April 2004 WildcatZone.Com News Archive (04-30-04)       Baseball Big Inning Hurts Kentucky in 5-3 Loss at Georgia    Georgia scored five runs in the fifth inning and relief pitcher Will Startup shutout Kentucky over the final 4 2/3 innings of the game, as the Wildcats fell to the Bulldogs, 5-3, on Friday night in Athens. Startup (4-2) allowed just one hit and struck out four to pick up his fourth win of the season. Bat Cats try to end Georgia win streak    The University of Kentucky baseball team travels to Athens, Ga., this weekend for a three-game series with the Bulldogs. Georgia (27-15, 9-9 Southeastern Conference) has won six games in a row, including a sweep of then-No. 6 Mississippi last weekend in Athens. The Bulldogs, who also swept a top 20 Florida team earlier this spring, beat Georgia State 16-6 on Tuesday night. NCAA overturns 5/8 rule     As expected, the NCAA board of directors unanimously approved an academic reform package Thursday, and in the process, cleared a recruiting hurdle that was despised by nearly every college basketball coach in the country. NCAA passes Division I academic reform    In what it called a landmark decision, the NCAA Division I board of directors yesterday approved new rules that will penalize college sports teams that fail to retain and graduate their players.       Football Next Week in Kentucky Football    Golf, food, and fun are on the schedule as the University of Kentucky Athletics’ “Big Blue Caravan,” sponsored by Cooper Tires, will open the 2004 tour of the Commonwealth on Mon. May 3 in Northern Kentucky. (04-29-04) Searching for Scratch’s replacement    UK’s cheerleading coach had no idea so many students were interested in being the next to personify Scratch.       Basketball Wild Cats Fan   For six months beginning last September, I played the role of Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway, and during curtain calls I was always entertained by shouts of "Go, Big Blue!" and "Go, Cats!" or seeing signs expressing our shared passion for college basketball. But while I treasured my time on stage, I deeply lamented the fact that it prevented me from attending my beloved Kentucky Wildcats' games. That's why the first thought I had (after Ouch!) when I injured my left foot during a performance in February was, I can probably catch the rest of the games. Indeed, shortly after I had surgery, I flew to South Carolina in early March to watch the Cats dominate the Gamecocks 84-65. Unmasking Scratch    Matt Hogg was accustomed to cheers. At most UK basketball and football games, all eyes were on him, if at least just for a moment. His furry animal suit was an attention-grabber.       Baseball Kentucky Travels to Athens For Matchup With Bulldogs   Kentucky returns to Southeastern Conference play this weekend when it travels to Athens, Ga., to battle the Bulldogs of Georgia in a three-game series. Kentucky won its 20th game of the season on Wednesday night when it defeated Morehead State, 8-0, at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Seven UK pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout performance in that game, and retired 22 of the final 23 batters, including 21 in a row at one point. Kentucky Staff Holds Morehead to Two Hits in 8-0 Shutout Win    Seven Kentucky pitchers combined to two-hit Morehead State in an 8-0 shutout of the Eagles on Wednesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The UK staff retired 22 of the last 23 batters, including 21 in a row at one point. Starter Andy Myette (1-1) earned the win. He was followed by Craig Snipp, James Rodriquez, Adam Kunkel, Shane Boyd, Aaron Tennyson and Matt Scott. All threw one perfect inning with the exception of Rodriquez, who threw two, and Scott, who surrendered a harmless single in the ninth. Tennyson struck out the side in the eighth inning. (04-28-04)       Basketball Smith's recruiting on the rise    Remember two years ago when it looked like Tubby Smith had lost his recruiting touch?         Baseball Bat Cats take on Morehead tonight   The Kentucky baseball team will play host to Morehead State tonight at 6:30. The game is a makeup of a last week's rainout. Kentucky is on a four-game losing streak, including a sweep last weekend at No. 19 Arkansas.       Football Cook may miss UK season    Tommy Cook, the University of Kentucky's top returning receiver, probably will miss the 2004 football season because of a knee injury he suffered in the Blue-White game Saturday. Cook likely will miss season with torn ACL The University of Kentucky football season opener is more than four months away, yet the injury bug already has bit Coach Rich Brooks' thin squad. (04-27-04)       Baseball Baseball’s Rose and Fritts Named NSCA All-Americans    Matt Fritts and Jimmy Rose, members of the Kentucky baseball team, have both been recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) with its annual All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year award.       Basketball Barbour not expected to play in opener for Kentucky Reach    Fans anxious to see Antwain Barbour's first game as a professional basketball player are going to have to wait.       