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Lamb Says UK Men Would Beat The Ladies By 100

When UK womens play at home, you will find some of Cal's guys watching.

The coaches are friends.

It also isn't everyday when you have both teams undefeated in conference play this late in the year.

But, Bria Goss, who led UK to a blowout against Ole Miss with 19 points, believes that her Cats play tougher defense than the guys, and that she doesn't believe the men could play as hard as they do on defense.

"Let me just say I know Marquis (Teague) personally," says Bria Goss. "I don't think he can do it."

Samarie Walker, who is really coming into her own for Matthew Mitchell wasn't as strong.

"I will just say it's not easy and obviously it was tough for me when I came in to get used to this but, I mean, I don't know if they could do it. I'm not taking anything away them but, I don't know if they can do it."

It was fun sharing those thoughts with Doron Lamb. The look he gave me when I told him was priceless.

"I don't pay them no mind," says Lamb. "We'd beat the girls team by like a hundred points if we played them in a game so, I'm not going to say nothing."

Defense or not?

"Yeah, don't matter."

Doron was on a roll. He steps up his talking game by saying the men could spot the ladies by 20 and still beat them by 100.

To Doron the prankster. His roommate is Marquis Teague.

"Sometime at the beginning of the season I used to, when he was trying to go to sleep I would wet him when he'd sleep, but I stopped doing it because he would get mad, so I understand how he feels so I stopped wetting him a little bit."

Part of him being a rookie?

"No, I do it to everybody. Everybody knows that they can't sleep in front of me because I will wet you if you go to sleep in front of me so. It's hard to take naps in front of me."

Doron admits that some of the Cats wouldn't want to room with him.

 

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Cal Comments Pre-South Carolina

For the second time in three years, UK goes into South Carolina as the Number One team in America.  Cal as always talked before UK's last practice in Lexington before hitting the road.

UK Head Coach John Calipari
On whether or not the freshmen have hit the wall at all ...
"I think all four of them are doing great. They're getting better, learning, attentive, focused. I think they're all the first ones in there because they're excited about playing. So no, I don't believe so. They may in February somewhere with the schedule of games we have coming up. We could get
hit in the mouth."

On what he has seen defensively most recently from his players ...
"One of the things that's happening when we've got a pretty good lead so we're grinding it out at the end and that gives that other team, probably, six less possessions which is what we're trying to do. That's helping us. I always say, teams that lead the nation in defensive least amount of point, when you watch them offensively they hold the ball. So that other team has way less opportunity. What's happened to us is seven minutes to go, six minutes to go, we're pulling it back and grinding out the ball."

On making sure the team doesn't overlook any opponents coming up ...
"We approach every game the same and I'm going to go in there today like we played North Carolina or anybody else. We're going on the road. It's going to be a hard game. I watched their game last night with Florida. They shouldn't have been in the game and then all of the sudden you turn around and they've got the ball and it's a five-point game. I watched their game with Alabama.

They beat Alabama. I watched their game with Mississippi. They had Mississippi beat. If you watch the end of the game, you thought they won. If you didn't see the score, you said, ‘South Carolina won.' And they lost and it was the same thing. They're good enough to beat us and if we don't come and play one of our better games, we get beat."

On how South Carolina is better now versus when Kentucky played them last ...
"They've got two or three guys that are really playing well. Whether it's [Anthony] Gill who can really get it going offensively, or obviously their point guard, (Bruce Ellington), he can get it going. They have the other wing player who is really scoring baskets, their leading scorer, or their leading rebounder. And then the one kid blocks shots. They have a little bit of everything. I'm a little bit surprised at their record but I'm telling you, when you see they beat Alabama, had Mississippi beat, played Florida on the road and had their chances to win the game, and now have us, I think you see them moving in the right direction and I think you're going to see them start knocking people off. I just hope it's not us and that we're not the first."

On whether (Bruce) Ellington looks different from last time ...
"Yes, when he missed a few it led him to miss another one, another one, another one. He's not doing that now. He'll miss two shots and come back and make a shot or two. He's playing physical, he's better with the ball, his decision making is better than it was then. He'll be an issue for us."

On his thoughts on his team bonding on the road ...                                                                                                                                                                    "The best thing about when school ends and we have that time together and we're going three times a day, including a breakfast meal and an evening meal. Then you go on the road and you're 24/7 for two days and you're together at meals, at shoot around, at film sessions. They start coming together and that's why this time of the year, I like it and I really don't mind going on the road, especially when you're just trying to bring your team together."

On what Darrin Horn has been doing at South Carolina ...
"He's been doing fine. It's a hard job. He's set the stage for where he wants this to go, he went from man to zone. He's not afraid to try things. I think he's doing a fine job. It's just, South Carolina is hard. It's a hard deal to get going and that's why you have to stick with a guy and give him seven or eight years and give him something to get going. I think the last guy to really do some stuff down there may have been, what, Frank McGuire? It's a good program. It's a great school, great facilities. It just takes time to get it going right."

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Kentucky Values Teague For Playmaking, Not Points

(AP) - Marquis Teague's scoring average keeps dropping. It's just what top-ranked Kentucky has needed from its freshman point guard.

Teague has been passing up shots and cutting his turnovers, transitioning from scoring leader to distributor to the delight of coach John Calipari.

"The guy that has the ball, if he's playing well, you've got a chance. If he's not playing well, you have no chance. Now, he can play well and you still lose because everybody else is playing bad, but they can all play well and if he's playing poorly and you can't win," Calipari said. "He is really listening. He's playing the way we need him to play."

And Kentucky (22-1, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) has another bona fide star at the point following the likes of John Wall and Brandon Knight. Calipari also had success developing Tyreke Evans and Derrick Rose at Memphis.

Teague, the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, has increased his value while producing fewer points.

"It's kind of like having a quarterback and that guy has to get us all in tune, and he is," Calipari said. "He's doing really well."

Teague had averaged 10.9 points over the Wildcats' first 17 games while averaging 4.4 assists and more than three turnovers per game. In the last six, Teague has reached double digits only once, but he's committing one less turnover a game while Kentucky won all six by an average of 15.6 points.

"It makes it a lot easier when you all like each other. I think we've got a great team where we pass the ball to each other," Teague said. "We've got guys that are like superstars on this team, everybody's unselfish, plays together and plays hard. It makes it a lot easier."

Kentucky's next test is a trip Saturday to South Carolina (9-11, 1-5), where the Gamecocks knocked off Calipari's first No. 1 team with the Wildcats in 2009.

Calipari stuck up for Teague earlier this season when he was criticized following 18 turnovers over a four-game stretch. He's improved even as fellow freshman Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the rest of the Wildcats draw most of the headlines.

"A guy like Marquis Teague, who scored 28 a game in high school, is running our team, not scoring as many points. A Michael Gilchrist who scored 25 a game. We're not running one play for Michael Gilchrist," Calipari said. "Whether it's Doron Lamb, Terrence Jones or Darius Miller ... they're accepting that these freshmen are really good. Yet they're still stepping up and playing. So there's a good thing going because they want to win. They like each other. They really do like each other."

Teague said repeatedly he knew what he signed up for when he came to Kentucky, and he's beginning to thrive in the system. He also has plans come April when the Wildcats may be featured in the only game of the month - the national championship.

"I'm just trying to stay within the offense, get everybody good shots and do what coach asks me to do," Teague said. "We just want to continue to get better every day. (We) just want to get better and ready for April."

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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UK Women Blow Out Ole Miss 82-41 To Go To 10-0 In SEC

(AP) - Freshman Bria Goss scored 19 points and No. 6 Kentucky matched its best start ever with an 82-41 victory over Mississippi on Thursday night.

The Wildcats (21-2, 10-0 Southeastern Conference) equaled the 1982-83 team and are looking to do something that team couldn't - win an SEC championship to join the school's only other title team from the 1981-82 season.

Kentucky forced Mississippi (12-11, 2-8) into 36 turnovers, the most in a conference game this season, and didn't skip a beat even though leading scorer A'dia Mathies had an off night. Mathies, averaging 15.4 points, went 2 of 14 from the field and finished with 11 points.

Courtney Marbra scored seven points to lead Mississippi.

Kastine Evans scored 12 points and had a career-high seven steals, while Samarie Walker added 11 points as Kentucky won for the 18th straight time at home.

Whether Kentucky captures its second conference title in school history will likely be determined over the next three games. Kentucky heads on the road for games at LSU on Sunday, at No. 8 Tennessee on Feb. 13 and at Alabama on Feb. 16. The Wildcats already have a win over the Volunteers, who are two games back in the loss column after falling to South Carolina 64-60 on Thursday night.

Mississippi never got within single digits in the second half. Up 40-29, the Wildcats used a 15-3 run to put the game out of the reach that included five different scorers.

Crystal Riley hit a 3-pointer in the right corner, Walker cleaned up a miss from Mathies, Evans hit a jumper and after Bernisha Pinkett's strip and missed layup, the Wildcats grabbed three offensive rebounds before Walker finally scored to give Kentucky a 55-32 lead with 13:53 left.

Kentucky would make it 30 with just over 8 minutes left and take its first 40-point lead in the final 1:27 as Mississippi shot 27.3 percent in the second half.

The Rebels were without inside presence Nikki Byrd, who was averaging 13.1 points and 9.5 rebounds but was hurt late in the Rebels' loss on Sunday to Auburn. Leading scorer Valencia McFarland was held to six points, well-short of her average of 13.6 per game.

Kentucky freshman Azia Bishop didn't dress because of an unspecified violation of team rules.

No matter, the Wildcats kept on rolling after an early hiccup.

Kentucky jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but after Mathies' layup the Wildcats went more than 6½ minutes without a field goal before Brittany Henderson's putback of a Mathies' miss gave Kentucky an 18-16 lead.

Mississippi, which is beginning a stretch of five of its final seven regular-season games on the road, took its only lead, 14-12, after consecutive baskets by McFarland, but couldn't extend it because the Rebels kept sending Kentucky to the foul line early.

Kentucky finally got going and Keyla Snowden hit a 3-pointer from the right corner that gave Kentucky its first double-digit lead, 29-18, with 6:05 left. Mississippi, which came in averaging 17.5 turnovers per game, committed three in the final minute to finish the half with 20 and trailed 37-23 at the break.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

 

 

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UK 82 Ole Miss 41

UK, off to their best start in SEC history came out with some tough defense, but Ole Miss didn't seem to upset because they were out-shooting Matthew Mitchell's team.

With less than 7 minutes to go in the first half, UK led 24-18 even though they were shooting only 32%.  Ole Miss was hittintg 53%, a surprising number.  UK had the lead because their defense at times looked like they had six players on the court. 

Ole Miss had 13 turnovers at that point, with UK losing it only 6 times.

Kentucky's energy started wearing Ole Miss down.

Keyla Snowden with a pretty three from the baseline to give UK a 29-18 lead.

Then it was A'dia Mathis with a slick long pass to Samantha Drake who makes it 31-21 UK. The turnover battle is 16-7 and Ole Miss is starting to miss with their shooting down to 45% with the Cats up by 10.

Ole Miss averages 17 turnovers a game.  They have 20 at the half.  UK has only 8.

Ole Miss continued to lose their shooting touch.  They finished the half at 41%.  UK didn't shoot well for the entire 20 minutes and they finish with 30%.

