiana. He goes on to say that Indiana is the 6th best job in the country.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:15 am
28- I do agree… Duke was nothing Until coach K… But that era takes you back nearly 30 years. Kinda like we were nothing until adolph rupp. I suppose my only point here is that you included Kansas, and Duke has more Championships. If you include Kansas you have to include Duke. I know you could say Kansas has done it longer, more trips to the tourney and a lot more overall wins. But at this level championships are what matters. And to say that ‘(duke) wont be anything after he leaves’ is an insane statement to make. Do know how many big time players could come back and coach for Duke and get a lot of young kids pumped to go there… Especially with all of their ESPN exposure. Get real there is know end in sight for the success of duke.
Damn…. am I a Duke fan??????
February 18th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Ragekage, You think WoJo can coach??? We will wait and see what happens, but I can tell you what happened when Coach K took 1 year off…. The only thing good about dUKe is that if you take away the d and the e, UK is left standing. Coach K has had some incredible success with some great recruits. A degree from DUKE UNIV means a heck of a lot for Mommy and Daddy, and for years after the playing days are done, but I still believe once K is done, it will not be the same! Plus he is such a WHINER!
February 18th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I do hope the wheels fall off when he leaves. I hate duke and coach K… But at the end of the day Kentucky’s success isn’t unparalleled by any other school!
Plus, i like our blue better!
February 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
IS unparalleled…. obviously. (My bad)
February 18th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Walter McCarty to IU write it down its a done deal man.
February 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
34, That is Hilarious! Alford should get that job, but it will probably goto Bruce Pearl or Dahkich (sp?).
February 18th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Bruce Pearl WILL NOT be at IU next year.
February 18th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Alford will get offered the job.