Football Cook to Have Reconstructive Surgery    Cook to Have Reconstructive Surgery: An MRI test has confirmed that senior wide receiver Tommy Cook has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and he will undergo reconstructive surgery, Coach Rich Brooks has announced. Live Chat Archive - Rich Brooks    Dustin Cordell : hey coach, i was wonderin if you think that Andre has much of a chance at seeing a lot of action this year? Lorenzen has a big chance    Perhaps it's only fitting that the biggest quarterback in college football is going to the nation's biggest media market. 2004 SEC Post-Spring Football Notes    ...compiled from each school's Sports Information Office  The heart of the matter    Ricky Abren's heart has been a cruel creature. It has given him the love of the game of football while at the same ironic time threatening to end his chance to play for the University of Kentucky. Pillsbury Throwboy blew lots of dough    What I know: During his memorable University of Kentucky career, Jared Lorenzen's critics oft forecast that the time would come when the Hefty Lefty would pay a big price for his inability/unwillingness to get in tip-top physical shape and stay there.  Lorenzen optimistic of making Giants' roster as free-agent signee    Former University of Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen doesn't make subtle entrances at 6 feet 4 and 288 pounds, but he's more than happy to let his new teammate with the New York Giants, Eli Manning, hog the spotlight for a while. Lorenzen signs with Giants    Jared Lorenzen's road to what he hopes is an NFL career will make its first stop in the Big Apple. Lorenzen, the former University of Kentucky quarterback who went undrafted this weekend, signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants yesterday. Lorenzen listed Buffalo, Cincinnati and Tennessee among the other teams he considered signing with. Lorenzen casts his lot as free agent with New York    The plan Jared Lorenzen had envisioned for Sunday included 18 holes of golf and as little TV watching as possible. Mother Nature wouldn't accommodate him concerning the links and watching TV only made his mood rainier by the minute. (04-26-04)       Baseball Three Final Inning Errors Cost Cats in 11-10 Loss to No. 19 Arkansas    Jesse Barber singled to score Caleb Stewart and break up an 8-8 tie in the top of the seventh inning, and UK took a 10-8 lead into the bottom half of the inning, but committed three errors and lost, 11-10, at No. 19 Arkansas on Sunday.       Basketball Future 'Cats on display    The approximately 100 well-wishers who attended Rajon Rondo's signing party Saturday afternoon got to see an impressive 15-minute highlight video of the University of Kentucky-bound guard put together by his older brother, Will.       Football Kentucky Football Notebook - April 26    Head Coach Rich Brooks will participate in a live chat on ukathletics.com on Tuesday ... Derek Abney drafted by the Baltimore Ravens; four other former Cats sign as free agents Boyd sharp in scrimmage   Shane Boyd had another sturdy performance at quarterback Saturday in the Blue-White scrimmage, the annual end of the University of Kentucky's spring football practice. Boyd the right choice for Cats at QB    If there is one thing about Kentucky's offense that should be clear now that spring practice is over, it's that there is no quarterback controversy. Wildcats wrap up with White win    Finding a replacement for return specialist Derek Abney was one priority for Kentucky during spring practice. Receiver makes plays, may fill Abney’s void    With the graduation of All-American returner Derek Abney, one of the UK football team’s major questions this spring football game was who was going to fill his void. Abney taken in 7th round; three Cats sign with Colts    One phone call from Baltimore Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome ended Derek Abney’s worries. Ravens give Abney the chance he wanted    As teams kept making selections, Derek Abney began to wonder if his name was going to be called Sunday. Ravens say Abney not just fair catch in seventh round    With their second-to-last pick in the seventh round, Ravens officials feel they plucked the premier player at a need position. Ravens draft UK's Abney in seventh round     It wasn't long after Derek Abney was selected in the seventh round of the National Football League draft by the Baltimore Ravens yesterday that he thought about his first slant route with All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis on the other side of the field. (04-25-04)       Basketball Bradley sparkles in Kentucky preview   UK football signee Dewalt grabs 13 boards, says he's serious about playing basketball, too  DeWalt shows his skills    For the second straight year, one of the most impressive players in the Derek Anderson Derby Festival Classic basketball game was a football player.       Football Cats need all the experience they can get    Suddenly, old coaches are all the rage. Jack McKeon, age 73, wins the World Series. Hubie Brown, age 70, is NBA Coach of the Year. Joe Gibbs, age 63, has the nation's capital in a tizzy. Seasoned citizens rule.  