Entries from February 2009 ↓

Amid rumors of his dismissal from the Kentucky team (or did he quit?), sophomore forward A.J. Stewart is the focus of intense speculation.

Kentucky had not said anything. But I just received word from UK that there are no roster changes. So we can assume Stewart remains on the team.

Presumably, UK Coach Billy Gillispie will be asked about Stewart’s status when the coach holds his regular day-before-the-game news conference later Friday.

Meanwhile, we’re checking and re-checking sources. No one knows for sure.

This much we know: Gillispie kicks a player off the team, then thinks better of it and re-instates the player on a regular basis. It sounds like the mind game routine routinely practiced by Gillispie’s coaching hero, Bob Knight.

Stewart was the focus of such speculation in the pre-season. Then he was on the team.

Stewart seems to be a whipping boy for Gillispie. During a pre-season interview, Stewart acknowledged that he felt like the coach was trying to run him off the team last season. But Stewart chose to stay because he likes being part of Kentucky basketball.

Time will tell (and hopefully Gillispie will tell later today) if Stewart is on the team.

But one thing for sure: this kind of speculation does not help Kentucky. After the transfers of Alex Legion, Morakinyo Williams, Derrick Jasper, Kerry Benson and Dusty Mills in the last 15 months, Kentucky does not need any more departures.

If nothing else, this only fuels a potential pitch by rival recruiters that Kentucky basketball breeds unhappiness.

Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks is a finalist for the Oscar Robertson trophy, which the United States Basketball Writers Association presents to its national Player of the Year. The winner will receive the trophy during the Final Four.

Here are the other finalists:

UK announced the launching of a campaign to make guard Jodie Meeks the National Player of the Year.

The effort includes a splash on the school’s official website, UKathletics.com.

The nation would be able to get all the Meeks they want starting with the launching of www.ukathletics.com/jodie23, the official Jodie Meeks Web site.

To quote a UK news release, “The Web site features a highlight reel of Meeks, what the media is saying about him, press clippings, his biography, radio calls of his performances and much, much more.”

Plus, on Friday, fans will even be able to talk to the man himself. Starting at 1 p.m., Meeks has agreed to sit down with Cat Scratches for a live chat with UK fans. For about 30-45 minutes Friday, Meeks will answer questions and comments from you all.

Kentucky guard Jodie Meek was among three Southeastern Conference players selected to a 30-man list of mid-season candidates for the 2009 Naismith Award, which goes to the national player of the year.

The other two SEC players on the list are Florida guard Nick Calathes and South Carolina guard Devan Downey.

Here’s the list of 30 mid-season candidates as voted by a panel of journalists.

2009 Naismith Men’s Mid-Season Candidates
Last First Class Position School
Abrams A.J. Sr. Guard Texas
Adrien Jeff Sr. Forward Connecticut
Blair DeJuan So. Center Pittsburgh
Booker Trevor Jr. Forward/Center Clemson
Brockman Jon Sr. Forward Washington
Calathes Nick So. Guard/Forward Florida
Christmas Dionte Sr. Guard Temple
Clark Earl Jr. Guard/Forward Louisville
Collins Sherron Jr. Guard Kansas
Curry Stephen Jr. Guard Davidson
Downey Devan Jr. Guard South Carolina
Griffin Blake So. Forward Oklahoma
Hansbrough Tyler Sr. Forward North Carolina
Harangody Luke Jr. Forward Notre Dame
Harden James So. Guard Arizona State
Henderson Gerald Sr. Forward Duke
Hummel Robbie So. Guard/Forward Purdue
Johnson James So. Forward Wake Forest
Lawson Ty Jr. Guard North Carolina
Maynor Eric Sr. Guard Virginia Commonwealth
McClinton Jack Sr. Guard Miami
McNeal Jerel Sr. Guard Marquette
Meeks Jodie Jr. Guard Kentucky
Mills Patrick So. Guard Saint Mary’s
Rice Tyrese Sr. Guard Boston College
Singler Kyle So. Forward Duke
Teague Jeff So. Guard Wake Forest
Thabeet Hasheem Jr. Center Connecticut
Williams Terrence Sr. Forward Louisville
Young Sam Sr. Forward Pittsburgh

During each SEC Tournament, the league honors former standout players at member schools.

