Michael Porter Will Not Play for Kentucky Next Season

Matt May at the Cat's Pause is reporting that Michael Porter has opted to not play for the Kentucky Wildcats next season. Porter will graduate and focus and supporting his wife and baby that is on the way.

Porter's official statement from UKAthletics.com: “This has been a decision weighing on my shoulders for a while. Being married, and now with my little girl on the way, my priorities have simply changed. I love basketball and will miss it a lot, but I think it’s the best thing for me and my family at this stage of my life. This wasn’t an easy decision to come to, but with a lot of thought and prayer, I have come to peace and am looking forward to the next phase of my life.”

My Thoughts: I hate to see Porter go, but I am fully supportive of his decision to focus on his family and life. Best of luck to Michael Porter!

Breaking News: Patrick Patterson Likely to Test NBA Draft

I just heard from a very reliable source that Patrick Patterson will likely follow Jodie Meeks in entering his name into the NBA Draft. Patterson, like Meeks, will not hire an agent.

Also, I have been told to expect some news on DeMarcus Cousins as early as tomorrow.

My Thoughts: It's highly likely that both Meeks and Patterson will return to Kentucky next season, but I expect Patterson to have a more difficult decision to make.

UPDATE: The Cat's Pause is reporting that Cousins has chosen to postpone his decision until April 20th. There were several people that thought he would announce a decision tomorrow, but he will now wait.

UPDATE #2: My source was correct - Cousins has committed to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Joe Crawford to Finish Season With Knicks

Former Kentucky Wildcat Joe Crawford has been signed by the New York Knicks through the rest of the season. He was originally signed from the NBDL by the Knicks to a 10-day contract. That contract has expired and the Knicks decided to keep him on board through the end of the season.

Congratulations to Joe Crawford.


Source: WKYT.com

Mid-Continent Players Volunteer for "Dribble With Dad"

I love when basketball is used off the court to help others through volunteer work. Here is a nice story from the Mid-Continent University basketball team:

Mayfield, KY -- Six members of the Mid-Continent University men's basketball team recently sacrificed an opportunity to watch the NCAA Elite Eight tournament games to volunteer at a local basketball event called "Dribble with Dad" in correlation with Mayfield Elementary School.

Dribble with Dad is a program that Fran Chester, a counselor at Mayfield Elementary School, started 11 years ago. "There are so many things that get moms involved, so I wanted to get dads involved," said Ms. Chester. Chester, also a cheerleading coach at Mayfield Elementary School, has developed and grown the event, with the help of others, from a few local youngsters in its first year to over 460 who participated on Sunday, March 29, at the Mayfield High School Sports Arena, Mid-Continent's home arena for its men's and women's basketball games.

"Dribble with Dad" lasted about four hours. The day began with the preschool and kindergarten-age children showing off their ball-handling and passing skills. The first through third grade children then demonstrated their skills in relays featuring dribbling and three-legged style races. The last group played in an unconventional 10 on 10 tournament, featuring five students and five "dads". Every child at every grade level was paired with their father or a fill-in volunteer.

The Cougar volunteers included guards Donovan Willis, Joshua Woodley, Marvin Bolden, and David Gratton, and center Kenny Thomas, along with student assistant coach Ryan Smith, who also is Mid-Continent's student body president. The volunteers filled in for fathers who were unable to attend the event.

Mid-Continent University Facilities Director Tim Blalock, a participant in the event, said that he was pleased to see MCU's men's basketball team participating in community events. "You could see that the guys were timid at first, but once they got out there with the kids they couldn't stop smiling."

"Some of the guys might have wanted to watch the NCAA games when we first arrived at the arena, but on the way back all they were talking about was their new friends and how funny the kids were," said Smith, who added this: "In an attempt to serve others with our talents, we are the ones who are blessed by the outlook and attitudes of the kids and local community leaders that we helped. It was a great day for not only young basketball enthusiasts, but for Mid-Continent basketball."

Announcement

Mid-Continent Basketball

NBCSports.com Offers Early Respect for UK in 2009-10

NBC Sports is offering a very early look at the preseason top 25 for 2009-10. Kentucky makes the rankings at #17 and Louisville is not in the top 25.

1. Kansas
2. Syracuse
3. Duke
4. Purdue
5. West Virginia
6. Wake Forest
7. Michigan State
8. North Carolina
9. Florida
10. Tennessee
11-25: 11. Villanova 12. Ohio State 13. Pittsburgh 14. Texas 15. Florida State 16. Washington 17. Kentucky 18. Minnesota 19. Cal 20. Butler 21. Michigan 22. Texas A&M 23. Clemson 24. UCLA 25. Oklahoma State

(Just missed: Georgetown, Missouri, Louisville, Connecticut.)

Here is the link

Ken Davis at NBCSports.com has Kentucky in his preseason Final Four for 2009-10:

1. Kansas
2. Syracuse
3. Kentucky
4. Wake Forest

His thoughts on Kentucky: With all that money Calipari is getting to coach the Wildcats, he really needs to produce. No honeymoon for Coach Cal. The last coach in Lexington missed the tournament and got fired after two years.

With Jodie Meeks, Patrick Patterson and undetermined players who will follow him from Memphis or sign letters of intent, Calipari should win it all. But he’s never done that, has he?

Jodie Meeks Will Test the NBA Draft

Jodie Meeks has decided to test the NBA Draft. He will not hire an agent which will allow him to return to Kentucky for his senior season if he is not satisfied with his draft prospects.

Meeks was named to four different All-American teams this season. He led the SEC in scoring 23.7 points a game. Meeks also set a single-game Kentucky scoring record with 54 points against Tennessee this season. He set a season record with 108 three-point field goals made.

My Thoughts: Jodie will test the waters, he will at best be a second rounder and he will return for his senior season.