UK spring game- QB Boyd continues to shine    Shane Boyd had another strong performance at quarterback Saturday in the Blue-White scrimmage, the annual end of Kentucky's spring practice.   From Big Blue to the deep blue sea    A phone call last week caught former Kentucky player Bob McCowan at a bad time.  Wildcats' Blue-White game becomes Burton's show    Keenan Burton announced his arrival yesterday at the University of Kentucky's Blue-White spring football game with a 93-yard return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff. Brooks pleased but still prodding    The two major questions for the Kentucky football team coming into spring were offensive line and quarterback, and Coach Rich Brooks said both positions made strides over the 15 practices. Burton auditions for role of Abney    Keenan Burton said he made sure to play close attention to Derek Abney when he arrived on the Kentucky campus last fall. Every time Abney made a move, gesture, spin, cut, or ran a route, Burton was on top of it.  2004 Blue-White Spring Football Post-Game Quotes    Injury Report --  “Tommy Cook looks like he has one of the more serious injuries. We will know more on Monday when we do an MRI on his knee. He made a cut on the near sideline and tried to make a cut when he heard a pop in his knee. We don’t know the extent of it, but we are worried it might be serious.”   White Defeats Blue, 28-17, in Spring Game    Quarterback Shane Boyd directed three touchdown drives as the White Team, comprised primarily of first-team players, defeated the Blue Team, 28-17, in the annual Blue-White Game that marked the end of spring practice for the University of Kentucky football team. (04-24-04)       Baseball Kentucky Falls Short At No. 19 Arkansas, 9-4    Arkansas had two separate four-run innings and held Kentucky scoreless over the first seven innings to beat the Wildcats, 9-4, Friday night in Fayetteville, Ark. The loss dropped UK to 19-17 on the season and 5-11 in Southeastern Conference play.       Basketball Future Cat, Brooklyn pedigree    Ramel Bradley -- remember him? -- will play in the Derby Festival Basketball Classic tonight.  Derby Festival Night of The Future Stars   Lorrenzo Wade knows he's something of a forgotten man in the University of Louisville's incoming basketball recruiting class. Tucked away for a year in prep school at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., the 6-foot-5 Wade has been out of the spotlight and, as a fifth-year prep player, out of most recruiting rankings.       Football Spring forward Wildcats' battle cry   Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks calls his team a work in progress. Just how much progress his Wildcats have made the past three weeks will be on display this afternoon at the Blue/White Spring Game at Commonwealth Stadium.  Wildcats expect progress from RBs    The University of Kentucky's tailbacks will be better next season. Coach Rich Brooks is sure of it. (04-23-04)       Basketball Barbour signs with Reach    HOMETOWN TEAM LETS HIM SHOW HIS SKILLS    Former Kentucky player Antwain Barbour signed to play with the Kentucky Reach of the first-year World Basketball Association yesterday. True picks Morehead    A last-minute visit to the University of Kentucky wasn't enough to sway Lincoln County's Jonathan True. Williams out to prove worth    Kentucky Wildcat lite. That's how UK recruit Adam Williams considers the Derby Festival Basketball Classic.        Football Spring Game Saturday at 1 p.m.   Annual Blue/White game Saturday at 1 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium. Parking and admission are free ... Fans may renew season tickets at the game ... Friday's practice moved indoors Mercer to kick it at Kentucky    Both Bowling Green’s Adam Mercer and Warren Central’s Lonnell Dewalt will be “kicking it” at Commonwealth Stadium next season. Tamme knows he must still get better    If Jacob Tamme was playing any other position on offense and doing so well, he would be the talk of Kentucky's spring practice. (04-22-04) Barnhart says he'll stick with UK   The University of Washington's search for an athletic director at one time targeted Mitch Barnhart as a candidate, but Barnhart, in his second year as the University of Kentucky's AD, said yesterday that he has no interest in that job or any other.   Rescinding 5/8 rule advised     When an NCAA panel met this week to ponder the fate of a controversial new recruiting limitation, only one person offered an opinion, yeah or nay.        Football Wildcats work on shoring up O-line    Just about every member of the Kentucky offensive line has heard the whispers that it is the potential weak link on this fall's Kentucky football team. Kentucky Football Notebook - April 22    The deadline for renewal of Kentucky football season tickets is Fri. Apr. 23 ... Former offensive lineman Nate VanSickel (pictured above) named to the 2003 All-America Strength Team ... Blue/White Game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium.       