Entries from October 2011 ↓

A media panel picked Kentucky to win the Southeastern Conference title this coming season and for Terrence Jones to be the league’s Player of the Year.
UK received 18 of a possible 23 first-place votes. Vanderbilt received four first-place votes while Florida received one vote.
Jones was the choice of the media for SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year with 12 votes. Vanderbilt junior John Jenkins finished second (nine votes) while Alabama senior JaMychal Green (one vote) and Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis (one vote).

Jones, Jenkins and Green were joined on the All-SEC First Team by Mississippi State senior Dee Bost and Vanderbilt senior Jeffery Taylor.

Kentucky teammates Anthony Davis, Marquis Teague and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are among the candidates for the United States Basketball Writers Association Freshman of the Year Award.
Other candidates include Bradley Beal, Florida; Chane Behanan, Louisville; Khem Birch, Pittsburgh; Andre Drummond, Connecticut; Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State; Austin Rivers, Duke; Adonis Thomas, Memphis; Josiah Turner, Arizona; and Cody Zeller, Indiana.

Former Kentucky players will play an exhibition game against former Western Kentucky players on Oct. 25.
The former UK players participating include Brandon Knight, DeAndre Liggins, Ravi Moss, Josh Carrier and Josh Harrellson.
Ticket prices range from $18 to $55.

Nike announced Friday that UK is among three college teams that will wear LeBron James-styled uniforms this season.
Miami and Ohio State are the other two.
Nike said the uniforms are “light, yet powerful,” just like James.

Point guard presents an interesting dynamic for Kentucky.
The presumed starter, Marquis Teague, plays so aggressively he’s been called “a pit bull” by Coach John Calipari.
Yet, UK will have to scramble to find a backup point guard should Teague get in foul trouble.
“I think I’ve over-aggressive,” Teague said. “. . . (Calipari) says I need to pick and choose.
“He still wants me to play aggressive defense. But I have to watch myself. If I get one quick foul, back off a little bit.”

UK players touted the benefit of having played against NBA players this fall.
Several NBA players, primarily members of the Oklahoma City Thunder, worked out in Lexington earlier this fall. Those workouts included pickup games involving UK players.
“Nothing’s better,” Stacey Poole said of the benefits derived from such games.
Added Terrence Jones: “It gave us more confidence as a team going into the season.”
But Jones tempered his comments when asked about competing with LeBron James.
“It’s hard to compare open gym against really playing him in a NBA game,” Jones said.

Senior Darius Miller saw Kentucky capable of containing opponents this season.
“I feel we can have one of the best defensive teams in the country,” he said.
When asked what fostered that feeling, Miller said, “We’re so long and athletic.”

One question about the Kentucky team is how it will defend the low post.
Freshman Anthony Davis suggested UK will not rely on one player to guard the basket area.
“If your man goes to the post, that’s when you go to the post,” Davis said. “No one is initially in the post.”

When asked about unusual behavior by UK fans, Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis recalled an example of free enterprise at work.
Davis said at Media Day Thursday that a fan asked him to sign a basketball. After the autograph, the fan said, “I’m using it to pay for school,” Davis said.
UK players adjusted in an attempt to thwart the commercialism.
“After that, we sign ‘To whomever it is,’” Davis said. “So they won’t be able to sell it.”

Sophomore Terrence Jones is bringing a noticeable zeal to workouts, UK Coach John Calipari said on Wednesday.
Calipari noted how Jones is running better and shooting better.
“A light went on and he wants this and he’s chasing it,” Calipari said of Jones. “He wants to be special.”