Wildcats won't be idle during 'days off' Given his choice, Randolph Morris would have a game
tonight. Not that the Cats (16-5, 5-2 Southeastern
Conference) will spend the entire week relaxing.
Football
New contract's impact goes beyond money for BrooksTalks with Barnhart included facilities
Rich Brooks' new contract is 19 pages long, filled with
clauses and bonuses and enough legal language to make
your head spin.
Kentucky and coach Rich Brooks finalized a new four-year
agreement Tuesday that raises his yearly salary to $1
million and keeps him under contract with the school through
the 2010 season.
The University of Kentucky and head football coach Rich
Brooks have finalized a new four-year contract, including a
University option for a fifth year.
COACH NEGOTIATED FOR THAT AND FOR BETTER FACILITIES
Rich
Brooks' pockets are a little fatter these days after signing
a contract extension that will pay him $1 million a year,
but his salary wasn't first and foremost on Brooks' mind as
he discussed his new deal with the media for the first time
yesterday.
Baseball
Success spurs talk of new stadiumCOHEN SAYS PROJECT'S FATE
TO BE DECIDED IN 4-5 MONTHS The best season in the 102-year history of Kentucky baseball
has been followed with a refurbished Cliff Hagan Stadium. A
video scoreboard and right-field deck are among the
improvements for a team that won a school-record 44 games
last year, along with a share of the Wildcats' first
Southeastern Conference regular-season title.
(1-30-07)
Men
Off days suit Smith Coaches
Tubby Smith of Kentucky and Stan Heath of Arkansas are both
glad their teams don't have another game until they play
Saturday.
For a forgettable five minutes, the
University of Kentucky looked more like the Three Stooges
than a basketball team trying to snap a two-game losing
streak.
The University of Kentucky Athletics Association announced
ticket prices and K-Fund updates for football and men’s
basketball in a proposal submitted to the UK Athletics Board
of Directors on Monday.
UK increases ticket prices, expects complaintsKentucky fans must pay higher tickets prices in each of the
next three football seasons, while some basketball fans will
have to pay a one-time higher price for tickets, plus a
higher fee to keep so-called "priority" seats.
The University of
Kentucky yesterday made two major announcements -- a new
four-year contract for Rich Brooks and a ticket-price
increase for men's basketball and football.
UK raises prices for season tickets
AD expects move to be unpopularMitch Barnhart knows he isn't going to be popular. But
the University of Kentucky athletic director said
yesterday that a ticket-price increase for football and
men's basketball games -- approved yesterday by the UK
Athletics Association board of directors -- is a
necessary evil.
Kentucky center Randolph Morris has played well enough to
join nine other players as newcomers on the list of top 30
candidates for the John R. Wooden Player of the Year award
and All-American team.
The top 25 teams in the USA Today-ESPN men's college
basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses,
records through Jan. 28, points based on 25 points for a
first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and
last week's ranking:
Wildcats' coach gets hefty raiseThe University of Kentucky Athletics Board has voted to give
football coach Rich Brooks a raise.
Baseball
SEBaseball.com Tabs Coughlin, Cowgill, DeJesus All-SECThe Kentucky baseball team has been picked to finish
third in the SEC Eastern Division and Sean Coughlin, Collin
Cowgill, and Antone DeJesus were named to the preseason
All-SEC team, SEBaseball.com announced Monday.
Baseball Holds 2007 Media DayThe Kentucky baseball team held its 2007 media day
Monday morning at Wildcat Den in Commonwealth Stadium. Click
to read excerpts of the press conference …
A lot has changed for the WildcatsEnter the season with top-30 rank
The outside perception of the
University of Kentucky baseball program has changed.
There's a little more respect from the rest of college
baseball and a lot more fan interest surrounding the
defending Southeastern Conference champions.
(1-29-07)
Men
Morris' play makes him candidate for awardKentucky center Randolph Morris has played well
enough to join nine other newcomers on the list of top 30
candidates for the John R. Wooden Player of the Year award
and All-American team.
For a day, anyway, the University of
Kentucky got lucky. Thanks to a poetically challenged right
ankle, the University of Tennessee's best player, who is
also, according to many, the best shooting guard in the
nation - if not that, certainly the most clutch and
courageous - spent Sunday afternoon in a crisp black shirt
and dark green suit, which might have spared the home team
an ugly black eye and a lot of dark green envy.
I'm
here to throw a dusting of snow on Kentucky's sunny Sunday
win. The Cats' 76-57 thumping of Tennessee in Rupp Arena was
surely good for the head, as long as it doesn't go to their
heads.
Lofton-less Vols fall to 15-0 UK run
Tennessee played without Chris Lofton, the league's leading
scorer. Kentucky staged a Lofton-like shooting spree. Hence,
Kentucky beat Tennessee 76-57 yesterday.
Cats, Bradley excel in final 20 minutes The Wildcats failed again yesterday to put together a
consistent 40 minutes, but in blasting Tennessee 76-57
in front of 24,311 fans at Rupp Arena, UK managed to
save its best for the second half.
As Kentucky beat Tennessee 76-57 yesterday,
Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper personified the up-and-down
character of freshmen. Meeks equaled a career high with four
three-pointers en route to scoring 16 points. Jasper
struggled with no assists while equaling a career high of
five turnovers in 15 fitful minutes.
With Tennessee's outside shooting
specialist Chris Lofton sidelined by an ankle injury,
Kentucky's players pulled off a decent impersonation of
their state's native son.
Kentucky got five of its 11 3-pointers as
part of a 20-2 run as the Wildcats capitalized on the
absence of All-America candidate Chris Lofton to pull away
from rival Tennessee 76-57 Sunday afternoon.
Women
Wildcats lose it on rebound margin
DeMoss: 'We just did not battle them on the boards'
Sophomore point guard Carly Ormerod scored a
game-high 17 points yesterday and Kentucky shot 40.4 percent
from the floor. But South Carolina outrebounded the Wildcats
53-33, their largest margin this season, and took a 66-56
win in the Colonial Center.
Kentucky falls 66-56 to South CarolinaSouth Carolina outrebounded the University of Kentucky
women's basketball team and scored more than twice as
many points from offensive boards, and the host
Gamecocks won 66-56 yesterday.
Gamecocks rebound, stymie KentuckyMelanie Johnson scored her second consecutive double-double
and tied her season high with 12 rebounds as South Carolina
defeated Kentucky 66-56 Sunday afternoon at Columbia, S.C.
The contract extension for head football coach Rich Brooks
and ticket prices for football and basketball games are
among the items scheduled to be discussed at a University of
Kentucky Athletics Association board meeting today.
Ramel Bradley had 21 points, five rebounds and four assists
to lead Kentucky over Tennessee Sunday in Rupp Arena. The
win stopped a two-game losing streak.
The
University of Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Tennessee
Volunteers 76-57 on Sunday in their game at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky 76, Tennessee 57Kentucky got five of its 11 3-pointers as part of a 20-2 run
as the Wildcats capitalized on the absence of All-America
candidate Chris Lofton to pull away from rival Tennessee
76-57 Sunday afternoon.
But Smith says UT is still a threat, even without Lofton
Kentucky fans know firsthand what Kentuckian
Chris Lofton means to Tennessee. His then-career high 31
points in Rupp Arena last season led the Vols to only their
second victory at UK since 1979.
The number of times
the University of Tennessee men's basketball team has beaten
Kentucky in Lexington -- the most by any Southeastern
Conference team. Here are the all-time records of every SEC
team against UK in Lexington:
Today Chris
Lofton's ankle injury couldn't have come at a better time
for the reeling Cats, who are one loss away from an
unheard-of third three-game losing streak in two seasons. UK
should beat the Vols minus the Mason County star -- then
again, did you think the Cats would lose to Georgia? (1
p.m., CBS-27)
Up-and-down play has been Wildcats' style
this season
The Wildcats (15-5, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) host
Tennessee today, they're the model of inconsistency.
Kentucky basketball does more than blur the line separating
church and state. The program sits squarely on both sides of
the Jeffersonian divide: a source of immense state pride and
something akin to a religious experience for its fans.
The movie We Are Marshall chronicled a tragic bit of family
history for Tennessee walk-on Tanner Wild. His grandparents,
Emmett and Elaine Heath, were among the Marshall fans who
died aboard the plane that crashed carrying the school's
1970 football team home from a game.
Former high school Mr. Kentucky Chris Lofton isn't expected
to be in the lineup Sunday when his Tennessee team travels
to Rupp Arena to play rival Kentucky. But, the Kentucky
players say they'll believe Lofton's absence when they see
it.
South Carolina used a late charge and defeated Kentucky,
66-56, Sunday in the Colonial Center.