For this year’s tournament, the SEC will honor former Kentucky All-American Louie Dampier.

Here’s a news release on the 12 former players being honored at this year’s SEC Tournament in Tampa.

Vanderbilt.

2009 Chick-fil-A SEC Basketball Legends

ALABAMA – Melvin Cheatum, Forward, 1987-91

Melvin Cheatum earned first-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches and UPI in 1991 when he averaged 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Crimson Tide to three NCAA Tournaments, two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and three SEC Tournament titles. A member of the 1988 SEC All-Freshman Team, he was also a member of the SEC All-Tournament squads in 1990 and 1991. The Winnsboro, La., native finished his career ranking 12th on Alabama’s career scoring list with 1,575 points (12.4 ppg) and 14th with 785 rebounds (6.2 rpg). A starter in 114 of his 127 career games, he led the Crimson Tide in scoring (15.7 ppg), rebounding (6.7 rpg) and field goal percentage (.518) during the 1989-90 season.

ARKANSAS – Scotty Thurman, Guard/Forward, 1993-95

A freshman All-America in 1993 and Basketball Times All-America in 1995, Scotty Thurman was a three-time first-team All-SEC selection after helping his teams go 22-9, 31-3 and 32-7 with an SEC championship, a trip to the Sweet 16 and two appearances in the championship game of the Final Four. He finished his career ranking 10th on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,650 points, averaging 16.2 points for his career. The Ruston, La., native was a career 43 percent shooter from three-pointer range, including an SEC-leading 42.7 percentage in 1995. He led the team in scoring as a freshman with 17.4 points a game and in three-point shooting all three seasons. Thurman is best remembered for hitting the game-winning three-pointer in the 1994 national championship game victory over Duke.

AUBURN – Doc Robinson, Guard, 1996-2000

One of only two first-team All-Americans in Auburn history, Doc Robinson also earned honorable mention All-America honors in 1999 from the Associated Press. A two-time first team All-SEC selection, he ranks 15th on Auburn’s career scoring list with 1,332 career points, he also ranks as one of the best setup men in school history as his 568 career assists ranked third in school history. A member of the winningest senior class in school history with 85 wins, he averaged 11.5 points and 5.0 assists per game in 1999 as the Tigers went 29-4, won the SEC title and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament after receiving the school’s only No. 1 seed. As a senior, the Selma, Ala., native led the Tigers to another NCAA Tournament appearance, this time advancing to the second round. The two-time SEC Player of the Week honoree was named the Tigers’ most valuable player three consecutive seasons.

FLORIDA – Eugene McDowell, Center, 1982-85

Unquestionably one of the greatest centers in the history of Florida basketball, Cross City, Fla., native Eugene McDowell is one of the most prolific scorer’s in school history. By the time his career at Florida had ended, McDowell became the 18th Florida Gator to pass the 1,000-point plateau. Today, he ranks ninth in school history in points (1,565), second in rebounds (1,063), sixth in blocked shots (150), first in double-doubles (43) and first in minutes played (4,100). A three-time AP All-SEC choice that started every game while in uniform for UF, McDowell owns the O’Connell Center record for both scoring (40) and rebounding (21) in a single game. In fact, no Florida player has scored 40 or more points in a game since the center tallied 40 vs. Biscayne on Dec. 21, 1982. After his illustrious career at UF, McDowell was a third-round NBA draft selection by Milwaukee in 1985 and enjoyed a successful career overseas for several years thereafter.