UK leads 37-23 at the half with their best player, A'dia Mathis having an off night.  Mathis has hit only 1 of 8 shots, but UK still leads by 14.

Ole Miss ran out of steam in the second half.

Crystal Riley with a 3 to give UK a 49-32 lead.

Then after another UK steal, Samarie Walker goes to the boards.  After four misses by UK she puts it in.  55-32 with 13:52 to go.

After yet another Ole Miss turnover, Bria Goss goes flying in for a layup, UK leads 70-39.  The talented freshman led all scorers with 19 points.

UK had four players in double figures.  Kastine Evans had 12 points and a career high 7 steals. The great A'dia Mathis had 11 even though she shot 2 of 14, and Samari Walker also chipped in with 11 points and 6 rebounds.

What was more impressive than the 82-41 win was UK forcing 36 turnovers.  That's their best effort in SEC play this season.  UK only had 10 turnovers.

After a fast start, Ole Miss got cold from the field.  Both teams shot 35%.

UK is now 21-2 overall and 10-0 in SEC play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Top Recruit Nerlens Noel Reclassifies To 2012

Nerlens Noel was the best center in the class of 2013, until now.

Noel has reclassified to the class of 2012 and Kentucky is on his list.

At 6-foot-10, Noel is a defensive beast, and may even be a better shot blocker than Anthony Davis.

He also lists Syracuse, UConn, Georgetown, Florida, Providence and North Carolina as schools he's interested in.

Noel is currently in prep school.

 

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UK Hoops Takes On Ole' Miss Thursday

The No. 6/5 Kentucky women's basketball team looks to continue its record-breaking season when they meet Ole Miss on Thursday in Memorial Coliseum. It will mark the final home game for the Cats until Feb. 20. Game time is 7 p.m. ET.

This marks the first time in program history UK has started conference play 9-0, and UK's 20-2 start ties its best start in program history through the first 22 games. Kentucky's best start to a season was in 1982-83 (21-2). The Wildcats have also won a school-record 12 straight SEC games dating back to last season, and their current 17-game home winning streak is the fourth longest in program history.

"We are looking forward to playing tomorrow night," UK Hoops Coach Matthew Mitchell said. "We have another tough opponent coming into Memorial. We're happy to have a chance to play at home and Ole Miss has a good team and we'll have to be ready to earn a victory. We're looking for a good practice today and we're excited to have another chance to play."

UK earned its third consecutive 20-win season Sunday with an 82-68 win over Alabama. The balanced scoring effort was led by senior Keyla Snowden (Lexington, Ky.) with 14 points, while junior A'dia Mathies (Louisville, Ky.) and freshman Bria Goss (Indianapolis) added 13 and 11 points, respectively. UK forced the Tide into 25 turnovers resulting in 29 points for the Wildcats.

Overall this season, Mathies, who was named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top-20 list, leads the team in almost every statistical category, including scoring (15.4), steals (2.9), 3-point field goals made (38) and 3-point field goal percentage (.388). She is also second on the team in rebounding (5.4) and assists (2.4). Goss follows in the scoring column with 11.4, while sophomore forward Samarie Walker (West Carrollton, Ohio) is the team's leading rebounder with 6.3 rebounds per game.

UK ranks in the top 10 of five national statistical categories. The Cats lead the nation in turnover margin (+11.4), are sixth in won-lost percentage (90.9), seventh in scoring offense (78.1), eighth in scoring margin (21.0) and ninth in steals per game (13.1).

Ole Miss (12-10, 2-7 Southeastern Conference) enters Thursday's contest coming off a 54-67 loss at home to Auburn on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore point guard Valencia McFarland led the Rebels with team highs in points (15) and assists (four), and a team-high tying five rebounds and three steals.

McFarland leads the Rebels in scoring and assists. The 5-foot-4 Edwards, Miss., native is sixth in the conference in scoring, averaging 13.6 points per game, and is second in the SEC in assists, passing out 5.3 per game. Senior forward Nikki Byrd cleans the glass for Ole Miss, grabbing 9.5 rebounds per game, second in the conference, to go with her 13.1 points per game.

Thursday will mark the 33rd meeting between Ole Miss and Kentucky. The Rebels lead the series 20-12, including an 8-6 advantage when the game is played in Lexington. However, UK has won two in a row vs. the Rebels and two in a row in Lexington. UK won last year's meeting 74-68 in Oxford on Jan. 27, 2011.

A limited number of reserve tickets remain for Thursday's game. Fans interested in tickets can visit the Joe Craft Center ticket office, go to UKathletics.com, or call the UK ticket office at 1-800-928-CATS.

All reserved tickets are $7 regardless of age. Age 5 and under are admitted free. UK students, faculty and staff are also admitted for free, based upon availability.

If not able to attend the game, it can be heard on the UK IMG Sports Radio Network with Neil Price. Fans can also follow the UK Hoops team on Twitter at @UKHoopCats and use #UKHoops to comment on the game.

 

 

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Joker's Comments On His 26 Player Recruiting Class

This is most of Joker's comments during his signing day press conference.

COACH PHILLIPS: This past season has been a really good season and I say "season" past year, because this thing started a year ago. We didn't just all of the sudden begin to recruit. Recruiting is year-round these days, and this staff did an unbelievable job of recruiting. The (recruiting) staff is made up of the coaching staff, their families, their wives did an unbelievable job, our support staff, the people in this building, and across the campus.

That includes Mitch Barnhart, Dr. (Eli) Capilouto, and Coach "Cal" (John Calipari), who did an outstanding job of -- very few big-time Division I coaches in men's basketball are willing to open up their locker room at the 30-minute mark and let some high school football recruits come in and address them, and I appreciate Coach Cal for doing that.

And Dr. Capilouto and Mitch Barnhart, when we got those guys in front of our prospects, they did an outstanding job of selling our vision and where we are as a football program, and it was a good chance for us to -- for the recruits to hear from our administration, the support that we have here at Kentucky. This is a strong recruiting class, and the class got stronger in the last 48 hours when a couple of kids decided to join us.

This is our second year in a row that we have had an opportunity to sign a full class. I say "full class" I mean a full class of 25. Because of the numbers and because of the quality that we have had in these last two classes, I think the core, the core and the strength of this program is in our younger players, these 59 players that have three years or more (of eligibility) in this program right now.

Last year we brought in 25, 11 of those got on the field, could have easily been 4 or 5 others that could have got on the field, the other guys probably needed a year of development but there were a couple of other guys that could have gotten on the field and we feel that this is that type of class and might even be better than the class we put together last year.

I also talked to you last year about we have come up with a profile of what the student athlete in football looks like here at Kentucky. Has to be high character, a guy that really wants to get a degree and a guy that wants to be successful and loves the game of football, not only loves the game of football but loves playing the game of football here at Kentucky, and this staff did a good job of evaluating early and I say "a year ago" because we started a year ago.

We started two or three weeks ago starting on the 2013 class. So it's about the same time that we started on the '12 class, so we did a good job of evaluating early guys that fit this profile and guys that fit our needs, also playing at a high level in this league that you have to have.

Because of that we were able to get kids to commit to us early and they might not have gotten all the attention from other scouts, other schools because of that. We were able to get 'em early enough because we identified them and because of the profile that we talk about, that our kids that we're looking for, okay, the commitment meant something to them and late in this process there was a lot of kids that were getting hammered by other teams, and Jordan Watson was one of the those guys getting killed by other teams, trying to get him to turn his back on the University of Kentucky, and Jordan stood strong. A couple of other kids, Dyshawn Mobley, another kid that stayed strong because of the profile that we were looking for, a guy that has high character, wants to get a degree and loves to play football and brings that love here to the University of Kentucky; we were able to hold on to what we called a great class that got even better in the last 48 hours.

A lot of that had to do with the relationships that we have established and that's the thing that this staff has talked about. We talk about family atmosphere and it truly is. If you look at the staff from to the to bottom, those are guys that I have had relationships with in the past, not only as they have coached me or I've coached with or seen coach or some of them were friends that we have met in this business, and that has nothing to do with -- and I heard a statement that "Coach Brooks' guys are out of here," it's not about Coach Brooks' guys, it's about Joker's guys, and everybody understands the type of relationship that Coach Brooks and I had here at Kentucky.

I would die on the sword for Coach Brooks, our relationship was strong, very strong. I want the guys that are willing to die on the sword for me in the back of the room, and we have 'em.

We were able to sign some top players here from Kentucky, the top player (Patrick Towles), and along with that three other players from Kentucky. The state of Ohio, who we have been talking about has to be important to us, we got two kids from the state of Ohio, and I appreciate the effort of Coach (Rick) Minter and Coach (Mike) Cassity, who has joined our staff, we were able to get two quality players in the state of Ohio and has to be a huge emphasis of ours to be able to go into the state of Ohio, which is - (there are) a lot of people between here and Dayton that love the game of football that fit the profile that we're looking for, and we have got to be in there, and not just be in there but be in there strong.

Eight kids from Georgia, we continue to go into that state and attract kids. I think because of the relationships that many of the guys on this staff, Coach (Greg) Nord has relationships with the coaches in Georgia, Coach (Tee) Martin, myself, Coach (David) Turner, offensively our staff has relationships with the high school coaches, with the addition of Coach (Steve) Pardue, he got us into south Georgia, which we hadn't been as strong in the in the last few years but bringing Coach Pardue on board strengthened those relationships.

Four from the state of Florida, and Coach (Mike) Summers has done an unbelievable job in the north Florida area. Usually you don't see an offensive line coach responsible for a huge area, he has one for us in Florida, and a lot of that is in the northern part of Florida and done an outstanding job for us.

Coach (Chuck) Smith did a great job in the state of Indiana in which we were able to sign three more kids along with the other kids that we have on our team from Indiana.

State of Tennessee, which Coach (Randy) Sanders continues to go into Tennessee and get players that we know and that fit our profile that we know can compete here in the SEC, and one kid from Alabama that Coach Martin just hangs around, hangs around until one shows up that we feel like can help us. The needs offensively, what we were looking for, the key to the class was to find a top-ranked quarterback (Patrick Towles), and he came on early. He was coming back from his spring break, came over to the office, committed to us.

He became the face of this class, so we were able to get that top quarterback; playmakers at the wide receiver position (A.J. Legree and DeMarcus Sweat), as you all know, is something that we had to go for. We feel good about that position, couple of SEC backs (DyShawn Mobley and Justin Taylor). We were kind of hanging around late, and when he (Taylor) became available we reached out and touched people that we had relationships with and we were able to attract him and those relationships were strong and there were a lot of people who hadn't seen this place, and the kid hadn't really seen this place, and that speaks volumes to me on the relationships that we have, because the kid hadn't seen the place and late in the game decided to join us and gain a top-ranked back.

A Wildcat-type quarterback, that was important for us to find (Jalen Whitlow), especially the way we played in the last game. Sometimes things happen you have to get into different packages and I think when we can get an opportunity to add a package to our offense that's great.

He is a Randall Cobb-type athlete. It's hard to compare to be with Randall Cobb, but that's what Randall was when we got him, we think he's the type of player.

