A Sea Of Blue

Kentucky Basketball: Why is Virginia Tech Holding Up Harrell?

2012-05-16T23:00:21Z

Here's a tweet from Dave Telep of ESPN.com earlier today:

At what point is Virginia Tech going to release Montrezl Harrell? End of period is upon us. Kid should be released by now.
— Dave Telep (@DaveTelep) May 16, 2012

Telep asks a very good question here. Harrell is asking for a release from his Letter of Intent because of the coaching change -- Seth Greenberg, who recruited Harrell, got fired earlier this year. Per NCAA rules, even if the Hokies release him from his LOI (and almost everyone expects that they will), he cannot sign another LOI with Kentucky, but he would be able to sign a scholarship agreement much as other players, like Brandon Knight, have done in the past.

I am not 100% convinced that Kentucky needs Harrell, or that he would be a particularly good fit here. If he comes, he would be the lowest-ranked freshman by the recruiting services that Calipari has brought in out of high school since he has been here. With that said, Calipari knows what he is doing, and Kentucky could use the front-court depth.

I feel the need for a #FreeMontrezl hashtag.

UPDATE: More after the jump.

In regards to Montrezl Harrell, Gabbard said he hasn't been granted release from NLI b/c of 30-day wait period that #Hokies can utilize.
— Hokies Journal (@HokiesJournal) May 16, 2012

And this:

Gabbard said he "doesn't anticipate we won't give [Harrell] a release. It just hasn't happened formally yet because of the process." #Hokies
— Hokies Journal (@HokiesJournal) May 16, 2012

You'll pardon me, and my French, if I say this sounds like bullshit. There is no excuse whatever for "utilizing" a 30-day waiting period if the young man has made up his mind. This is, pure and simple, a game that Virginia Tech is playing with a young man's life. Unacceptable.

Hat tip: Ben Roberts (@NextCats)

Kentucky Basketball: Where the Wildcats Stand as of Today

2012-05-16T21:28:33Z

The last immediate Kentucky Wildcats recruiting domino fell yesterday with Amile Jefferson's commitment to the Duke Blue Devils. There are still more potential 2012-13 Wildcats out there in the form of potential transfers and decommitments, but we are going to forget about them for the purposes of this article and take stock of what we have.

Returners:

Returning from last year's NCAA Tournament championship squad appear to be, in order of likely playing time next year:

Kyle Wiltjer -- We all know the who, what and why of Kyle. He is a deadly perimeter shooter, perhaps the most dangerous perimeter shooter in college basketball next year. Last year, Wiltjer was 35-81 (43%) from 3-point range, but from the beginning of the SEC season on, he was 22-43 (51%), and in the post-season he was 6-12 (50%). For a comparison, J.J. Redick, considered to be one of the best 3-point shooters in NCAA history, shot under 40% his freshman year from three, although he did play significantly more minutes even as a frosh, and that does matter some.

So it looks to me like 43% is about the floor for Wiltjer from the arc, and he will only improve from there. You never know, of course, but Wiltjer is going to be a Redick-like threat from outside next year, and could even be more dangerous than Redick was until his senior year. But what we don't know is how much the rest of his game will develop. Wiltjer has a long way to go to become a post threat or a threat off the dribble, but if he can simply learn to rebound and learn to defend his position, it would be enough to more than double his minutes from last year. Wiltjer will most likely be the starter at the small forward position, although he may be forced to guard the 4.

Jon Hood -- Hood had an ACL injury last summer that sat him out all of this year, which means he will most likely be granted a medical redshirt if UK requests one, and whether they do or not may depend upon how well he plays in 2012-13. When Jeff Sheppard went on the shelf for one year, he came back a different player, and there are some strong similarities between Hood and Sheppard. If Hood can develop a reliable perimeter shot and better ballhandling to go along with his size and athletic ability, he can become a major contributor next year.

But what we don't know is probably more extnsive than what we do. We have no idea how well he recovered from his serious knee injury, and as far along as medicine has come in the last decade, some players never really recover from that injury to anywhere near full effectiveness. We have to just wait and see, and hope for the best.

Twany Beckham -- Beckham showed signs in rare spot duty last year, particularly on defense. Beckham is not an offensive threat as a shooter (although he can score at the rim), but he showed some strong defensive skills, and his primary uses were as a rebounder and an energy defender. That role may have to expand next year, but probably not too much. Despite his preference for the point guard position, Calipari has shown no inclination whatever to put him there, although that may change this year due to our lack of depth in that spot.

