Kentucky

Poll: Who is the SEC's Top Incoming Freshman?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:29:47 -0700

Rise and Fall: SEC Program Review

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:58:57 -0700

Like civilizations, all great basketball programs eventually fall.. replaced by an upstart newcomer. In this week's Rise & Fall series, we'll take a look at which BCS programs are rising, falling, or merely treading water. Up today, the:

SEC

ALABAMA - DECLINING (SLOWLY )

Since 2002, when Bama was a Top 10 team, the results have steadily been going in the wrong direction. Last season was the low of the low, a 5-11 SEC record and a sub-100 RPI. Despite the graduation of Riley and the departure of Hendrix to the NBA, everyone expects improved play in 08-09 due to the return of Ronald Steele, and some intriguing prospects such as future pro Jamychal Green. Still, I see this as a make or break year for Gottfried and the Tide. Another sub-.500 season in SEC play and the big recruiting hauls will be harder to come by.. and Gottfried won't have a job.

ARKANSAS - STATUS QUO

A year or two ago, I would have said that the Razorbacks were an improving program. But now that the extremely lean 03-04-05 teams are in the past, the program has settled into being a middle of the SEC squad. Too many seniors depart to list them all, so what you're left with is Patrick Beverley and a whole bunch of recruits. While only 5 or 6 SEC wins should be expected, a return to the NCAA Tournament should be expected in the following season. Anything less and the 'Backs will return to the declining bin.

AUBURN - STATUS QUO

While Tiger fans have hoped for a breakout in recent seasons, it's simply not happening. Last year's experienced roster struggled to a disappointing 4-12 league record.. and their overall 14 win total was boosted by some brutally easy non-conference games. Though some solid recruits join the program in '08 and Andre Malone could be a steal in '09, there's simply no reason to expect anything spectacular this season. Another sub-100 RPI ranking (the 6th in a row) should be a lock.

FLORIDA - STATUS QUO

Even though last year's group exceeded the expectations of many, the so-so results broke a streak of eight Top 25 teams in a row from 2000 to 2007 (and 9 Tourney bids in a row as well). Led by Nick Calathes, a return to the Big Dance is a lock, and the Top 25 is certainly within reach. This year's class is easily the cream of the SEC's crop, and Billy Donovan is already lining them up for 2009. So long as Billy maintains the recruiting magic, there's no reason not to expect another long streak of Top 25 teams to commence.

GEORGIA - DECLINING (SLOWLY)

Last year's freak Tourney bid aside, this is still a program lacking any semblance of direction. Sundiata Gaines graduates, Billy Humphrey was finally dismissed after managing to clog up the court system by himself, and Jeremy Jacob (one of last year's big recruits) transferred. While the recruiting class, led by the highly-athletic Howard Thompkins, provides hope, there's not enough returning talent to even think that an NIT bid is in reason. Compared to the all-time bad 2005 season, anything is an improvement, but this might be the Dogs worst season since then.

KENTUCKY - RISING (SLOWLY)

Going purely by results, Kentucky is in the midst of a downward spiral since peaking in '03 & '04. But it would be misleading to suggest the program is declining. In reality, and this is mainly due to the respect I give Billy Gillispie, the program is now back on the up and up. While last year's tourney bid was simply not deserved, it's still an impressive feather for Gillispie's cap. With the program fully in his hands, big time recruits like Liggins and Miller aboard, and Patrick Patterson returning to full health, the Top 25 should be attainable.

LOUISIANA STATE - DECLINING (SLOWLY)

Considering the Tigers RPI has dropped from 13th in 2006 to 174th last year, the program might appear to be in a freefall. But I see this dip more as a result of some bad luck (players leaving school too early or getting hurt), as opposed to the utter collapse of LSU basketball. Getting a healthy Tasmin Mitchell back will be a major help, as will the handful of underrated recruits joining the program. An NIT bid is certainly within reason, which would be a major improvement over last year, but still worthy of the "Declining Slowly" category considering the Final Four run in 2006.

MISSISSIPPI - RISING (SLOWLY)

After starting the season 13-0, last year's putrid finish was a major downer. But its not enough to complete quash the positive momentum that's been building in recent seasons. Don't forget that this was a simply horrendous program from 03 to 06. With players like Chris Warren aboard, and one of their best recruiting classes ever about to step onto campus, the Rebels best seasons in almost a decade are just around the corner.