Big offensive linemen, I'm not talking about big this way, but big this way (tall)! And Coach Summers, his profile, he wants guys over 6-4 and the one thing he says is he and Coach Nord say, "If you want NFL offensive linemen, they have to look like them." There are some exceptions, especially at the center position, they could be more athletic, smaller, but we want to get the guys -- but we were able to get those guys over the 6-4 mark and especially on the edge and on the offensive line.

Defensively we are all learning how to recruit to this new system. This new system requires us to have more athletes on the field, what you are seeing offensively, with the spread, people are running the spread and running a power game with it, power packages, you better have athletic guys that cannot only play out in space but they better be physical enough to play over tight ends and playing the power game. So, the back seven, it was really important that we go out and try to fulfill those needs because of the production that we lost in the back seven, the back seven being the linebackers and the secondary.

We signed 11 guys in those positions, in the linebackers and the secondary; seven in the defensive backfield and four linebacker-type bodies. We were able to add to what we think should be our strength on defense, the defensive line, still able to go out and find three quality defensive linemen. Any questions?

Q. Re: opportunity for defensive backs to come in and play

COACH PHILLIPS: Obviously we recruit guys that -- one of the selling points was you were going to have an opportunity to come in here and play.

Again, we will continue to do what we have done in the past, our present players will be battling for the 1 and 2 spots because we want to give our new kids this new class an opportunity to get enough reps to see if they can come in and help us. They will come in at the 3 spot. Some, because of depth, may come in at the 2 spot because of depth, so they will all get an opportunity early to see if they can help us.

We feel like the more that can help us -- again, we played 11 out of our class last year, and this class should be able to come in and help us, even more this year.

Q. re: Jonathan Reed and Cody Quinn

COACH PHILLIPS: Reed and Quinn, first of all you want guys in the secondary that are wanting to compete. These guys are good competitors, they better have a short memory, because things happen back there, better be physical, better be tough and guys that want to get up in people's faces and challenge them; that's the way we play.

When they walk into the room, they light it up, they are guys that people want to be around. We always talk about "This is a guy that I would hang out with in college," and both of those guys are it.

Q. Possibility of Quinn being a kick returner

COACH PHILLIPS: We talked about the return game with Quinn, same with Reed; they need to be dynamic returners, also.

Q. When did you get word that the late commitments were going to sign?

COACH PHILLIPS: Well, I mean, we had heard, had a couple of ideas that these kids were probably going to sign with us, but you never know. And one guy (Taylor) was two miles from the school, from home to school, a lot can happen in two miles, a lot! Especially in Atlanta, two miles is probably forty minutes, right? (Chuckles.) And we heard that he was headed to the school to fax it, you don't want to get too excited but there is some excitement in your belly. It erupts when the fax comes through.

I think Dick (Gabriel) had a chance to experience it, the excitement that our staff had when he came in, when the fax came in on both of those guys. Again, we thought that both might sign, but you don't get excited until those faxes really come through the machine.

Q. Re: the excitement in the recruiting room when the new commitments came through.

COACH PHILLIPS: Lit up, it lit up. It made us better coaches, no question about that. We tell the players we got better today when every one of the kids on the side of this room came in. The first one that came in was this guy up here (Towles). That's what you better have. You better have a guy that's going to pull the trigger, going to be the leader and the face of your program, that's going to be the first guy that shows up and his was the first that showed up.

Q. Re: Patrick Towles and what he brings

COACH PHILLIPS: Well, again, Kentucky guys, parents are born and raised here, his grandfather (Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning), we know what type of athlete he was, and actually he will wear his number, he will be No. 14, I think that was important to him. Again, high character, he is a guy that will get a degree and a guy that wants to be successful here at Kentucky and I think that's important.

It's very important for this staff, important for him. Again he was a guy identified early, established a relationship, got him to commit, and didn't worry, okay, did not worry about people coming in and trying to sway him. Because he was a high-character-type kid.

Q. What did you like about him?

COACH PHILLIPS: Big, big athlete that can throw the football. He's a guy that came in here, I think he's at 230; he was 242. Hopefully he doesn't get as big as his quarterback coach he has right now -- (Chuckles.) But big athlete, takes charge, he's a film room junkie, winner, went in as a sophomore when the starting quarterback goes down, he was the guy that went in and all he did was lead 'em to a state championship as a sophomore and then went on to win two more after that. He's the guy that's the type of leader that we need to be the face of this program.

Q. Re: concern over Towles' commitment

COACH PHILLIPS: With a guy like Patrick Towles, no, very little concern, let's put it that way because I got a call at 10:30 from him, woke up out of a sleep and all he wanted to know was, "Coach, does the SEC letter need to have a time on it?" And, again, he's the type of kid that we were looking for. He committed early, and the profile, the kind of kid that we believe in, he stayed strong to what he believed in.

Q. Re: deciding which defensive backs play cornerback and which play safety

COACH PHILLIPS: We will have some that we have identified to be corners, some that we have identified to be safeties, some that we have identified to be the hybrid safety. What this allows us to do is maybe some of the kids that are in our program that are the hybrid-type of guy that's probably in development, couple years ahead of these guys in development might allow us to move them inside closer to the ball.

When you move 'em closer to the football it makes us a faster football team defensively.

Q. Re: Patrick Graffree being the type of player you want at Kentucky

COACH PHILLIPS: Coach Turner, did you hear that one? Patrick Graffree, is he the type of kid that you want at Kentucky? All you have to do is follow him, he's going to give you information every day. He's a guy that's proud to be a Wildcat and not ashamed to show it. Patrick Graffree is not ashamed to show it, he's proud to be a Wildcat.

Q. Re: the challenge of finding linemen

COACH PHILLIPS: It's real important to grow your big guys close to home, I think that's real important. We have had success in doing that here, (Corey) Peters, (Myron) Pryor, (Garry) Williams, we have had guys that have had success here and not only success here but at the next level. It's real important for us, if we can, to grow our big guys close to home.

Q. On opportunity for Towles to compete for playing time

COACH PHILLIPS: It definitely is, they all have an opportunity to play and to compete for a job here.

Q. Re: recruitment of Justin Taylor

COACH PHILLIPS: Well, he was on campus and he did not see many of our coaches. He was on campus two weeks ago, and we got word of him being here with an academic team here on campus, we got wind, we invited him over, Coach Sanders was the only coach that he got a chance to see along with Tyler Sargent, showed him around the facility, our trainers checked out his knee and felt that he would be ready for June, and we feel that he will be ready to come back and display his ability in the fall camp as an SEC back.

He's not as big tall-wise as he is compact, and I think that's what an SEC back better be, to withstand the blows that he's going to take, Dyshawn (Mobley) is the same type of back; he has the ability to make people miss. Coach Sanders always talk about one guy in the back end that you can't block, and we want backs that if we turn the safeties loose, about the third period, they don't want to tackle them. Sometimes when we go in and have plays, our receivers will go in and dig out safeties. Now it's the corners, they don't want to tackle these guys after period one, and we have a couple of those guys, and we think that's important.

Q. Re: Khalid Henderson

COACH PHILLIPS: Khalid Henderson was a guy that we were sitting there waiting, when he became available, Coach Minter had a chance to go down and visit with him, and he liked the look in his eyes, liked him physically -- and I say "physically" because you better like 'em physically first, you know, because -- it's just like when I met my wife, I saw her from a distance, I better like what I saw first, before I approach her (laughter).

And Coach came back and described him to us, he liked him physically, you kinda question until you see him for your own eyes, and when I did that, it was exactly what Coach Minter saw, again, fit the profile of what we want to be the face of our defense, and that's what the linebacker is, the face of our defense, and he runs around and makes play after play after play. Coach and him sat down and watched film, and it was only on Danny Trevathan. Coach doesn't mind long meetings when he has a recruit on campus, and Khalid didn't mind those long meetings. We are looking for football junkies, and that's what Khalid is. He saw the potential to be put into the position that Danny Trevathan was in making plays for us.

Q. Re: offensive line signees are already the size of college linemen

COACH PHILLIPS: It definitely helps when you can bring in offensive linemen that look like SEC offensive linemen. Now, their strength levels might not be up there yet but we brought one in last year in Darrian Miller whose strength levels weren't there, but he was athletic enough and mentally he could handle it, therefore he was -- and, again, talent will overcome experience and his talent overcame some of the experienced guys that was in front of him.

We think these guys are talented enough, we got to get 'em physically ready to compete at a high level, but physically their bodies, they have long arms, at the tackle position. We have a couple of guys that have enough strength to play inside, we just got to get 'em prepared mentally.

Q. Re: possibility of Towles being further along because of having worked with Jared Lorenzen

COACH PHILLIPS: Well, just because of the system that he's been in, also, not just Jared They (Highlands HS) do a good job of developing quarterbacks, he (Coach Dale Mueller) was there before Jared, Coach Minter had one of his guys, a kid from Cincinnati (Gino Guidugli), so they have done a good job of developing quarterbacks, it's the system there. We feel like it gives him a chance to compete and compete early.

Q. Re: being able to see a player in summer camp

COACH PHILLIPS: That's huge! That's huge! We don't worry about what stars any of you guys might put on 'em, it's huge. I value, I really value the valuation back there in that room more than I do some guy that's putting stars on guys. Just watched a couple reels of film and put a star value on those guys.

I value Coach Summers and his evaluation. And being able to work with guys in two sessions of camp means more than to me than anything, and some of them might not be ranked as high as some of our folks might want, but I don't remember Dermontti Dawson having a huge star on him, he might have been a zero star when he came in because he hadn't played a lot of football, and he couldn't bench, but he left here a five-star guy. And that's the reason I value the evaluations of those guys in the back room, along with this guy here in the front.

One thing we want to do is see all of our kids practice, also, we want somebody to see 'em do something physically, and that's what I value. I don't value the star system.

Q. Re: recruiting of Langston Newton

COACH PHILLIPS: Langston Newton, he has been (here), but it isn't as easy as you would think. You would think that we have a good relationship with his family and his family has been outstanding through the time that Morgan has been here but the recruitment of Langston was not as easy as you think. He wanted to do his own thing, he wanted to go about this process in his own way, he took Morgan out of it and his family out of it and he's, again, high character kid, very intelligent kid that did his homework. He didn't allow Morgan to do his homework. He did his own, and we were able to land him because of that, because he felt strong enough about this program himself.

Q. Re: seeing DyShawn Mobley in the summer

COACH PHILLIPS: Well, we made the decision at camp that Dyshawn was good enough to play in this league. We made that decision that night at camp. After going through the testing, after watching him go through the drills, watching how he worked, how he interacted with other people. The problem was we didn't know him, okay, we did not know him and a lot of the other kids we didn't know, some others that we offered in camp. One thing we wanted to be fair is to this program. Let's establish a relationship with him, let him establish a relationship with us.

We asked him to come back up here, he did, we asked him to come back up for a game, Coach Pardue went down to watch him play a game, we got around the school, so we are now starting to establish a relationship because if we would have offered him then and there and he would have committed because we hadn't established a relationship, it's hard to think that the commitment would have been strong enough to keep him.

But because of the relationship that we built with him first, then the trust that he had in us and us telling him, "Love to offer you now, but we would like to get to know you." That's it, that's what we told him, and it's hard to do in this business, and because we were honest and up front with him, that's the reason we were able to hold off the teams that tried to come in and sway him.