Jarrod Polson -- Polson played little more this year than his freshman year, but he could see more time in 2012-13 because of his experience and maturity. Polson is still not the kind of player any Kentucky fan would want to depend on for major minutes, but he is a Kentucky boy and he's likely to try to make the most of every second on the floor as he reaches upper-class status.

I'd be surprised if Polson sees many more minutes next year than this one, but you never know. He'll be competing with Beckham for emergency minutes.

Walk-ons Sam Malone and Brian Long -- I mention them because they are part of the team, but I'd be surprised to see them play other than at the end of games.

Newcomers: Upperclassmen/Transfers

Ryan Harrow -- Harrow will be a junior this year if he's on schedule, but could play three more years at Kentucky under the NCAA 5-4 rule. Harrow is a lightning-quick point guard with an outstanding handle and remarkable floor vision. Harrow is also a terrific athlete, can shoot the ball with range, and is generally the kind of player Kentucky needs at point guard. He is a little slight in build, but he is long for his size and can really fly up and down the court, as well as find people from all sorts of angles. Think a smaller John Wall, except for one thing -- his left hand. Wall had an outstanding left hand, but Harrow's needs a lot of work. Still, when it comes to breaking you down off the dribble, Marquis Teague doesn't have anything on Ryan Harrow. He will be the starter at point guard next year.

Julius Mays -- Mays is a graduate-student transfer from Wright St. Raiders via the N.C. State Wolfpack. Mays played for the Wolfpack in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season, and averaged an identical 4.7 ppg both games. He then transfered to Wright St. and was a significant contributor, playing 78% of minutes and averaging 14 ppg. He's considered a good ballhandler and passer, but only an average athlete and defender. He could possibly play the role Doron Lamb played this year in terms of a backup point guard, but he is very unlikely to start, although he will see significant minutes.

Newcomers: Freshmen

Nerlens Noel -- Noel is a shot-blocking machine, considered even better than Anthony Davis in that particular skill coming out of high school. He is an astonishing athlete for his size and will have an immediate impact as a rebounder and around-the-basket scorer. He is not bulky enough to post up strong centers, but like Davis, he is very quick, agile, and has a jump hook with either hand, so he need not be too close to the basket to score in the post.

Noel is considered to be very raw offensively outside of his hooks, and has no face-up game to speak of, unlike Davis. But he will be just as dangerous as Davis off the pick and roll, and will learn to be a similar type of game-changer if not the multidimensional threat that Davis became. Noel will almost certainly start in the pivot.

Alex Poythress -- Poythress is a polished scoring power forward who is flexible enough to play some three. He has an good perimeter game out to the college three. Poythress really can't get his own jump shot from deep off the bounce, though. He is much like Terrence Jones in that regard, mainly utilizing a set shot from the perimeter. Like Jones, Poythress is a slasher and excellent finisher at the rim, and is probably even more athletic than Jones was, although he lacks the great ballhandling skills. Poythress will be the starting 4, but will probably end up guarding a lot of 3-men, depending on how well Wiltjer's defensive skills mature.

Archie Goodwin -- Goodwin is a remarkable athlete, maybe the most athletic player on the team. He is a terror in transition in the mold of John Wall and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, capable of finishing with either hand and as fast as any wing player ever to play at Kentucky. Goodwin is not a great 3-point shooter, but can make the shot with good consistency and can get his shot whenever he needs to. He has every skill necessary to be a lock-down defender, and his handle and passing are good enough that some services considered him a combo guard in high school.

Willie Cauley -- Cauley is an athletic big man with a significant upside. He is not the athletic freak that Noel is, but he is very athletic and has terrific feet for a young prospect, can finish and rebound above the rim, and run the floor. He will need time to reach his true potential, so Calipari is likely to bring him along as slowly has he can. Still, with Kentucky's relative dearth of front-court talent, he is likely to see some time in relief of Noel.

This is an educated guess, but to me, next year's rotation looks something like this:

*Position*	*Player*	*Backup*
Center	Nerlens Noel	Wiltjer/Cauley
Power Forward	Alex Poythress	Wiltjer
Small Forward	Kyle Wiltjer	Goodwin/Poythress/Hood
Shooting guard	Archie Goodwin	Mays/Hood
Point guard	Ryan Harrow	Mays/Goodwin

I don't think that Kentucky is quite as flexible with their lineup this year as they were last year, but it's pretty close. By my lights, Kentucky is currently looking at an eight-man rotation, although guys like Beckham and Polson could find a few minutes here and there. But realistically, this is just about what we would expect, and even if we don't get another player, I think Kentucky is just fine.

