NBA Rookie of the Year Candidates Not Named Wall

Dimemag.com has named 5 NBA Rookie of the Year Favorites Not Named John Wall.

The five players listed are former Kentucky big man DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Ed Davis, Blake Griffin and Evan Turner.

Here's an excerpt about Cousins:

DeMARCUS COUSINS, PF/C, Kings — This young man has proven to be a beast. Wall’s former teammate at the University of Kentucky showed flashes of dominance during the NBA summer league, and in his preseason opener dropped 16 points and 16 boards on the Suns. The Kings want to build around Evans and Cousins and don’t have any pressure to win right away, so the rookie will have plenty of opportunities to show what he can do. If he continues to show a good work ethic, the sky is the limit.

Complete Article

Greg Himes Named Head Coach at Southern State CC

Greg Himes, a former assistant at Mason County and Bracken County, has been hired as the head coach at Southern State Community College in Hillsboro, Ohio.

"I am very excited about coaching at Southern State Community College," Himes told AllKyHoops. "This is a great opportunity."

Himes received an associate degree from Southern State in 1991 before attending Morehead State University. He spent time on Kelly Wells' staff at Mason County, a period that included a KHSAA state championship.

With the season just around the corner, Himes realizes that he has a tremendous amount of work to do.

"I plan to catch up by doing a lot of hard work," Himes stated. "I know this year will be a challenge, but I feel I am ready to accept the challenge."

Southern State is a member of the Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Southern State CC Men's Basketball - 2010/11 Schedule

Day/DateOpponentSiteTimeResults

Wed, Nov 3 WPAFB - (exhibition) HOME 7:30p
Fri/Sat, Nov 5/6 Edison Tip Off Classic Away TBA
Sun, Nov 7 OSU Mansfield HOME 4p
Fri, Nov 12 Valor Christian Away 7:30p
Mon, Nov 15 UC Clermont Away 7:30p
Sat, Nov 20 Ohio Christian Away 3p
Tues, Nov 23 Rio Grande JV HOME 7:30p
Tues, Nov 30 Clark State HOME 7:30p
Wed, Dec 1 Cedarville JV Away 7:30p
Sun, Dec 5 MU Hamilton Away 3p
Wed, Dec 8 Cedarville JV HOME 7:30p
Sat, Dec 11 Temple Baptist HOME 2p
Tues, Dec 14 Clark State Away 7:30p
Sat, Dec 18 Temple Baptist Away 1p
Mon, Jan 3 Sinclair Away 7:30p
Mon, Jan 1 0UC Clermont HOME 7:30p
Sat, Jan 15 Wright St - Lake Away 3p
Mon, Jan 17 Wittenberg JV Away 7:30p
Sun, Jan 23 Rio Grande JV Away 2p
Mon, Jan 24 Ohio Christian HOME 7:30p
Sun, Jan 3 0MU Hamilton HOME 3p
Tues, Feb 1 Valor Christian HOME 7:30p
Thur, Feb 3 Wittenberg JV HOME 7:30p
Sat, Feb 5 OSU Marion Away 1p
Sat, Feb 12 MU Middletown HOME 3p
Fri/Sat, Feb 17-19 OCAC Tournament HOME TBA

All HOME Games are played at the Patriot Center at Central Campus in Hillsboro

Oral Roberts Hires Sean Sutton as an Advisor

Sean Sutton, who pleaded guilty in August to illegally obtaining prescription drugs, will serve as an adviser to the Oral Roberts basketball program.

Oral Roberts is led by Sutton's bother, Scott.

Here is an excerpt from Forbe.com:

"He is a gifted and very experienced coach and he'll be a great help to us," school President Mark Rutland said Thursday during a news conference at the private Tulsa school. "At this university, we believe in the stewardship of gifts and we believe in the process of redemptive grace."

Sean Sutton will not be able to give direct instruction to players, but he will be able to watch practice and film and make suggestions to his brother and the Golden Eagles' three full-time assistant coaches.

Complete Article

Tony Wroten Commits to Washington

Tony Wroten has committed to the University of Washington.

After teasing all the hats in front of him (and after showing up dressed in black and red), Wroten grabbed the UW cap and placed it on his head.

His final five included Seattle University, Louisville, Villanova, Washington and UConn.

Sixth Annual Dick Vitale Gala to Honor Calipari, UK

The Sixth Annual Dick Vitale Gala will honor the University of Kentucky and head coach John Calipari as the winningest program in college basketball history. The event will also honor Roy Williams and the North Carolina program.

The Gala benefits The V Foundation for Cancer Research and will be held May 20, 2011 at the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Sarasota, Florida.

For more information, visit the DickVitaleOnline.com

Kentucky State University Releases 2010-11 Schedule

Kentucky State University has released its 2010-11 men's basketball schedule.

Kentucky State University 2010-2011 Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time/Result

11/23/10 at Claflin University Orangeburg, SC 7:30
11/27/10 Benedict College Frankfort, KY 3:00
11/29/10 Paine College Frankfort, KY 7:30
12/04/10 Claflin University Frankfort, KY 3:00
12/31/10 Lane College Frankfort, KY 3:00
1/04/11 Fort Valley State University Frankfort, KY 7:30
1/06/11 Albany State University Frankfort, KY 7:30
1/08/11 at Paine College Augusta, GA 3:00
1/10/11 at Benedict College Columbia, SC 7:30
1/13/10 Morehouse College Frankfort, KY 7:30
1/15/11 Clark Atlanta University Frankfort, KY 3:00
1/18/11 at Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, GA 8:00
1/20/11 at Albany State University Albany, GA 7:30
1/22/11 Central State University Frankfort, KY 8:00
1/25/11 at Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL 7:30
1/27/11 at Stillman College Tuscaloosa, AL 7:30
1/29/11 at LeMoyne-Owen College Memphis, TN 3:00
2/05/11 at Miles College Birmingham, AL 3:00
2/08/11 at Lane College Jackson, TN 7:30
2/10/11 LeMoyne- Owen College Frankfort, KY 7:30
2/12/11 at Central State University Wilberforce, OH 8:00
2/17/11 Stillman College Frankfort, KY 7:30
2/19/11 Tuskegee University Frankfort, KY 3:00
2/21/11 Miles College (Senior Night) Frankfort, KY 7:30
2/24/11 at Clark Atlanta University Atlanta, GA 8:00
2/26/11 at Morehouse Collge Atlanta, GA 3:00

Terrence Williams Takes a Train Ride to Newark

Former Louisville star Terrence Williams took his first ride on a train yesterday as he travelled from New York's Penn Station to Newark's Penn Station.