Source: Yahoo Sports

Las Vegas Seems to Like the UK Coaching Change

How much does a coaching change mean at a school like Kentucky? According to the odds makers in Vegas, it makes a tremendous difference. Vegas is already offering the "Odds to Win the 2010 NCAA Championship" and you might be surprised at some of the numbers.

The early picks to win it all next season are the North Carolina Tar Heels and (drum roll) the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Those are the same Wildcats that just missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since I was a freshman in high school. They are the same Wildcats that just lost in the NIT to Notre Dame and then canned Billy Gillispie. The Cats and the Heels are sitting at +500 to win it all in 2010.

The Louisville Cardinals are tied with the Duke Blue Devils at +800. To give an idea of what Vegas thinks about John Calipari, the Memphis Tigers are sitting at +7500 odds to win it all.

I will not list every team that the odds makers are offering, but here are a few teams of interest:

- North Carolina +500

- Kentucky +500

- Louisville +800

- Duke +800

- Kansas +1000

- UCLA +1000

- Alabama +1000 (they like Anthony Grant, as well)

- Michigan St. +1200

- Florida +1500

- West Virgina +1500

- UCONN +1500

- Syracuse +2000

- Tennessee +2000

- Pittsburgh +3000

- LSU +3000

- Memphis +7500

- Indiana +17500

Daniels, Crawford Make All-NBDL Teams

Former Kentucky Wildcat players Erik Daniels and Joe Crawford have been chosen for the All-NBA Development teams. Daniels has been selected to the league's First Team after averaging 21.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game for the season. Crawford, who is currently playing on a 10-day contract for the NBA's New York Knicks, was named All-NBDL Honorable Mention. Crawford averaged 20.8 points and 4.6 rebounds during the NBDL season.

All-NBDL First Team

G Blake Ahearn Dakota Wizards
G Will Conroy Albuquerque Thunderbirds
F Erik Daniels Erie BayHawks
F Marcus Williams Austin Toros
C Courtney Sims Iowa Energy

Complete All-League Selections

Erik Daniels

Joe Crawford

Kentucky High School All-Star Tryout List Announced

The tryout list for the Kentucky/Indiana All-Star series has been announced. The tryouts will take place April 17-18 at Campbellsville University. The games will be June 13 in Indianapolis and June 14 in Louisville.

The tryout invitees are:

Darren Ballou (Adair County); C.J. Penny (Anderson County); DeLon Butler (Apollo); Wesley Cox (Ballard); Jordan Hickman (Bardstown); Steven McFarland (Boone County); Charles Ashford (Bryan Station); Andy Blank (Buckhorn); Ridge Wilson, Alex Morrison (Central); Corey Wilford (Christian County); Josh Crawford (Corbin); Chris Dowe (Eastern); Jonathan Ferguson, Ethan Faulkner, Evan Faulkner (Elliott County); Andy Donovan (Franklin County); Aaron Wilson (Fulton City); Prince Stewart (Henry Clay); Brandon Housley, JaMel Riley, Dominique Johnson (Holmes); Chuck Jones (Hopkins County Central); Jordan Reves (Jeffersontown); Vee Sanford (Lexington Catholic); Ethan Spurlin (Lincoln County); Ramsey Walker (Lyon County); x-Jon Hood (Madisonville-North Hopkins); Jacob Jenkins (Manual); Russ Middleton (Mason County); Eric Mosley (Moore); Tommy Oates (Muhlenberg North); Nick Hudson, Tyler Rogers (Paul Dunbar); Matt Clevenger (Pikeville); James David Strange (Pineville); Bryon Ellis (Russell County); Corey Jackson (Shawnee); Chase Cox (Taylor County); Dayvon Sloan (Waggener).

x-automatic selection as Kentucky's Mr. Basketball.

Source: Courier Journal

Memphis Promotes Assistant Pastner to Head Coach

Memphis will promote John Calipari's assistant, Josh Pastner, to the position of head coach. Pastner is well-known as a great recruiter and has spent several years as an assistant to Lute Olson at Arizona. He spent last season as Calipari's assistant. Pastner has no head coaching experience.

This is important to Kentucky basketball because many expected Pastner to join Calipari in Lexington. He may also have the ties to keep several top-notch recruits, some that were rumored to be following Calipari, in Memphis.

Article from CBSSports.com

Could Billy Gillispie Land in Memphis?

There is a new rumor floating around today that Billy Gillispie could possibly get a shot at the Memphis head coaching position that was vacated by new Kentucky-coach John Calipari. How ironic would it be if Kentucky and Memphis essentially conducted a DI coaching trade?

Matt Jones at KSR reported a piece from an article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper. That paragraph states:

The appearance of trading coaches with Kentucky would be odd, if not off-putting to some. But let's face it. If Calipari had gone anywhere else, who's the best, most accomplished coach available? There's no doubt, it's Gillispie, who has been coach of the year in the Big 12 (2005, 2007) and the SEC (2008). Two years ago, nobody was hotter than Gillispie. And he wants the job. Wouldn't it be a heck of a story if the two parties who got wrecked by Kentucky join forces, both with something to prove? Now that's a "Wow" hire.

Here is a link to that article

I decided to a check into this rumor and sure enough, Bill Self at Kansas is making a Gillispie-to-Memphis push, as well. Dan Wolken on TheMemphisEdge.com site conducted an interview with Self this morning. Here are Self's comments:

“Hes the best recruiter I’ve been around. I wish he could get involved (with Memphis).”

“Billy is tough, and although this is a setback in many people’s eyes for him, what went down at Kentucky, he’ll see it as an opportunity to do something else at a different place, and I know he’s hungry to coach. He’s as hard a worker as I’ve ever been around. I think anybody, especially someone that’s recruited in the area, any school in the proximity of the south or southwest would be really crazy for not at least looking into him as a potential candidate because he can win and win big.

I think he can get players and I know he can coach ‘em.”

Dan Wolken adds that he has been told that Daniel Orton would likely follow Billy Gillispie if he were hired at a division I program.