GEORGIA – Shandon Anderson, Forward, 1992-96

Shandon Anderson won All-SEC honors in 1995 and 1996 as a slashing, lightning-fast small forward for the Georgia Bulldogs. In his final season, he was the lynchpin of the second Bulldog team ever to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Today he remains the only player in school history to have amassed 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists in a career. Anderson later played 12 seasons in the NBA, helping the Miami Heat win the world championship in 2006 and twice reaching the NBA Finals as a member of the Utah Jazz. After his NBA career, Anderson returned to Athens and completed his undergraduate degree in Sociology in May of 2007.

KENTUCKY – Louie Dampier, Guard, 1965-67

A two-time All-America in 1966 (first team Associated Press) and 1967 (second team Associated Press), Louie Dampier currently ranks 12th on Kentucky’s all-time scoring list with 1,575 points. A member of Rupp’s Runts, Dampier helped lead the 1966 Kentucky squad to the SEC Championship as well as a national runner-up finish, losing in the historical championship game to Texas Western (now UTEP). The following season, the 6-foot guard led the team in scoring (20.6 ppg) en route to the school’s second straight SEC Championship. Dampier was drafted in the fourth round (38th overall) of the 1967 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals.

LSU – Ethan Martin, Guard, 1978-81

A senior point guard for LSU in 1981, Ethan Martin helped lead the Tigers on a 26-game winning streak that included winning their first 17 SEC games and garnering a national ranking that reached as high as No. 2. A consensus first team All-SEC selection and a third team All-America pick by Basketball Times in 1981, Martin averaged 11.5 points while making LSU fans go “Silly in Philly” as they advanced to the Final Four. Martin’s 190 assists that season rank as the fourth-highest total in school history. An All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches and second team all-conference pick by the media as a junior in 1980, his 11.9 points per game were highlighted by a 29-point effort against Kentucky. He ranks second in school history with 638 career assists.

OLE MISS – Keith Carter, Guard, 1995-96; 1998-99

After four years wearing the Red and Blue, Keith Carter left Ole Miss with more than just fond memories. The 1999 Associated Press All-America honorable mention team member also left his name firmly placed in the Ole Miss record books. Carter finished his career strong in 1998-99, scoring 542 points and hitting 77 three-point field goals, still the fifth-highest season total in Rebel history. His 1,682 career points ranks sixth all-time, and his 249 three-pointers set a school record at the time and still ranks second in the Rebel records. His success on the court also garnered him All-SEC first team honors and a nomination for the Naismith Player of the Year award in 1999. Carter played professional basketball in Italy for six years until moving back to Oxford, Miss., last summer. This season he joined the Ole Miss Radio Network as a basketball analyst and sideline reporter.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Tony Watts, Guard, 1989-92

A member of the 1988-89 Freshman All-SEC squad and later a second-team All-SEC selection, Tony Watts scored 1,491 points during his career– the ninth-most in school history. A four-year letterman for the Bulldogs, he averaged 19.2 points his senior campaign and is currently third in the MSU record books with 166 made three-pointers. As a senior, he also led the SEC in free throw percentage (84.4 percent). The crowning moment of his career, however, came in 1990-91 when he led the Bulldogs to a share of the overall SEC title.

SOUTH CAROLINA – Grady Wallace, Forward, 1955-57

The owner of the No. 42 jersey that hangs from the rafters of Colonial Life Arena, Grady Wallace was the first South Carolina player to have his jersey number retired. A consensus second team All-America selection in 1957, Wallace averaged an amazing 28.0 points per game in his career and led the NCAA with 31.3 points per tilt, edging out Kansas’ Wilt Chamberlain. Wallace holds down four of the top six scoring games in school history, scoring 54 points versus Georgia during his senior year.

TENNESSEE – Paul “Lefty” Walther, Forward, 1945, 1947-49

Paul Walther was a 1945 first-team All-America who also earned second-team All-America honors in 1949 by The Sporting News. A showman on the court, he was a three-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection (1945, 1948 and 1949). He helped lead the Vols to the 1945 SEC championship with an 18-5 overall record and an 8-2 mark in league play. He captained the 1949 team that went 19-7 and finished third in the SEC. He was named to the 1945 All-Madison Square Garden team after displaying skills against Rhode Island in the NIT. Nicknamed “Lefty”, he led the Vols in scoring as a junior and senior with 334 and 462 points, respectively. The Covington, Ky., native went on to play six seasons in the NBA.