Here is an excerpt from NBA.com:

"This is definitely way better than I thought,” said Williams, from a window seat. “I might actually take this to the game instead of driving. There’s no train in Seattle. They’ve got a light rail transit now, but I never took that. I always had cars.”

Led by YES Network announcer Jessica Taff, whose crew was filming for a TV segment, Williams began his trek at NJ Transit’s direct entrance to the ticketing concourse, located at the corner of 7th Ave. and W 31st St. Traveling down the staircase, Williams became one of 81,000 daily commuters to utilize NJ Transit.

Williams shuffled into the ticket line, waiting his turn and purchasing a one-way ticket ($5.00) before making his way to Track 1, where he boarded the 3:30 p.m. Northeast Corridor No. 3855. Easily finding a seat among the afternoon travelers, Williams commented on the ease and speed of the commute, at one point roping a few of his fellow riders into committing to attend a game.

Complete Article

Great Lakes Valley Conference Adds McKendree University

The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced on Wednesday that McKendree University has been admitted to the Conference as the 17th member. The addition of McKendree was unanimously approved by the GLVC Council of Presidents at the Oct. 5 meeting.

“The GLVC Council of Presidents unanimously endorsed McKendree University’s application
for membership because of their strong academic and athletic profile and the tremendous
leadership provided by their President Dr. Jim Dennis,” said Dr. Thomas George, Chancellor at
the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Chair of the GLVC Council of Presidents.

It is anticipated that McKendree will be eligible for all GLVC Championships during the 2013-14
season. The Bearcats will be eligible for league championships and integrated into the schedules
for the following sports in 2012-13: football, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and
field, men’s cross country, women’s cross country and women’s golf.

The delay in postseason eligibility coincides with the institution’s eligibility for NCAA Division
II championships as determined by the institution’s reclassification to Division II. McKendree is
currently affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and is in its
first candidacy year for membership in Division II. The institution is on track to become a full
NCAA Division II member for 2013-14 academic year.

“The Great Lakes Valley Conference is pleased to welcome McKendree University as the
league’s 17th member,” said Jim Naumovich, GLVC Commissioner. “McKendree boasts an
outstanding academic reputation and features an athletic program that has been competitive at the national level during their time as a NAIA member. We believe they will be great fit for the GLVC and NCAA Division II”.

McKendree sits on a 100-acre campus in Lebanon, Ill. and will be the fourth GLVC institution located in Illinois.

Complete Release

Westphal Would Like to Evaluate Joe Crawford Some

Sacramento Kings head coach Paul Westphal says he would like to get a better look at former Kentucky star Joe Crawford.

Crawford, who is fighting for a roster spot with the Kings, did not appear in the team's first preseason game.

He is said to be competing with Luther Head for one spot.

Here is an excerpt from Sacbee.com:
"We'll probably play (Antoine) Wright there a little bit," said Kings coach Paul Westphal. "I would like to see Joe Crawford some, but it's just really hard to know how the game is going to go."

Crawford and Luther Head are competing for a roster spot as a reserve who can provide perimeter shooting. While Head has shown he can be a consistent NBA shooter, Crawford is still looking for his first real chance.

The 6-foot-5 guard from Kentucky was a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 but was waived before the season. His only NBA time that season was on a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks.

Complete Article

Tony Wroten Talks About Tomorrow's Decision

Tony Wroten answered questions for the Seattle Times about his college decision, which he will announce tomorrow.

He even said, "whether I got to UW or Louisville..." at one point. He also stated that he "loves purple" but has been "wearing a lot of red lately."

Here is an excerpt:

Q: What coaches have been in contact with you in the past 48 hours?

Wroten: Louisville, Louisville, Louisville. For real.

Q: How are you doin'? Nervous? Excited? A little of both?

Wroten: I'm just fine right now, but I know the closer it gets to my decision I'll have butterflies in my stomach.

Q: What color do you like better, red or purple?

Wroten: I love purple, but I've been wearing a lot of red lately.

Q: I'm a big UW fan, but I have class tomorrow during your decision. Would it be worth it for me to skip class?

Wroten: Whether I got to UW or Louisville, the way I announce is going to be very interesting. So, yes, you should skip class.

Complete Article

My Thoughts: The fun never ends with Tony Wroten and his recruitment.

1995-95 Kentucky: Worst Uniforms in the History of Sports

SportsPickle.com has named the 1995-96 "denim" Kentucky uniforms as the ugliest uniforms in the history of sports.

Here is an excerpt:

#1 – Kentucky Basketball’s Denim Uniforms

The Bluegrass State has always had to endure cruel hillbilly stereotypes and taunts, but Converse sadistically took things to a new level when they introduced these new uniforms for the Cats’ 1996 title run.

Want to show the world you’re not a bunch of hicks? Good luck doing it while wearing the basketball equivalent of cutoffs!