Here is report on the Memphis Edge site

And finally, a previous article from the Memphis Edge in which Wolken describes a Gillispie/Memphis relationship as "the two parties who got screwed over by Kentucky joining forces with something to prove."

UPDATE: Memphis has hired assistant Josh Pastner to replace Calipari. The Gillispie job hunt continues...

10 Reasons for UK Fans to Love John Calipari

1. In His Dream Job: Coach Calipari has stated numerous times that being Kentucky’s head coach was his dream job. He stated to Andy Katz that he was actually willing to take less money for the job.

"I don't want you to tell Kentucky this, but I would have taken less money to go to Kentucky," Calipari said. "Because it's Kentucky. Don't tell them that, though.”

When meeting with his Memphis team to make them aware of the opportunity, he described Kentucky as “the Notre Dame of college basketball.”

2. Awareness of History: In his first press conference, Calipari alluded to Dan Issel, Tayshaun Prince, Kyle Macy, “Mr. Wildcat” Bill Keightley, Rex Chapman and Nazi Mohammed. Various times since accepting the job, he has mentioned the great history and tradition of Kentucky basketball.

3. Acceptance of Former Cats: When Coach Calipari held his first practice at Kentucky, former Wildcat Kyle Macy was watching from the sidelines. Calipari went over to Macy and exchanged greetings with him. He asked to be the university’s representative in Detroit this weekend when Tayshaun Prince was honored with his Olympic gold medal.

There has been a rumor floating around that he might even be willing to bring a former Kentucky player on as an assistant coach.

4. Willingness to Show Face on Campus: Calipari has already visited a Kentucky football spring practice where he spoke to the team. He told Andy Katz that he won’t be a stranger on campus. He said he won't stay in his office and avoid interacting with the other coaches or teams. He plans on attending football, baseball and women's basketball games as well as other sporting events.

In his press conference, Calipari announced, "I'm a regular guy, folks. I do not walk on water."

5. Loves Representing the University of Kentucky Nationally: Calipari has been all over television and radio since the accepted the Kentucky job. He has been on Rome is Burning, SportsCenter, the Final Four Pre-Game Show, Mike and Mike, Pardon the Interruption, Sirius Radio and more.

There was even a 30-minute show Friday on FoxSports South titled Let's Meet John Calipari.

6. Work Ethic: It made a great first impression on many Wildcat fans when an understandably tired John Calipari flew to Kentucky just before midnight, got out of bed early for a Kentucky press conference and then immediately flew to Memphis for a good-bye press conference. The first impression was made when he ended the Memphis press conference and flew to Oklahoma City to make contact with Kentucky recruit Daniel Orton’s family.

Calipari didn’t stop with that. He has already had a couple of practices with the current Kentucky players and has spoken to nearly all of the recruits that were recruited by Billy Gillispie. Add to that the fact that he has flown all over the country recruiting and representing UK and it is hard to not appreciate Calipari’s work ethic.

7. Recruiting: Speaking of recruiting, Calipari has stirred up more recruiting excitement in one week than there’s been in Kentucky for the last 10 years. He single-handily has Kentucky listed on the prospective lists of basically every top, unsigned player in the nation. Kentucky was previously listed on the #22 (Orton) and #32 (Hood) players in the Rivals Top 150 List. Now, Kentucky is listed on #1, #2, #3, #22, #32, #67, #75 and #140. That excludes several players that have already committed to Memphis that might consider following Calipari to Lexington.

For many years, Kentucky has focused on recruiting lower-level players that can be developed into solid contributors. It is refreshing to see Kentucky listed beside the likes of Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and UCONN on the lists of some of the nation’s top recruits.

8. Personality and Charisma: Calipari has the perfect persona to become a beloved Kentucky coach. He is comfortable when speaking in public and he displays a witty humor that captures the audience. His humor was evident in his first press conference. He looked at the notorious Alan Cutler (famous for chasing former coach Billy Gillispie through the basketball office for an interview) and stated, "Did you chase that guy? Do you have tennis shoes on right now?"

He sarcastically asked, "Do they question coaches here?"

Throughout the press conference, his witty jokes drew laughter from the anxious audience. His personality and charm allow him to be in control, while still being likeable.

9. His Offense: He will bring a brand of basketball to Lexington that the Big Blue Nation has longed for since the Rick Pitino days. If you have not already done so, do some research on the Dribble-Drive Motion offense and prepare to be excited.

The Dribble-Drive Motion Offense and the Current UK Roster

The Dribble-Drive Motion: A Look at the Numbers

10. The Potential Rivalries (imagine the possibilities):

- Calipari vs. Pitino
- Calipari vs. Pearl
- Calipari vs. Donovan
- Calipari vs. Horn
- Kentucky vs. the SEC

Imagine the possibilities...

Image: ESPN.com

Source: Andy Katz Interview

Meeks, Calipari Receive NABC State Farm Honors

Kentucky's Jodie Meeks and head coach John Calipari were both honored over the weekend at the NCAA Tournament's Final Four in Detroit, Michigan.

Meeks added to his impressive collection of honors by being named to the NABC State Farm Coaches' All-America team. Meeks finished the season as the SEC's leading scorer at 23.7 points a game. He set school records for points in a game with 54 at Tennessee and three-pointers in a season with 108. Meeks has all received All-America honors from the Associated Press (2nd Team), USBWA (2nd Team), The Sporting News (2nd Team) and FoxSports.com (4th Team).

Kentucky coach John Calipari won the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award for his work at Memphis this season. He led the Tigers to a 33-4 record and an appearance in the Sweet 16 before taking the Kentucky job.

Kentucky native Darrin Horn, the head coach at South Carolina, was also a finalist for the Jim Phelan award.

Western's Mendez-Valdez Competes in All-Star Game

Western Kentucky's Orlando Mendez-Valdez competed in the Hershey's College All-Star Game last night. The game is held in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four in Detroit, Michigan. Mendez-Valdez played for the Reese's All-Stars in the game. He struggled from the field in scoring only three points and grabbing four rebounds in 20 minutes.