I think some people expect Mays to get a lot of minutes, but I really don't think he'll get that much. The last two years, we've had the luxury of Doron Lamb, a true combo guard who could sub for the point almost seamlessly, and this year, I expect the 'Cats to need an extra player for those minutes.

This is potentially the deepest rotation Kentucky has played since 2010-11 when guys like Perry Stevenson got some minutes along with DeAndre Liggins and Ramon Harris. It looks to me like next year's Wildcats will need more players, primarily because Noel and possibly Wiltjer are going to be more foul-prone than Davis or Jones were. Noel is physically even more gifted than Davis, but he lacks the basketball IQ, something that is rarely mentioned in connection with Davis but was actually one of his biggest strengths.

That's how I see it as of now. What do you think?

Chip Cosby joins us for Wildcat Wednesday on 1340 WBGN

2012-05-16T19:52:26Z

The effervescent Chip Cosby of Cn2 Sports, formerly of the Herald-Leader, will join Ken, Norm Haney, and Seth Burchett on 1340 WBGN to talk UK basketball and football, as well as where he gets his beautifully designed suits. The show starts at 5:00 ET. To listen to live streaming go here and click on the iTunes or Windows Media Player logo.

To call the show with questions or comments: 270-746-9246, or email sportsguys@1340wbgn.com.

Kentucky Wildcats: Morning Quickies - Dickie V. Gala Edition

2012-05-16T11:48:43Z

Today's quickies will feature a story above the fold, Dickie V's annual gala against cancer. Cancer was responsible for my beloved mother's decline which ultimately resulted in a stroke and her passing. It killed my favorite aunt, and it has had an impact on my life in many ways, like taking my best friend's father, mother, and sister.

It is a horrible disease, and even though we've made great progress, we still have such a long way to go.

7th Annual Dickie V Gala honoring Lou Holtz, Jay Wright and Gary Williams on Friday // ESPN

Cancer flat-out sucks. It affects the patient, their families, friends, everyone involved in their lives.

Amen, Dickie V. Amen.

The rest of your quickies follow the jump. Just so you know, this thing gets updated throughout the morning, so if you haven't checked lately, check again.

Kentucky Sports Radio // Jabari Parker on the cover of Sports Illustrated

"Best player since LeBron James?" Hmm. If he's truly better than Anthony Davis, I'd be shocked.

The Dagger // Sports Blog - Yahoo! Sports

Well, Duke is still Duke. Jefferson always seemed like a long shot for UK to me. Not sure why.

Grad transfer rule has to remain as long as we have "student"-athletes // CollegeBasketballTalk

On the one hand, I think it is fair to allow a player that has completed his degree an opportunity to transfer without having to sit out for a season. They put in the work, they should be rewarded. On the other hand, I can see the frustration that comes with developing a player for three or four years only to see them leave the program at the peak of their collegiate career.

I thought we had moved past caring about what coaches want, and become all about the player. Right? I mean, you can make a similar argument on principle about restricting players' transfer destinations, a la Bo Ryan, but we saw how that worked out.

In the end, opposing the transfer rule is going to get you Bo Ryan'd. I'm fine with it, but if I wasn't, I'm not sure it would be worth complaining about.

Is Jabari Parker ready for pressure that comes with SI cover? // CollegeBasketballTalk

Anthony Davis got to escape all this, because he bloomed so late in his career. This guy has been on the radar for a long, long time.

Former Kentucky player Michael Porter arrested on sex charges // CollegeBasketballTalk

Ugh. That's bad news. Let's let the legal system do it's job.

A look at each coaching hire // college basketball - ESPN

Of course, that presumes there is such a thing as a Gamecocks hoops fan. (My high school buddy Ben went to South Carolina; I remember him getting really excited when the 2004 team started the season 18-2. He hasn't mentioned the program since.) Yes, South Carolina is the definition of a "When does spring football start?" school.

That's really why I was so shocked to see Martin go to USC. That school is a coaching graveyard, and the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide manage more support for their basketball team than can be found in Columbia.

