Courtside with the Kentucky Wildcats

Although Kentucky clearly needs better defense after giving up 33 three-point baskets in the last two games, Coach John Calipari did not plan a tough practice for Friday.

He’s more concerned about his team being rested and ready to play Rider on Saturday afternoon, which will be UK’s second game within 36 hours.

Calipari said UK would watch tape and work some on transition defense in Friday’s practice.

After noting that he basically played only five players against Sam Houston State on Thursday, Calipari said, “My concern is just to be fresh for the game (against Rider).”

Such concerns will vanish come semester break. Calipari talked about three-a-day workouts  in that period. UK will be much better team in January, he said.

Consensus top 10 prospect Tobias Harris just announced that he signed with Tennessee.

Harris, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Glen Head, N.Y., had narrowed his choices to Kentucky, Louisville, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Maryland, West Virginia and Tennessee.

Harris signing on the last day of the week-long November period meant that Kentucky had one signee: wing Stacey Poole, Jr., from Jacksonville, Fla.

Kentucky is involved with several highly-rated prospects in the high school class of 2010. Those prospects, which include forward Terrance Jones and C.J. Leslie, plus guards Josh Selby, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb, are expected to sign in the spring.

Harris is rated in the top 10 of the 2010 class by ESPNU (No. 7), Rivals.com (No. 5) and Scout.com (No. 2 power forward).

Rivals. com called Harris the “best scoring four-man in the class.”

Earlier this year, Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com likened Harris to former Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony. Each was a 6-8 forward with a knack for scoring, the analyst said.

An injury kept freshman Jon Hood on the bench for Kentucky’s first two games,  UK Coach John Calipari said on Wednesday.

Hood missed about three days of practice, Calipari said. He did not say what the injury was.

Hood

Sophomore Darnell Dodson, who on first impression seems to be Kentucky’s most reliable perimeter shooter, came into the Miami (Ohio) game with 6:50 left in the first half.

When asked about that belated entry, UK Coach John Calipari said that he was not happy with Dodson.

“I was so mad at him earlier in the week,” Calipari said. “I said things I haven’t said here. I said words I haven’t used here.”

Calipari did not say why Dodson drew his ire.

Calipari also noted that Darius Miller’s improved play contributed to the decision not to play Dodson early. Miller had two points and UK trailed 36-18 when Dodson entered the game.

Kentucky Coach John Calipari said on Wednesday that his team could use drill work to improve fundamentals and scrimmage play to improve their sense of rhythm.

Given that choice, Calipari said he would emphasis scrimmaging.

“We need a better rhythm,” he said. “Our rhythm stinks.”

Calipari described the Cats’ sense of pace as “We race up, that means shoot it fast.”

Wrong, the UK coach said.

With his freshman-oriented team, Calipari said he figures he will spend an hour a day showing the players video tape of how the game should be played. He said he spent about 10 minutes per day in such activity with his older, more experienced Memphis teams.

Kentucky Coach John Calipari became shot doctor with wing Darius Miller. By prescribing Miller shoot while rising straight up, the player got better results against Miami (Ohio).

Miller made four shots against Miami after going scoreless in the opener against Morehead State. The adjustment to stop fading back on the shot made the difference, player and coach said.

“I was shooting kind of short when I was fading  back,” Miller said.

The UK player acknowledged that his confidence suffered a bit while he struggled to shoot better.

Calipari said he saw two weeks ago that Miller’s shoulders were pulling back as he shot.

“I told him, ‘Don’t change your shot,’ ” the UK coach said. ” ‘Don’t throw your shoulder back.’ When you do that, there’s only one way to shoot it: flat.”

Earlier, Miller said he was trying to find his niche in UK’s new dribble-drive offense. On Wednesday, he said he would not initiate offense, but would be ready to take passes and score.

“I just have to be ready to finish plays,” he said. “John (Wall) and Eric (Bledsoe) do a great job creating.”

Sports Illustrated magazine’s annual college basketball issues hits newsstands this week.

A news release sent yesterday revealed that Kentucky will be No. 5 in its top 25 ranking.

UK big man Patrick Patterson graces the cover. It’s one of six regional covers.

Besides the team preview (which focuses on freshman point guard John Wall), Sports Illustrated also had a three-page story on the relationship between UK Coach John Calipari and Louisville Coach Rick Pitino.

Miami (Ohio) tied a record for a Kentucky opponent by making 15 three-point shots in the game Monday night.

The Redhawks made 15 of 26 three-point shots.

Georgia made 15 of 30 three-point shots against Kentucky in the 1998-99 season.

Kentucky won both games. No Georgia player matched Nick Winbush’s eight-of-10 three-point shooting against UK on Monday night.

Two opponents last season made 14 three-point shots against Kentucky. V.M.I. made 14 of 31 and Mississippi State made 14 of 27. UK lost both of those games.

For Georgia, D.A. Layne made five of 11 and Jumaine Jones made four of nine on Jan. 26, 1999.

After Kentucky beat Morehead State Friday, John Calipari made a dramatic pronouncement: Only Patrick Patterson, John Wall and Eric Bledsoe could be assured to start against Miami.

The lineup announced moments ago reveals no changes. Darius Miller and DeMarcus Cousins joined Patterson, Wall and Bledsoe in the lineup.

Wall replaced Darnell Dodson in the starting lineup.

The Southeastern Conference named Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe as its Freshman of the Week and Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke as its Player of the Week for last week.

Bledsoe set a record for points by a freshman in his debut game for Kentucky. He scored 24 points, which also marked the first time a UK freshman scored 20 or more points in his first game since Sam Bowie scored 22 in 1979.

UK beat Morehead State 75-59 Friday.

Clarke scored an Arkansas record 51 points in a victory over Alcorn State. He made a SEC record 13 three-point shots.