The Reese's team defeated the Hershey's All Stars 105-100.

Box Score

Asbury Eagles Finish as NCCAA Mid-East Champions

The Asbury Eagles have finished their season as NCCAA Mid-East Region Champions. The Eagles were crowned champions after defeating and finishing higher than region foe Oakland City in the NCCAA National Tournament. The Eagles also had a fifth place finish in the national tournament, which was their best ever finish. Asbury finished with a 21-13 record on the season.

After the game, Asbury head coach Will Shouse was named NCCAA Mid-East Region Coach of the Year.

Asbury Press Release

Bellarmine's Braydon Hobbs Named to DII Bulletin's All-Freshman Team

Braydon Hobbs of Bellarmine University has been named to the NCAA Division II Bulletin's All-Freshman Team.

The New Albany High School graduate averaged 12.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the Knights. Bellarmined finished the season with a 26-7 record and a trip to the NCAA's Sweet 16.

2009 Division II Bulletin All Freshman Team

Kyle Baxter, Humboldt State
Raymont McElroy, Northern Michigan
Braydon Hobbs, Bellarmine
Jason Adams, Missouri Southern
Kyle Caiola, UMass Lowell
Cody Schilling, Augustana College
Tony Fannick, Mansfield
Dale Minschwaner, Colorado Mines
Desmond Johnson, Lincoln Memorial

Derek Hellemann, Florida Tech

Press Release from Bellarmine

The Dribble-Drive Motion: A Look at the Numbers

Last night, I broke down the current Kentucky roster and evaluated the potential of each player in John Calipari's Dribble-Drive Motion offense. Tonight, I am going to take a look at the statistical production of the DDM and also look at the success it has created at several programs. For a brief introduction to the offense, check out my article from last night.

The innovative creator of the DDM was Vance Walberg. He developed the offense while coaching at the high school level. After a successful run, he moved on to coach Fresno City Junior College in California. During Walberg's tenure, Fresno City used the Dribble-Drive Motion (known as AASAA back then) to accumulate an unbelievable 133-11 record between 2003-06. The team was 34-0 in 2005, using the DDM.

Walberg was hired to coach at Pepperdine University in the 2006-07 season. Pepperdine, coming off a 7-20 season, did not have the personnel required to run the DDM effectively in Walberg's only full season at the helm (he left due to personal reasons early in the following season). The team finished 8-23 in 2006-07. Here is a look at Pepperdine's statistical numbers in the pre-DDM season and the 2006-07 season:

Pepperdine 2005-06 (Pre-DDM)

66.0 PTS, 638-1556 (.410) FG, 381-563 (.677) FT, 121-383 (.324) 3PT, 10.4 AST, 15.1 TO

Pepperdine 2006-07 (Running DDM)

77.1 PTS, 840-1946 (.432) FG, 406-578 (.702) FT, 303-843 (.359) 3PT, 13.8 AST, 15.3 TO

Pepperdine Analysis:

Neither team was very good, but the first thing that jumps out to me is that the team's scoring average increased by 11.1 points a game using the DDM system. Their percentages increased in all shooting areas and the number of assists per game increased significantly. Losing 23 games while averaging 77.1 points would indicate that the team struggled mightily on defense, but the offensive production certainly improved using the DDM. Another number that really jumps off the page to me is that the DDM team shot nearly 500 more 3-point shots than the previous team. That would seem to hold with the theory that the mid-range game is virtually eliminated when running a true DDM system. The offense is designed to get driving, short-range shots or good looks from beyond the 3-point line.

A better case study can be performed using the Memphis Tigers. John Calipari implemented the Dribble-Drive Motion in the 2005-06 season following a disappointing 22-16 campaign. The offense paid immediate dividends. Now, I will illustrate the DDM's effectiveness by looking at four seasons running the DDM and the four seasons prior to running the DDM.

Memphis 2001-05 (Pre-DDM)

2001-02 27-9 NIT Champions
2002-03 23-7 NCAA 1st Round
2003-04 22-8 NCAA 2nd Round
2004-05 22-16 NIT Semifinals

4-Year Totals: 94-40

Memphis 2005-09 (Running DDM)

2005-06 33-4 NCAA Elite 8
2006-07 33-4 NCAA Elite 8
2007-08 38-2 NCAA Runner-up
2008-09 33-4 NCAA Sweet 16

4-Year Totals: 137-14

Memphis Statistical Breakdown

2001- 02 80.0 PTS, 1045-2276 (.459) FG, 608-912 (.667) FT, 181-501 (.361) 3PT, 15.4 AST, 14.4 TO
2002-03 74.3 PTS, 812-1878 (.432) FG, 462-706 (.654) FT,217-638 (.340) 3PT, 16.3 AST, 13.7 TO
2003-04 72.4 PTS, 736-1751 (.420) FG, 441-671 (.657) FT,259-722 (.359) 3PT, 14.2 AST, 12.8 TO
2004-05 71.4 PTS, 906-2139 (.424) FG, 644-942 (.684) FT, 248-746 (.346) 3PT, 12.0 AST, 14.7 TO

_________________________DDM Implementation_____________________________

2005-06 80.0 PTS, 1035-2291 (.451) FG, 616-903 (.682) FT, 277-783 (.354) 3PT, 15.3 AST, 15.5 TO
2006-07 78.9 PTS, 1024-2249 (.455) FG, 592-953 (.621) FT, 278-792 (.351) 3PT, 14.5 AST, 13.3 TO
2007-08 79.9 PTS, 1143-2454 (.466) FG, 608-991 (.614) FT, 302-864 (.349) 3PT, 15.9 AST, 11.8 TO
2008-09 75.1 PTS, 979-2176 (.450) FG, 599-868 (.690) FT, 222-681 (.326) 3PT, 14.2 AST, 12.5 TO

Memphis Analysis:

Obviously, the first thing that I notice with Memphis is that they went from 22-16 running a conventional offense to 33-4 running the DDM. They went from early NCAA exits and NIT appearances to competing for Final Fours. In 2007-08, they were a few missed free throws away from a possible national championship.