MISSISSIPPI STATE - STATUS QUO

In ten years under Rick Stansbury, the Bulldogs have never advanced past the 2nd Round. With so many important players departing, due to graduation (Rhodes), poor NBA decisions (Gordon), or transfer (Hansbrough), that streak will definitely continue. But hope springs eternal due to to the recruitment of Osby and Bost. While this could be one of the worst Bulldog teams in awhile, the program should continue to flutter in the fringe-NCAA/NIT range for awhile.

SOUTH CAROLINA - STATUS QUO

Darrin Horn did a great job at WKU, but he's got his hands full with a sputtering Gamecocks program. Perhaps its the curse of Coppin State, but South Carolina hasn't had a legitimately good team since 1997 when they lost in the opening round as a 2 seed. If Dave Odom was still around, SC would definitely be in the "Declining" category, but I'll give Darrin Horn the benefit of the doubt and assume he'll stop the bleeding.

TENNESSEE - RISING (SLOWLY)

The only reason Tennessee isn't rising quickly is because of the huge strides that have already been made. While a deep talent base and big-time recruiting prestige (see Scotty Hopson as an example) are now solidified, the next major step is busting through the Sweet Sixteen barrier. Despite a couple of senior departures, this could be Bruce Pearl's first Final Four team.

VANDERBILT - RISING (SLOWLY)

The Shan Foster era, which culminated in back to back 10-SEC win seasons, is over.. but the future is as bright as ever in Nashville. The impressive Aussie Ogilvy returns, and he'll be joined by what is probably Kevin Stallings' best ever recruiting class. For whatever reason, big-time prospects are taking Vandy more seriously now, which will lead to impressive results in the near future.

- Up Next: Rise & Fall: BCS -

Additional Resources:

Rise & Fall: ACC

Rise & Fall: Big East

Rise & Fall: Big Ten

Picture of the Day: Patrick Patterson Close to Returning

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:59:08 -0700

Picture of the Day

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, we now have access to thousands of great college basketball photos to use on the site. Each day, CHN will feature a Picture of the Day, which might include a newsworthy, funny, or simply interesting subject. At the bottom will be a caption or headline that might be informative or amusing. The possibilities are endless!

Patrick Patterson - Kentucky

In a couple weeks, sophomore Patrick Patterson is set to remove his post-surgery boot and get back on track to leading the Wildcats to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

- Check out recent Pictures of the Day!

- Also check out the Cheerleader of the Day!

Derrick Jasper Leaving Kentucky

Press Release — Sat, 31 May 2008 19:50:48 -0700

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky basketball player Derrick Jasper, a 6-6 native of Paso Robles, Calif, who has played two seasons in Lexington, has asked for his release from the Wildcats, citing a desire to play closer to home as the reason for his decision

“The decision to transfer is in no way an indication of my experience playing for UK,” Jasper said. “I feel at this point in my life, it is important for me to be close to my family, and I intend to transfer to a school closer to the west coast where I can see my family more often, and they can see me play.

“It was not an easy decision for me to make, since the fans have been so wonderful and very supportive of my teammates and me. I want to thank Coach Gillispie and the entire UK coaching staff for their guidance and support they have given me these past two years. I have grown a tremendous amount as a basketball player, and most importantly a person and feel it is largely due to the people involved with the UK basketball program.”

Jasper played in 20 games for the Wildcats this season after missing the first 10 games of the year while recovering from microfracture knee surgery. He averaged 4.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg.

“It’s a disappointment to lose Derrick, who was fantastic for us both as a person and a basketball player,” UK Head Coach Billy Gillispie said. “He had to battle through some injuries, but he was always willing to sacrifice for the good of the team.

“I appreciate that Derrick was patient and took his time to make certain that this decision was what he felt was best for his future. We wish him all the best. Where ever he decides to attend will be getting an outstanding player who takes his academics very seriously.”

As a freshman, Jasper started 27 games while averaging 3.9 ppg and 3.6 rpg.