Q. How many of the signees were seen in he summer?

COACH PHILLIPS: Oh, I don't know. Somebody count that up, how many guys were in our camp? I don't know. Lots! Lots! I know the Blaylock triplets were in our camp, I can tell you that! I've been asked that numerous times, Chapman was in our camp, Patrick Graffree was in our camp, Foster was in our camp twice, Nord? Harris was not, more than that now, T.J. Jones -- 15. I value those guys back there evaluations. We had two sessions when they were in our camp, that's two sessions to work with 'em and that's what I value.

Q. Re: what attracted the coaches to Landon Foster

COACH PHILLIPS: Foster? Made it rain, Coach Nord? Didn't he, Coach Nord? Make it rain, that's his term, and the ball has to sound different. You know an SEC punter when you hear him, you know an SEC kicker when you -- you don't have to see it, you can close your eyes and walk past and it's going to sound different than a pee-wee punter. This guy is an SEC punter, high character kid, intelligent, right look in his eyes, room lights up when he comes in.

Q. Re: challenge of recruiting with the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M

COACH PHILLIPS: Again, this is the toughest league no, doubt about that and we have proven that we have been right in the mix here, and this gives us plenty of hope that we feel like we can compete with the top-ranked teams. I think we've beaten every team in the east in the last four or five years except for Florida, beaten many of the teams in the west and went toe-to-toe with 'em, so we feel comfortable with us being one of those top-ranked programs, also, we just got to find consistency in the program.

Q. Re: after defeating Tennessee and signing his class, does the program have momentum?

COACH PHILLIPS: Well, we have a lot of momentum right now. With that win over Tennessee and with this class, but it means nothing, means nothing. We have to continue the development of the players that we have on our campus and that's the way to get better, is development of the players and also additions. We have added a quality class, the thing that we have to do is have some momentum going into not only fall camp but also have momentum going into the football season.

Q. Re: being able to sell the opportunity to play

COACH PHILLIPS: Yeah, we are. We are selling the opportunities to play. If you look at our top classes we don't have a lot of numbers in our top classes so that becomes an opportunity for a young guy to come in here and play.

Again, 59 players, three years or more (eligibility remaining), it's going to be harder for us to sell that. Especially with the quality, not only the numbers, not only the 59 kids that have three years or more but the quality in that 59 that we have.

Q. Re: importance of getting wide receivers

COACH PHILLIPS: It was key for us to get some quality wide receivers and one of 'em was in camp, right? (DeMarcus) Sweat was in camp and, again, trust his evaluation, trust Coach Sanders and I used to be a decent wide receivers coach, and we feel good about him, and along comes A.J. Legree. Before he went to the All-Star game, we offer him, everybody else hears about the All-Star game and they start to come in, again, Coach Sanders established a relationship with the coach and with A.J. Legree, the kid commits and that's trust in my opinion, building a relationship with a kid when the kid commits before showing up on campus and, again, because of the profile of the kid that we're looking for, understood what commitment meant, they weren't able to sway him.

Q. Re: why rival schools were unable to sway Jordan Watson

COACH PHILLIPS: Again, the profile of the kid that we have. There is a reason why they weren't able to sway Jordan Watson -- high character, understands what a commitment means, he wants to get a quality degree and that's what we have here, kids that want to get quality degrees, therefore they aren't able to sway those type of kids.

Q. Re: getting an early look at the 2013 class

COACH PHILLIPS: And we did. Some we saw four or five weeks in a row with a different coach coming in to see them, just to get our face, our logo in front of them, again, that's how you establish relationships, and it's hard to come between when you've established that type of relationship with the kids.

It's a really good class, we will have a couple of junior days to build the relationships that we have established. We were able to get into Cincinnati, we blitzed it one Friday and that's what we tried to do is use our Fridays and use them wisely by getting into areas close to home, but Fridays are usually a short day, a day that you don't get a chance to see some recruits because they are usually on visits so we use it to stay closer to home and see some of our (2013) ‘13 kids which gave us a chance to establish relationships, have 'em on campus, just continue to build on that relationship.

Then we get a commitment from them we feel strong about that commitment.

Q. On Phillips' strong stance on positive recruiting

COACH PHILLIPS: It has definitely set us apart. Sundays I meet -- we have the kids to my house on Sunday for Sunday brunch and I meet with those kids and their parents in my office and the thing that I hear the most is, "Coach we get a lot of information here at Kentucky." We don't spend time talking about other people's problems; we don't do that. We spend our time wisely, and our time wisely here at Kentucky is talking about what we have here at Kentucky.

If I'm talking about Matt May, I'm waisting Joker Phillips, and I'm wasting time. The thing we want to do is sell our program, and the thing that I hear from our parents -- and we had, I bet you 95, 96% of these kids had their parents on campus with them when they came on the visit, and all of those parents talked about getting more information at Kentucky than we do any other school and a lot of that has to do with us selling Kentucky. We're not spending time talking about somebody else's problems.

Information with our CATS center, about our coaching staff, our conference, we have 108 majors, we sell Kentucky. We show them our stadium, our video boards, we have this beautiful city that we have here in Lexington, so we are selling Kentucky and pumping them with information to help them make a wise decision about what is going to be on their wall for the next forty years, that degree.

 

 

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Bios Of All Of UK's New Football Signees

Daron Blaylock, DB, 6-1, 215, Fr-HS, Marietta, Ga. (Walton) - Played both safety and linebacker in high school ... Second-team all-state in Class AAAAA by the Georgia Sports Writers Association ... Played at Walton HS in Marietta, Ga. ... Helped Walton to a 14-1 record and state runnerup finish in Class AAAAA ... Ranked as the No. 31 inside linebacker in the nation by 24/7 Sports ... One of the nation's top-100 linebackers by Scout.com ... Posted 75 tackles and an interception during his junior season ... Has been timed in the 4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash, an excellent time for a linebacker ... Coached by Rocky Hidalgo ... Son of Mookie Blaylock, who played 13 years in the NBA with New Jersey, Atlanta and Golden State ... Twin brother of fellow UK signee Zack Blaylock ... Name pronounced same as "Darren."

Shawn Blaylock, DB, 5-10, 166, Fr-HS, Lithonia, Ga. (Stephenson) - Two-way player in high school, seeing action as a wide receiver and cornerback at Stephenson HS in Stone Mountain, Ga. ... Projects as a defensive back as a collegian ... Broke the school record with three interceptions in a game ... Team posted a 9-2 record and advanced to the state playoffs both his seasons at Stephenson ... Also played corner his sophomore season at Shiloh HS in Snellville, Ga. ... The nation's No. 77 corner by Scout.com ... Has been timed under 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash ... Coached at Stephenson by Ron Gartrell ... Teammate of current UK signee DeMarcus Sweat ... Will join former Stephenson products Jabari Johnson, Raymond Sanders and Ronnie Shields at UK.

Zack Blaylock, DB, 6-0, 188, Fr-HS, Marietta, Ga. (Walton) - Big-play performer from his safety position ... Intercepted 11 passes as a senior, returning five for touchdowns ... First-team all-state in Class AAAAA by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Georgia Sports Writers Association ... Played at Walton HS in Marietta, Ga. ... Helped Walton to a 14-1 record and state runnerup finish in Class AAAAA ... Cobb County Defensive Player of the Year ... Rated the No. 34 safety in the nation by Rivals.com ... Rated No. 52 nationally by Scout.com ... One of the top-40 prospects in Georgia by SuperPrep ... Coached by Rocky Hidalgo ... Son of Mookie Blaylock, who played 13 years in the NBA with New Jersey, Atlanta and Golden State ... Twin brother of fellow UK signee Daron Blaylock.

Kory Brown, DB, 6-0, 208, So-JC, Moncks Corner, S.C. (Berkeley/East Central Community College) - Enrolled at UK in January ... Has three years of eligibility at UK after redshirting 2011 while recovering from a knee injury ... Spent the last two years at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss. ... Played four games at safety as a freshman until sustaining the injury ... During those four games he made 26 tackles, caused two fumbles and intercepted a pass ... The nation's No. 69 junior-college player as ranked by 247 Sports, also the No. 11 juco player in Mississippi and the nation's No. 3 juco safety ... Coached by Brian Anderson ... "Kory's physical nature stands out," Anderson said. "He gets off blocks well and is a big hitter. He's also a quality young man of the finest character." ... Played high school football at Berkeley HS in Moncks Corner, S.C. ... Three-year starter who played cornerback and safety ... An all-region pick as a senior ... Helped Berkeley to three strong runs in the state playoffs, including a state semifinal appearance his junior year and quarterfinal berths as a sophomore and senior ... Played for the winning South team in the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game following his senior season ... Coached at Berkeley by Jerry Brown ... Berkeley's defensive coordinator, Ed Moore, said, "Kory was the most instinctive player I've ever coached, always at the right place at the right time. He's a very physical player, very good in run support as well as pass coverage. He's also a great young man." ... In addition to football, participated in basketball, baseball, wrestling and track and field in high school ... Advanced to the state meet in the high jump his senior year and had a best leap of six feet, four inches ... Comes from an athletic family ... An older brother, Omar, played football at Marshall and was a senior in 2011 ... Another brother, Evan McKelvey, currently plays at Marshall ... A cousin J.J. McKelvey, played at Clemson and is now playing arena football ... Kory enjoys community service and has helped coach children in youth league sports.

Thomas Chapman, DL, 6-4, 285, Fr-HS, Louisville, Ky. (duPont Manual) - Highly regarded defensive tackle prospect ... The nation's No. 30 DT and the No. 2 prospect in Kentucky by Rivals.com ... The No. 31 tackle and No. 4 Kentucky prospect by 24/7 Sports ... The No. 32 tackle nationally by Scout.com ... No. 4 in Kentucky by ESPN and SuperPrep ... Selected for the Offense-Defense All-America Game at Cowboys Stadium ... Played at duPont Manual HS in Louisville ... Bounced back to play his senior year after missing most of his junior season because of injury ... Team went 9-3 his senior season and was in the second round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs ... Coached by Dr. Oliver Lucas.

Landon Foster, K/P, 6-1, 198, Fr-HS, Thompson Station, Tenn. (Independence) - Has the ability and versatility to be a punter and kicker on the collegiate level ... Named first-team all-state in Class AAAAAA as a kicker by the Tennessee Sports Writers' Association ... Picked as the punter for the all-state "Dream Team," covering all classifications, by the Nashville Tennesseean ... Made 11 of 16 field goals as a senior with a long of 49 ... Averaged 41.3 yards per punt ... 50 of his 56 kickoffs went for touchbacks and four of the others were on-side kicks ... Named his team's Most Valuable Player, a rare honor for a kicking specialist ... Independence HS went 8-3 his senior year and reached the state playoffs in Class AAAAAA ... Rated the No. 8 kicker in the nation by Scout.com and the No. 12 kicker by 24/7 Sports ... The No. 10 prospect in the state of Tennessee by SuperPrep, which wrote, "Technically strong with good hang times and directional ability. Also performs well under pressure." ... Played for the winning West team in the Tennessee East-West All-Star Game ... Coached by Kevin Dyson ... Has worked with former Tennessee Titans punter Craig Hentrich ... Also played soccer in high school.