Mercifully, the uniforms didn’t include mullet wigs or require the players to have a few of their teeth pulled or even ride onto the court in a pickup truck, swilling whiskey and wildly firing shotguns into the air. But the damage was done.

At least Tobias Funke got a favorite basketball team out of the deal.

The top 5 are:

1. Kentucky Basketball's Denim Uniforms
2. Chicago White Sox Shorts
3. Major League Baseball's "Turn Ahead the Clock" Uniforms
4. Manchester United's Change Kit
5. Jorge Campos' 1994 World Cup Kit

Complete Article

Lindy's Magazine Picks Murray State in the OVC

Lindy's Magazine predicts a Murray State vs. Morehead State battle for Ohio Valley Conference supremacy in 2010-11.

The publication chooses the Racers to finish on top, with the Eagles just behind and Eastern Kentucky fifth. The predict Eastern Illinois to finish third and Austin Peay fourth.

Morehead State is expected to win OVC Player of the Year as well as Best Defender, Best Rebounder and Best NBA Prospect.

Faried and Murray State's Isaac Miles Isaiah Canaan are predicted to be first team All-OVC performers. Miles is named Most Versatile and Canaan is tabbed Best Playmaker.

Morehead State's Demonte Harper, Murray State's B.J. Jenkins and Eastern Kentucky's Justin Stommes are on the second team.

2010-11 Lindy's College Basketball Preview Preseason OVC Predictions

Predicted Order of Finish
1. Murray State
2. Morehead State
3. Eastern Illinois
4. Austin Peay
5. Eastern Kentucky
6. Tennessee State
7. Tennessee Tech
8. Jacksonville State
9. Southeast Missouri
10. UT Martin

Preseason All-OVC First Team
G - Tyler Laser, Eastern Illinois
G - Isacc Miles, Murray State
G - Isaiah Canaan, Murray State
F - Anthony Campbell, Austin Peay
F - Kenneth Faried, Morehead State

Preseason All-OVC Second-Team
G - B.J. Jenkins, Murray State
G - Demonte Harper, Morehead State
F - Kevin Murphy, Tennessee Tech
F - Justin Stommes, Eastern Kentucky

Player of the Year: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Newcomer of the Year: Josh Terry, Austin Peay

Honor Roll
Best Shooter: Tyler Laser, Eastern Illinois
Best Rebounder: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Best Playmaker: Isaiah Canaan, Murray State
Best Defender: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Most Versatile: Isacc Miles, Murray State
Best NBA Prospect: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State

John Wall is Batman, Gilbert Arenas is Robin

Gilbert Arenas says he is going to move aside and allow rookie John Wall to be the star for the Washington Wizards.

Arenas stated that John Wall is "Batman" and he will serve as "Robin".

Here is an excerpt from the Washington Post:

“Right now I’m out there to hit open shots, teach John the ins and the outs of the game, and then eventually go on and move on. I’m on my way,” Arenas said, offering a subtle hint that he could be dealt before his $111-million contract expires in 2014. “This is the NBA. There’s few players that stay in the same city, so right now the city is John’s. I’m not here to fight anybody. I’m here to play alongside of him. He’s Batman, I’m Robin. When I came in, Larry [Hughes] moved aside for me to become a star and I’m moving aside for him to become a star.”

In the past week, Arenas has tried to contain his emotions. But he shared a few laughs with his teammates, as he scored 12 points, and grinned uncontrollably after Lester Hudson dropped the game-winning three-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining. Afterward, the sentimentality was lost on Arenas. “I lost all feeling a long time ago. Basketball is basketball now, no matter what floor I’m on,” Arenas said with a shrug. “It’s just basketball. It’s not rocket scientist. You go out there and you just play.”

Complete Article

Photo Source

Bellarmine Ranked No. 2 in D-II Bulletin's National Poll

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Bellarmine University’s men’s basketball is highly ranked in another publication, this time coming in at sixth in D-II Bulletin’s national poll. Sporting News had previously released their rankings with the Knights checking in at No. 2.

Bellarmine will return their top six scorers from last year’s team that went 23-9 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Coach Scott Davenport’s will be a veteran group with senior starters Jeremy Kendle, Justin Beneditti, and Nick Holmes to go along with Juniors Braydon Hobbs and Luke Sprauge.

Defending champion Cal Poly-Ponoma, who returns eight of their 10 man rotation owns the top spot, followed by Findlay, St. Cloud State, Indiana (PA), and Florida Southern.

The Great Lakes Valley Conference is well represented with St. Joseph’s coming at 10th and Drury at 21st.

Bellarmine will open the season as they host Kentucky State in an exhibition game on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.

1. Cal Poly Pomona
2. Findlay
3. St. Cloud St.
4. Indiana (Pa.)
5. Florida Southern
6. Bellarmine
7. Bentley
8. Tarleton St.
9. Grand Valley St.
10. St. Joseph’s
11. USC Aiken 12. Rollins 13. Midwestern St. 14. Seattle Pacific 15. Metro St. 16. West Liberty 17. Merrimack 18. Cent. Oklahoma 19. Cent. Missouri 20. Alabama Huntsville 21. Drury 22. Virginia Union 23. Philadelphia 24. BYU-Hawaii 25. Mount Olive

Source: Bellarmine University

Sun Belt Teams May be Forced to Upgrade Schedules

The Sun Belt Conference is nearing a policy that will force its men's basketball programs to build more difficult non-conference schedules.

Here is an excerpt from BGDailyNews.com:

This past season, the league saw its overall RPI ranking plummet, finishing at No. 21 out of 32 Division I conferences, according to the website realtimerpi.com.

The Sun Belt had no teams finish in the top 100 of realtimerpi.com’s rankings, and league champion North Texas earned a 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a final ranking of 104. WKU’s RPI ranking of 132 in 2009-10 was the program’s worst in five seasons.