-- from UKAthletics.com -

2008 Parade High School All-Americans

Press Release — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:22:06 -0700

PARADE ALL-AMERICANS

FIRST TEAM (Name, School, City, Height)

Brandon Jennings - Arizona - Mouth of Wilson, Va. - 6'2"
Samardo Samuels - Louisville - Newark, N.J. - 6'9"
Tyreke Evans - ? - Aston, Pa. - 6'6"
Jrue Holiday - UCLA - North Hollywood, Calif. - 6'4"
Tyler Zeller - UNC - Washington, Ind. - 7'0"
Al-Farouq Aminu - Wake Forest - Norcross, Ga. - 6'9"
B.J. Mullens - Ohio State - Canal Winchester, Ohio - 7'1"
Demar DeRozan - USC - Compton, Calif. - 6'6"
William Buford - Ohio State - Toledo, Ohio - 6'5"
Greg Monroe - Georgetown - Harvey, La. - 6'10"

SECOND TEAM

Ed Davis - UNC - Richmond, Va. - 6'9"
Derrick Favors - 2009 - Atlanta, Ga. - 6'9"
Kemba Walker - UCONN - New York, N.Y. - 6'2"
Lance Stephenson - 2009 - Brooklyn, N.Y. - 6'6"
Luke Babbitt - Nevada - Reno, Nev. - 6'8"
Elliot Williams - Duke - Collierville, Tenn. - 6'4"
Sylven Landesberg - Virginia - Flushing, N.Y. - 6'6"
Scotty Hopson - Tennessee - Hopkinsville, Ky. - 6'7"
Xavier Henry - 2009 - Oklahoma City, Okla. - 6'6"
Mike Rosario - Rutgers - Jersey City, N.J. - 6'3"

THIRD TEAM

Willie Warren - Oklahoma - Fort Worth, Tex. - 6'4"
Michael Dunigan - Oregon - Chicago, Ill. - 6'10"
JaMychal Green - Alabama - Montgomery, Ala. - 6'9"
Chris Singleton - FSU - Dunwoody, Ga. - 6'9"
Larry Drew - UNC - Woodland Hills, Calif. - 6'0"
Iman Shumpert - Georgia Tech - Oak Park, Ill. - 6'4"
Leslie McDonald - 2009 - Eads, Tenn. - 6'4"
Dexter Strickland - 2009 UNC - Elizabeth, N.J. - 6'3"
Howard Thompkins - Georgia - Norcross, Ga. - 6'9"
Darius Miller - Kentucky - Maysville, Ky. - 6'7"

FOURTH TEAM

Kenny Boynton - 2009 - Plantation, Fla. - 6'2"
DeQuan Jones - Miami - Marietta, Ga. - 6'6"
Tony Woods - Wake Forest - Rome, Ga. - 6'11"
Renardo Sidney - 2009 - Los Angeles, Calif. - 6'11"
Terrelle Pryor - Ohio State - Jeannette, Pa. - 6'6"
Yancy Gates - Cincinnatti - Cincinnati, Ohio - 6'9"
Draymond Green - Michigan State - Saginaw, Mich. 6'7"
Kevin Jones - West Virginia - Mount Vernon, N.Y. - 6'7"
Malcolm Lee - UCLA - Riverside, Calif. - 6'5"
Henry Sims - Georgetown - Baltimore, Md. - 6'11

Kentucky's Roller Coaster Season: Big Blue Heart

Jason Brubaker — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:54:53 -0700

To say the 2007-08 UK basketball season was a roller coaster is like saying that weather in Kentucky is a little unpredictable. In other words…a giant understatement.

First, there was a summer full of the joy and anticipation that comes with a fresh start, as UK welcomed new coach Billy Gillispie, fresh off a remarkable turnaround at Texas A&M. Gillispie’s energy seemed like a perfect fit for a UK program that seemed to have stagnated under Tubby Smith.

But the honeymoon was short-lived. A non-conference schedule saw the Cats endure home losses to Gardner-Webb and San Diego, as well as losses to UAB and Houston on their way to a 6-7 start. In the midst of that, highly-touted recruit Alex Legion chose to transfer to Illinois in December, depleting the Cats’ depth even more as sophomore guards Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks continued to battle injuries. Then in January, the light bulb came on, as UK pulled off two huge upset wins over Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Things looked to be coming together.

