A federal judge has denied a request to move the trial of a woman charged with trying to extort $10 million from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III ruled Monday that Karen Cunagin Sypher couldn’t show that pretrial publicity warrants the unusual step of relocating the case.
From Calipari to Pitino: A look inside big-time college coaches’ contracts
From the Hartford Courant: “On May 6, UConn coach Jim Calhoun signed a five-year, $13 million contract. On May 7, that contract was made available to the public. Which got us thinking: Let’s take a look at some others. All contracts for coaches at state institutions are a matter of public record. Private schools, such…
The Kentucky Kids Struggled
From Hoopsworld.com: “Its likely not a surprise that the guys that carried themselves the best in the process where from Kansas. They all handled questions with maturity. They were all physically ready to compete and some executives noticed. The Kentucky kids, outside of John Wall, were not nearly as polished. Patrick Patterson came off well in every aspect of the Combine process. Daniel Orton, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe really struggled.”
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the one-year renewable scholarship
The University of North Carolina’s College Sport Research Institute found that 11 of 95 Division I schools studied had at least 20 percent roster turnover for the 2009-10 season. The UNC study also excluded injured players as well as those who turned pro or graduated. Both studies include Kentucky, where seven players on Billy Gillespie’s final squad didn’t return once John Calipari took over in 2009 and brought his own recruits. Four of those former Wildcats have said publicly they were asked to leave the program.
Kentucky will needs its freshmen to produce right away
Kentucky (No. 2) and North Carolina (No. 4) are bringing in some of the most accomplished freshman classes in the nation. UK needs its freshmen to produce right away because of the mass exodus of talent from Lexington to the NBA. UNC needs its freshmen to produce immediately because no one who wears Carolina blue wants to suffer through another mediocre season. That means players such as Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb at Kentucky and Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall at North Carolina will be under the microscope next season.
Doron Lamb expects Calipari to stay at Kentucky
Doron Lamb has heard the rumors. He’s seen them online. John Calipari, his future coach at Kentucky, is allegedly angling for an NBA job, perhaps with LeBron James. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard isn’t worried. “He told me isn’t leaving, he’s going to stay,” said Lamb, who scored 10 points to help lift the New York Panthers to a record 17th iS8 title, 82-80 over New Heights, on Sunday. “I hope he does stay.”
Oregon assistant Kenny Payne visits Kentucky
Oregon assistant Kenny Payne visited Kentucky this weekend and is a candidate to join John Robic and Orlando Antigua on John Calipari’s staff, Oregon coach Dana Altman told CBSSports.com on Sunday. “Kenny’s really good,” Altman said by phone. “He works hard and does a good job. That’s why Kentucky wants him.” Read full article here.
Josh Harrellson has 17 points, 17 rebounds
Josh Harrellson continued his impressive play in China Sunday with another double-double — 17 points, 17 rebounds — but his Sports Reach team lost 86-81 to Bayi to even the exhibition series 3-3. The Kentucky senior was 7-for-12 from the field and 3-for-5 at the foul line and had 10 offensive rebounds and seven defensive rebounds.…
The commitment of Terrence Jones gives UK a blockbuster recruiting class
Terrence Jones completed one of the more stunning recruitments in recent memory Wednesday night when he signed with Kentucky after initially making a verbal commitment to Washington. “We chose Kentucky,” Linda Mashia-Jones, Terrence’s mother, wrote by text at 11:37 p.m. She later added that Terrence just signed financial aid papers, not an NLI. “Just fin[ancial]…
Josh Harrellson puts up big numbers in China
From Jerry Tipton’s blog: “Kentucky big man Josh Harrellson scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the third game of the Reach USA tour of China. He made nine of 15 shots, including one of three three-point attempts. The Reach USA team lost to the Bayi Rockets 84-80. UK teammate Jon Hood chipped in…