Basketball Barbour signs to play for Kentucky Reach     Antwain Barbour will continue to play for Kentucky - just not that of the Wildcat variety. Cats enjoy rare spring cleanup   Crawford is one of two McDonald's All-Americans to sign with UK during this spring signing period, which began last week. The other was guard Rajon Rondo, who grew up in Louisville and attends Oak Hill (Va.) Academy this year. A signing by center Randolph Morris of Palmetto, Ga., could give the Wildcats three McDonald's All-Americans this spring.   NCAA ruling helps UK's numbers problem      Once again Tubby Smith has shown that his instincts for being able to make numbers work when it comes to recruiting are right. (04-21-04)       Football Lorenzen plays weighting game   National Football League draft analysts talk about Jared Lorenzen's arm strength, his fearlessness and his ability to withstand a pass rush, but no breakdown of the former University of Kentucky quarterback is complete without some mention of his weight. Coach Michael Gray Live Chat    Tyler : Hey Coach Gray, in what ways can this D-Line improve from last season and what do you expect out of Sweet Pea Burns this year? How much improvement has he made?   'Catspys' tell the rest of the UK stories    Jeff Chakouian strolled onto the stage at Rupp Arena last night and pulled a cell phone from his tuxedo pocket. (04-20-04) Celebrating Our Love of Sports - 2004 Catspy Awards    UK Athletics held the second annual Catspy Awards Monday night at Rupp Arena. A spinoff of ESPN's ESPY awards, the Catspys celebrate the UK student-athlete with a grand ceremony. Click for photos of this year's winners.       Football Ex-Cat Abney fleeter by the dozen    DRAFT PROCESS TESTS RETURN SPECIALIST    In four seasons at Kentucky, Derek Abney made the No. 12 synonymous with football magic. So what could be a more appropriate means to follow Abney's trek through the bizarre world that is the NFL draft process than to take 12 steps.       Baseball Kentucky to Host Morehead on Wednesday    The Kentucky baseball team will go in search of its 20th win of the season when it plays host to the Morehead State Eagles on Wednesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. (ET) start. (04-19-04) New and improved Catspys come to Rupp Kentucky officials are looking at last year's Catspy awards as a dress rehearsal of sorts.           Baseball Kalen Gibson Named SEC Pitcher of the Week For Second Time    Kentucky sophomore pitcher Kalen Gibson has been named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced on Monday. The Slaughters, Ky., native earned the honor after throwing a complete-game four-hitter to beat the No. 6 South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday night.       Football Kentucky Football Notebook - April 19    Monday's practice shortened due to Catspy Awards ... Coach Michael Gray live chat on Tuesday ... Archer, Hudson and Phillips to fill in for Coach Brooks during call-in show ... Blue/White Game information Huff still believes in line    Going into last season Kentucky had an experienced offensive line that was expected to be one of the team's strengths.   UK coach finally sees offensive progress during scrimmage    Finally Rich Brooks has proof to justify his belief that Kentucky's offense can be effective next season. In sports, one's word not always sacred    Kendall O'Donnell now knows the difference between an oral commitment and a written commitment.     (04-18-04) UK, U of L struggle to graduate athletes Graduation rates of athletes at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville are far below national averages in their highest-profile sports. And if the situation doesn't improve, the schools could face sanctions in the future under tougher NCAA rules expected to be approved later this month.       Baseball Kentucky Downs South Carolina For Second Consecutive Day, 11-6    Kentucky scored five times in the third inning and three more in the fifth, en route to an 11-6 win over the sixth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The win was the second straight for UK over South Carolina. The Wildcats will try for a sweep of the three-game series on Sunday       Basketball Coaches hope '5/8 rule' gets benched This coming week may set the stage for the NCAA to rescind its much-debated scholarship limitation, commonly known as the "5/8 rule."       Football Wildcats' Boyd proving elusive    Defensive coordinator Mike Archer is spending a lot of time trying to contain Shane Boyd. Brooks calls offense's progress 'significant'    The Kentucky offense didn't have anywhere to go but up after a less-than-inspiring showing in the opening scrimmage of the spring last week. Re-energized Davis back to his old tricks   There were two different Draak Davises on the University of Kentucky campus last year.  (04-17-04)       Basketball UK signee going to prep school   University of Kentucky basketball recruit Adam Williams is relinquishing his scholarship in order to attend a prep school next season, saying he realizes he needs a year of seasoning before joining the Wildcats.       