Learning
(dis)abilityDiagnosed with ADD
in grade school, Elliott has fought hard in class, on court
The word was monkey. But there were no words
to describe the shame. The little girl would look down the
line of third graders and listen as each of them proudly
shouted out the next letter of monkey in the weekly class
spelling bee.Football
'100 percent certain' his son will re-enroll for fall The father of University of Kentucky
sophomore Curtis Pulley said this week that he is "100
percent certain" that his son would be re-enrolling at UK
next fall and has no plans of permanently leaving the
program or transferring to another school.
Kentucky linebacker coach Chuck Smith was
able to keep his staff basically intact when he led Boyle
County to five straight state high school titles and six
straight championship game appearances.
Kentucky looks to snap a two-game losing skid when it hosts
long-time SEC rival Tennessee in the 202nd meeting between
the schools. Tipoff at Rupp Arena is 1:00 p.m. ET.
Wheaties Honors UK Basketball Tradition
With the college basketball season in full court press,
Wheaties® announces a special-edition package rolling out
this week featuring the elite University of Kentucky
Wildcats men’s basketball program.
Fleeting success is Cats 'M.O.'
UK tends to relax when all's well, Smith says
One problem Kentucky won't have to worry about going
into Sunday's game against Tennessee: handling success. With
a two-game losing streak, the Cats will have to deal with
adversity. That might be a plus.
Vols, Wildcats slumping
Maybe a trip to the local supermarket
will inspire the University of Kentucky basketball team.
Next for UK: fast break of champions
Two straight losses might have soured some fans on the
University of Kentucky basketball program, but Wheaties
still is sweet on the Wildcats.
Kentucky looks to get back on the winning track when it
travels to Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 28 for a rematch
with the Gamecocks.
(1-26-07)
Women
Mississippi State Edges Wildcats in 2OT
Mississippi State outscored Kentucky 8-0 in the second
overtime period and earned an 83-75 win in Rupp Arena
Thursday.
'A missed opportunity'Cats shut out in
2nd OT by smaller, less experienced Bulldogs
Jennifer Humphrey walked over to the
Kentucky bench and collapsed into a chair after collecting
her fifth foul. Teammates tried to console her as tears made
their way down her face.
Wildcats bow in double overtime
Visiting Mississippi State outscored the University of
Kentucky 8-0 in the second overtime to win 83-75 last
night in Southeastern Conference women's basketball.
Men
Adding fuel to our ire The
defining Kentucky joke -- really less a joke than the state
credo -- goes like this: "My favorite team is the University
of Kentucky -- and whoever is playing Tennessee."
Cats face must-win game Sunday
It's hard to have a must-win game in January, but Kentucky
has one Sunday against Tennessee.
Parity dominates the SEC Now
that Kentucky has dropped two straight Southeastern
Conference games and joined the other league teams in
chasing defending national champion Florida, it appears that
the conference could have more overall balance than ever.
Eliminate the negative
FELTON TO CATS: DWELL ON 'GOOD THINGS' Live and learn.
Accentuate the positive. Use a second-half collapse as a
reason to keep believing in the face of a future deficit.
Lofton's ankle doing better
BUT COACH DOUBTS HE'LL PLAY SUNDAY Tennessee star Chris
Lofton walked without the aid of crutches or a boot to
protect his sprained right ankle yesterday. He eagerly wants
to return to his home state to play against Kentucky on
Sunday.
Cats seeking stronger finishesWeak second halves lead to 2-game slide
The University of Kentucky basketball team is
struggling in second halves. But it's a final third that
ultimately will tell the tale of the 2006-07 Wildcats.
Suddenly sputtering UK — which has lost two straight
games, including Wednesday's 78-69 loss in overtime here
to Georgia — has been heading downhill since Vanderbilt
snapped its 11-game winning streak Saturday.
Lots of folks wish Lofton's talents had stayed home
Welcome home, Chris Lofton. I know, they're saying you
won't play Sunday in Rupp Arena against the University
of Kentucky. This isn't about that game anyway. Perhaps
you're aware, Chris, that you continue to be the subject
of much discussion here in your home state.
(1-25-07)
Women
Ormerod her own worst enemy
POINT GUARD TAKES DEMOSS'S ADVICE, BURIES NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Carly Ormerod's scariest opponent applies unrelenting
pressure. It gets in her face and throws insults. It reminds
her of her last mistake and taunts her when she misses shots
UK Hoops Takes on Mississippi State at Rupp
The UK women's basketball team hosts Mississippi State
Thursday night at Rupp Arena. Kentucky hopes to capture
their first win over the Lady Bulldogs at home in almost 10
years. Tipoff is 7:00 p.m. ET.
Men
'Out-toughed' UK now on losing streak
There was as much diving on the
floor as a bunch of kids chasing candy from a freshly
battered pinata.
But there was nothing sweet, just a round leather ball that
would ultimately render one team jubilant and another
dejected.
Cats fall to Georgia in Overtime, 78-69
Takais Brown scored 20 points, Sundiata Gaines had 19 and
Georgia overcame a 17-point deficit to hand Kentucky its
second straight SEC loss, beating the Wildcats 78-69 in
overtime Wednesday night.
Say it ain't so, JoeUK blows lead despite Crawford's career night
Last night it was Kentucky's turn to squander a big
lead. Georgia, which lost at Alabama on Saturday after
leading by as much as 19, overcame a 17-point first-half
deficit to beat Kentucky 78-69 in overtime last night.
Bulldogs top Cats 78-69 in OTUK squanders 17-point margin Joe
Crawford was draped all over Sundiata Gaines, playing
the kind of ball-hawking defense you're taught to play
when the game is on the line. It didn't matter. Gaines
rose up over Crawford and buried a shot-clock-beating
dagger of a three-pointer — off the glass, no less — to
help Georgia shock the University of Kentucky 78-69 in
overtime last night.
Cats 'manhandled' in the paint by Georgia's Brown
Playing as advertised, junior college transfer Takais Brown
supplied the inside presence Georgia has lacked in recent
seasons. He led the Bulldogs with 20 points and tied for a
team high with seven rebounds in last night's 78-69 victory
over Kentucky.
Better, then much worse If someone
here in Georgia happens to find a set of wheels this
morning, please box them up and mail them to Memorial
Coliseum, c.o.d.
Bulldogs top Cats 78-69 in OT
Joe Crawford was draped all over Sundiata Gaines, playing
the kind of ball-hawking defense you're taught to play when
the game is on the line. It didn't matter. Gaines rose up
over Crawford and buried a shot-clock-beating dagger of a
three-pointer — off the glass, no less — to help Georgia
shock the University of Kentucky 78-69 in overtime last
night.
Georgia 78, Kentucky 69 (OT)
Takais Brown scored 20 points, Sundiata Gaines had 19 and
Georgia overcame a 17-point deficit to hand Kentucky its
second straight Southeastern Conference loss, beating the
Wildcats 78-69 in overtime Wednesday night.
Bulldogs rally to win in OT
Down 17 in the first half and 13 in the second half, Georgia
rallied to beat Kentucky 78-69 in overtime Wednesday in
Stegeman Coliseum at Athens, Ga.
Smith wants to rest UK's starters more
One change Kentucky coach Tubby Smith likely will make when
his Wildcats play at Georgia tonight is that his starters
will play fewer minutes.
'Cats to scrap with 'Dogs
In the time it took University of
Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith to address all of his team's
basketball sins committed during a loss to Vanderbilt on
Saturday, junior center Randolph Morris said he could have
read two or three novels.
Cats keep chins up after 'fluke'Bradley, Perry call meeting to quash vibes left by loss
By his own admission, extroverted guard
Ramel Bradley did most of the talking at a players-only team
meeting Sunday. His message: Kentucky should learn from the
loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday, but also maintain a healthy
self-confidence as fans, media and even coaches overreact to
one setback.
Cats vow to shake off loss to VandyBradley says team must stay confident
Ramel Bradley fielded questions about feeding the
post, focus in practice and whether the freshmen on his
University of Kentucky basketball team are hitting that
infamous wall. And UK's junior guard laughed a little.
Cats need more from Morris While
his team hopes for more production from Randolph Morris, the
Kentucky center downplayed the significance of tonight's
return to his home state of Georgia.
Kentucky coach Rich Brooks filled the
remaining vacancies on his coaching staff by announcing the
additions of Larry Brinson and David Lockwood and naming
Randy Sanders recruiting coordinator.
(1-23-07)
Women
Former Cat Brown joins Lady Toppers
DEMOSS SAID NO TO RETURN TO UK Reigning Miss Basketball Arnika
Brown is getting a second chance to play college basketball,
but it's not going to be at Kentucky.