So what do you call a great hire that's bound to end in failure?

What-if scenarios for the 2011-12 season // ESPN

With apologies to Austin Rivers, it was the shot of the season, the one that reignited (for real this time) a previously depressed Indiana fan base and led to every Indiana fan's favorite commercial (the WatchESPN ad in which Watford's shot is seen across laptop and iPad and iPhone screens over and over and over again). But what did that shot do to Kentucky?

Really good piece by Eamonn Brennan, and not just for the Kentucky parts.

Not done yet: Book far from closed on class of 2012 // CBSSports.com

Former Virginia Tech signee Montrezl Harrell has been one of the hot names in the recruiting world since the Hokies made a coaching change. Once he officially is released from his letter of intent, expect schools to heat up their pursuit of Harrell. Kentucky has been one of the schools linked with him in the past couple of weeks.

I am not one on the Montrezl Harrell bandwagon right now. From what I have seen of him, I don't really think he is Kentucky material. Others have disagreed with me about that so, perhaps my perception is mistaken. But color me skeptical.

If what we have is what we go to battle with, I'm fine with it. We did it last year, but we do need some front-court bench support, so if Harrell is okay with that role, then I say sign him if he wants to come.

Morning Five: 05.16.12 Edition // Rush The Court

Our long national nightmare may be nearing an end. No, the unemployment numbers still are bad (even with the fudging), but we may have seen the end of those atrocious and dangerous tournament sponsor stickers. After several near-misses and plenty of angry comments from players and coaches the NCAA has given a recommendation to the Playing Rules Oversight Committee that it should use a consistent surface (read: no stickers) for the sake of player safety.

These need to go away. I have seen way too many slips, and if someone winds up injured badly, they'll go away for sure. Why not get rid of them before that happens?

Amile Jefferson picks Duke, narrowing UK's options // Kentucky.com

Jefferson is rated in the Top 25 by Scout.com, ESPN and MaxPreps. Rivals.com ranks him as the No. 36 recruit in the class of 2012.

He pointed to the immediate availability of playing time as one reason for his decision.

Reading between the lines, "...and Kentucky does." He's right. If playing a lot right away was high on his list, I don't think UK was his best call.

On that same note, if playing a lot is Montrezl Harrell's main desire, he is not likely to find it at Kentucky. He will get some minutes, but they will be bench minutes.

Knee injury a 'setback' for ex-Kentucky star Joe Crawford // Kentucky.com

Former Kentucky basketball player Joe Crawford tore a knee tendon Sunday while playing for a team in Israel. The ill-timed injury, which is expected to sideline him for four to six months, comes as interest from other teams, including some in the NBA, has grown, the player's agent said Tuesday.

Oh, man, that's a bummer. I hope he recovers fully and quickly.

Georgia State Football Adds Impact FBS Transfer Nermin Delic // Panther Talk

Glad he found a new football home. All the best to him.

Two-Out Rally in Eighth Lifts Murray State to Midweek Win // Kentucky Wildcats Official Athletic Site

This might cost Kentucky a national seed. Murray State is a very weak team to lose to.

Kentucky Basketball Recruiting: Amile Jefferson Picks Duke

2012-05-15T20:53:43Z

Kentucky target Amile Jefferson (Friends Central / Philadelphia, PA) committed to the Duke Blue Devils today in a press conference. Jefferson picked Duke over N.C. State, Kentucky, Villanova, and Ohio State.

The Wildcats had been linked to Jefferson since last fall, and the rationale train of thought was the longer Jefferson's recruitment played out, the more of a chance Kentucky had. Jefferson had reportedly been close to committing multiple times in favor of Duke or N.C. State, his two favorites, yet ended up being one of the last touted players in his class to pull the trigger. In the end, however, the time delay didn't end up helping John Calipari and the Wildcats.

After losing both starting forwards, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Terrence Jones, to the NBA Draft, the Kentucky Wildcats were hoping to add one more big man to the frontcourt next year. Unfortunately, their two primary targets--Anthony Bennett (UNLV) and Jefferson--chose other schools. Currently, the Wildcats currently sport sophomore returnee Kyle Wiltjer and incoming freshman Alex Poythress at the starting 4 and 3 spots on the floor without a natural backup.

With depth still a concern, Kentucky may yet go after another big man in the 2012 class or try to land a transfer this summer. This past weekend, Kentucky did something in a similar vein, landing Wright St. transfer Julius Mays to bolster backcourt depth.