VANDERBILT – Phil Cox, Guard, 1982-85

Playing in an era before the three-point shot, Phil Cox was a four-year star who set the school scoring record and still ranks third among all-time Commodore scorers with 1,724 points. The sharp-shooting guard was twice a first-team All-Southeastern Conference performer and three-times made the Academic All-SEC team. He once made 47 free throws in a row to set an SEC record.

Kentucky has given ESPN access to its preparations for the game at South Carolina on Wednesday. ESPN will use this look behind the curtain as part of its All-Access series. The UK material will air on ESPN’s GameDay show on Saturday.

As part of the access, ESPN will follow the team around as soon as it lands in Columbia on Tuesday. The access includes practice, film sessions, the shoot-around the day of the game and the game itself.

UK Coach Billy Gillispie will wear a microphone during these various activities.

FYI: Jeannine Edwards, the sideline reporter who covers the Southeastern Conference for ESPN, is not part of the All-Access crew.

Former Tennessee star Chris Lofton is in Rupp Arena Saturday for the Kentucky-Tennessee game.

Lofton, the former Kentucky Mr. Basketball from his days leading Mason County, is playing professionally in Turkey. He made the trip to cheer for Tennessee. He planned to return to Turkey on Sunday.

Also attending the game were star Kentucky recruit Daniel Orton and SEC Commissioner Mike Slive.

Slive is the chairman of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. By rule, he cannot be involved in any committee discussion about SEC teams.

So the UK-Tennessee game was a pleasure trip.

Tennessee practiced at Berea College on Friday as the Vols headed for Saturday’s game against Kentucky.

With thanks to a member of the Tennessee press corps, here’s a brief question-and-answer session with UT Coach Bruce Pearl:
Q: What do you think of Saturday’s showdown in Rupp Arena:

Pearl: “When I first came to Tennessee, I wanted to have meaningful games at Rupp Arena, and this game is for first place.”

Q: How does Patrick Patterson’s presence impact the game?

Pearl: “With Patterson being out there, they are a different cover. Wayne (Chism) has played Patterson well.”

Q: How do you feel about your rebuilt backcourt?

Pearl: “In the backcourt, we’ve got three brand-new players in Bobby Maze, Scotty Hopson, and Cameron Tatum and Josh Tabb is playing point guard for the first time in his career.

“Can you win a championship with the guard play we’re getting? The answer is no. The guard play has got to improve.”

UK Coach Billy Gillispie made it official on Friday when he said that big man Patrick Patterson will play on Saturday against Tennessee.

Patterson sat out the last two games after spraining his right ankle against Florida on Feb. 10.

In earlier comments, Gillispie noted the possibility that the time off might help Patterson recover from the finger injury he’s been hampered by for several weeks.

Apparently that’s the case because the UK coach said that Patterson had practiced without the finger being wrapped.

If adversity builds character, then Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey should be much admired.

His Arkansas team fell to 1-10 in the Southeastern Conference Wednesday night. In losing to LSU 72-69, the Hogs blew an 18-point first-half lead and a 68-61 margin with five minutes to go.

Pelphrey would have suffered through the game no matter what. A case of bronchitis took his voice. So assistants filled in the speaking roles (pre- and post-game radio shows, talking to the team, post-game news conference).

Pelphrey was not expected to participate in Thursday’s SEC coaches teleconference. Associate Coach Rob Evans was scheduled to take his place.

During the LSU game, Pelphrey picked up a technical foul. That was his fifth of the season and 11th in two seasons as Arkansas coach.

Arkansas also fell to 1-5 in home SEC games. That clinched only the sixth time in 86 years that the Hogs will have had a losing home record in conference play.