Cats, Georgia 'hungry' for SEC victory
Two controversial calls might have cost Georgia a win at
Alabama on Saturday while Vanderbilt's hot 3-point shooting
did result in a home loss for Kentucky the same day.
Cats cope with Vandy loss as a team, look forward to Georgia
By his own admission, extroverted guard Ramel Bradley did
most of the talking at a team meeting Sunday. His message:
Kentucky should learn from the loss to Vanderbilt on
Saturday, but maintain a healthy perspective on how fans,
media and possibly even coaches react to a setback.
Wildcats Venture to Georgia to Take on Bulldogs
The Wildcats travel to Athens where they will put their
unbeaten SEC road record on the line against the Georgia
Bulldogs. Tipoff in Stegeman Coliseum is 7:00 p.m. ET.
Lofton might miss both games against UK
VOLS JUNIOR HAS ANKLE SPRAIN Tennessee received good and
bad news about star Chris Lofton's injury yesterday. The
former Mason County star did not break a bone, but he'll be
sidelined as long as three weeks because of a sprained
ankle.
Football
Statements Regarding John Keye
In response to the untimely death of Kentucky football
recruit John Keye, who died in a car accident on Saturday,
coaches Rich Brooks and Steve Brown released statements.
(1-22-07)
Women
Cats' inside muscle too tough for Tigers
HUMPHREY CHIPS IN WITH 20 REBOUNDS The ball rolled lightly
off the front of the rim and seemed to wait in the air for
Jennifer Humphrey. The Kentucky senior muscled her way into
the lane, sliced through two defenders and grabbed the
offensive rebound. Then she put the ball in the basket.
Whole litter of Cats team up on this one
The answer was to the point. When asked if she expected such
big play from Kentucky's role players in the Cats' win over
Auburn yesterday, Coach Nell Fortner said it simply.
Wildcats get elusive win at Auburn, 68-65
Senior forward Jennifer Humphrey led the University of
Kentucky women's basketball team with 16 points and 20
rebounds as the Wildcats escaped with a 68-65 win at
Auburn yesterday. It was UK's first win at Auburn since
1998.
Lady 'Cats too tough inside for Tigers
Kentucky coach Mickie DeMoss laid out a challenge for senior
forward Jennifer Humphrey, who struggled mightily in Wildcat
losses to Ole Miss and LSU.
Men
UK falls out of AP Top 25; enters coaches' poll
Tennessee, which lost to Auburn and beat South Carolina last
week, fell out from 22nd, while Kentucky, which returned to
the rankings last week after being out for seven weeks,
dropped from 25th after beating South Carolina and losing to
Vanderbilt.
Vandy still has hex on Kentucky
The hug didn't last long. Vanderbilt
junior Ross Neltner made
sure of it. As Vandy's Derrick Byars and Shan Foster
embraced following the 72-67 victory against No. 25
University of Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Saturday, Neltner
quickly approached his teammates to tell them, "Act like
you've been here before."
It won't get any easier for Wildcats
BUT EVEN UK FANS WANT TO SEE LOFTON SUNDAY Roundball
observations as college hoops flies toward February: As
Randolph Morris declared Saturday after UK's 72-67 loss to
visiting Vandy, "There aren't going to be any more breaks
from here on out."
Football
Pulley lost his chance
Curtis Pulley was the toast of Kentucky football
just a few short months ago. He came out of UK's spring
practice as the No. 1 quarterback after clearly outplaying
returning starter Andre Woodson most of the spring.
Wildcats recruit Keye dies in Georgia automobile
accident John Keye, a wide receiver from Jackson, Ga., who had
committed to play football at the University of
Kentucky, died in a car accident Saturday. Police in
Butts County, Ga., yesterday confirmed Keye's death but
said further details were not available. The crash
occurred in Butts County, south of Atlanta.
(1-21-07)
Women
Cats Escape Auburn With 68-65
Senior forward/center Jennifer Humphrey had 16 points and a
career-high 20 rebounds as Kentucky held off Auburn, 68-65,
for its first win in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum since
1998.
Cats Look to End Skid at Auburn The
Kentucky women’s basketball team travels to Auburn Sunday,
Jan. 21 looking to get back on the winning track after
dropping three of its last four games. Tip off is at 3 p.m.
EST.
DeMoss puts up help-wanted sign for another scorer
It was rare that the Kentucky stars would align last season.
If star Sarah Elliott was having an out-of-this-world game,
fellow star Samantha Mahoney was struggling
Two is not enough Sarah Elliott and
Samantha Mahoney have both increased their production four
games into conference play. Coach Mickie DeMoss is still
looking for another player to add to the productivity.
Men
Third time's a swarm
Vandy defense buzzes to make it three in a row over UK
On the plus side, Kentucky strength coach
Scott Holsopple gained another game video for use as a
motivational aide.
Tubby saw it coming, but couldn't stop it
Kentucky was due. It's human nature. Victories accumulate.
Smiles widen. You're busy patting each other on the back,
drinking in the praise, polishing your egos. You end up
spending more time believing the hype, less time putting in
the work. Heads grow fat. Complacency sets in. Next thing
you know, you've got slippage. You lose your edge.
Perry, Thomas among few positives
for UK
Kentucky coach Tubby Smith didn't find many things to smile
about following his team's 72-67 loss to Vanderbilt here on
Saturday.
One more sign these aren't your father's Wildcats
I tried to track down Vanderbilt forward Derrick Byars after
the Commodores beat the University of Kentucky 72-67
yesterday in Rupp Arena, their second straight victory in
Rupp.
Cats take step back Commodores win 2nd in row at Rupp
The offensive uncertainty, the aimless dribbling, the
shoddy transition defense. It all looked alarmingly
familiar to the University of Kentucky basketball team.
Parity drains mystique of storied programs
Two days before his team played in Rupp Arena, Mississippi
State Coach Rick Stansbury caused a stir by saying Kentucky
basketball no longer carried the same mystique. On a
surprise appearance on UK's pre-game programming, he
retreated by saying his comment had been taken out of
context. But when reviewing the game on his own weekly
television show, he said opponents now believed there was "a
chance" to win at Kentucky.
Rupp is no sweat to Vandy
Vanderbilt was just looking for its first Southeastern
Conference road win Saturday.
Football
Cats polishing class of '07
Yes, national signing day is less than three weeks away, and
yes, the University of Kentucky already has accepted more
oral commitments than it has scholarships to offer, but the
Wildcats' 2007 recruiting class is far from a finished
product.
UK football recruit killed in car crash
Sure the Cats fell yesterday and Curtis Pulley has currently
pulled out of school, but the five point loss and Pulley's
departure seem like nothing compared to what happened just a
few hours ago.
UK progressive in its coordination
Black assistants at the top a symbolic, practical step forward
As symbolism, it was fitting that the University of Kentucky
announced on Monday that Steve Brown had been promoted to
football defensive coordinator.
Cats' Pulley plans to redshirt next season BACKUP QB NOT ENROLLED IN SPRING CLASSES Now we finally know
Curtis Pulley's plans for 2007: redshirting. The University
of Kentucky announced yesterday that Pulley, a sophomore
quarterback, is not enrolled in school for the spring
semester. A statement released by the school said that
Pulley plans to re-enroll in August and sit out the 2007
season as a redshirt.
Curtis Pulley not enrolled in school, plans to redshirt
Sophomore quarterback-receiver Curtis Pulley is not
enrolled at Kentucky for the spring semester but plans to
return to the team in the fall and redshirt during the 2007
season.
Cats add coaches
Kentucky has added another coach with Super Bowl
experience to its football staff.
Brooks' diverse staff shows a work of progress
The best column will be when the angle for this column
disappears. That's when it will be safe to say that a
significant commitment has been made -- and kept -- to
embrace diversity on the NCAA Division I-A football
coaching carousel.
Pulley not at UK, will miss '07 season
The biggest question mark remaining in
the University of Kentucky's football off-season was the
future of Curtis Pulley. Pulley, the Wildcats' backup
quarterback, has withdrawn from school and isn't
attending UK this semester, coach Rich Brooks said
yesterday.
(1-20-07)
Men
Wildcats' Win Streak Snapped by Vandy
Five Wildcats scored in double figures but Vanderbilt's hot
outside shooting led the Dores to a 72-67 victory over
Kentucky Saturday at Rupp Arena, halting UK's 11-game win
streak.
Vandy wins in Rupp, again
CATS' 11-GAME WIN STREAK SNAPPED As strange as it sounds,
Vanderbilt established a winning streak at Kentucky
today. After having not won at UK in the Rupp Arena era
until last season, the Commodores made it two straight with
a 72-67 victory.
Vanderbilt beats Kentucky, 72-67
Tubby Smith was worried about slippage, and on Saturday, his
University of Kentucky basketball team slipped.