“I can’t whine about it too much, because we didn’t do much to contribute to it (in 2009-10 in terms of RPI),” WKU President Gary Ransdell told the Daily News this past March. “But we didn’t have a team in the top 100 (from) the Sun Belt.

“If we’re going to do what we want as a program, we have to be able to improve our RPI when we get into conference play.”

Complete Article

Patrick Patterson Happy to Get First Official NBA Minutes

Former Kentucky star Patrick Patterson didn't have a spectacular NBA debut last night, but he was happy to get his first NBA minutes.

Patterson entered the game late and failed to score. He did pull down four rebounds.

Here is an excerpt of Patterson's thoughts from TheMonitor.com:

“It’s definitely something I had been preparing for,” Patterson said. “Talking to my teammates, they told me that my time would come. It may not be as many minutes as you want, but be ready. When my time came, I walked up there. I thought I did OK. I thought I hit the glass pretty well.”

The Rockets played 16 of the 20 players that are on the training camp roster. Patterson felt fortunate to be part of that group.

“I got my first official NBA minutes, even though it was in a preseason game,” Patterson said. “It makes me feel good that I got on the court. That was my main goal.”

Complete Article

Pitino Announces Staff Changes at Louisville

Rick Pitino announced yesterday that assistant Ralph Willard and director of operations Mark Lieberman have switched roles.

Pitino said Willard requested the change so he could spend more time with family. He added that Willard will still be on the bench during games and that he will "coach the coaches."

Source: WKYT.com

Rajon Rondo and Nate Robinson Messing with Shaq

Here is former UK point guard Rajon Rondo and Nate Robinson having a little fun with new Boston teammate Shaquille O'Neal:

Kentucky Has One of Nation's Toughest Schedules

Luke Winn of Sports Illustrated ranks Kentucky's non-conference schedule as the second toughest in the nation, just behind Georgetown.

Winn's top 5 toughest non-conference schedules for 2010-11:

1. Georgetown

2. Kentucky

3. Texas

4. Tennessee

5. Michigan State

Here is an excerpt about Kentucky:

No. 2 Kentucky

ROAD
11/19 at Portland
12/4 at North Carolina
12/31 at Louisville

NEUTRAL
11/22 vs. Oklahoma (Maui Invitational)
11/23 vs. Washington/Virginia (Maui Invitational)
11/24 vs. Michigan State/UConn/Wichita State (Maui Invitational)

SEMI-HOME
12/8 vs. Notre Dame (in Louisville)

HOME
12/11 vs. Indiana
12/22 vs. Winthrop

The Wildcats are the only other quality BCS conference team with three true road games. The UNC trip is one of the most-anticipated games of December, while the Portland trip is essentially a recruiting visit: power forward Terrence Jones, the final commitment in Kentucky's loaded 2010 class, is from there, as is Kyle Wiltjer, a likely frontcourt starter when he arrives in 2011. There's plenty of intrigue in a potential second-round meeting with Washington in Maui, now that the 'Cats have two former UW commitments (Jones and the yet-to-be-eligible Enes Kanter) on their roster. If a Kentucky-Michigan State final occurs in Maui, that could push the Wildcat's schedule to No. 1.

Complete Article

Wall, Cousins Shine in NBA Preseason Action

Former Kentucky stars John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins exploded into their NBA careers in impressive fashion during tonight's preseason action.

Wall led the Wizards to a 97-94 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The former UK point guard had 21 points, 9 assists (vs. only 2 turnovers) and 4 steals in 36 minutes of action. In a matchup with veteran point guard Jason Kidd, Wall was clearly the star. His night was highlighted by an impressive 35-foot pass to Javale McGee for a powerful alley-oop slam in the third quarter.

Cousins was, well, Cousins in his first appearance for the Sacramento Kings. The former Kentucky big man was 8-13 from the field and scored 16 points in the Kings 109-95 win over Phoenix. Cousins added a double-double with a league-high 16 rebounds.

Some other notes from around the league:

- Earl Clark (Louisville): 1-3 FG, 2 PTS, 3 REB in 17 MIN

- Joe Crawford (Kentucky): DNP Coach's Decision

- Eric Bledsoe (Kentucky): 2-5 FG, 5-5 FT, 1 AST, 3 REB, 6 TO, 9 PTS in 30 MIN

- Jodie Meeks (Kentucky): 4-7 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-1 FT, 2 STL, 2 REB, 9 PTS in 24 MIN

- Terrence Williams (Louisville): 9-12 FG, 2-2 FT, 8 AST, 4 REB, 1 BLK in 23 MIN

- Samardo Samuels (Louisville): 1-3 FG, 2-2 FT, 1 REB, 4 PTS in 5 MIN

- Nazr Mohammed (Kentucky): 0-3 FG, 1-2 FT, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 1 PT in 11 MIN

- Jamaal Magloire (Kentucky): DNP Coach's Decision

- Tayshaun Prince (Kentucky): 6-8 FG, 2-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, 2 REB, 15 PTS in 22 MIN

- Keith Bogans (Kentucky): 1-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, 3 REB, 2 AST, 3 PTS in 20 MIN

- Chuck Hayes (Kentucky): 3-5 FG, 3 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK, 6 PTS in 16 MIN

- Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky): 4-8 FG, 4-5 FT, 2 REB, 2 AST, 12 PTS in 22 MIN

- Patrick Patterson (Kentucky): 0-2 FG, 4 REB, 0 PTS in 7 MIN

- Daniel Orton (Kentucky): DNP Coach's Decision

Photo Source

Photos: Tyndall Visits St. Catharine College Tip-Off Banquet

Morehead State head coach Donnie Tyndall returned to St. Catharine College last week to speak at the annual Tip-Off Banquet.