Then, perhaps looking ahead to Valentine’s Day plans with their ladies, the Cats barely bothered to show up in a match-up with Vandy on Feb. 12, losing 93-52 (and it wasn’t even that close). Adding to that was the surprise dismissal of walk-on Dusty Mills from the team, followed by a battle of words through the media about the reason behind the dismissal. Yet the Cats managed to regroup and win their next four, before suffering yet another setback when star freshman Patrick Patterson announced he had a stress fracture in his ankle and would miss the rest of the season.

Even the SEC Tournament in Atlanta, normally a safe haven as Big Blue fans take over the Georgia Dome, was bizarre. A tornado ripped through the city on Friday, postponing UK’s first game and causing it to be moved to another arena, where the small number of seats limited the crowd to players’ families cheerleaders, bands and media. After a first-round loss to Georgia, the Cats found themselves on the dreaded NCAA bubble, eventually drawing a first-round match-up with nemesis Marquette.

Yet with everything that happened this season, one image stands out to me. As the seconds ticked off the clock in UK’s 74-66 loss to Marquette, the camera panned to a close-up of UK senior Joe Crawford, who had just fouled out of the game. Crawford, normally stoic and unemotional throughout his career, had tears streaming down his cheeks, barely able to watch the final few seconds. Despite gutsy, gritty and phenomenal performance by Crawford (35 points) and fellow senior Ramel Bradley (19), the Cats would be going home. An 18-13 season, marked by extreme ups and downs, was finally over.

But the image of Crawford crying showed what this UK team was all about. There were countless times this team could have packed it in. Injuries depleted the Cats’ depth all season, as Jasper, Meeks and Patterson combined to miss 37 games. Bad losses popped up through the season like weeds, attempting to halt any momentum the Cats might be gaining. Whispers grew louder about Gillispie’s coaching style, as UK seemed incapable of playing anything less than a nail-biter, no matter who the opponent. Even a March tornado in Atlanta (how often does that happen??) took away the home court advantage the Cats normally enjoy for the SEC Tournament.

But never once did these Cats look to give up. Led by Bradley and Crawford, they continued to fight and claw and scratch, despite being undermanned on many nights. Criticized throughout their UK careers for their consistency, the two seniors showed enough heart to endear them to even the most cynical of UK fans. Who can forget Bradley’s clutch shots this year against Vandy and Florida, willing the team to victory despite fatigue from playing nearly every minute of the SEC season (570 out of 655 possible minutes, including missing one entire game with an injury). Or Crawford, who made a great Marquette defense look average as he dropped in shot after shot, leaving everything he had on the court?

What about Perry Stevenson, who weighs about 175 pounds soaking wet, battling SEC big men in Patterson’s absence, never shying away from a challenge? Or Derrick Jasper, toughing out an assortment of injuries to take the court nearly every night? Even Mark Coury and Ramon Harris, two players who don’t exactly fill up the box scores, competed hard night in and night out, despite usually playing against more talented opponents.

Granted, an 18-13 season and a first-round exit isn’t what UK fans expect. The rafters at Rupp Arena aren’t filled with banners from teams who got bounced in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. But the emotion, passion and heart demonstrated by this UK team should be recognized. Battling through obstacles, injuries, fatigue and criticism, they never made excuses and never pointed fingers. They showed their true character by staying on course and continuing to improve, even when the odds were stacked against them.

Crawford’s tears may have marked the end of this crazy ride, but he should take solace in knowing that this team won’t soon be forgotten. The 2008 national champion won’t be UK, but these kids showed the heart of a champion time and time again. So my hat’s off to these Cats, for playing with the passion and pride that makes UK basketball so special.

Three Stars of the Day: Gerald Henderson

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:49:57 -0700

We handpick the best performances of the day, whether it be stat lines that make you drool, or clutch performances. Either way, its our way of showing the love:

Gerald Henderson - Duke

Scored 22 points, hit the game-winning basket, and saved Duke from an embarrassing defeat to Belmont

Joe Crawford - Kentucky

Even though UK lost, Crawford was a one man show with 35 points and 5-8 shooting from three

Josh Carter - Texas A&M

Saved his best game of the season for the Tourney with 26 points, including 6 threes, against BYU

Other Top Performers

Josh Duncan - Xavier - The senior's 20 points and 9 rebounds helped Xavier overcome a slow start against Georgia