'It's no time to goof around...'
Cats confident but know they've got to keep working to win
While Kentucky's basketball team lifted
barbells one day this week, ever-resourceful strength coach
Scott Holsopple put a tape of last season's home loss to
Vanderbilt on the weight room televisions.
Wildcats out for revenge
As the DVD played in the weight room,
some University of Kentucky players became agitated and
others more determined than ever to get a victory against
Vanderbilt.
Cats - and Vandy - remember last year's game
Joe Crawford admits it was hard to watch the tapes of last
year's games against Vanderbilt, especially the Commodores'
57-52 win in Lexington that was their first ever victory at
Rupp Arena.
Cats still sour on Vandy's '06 season sweep
As the University of Kentucky men's basketball team hit
the weight room this week, it didn't need any sounds to
get extra-pumped. Instead the sight of the Wildcats'
home-court loss to Vanderbilt last season did the trick.
Tubby 'comfortable' with starting Perry
It's not broken, so he's not going to fix Kentucky's
starting lineup. That was UK Coach Tubby Smith's response to
fan advice that he replace slumping power forward Bobby
Perry with freshman Perry Stevenson.
Football
UK backup QB Pulley leaves school
University of Kentucky backup quarterback Curtis Pulley has
withrdrawn from school, Wildcats coach Rich Brooks said
Saturday.
Cats Fall at No. 8 LSU, 76-58Sylvia Fowles scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and
No. 8 LSU beat Kentucky 76-58 on Thursday night for its 40th
consecutive victory at home.
UK on wrong end of routCats are LSU's 40th straight victim at home
Eighth-ranked Louisiana State outscored Kentucky 23-4 in the
first 11 1/2 minutes, extending the nation's longest homecourt winning streak to 40 in a 76-58 victory last
night.
LSU defeats Wildcats 76-58Sylvia Fowles scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds,
and No. 8 Louisiana State beat Kentucky 76-58 last night
in Southeastern Conference play for its 40th straight
home win.
Men
Fans give game a different flavor
So I made a second trip to Rupp Arena's press row for a
University of Kentucky game against Auburn. Before the
wisecrackers get started: final score - 84-57. Want more?
Halftime score - 36-19. I do catch these details on
occasion.
Stallings says Cats have no weaknesses
Vanderbilt is coming off what coach Kevin Stallings admits
was its best game of the season - a 94-73 victory over No.
10 Alabama.
Vandy's threes a threat to Cats
KENTUCKY'S PERIMETER DEFENSE COULD MEET ITS MATCH When
asked where Vanderbilt's low-post offense was this season,
Coach Kevin Stallings laughed. "Do you know where it is?" he
said on a Southeastern Conference coaches teleconference
yesterday. "We've been searching for it."
Now it is the Wildcats' turn to figure out Vanderbilt
The Vanderbilt Commodores are a hard team to figure out.
After opening Southeastern Conference play with a loss at
Auburn, Vanderbilt bounced back to knock off the Tennessee
Volunteers, 82-81 at home.
Unsung Cats more than just a pretty record
The University of Kentucky men's basketball team almost
slipped up on Tuesday night. The Wildcats won at South
Carolina by 38 points. They haven't drubbed anybody by
that much on the road since 1996. And they did it on
ESPN.
Football
Cats in the StatsNCAA and
Southeastern Conference statistics have been finalized for
the 2006 football season, showing that Kentucky was included
in many categories.
Former
Kentucky wide receiver Gerad Parker has returned to UK as a
graduate assistant coach. Parker will be the graduate
assistant for offense, the school said. His duties will
include analysis of opponent film, preparing scouting
reports, conducting "self scout" of UK tendencies,
overseeing the offensive scout team, and assisting with
recruiting. He also will help coach the wide receivers.
(1-18-07)
Women
Cats need a boost after close losses
TOP-RANKED DEFENSE MAKES NO. 8 LSU TOUGH TO BEAT
Close just isn't cutting it for
Kentucky these days. The Cats' last four games have been
decided by an average of 2.4 points. They've won two of them
and and lost two of them.
Men
Perry Stevenson adjusting to grindKentucky freshman Perry Stevenson knew practices would be
harder this season than he had in high school, but he was
surprised at just how difficult, and physical, practices
were during UK's semester break.
Juniors all grown up now
BRADLEY, CRAWFORD, MORRIS LIVING UP TO POTENTIAL AFTER FRESHMAN FANFARE
By themselves, Kentucky's three juniors outscored
South Carolina on Tuesday night. Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford
and Randolph Morris propelled UK to its most lopsided
victory on an opponent's home court since Feb. 17, 1996 (a
90-50 victory at Tennessee). The 87-49 beat-down of South
Carolina marked the Cats' 11th straight victory, which tied
for the fourth-longest active streak in the nation.
No midlife
crisis for UK's three juniors Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford and Randolph Morris --
juniors on the University of Kentucky basketball team --
are a long way from middle age, but they're closer to
the end of their collegiate careers than the beginning.
Cats Look for First Win in Baton Rouge Since 1995Kentucky looks to get back on
the winning track and capture its first win over the Lady
Tigers in Baton Rouge, La., since 1995 when it faces No. 8
LSU Thursday, Jan. 18.
Men
Conference play bringing out Crawford's bestThis is the Joe we wanted to know. This is the Joe we'd
heard about, the jumpin' Joe Crawford out of Detroit "Motor
City" Michigan, with that McDonald's All-American tag, and
the body, and the jump shot, and the reputation for great
things ahead.
No. 25 Cats Blast South Carolina, 87-49Joe Crawford tied his career high with 23 points and No. 25
Kentucky won its 11th straight game, an 87-49 victory over
South Carolina on Tuesday night.
Crawford equals
career high with 23 in road romp With 16:14 left in the second half, Kentucky guard
Joe Crawford rose for a three-point shot. It missed.
This
is the Joe we wanted to know. This is the Joe we'd heard
about, the jumpin' Joe Crawford out of Detroit "Motor City"
Michigan, with that McDonald's All-American tag, and the
body, and the jump shot, and the reputation for great things
ahead.
Though he has experienced plenty of highs
and lows in 21 years as a head coach, Dave Odom admitted he
was still shell-shocked by the way his University of South
Carolina team got pounded by the University of Kentucky.
Crawford,
Morris and Bradley outscore Gamecocks
Early this season it seemed that if Randolph Morris
didn't do it on offense for the University of Kentucky
basketball team, it wasn't going to get done.
Joe Crawford tied his career high with 23 points and No. 25
Kentucky won its 11th straight game, an 87-49 victory over
South Carolina on Tuesday night.
Joe Crawford tied his career high with 23 points and No. 25
Kentucky won its 11th consecutive game, an 87-49 victory
over South Carolina on Tuesday night at Columbia, S.C.
Nothing
changed. Absolutely nothing. In fact, it only got worse.
Despite the harsh words from their best player and a
tongue-lashing from their coach, the South Carolina men’s
basketball team was trounced once again.
Joe
Crawford tied his career high with 23 points and No. 25
Kentucky won its 11th straight game, an 87-49 victory over
South Carolina on Tuesday night.
Football
Gerad Parker Returns to Kentucky FootballFormer University of Kentucky wide receiver Gerad Parker has
returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach, UK
Coach Rich Brooks has announced.
New Kentucky defensive
coordinator Steve Brown says he doesn't plan to change his
personality just because he has a new title.
(1-16-07)
Men
#25 UK 87 -- USC 49
(Final)
UK defense clamps down
If the University of Kentucky continues
to defend like it has been recently, scoring more than 50
points might seem like an impossible mission for the
Wildcats' next opponent.
Riding the nation’s fifth-longest win streak, Kentucky
travels to South Carolina plays its first intradivision game
as they take on South Carolina. The Wildcats have won their
last 10 games, the 52nd time in school history UK has had a
win streak of 10 games or longer.
Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith sensed a problem as his team
played Mississippi State last weekend. "They thought, 'OK,
we can just go out and play,'" he said yesterday. "'We're at
Rupp. We can show up and play.' "
Associated Press (media) The Associated Press' men's college
basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses,
records through Sunday, total points based on 25 points for
a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote
and previous ranking:
Voters in The Associated Press poll say the
University of Kentucky basketball team is back among the
nation's elite. Coach Tubby Smith still isn't so sure.
Kentucky got rewarded (or, if you prefer, recognized) for
its improved play when voters in The Associated Press media
poll placed the Cats at No. 25 this week. That ended UK's
seven-week absence from the nation's top 25.
The winningest team in college basketball history is back on
the national radar, albeit barely. Kentucky, whose 10-game
winning streak is the fifth-longest in the country, returned
to The Associated Press Top 25 poll Monday as the nation's
25th-ranked team.