Here are some photos from the night:

Ryan Taylor Out of Louisville's 2011 Class?

TheCardinalConnect.com cites a very reliable source in saying that Ryan Taylor will not be a part of Louisville's 2011 recruiting due to academic reasons.

Here is an excerpt:

According to a very reliable source, Ryan Taylor will not be a part of Louisville’s 2011 recruiting class.

Taylor committed to Louisville in January 2009. He was originally a member of the Indianapolis trio of recruits that Rick Pitino and his son Richard were heavily pursuing, but seems to have struck out. Marquis Teague stabbed Rick in the back and committed to Kentucky. Shortly after that, Michael Chandler decided to reopen his recruiting, and now Ryan Taylor will not suit up for Louisville due to academic issues.

Complete Article

Mehmet Kanter Says Turkey "Making an Example" of Enes

Dr. Mehmet Kanter, the father of UK freshman Enes Kanter, has given an interview to Mike DeCourcy of SportingNews.com.

Kanter says Turkish basketball officials are trying to damage his son's college eligibility "because they are trying to set an example with my son to coming generations in Turkey, so they can control and use the talent and youth any way they like to."

The elder Kanter stated to DeCourcy that his family turned down contract offers worth millions of dollars "more than a few times."

Here is an excerpt:

“Since 2007, I wanted Enes to go to the USA and continue his basketball and education there, so I try everything to keep my son amateur and keep meticulous records of all the expenses knowing someday I may be asked (to) fully cooperate with the NCAA.”

Dr. Kanter said “never once” was a salary demanded from Fenerbahce or discussed. “I always try to protected Enes from anything might damage his future.”

Dr. Kanter said the difficulty of Enes’ situation led him to remove his younger son, 15-year-old Kerem, from the Fenerbahce system and send him to Arlington Country Day School in Florida. He said this decision has been particularly hard on his wife.

“But after the experience with Fenerbahce we believe that was the best option for our son's future,” Dr. Kanter said. “He loves basketball and he is becoming good at it. Also, he is very smart and academic and loves to study.

“In Turkey as a youngster if you register with a club -- which is only option if you like to play and practice – it’s impossible to go to another club unless they let you go because they don’t think you are a good enough player for them. So basically you become property of this club. I don’t think that is right and I didn’t want this for my son.”

Complete Article

Tony Wroten Has a Question for John Calipari

Tony Wroten, a 2011 recruit who likely utilizes social networking a little too much, sent an interesting message to Kentucky head coach John Calipari last night.

Here is Wroten's Tweet:

tonetone13 @UKCoachCalipari aye coach. I just wanna know why u stopped recruiting me?

Obviously, Calipari did not respond as it would be an NCAA violation to do so.

Wroten is reportedly down to Louisville, Washington, Seattle, UConn and Villanova.

Freshman Gorgui Dieng Ruled Ineligible at Louisville

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino stated today that freshman Gorgui Dieng has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA.

Pitino added that Louisville will appeal the decision but as it stands now, Dieng cannot play for the Cardinals.

CardChronicle.com first reported that Dieng's eligibility was in question in mid-September.

Here is an excerpt from the Courier-Journal:

Pitino, speaking to reporters before the Cardinals Tipoff luncheon at the Downtown Marriott, said freshman center/forward Gorgui Dieng was ruled ineligible, and the school is appealing the decision.

Pitino added that two Cardinals, Jared Swopshire and Russ Smith, are injured.

Swopshire will miss the next six weeks with a sports hernia-type injury.

Smith is out 8-12 weeks with an ankle injury.

Rajon Rondo Seems Confident: "I'm the best, hands down"

Former Kentucky point guard Rajon Rondo seems pretty confident heading into the 2010-11 NBA season.

The up-and-coming Celtics star stated over the weekend he is the best point guard in the business, "hands down."

Here is an excerpt:

Rajon Rondo’s self-image is exalted, in a matter-of-fact kind of way.

“I feel I’m the best at what I do, and that’s how I play it,” the Celtics point guard said following yesterday’s practice at Salve Regina. “People know who I am, but that’s not why I play. I play to be the best.

“I’m the best, hands down. There’s no speculation. Not top three or top five, I’m the best.”

Source

New teammate Shaquille O'Neal commented on Rondo's toughness to Boston.com:

"Being the big man and being the enforcer, he was killing us," O'Neal said. "So I had to touch him up. But I knew he was a tough kid because he kept coming down there, kept coming down there. A lot of times, you touch people up they have a choice to make. 'I don’t want to get fouled by Shaq again.' Then, you’ve make them go somewhere else. But that [kid] kept coming."

Bledsoe Showing Progress at the Point Guard Position

Former Kentucky star Eric Bledsoe is overcoming early frustration and showing progress in the point guard position at the NBA level.

Bledsoe is learning to adjust his speed at the next level and Lisa Dillman of LATimes.com says "frustration has given way to an understanding of the position."

Here is an excerpt of Dillman's article:

"You see he's calmed down a little more," teammate Ryan Gomes said Monday before the Clippers departed for Portland. "With the help of coach [Howard] Eisley and coach [Robert] Pack, he has gotten to know his angles and to know when to turn on the speed.

"Early, in summer league, [Bledsoe] was using the same speed the whole game. You've got to know, at this level, it's two different speeds you have to play with in order to get your guy off balance. If you're running 90 miles per hour and somebody might step in your way — and you're not going to have an outlet. You might turn it over. So I saw that yesterday. He did a great job."

Complete Article

St. Catharine Releases 2010-11 Basketball Schedule

St. Catharine College has released its 2010-11 men's basketball schedule.

The challenging schedule includes an exhibition trip to Morehead to battle Donnie Tyndall's Morehead State University Eagles.