Alex Ruoff - West Virginia - On just 8 of 11 shooting, finished with 21 points in a well-played win over Arizona

Bill Walker - Kansas State - With Beasley in foul trouble, Walker took over in the 1st half and ended with 22 points

Previous Stars of the Day

March 18th - Cavel Witter, Creighton

March 15th - Joe Alexander, WVU

March 11th - Jeremy Evans, WKU

March 10th - Kevin Kanaskie, MTSU

March 9th - Brandon Johnson, San Diego

March 5th - Marquis Weddle, UTM

March 4th - Joe Alexander, WVU

March 3rd - Kevin Love, UCLA

March 2nd - Tyrese Rice, BC

Poll: What Will be Thursday's Big Upset?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:06:24 -0700

Poll: Which Double-Digit Seed Will Advance the Farthest?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:53:52 -0700

2008 NCAA Tournament Capsule: Kentucky

Joel Welser — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:20:28 -0700

Kentucky Wildcats

Southeastern Conference (18-12, 12-4)

Big Wins: 1/12 Vanderbilt (79-73), 1/22 Tennessee (72-66), 2/23 Arkansas (63-58)

Bad Losses: 11/7 Gardner-Webb (68-84), 12/18 at Houston (69-83), 12/29 San Diego (72-81)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2007, Second Round loss to Kansas

Coach: Billy Gillispie (3-3 in 3 NCAA appearances)

Probable Starters:

Ramel Bradley, Senior, Guard, 15.8 ppg, 3.3 apg, 4.2 rpg

Derrick Jasper, Sophomore, Guard, 4.4 ppg, 2.3 apg, 5.4 rpg

Joe Crawford, Senior, Guard, 17.3 ppg, 2.1 apg, 3.6 rpg

Ramon Harris, Sophomore, Forward, 4.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg

Mark Coury, Sophomore, Forward, 2.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Michael Porter, Sophomore, Guard, 2.0 ppg, 1.1 apg

Perry Stevenson, Sophomore, Forward, 5.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg

Why They Can Surprise:

Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley are the two healthy leading scorers for Kentucky and the explosive backcourt can keep the Wildcats in most games. Crawford has come on strong as an upperclassman and finally shown his immense potential. The Detroit, Michigan native is a superb athlete and will finish strong above the rim. His outside shooting is not very consistent, but Crawford will step outside and hit a three-pointer or two each game.

The senior leadership of Bradley keeps the team under control…usually. Bradley does commit over three turnovers per game, and that is a big problem for the Wildcats, but this team would be in trouble without Bradley. He is not a great outside shooter by any means, but Bradley is the best shooter on the team and if the outside shot is not falling for either Bradley or Crawford, Kentucky will have trouble scoring.

Why They Can Disappoint:

When Jodie Meeks went down with an injury, it was not good, but at least Kentucky had a few relatively experienced players ready to fill the void. But when forward Patrick Patterson injured his left ankle late in the season, it was a big hit. Patterson was averaging 16.4 points and a team high 7.7 rebounds and he will certainly be missed during the tournament. What is left is an inexperienced frontcourt with very little depth.

Who To Watch:

Replacing Patterson becomes the most important issue during the postseason. Ramon Harris and Mark Coury were starting most of the games anyway, but they provide nowhere near the scoring that Patterson did while he was healthy. Harris and Coury are more equipped do the dirty work. Harris, at 6-6, did the work on the wing and Coury, at 6-8, complimented Patterson under the basket. Without any scoring threat in the paint, UK might have trouble freeing up the guards to score. Perry Stevenson, who rarely starts but averages more minutes than Harris and Coury, might be the best scoring option in the paint. He averages 5.8 points per game, but it remains to be seen if he can be a consistent threat.

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 69.0 (169^th in nation, 10^th in conference)

Scoring Defense: 65.5 (99, 2)

Field-Goal Percentage: 47.3 (36, 2)

Field-Goal Defense: 39.4 (19, 2)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.9 (236, 12)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.4 (72, 2)

Free-Throw Percentage: 73.8 (39, 2)

Rebound Margin: 1.9 (116, 7)

Assists Per Game: 12.9 (192, 10)

Turnovers Per Game: 16.0 (266, 12)

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