Football
Lindley Named Freshman All-AmericaCornerback Trevard
Lindley has been named first-team Freshman All-America by
the Football Writers Association of America.
Brown an obvious hire for CatsWhen Rich Brooks found he was going to need a new defensive
coordinator, he immediately knew that secondary coach Steve
Brown was the right person for the job on his staff at
Kentucky.
Kentucky's football staff has another verbal commitment as
Henry Minor of Baton Rouge, La., has decided to sign with
the Cats in February at the same time teammate Matthew Broha
does.
Steve
Brown's days of back-seat driving are over. When it comes to
the University of Kentucky defense, he's now got the keys
and is the man behind the wheel.
DBs coach picked to replace ArcherSteve Brown admits that he has a little back-seat driver
in him. Now he's taking the wheel for real. Brown was
promoted yesterday from defensive backs coach to
defensive coordinator of the University of Kentucky
football team, replacing Mike Archer, who left for the
coordinator job at North Carolina State.
(1-15-07)
Women
Cats force overtime, then fall to Rebels
RED-HOT MISSISSIPPI'S
EXPERIENCE IN OT PAYS OFF
Kentucky found a way to slow the hottest team in the
conference, but it couldn't find a way to win. Trailing
by as many as nine points in the second half, the Cats
forced overtime. Yet they couldn't close it out, falling
to Ole Miss 67-65 yesterday in front of 7,565 in
Memorial Coliseum.
Mississippi connected on 18 of 23 free throws,
including five in overtime, to beat the University
of Kentucky women's basketball team 67-65 yesterday
in Memorial Coliseum.
Men
Bradley not just a scorerNo
matter what position Ramel Bradley plays, he's a scoring
guard. That's always been his mentality and always will be.
The University of Kentucky fans drooling over Patrick
Patterson on Saturday will have to wait until at least March
before he decides whether to become a Wildcat.
UK fan and centenarian has lots of fight in her small frame
Not that she isn't
energetic normally, but when Sarah Faulkner Lewis stands up
before a crowd to sing the University of Kentucky's fight
song, every inch of her figure pushes out the words.
Football
Steve Brown Named Defensive CoordinatorSteve Brown,
defensive backs coach for the University of Kentucky
football team, has been promoted to defensive coordinator,
Coach Rich Brooks announced Monday.
Brooks officially promotes Brown to
defensive coordinatorWhen Rich Brooks
found he was going to need a new defensive coordinator, he
immediately knew that secondary coach Steve Brown was the
right person for the job on his staff at Kentucky.
(1-14-07)
Women
Ole Miss Edges UK in OTOle Miss made clutch free-throws
in overtime and pulled out a 67-65 win over Kentucky on
Sunday in Memorial Coliseum.
UK Hoops Meets Hot-Streaking Ole Miss in MemorialKentucky, one of the nation's and
Southeastern Conference's top defensive teams, takes on
one of the top offensive squads in the country when the
Wildcats play host to Ole Miss in Memorial Coliseum
Sunday, Jan. 14. Game time is 2 p.m. EST.
Lady
Rebels' high-powered offense fuels 5-game streak The Kentucky defense has been sound all
season. It's not only one of the best in the
Southeastern Conference, but it's also one of the best
in the nation.
Men
RETURN TO CENTER
Game-saving block caps Morris' late resurgence
Like a basketball Charles Atlas, center Randolph
Morris carried Kentucky through the first two months of the
season. Double-doubles on a routine basis. Automatic
two-pointers in the low post. A new-found zeal for
rebounding. A swinging-gate defender transformed into a
shot-blocking presence.
Better cover home in the SEC
WINNING IN RUPP WILL BE KEY
FOR CATS House rules. At least in
the SEC. It may be just over a week into the conference
season, but thus far the SEC road wins have been few and far
between. Kentucky won at Ole Miss last Saturday. Florida won
at South Carolina yesterday. Sixteen conference games, two
road victors.
Ramel Bradley was among the first to congratulate
Derrick Jasper following his performance in Kentucky's 64-60
win over Mississippi State here on Saturday night at Rupp
Arena.
Crawford starting to turn heads with recent playNot much was said about the University of Kentucky’s Joe
Crawford in the preseason, but with three straight big
performances in Southeastern Conference play, the junior
guard is turning heads now.
Big man's late surge keys victory
With a gash over his left eye and blood staining his
jersey, Randolph Morris was the touchstone for the
University of Kentucky basketball team's 64-60 victory
last night against Mississippi State.
Morris, Jasper building own mystiqueMississippi State basketball coach Rick Stansbury said
Thursday that the University of Kentucky basketball program
no longer crackles with the mystique of the good ol' days.
Kentucky football fans will recognize a familiar face on the
sidelines of new Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe. Former
UK assistant Mark Nelson will handle the Cards' special
teams.
Cartoonist puts the 'u' and 'k' in duck'Mallard Fillmore'
creator is Kentucky native, longtime Cats fan OK, it's not Donald nor Daffy. But this
week, a cartoon duck is taking the celebration of Kentucky's
Music City Bowl victory to the nation.
(1-13-07)
Women
UK Hoops Meets Hot-Streaking Ole Miss in MemorialKentucky, one of the nation's and Southeastern
Conference's top defensive teams, takes on one of the
top offensive squads in the country when the Wildcats
play host to Ole Miss in Memorial Coliseum Sunday, Jan.
14. Game time is 2 p.m. EST.
On the way back from class yesterday, Kentucky guard Joe
Crawford spotted a $20 bill on the ground. When you're hot,
you're hot. "I didn't know if I should pick it up or just
leave it," said Crawford, a superstitious sort who wondered
about changing the good fortune surrounding himself and UK
basketball these days.
In a college basketball
season marked by standout freshmen, tonight's
Kentucky-Mississippi State game features two productive
classes. Like UK, State starts one freshman and counts on
another for offense off the bench.
When he made his official visit to Kentucky last year,
heralded prospect Patrick Patterson received a 3D digital
tour of the school's practice facility. His reaction? "It
looked pretty cool."
Lately Joe Crawford
has been dropping 20s. Crawford, the University of Kentucky
guard who has scored 23 and 21 points in his past two games,
spotted a $20 bill on the ground yesterday as he walked home
from class.
Football
Burton picks Wildcats over draftReceiver to
return for senior season Keenan Burton had decided to
leave the University of Kentucky. The wide receiver had made
up his mind to forgo his senior season and make himself
eligible for the NFL draft, and when he called his mother,
Gladys Taylor, to tell her the news, she was agreeable.
Keenan Burton was looking for
answers as he went back and forth with his decision on whether
to return to Kentucky for his senior season or enter the NFL
Draft.
(1-12-07)
Men
Stansbury says UK losing 'mystique'Mississippi
State coach Rick Stansbury grew up a Kentucky basketball fan
in Meade County and knows all about the UK basketball
tradition.
Cunningham always wanted to coach He was always
around basketball because his father was a coach, but there
was also a time Phil Cunningham thought he might be better
suited to pursue a business career.
The new New Yorker Bradley learning to
simplify his game Kentucky basketball took Ramel
Bradley out of his beloved Brooklyn three years ago. Taking
the Brooklyn out of Bradley is an ongoing process.
Kentucky's just another name, Stansbury says Just
the name Kentucky might no longer strike fear in the hearts
of opponents, Mississippi State Coach Rick Stansbury said
yesterday.
Fans love UK's stringbean Whenever Perry Stevenson
rises from the bench at Rupp Arena and makes his way over to
the scorer's table to check in, the excitement level
inevitably increases among the more than 20,000 who
routinely fill the building.
Streaking Wildcats play host to Stansbury's Bulldogs
Rick Stansbury grew up rooting for the Kentucky Wildcats.
But now there is one game of year when he’s not a Wildcat
fan. That’s because Stansbury, a Meade County graduate, is
the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
More weight, but still waiting UK freshman
Stevenson adds needed bulk but bides time on bench while
acclimating to college game The 6-foot-9 forward has
come a long way since arriving on campus last summer. Once
listed at 178 pounds on the UK roster, he tipped the scales
at 202 during his most recent weigh-in. Still, Stevenson
said, there's more eating and weight-lifting to be done.
Much more.
Big finish busts Bama revenge UK survives with big finish
GRITTY TIDE KEEP IT CLOSE UNTIL MAHONEY'S GAME-WINNER AT
:02 The clock was winding down and the ball was in
Samantha Mahoney's hands again. Kentucky's junior guard
didn't hesitate. She didn't stop to think back to five days
before when her big shot fell short in the final seconds
against No. 6 Ohio State.