From a statistical perspective, the offense improved in several areas. First, their overall points scored the first four seasons averaged out to 74.53 points a game. In four seasons running the DDM, the average increased to 78.48 points a game. The team shot over 45% from the field each season after Dribble-Drive Motion implementation. That is up from roughly 42% the previous four seasons. There was also a dramatic increase in the number of free throws attempted while running the DDM - again, this is consistent with getting the ball to the rim with more frequency.

What Have We Learned?

- The DDM is an effective offense that can dramatically improve offensive production
- The offense requires talented players that excel in with penetration and attacking the rim
- Solid guard play is a must for this offense to be effective
- The better perimeter shooters a team has, the more dangerous the DDM becomes
- The pace that the DDM calls for will require a deep bench

My Thoughts on the DDM at Kentucky:

- The Dribble-Drive Motion will give Kentucky fans the style of offense they have longed for
- Jodie Meeks could be an absolute stud in this offense
- Patrick Patterson could be even better than he has already been in this offense
- Players like Galloway and Liggins could potentially explode in this offensive scheme
- Darius Miller could be a Kentucky great in this type of system
- Non-athletic players will likely struggle in this offense
- Next season will be the most exciting season Kentucky fans have had in sometime
- The future is bright in Lexington

Dominique Ferguson No Longer Committed to Kentucky

Dominique Ferguson, Kentucky's highest rated future recruit, has became the sixth player to break off his commitment since John Calipari became the head coach. Ferguson could eventually become a Wildcat anyways, but he will weigh other options, as well.

Article from Jody Demling

2009 Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Rosters Announced

The 2009 Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Basketball Game will be played Saturday April 11th. The girl's game will be at 5:30 p.m. and the boy's will play at 7:30 p.m. The event will be held at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. For more details visit www.oh-kyallstargame.com

2009 Kentucky Boy's Roster:

Devin Adams Shelby Valley 6'10 Center
Darrin Ballou Adair County 6'8 Center
Josh Crawford Corbin 6'5 Forward
Andrew Donovan Franklin County 6'7 Forward
Chris Dowe Lou. Eastern 6'3 Guard
Ethan Faulkner Elliott Co. 6'2 Guard
Evan Faulkner Elliott Co. 6'2 Guard
Jacob Jenkins DuPont Manual 6'4 Guard
Larod King North Hardin 6'6 Guard
Leonard Macon Taylor Co. 6'6 Forward
Steven McFarland Boone Co. 6'5 Forward
Eric Mosley Lou. Moore 6'0 Guard
Jordan Reves Jeffersontown 6'10 Center
Corey Wilford Christian Co. 6'1 Guard
Ridge Wilson Lou. Central 6'5 Forward

Head Coach John Ellenwood Resigns at Thomas More

Thomas More Athletic Director Terry Conner announced yesterday that John Ellenwood has resigned as coach of the men's basketball program. Ellenwood has made the decision to accept the same position at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. Ashland University is an NCAA Division II team that competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Ellenwood inherited a 2-24 team, but compiled a 33-48 record in his three seasons at the helm. He guided the team to a 19-9 record this season and was named Presidents' Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. The Saints won their first-ever PAC regular season and tournament titles and also made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

Thomas More will conduct a national search to find a replacement.

Thomas More Press Release

The Dribble-Drive Motion Offense and the Current UK Roster

John Calipari implemented AASAA (attack, attack, skip, attack, attack) Offense after sharing a meal with an innovative junior college coach named Vance Walberg. As the two enjoyed a meal, Calipari hit Walberg with a question he was not used to. "So tell me, Vance," he said, "what do you run?"

Walberg must have been a talented salesman because one of college basketball’s top-level coaches decided to implement Walberg’s AASAA offense after that conversation. Calipari added a few wrinkles of his own and started calling the system the Dribble-Drive Motion offense. He describes it as a wide-open, European-based offense that allows the players to attack the rim on every opportunity. He has called it “Princeton on steroids.” Calipari says that players love his system because it allows them to feel unleashed.

This offense is certainly very different than most other offenses. It is founded on dribble penetration from the perimeter players. There are no screens in the Dribble-Drive Motion and the post man actually runs to the weak side rather than posting up on the strong, or ball, side. The success of the offense is determined by proper spacing and driving lanes to the basket. When ran properly, the offense yields either layup or three-point attempts and virtually eliminates the mid-range jumpshots.

Calipari has added a few additional wrinkles to Walberg’s base system. In Calipari’s version, the team sometimes swings the ball around the perimeter before getting into the offense. Occasionally, he will have a player set a high ball-screen in an attempt to spring the point guard to the basket. Another wrinkle he has implemented is that he may allow his big men to rush the basket for a potential alley-oop pass.

John Calipari will bring the DDM offense to Lexington with him and he will be building the Kentucky Wildcats around his philosophy. It is hard to argue with his results to this point. He has enjoyed an impressive run at Memphis using the Dribble-Drive Motion.

Calipari’s offense is best suited for a certain type of player and its success is directly related to having the proper personnel. Several traits that are necessary for starring in the DDM are:

- Requires quick, smart and talented guards
- Relies on agile big men that can shoot form the perimeter and run down court
- Calls for a deep bench of talented players
- Needs good three-point shooters that can punish sagging man-to-man and zone defenses

Further research on the DDM:

- Several plays within the offense
- SI Article that details the Dribble-Drive Motion
- Some of the offensive sets that lead into the offense
- And of course, http://www.dribbledrivemotion.com/

Adapting the DDM to the current Kentucky roster:

1) Jodie Meeks: Meeks is coming off an All-American season, which is impressive considering how things finished this season. He is a great shooter and has a knack for getting into the paint and drawing fouls. Jodie is not a bad ball-handler, but that is probably his weakest area on the offensive side of the ball. DDM Outlook: If Meeks enters an offense that gives him true freedom and allows him to explode to the basket and/or get good, open looks from outside – he could go down as one of the Kentucky’s all-time greats.