Patrick Graffree, DL, 6-4, 270, Fr-HS, Elizabethtown, Ky. (Central Hardin) - Second-team all-state as a senior by The Associated Press and the Louisville Courier-Journal ... Played at Central Hardin HS in Cecilia, Ky. ... Team's best finish was 9-3 as a junior, advancing to the second round of the state playoffs ... Totaled 91 tackles as a junior, featuring 10 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks and a pass interception ... Participated in a pair of postseason all-star games after his senior year ... Played for the winning Greater Louisville team in the Best of the Bluegrass All-Star Game, defeating a team from the remainder of the state ... Also played in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee Border Bowl ... One of the top-10 prospects in Kentucky by Rivals.com, 24/7 Sports and SuperPrep ... The nation's No. 72 defensive tackle by 24/7 ... Head coaches at Central Hardin were former UK quarterback Mark Perry and Mike Lawson.

Josh Harris, DB, 6-0, 191, Fr-HS, Maysville, Ky. (Mason County) - Versatile athlete ... His multiple skills were displayed at Mason County (Ky.) High School, where he played running back, receiver, linebacker and defensive back ... Rushed for 2,848 yards and 42 touchdowns in his career, despite missing most of his senior season because of injury ... Totaled 582 receiving yards and eight TDs ... Also threw a couple of touchdown passes ... Totaled 287 tackles and six fumble recoveries on defense ... Team went 9-2 his junior season and 10-1 as a sophomore ... One of the nation's top-60 running backs as chosen by Scout.com ... The No. 2 prospect in Kentucky by SuperPrep ... Coached by David Buchanan ... Also played basketball in high school.

Khalid Henderson, LB, 6-0, 213, Fr-HS, Mableton, Ga. (Pebblebrook) - Linebacker combines good size with outstanding athleticism ... Has been timed as fast as 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash ... Made 74 tackles with two interceptions as a senior at Pebblebrook HS in Mableton, Ga. ... The No. 19 outside linebacker in the nation by ESPN and the No. 17 prospect in Georgia ... Rated as the No. 51 outside linebacker in the nation by Scout.com ... One of the top-60 prospects in Georgia by 24/7 Sports ... Coached by Randall Smith ... Named is pronounced "kah-LEED."

T.J. Jones, OL, 6-6, 290, Fr-HS, Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Myrtle Beach) - Offensive line prospect who projects as a tackle on the collegiate level ... Played tackle at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) HS ... Helped his team win at least 11 games every season ... Myrtle Beach won the Class AAA state championship his junior year with a 14-1 record ... State quarterfinalist as a senior with an 11-2 mark ... 13-2 record and state runner-up his soph season ... Rated the No. 23 prospect in South Carolina by 24/7 Sports and No. 28 in the state by Rivals.com ... No. 34 in South Carolina by SuperPrep ... One of the nation's top-100 offensive tackles by 24/7 and Scout.com ... Coached by Mickey Wilson.

A.J. Legree, WR, 6-1, 178, Fr-HS, Fort White, Fla. (Fort White) - Gifted wide receiver combines pass-catching skills with the athletic ability of a state-champion high jumper ... Played wide receiver and cornerback at Fort White (Fla.) HS ... As a senior, caught 47 passes for 698 yards and 10 touchdowns ... Made six interceptions on defense, returning two for touchdowns ... First-team all-state in Class AAA by The Associated Press ... Named the Area Player of the Year by the Gainesville Sun ... Helped Fort White to an 8-4 record and second round of the state playoffs ... Turned in a breakout performance in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game ... Was named the No. 2 prospect in the game by Rivals.com and the "Sleeper of the Night" by Scout.com ... Coached by Demetric Jackson ... Won the state high-jump championship as a junior with a leap of six feet, 10 inches.

Dyshawn Mobley, RB, 5-11, 205, Fr-HS, Powell, Tenn. (Powell) - Set Tennessee single-season rushing records with 3,068 yards and 44 touchdowns as a senior ... Averaged 12.2 yards per carry ... Led Powell (Tenn.) to a 14-1 record, reaching the state championship game in Class AAAAA ... Named to the all-state "Dream Team," covering all classifications, selected by the Nashville Tennesseean ... First-team all-state by The Associated Press ... Career totals feature 5,849 rushing yards, averaging more than 10 yards per carry, and 76 touchdowns ... Three-year all-district choice ... Helped Powell to an 11-1 mark and second round of the state playoffs as a junior ... Also excelled as a linebacker on defense ... Rushed for a record 118 yards in the Tennessee East-West All-Star Game and was named the East Offensive Most Valuable Player ... Coached by Matt Lowe ... Name is pronounced "DAY-shawn MOBE-lee."

Zach Myers, OL, 6-3, 285, Fr-HS, Miamisburg, Ohio (Miamisburg) - Combines good athletic ability with offensive line skills ... Played offensive guard at Miamisburg (Ohio) HS ... Could become a center as a collegian ... Rated as the No. 52 offensive guard in the nation by Rivals.com ... Also the No. 79 guard by 24/7 Sports and the No. 85 guard by Scout.com ... One of the top 60 prospects in the talent-rich state of Ohio by Rivals ... Named second-team All-Southwest Ohio ... Coached by Tim Lewis ... Son of Brad Myers, an offensive lineman at UK from 1984-87 ... Brad played one year with Joker Phillips (1984) and blocked for three of the top rushers in Kentucky history - George Adams, Mark Higgs and Marc Logan.

Langston Newton, DL, 6-4, 254, Fr-HS, Carmel, Ind. (Carmel) -First-team all-state as a senior at Carmel (Ind.) HS ... Helped lead Carmel to a 14-1 record and state championship in Class AAAAA ... A disruptive presence in the defensive line, combining good size, strength and athletic ability ... Projected as an end in the collegiate ranks ... The No. 6 prospect in Indiana and the No. 28 strongside defensive end in the nation by 24/7 Sports ... No. 8 in Indiana and the No. 40 strongside end nationally by Rivals.com ... Rated as the No. 69 overall prospect in the six-state Midwest area by SuperPrep ... Helped Carmel to the state finals his soph season ... Coached by Kevin Wright ... Also outstanding in track and field, as he had full scholarship offers in that sport from nationally prominent schools ... Competes in the shot put and discus throw, events that put a premium on quickness and explosion as well as strength ... Brother of current Kentucky quarterback Morgan Newton.

 

 

Cody Quinn, DB, 5-10, 163, Fr-HS, Middletown, Ohio (Middletown) - Brings outstanding speed to the cornerback position, having run the 40-yard dash under 4.5 seconds ... Helped Middletown (Ohio) HS to three-consecutive 10-win seasons and berths in the state playoffs ... Third-team All-Ohio by The Associated Press as a senior ... Intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and had 10 pass breakups ... His speed also indicated by the fact that he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a junior ... The No. 63 prospect in Ohio by ESPN and also the nation's No. 68 cornerback ... The No. 102 prospect in the six-state Midwest area by SuperPrep ... Coached by Troy Everhart.

Jonathan Reed, DB, 5-9, 185, Fr-HS, Indianapolis, Ind. (Pike) - Swift cornerback has been timed as low as 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash ... Played at Pike HS in Indianapolis, Ind. ... Helped Pike to a state playoff berth each season ... Runner-up in the state sectional as a junior with a 9-3 record ... One of the top-10 prospects in Indiana by ESPN ... Also the nation's No. 44 cornerback prospect by ESPN ... Named to the juniors-only all-state team in 2010 by the Indiana Football Coaches Association ... Coached by Derek Moyers.

DeMarcus Sweat, WR, 6-1, 192, Fr-HS, Lithonia, Ga. (Stephenson) - Combines good size with explosive ability ... Has good height for a receiver ... Big-play potential shown by his three punt return touchdowns and three kickoff return touchdowns during his senior season at Stephenson HS in Stone Mountain, Ga. ... Has been timed as fast as 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash ... One of the nation's top-100 wide receivers by ESPN ... One of top-80 prospects in Georgia by ESPN and 24/7 Sports ... Team posted a 9-2 record each of his last two seasons at Stephenson ... Coached at Stephenson by Ron Gartrell ... Teammate of current UK signee Shawn Blaylock ... Will join former Stephenson products Jabari Johnson, Raymond Sanders and Ronnie Shields at UK.

Jordan Swindle, OL, 6-7, 310, Fr-HS, St. Johns, Fla. (Creekside) - Second-team all-state as a senior in Florida Class AAAAA by The Associated Press ... Big offensive line prospect ... His height and long reach are ideal for pass protection ... Played at Creekside HS in St. Johns, Fla. ... Helped lead Creekside to an 8-4 record as a senior and the first state playoff win in school history ... Named All-First Coast (all-area) by the Florida Times-Union ... Also named to the Florida Times-Union "Super 24" list of top area prospects ... One of the nation's top-100 offensive tackles as evaluated by ESPN ... Coached by Greg Stanton.

Justin Taylor, RB, 5-10, 200, Fr-HS, Atlanta, Ga. (North Atlanta) - Projected as one of the South's top running backs heading into his senior season ... Committed to Alabama prior to his senior year at North Atlanta HS but incurred a knee injury in September ... Decided to re-open his recruitment after Alabama asked him to grayshirt ... Knee rehabilitation is going well and is expected to be ready to compete when practice begins in August ... Rushed for approximately 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior at Washington HS in Atlanta ... Named All-Atlanta as a junior ... One of the nation's top-40 running backs by ESPN and 24/7 Sports ... Coached by Stanley Pritchett.

Kadeem "Pancho" Thomas, LB, 6-0, 225, Fr-HS, Tallahassee, Fla. (Godby) - A tackling machine at Godby HS in Tallahassee, Fla. ... Racked up 142 tackles as a senior ... Helped team to a 9-3 record and a spot in the second round of the state playoffs ... Totaled 143 stops as a junior, ranking sixth in the state in tackles, and was named the Area Defensive Player of the Year by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club ... One of the nation's top 40 inside linebackers by Rivals.com, 24/7 Sports and ESPN ... Played for the winning North team in the Florida North-South All-Star Game sponsored by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association ... Coached by Ronnie Cottrell ... Name is pronounced "kah-DEEM."

 

 

Fred Tiller, DB, 6-0, 180, Fr-HS, Homerville, Ga. (Clinch County) - Outstanding athlete could play either side of the ball in college ... Standout wide receiver and cornerback at Clinch County (Ga.) HS ... First-team all-state by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Georgia Sports Writers Association as a senior ... Helped Clinch to a perfect 15-0 record and Class A state championship as a junior ... Caught 31 passes for 736 yards and nine touchdowns during that junior year, along with 65 tackles and five interceptions on defense ... Rated the No. 45 athlete in the nation by Rivals.com ... Coached by Jim Dickerson.

Jon Toth, OL, 6-5, 290, Fr-HS, Indianapolis, Ind. (Brebeuf Jesuit) - Big offensive lineman who also is noted for his athleticism ... Could be slotted as a guard or tackle on the collegiate level ... Played at Brebeuf Jesuit in Indianapolis, Ind. ... Helped Brebeuf advance to the state playoffs each year he was on the varsity ... Ranked as the No. 11 player in Indiana and the No. 33 offensive guard in the nation by 24/7 Sports ... Rated the nation's No. 60 offensive tackle by Scout.com ... Coached by Ryan Gallogly ... Name is pronounced "TOETH" with a long "o" sound.