Volleyball
Volleyball Adds Annmarie Behr to 2007 Class
University of Kentucky head volleyball coach Craig Skinner
has announced the addition of Annmaire Behr for the 2007
season. Behr joins the program along with outside hitters
Ann Armes, Blaire Hiler and Sarah Mendoza and middle blocker
Lauren Rapp who previously signed to play with the Wildcats
next year.
Football
UK's Burton to return for senior year Junior wide
receiver Keenan Burton announced Friday that he will return
to the University of Kentucky for his senior season in 2007.
Burton to Stay at UK for Senior Year Wide receiver
Keenan Burton announced at a press conference Friday that he
will return to Kentucky for his senior season rather than
enter the NFL draft.
Why not promote Chuck Smith? By now Kentucky coach
Rich Brooks not only knows who his new defensive coordinator
will be, but he also knows whether star receiver Keenan
Burton will or will not be back for his senior season.
Burton will decide today UK wideout might enter
NFL draft University of Kentucky wide receiver
Keenan Burton will make an announcement about his football
future today. Apparently, even he isn't sure what it will
be.
It's a grind,
but a good kind of grind, these early January compulsories.
Last Saturday, Kentucky traveled to Mississippi and took
care of its Southeastern Conference opener.
Crawford-led veterans score
41 of first 45 points Seven minutes into the
second half and only four Kentucky players had managed to
put the ball in the basket from the floor. Trouble?
Even when the University of
Kentucky shoots above 50 percent, which it did for a second
consecutive game and fourth time in five games, it will
probably never be mistaken for a dominant offensive team.
Moves to
PG, flirts with triple-double A manager yelled from
the bench for Ramel Bradley to pass, and the University of
Kentucky point guard started to question himself. "I'm
thinking, 'Am I shooting too much?' " Bradley said last
night after his Wildcats pounded Auburn 84-57 at Rupp Arena.
In truth, the manager was looking out for Bradley's best
interests.
Florida's absurdly easy 41-14 victory over Ohio State the
other night produced a factoid that seemed unassailable.
Bulletproof. Florida is the first school to have the
reigning national champion in college football and men's
basketball.
Joe Crawford had 21 points
and Ramel Bradley added 18 and a career-high 11 rebounds as
Kentucky opened the home portion of its Southeastern
Conference schedule with an 84-57 victory over Auburn.
Baseball
UK baseball team ranked No. 23
The University of
Kentucky baseball team is No. 23 in the Rivals.com preseason
Top 25, the organization announced yesterday. UK, the
defending Southeastern Conference champion, is coming off
the most successful season in school history, winning a
school-record 44 games and hosting the school's first NCAA
Regional.
Football
Little to return; no word on Burton Junior tailback
Rafael Little will return to Kentucky for his senior season
rather than put his name into the NFL draft.
Little returning to Cats for senior year RUNNING BACK
WILL NOT ENTER NFL DRAFT Running back Rafael Little
announced yesterday that he will remain at the University of
Kentucky for his senior season. "I have a lot of things to
improve on," Little said of his decision to not enter the
NFL Draft. "I enjoy all our coaches and my teammates. I've
had a great time at UK, and I'm excited about the (upcoming)
season. And, it will help me get my degree."
Little will forego draft, returning to KentuckyRunning back Rafael Little will return
to Kentucky for his senior season rather than enter the
National Football League draft, the school announced
Wednesday.
(1-10-07)
Men
Cats Thump Tigers for Ninth Straight Win
Ramel Bradley had his first career double-double as
Kentucky defeated Auburn in the SEC home opener, 84-57,
Wednesday night in Rupp Arena.
Kentucky sports a 12-3 record, rides an
eight-game winning streak, and had a Ratings Percentage
Index of No. 6 nationally and a schedule judged the
third-toughest of any college team entering this week.
Others may wonder why Kentucky is not ranked among the
nation's top 25 teams going into tonight's game against
Auburn, but UK coach Tubby Smith isn't one of them.
The broadcast of tonight's Kentucky-Auburn men's
basketball game on WKYT-27 will be interrupted when the
CBS network cuts in to show President Bush's address to
the nation about his plan for Iraq.
Randolph Morris couldn't
disguise his surprise when learning that University of
Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith didn't think his team
deserved to be ranked in the top 25 right now.
Sometimes Randolph Morris wishes he could pick on
someone his own size. It might sound like fun to
play the bully. You might think it's a real pleasure
for the 6-foot-11 University of Kentucky center to
overpower smaller opponents.
President Bush's speech tonight could affect the
broadcast of the University of Kentucky game against
Auburn.
Women
UK Hoops Looks for First SEC Road Win
The Kentucky women’s basketball returns to action
Thursday in hopes of capturing its first Southeastern
Conference road win of the season when the Wildcats
travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on the Crimson Tide
at 9 p.m. EST.
Family members of 565 fallen Kentucky soldiers will see
their loved ones honored at UK's Memorial Coliseum on
Sunday, Jan. 14 when the women's basketball team takes
on Ole Miss.
The good news in women's Southeastern Conference
basketball is that as many as 10 teams look like NCAA
Tournament contenders this season.
Football
Little Announces That He Will Stay at UK
Tailback Rafael Little has announced that he will forego
this year’s National Football League draft and will
remain at the University of Kentucky for his senior
season.
The Florida Gators are being proclaimed as the first
school to hold both titles at the same time. However,
one can say that the University of Kentucky first
achieved that distinction in 1950-51.
It wasn't long after Florida's demolition of Ohio State
in the BCS Championship Game on Monday night that the
Gators were being hailed as the first school to hold
both the men's basketball and football national titles
at the same time.
Archer leaves Kentucky
DEFENSIVE CHIEF HEADED TO N.C. STATE
University of
Kentucky defensive coordinator Mike Archer has resigned
to accept the same position at N.C. State.
Says he's accepted N.C. State position
University of Kentucky defensive coordinator Mike
Archer has resigned, the university announced last
night. Archer told a Lexington television station,
WKYT, that he had accepted North Carolina State's
defensive coordinator position, which he interviewed
for last week.
UK Hosts Auburn in SEC Home Opener
Riding an eight-game win streak, including a 68-58 win
at Ole Miss in the SEC opener, Kentucky returns home to
host the Auburn Tigers in the Cats’ conference
home-opener. Tipoff at Rupp Arena is 8:00 p.m. ET.
Last weekend,
the basketball gods granted the coaching wishes of Tubby
Smith and Jeff Lebo. Kentucky guard Joe Crawford
asserted himself and reaped the rewards. Auburn shot
with uncharacteristic accuracy.
Maybe Eddie Sutton-University of Kentucky was a
poor match for both parties. Sutton, in an appearance
before a crowd of more than 200 yesterday at the
Downtown Tip-Off Club in North Little Rock, Ark.,
implied that he should not have left Arkansas to coach
UK.
Ron Caragher, recruiting coordinator and running backs
coach at Kentucky, has resigned in order to accept the
head coaching position at the University of San Diego.
Keenan Burton has until next week to decide on his
short-term football future. The University of Kentucky's
junior wide receiver might need every last second.
Burton, the former Manual High School star, is
"completely neutral" about whether to enter the NFL
draft or return for his senior season at UK, his father,
Ed Burton, said in a phone interview yesterday.
University of Kentucky recruiting coordinator and
running backs coach Ron Caragher has accepted the head
coaching position at the University of San Diego. He
will replace Jim Harbaugh, who left last month to become
coach at Stanford.
Slowly but surely, junior guard Ramel Bradley seems to
be developing into the player that Kentucky coach Tubby
Smith always envisioned he could be.
Football
UK's Burton remains undecided on NFL
University
of Kentucky wide receiver Keenan Burton hasn’t yet made
a decision about his football future, his father, Ed
Burton said Monday.
(1-7-07)
Men
Cats Down Ole Miss in Conference Opener, 68-58
Joe Crawford scored 23 points and Randolph Morris added
14 points and 10 rebounds as Kentucky defeated
Mississippi 68-58 on Saturday in both team's SEC opener.
On Friday, Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith asked for
more assertive play from guard Joe Crawford. Last night,
he got it. Crawford equaled career highs in three
statistical categories, including a game-high 23 points,
to lead UK to a 68-58 victory at Mississippi last night.
'WE'RE NOT GOING TO
LAY DOWN,' SAYS CENTER MORRIS
Opening league play with a road victory enabled Kentucky
to send a message, UK players said after last night's
68-58 victory at Mississippi.
Sam Bowie knows a lot about basketball
and horses. He was an All-American for Kentucky in the
early 1980s and has long been involved in harness racing
as an owner and fan. So his words carried weight when he
once observed: a good big horse is better than a good
little horse.
