John Clay’s Sidelines

Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman, college basketball guru for Fox Sports, has revised (sort of) his pre-season Top 25 now that we know who’s in and who’s out with regards to the NBA draft.

No surprise that Goodman picks North Carolina as his No. 1, while slotting Kentucky at No. 2.

But he calls the Cats co-favorites.

Jeff writes of North Carolina: “With the return of Barnes, Henson and Zeller - and everyone else off an Elite Eight team - and the addition of McAdoo and Hairston, the Tar Heels will hold the No. 1 spot.”

He writes of Kentucky: “The top-ranked incoming class in America, along with the return of a trio of holdovers - including Jones - make the Wildcats the co-favorites along with UNC.”

Alan Cutler

Drumroll please — Media Approval Ratings are back.

We haven’t offered (most of) the local media up for judgement since 2009, and with the dog days of summer just up ahead, we can’t resist the urge to do it all over again. We will do one approval per day.

We’ll start with the TV guys, and with WLEX-TV’s Alan Cutler. The New York native has had a couple of turns at the local NBC affiliate. He’s been at Channel 18 since 1987 in his second stint.

So what do you say on Alan Cutler, approve or disapprove?

Continue reading ‘Media Approval Ratings: Alan Cutler’

Kentucky did a media opp this morning with star pitcher Alex Meyer. The right-hander was recently named one of two Pro-Line Athletic National Pitchers of the Week, as announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, after besting Vanderbilt ace Sonny Gray 2-0 last Friday.

(Hat tip All Ky Hoops)

(AP photo)

John Pelphrey is back in Gainesville. He would have no doubt preferred to stay in Fayetteville, where the Razorbacks new coach Mike Anderson welcomes in a stellar signee class that Pelphrey signed as Arkansas coach, but that was not to be. Relieved of his duties at season’s end, the former UK Wildcat is now re-united with Billy Donovan at Florida.

Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes that the Paintsville native is excited to be back with the Gators, even if it is in an assistant coach’s role.

An excerpt:

“I feel like I have ownership in the program already because I was here before the renovations to the O-Dome,” Pelphrey said. “I was here before the practice facility was built. I was here before the first run to the national championship game, so I feel like I’m a little bit invested.”

Walking through the practice facility, though, Pelphrey has recognized how much has changed since he left UF in 2002.

Continue reading ‘John Pelphrey excited to be back at Florida’

Some morning notes and Big Blue Links:

- Kentucky baseball takes an 8-5 win over Indiana, reports Mark Maloney. The Cats have won 11 of 12 outside the SEC. Inside the conference has been the team’s problem. Kentucky is 5-19 in league play, tied with Tennessee for worst record. Gary Henderson’s club plays host to Georgia this weekend, the final home series this year for Kentucky.

- Sad story about the death of jockey Michael Baze, the 24-year-old who was found dead in his car. There were no signs of foul play. Baze rode Nehro to victory on Feb. 21, but was not on the horse when it finished second in the Kentucky Derby last Saturday. Nehro’s jockey was Corey Nakatani.

- Here is my random notes column for today’s print edition.

- Jonathan Givony of Draft Express writes that Terrence Jones decision was in fact an easy decision. “While there’s plenty of debate as to whether Jones will be drafted higher in a now loaded 2012 class than he would have this year, it’s never a good idea for a player to turn pro simply because he feels like he has to. That in itself makes this a very mature move on Jones’ part, seeing as he clearly enjoys playing at Kentucky and doesn’t feel like he’s accomplished everything he needed to in Lexington just yet.”

Continue reading ‘Some morning notes and links for a Wednesday’

John Wall (right) and Jordan Crawford (left) model the Washington Wizards’ new uniforms for next season.

(AP photo/Evan Vucci)

(Raleigh News Observer photo)

Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog has talked to Ryan Harrow’s mother about the former N.C. State guard’s visit to Kentucky today. Actually, Harrow arrives tonight.

An excerpt:

“I’m actually leaving out today,” Matthews said Tuesday by phone. “We get there this evening. We’ll have our visit tomorrow [Wednesday] morning. I’ll be meeting the coaching staff, the strength and conditioning coach is very important, and the academic staff.”

After Kentucky, Harrow and his mom head to Texas, Louisville, Georgia and St. John’s without going home in between.

Harrow was a top recruit who played his freshman year last year in Raleigh. The point guard asked for his release after Sidney Lowe was fired as coach. Zagoria thinks St. John’s will be a major player in the end.

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Ryan Harrow will be visiting UK today, says Keith Bays of Kentucky Sports Report.
• Trevor Lacey done with visits, will make decision May 18, reports Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Roy Williams, John Calipari and Dick Vitale join together to fight cancer, reports Robbi Pickeral of the Charlotte Observer.
• Did Terrence Jones make the right decision? asks Mark Story of the Herald-Leader.
• DeAndre Liggins is ready to live with his NBA decision, he tells Cat Scratches.
• Kentucky at No. 2 behind North Carolina, according to Andy Katz of espn.com.
• Jones and Liggins both made the right calls, says Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports.
• Tom Leach gives his take on the decisions made by UK basketball players.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Report says Harrow visiting Kentucky today’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Washaun Ealey is no longer a Georgia Bulldog, reports Seth Emerson of the Columbus Ledger-Enqurier.
• Ealey’s departure not as big as it might have been once, writes Mark Bradley of the AJC.
• Florida sets a high bar for SEC success, writes Antonya English of the Tampa Tribune.
• Charges reduced against Florida basketball players, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Phil Fulmer could get by as athletic director, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Mr. SEC looks at commitment lists for SEC football.
• Justice Department shouldn’t make a federal case out of the BCS, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Ealey departs Georgia; Florida sets the bar high’