Baseball Gibson Spectacular as Kentucky Beats No. 6 South Carolina, 6-3    Sophomore starter Kalen Gibson was sensational on Friday night, as he held the No. 6 South Carolina Gamecocks to just four hits in his first career complete game to lead Kentucky to a 6-3 victory at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Slaughters, Ky., native allowed only one earned run and struck out nine en route to his fourth victory of the season. Gibson goes distance to beat Gamecocks 6-3   Kalen Gibson gave Kentucky's bullpen a break last night. The sophomore from Slaughters, Ky., pitched all nine innings of a 6-3 victory over No. 6 South Carolina at Cliff Hagan Stadium. (04-16-04)       Basketball Cats must continue to wait on Morris' decision    As nerve-wracking as the NCAA Tournament must be for coaches, recruiting has to be worse - far worse.   Kentucky Receives Three Spirit Awards    CollegeHoopsnet.com announced the winners of the 2003-04 Spirit Awards. The Spirits honor the very best in the world of college basketball, both on the court and off. Burney, Harris to take on UK seniors   Some of the top basketball talent in Montgomery County and southwestern Kentucky will get a chance to show their wares against seniors from the University of Kentucky men's basketball team today. UK recruit takes one for the team    To enable Kentucky to stay in compliance with NCAA recruiting rules, recruit Adam Williams has agreed to attend a prep school.       Football Kentucky Football Notebook - April 16    Practice Friday, Scrimmage Saturday: The Kentucky football team will have its 10th practice of the spring on Friday at 3:40 p.m. at the Nutter Training Center. McCutchan drops anchor at UK    ... walk-on; transfer; redshirt; junior-to-be whose varsity college football career consisted of exactly ZERO plays of varsity college football ...  (04-15-04)       Football Wildcats go deep at receiver    If there is one priority for Joker Phillips this spring, it's developing a deeper receiving corps to help offset the loss of Derek Abney.       Basketball Fans show 'love' for UK seniors    After spending four years playing basketball for Kentucky, Gerald Fitch has learned he still doesn't fully appreciate the Wildcats' tradition. Lincoln coach says 6-10 True still choosing between Morehead, UK    The first day of the college basketball signing period came and went with no announcement from 6-10 Lincoln County center Jonathan True.   Lofton will visit Tennessee   Mason County star Chris Lofton might play college basketball in Rupp Arena after all. If so, he would be wearing a Tennessee uniform.       Baseball Kentucky Baseball Announces Two JUCO Signees For 2005    Kentucky first-year head baseball coach John Cohen has announced the signing of junior college players Kevin Caldwell and Russ Smithson to join the Wildcat roster this fall. The two players are the first additions to the UK team in this signing period.   Baseball Cats win 5-1 at Louisville Kentucky's baseball tean topped Louisville yesterday 5-1 at Cardinal Stadium. Kentucky jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. (04-14-04)       Football Kentucky Football Notebook - Phillips Named Perimeter Game Coordinator    Joker Phillips, UK’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, has added the duties of perimeter game coordinator, Coach Rich Brooks has announced.   Hopewell trying to earn playing time   Despite the success he had as a special teams player last season, Andrew Hopewell feels he can do even more for the University of Kentucky football team. Pinner in running for bigger role with Lions    Artose Pinner is expecting more company in the Lions' offensive backfield, even more company than he already has.       Basketball Rondo, Crawford sticking with Wildcats Rajon Rondo and Joe Crawford, a pair of McDonald's All-Americans, are expected to make it official today and sign to play basketball for the University of Kentucky. UK waiting on two letters of intent    University of Kentucky basketball recruits Rajon Rondo and Joe Crawford will be playing in the 31st annual Jordan Capital Classic at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the University of Maryland's Comcast Center in College Park, Md. The spring signing period started today and both plan on sending in their signed national letters of intent to UK after they return. Macy starting to get his due   REDS JUST MIGHT BE ON THE RIGHT PATH    With spring showers, comes a return of "The List," starting with three turnarounds: 1. It's about time someone noticed the job Kyle Macy has done at Morehead State, and though Loyola of Chicago did not get its man, give the Ramblers credit for recognizing what others have overlooked. Macy stays at Morehead    Kyle Macy has turned down the coaching job and more money at Loyola of Chicago to stay at Morehead State. Chicago Loyola woos Macy, but he turns it down    Morehead State men's basketball coach Kyle Macy said yesterday that he has turned down an offer to take over Loyola of Chicago's program. Rondo talking up Wildcats   RECRUIT FLEXED PERSUASIVE MUSCLES ON MORRIS   If Kentucky basketball adds big man Randolph Morris this spring, recruit Rajon Rondo can claim his first assist. Rondo worked as a UK recruiter when he roomed with Morris during the recent McDonald's All-American game. Rondo, a heralded point guard from Virginia's Oak Hill Academy, used the promise of passes into the post as a sales pitch.       