2010-2011 ST. CATHARINE COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Nov. 2 @ Indiana South East 7 p.m.
Nov. 12&13 @ Georgetown Tournament 8p.m.
vs. Georgetown
Nov. 27 @ Tusculum* 4p.m.
Nov. 30 @ McKendree 7:30p.m.
Dec. 2 vs. Georgetown 8 p.m.
Dec. 4 vs. Shawnee State 4 p.m.
Dec. 6 vs. Life University 7p.m.
Dec. 7 @ Morehead State* 7p.m.
Dec. 10 vs. Mountain State 7 p.m.
Dec. 14 vs. Indiana South East 12 p.m.
Dec. 16 @ West Virginia Tech 8 p.m.
Dec. 18 @ Rio Grande 4 p.m.
Dec. 29 @ University of Southern IN 4:30 p.m.
vs. Bellarmine University*
Dec. 30 vs. University of Southern IN* 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 vs. Virginia Wise 8 p.m.
Jan. 8 vs. Pikeville 4 p.m.
Jan. 13 @ Mountain State 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 vs. Campbellsville 4 p.m.
Jan. 20 @ University of the Cumberlands 8 p.m.
Jan. 22 @ Lindsey Wilson 4 p.m.
Jan. 27 @ Georgetown 8 p.m.
Jan. 29 @ Shawnee State 4 p.m.
Feb. 3 vs. West Virginia Tech 8 p.m.
Feb. 5 vs. Rio Grande 4 p.m.
Feb. 10 @ Virginia Wise 8 p.m.
Feb. 12 @ Pikeville 4 p.m.
Feb. 15 @ Life University 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19 @ Campbellsville 4 p.m.
Feb. 24 vs. University of the Cumberlands 8 p.m.
Feb. 26 vs. Lindsey Wilson 4 p.m

- Bold contests are Mid-South Conference Games.
- Exhibition*

Wall, Knight Named Top 10 Point Guards in Last 10 Years

Highschoolhoop.com has named its list of the top 10 high school point guards of the last 10 years.

Former Kentucky star John Wall comes in second on the list, just behind Brandon Jennings.

O.J. Mayo, who played some high school basketball at Kentucky's Rose Hill Academy, is fourth between Tyreke Evans and Chris Paul.

Kentucky freshman Brandon Knight makes the list at No. 10.

Former Wildcat Rajon Rondo is not included in the top 10, but is listed as Honorable Mention.

Here are excerpts on Wall and Knight:

2. JOHN WALL, Word of God Academy (NC), 2009 Wall is the only player on the list other than Brandon Jennings to reach consensus No. 1 status in his high school class. He averaged 22.1 points, 5.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game his senior season, and did so in dominating fashion. No player combined the speed and athleticism of Wall, or was more feared. Wall was good for at least a handful of highlights every game and put more defenders on posters than any other player. Once during an AAU tournament prior to his senior year, hecklers were giving Wall a hard time because he was struggling early in the game. Almost immediately, he started to turn it on: dunk here, crossover there, steal there, another dunk here. After yet another dunk, Wall yelled in the direction of the hecklers, “That’s why I’m No. 1!” With that, all trash talk ceased.Where he is now: NBA rookie, Washington Wizards

10. BRANDON KNIGHT, Pine Crest (FL), 2010 Knight averaged 32 points, nine rebounds and four assists as a senior and finished his career the second-leading scorer in Florida history. Knight made history as a senior, becoming just the fourth student-athlete to claim back-to-back Gatorade National Player of the Year honors, joining LeBron James, Greg Oden and Candace Parker. One of his most memorable games was against Austin Rivers, the top-ranked prospect in the 2011 class, in which Knight dropped 48 points in the nationally televised shootout on ESPN. He also won two AAU National titles with Team Breakdown.Where he is now: Freshman at Kentucky

Complete Article

John Wall Takes Elbow, Suffers Cut Above Eye

Washington Wizards rookie John Wall took an elbow from teammate Andray Blatche and suffered a cut above his right eye. The cut did not require stitches, but had to be glued shut.

Here is an excerpt from WashingtonExaminer.com:

Speaking of Wall, the rookie point guard suffered a nice cut above his right eye after taking an elbow from Blatche going for a loose ball. It didn’t require any stitches but had to be glued shut.

“We had to rough him up,” said Blatche. “Welcome to the NBA. Let him know what he’s going to get a taste for. Hopefully, he’ll wipe it off and do the job he does.”

Complete Article

Kentucky Program Held Hostage by Enes Kanter Decision

Hoopsworld.com says the NCAA's ruling on Enes Kanter is hanging over the Kentucky basketball program.

The site feels that without Kanter, Florida is almost a lock to win the Southeastern Conference. The loss of Kanter would also likely spell doom for any hopes of a Final Four run by the young Wildcats.

Here is an excerpt about Kanter:

The NCAA's Ruling On Enes Kanter Hangs Over Kentucky, SEC

One of the most prized recruits in the class of 2010 and a likely top-5 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Enes Kanter, has yet to be cleared to play for the Kentucky Wildcats by the NCAA due to allegations that the 6-11 center received a salary while playing for a club team in Turkey in 2008-09.

The decision on Kanter will be vitally important to Head Coach John Calipari's Kentucky squad that lost five players to the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft, including the number one pick overall John Wall. Coach Cal did a fantastic job of bringing in another top recruiting class to keep his team prominent nationally, but the loss of Kanter would move the Wildcats chances at a Final Four run from slim to none.

If Kanter is not allowed to play, Florida (a slight favorite to win the Southeastern Conference regardless of Kanter's fate) will be almost a lock for and SEC regular season crown. The Gators return all five starters from a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year, as well as a solid recruiting class.