Joe Crawford scored 23 points and
Randolph Morris added 14 points and 10 rebounds as
Kentucky defeated Mississippi 68-58 on Saturday in both
teams' Southeastern Conference opener.
His mid-range shot was dropping. His three-pointers
were falling. He drove to the basket and found open
lanes. Everything was working last night for Joe
Crawford.
His mid-range shot was dropping. His three-pointers were
falling. He drove to the basket and found open lanes.
Everything was working last night for Joe Crawford.
Women
OSU bucks Wildcats' upset bid
NO. 7 BUCKEYES BREAK
TIE WITH 16 SECONDS LEFT
For a
few minutes, it had the look and feel of the Tennessee
game last season. It looked like Kentucky was going to
charge back and upset a top-10 team in the final minutes
of a nationally televised game.
Packer's jumper with 16 seconds left lifted the No.
7 Buckeyes (13-1) past visiting Kentucky 53-51
yesterday. She finished 4 for 10 from the field,
making the one that counted by dribbling the ball
inside the arc.
Football
Brooks prepares Cats for life after Nashville
KENTUCKY COACH FINDS
HIS SUDDEN POPULARITY MILDLY AMUSING
Turning into a statewide hero overnight obviously
takes some getting used to. During the Kentucky-Houston
basketball game on Wednesday night, the video screen at
Rupp Arena flashed to UK football coach Rich Brooks,
which drew a huge ovation from the 22,311 in attendance.
Kentucky won its
first bowl game in 22 years and achieved its first
eight-win season since 1984 - and the school's fourth in
the last 55 years - by winning five of its final six
games.
Kentucky
coach Rich Brooks said today that no decision has been
made on moving linebacker Micah Johnson or quarterback
Curtis Pulley to different positions for the 2007
season.
Kentucky coach Rich Brooks says until someone tells him
different, his defensive coordinator at Kentucky next
year will still be Mike Archer.
(1-6-07)
Men
UK 68 - Ole MS 58
(Final)
Tubby wants more from Crawford, Perry
As Southeastern Conference play begins, Kentucky Coach
Tubby Smith is calling for improved play from veterans
Bobby Perry and Joe Crawford.
Streaking Wildcats Open SEC Season in Oxford
Riding a seven-game win streak, Kentucky opens its 2007
SEC slate on the road as the Wildcats travel to Oxford,
Miss., to take on Ole Miss. Tipoff in Tad Smith Coliseum
is 8:30 p.m. ET.
UK hones its status in 2nd season
THOUGH UNRANKED, CATS
INSIST THEY'RE STILL 'TEAM TO BEAT' IN SEC
Two months ago, Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith fed
red meat to the partisans when he told a Tipoff Luncheon
crowd that UK was the team to beat in the Southeastern
Conference this season.
Kennedy's time to shine
Andy Kennedy sits on the bleachers
underneath a roof that could use another coat of paint,
in a Mississippi basketball arena that opened in 1966
and is in need of, depending on who's talking, a
renovation or a demolition.
Wildcats don't see selves as SEC underdogs
No matter how outsiders perceive the University of
Kentucky's chances of winning another Southeastern
Conference championship, the Wildcats will begin league
play with the same confidence that has garnered them
total domination of the league.
Conference calls again for UKNew Cats pursue old SEC dominance
As the Wildcats (11-3) open Southeastern Conference
play tonight at Mississippi, their goal quite simply
is to avoid a repeat of their last conference
campaign, the first since 1991 in which they didn't
grab at least a piece of the SEC East title or win
the league tournament.
Women
Cats Fall Just Short at No. 7/8 Ohio State
Marscilla Packer's jumper from the foul line with 16
seconds left helped No. 7 Ohio State defeat Kentucky
53-51 on Saturday and avoid an upset.
Buckeyes edge Cats Kentucky put a
scare into No. 7 Ohio State, but couldn’t finish the
deal, falling 53-51 in a nationally televised game in
front of a crowd of 6,372 at the Value City Arena.
UK women ready for their close-up
NATIONAL TV EXPOSURE
HELPS IN RECRUITING Sometimes
it seems more appropriate that the Kentucky players wear
pin-striped suits and high heels than uniforms and
Nikes. Sometimes it seems more natural for them to carry
leather briefcases than basketballs.
Buckeyes' strong post play nothing new for Wildcats
There's Louisiana State's Sylvia Fowles. There's
Tennessee's Candace Parker. There's Georgia's Tasha
Humphrey. Kentucky is more than familiar with the
Southeastern Conference's big post players. Now, the
Cats will get a chance to see Ohio State's Jessica
Davenport up close and personal.
Football
'Rope burns' have healed on Brooks
The sarcasm level of coach Rich Brooks often is a good
barometer of the state of Kentucky football, so judging
by his quips Friday, things are looking up.
Rich Brooks Press Conference Quotes
UK Football head coach met with the media on Friday,
Jan. 5 for the first time since Kentucky's Music City
Bowl win on Dec. 29. Click to read the quotes.
Little and Burton won't rush into NFL decisions
Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks said juniors Keenan Burton
and Rafael Little are still evaluating whether to enter
the NFL Draft or return to UK for their senior seasons.
Brooks all smiles after success
The sarcasm level of coach Rich Brooks often is a good
barometer of the state of Kentucky football, so judging
by his quips Friday, things are looking up.
Brooks: Good job, Cats; now go do it againCoach says success should be a 'habit' A pat on the back is better than a
punch to the stomach, and for once, Rich Brooks is
getting more of the former than the latter around
here.
Volleyball
UK Volleyball Signs Four Standouts
Outside hitters Ann Armes, Blaire Hiler and Sarah
Mendoza and middle blocker Lauren Rapp have each signed
a national letter of intent to play volleyball at the
University of Kentucky next season, UK head coach Craig
Skinner announced today.
UK signs four volleyball players
Four players ranked among the top 70 in the nation's
senior class by PrepVolleyball.com -- outside
hitters Ann Armes, Blaire Hiler and Sarah Mendoza
and middle blocker Lauren Rapp -- have signed with
the University of Kentucky, UK coach Craig Skinner
announced yesterday.
(1-5-07)
Men
Morris facing double dose
2-ON-1 POST DEFENSE
WILL BE THE SEC NORM Although
the Southeastern Conference boasts arguably the best
collection of big men in college basketball, Kentucky
center Randolph Morris probably will see more double-
and triple-teaming defenses as league play begins.
Rebels pick up the pace
Guess there will be no easing into
Southeastern Conference play. That's probably the first
thing Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy thought when he
looked at the schedule and saw that the Rebels, who
finished 4-12 in the league last season and tied for
fifth in the West Division, would be hosting perennial
power University of Kentucky for both teams' SEC opener
Saturday night.
Morris big concern for Rebels
Andy Kennedy is in his
first year as Mississippi's head coach, but he already
knows plenty about Kentucky junior center Randolph
Morris.
Smith wants improved play
Kentucky coach Tubby Smith knows better than to ever be
satisfied with the way his team is playing.
Ole Miss coach to make SEC debut vs. UK
Florida may be the defending national champion, but
Kentucky is Kentucky. And Mississippi's first-year
coach, Andy Kennedy, is aware that he'll make his
Southeastern Conference debut against Kentucky on
Saturday.
UK's freshmen quickly coming of age
Jasper, Meeks gaining team's confidence
Jodie Meeks doesn't want to hear the F-word. Not
that one. The dirty word in Meeks' vocabulary is
"freshman," and even though the University of
Kentucky swingman is one, he'd prefer not to think
about it.
Women
Kentucky women win SEC opener The
Kentucky women were enjoying a seven-game winning streak
where they had won each game by at least 26 points
entering Thursday's Southeastern Conference opener.
UK Meets No. 7 OSU in Nationally Televised Game
In its first nationally-televised game on CBS in school
history, the Kentucky women’s basketball team puts its
eight-game winning streak on the line when it faces No.
7/8 Ohio State in a Southeastern Conference/Big Ten
showdown Saturday, Jan. 6 in Columbus, Ohio.
Cats stout without a rout
KENTUCKY 59, SOUTH
CAROLINA 55 After winning their
previous seven games by an average of 35 points,
Kentucky's players said they were ready to face some
stiffer competition.
Football
No decision yet on moving Micah
Johnson, Curtis Pulley Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said today that no decision has been made on moving linebacker Micah Johnson or quarterback Curtis Pulley to different positions for the 2007 season.
Cats to participate in all-star game Kentucky coach Rich
Brooks, offensive coordinator Joker Phillips, offensive
lineman Michael Aitcheson, center Matt McCutchan and
defensive end Durrell White will participate in the
inaugural IntaJuice North-South All-Star Classic on Jan.
13 in Houston.