Patrick Towles, QB, 6-5, 242, Fr-HS, Ft. Thomas, Ky. (Highlands) - Named to the Parade magazine All-America team ... "Mr. Football" for the Commonwealth of Kentucky ... Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky ... Won the Paul Hornung Award as the Kentucky Player of the Year ... Big, strong-armed quarterback who also has notable running ability ... Led Highlands HS to three consecutive state championships as the starting quarterback, Class AAAA as a senior and Class AAAAA as a sophomore and junior ... Team compiled a three-year record of 44-1, including 38-1 with Towles as the starter ... As a senior completed 171 of 279 passes (61.3 percent) for 3,820 yards with 42 touchdowns and only one interception ... Also rushed for 589 yards and 15 TDs ... Career totals feature 7,429 passing yards and 73 touchdown passes while rushing for 1,718 yards and 38 TDs ... The No. 1 prospect in Kentucky and one of the top-10 pro-style quarterbacks in the country by Rivals.com and 24/7 Sports ... Athleticism is such that ESPN rates his college position as "athlete" instead of quarterback ... Coached by Dale Mueller ... Highlands' quarterbacks coach was former UK QB Jared Lorenzen ... Strong arms are in Towles' heritage as he is the grandson of Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning ... Last name is pronounced "TOLES."

Jordan Watson, OL, 6-4, 315, Fr-HS, Fayetteville, Ga. (Whitewater) - Well-regarded offensive lineman ... The No. 39 offensive guard in the nation by Scout.com ... No. 37 nationally by 24/7 Sports ... Rated as the No. 31 prospect in Georgia by SuperPrep ... Earned first-team all-state honors by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ... Played at Whitewater HS in Fayetteville, Ga., and blocked for current Wildcat Josh Clemons ... Earned a spot in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star Classic ... Coached by Amos McCreary.

Jalen Whitlow, QB/ATH, 6-2, 210, Fr-HS, Prattville, Ala. (Prattville) - Exciting athlete with multiple skills ... Helped Prattville (Ala.) HS to the Class AAAAAA state championship and a top-25 national ranking ... Split time at quarterback and wide receiver ... Earned honorable-mention all-state honors even though he wasn't the team's full-time quarterback ... Listed as the nation's No. 12 dual-threat QB and the No. 20 prospect in Alabama by 24/7 Sports ... The No. 32 prospect in Alabama by Rivals.com ... Coached by Jamey Dubose.

Sterling Wright, DB, 5-11, 201, Fr-HS, Miami, Fla. (Coral Reef/North Carolina Tech) - Played prep school football at North Carolina Tech in Charlotte, the same school that produced current Wildcat Farrington Huguenin ... Known as a hard hitter with good range ... Coached at N.C. Tech by Tim Newman ... Played his high school football at Coral Reef HS in Miami, Fla. ... Helped team to a 6-4 record senior year ... Totaled 55 tackles and caused eight fumbles ... Coached at Coral Reef by Chevas Clements.

 

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Keith Bogans Finds A New Home In The NBA

Keith Bogans is back. The New Jersey Nets signed guard Keith Bogans and waived small forward Larry Owens.

Because Keith is a very good defensive player, and a smart veteran player, it's surprising it took so long for him to find another job after he was cut by Chicago. The Bulls let him go when they signed veteran guard Rip Hamilton. They were looking for more offense.

The former UK star started every game for the Chicago Bulls last season, averaging 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in less than 18 minutes a game.

The 31 year old 6-foot-5 eight-year veteran holds career averages of 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

"Keith will give us defensive toughness and experience," says Nets general manager Billy King. "He will add depth and versatility to our perimeter."

 

 

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Final 48 Hours Big For Cats

The Cats new class is now 26 because Kory Brown will count towards last year's recruiting class.

There are three players this coaching staff is doing cartwheels over because of how it all came together in the last 48 hours.

Khalid Henderson was going to Tennessee. UK believes he is a big time linebacker prospect.

Justin Taylor, a tailback, planned on going to Alabama until the Tide said they wanted him to sit out.

AndJalen Whitlow, a quarterback-athlete from Alabama who the coaches might have to find a way to get on the field.

"Playmaking athlete was QB / WR / RB for Prattville, the Alabama Class 6A state champs," says Joker. "Another pickup this week!"

Plus, if you like bloodlines, DeMarcus Sweat, who will have a chance to return kicks next year, is a cousin to former UK star defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon, who is back with the Denver Broncos.

"Two receivers that I'm excited to have in this class," tweeted receiver coach Tee Martin. "AJ and DeMarcus both add value to our receiving core and both can play multiple positions and both will help us in special teams. The on thing that I look for when I'm looking for in a receiver is confidence, swag and playmaking ability. Both of these guys have IT."

Here is a list of the new Cats.

Daron Blaylock, DB, 6-1, 215, Marietta, Ga.
Shawn Blaylock, DB, 5-10, 166, Lithonia, Ga.
Zack Blaylock, DB, 6-0, 188, Marietta, Ga.
Kory Brown, DB, 6-0, 208, Moncks Corner, S.C.
Thomas Chapman, DL, 6-4, 285, Louisville, Ky.
Landon Foster, K/P, 6-1, 198, Thompson Station, Tenn.
Patrick Graffree, DL, 6-4, 270, Elizabethtown, Ky.
Josh Harris, DB, 6-0, 191, Maysville, Ky.
Khalid Henderson, LB, 6-0, 213, Mableton, Ga.
T.J. Jones, OL, 6-6, 290, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
A.J. Legree, WR, 6-1, 178, Fort White, Fla.
Dyshawn Mobley, RB, 5-11, 205, Powell, Tenn.
Zach Myers, OL, 6-3, 285, Miamisburg, Ohio
Langston Newton, DL, 6-4, 254, Carmel, Ind.
Cody Quinn, DB, 5-10, 163, Middletown, Ohio
Jonathan Reed, DB, 5-9, 185, Indianapolis, Ind.
DeMarcus Sweat, WR, 6-1, 192, Lithonia, Ga.
Jordan Swindle, OL, 6-7, 310, St. Johns, Fla.
Justin Taylor, RB, 5-10, 200, Atlanta, Ga.
Fred Tiller, DB, 6-0, 180, Homerville, Ga.
Kadeem Thomas, LB, 6-0, 225, Tallahassee, Fla.
Jon Toth, OL, 6-5, 290, Indianapolis, Ind.
Patrick Towles, QB, 6-5, 242, Ft. Thomas, Ky.
Jordan Watson, OL, 6-4, 315, Fayetteville, Ga.
Jalen Whitlow, QB/ATH, 6-2, 210, Prattville, Ala.
Sterling Wright, DB, 5-11, 201, Fr-HS, Miami, Fla.

 

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Joker's Tweets On New Cats

From the world of twitter. We thought you might want to see some of Joker's comments from the beginning of signing day.

"Kadeem "Pancho" Thomas had more than 140 tackles as a jr and sr. One of nation's top 40 inside LBs by ESPN, Rivals.com, 24/7.

T.J. Jones is a big offensive lineman who also has athleticism. Played on very good team at Myrtle Beach HS, state champ his junior year.

Jalen Whitlow is in! Playmaking athlete was QB / WR / RB for Prattville, the Alabama Class 6A state champs. Another pickup this week!

Khalid Henderson timed under 4.6 in 40. ESPN rates No. 19 LB in nation. Wore #22 in HS, liked idea of wearing Danny T's number at UK - we do too!

Justin Taylor in, great Signing Day catch! Former Alabama commit came with the Cats. Fine combination of speed and power, strong runner.

Landon Foster is in, combo punter and placekicker. 11 of 16 FG this year, long of 49. Punting average of 41.3. 1st team all-state in Tenn.

Shawn Blaylock in the house. Another two-way player as a WR and CB from Stephenson HS in Georgia. Timed under 4.5 in the 40.

Jon Toth another from Indys, big offensive lineman. Athletic player who could be a guard or tackle at UK. Rated as No. 33 guard in nation.

Fred Tiller was a great two-way player at WR and CB. We'll probably take first look at him as cornerback. First-team all-state in Georgia.

Jordan Swindle is an offensive lineman with great height and reach, ideal for pass protection. 2nd-team all-state in Florida Class AAAAA.

DeMarcus Sweat a WR with big play ability. Started returning kicks this year and returned three kickoffs and three punts for TDs.

Jonathan Reed another speedy cornerback, timed as fast as 4.38 in the 40. Indianapolis area becoming very good territory for UK!

Cody Quinn in. Cornerback under 4.5 in the 40. Originally commited to Illinois, Mike Cassity's relationship helped bring him to UK.

Langston Newton was an explosive force in the D-Line as he led Carmel to state championship. Also great in track in shot put, discus.

Zach Myers in. Good athletic ability as a lineman. Played guard in HS, might look at him as a C, too. His dad, Brad, great lineman at UK.

Dyshawn Mobley set Tennesee single-season rushing record with 3,000+ yards. Averaged 12.2 per carry. Offensive MVP of state all-star game.

Josh Harris played all over the field at Mason County HS. Very good athlete. We'll take first look a him on defense, probably at safety.

Patrick Graffree much like Chapman. DT from Kentucky who really wanted to be a Wildcat. Showed very good pass rush ability from DT."

 

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All-American QB First To Say Yes To UK

It's signing day. Of all the new players, the one who will get the most publicity and could end up being one of the best recruits since Tim Couch, is the future quarterback.

Patrick Towles, QB, 6-5, 242, Fr-HS, Ft. Thomas, Ky. (Highlands).

"Congratulations to Patrick Towles!," says Joker. "A quarterback has to be a leader of your team and Patrick was the first fax in today at 7:01."

Towles was named to the Parade magazine All-America team and "Mr. Football" in Kentucky. Plus, he is the Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky. He also won the Paul Hornung Award as the Kentucky Player of the Year.

He led Highlands to three consecutive state championships as the starting quarterback, Class AAAA as a senior and Class AAAAA as a sophomore and junior.

Towles is a winner. Highlands three year record was 44-1, including 38-1 with Towles as the starter.

You have to wonder with if Towles will have a real chance to become the starter as a true freshman.  Offensive Coordinator Randy Sanders is saying he will get that opportunity.

 

As a senior, he completed 171 of 279 passes (61.3 percent) for 3,820 yards with 42 touchdowns and only one interception Also rushed for 589 yards and 15 TDs.

Rivals.com calls Towles one of the top-10 pro-style quarterbacks in the country.

Plus, if you are into athlete bloodlines, Towles is the grandson of Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning. Last name is pronounced "TOLES."

 

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Joker Excited About Future Cats

When Joker meets with the media Wednesday afternoon, look for him to do what coaches do. Talk about how excited he is about this recruiting class will be for the future for UK.

There will be many True Blue fans who will say, that's nice, but the record needs to be better.

This is a list of Cats who are officially ready to wear Kentucky uniforms next season.

DB Daron Blaylock; DB Zack Blaylock; OL John Toth; DT Patrick Graffree; DB Fred Tiller; DB Jonathan Reed; DB Josh Harris; OL Zach Myers; DL Thomas Chapman; RB Dyshawn Mobley: WR A.J. Legree; DL Langston Newton; DB Cody Quinn; WR DeMarcus Sweat; OL Jordan Swindle; RB Justin Taylor; K/P Landon Foster; Khalid Henderson. Jalen Whitlow, QB/ATH, 6-2, 210, Fr-HS, Prattville, Ala. (Prattville).