Where things really get interesting is in the fight for positioning behind the Gators. Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Kentucky will all be battling it out for the right to be the second-best team in the Southeastern Conference. Don't overlook Arkansas, either. John Pelphrey brought in one of the top recruiting classes in the country this year and, while they will be inexperienced and unproven, the Razorback will have tons of talent.

With Kanter in the lineup, the Wildcats should be running alongside the Gators and playing for a conference title. Without him, Kentucky is a solid basketball team trying to tread water until its young talent matures a little and then, hopefully, making a run in the NCAA Tournament.

Complete Article

Video: Chuck Hayes Training Camp Interview

Former Kentucky star Chuck Hayes speaks to Clutchfans.net following training camp over the weekend:

Kentucky Christian Schedules Alumni Basketball Game

The Kentucky Christian University men's basketball program has announced their annual alumni game.

The game will be held on Saturday, October 16 at 3:30 PM.

Former Wildcats Play Well in Sacramento Kings Scrimmage

Former Kentucky stars Joe Crawford and DeMarcus Cousins both played well in Sacramento's scrimmage yesterday.

Cousins scored 13 points and had a game high 12 rebounds for the White team.

Crawford, who is simply trying to make team, put in 7 points on 3-5 shooting for the Black team.

James Ham of The Purple Panjandrum blog reported on both players:

Cousins is a star. He has game from everywhere on the court, and hopefully that won’t be a problem. He has to do a better job hitting his free-throws but he hustled- even jumping on a small child in the stands to try to get an errant pass. He rebounds and he has Brad Miller-like vision on the outlet pass. Look for Omri Casspi and DMC to hook up a couple of times a game on the old cherry pick play.

Joe Crawford is going to have a hard time making this team because of the numbers, but I must say that he is a much different person in game action than in practice. He is a leader on the floor and he really takes the ball to the hole hard.

Sactownroyalty.com reports that the Kings have 7 players, including Crawford, vying for 1-2 roster spots.

The site feels that Crawford is in the mix, however, as they rank him in the top 3 non-guaranteed players.

SacramentoPress.com covered the Kings "Box Office Party" and complimented Crawford for his enthusiasm:

Joe Crawford, a second-year guard out of Kentucky who is trying to make this year’s roster, was happy to be there, with a message for the remarkable Kings fans.

“We just came out here to show people we are excited about the upcoming year, and we are going to give it our all,” he said.

Crawford’s enthusiasm was easy to see as he was one of several Kings players who signed autographs, mingled with the crowd and even served hot dogs to some hungry fans.

Photo Source

Al Thornton Hit by Car; John Wall Laughs

Al Thornton posted on Twitter Thursday night that he had been hit by a car while walking:

"This may sound crazy but I just literally got hit by a car walking ... I thought I was in heaven already for real. Thank God."

While Thornton was not injured, his Tweets led to some panic. Now, the incident has led to some ribbing from Washington teammates, including former UK point guard John Wall.

Here is an excerpt from the Washington Post:

Thornton was okay, but his tweets and lack of immediate response to teammates calls afterward led to some panic. "It's crazy. I didn't know nothing like that was going to happen" John Wall said. "He was on Twitter, like 'I just got hit by a car. I don't believe it.' We had to call him, like, 'You alright?' His phone was off, so we think he was in the hospital or something. It was funny."

Thornton told his teammates that the car was traveling around 15 to 20 miles an hour, but the driver never noticed the 6-foot-8, 225 pound forward crossing the street. "She nipped his leg and he jumped," Wall said. "He had to jump on the car. If he didn't jump on the car, he might be injured."

Now that he's back in action and feeling okay, Thornton has been getting a nice ribbing from his teammates.

Complete Article

Former Hilltopper Jeremy Evans Doing the "Stanky Leg"

Check out former Western Kentucky Hilltopper Jeremy "Stanky Leg" Evans:

Wall, Bledsoe Impressive in Intrasquad Scrimmages

Kentucky's former dynamic guard duo of John Wall and Eric Bledsoe were both impressive in there respective intrasquad scrimmages today.

Wall's white team defeated the Wizards' black team by a score of 80-78.

Here is an excerpt about Wall from the Washington Post:

Wall is likely to do something to make your jaw drop nearly every time he steps on the floor. He might be a rookie with no NBA experience, but he is in command out there, even if he gets a little wayward and tries to force things from time to time. But you can live with some of the mistakes when he makes plays like the ones he made in the scrimmage. The highlight of the game can be found at this link on the Wizards' Web site, at the 1:15 mark.

Bledsoe was equally impressive in leading the Clippers' White team to a 39-32 victory over the Blue team.

Here is an excerpt about Bledsoe's improved play from NBA.com:

After a relatively wild performance in this year’s Summer League, Eric Bledsoe has looked like a completely different player. Bledsoe controlled the low scoring scrimmage and showed a particularly good rapport with Chris Kaman in the pick and roll. Bledsoe will go through the ups and downs like every other young point guard, but there are signs that the game is starting to slow down a bit for him.

Both Wall and Bledsoe will begin play in the NBA preseason on Tuesday. The Wizards will battle the Dallas Mavericks at 8:30 p.m. The Clippers play the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:00 p.m.

DeMarcus Cousins: "Rookies don't get a call"

Former UK big man DeMarcus Cousins is learning all about life as a rookie now that Kings training camp is in full swing.

Cousins was noticeably frustrated during a scrimmage yesterday. He flailed his arms when a foul wasn't called on a jump shot and even spoke to the officials a few times.

Afterwards, Cousins explained his thoughts on rookies and foul calls:

"Rookies don't get a call," DeMarcus Cousins said. "Coach said they're going to prepare us, especially the rookies, and its true, rookies don't get calls."

Kings head coach Paul Westphal had some advice for Cousins in regards to protesting calls with NBA officials.