Five Wildcats to Participate in All-Star Game
Head coach Rich Brooks, offensive coordinator Joker
Phillips, offensive lineman Michael Aitcheson, center
Matt McCutchan, and defensive end Durrell White are
scheduled to participate in the inaugural IntaJuice
North-South All-Star Classic on Jan. 13 in Houston.
Wildcats' Archer talks to N.C. State
NEW COACH O'BRIEN HAS
OLD TIES TO DEFENSE COORDINATOR
University of Kentucky defensive coordinator Mike Archer
is a candidate for the same position at N.C. State, UK
spokesman Tony Neely confirmed last night.
UK's Archer interviews with N.C. State
Being considered for D-coordinator
The University of Kentucky football team posted
some ugly defensive numbers this season. Apparently
it didn't tarnish defensive coordinator Mike
Archer's image. Archer is a candidate for the
defensive coordinator job at North Carolina State,
and he interviewed for that position this week, UK
spokesman Tony Neely said last night.
Baseball
Baseball America ranks UK 30thThe University of Kentucky baseball team is ranked
30th in the Baseball America preseason Top 50, the
magazine announced yesterday. It's the first such
ranking for the Wildcats, who were picked to finish
last in the Southeastern Conference last season but
instead won a school-record 44 games and their first
SEC title.
(1-4-07)
Men
Cats have to earn the
respect they crave
Here's a bit of advice for the
Kentucky basketball team. Quit talking about not
receiving enough national recognition and worry more
about playing well enough to earn that respect.
Thomas delivers in strong second half
Sheray Thomas failed to score or grab a rebound in
the first half Wednesday. But he more than made up
for that in the second half, and it came at just the
right time for Kentucky.
Freshmen Meeks, Jasper speak at last
When Sheray Thomas missed a free throw and the
rebound came to teammate Jodie Meeks, Meeks thought
about trying to get the ball outside to set up the
offense.
Clutch Cats pull out winMeeks, others step up as Cougars key on Morris
Closing minutes of a highly-competitive game. Tenacious opponent.
Demanding fan base quick to voice its displeasure. No place for the meek. But for Kentucky freshman
Jodie Meeks, it's an ideal place to excel.
UK isn't worthy of national rank right now
OK, maybe this is the reason Kentucky shouldn't be
ranked. Tension rippled through Rupp Arena last
night like lightning crackles across a summer sky.
Wildcats survive, thanks to Meeks
The University of
Kentucky's first game in the new year turned into a
shootout and a test of endurance thanks to the
effort of an undersized Houston squad that didn't
waver from its M.O.
Meeks a mighty Cat in the clutchCrucial play fends off Cougars' rally
For Jodie Meeks, the big moments are no big
deal. The University of Kentucky freshman came
through again in the clutch last night in Rupp
Arena, finishing a three-point play that helped
the Wildcats ice a closer-than expected 77-70
win over Houston.
Penders sees lofty future for Morris
With smaller Houston defenders tying him up all
night, Kentucky center Randolph Morris looked like
Gulliver in Lilliput. Still Morris contributed 20
points and 10 rebounds to UK's 77-70 victory. It was
a performance that moved Houston Coach Tom Penders
to compare Morris to a real-life giant.
Kentucky 77, Houston 70
Kentucky had its worst shooting game of the season
but held off Houston 77-70 Wednesday night to
survive a scare in its final tuneup before
Southeastern Conference play.
Women
UK Hoops Claims SEC Opener Over USC
Junior guard Samantha Mahoney scored a game-high 19
points and Kentucky held off a late South Carolina
charge to notch a 59-55 win in its Southeastern
Conference opener Thursday in Memorial Coliseum.
Cats Set Sights on South Carolina in SEC Opener
Kentucky puts its seven-game winning streak on the line
when it plays host to South Carolina in both teams’
Southeastern Conference opener Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7
p.m. EST in Memorial Coliseum. The game will be aired
live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio and TV) and
FSN South.
Kentucky frontline poised for tall test
CATS NOT INTIMIDATED BY S. CAROLINA'S SIZE A few weeks
ago a big team like South Carolina -- with four players
6-foot-3 or taller -- might have spelled big trouble for
Kentucky.
Morris' Double-Double Gives Cats Seventh Straight
Win
Randolph Morris notched his second straight
double-double as the Wildcats edged Houston, 77-70,
Wednesday night in Rupp Arena for their seventh
straight victory heading into SEC play this weekend.
Whether Tom Penders was guiding Texas to the NCAA
Tournament's Elite Eight (1990) or leading Rhode
Island to the Sweet 16 (1988), his teams have always
shared one recognizable characteristic - they ran an
up-tempo system.
Not only do Kentucky's players have a chip on their
shoulders about not being ranked this season, they
also have a bag of chips to remind them daily about
the struggle to gain recognition.
IGNORED BY POLLS, CATS OUT TO GAIN NATIONAL
RESPECT Only two days into the New Year and we
have a nominee for oddest coupling of 2007: Kentucky
strength coach Scott Holsopple and bags of chips.
Wood chips have long been used to start fires. Now
they can also be credited for helping a men's
basketball team remain humble and focused heading
into conference play.
As the Cats (10-3) prepare for their final
pre-Southeastern Conference tune-up against Houston
(5-6) tonight at Rupp Arena, they've won six
straight games and seven of eight, but the nation
has yet to notice.
The Southeastern Conference named Kentucky center
Randolph Morris its Player of the Week. UK Tubby
Smith named him a key component to a new alignment
that brought more efficiency to the Cats' offense.
Senior Jenny Pfeiffer scored 19 points and senior
Jennifer Humphrey notched her second consecutive
double-double as Kentucky posted its seventh consecutive
win, 77-45, over Texas-Pan American on Tuesday in
Memorial Coliseum.
Remember the Alamo. Kentucky will. In San Antonio, home
of the historical landmark, UK's team might have found
the confidence it had been lacking so far this the
season.
Jennifer Humphrey had 11 points and 16 rebounds, her
second consecutive double-double, and three teammates
scored in double figures as the University of Kentucky
rolled past visiting Texas-Pan American 77-45 last
night.
Random notes: Kentucky football hasn't been ranked
since the Cats wound up 19th in the final poll of
1984. At 8-5, with a boatload of starters returning
and a bowl victory over Clemson under its belt, the
Cats could actually begin next season in the polls.
Wildcats Host Houston in Final Pre-SEC ContestKentucky plays
its final non-conference game of the regular season and
their first of the new year as the Wildcats take on the
Houston Cougars for the first time in 23 years. Tipoff
on Wednesday is 7:00 p.m. ET.
Wildcats follow Bradley's sign
Almost as soon as the ball swishes through the net after University of Kentucky guard el Bradley drains one of his signature 3-pointers, as soon as he hits a pull-up jumper off the dribble or his hustle leads to a fast break, his reaction is the same. Women
Wildcats back home to play Texas Pan-Am The Kentucky women's basketball team looks to extend its six-game winning streak as it hosts Texas-Pan American tonight in Memorial Coliseum.
SPORTS BRIEFSJunior center Randolph Morris has been
named the SEC Player of the Week, the league announced
yesterday. Morris helped lead the Wildcats to a 78-65
victory over in-state rival Eastern Kentucky, recording
his fourth double-double of the season, sixth of his
career and his third in the last five games. Morris' 25
points tied a career high for the 6-foot-11 junior. He
also recorded a 20-point, 10-rebound game for the second
time this season.
Morris earns SEC honorRandolph Morris' consistency has resulted in the
Kentucky junior center being named Southeastern
Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his
career.
Eddie Montgomery travels across the country playing
music in various cities and venues for admiring
Montgomery Gentry fans. However, the Boyle County
country music singer had what might have been 60 of the
most enjoyable hours of 2006 here at home.
Jacob Tamme had four receptions for 59 yards
and a touchdown in Kentucky's 28-20 win over Clemson
in the Music City Bowl Friday. However, the UK
junior tight end also made another even more
meaningful catch before he left Nashville to return
home to Boyle County.
(1-1-07)
Happy New Year!!
Football
The Savorthis.com Bowl
AFTER YEARS OF PAIN, NO ONE DESERVES GAME MORE THAN UK FANSThe phrase has been written so many times, it's
become one mammoth, polysyllabic word: ThelongsufferingKentuckyfootballfans. As the
editors of Time Magazine would put it, today is
all about YOU.
The Kentucky women’s
basketball team looks to extend its six-game winning
streak as it rings in the New Year by playing host
to first-time opponent Texas-Pan American Tuesday,
Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. EST.
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Football
Baseball
problem Kentucky won't have to worry about going
into Sunday's game against Tennessee: handling success. With
a two-game losing streak, the Cats will have to deal with
adversity. That might be a plus.
Volleyball