The Cats are really excited over linebacker Khalid Henderson who is rated as the No. 19 outside linebacker in the nation by ESPN and the No. 17 prospect in Georgia. His name is pronounced Kah-LEED.

"Henderson timed under 4.6 in 40," Joker said via twitter. "ESPN rates No. 19 LB in nation. Wore #22 in HS, liked idea of wearing Danny T's number at UK - we do too!"

UK is taking advantage of some problems with Tennessee's football program.

"He's another we were waiting on pins and needles this week. Former Tennessee commit now with UK."

UK is looking for a home run threat at tailback. They hope Justin Taylor can fill the role.

"Former Alabama commit came with the Cats. Fine combination of speed and power, strong runner."

"He's one of the best running backs in the country," wide out coach Tee Martin told UK's web site.

Alabama wanted Taylor to redshirt.

As far as freshman running backs who will play next season.

"I don't look to redshirt anybody," says running back coach Steve Pardue on UK's site. "We hope everyone can come in ready to play. You need to have a stable of running backs. Running backs can also help on special teams. Redshirts usually come through injuries."

 

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John Calipari's Post Game Comments Following Victory Over Tennessee

An Interview With:

COACH JOHN CALIPARI

Q. On a scale of 1-to-10, 10 being the highest, how good was the defense?
COACH CALIPARI: We were really good defensively. We were really good. You know, the way we scored the ball in the first half, we were able to create a gap. But (Renaldo) Woolridge came out and makes five 3s, and I'm looking at guys, after he made two, and then he made the third, you're like, ‘Are you not watching the game?' But they were tough shots, and he made them.
Again, I thought we were good, and we played good in a rough game. It was a rough game. I mean, we played good in it. But again, you go back to Terrence Jones playing like he played physically, it makes us better.

Q. Coach (Cuonzo) Martin talked about Anthony Davis for a second, called him one of the best, if not the best players in the country and said a player like him comes along once in a lifetime. Your thoughts about the way he played tonight and putting that in perspective?
COACH CALIPARI: Well, I had one already. I had Marcus Camby, so that's twice in a lifetime now, and I'm hoping for three and four in a lifetime. But he doesn't command the ball. I mean, he's just playing. If you pass him up, he doesn't get mad about it. He rebounds, he blocks shots. Today (he had) three assists, one turn(over). He's a special player.
And mainly because he's about his teammates. It's not just what he does. Look, there are players out there (who are) really good players and all that, but their teammates don't want to play with them, don't like them. This kid let me just say this: He whistles and skips going to class he's so happy. I heard him the other day. I said, ‘Who's that whistling?' and it was him going to class, just skipping like he's having fun, he's enjoying himself, he's not putting any pressure on himself, he's just playing.

Q. When you look at Terrence (Jones') numbers tonight, not like they were Saturday. What things did you see that you liked just as much as you did Saturday?
COACH CALIPARI: The biggest thing is he's being physical. See, you can't negate how we're being played. Hopefully people watched tonight and know that kind of game plan even if it's not coach wise, it's player wise watching us, looking at this and saying, ‘You know, it's hard to play them that way.' But Terrence gives us a physical presence. He can score the ball. He's a skilled player. He's got to compete and battle, and that's what he's doing now.

Q. I'm wondering with (Anthony) Davis hitting a couple of face the basket shots, blocking (Jarnell) Stokes early on, how much credit should he get for setting the tone early?
COACH CALIPARI: Well, he should get a lot, but again, we're a team, and I thought a lot of guys did a lot of stuff. We're not even talking about Michael (Kidd-)Gilchrist; he goes 16 (points), 8 (rebounds), and again, two steals, and he defends and gets a steal late. I mean, he's just he's playing. You know, you can go right down the line. Darius (Miller) and Doron (Lamb) didn't play great, but they played good defense. And it's not like they played bad.
We're not going to be pitching shutouts now, so I'm happy with the team. We've got to get better. We've got to keep improving. You know, we're not turning it over that much.
We play and you saw us at the end of the game, we love to play fast. We want to play fast. But if we have to grind it out, we can, and we did at the end. The last seven (to) eight minutes, we just grind it out. We want to grind it, we're going to grind it, so we can play both ways if we have to.
Q. It looks like this team is really starting to come together and create some continuity among each other. Talk about that. These guys have only known each other six months.
COACH CALIPARI: Well, and really it's less than that. But they have they want to win above how they're playing. So a guy like Marquis Teague, who scored 28 a game in high school, is running our team, not scoring as many points. A Michael (Kidd-)Gilchrist who scored 25 a game. We're not running one play for Michael Gilchrist, not one play. Well, we ran a slice cut twice, so I ran two plays for him. Whether it's Doron Lamb, Terrence Jones or Darius Miller, veterans, quote, two sophomores and a senior, and they're accepting that these freshmen are really good, yet they're still stepping up and playing. So there's a good thing going because they want to win. They like each other. They really do like each other.
The one thing I like that happens during that we call it Camp Cal where we're together, they just get together and they get with one another, and I love road trips. I love going on the road because it's just us. You know, you've got 11 players and our staff and that's it, and we're together for two, three days. So that kind of stuff helps this team because we are four freshmen, two sophomores and a senior playing most of the minutes.

Q. You may have answered my question with that right there, but do you feel like just in the last couple of weeks this team has made a lot of strides, and if so, what's been the key to that?
COACH CALIPARI: Marquis Teague. The guy that has the ball, if he's playing well, you've got a chance. If he's not playing well, you have no chance. Now, he can play well and you still lose because everybody else is playing bad, but they can all play well and if he's playing poorly and you can't win. He is really listening. He's playing the way we need him to play. Again, we go 1-for-10 from the 3 point line, and he found guys, they just didn't make shots. So his four assists could have been eight. They were wide open, they just missed them.
So he's playing (and) that's helping us. Michael (Kidd-Gilchrist) is getting better, Anthony (Davis) is getting better, Terrence (Jones) is finally more physical, Doron (Lamb) and Darius (Miller) are doing things to help us. Kyle Wiltjer is way better than he was. Today Kyle Wiltjer got five rebounds. Come on now, we're use to him shooting 3s. So they're all getting better. But it's kind of like having a quarterback and that guy has to get us all in tune, and he is. He's doing really well.

Q. Off the beaten path a little bit, you guys both have your teams to worry about, but do you have a chance to chat and compare notes with Matthew Mitchell, both being highly ranked teams?
COACH CALIPARI: Well, he and I talk twice a week. I'll stop in the office, he'll stop in my office. I'll stop in his practice, he'll stop in my practice. You know, he has done such a fabulous (job). He's selling out Memorial. We played Alabama, sellout; Valerie Still was back. And they're really good, like they're really good. They're fun to watch. My players love watching them play. Coach, why don't we play a little like them, let us go a little bit. So it's been a unique experience in that there are other programs that have had teams like this, but I just don't know if they've gotten along like our two teams have.

Q. You said a few times throughout the early part of the season, different times you said if this or that happens, when this or that happens, this will be scary. These last two games when you watch this team, is that in your mind's eye when you would say if this or that happens this will be scary, are these last two games sort of what you saw?
COACH CALIPARI: I would. I would tell you, they're different games. Now, LSU was rougher than this game, and it was allowed to be rougher. This game was not allowed to be rougher, but we didn't make any 3s. Last game we were 7-of-14 or 15 from the 3 point line. This game we missed them all. Lucky we made one. What was the streak? We have knocked down the streak there. How many games have we made a three? It almost went down the drain today. Who's the one guy that made it? Doron Lamb. I know it wasn't Darius (Miller).

Q. Is it overstating it to say that your guys are starting to relish that physical play you've talked about, or are they getting much closer to where you were
COACH CALIPARI: We had our guards at times. Doron (Lamb) went in there, Darius (Miller), there's still plays you've got one where Terrence (Jones) went baseline and (Skylar) McBee kind of pushed him and he never got to the rim. Come on now, that's got to be a dunk. Just go dunk the ball. So we're still not there.
What they did to Anthony Davis is absolutely when he caught the ball at the top of the key, mushed it, and again, that means toughness, and he just got rid of the ball a couple times. He wasn't ready to really be physical. So we've got a long way to go with that. But we've made strides.

Q. Earlier today the task force recommended a renovation rather than a new (Rupp) Arena. What was your thoughts on that and the tentative plans for the renovation?
COACH CALIPARI: I just heard about it on the way to the game. DeWayne (Peevy) called me and told me. I'm fine. Look, whatever is good for our city is good for our university, and whatever is good for the university is good for the city. That being said, we need to rebuild our campus, too, so I would encourage all the state legislators. This is the flagship campus. We have 500 new beds out of 6,000, 50 year old dorms, 60 year old dorms. We need new classrooms. They need to rebuild the campus, and they need to do it over a four or five year period ASAP. And now they build a place down there? If that's what they choose to do, rebuild Rupp, I'm fine, because it's good for our city. But whatever is good for our university is also good for our city.
Again, I'm not in the middle of it. What do they say, ‘My name is Bennett, and I ain't in it', so I'm good.

 

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Players React To Kentucky's Win Over Tennessee

Kentucky Men's Basketball
#1 Kentucky vs. Tennessee
Postgame Quotes
Rupp Arena - Lexington, Ky.
Jan. 31, 2012

Kentucky Players

#23, Anthony Davis, F

On whether he feels the success he's having ...
"A little bit. My teammates always tell me, ‘I'm going to hold him down. You just come over and block the shot,' so they really depend on me to block shots or at least alter shots. I kind of feel like but I don't want to jinx myself."

On whether he's trying to be more tough when there is physical play ...
"Most definitely. I know I'm going to have to be tough in order for us to win games. It's all about staying in front of your man and fronting them in the post. You have to three-quarter them, both feet, stay on the high side. It makes it harder for the post passer to throw it into the post. You just do that and I'll be fine."

On how the team has been clicking recently...
"Lately we've just been hanging out together. We've been doing everything together. We just feel it. Everybody is trying to get everybody into the game. No one is doing their own stuff. We're just kind of clicking and it's really showing on the court."

#3, Terrence Jones, F

On if this game was pretty much what they expected in terms of physical play...
"Yeah and I think we did a great job of executing on offense and just really locking down on defense and controlling the rebounds."

On how the first game in Knoxville helped them in this game...
"I think it helped a lot. We just played a lot tougher. I think we learned from the first game that we played them and we've just been learning from game-to-game since and just playing stronger and through bumps and it's just been working for us and helping us get better as a team.

On Anthony Davis and what makes him so special...
"Just how hard he goes on offense and defense when it comes to just rebounding, blocking shots and you can also go to him in the post. He's just so active and he plays with a whole lot of energy without the ball. So it's just hard to stop guys like that that are just being so active on defense and offense when it comes to getting offensive rebounds on missed shots and just putting them back with dunks or just blocking shots or helping out any guy's man that drives."

On if other teams' physical play helps bring them closer together...
"Yeah, we protect one another. Anything that happens we feel like it's happening to all of us, so any situation where something happens, we always run to each other to pick a teammate up or to defend another teammate."