Baseball Kentucky Downs Louisville, 5-1    Six Kentucky pitchers combined to hold Louisville to just one run on eight hits as the Wildcats cruised past the Cardinals, 5-1, on Wednesday night at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville. James Rodriquez (2-3) picked up the win in relief for the Cats. (04-13-04)       Baseball Kentucky and Louisville to Meet in Intrastate Battle   Kentucky will travel to Louisville on Wednesday for a scheduled contest against its intrastate rival Louisville Cardinals at 6 p.m. (ET) at Cardinal Stadium. The Wildcats dropped two of three over the weekend to Mississippi State and now stand at 16-15 on the season.         Football NCAA FILES AMICUS BRIEF IN CLARETT V. NFL CASE    The National Collegiate Athletic Association announced today that it has filed an amicus brief supporting the National Football League's appeal in the Clarett v. NFL decision that overturned the league's long-standing draft eligibility rule. Holts' ouster leaves hole at outside linebacker    Where Holts had braids sticking out underneath his football helmet, Schuler has a buzzcut. And while Holts made noise both with his play and loquacious style, Schuler goes about his business in quiet fashion.        Basketball Loyola expected to hire Macy; Leitao gets extension at DePaul    Loyola is expected to name its new basketball coach this week, and signs point to former Bulls guard Kyle Macy getting the nod, a source said Monday.  Magloire, Anthony Named Players of the Week    The New Orleans Hornets’ Jamaal Magloire and Denver Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony were today named the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, April 5 through Sunday, April 11.  (04-12-04)     No Wildcat news today (04-11-04)       Football Defense dominates UK scrimmage    Karl Booker intercepted a pass and Dustin Williams recorded a sack Saturday as Kentucky's defense dominated the team's first spring scrimmage.   Burton is bright spot on Wildcats' attack    The University of Kentucky football team is looking for a few playmakers on offense. If yesterday's spring scrimmage was an indication, one of them might be wide receiver Keenan Burton.   Kentucky Football Notebook- First Scrimmage of Spring    Wildcats Have First Scrimmage: As expected, the defense dominated Kentucky's first full-scale scrimmage of 2004 spring practice Saturday afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium. passing not so fancy    April showers bring May flowers: It's the adage of spring. Gamage Brought Work Ethic, Success From Kentucky To USD    Harry Gamage -- who was the absolute boss on the football field, an intelligent and demanding mentor whose orders were clear-cut and were not to be questioned. Wildcats teeming with tight ends    Six healthy tight ends doesn't seem like an overabundance of riches. But when you consider what the Kentucky football team had at the end of last season, the Wildcats have tight ends galore. DeWalt could be dual All-Star    Lonnell Dewalt, a two-sport star at Warren Central, will get a chance to help the Kentucky All-Stars in football and basketball.        Baseball MSU rallies in 9th to top Kentucky    Brad Corley homered twice and Joseph Hunter's two-run single in the ninth inning lifted Mississippi State to a 10-8 victory over Kentucky on Saturday. Kentucky Fights Off Late Bulldog Rally to Win, 10-9    Kentucky took a 10-2 lead in the fifth inning and fended off a late Mississippi State rally to beat the Bulldogs, 10-9, and snap a seven-game Southeastern Conference losing streak on Friday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The win improved the Wildcats to 16-13 on the season and 3-7 in league play. With the loss, Mississippi State dropped to 19-11 and 3-7 in the SEC.   (04-10-04)       Football Wildcats teeming with tight ends    DROBNEY LOOKS TO HAVE HELP THIS YEAR    Six healthy tight ends doesn't seem like an overabundance of riches. But when you consider what the Kentucky football team had at the end of last season, the Wildcats have tight ends galore.       Baseball Kentucky Fights Off Late Bulldog Rally to Win, 10-9    Kentucky took a 10-2 lead in the fifth inning and fended off a late Mississippi State rally to beat the Bulldogs, 10-9, and snap a seven-game Southeastern Conference losing streak on Friday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium. (04-09-04)       Football Football to Scrimmage Saturday    The Kentucky team is scheduled for its first full-scale scrimmage on Sat. Apr. 10 at Commonwealth Stadium. Stretching and small-group work is slated for 11:15 a.m., with the scrimmage set for 11:50 a.m. Transfer tries to catch on at UK    Junior college wide receiver transfer Scott Mitchell arrived on UK’s campus in January       Basketball Kansas has everything in place to capture NCAA title    A quick look at the top teams for next college basketball season, with several assumptions and a nod to the Atlantic Coast. Wildcat seniors coming to HHS    University of Kentucky basketball fans will be the first to get a chance to see the Wildcats seniors in their farewell tour. Hawkins and Fitch play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament    Former UK point guard Cliff Hawkins made good on 5 of 12 shots and was a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line in scoring 15 points in a consolation game at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Cliff had three assists and two turnovers in a losing cause as his team was last   (04-08-04)       Football STRONG SEASON WILL IMPROVE DRAFT STOCK   "Just be patient, baby." It was a simple message, but one that stuck with Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns from the moment both his mother and grandmother gave it to him as he sat out after transferring to Kentucky from Northern Arizona.       