As far as forwards go, the primary name currently on the radar is Montrezl Harrell, a top 100 forward in the 2012 class. He decommitted from Virginia Tech following the firing of former head coach Seth Greenberg. Harrell has requested a release from his LOI, though he has not officially received that release from the university.

The other name to be aware of is Tony Trocha, a big man from Colombia. Trocha arrived in the states last winter and was slated to play AAU ball this summer and for St. Thomas in Houston, TX this fall. Instead, it appears he is making a late push to reclassify to the 2012 class. Little is known of Trocha, and how good he actually is at basketball is a complete mystery.

Kentucky Basketball: Watch Amile Jefferson's College Announcement Live

2012-05-15T19:44:51Z

As you know, today is the day that Amile Jefferson will announce his college choice, and it will be carried live below. Jefferson will chose among the N.C. State Wolfpack, Duke Blue Devils, and Kentucky Wildcats.

Video streaming by Ustream

Enjoy!

UPDATE: If you missed it, and judging by the comments, most people did, Jefferson picked Duke, which was a big get for Mike Krzyzewski. Kentucky got involved with Jefferson fairly late in the game, but it's never too late when you are Coach Cal.

But this time, Calipari loses out to Coach K. At this point, Kentucky will be looking for leftovers and decommitments that always seem to crawl out of the woodwork over the summer. If you'll remember last year, Andre Drummond unexpectedly committed to UConn in August. While I don't expect to see somebody as highly ranked as that wind up available in the summer, you can never tell.

Would John Calipari be a Good Choice for Olympics Coach?

2012-05-15T18:55:04Z

Now that Mike Krzyzewski has stated his intentions not to return as head coach of the U.S. Olympic team for 2016, the question becomes who would serve in that position next? John Calipari obviously comes to mind. So the question this afternoon for the Big Blue Nation would be this: Would John Calipari be a good choice to coach the U.S. team for the Summer Olympics?

We'll look at the pros and cons of this question, and you can answer the poll after the jump.

Pros

First, and possibly most important, Coach Cal is among the most persuasive people in the coaching ranks, and arguably the single most persuasive coach in America. That gives him a decent chance of putting together the kind of team that can win against the excellent competition now found in the summer Olympics. Gone are the days when Team USA could just go assemble a group of professionals and count on a gold medal.

But also gone are the days when the best players in the NBA are lining up to play in the Olympics. Jerry Colangelo and coach Krzyzewski deserve a ton of credit for making Team USA cool again to the NBA's best players, but it's still an ongoing battle with no end in sight.

Second, Calipari's coaching style is very NBA-friendly, which is one of the reasons why he has been so successful getting players into the NBA at such high levels, aside from the obvious factor of their talent. The Dominican Republic national team NBA professionals have widely praised Coach Cal, and he plays exactly the kind of system that the pros should be comfortable in.

Third, Calipari understands international rules, and how to apply them to his best advantage. This year will be the second year Coach Cal has opted to coach the Dominican Republic national squad, and that experience is invaluable to coaches who take on the responsibility of heading up the U.S. Olympic team.

Fourth, Calipari would bring a fresh approach to the team, much like Mike Krzyzewski has so successfully done in recent years. Like Krzyzewski, Calipari is completely invested in the concept of team defense, and if anyone can successfully impart the urgency and necessity of team defense to professionals used to playing defense only at playoff time, it's Calipari, much as Coach K has successfully done in recent years.

Finally, Calipari wins. Coach Herman Boone's statement in Remember the Titans, "I'm a winner. I'm going to win," could have been made by Coach Cal. He is a winner. He is going to win.

Cons

"The Miserables," as Calipari used to call his critics in Memphis, would come out in full force. No matter how many NCAA championships he wins, or how many years he goes without attracting the attention of the NCAA Committee on Infractions, Calipari will always be seen by some as a cheater, and, in their words, "slimy." There will be a loud and obnoxious contingent opposed to his naming as coach of the Olympics, and many milquetoasts who will proclaim him too divisive to be in that position.

Secondly, Calipari is not a slave to tradition, and you can bet he will come up with some new ideas that will offend those that try to obsessively adhere to traditional methods and practices, particularly in selecting the team. Calipari will know exactly who he wants and why, and he will do his level best to mold an Olympic team into his own creation, and anger those whose gods are protocol and politics.