#14, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, G

On the fast start to the game...
"We are just getting better and better. Our defensive intensity is crazy right now, so that helped us get off to a fast start."

On the difference in the last week...
"It's just about that time. It's almost March time and I am getting excited."

On the technical fouls in the first half...
"I don't even know what happened. Just a whole lot of chit-chat. We just had a few words but that's just basketball. I think it helped us a lot though."

On embracing the physical mentality this past week...
"We are getting used to it now. There is a lot of chemistry on this team now and we are just playing our game."

#25, Marquis Teague, G

On Coach Calipari's comment that they are improving through Teague running the team...
"I'm just trying to stay within the offense, get everybody good shots and do what Coach (Calipari) asks me to do."

On whether the team is approaching their potential...
"Yeah. We just want to continue to get better everyday. Just want to get better and ready for April."

On the scramble in the first half...
"Somebody pushed Terrance (Jones) and we all just came to help him and to clear it out. Then it got a little heated. No big deal."

Tennessee Head Coach Cuonzo Martin

Opening statement ...
"I felt like they did a great job of setting the tone early. They did a good job of executing their offense. Anthony (Davis) did a tremendous job protecting the lane and making plays defensively. I've said it before; he's the difference, probably one of the best, if not the best in the country at changing the game with his presence on the defensive side of the ball."

On Kentucky's defense...
"I think they do a good job, (Michael Kidd-) Gilchrist battled. They do a good job with their press; they are a good, sound defensive team. I think what happens is when you have a presence like that, I thought there were several times we had an opportunity to score the ball and (Anthony Davis) makes a great play. When you have a guy like that, they come along once in a lifetime, he just changes the game for you. You can do more things on the perimeter, you can pressure more, you can push guys in to him and make plays. He is a presence down there."

On Anthony Davis making jump-shots early...
"(I thought) it's going to be a long night. But you know he is a guy, I saw him in AAU basketball and he can make shots from the perimeter. He is a very intelligent basketball player and he does a tremendous job of playing to his strengths. That's a credit to he and their coaching staff and he accepts that. Like I said, on the AAU circuit, he can make perimeter shots, but in order for their team to be successful he does what is necessary and that is what's special about him."

On Renaldo Woolridge....
"I thought he did a good job of knocking those shots down but he has also put the time in to improving his shot and shooting consistently. He did a good job, especially in the first half, of keeping us at bay."

On Kentucky making its first 11 shots...
"You have to give them credit, they are playing at home in a great atmosphere but I didn't think our stars did a good job of setting the tone early. We had a couple turnovers, allowed those guys to get post position, allowed them to turn the corner in transition. I didn't think our stars did a good job of setting the tone for us."

On how to respond to Kentucky's momentum ...
"Just being a ballplayer, that's all. You can draw up a play any day of the week and I've said it from day one, at the end of the year, this time of the year you want a better basketball player, you can draw up all the plays in the world but somebody has to execute the play and that's what it comes down to. You can talk your guys through, get them ready to go but you have to be able to make plays and get stops."

Tennessee Players

#1, Josh Richardson, G

On the Rupp Arena environment ...
"I didn't pay attention to it. I just wanted to go out there and play basketball. It shouldn't have affected anything."

On the start that Kentucky had ...
"It hurts you a little bit, and your confidence. They play great defense and they come out and hit stuff you have never really seen before. You just have to keep playing hard and keep playing solid defense."

On Anthony Davis blocking and effecting shots ...
"He is a shot changer. The dude is like 6-foot 10 with 7-6 arms. If you get in the lane, you've got to go at him, but it is always going to be in the back of your mind. That this dude is huge and he is probably going to block it."

#3, Renaldo Woolridge, F

On people comparing his shooting performance in the first half to former UT great Chris Lofton ...
"I take that as a compliment. (Chris Lofton) is one of the greatest shooter of all-time, recently. It feels good, but we have to get wins. (Kentucky) was a tough team, they are number one in the country"

On playing at Rupp ...
"It is kind of like when we play at home, we can feed off the atmosphere. It is always tough being on the road, especially at Kentucky. But that atmosphere mixed with being the number one team in the country makes it really difficult and they are a great team. It was tough for us."

On the mental impact of Kentucky starting the game shooting 11-11 ...
"It's a long game and basketball is a game of runs. You just got to stick to it and keep playing. We try to keep battling, but a few runs over and over gets tough. We tried to stick in there."

 

 

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UK Beats Tennessee 69-44

For the third game in a row, UK held the opponent to their low scoring total of the season.  UK tops Tennessee 69-44.  Tennessee's low total was 51 before coming to Rupp.

At the first TV timeout, Rupp was standing and cheering.

Tennessee looked like a team that was searching for their first road win of the season.

Anthony Davis gets six quick points on two outside, that's right outside shots, plus an easy bucket inside.  And the super freshman had  a big time block on UT freshman Jarnell Stokes.

Cats jumped out 10-2.

After the time out, Davis dunks on a pretty pass by Marquis Teague.  Cats go up 12-2.

It got nasty with the score 16-5.  A lot of talking and pushing resulted in a double technical.  Anthony  Davis who was once again being pushed around and Trae Golden got the technicals.

11:38 to go in the half.  Cats lead 20-5.  Rocky Top has 5 points in over 8 minutes.  UK playing some big time defense.

At this point, UK is 8 for 8 from the field.  Tennessee is 2 for 11.

UK was on their way to a blowout when Renaldo Woolridge starting hitting from Corbin.  He has 5 three's and it's 34-22 UK with 3:11 to go in the half.

Woolridge was 11 of 34 from downtown going into the game.  He leads everyone with 15 at the half.

Anthony Davis is playing a great game.  10 points on 5 for 5 shooting.  5 rebounds and 3 blocks.

UK is shooting lights out.  13 of 19 for 68%.

Tennessee is shooting only 9 of 32 from the field.  But, from downtown they are 7 of 12 for 58%.  They have made only 2 shots that weren't three-pointers.

Cats lead 38-25 at the half.

Kyle Wiltjer with a wonderful hustle play.  He gets the offensive rebound and the reverse putback.  Cats go up 45-28.

Second half both teams were trading buckets.  Marquis Teague with the shot clock winding down hits from 18 feet.  UK leads 47-30.

Darius Miller with one of the shots of the game.  He crashes the boards, is off-balanced and puts it in to make it 49-32 with 11:35 to go.

With 7:36 to go, the game is over with the Cats up 53-36, but the interest is sky high.  At this point, Anthony Davis has 12 points, 8 rebounds and 7 blocks.  He has a shot at a triple double.

Terrence Jones is getting hounded.  He turns and passes to a wide out Kidd-Gilchrist for a dunk.  UK leads 61-40.

Davis finishes with 18 points on 6 of 7 from the field, grabs 8 rebounds and gets 7 blocks.

Kidd-Gilchrist had 16 points and 8 rebounds.

Terrence Jones had 11 points and 6 rebounds.

Cats win 69-44.

UK was only 1 for 10 from the field but they still shot 53%.

UK played a great defensive game holding Tennessee to 28%.

 

 

 

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Trevathan And Tydlacka To Play In All-Star Game

Former University of Kentucky stars Danny Trevathan and Ryan Tydlacka have been chosen to play in the Players All-Star Classic on Saturday, Feb. 4, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark.

The game, which is in its first year, will pit the North against the South. The North will be coached by former National Football League coach Martin Bayless, while the South will be coached by Kurt Schottenheimer. Both Trevathan and Tydlacka will play on the South team.

Players are going through a week of practice and other activities in front of NFL scouts. Complete schedule of events and rosters can be found at playersallstarclassic.com.

A native of Leesburg, Fla., Trevathan made 143 tackles during the 2011 season for the Wildcats, leading the Southeastern Conference in tackles for the second-consecutive season. Trevathan ranked fifth in the nation in tackles with an 11.92 average per game and led the nation's linebackers in fumbles forced (five), while ranking second among the nation's linebackers in interceptions with four. Trevathan finished the season with 11.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback sacks, five pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.

Trevathan ended his UK career ranked 10th all-time on Kentucky's career tackle list with a total of 374 stops. The All-American had a total of 20 games with double-figure tackles in his career, including a career-high 17 tackles in 2010 against Auburn, the eventual national champion, and also against Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Georgia.

Tydlacka, a native of Louisville, Ky., ranked fourth in the SEC by averaging 43.6 yards per punt in 2011. His outstanding hangtime and punt placement helped UK rank second in the league last season in net punting with 39.6 net yards per punt.

Tydlacka had 20 punts of at least 50 yards, leading the SEC in that category, and he also placed 19 punts within the 20-yard line.

Tydlacka was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week in his final game as a Wildcat, the 10-7 win over Tennessee. With field position at a premium for that game, Tydlacka kept Tennessee backed up all day long, as the Volunteers did not begin a drive outside their 30-yard line the entire game. He punted nine times that day for a 43.6-yard average and his placement and hangtime did not allow UT to return a punt.

For more information on the Kentucky football team, follow "UKFootball" on Twitter or visit UKathletics.com.

 

 

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Miller Time

For UK, it's Miller time.

Pick a spot on the court. Outside, inside, at the free throw line. In the last four games, not only is Miller averaging 16 points a game, but, when you watch him, you expect him to make every shot. He's hit 60% of his shots over this stretch. What's even better is he's made 10 of his last 16 shots from downtown. That's 62%.

For the last two games, Miller is once again coming off the bench as the 6th man.

"I never had a problem with it, honestly," says Miller.

"I still having the same opportunities as everyone else. I still feel like I'm a big part of the team. I mean whether he starts me or brings me off the bench, I could care less."

Miller admits there would be some in his position, as a leader and veteran who would not like not starting.

"I guess. We don't have time to really worry about that. We're trying to worry about winning the National Championship and become the best team we can, I mean so whoever plays, plays. I know whoever is playing deserves to play so that's all we are focusing on, win the championship."

Miller wants one thing. That's all he cares about. How can that not make True Blue Fans smile?

 

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UK Lands Commitment From 3 Star Dual Threat QB

Kentucky has landed a commitment from 3-star dual-threat quarterback Jalen Whitlow on the eve of National Signing Day for College football.

Whitlow, a 6-foot-3, 200 pound senior from Prattville (Al.) High School, tweeted Tuesday afternoon, "Just committed to The University of Kentucky. I thank God for this."

A scouting report on ESPN.com describes Whitlow as "an athletic pocket passer in the spread offense that could develop down the road into a productive dual-threat guy that is a passer first, runner second. He is very well built and looks like a wide receiver which is likely where he would end up if not at quarterback."

Whitlow is rated as a three star prospect by Scout.com, Rivals.com, and ESPN. Al.com dubbed him one of the most underrated recruits in Alabama in an article published Jan. 14.

Whitlow was originally committed to Arkansas State but was generating late interest from several SEC schools. Ole Miss reportedly offered a scholarship this week. Whitlow tweeted Monday that he spoke on the phone with former Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. Arkansas State head coach Gus Malzahn was Newton's offensive coordinator at Auburn.

Whitlow played several positions as a senior and racked up 30 touchdowns. He was the backup quarterback for Prattville. Rivals.com rated Prattville as the No. 1 high school team in the country in its preseason poll.

 

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