There were spectacular plays by both teams, the kind of standout, shout-out-loud plays that make highlight reels and lasting memories. But the one John Calipari wanted to talk about first after his Kentucky team battled past Missouri 90-83 in a Rupp Arena overtime thriller late Saturday night was of the quiet variety. “There was a play where…
Cats show grit in battling past Missouri
Jarrod Polson relishing role as Kentucky’s energy guy
When Jarrod Polson arrived at Kentucky as a walk-on, playing time was a desired but unrealistic expectation. Now, midway through his junior season, Polson isn’t the team’s best scorer, best defender or three-point specialist, but what he does bring fuels the Cats. “He’s just energy,” John Calipari said. “All I need is energy.” If that’s what Calipari needs, it…
Cauley-Stein ‘rusty,’ but doesn’t show as he sparks UK in win against Gamecocks
He wondered if everything had changed. Following minor surgery that caused him to miss four games, Willie Cauley-Stein couldn’t keep all the negativity out of his mind. Most of it, yes. But some still creeped in. “I didn’t feel like I was going to be the same player anymore,” Cauley-Stein said. Then he read a…
Cats struggle to close, but Mays saves the day in UK’s overtime win
That magician Elston Turner had a shot in the air that could have forced a second overtime Saturday between his Texas A&M team and Kentucky at Reed Arena. It looked good as he rose up. It didn’t go down. Nerlens Noel had 19 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots Saturday. “It was real deep,…
Elite big man Karl Towns commits to the Wildcats; will reclassify to 2014
Kentucky received some expected, but exciting news on Tuesday morning when five-star forward Karl Towns verbally committed to the Wildcats. Kentucky fans will have to wait a while to see him in the blue and white, but not as long as originally planned. Towns said he’s reclassifying to the 2014 high school class. In a press…
Julius Mays’ leadership boosts Cats in 74-28 win
Shirley Butler didn’t put up with nonsense, and when Julius Mays acted out, his mother wasn’t afraid to let him know it. “She told me with not her voice,” Mays said Monday after his 14-point game helped lead Kentucky to a 74-28 exhibition win against Transylvania. “She told me in other ways.” Mays hasn’t resorted…
Calipari keeps rolling as Harrison twins pick Kentucky
Thursday was going to be a huge day for somebody. When twins Aaron Harrison and Andrew Harrison announced their college decision live on national television, Kentucky scored yet another major victory on the recruiting trail and landed a backcourt capable of keeping the Wildcats in the Final Four field. It wasn’t a slam dunk for John Calipari and the Wildcats as the 6-foot-5…
Julius Randle and the Harrison twins could all choose “Big Blue” together
Three of the top five players in the 2013 Rivals150, and the No. 26 overall prospect in the rankings, all were in attendance at the Orlando event, spread over two high-profile AAU teams. In addition to the lofty rankings the four prospects also had another thing in common: They’re all natives of Texas. Shooting guard Aaron…
Photo Gallery: Anthony Davis receives Oscar Robertson trophy
Photo Gallery: Anthony Davis receives Oscar Robertson trophy
Cats withstand Memorial Magic in road win
John Calipari probably said more, but he only needed three words to get his pregame point across as No. 1 Kentucky prepared to take on Vanderbilt Saturday night. He scribbled them across the board in the UK locker room at Memorial Gym. “Love The Road,” he wrote. The Wildcats got the message. Kentucky blew a double-digit…