2) Patrick Patterson: For the most part, Patterson was Kentucky’s only hope down-low this past season. I feel that he would be better suited at a power forward position, playing alongside a true center. He has shown that he has a nice outside touch and that the can get to open spot when facing the basket. DDM Outlook: Patterson could potentially excel in this offensive scheme. The offense would allow him to play a position that is a little more natural than he has been forced to play in his first two seasons. It will be exciting to see Patrick get up-and-down the court in a fast-paced offense.

3) Darius Miller: Miller came on strong near the end of this freshman season. He showed that he has plenty of upside and will be a nice player for Kentucky down the road. DDM Outlook: Miller would definitely be able to adapt to the new offense. He has shown that he has a consistent outside jumper and he has been one of the better players on the current roster at driving into the paint for short jumpers and layups. Miller is athletic enough to play in Calipari’s system.

4) A.J. Stewart: Stewart has been an interesting case study. It has been hard to determine what is holding Stewart back – himself or his coach? He appears to be one of the finer athletes on the roster, but somehow he managed to play very sparse minutes. A.J. has been an enigma and it is hard to predict his future. DDM Outlook: Stewart appears to be athletic enough to play in this system, but his career to this point leaves me with questions. His future in Calipari’s system is cloudy, but not impossible.

5) Michael Porter: I was proud of all the adversity that Michael Porter overcame last season. He has been forced to play a position that he is not naturally gifted at and he has overcome his inadequacies with heart and determination. He showed late that he can shoot the outside shot. DDM Outlook: I have to believe that Porter will have a difficult time playing significant minutes in Calipari’s system. He can shoot the outside shot, but he is not a great one-on-one player. If Porter stays for his senior season, he will likely be a role player that sees light minutes.

6) DeAndre Liggins: Liggins is a player that is hard to figure out. He showed flashes of brilliance in several games last season, but found himself on the other end of the spectrum more times than not. He appears to be athletically gifted, but seems to struggle with decision-making and staying under control. DDM Outlook: Liggins has the explosive capabilities that could make him shine in Calipari’s system. He has the speed and athletic ability to get to the rim and take advantage of the offense’s spacing. The question that remains is whether or not he has the basketball knowledge to pick up on the keys to success in the DDM.

7) Kevin Galloway: Galloway was the player that the fans called for all season and everyone felt he should have been playing more. Everyone, that is, except his head coach. Galloway is a physically gifted player, but his decision-making and jump shot has been suspect. When he makes the correct decision, he may be the best passer on the roster. DDM Outlook: Galloway has potential to be successful in the new offense, but he needs to work hard on outside shooting.

8) Ramon Harris: Harris was a solid contributor all season when he avoided the injury bug. He is generally considered the Cats’ best defender and is capable of scoring 8-10 points a game. DDM Outlook: Harris may be a bit slow to be great in Calipari’s system. He also has a less-than-stellar outside jumper. I look for Harris to stick around but see fewer minutes under the new coach.

9) Josh Harrellson: Harrellson was reduced to a role player for the most part this past season. He showed a little promise with his outside jumper early in the season, but was unable to make a big impact once SEC play began. DDM Outlook: I think Harrellson will have a hard time adjusting to the speed that is required to play in the new offense. He will likely be a role player at best.

10) Matt Pilgrim: Pilgrim is rumored to be a heck of an athlete but he is yet to take the court for Kentucky. He has sat out his required time after transferring and is looking forward to playing next season. DDM Outlook: There are to many unknowns with Pilgrim to project what he can do in the system. If the rumors about him are true, he is a pure athlete and that will bode well for him.

11) Perry Stevenson: Stevenson started strong last season, went through a long slump during the middle of the season and then finished up strong. He has shown a solid jump shot but has been too weak with the ball around the basket to succeed against the bigger, stronger SEC big men. DDM Outlook: Stevenson would fair much better in a non-traditional offense that doesn’t expose his weaknesses so much. I am interested to see if he can play that post position off the bench for Calipari.

12) Landon Slone: I am including Slone in this conversation only because he received a fair amount of minutes last season. Some may argue that the former coach was using Slone merely as a motivational tool and that is certainly debatable. That being said, he played hard last season and gave the team some valuable minutes. DDM Outlook: I love a player that plays as hard as Slone, but I have problems believing that he can ever contributed in Calipari’s offense. Slone will be a minimal role player at best, in my opinion.

Vinny Zollo Has Decided To...

...stay committed to Kentucky.

UPDATE: Previous reports that Zollo had met with Calipari are false. He remains committed to Kentucky, but he has NOT met with the new coach yet.

Five other Kentucky recruits have decided to reopen their recruitment during the past few days.

Dakotah Euton Keeps the Trend Alive

I kind of saw this on coming a mile away and tonight Jody Demling has confirmed it. Dakotah Euton has became the fifth Kentucky recruit to back out of his commitment and reopen the recruiting process.

"We sat and talked and prayed on it as a family," his father, Clay, said. "Dakotah just wants to play basketball somewhere and get a good education. He's just going to open things up right now and see what else is out there."

Demling's Report

Michael Avery Has Reopened His Recruitment, Too

Michael Avery, the 8th grade commitment to Kentucky that stirred the college basketball world, has decided to reopen his recruitment. He joins a growing list of Kentucky recruits that will look elsewhere now after the coaching change in Lexington.