Basketball Schu Strings- The Sensational Six    It takes a lot of time, and years of consistency to be a good program. Some teams can make a flash in the pan shot toward the top, but sustainable dictates the position of the elite. Over the course of the last decade, six programs in particular have stepped to the plate. Some have strung together success ratios of 20 years or better. Here’s Schu’s list of the nation’s top men’s basketball programs: Ambiguity and dispute cloud Kentucky coach’s legacy    My most recent column, “When the whole world watched Texas Western,” celebrated the historic 1966 NCAA men’s basketball championship victory of Texas Western College, now known as the University of Texas at El Paso. A reference to a disputed quotation in that piece resulted in some anger and controversy among some readers beyond the borders of the Lone Star State. (04-07-04)       Football Spring Football Practice Photo Gallery - April 7    It was a beautiful day in Lexington for the Wildcats' fifth practice of the spring. Browse through this photo gallery from Wednesday. Abney has the makings of reality star   In his sensational football career at the University of Kentucky, Derek Abney earned a number of titles. First-team All-American. NCAA record holder. Cats' crop of receivers overflowing   COOK LIKES ROLE OF LEADER   Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks barely has enough players to field an offensive line this spring, and several other positions are littered with holes as well. (04-06-04)       Basketball Final Four Top 25    This isn't ESPN.com's preseason Top 25. It isn't even a pre-preseason, spring, summer or whatever else you want to call a Top-25 list in the days, weeks and months following the national championship game.  Future Cats, Cards in Derby Festival    Kentucky recruits Adam Williams and Ramel Bradley are scheduled to play in the Derby Festival all-star basketball game later this month.        Baseball Wildcats to Welcome Bearcats to Cliff Hagan Stadium on Wednesday    Kentucky will be looking to snap a season-long eight-game losing streak when the Wildcats take on the Cincinnati Bearcats at 6:30 p.m. (ET) Wednesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium. UK was most recently swept this past weekend at Tennessee and has not won since March 20 at Auburn. (04-05-04)       Basketball A how-to guide for Kentucky to get back to Final Four    Now that tonight's national championship finalists have been determined, Kentucky fans can only ponder what it will take for the Wildcats to get back to a national title game. Off The Record- UK fans snooze through 'Final Bore'    A CAT-LESS FINAL FOUR... A manx is a breed of cat that has no tail. This year's men's NCAA Final Four is the finale of a tournament that has no Cat - as in the University of Kentucky Wildcats, as in the No. 1 seed in the entire tourney that lost to Who?-AB way back in the second round. UK seniors need to impress scouts    Even though he's played on national television numerous times the last two years, Erik Daniels will still need to show various professional scouts just what he does best this week.   Take heart, UK fans, big men take some patience   There is a lesson to be learned from the carrot-topped, curly-locked 7-foot-1 Australian center whose freckled face graces the hottest T-shirt on the Georgia Tech campus.       Football New receiver confident he can help Cats     He lacks experience, but not confidence. (04-04-04)       Football UK is young, thin on offensive line    University of Kentucky offensive line coach Paul Dunn strikes a familiar pose at spring practice, his hands high on his hips as he watches his players go through drills. Wildcats turn up intensity in first scrimmage    University of Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd proudly pranced back to the huddle after his successful run on a draw play, turned to the defensive players on the sideline and offered a few words of mockery, to put it nicely. Mystery man back on line for Cats ABREN MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME Ricky Abren couldn't have written a better script for the first month of his University of Kentucky football career. He made an immediate splash at two-a-days. During his first pass-rush drill, he whipped right by Antonio Hall, who was regarded as UK's best offensive lineman, and was all set to be part of the defensive line rotation as a true freshman. QBs are on the run    UK conducted its first workout in full pads yesterday, and while there was no scrimmage, the team did run live 11-on-11 drills for the final 30 minutes of practice.       