Third, Kentucky fans will find it inconvenient, and it could affect how well he is able to recruit in Olympic years. There is no real doubt that coaching Team USA is a difficult job that can affect a coach's main job, and in spite of his NCAA Tournament win in 2010, Duke has been less of a juggernaut on the recruiting trail since Coach K has been the coach of Team USA. That would doubtless cause some restlessness among the passionate fans of the Big Blue.

So there you go, my pros and cons for Coach Cal replacing Coach K as the Team USA coach. You can add to the list below in the comments, as I wouldn't presume to consider this an exhaustive, or even the best possible list.

Poll

Would you support John Calipari as the next coach of Team USA?

Kentucky Wildcats: Morning Quickies for Tuesday, May 15th 2012

2012-05-15T11:40:07Z

Today, quickies has an update on Amile Jefferson, news about the Kentucky baseball and tennis teams, an NCAA rule change that seems likely, an analysis of different defensive philosophies regarding 3-point shooting, and much more.

Your quickies begin after the jump.

Emery, Quigley, Rossi Honored with ITA Regional Awards // Kentucky Wildcats Official Athletic Site

Three members of the sixth-ranked University of Kentucky men’s tennis team, including senior Eric Quigley, junior Anthony Rossi and head coach Dennis Emery, received Intercollegiate Tennis Association Ohio Valley Regional awards, the ITA announced Monday.

Congrats to all. The Net Cats are rolling right right along and face the 11-seed, the Stanford Cardinal, on Friday in Athens, Georgia. Full NCAA bracket here.

Update on the Julius Mays coach tweet from earlier today // John Clay's Sidelines

Turns out the tweet heard 'round the basketball world was likely faked, probably by some Hoosier fan. Imagine that.

Sam Mahar Named SEC Freshman of the Week // Kentucky Wildcats Official Athletic Site

After notching his first two career saves during three appearances last week, southpaw Sam Mahar has been named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, it was announced on Monday afternoon.

Congratulations, Sam. Well earned.

Son of former Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson found dead // CollegeBasketballTalk

Very sad news for coach Richardson and his family. Our prayers go out to them.

All-Freshman team boasts a lot of firepower // Yahoo! Sports

Two Wildcats on his selections.

Krzyzewski not likely to return for 2016 Olympics // Yahoo! Sports

ACC/Big Ten Challenge 2012: North Carolina-Indiana matchup will be highlight // Sporting News

Should be a good one, but I doubt very much if it will surpass last year's UNC/Kentucky game for drama.

A study of percentages and philosophies // SI.com

This is a very interesting piece by Luke Winn. I note that Calipari's 3-point defense has historically been very good, and it was #59 last year. The biggest reason is that Calipari tries to limit 3-point attempts and force the dribble drive, something like a hybrid between Bo Ryan's philosophy and the "let 'em shoot challenged threes" philosophy.

Marquis Teague to be Represented by Andy Miller of ASM Sports // Business Insider

It seems as though every few days information is leaked regarding a draft-eligible University of Kentucky player linking up with an agent. First, it was Leon Rose of Creative Artists Agency signing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. That was followed with word that Terrance Jones will sign with Arn Tellem of Wasserman Media Group. The latest available information is that Kentucky point guard Marquis Teague is going with Andy Miller of ASM Sports. Teague is likely to be a first round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and could sneak his way into being a lottery pick with some good workouts.

Kentucky leads SEC baseball heading into final week // John Clay's Sidelines

Kentucky has a 1.5 game lead over South Carolina in the East. They now pretty much control their own destiny. Win out, and they will be the SEC regular-season champs and the #1 seed in the SEC Tournament.

Tom Leach's Morning Links

Sean Woods glad long journey back home is over now that he is new Morehead coach // vaughtsviews

Woods said he envisioned a "Gonzaga of the South" at the Ohio Valley Conference school during his introductory news conference that at times bordered on a big-tent revival during his 16-minute opening remarks. Several times people in the crowd shouted "Amen" as the 42-year-old laid out his ambitious objectives.

I wish Sean Woods all the best at Morehead St. It's great to have him back here in Kentucky.

Sources: Jefferson Likely to Pick Duke or N.C. State // ZagsBlog.com

Will Coach Cal pull off an upset?

NCAA basketball rules committee recommends no stickers on courts // Sporting News

I'm going to say that this is a good idea.