Jerry Tarkanian's Thoughts on John Calipari at UK

I just made my weekly visit to Jerry Tarkanian's Shark Bytes blog on the Las Vegas Sun's website. Here are his thoughts on John Calipari taking the Kentucky job and a story about having dinner with Joe B. Hall many years ago:

I see where John Calipari is poised to take the Kentucky job, and I think he’s a perfect fit for the Wildcats. John is a great recruiter and he loves the media. He will do a great job.

He loves the PR aspect of the game and he’s a great motivator. I can’t believe the salary they’re talking about, more than $4 million a season?

It’s been 31 years since we played them back there on their Senior Night when nobody else would. Before that game I had dinner with Joe B. Hall, their coach who was having a fine season, but the heat was on him all year long.

Win the national championship, or else. They were all over his case. He’s the one who built Wildcat Lodge, which initially housed the basketball players and was so luxurious.

It had big beds, the best food … then the NCAA changed its rules so athletes couldn’t get such better treatment than the average student. Joe raised all the money, but they weren’t going to call it Joe B. Hall Wildcat Lodge.

Joe was hurt. He felt like they were after him. He knew he had to win to keep his job. At dinner, I told him, Joe B., you know what I’d like to see you do?

I’d love to see you take the Tennessee job – it was open at the time – and tell them to shove it up their (bleeps). He went on to win the national championship that season for Kentucky, so they treated him well.

And the dorm is called Joe B. Hall Wildcat Lodge.

Article

Calipari Meets With Daniel Orton's Family

As expected, John Calipari jetted to Oklahoma City after his brief stop in Memphis yesterday afternoon. He met with Daniel Orton's family and Matt Jones at KSR reports that "things went well."

Orton is the top recruit in former coach Billy Gillispie's recruiting class for next season. KC Ross-Miller, G.J. Vilarino and Konner Tucker have all de-commited from Kentucky and reopened their recruitments. There has been no word on Jon Hood, who is Kentucky's Mr. Basketball, yet. There has also been no word on future commits Dominique Ferguson, Dakotah Euton, Vinny Zollo and Michael Avery.

My Thoughts: I think Calipari will work hard to get Daniel Orton to Lexington and will likely keep Jon Hood. I expect him to advise several others to de-commit and look elsewhere.

It is also very likely that several current Kentucky players will be looking elsewhere next season, as well. Calipari will be meeting current players soon and a roster shakeup is expected.

G.J. Vilarino Has Decided to Reopen His Recruitment

G.J. Vilarino met with Coach Calipari tonight to discuss his future as a Kentucky Wildcat. After the meeting, Vilarino decided to reopen his recruitment.

U2 Said it Best: “It Was a Beautiful Day”

It was a beautiful day

Don't let it get away

Beautiful day

Like always, the alarm sounded early this morning. I went through my pre-day routine of hitting the snooze button a couple of times and using the extra time to think about the upcoming day’s agenda. My wife is out of town for a few days with her job, so the list is a little longer than usual this week:

- Get the kid’s ready for school and daycare…check!
- Get to work on time…check!
- Conference call at 8:30 a.m….check!
- Prepare for the Calipari press conference….

“Wait a minute. John Calipari will be officially announced as the Kentucky head coach at 9:30 a.m. I have to get going!”

With that thought, I hopped out of bed and was ready to attack the day. I was barely able to contain the excitement as I awaited the press conference that would shake the Big Blue Nation by its foundation.

I searched my list of favorite Kentucky basketball-related sites with a reckless abandon as soon as I sat in front of my computer. I broke down the threads on Bluegrass Preps to see if I could discover any breaking news. I checked out Kentucky Sports Radio to see what Matt Jones and his crew had to say about the day’s events. I hopped over to John Clay’s Blog to see what he was reporting. Oh cool, John gave me props for reporting Calipari to Kentucky on Sunday! I check Maggard’s site to see what he was talking about. I was a Big Blue junkie that needed my morning fix.

Based on my own experiences since the NIT loss to Notre Dame, I would boldly predict that work productivity was down on a statewide basis for the past few days. Employers may not realize why production has been lacking, but they should join the Kentucky fans in rejoicing John Calipari. Work may return to normal after today.

I maximized the Internet Explorer window that would allow me to view the live feed of the Calipari press conference. I noticed “9:27 PM” on my computer’s clock, and for no reason at all; I hit the refresh button three times in succession.

Finally, the video feed came to life and the cameras were focused on an open door. It was 9:30, but all the feed showed was various members of the media shuffling about. I waited nervously until Kentucky’s new coach made his way through the door. He had entered the door that would lead him to the top of the Big Blue Nation.

Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart opened the press conference. He detailed the hiring process and outlined the new coach’s contract – 8 years and $31.65 million with incentives. As if to illustrate that this coach was already ahead of the last, Barnhart made sure to add that this contract had already been signed. He listed various accolades that Calipari has accomplished and finished with, “he can flat out coach.”

John Calipari grabbed the audience and opened by stating that he is humbled to coach such a storied program. He immediately recognized Mr. Wildcat Bill Keightley and his family. He then mentioned that he personally called former Kentucky coaches including Tubby Smith, Rick Pitino, Eddie Sutton and Joe B. Hall. Next, he made references to Kentucky greats such as Kyle Macy, Rex Chapman, Dan Issel, Nazi Mohammed and Tayshaun Prince. At this point, I was already thinking that this man understands what it takes to be the coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.

He went on to add that he is just a normal guy.

“I'm a regular guy, folks. I do not walk on water."

He exclaimed that the program would be about the players first - that is quite a different philosophy from what we have seen the past couple of seasons. He will implement his infamous dribble-drive offense. He added that he would evaluate all players currently on the team and all players that have committed to the team. If they are able to assist in winning a national championship, he will welcome them with open arms. If they cannot contribute in his program, he will be honest with them and help them find a better future.

After hearing John Calipari speak, I found myself more excited about the Wildcats than I had been in a very long time.