Baseball Tennessee topples Bat Cats 7-1    UK DROPS ITS SEVENTH STRAIGHT    No. 13 Tennessee pulled into a first-place tie with Florida in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division following a 7-1 victory over Kentucky at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville.       Basketball Ex-cat tries to enrich lives    Though the product of a testosterone-drenched sport world, former Kentucky player Tom Heitz has a most feminine ambition. "I want to be the male Oprah," he said. College Basketball Notebook    With its multiyear series against Michigan State and Notre Dame ending this season, the University of Kentucky is hunting for a high-profile opponent to come onto the schedule next season.   (04-03-04)       Football Football Team Has First Practice in Pads      Finishing its first week of spring practice, the Kentucky football team had its first practice in pads with a two-hour workout Saturday at the Nutter Training Center. The practice was capped by a 30-minute controlled scrimmage. Quarterback Shane Boyd had the highlight of the controlled scrimmage with a 55-yard run for a touchdown. Spring Practice Report - April 2    The Wildcats moved indoors to Nutter Field House for their second spring practice. Saturday will be their first time in pads .       Baseball Sean Watson Throws Two-Hitter to Beat Cats, 7-1    Tennessee starting pitcher Sean Watson limited Kentucky to just one run on two hits over eight innings as the 13th-ranked Volunteers defeated the Wildcats, 7-1, on Saturday night in Knoxville. Balk Costs Wildcats as UK Loses 3-2 Heartbreaker at UT    Kentucky miscues gave Tennessee two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Wildcats lost a heartbreaker to the Vols, 3-2, on Friday in Knoxville.       Basketball SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE    Sutton's story one of public failure and triumph over personal tragedy    It was the time of the first Gulf War, late February 1991, and I was off to Stillwater, Okla., to write a story on Eddie Sutton, the former Kentucky basketball coach who had departed in shame and resurfaced at his alma mater. (04-02-04)       Football UK center a unique player    There's nothing ordinary about the route Matt McCutchan took to becoming No. 1 on the depth chart at center going into Kentucky's spring practice. Cats seeking answers at quarterback, offensive line    The day before the start of spring football practice, University of Kentucky coach Rich Brooks appeared to be in good spirits. Brooks sees UK as ready for business    It's much, much too early to speculate if the Kentucky football team will be any better next fall than it was a year ago, but Coach Rich Brooks knows one thing for sure: the players definitely look better. Quarterback, offensive line are UK's 'number one question'    Going into spring practice today, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks agrees that Shane Boyd deserves to be the No. 1 quarterback. Cats' Boyd finally moves to center stage   It must seem as if Shane Boyd has been waiting forever for this moment, but the University of Kentucky senior enters spring football as the Wildcats' starting quarterback.       Baseball Kentucky Returns to Southeastern Conference Play With Series at Tennessee   The Kentucky baseball team will be looking to end a five-game losing streak when it opens a three-game series with the No. 13 Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn. The Wildcats lost three in a row to Florida last weekend in Lexington, and had a scheduled game against Eastern Kentucky postponed earlier this week. (04-01-04)       Football Boyd plays big brother as QB    Shane Boyd has always been lurking in the shadows, waiting for his opportunity. Defense could make for one-sided spring BROOKS' FIRST LOOK    A defense returning nine starters going against an offense that seemingly has nine hundred question marks. On paper, it looks like a recipe for a pretty one-sided spring practice. Despite weather, Cats' first practice of spring lively   The Wildcats worked out for more than two hours yesterday at the Nutter Training Center. The first of 15 sessions seemed vigorous and most players seemed happy to get back on the football field. Former John Hardin star learning new position with Cats    Dominic Lewis may have been able to run over opponents as a running back at John Hardin High School.       Basketball SEC needs reality check on hoops hype   ELITE TAG NO LONGER APPLIES   It will happen again come October, no doubt, when the Southeastern Conference coaches convene in Birmingham, Ala., and commence to talking up their great basketball league.       Our Privacy statement can be read here...   Disclaimer:  This site solely owned by WildcatZone.Com and is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Kentucky, the Southeastern Conference, or the NCAA copyright (c) 1997-2006, WildcatZone.Com (except where otherwise indicated)