I returned to work and tried to refocus on my task list. As the day progressed, I returned to the Internet to see what was happening. I tuned into a press conference in Memphis that featured the Memphis Athletic Director. I then listened to Calipari’s press conference from the front lawn of his Memphis home. I learned that he would immediately leave Memphis to visit Daniel Orton’s family and try to insure that Orton would be in a Wildcat uniform next season. I was excited that he was working on recruiting during his first day on the job.

Later in the day, I heard that the nation’s top player, Xavier Henry, had de-committed from Memphis and would reopen his recruitment. Could this mean that Henry will follow Calipari to Lexington?

Then, I read that Kentucky commits Konner Tucker, G.J. Vilarino and KC Ross-Miller have chosen to reopen their recruitments. My first thought was that the players have read the writing on the wall and decided that their best options may lie elsewhere.

Tonight, I learned that recruiting guru Bob Gibbons was reporting that point guard stud John Wall would likely commit to the Kentucky Wildcats before Monday. Wall could single-handedly fill one of Kentucky’s biggest voids next season.

In a single day, the Kentucky Wildcats have gone from mediocre to a potential top five team next season. The program upgraded from a Billy Gillispie that was probably in over his head to a John Calipari that is a top coach in the country. The Kentucky roster will likely be rebuilt and filled with a level of talent that has been missing for several years.

Tonight, I am wondering how the day could have been any better. As a Kentucky Wildcat fan, for the first time in a long time, it was a beautiful day.

UK Commit KC Ross Miller Reopens Recruitment

Following the earlier footsteps of Konner Tucker, Kentucky recruit KC Ross Miller has decided to reopen his recruitment after the hiring of John Calipari. He may still return to Kentucky, but only after Calipari has an opportunity to evaluate him.

Here is the story from TrueBlueKentucky.com

Related Article:

Konner Tucker Reopens Recruitment

John Wall Recruiting Update

Some more positive news for Wildcat fans:

Bob Gibbons from Rivals Radio is reporting that point guard sensation John Wall plans to talk to Kentucky head coach John Calipari and will likely commit to the Wildcats before Monday.

Wall has stated that he will not return to Duke for a visit.

Top Recruit Xavier Henry Will Decommit from Memphis

The news continues to snowball in the wrong direction for Memphis. ESPN's top-ranked recruit, Xavier Henry, will apparently decommit from Memphis and re-open his recruitment. Henry’s father, Carl, didn’t know where Xavier would end up — just that it wouldn’t be Memphis.

“That was the reason he went there — the style of play, Coach Cal,” the elder Henry said. “I haven’t talked with (Xavier) since Coach Cal signed at UK, but I know Xavier won’t be at Memphis. Once I talk to him Thursday when he gets back from Florida, we’ll get an idea of where he’ll end up.”

Article from KYKernel.com

Coach Calipari's Memphis Press Conference - Notes

- It was difficult to leave the players and city that he loves
- He left because it was his dream to coach at Kentucky someday
- Players were angry that it happened, but not angry with Calipari
- He hopes that the program is better than it was when he arrived 9 years ago
- He has had many opportunities to leave, but never did; It was not about the money

He abruptly walked away from the press conference and walked into the house.

- Associate says this is very difficult for John; He will come back out when he regains composure
- He hopes the Memphis recruits will all stay at Memphis
- He does not mind being a second choice behind Billy Donovan
- Feels that the Memphis program will be just fine going forward
- Kentucky is, "one of those jobs that I would have left for."
- Says he was offered more money a month ago but rejected it because of the economic climate at the university (laying off professors, etc.)
- Talked to Rick Pitino for 5-10 minutes yesterday
- Going to Kentucky is easy; leaving Memphis is the hardest thing he's ever had to do

John Calipari Press Conference - Notes

- He will have this press conference, fly to Memphis to have a goodbye press conference and then fly to Oklahoma City to meet with Daniel Orton and his family
- Still watching the doorway for Calipari's arrival
- Barnhart, Todd and Calipari at the table
- Mike Pratt had a hand in the hiring process
- UK performed extensive questioning and background checking around the country
- 8 years, $35 million dollars; completed and signed
- "He can flat out coach." - Mitch Barnhart
- Calipari is humbled, but excited to lead this storied program.
- Recognizes Mr. Wildcat Bill Keightley
- He talked to Tubby Smith, Rick Pitino, Joe B. Hall
- Making references to Kyle Macy, Dan Issel, Rex Chapman, Tayshaun Prince, Nazi Mohammed
- "I'm a regular guy, folks. I do not walk on water."
- "This program will be about players first."
- "Our goal will be to make the entire Commonwealth proud of this team."
- Memphis reporter claims Calipari stated that he would not come to Kentucky; asks him what happened; he responds, "did I say that?"; says it is his dream to coach at Kentucky
- To Alan Cutler: "Did you chase that guy? Do you have tennis shoes on right now?"
- He wants the team to have fun
- States that he knows Jodie and Patrick but he honestly doesn't know the current team very well
- "Do they question coaches here?"
- He will definitely implement the dribble-drive offense
- 3 Keys to winning a championship: 1) have really good players, 2) have really good players, 3) have really good players
- Next season we'll have 12-13 players on scholarship; hopes players that signed at Memphis will go to Memphis
- "I do not throw kids under the bus at the first sign of trouble."
- Says he will watch every future commit and then be honest with them; If they are good enough to play and help win national titles, he'll welcome them; If they are not good enough, he will tell them

Konner Tucker Reopens Recruitment

Marc Maggard reports that Konner Tucker has decided to re-open his recruitment with the hiring of John Calipari at Kentucky. Tucker, a freshman guard at Lon Morris Junior College, had recently committed to the Cats.

Here is the article from Maggard at TrueBlueKentucky.com

Jon Hood is Kentucky's Mr. Basketball

Jon Hood of Madisonville-North Hopkins High School has been named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball winner. Hood averaged 28.7 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 2.5 assists and 2.3 steals for the Maroons. He has signed to played his college basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats.

Congrats to Mr. Hood!

Article from the Courier Journal