Here is an excerpt from Sacbee.com:

"He's not going to be able to do it," Westphal said of Cousins talking to the officials. "And after a while, if he writes enough checks, he'll believe it."

Overall, Westphal said, the Kings are adjusting to having to keep their emotions in check a bit more this season.

"They're throwing (their arms) up a little bit," Westphal said. "I think the NBA will allow it a little bit. They just don't want too much of it. We had five technicals in practice (Thursday), and we haven't had one since."

Complete Article

Patrick Patterson May Play Some Small Forward for Houston

Former Kentucky star Patrick Patterson may play the small forward position on occasion for the Houston Rockets.

Patterson spent a great deal of time last week at the three position but admits he was more comfortable when he returned to power forward.

Rockets head coach Rick Adelman agreed that "he really needs to be at the four sport," but added that it was good for Patterson to gain experience at the three.

Here is an excerpt from Chron.com:

Rookie Patrick Patterson spent much of the week working at small forward, filling in when the Rockets were short-handed at the position with Chase Budinger and Kyle Lowry out with injuries.

Both have returned, but Patterson, a 6-9 power forward, could be an option at small forward.
"We (were) missing some perimeter people, but it gives him experience there, too," coach Rick Adelman said. "He's coming along. He has to figure out what his advantages are. His advantages are not floating on the outside. They're around the basket, where he's bigger."

Complete Article

DeMarcus Cousins Answers Questions After Practice

DeMarcus Cousins answers questions after day 3 of Sacramento's training camp:



* Video from kingsflix 's YouTube Channel

Former Wildcat Patrick Patterson Talks Life in the NBA

Former Kentucky star Patrick Patterson discusses the differences between college basketball and the NBA:

John Calipari to Speak on Overcoming Failure in Cincinnati

Kentucky head coach John Calipari will be the featured speaker at Thursday's Deloitte Cincinnati USA 100 luncheon celebrating the region's top private employers.

Calipari will focus on how to move forward and not dwell on failure.

Here is an excerpt of a brief interview with Calipari from Cincinnati.com:

HOW DO THESE LESSONS apply to the business world?

We're going through a period of time in our nation's history of some unprecedented events and tribulations. I don't think any one of us can honestly say we don't know someone who has been knocked on their butt these past few years. It's probably friends and family or even yourself. But the thing that relates to business is that you have to keep moving forward. You have to be creative, resourceful and dedicated to your bounce-back. Businesses that have been that way are the ones that are getting off the mat now and starting to turn the corner.

HOW IS COACHING a basketball team like running a business?

You have to always be looking out for those around you. A good friend of mine from Pittsburgh once told me, "You can have a bad deal with good people - it happens. But you can never have a good deal with bad people." It's all about who you surround yourself with and the trust you are able to place in those people. From my coaching staff to support staff and to the players we recruit, we have to be comfortable with each other and we have to know that each of us is looking out for all of our best interests. It's amazing what gets done when nobody cares who gets the credit.

Complete Article

Big Blue Madness Sells Out in Less Than an Hour

Kentucky fans have once again shown themselves as the best college basketball fans in America. Big Blue Madness tickets were gone in less than an hour this morning, despite a two-ticket limit per person.

In other words, Rupp Arena is sold out...for a practice.

Big Blue Nation rocks again!

Here is a release from UKAthletics.com:

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Unbelievable. Once again, Kentucky fans have demonstrated their insatiable appetite for basketball. All tickets to the 2010 Big Blue Madness were snapped up in the first 60 minutes of availability Saturday morning.

Thousands of fans were present at UK's Memorial Coliseum ticket office Saturday at 7 a.m. when the distribution of free tickets began. Others obtained their tickets via the school's Website, UKathletics.com and ticketmaster.com.

Despite the fact that fans were limited to two tickets per person at UK's Memorial Coliseum ticket office and two per household online, this year's Big Blue Madness event sold out in 60 minutes.

Big Blue Madness, the first practice opportunity for Kentucky's 2010-11 men's and women's basketball teams, is Friday, Oct.15, at 7:30 p.m. and will be part of ESPNU's coverage of Midnight Madness across the nation and televised live on the Big Blue Sports Network. Fans will be allowed to enter Rupp Arena beginning at 6 p.m. the night of Big Blue Madness.

This will be the sixth time Madness has been held at Rupp Arena.

Enes Kanter Shares His Dream of Being a Pro Wrestler

Kentucky freshman Enes Kanter shared in a recent interview that he hopes to be a professional wrestler after his basketball career.

Here is an excerpt from WTVQ-TV:

"After my basketball career I want to be a wrestler, professional wrestler."

Kanter is a die hard wresting fan, his favorite wrestler, is the Undertaker. "I started watching like 4 or 5 years ago, and then right now I feel like him on the court. His nickname is unbelievable that's why I love it, "The Deadman", I love it."

He even has a little play on words with his last name.

"People started calling me the Underkanter 3 months ago. Right now my nickname is Underkanter."

Complete Article

John Wall Sings "No Scrubs" by TLC

Former Kentucky star John Wall decided to demonstrate his singing voice after practice today.

Wall busted out "No Scrubs" by TLC.

Here is an excerpt from Michael Lee of the Washington Post:

John Wall is already known as a skilled dancer -- he started a craze at Kentucky and Al Thornton said that Wall and JaVale McGee do "the Dougie" better than anyone else on the team -- but the No. 1 overall pick wanted to show off his singing chops after practice on Friday.

"A scrub is a guy that can't get no love from me/hanging out the passenger side of his best friend's ride/trying to holler at me," Wall sang, although his voice didn't make anyone want to rush him to a recording studio.

Wall was recreating his performance from Thursday night, when Wizards rookies were required to perform in front veterans during a team dinner at Hard Times Café in Fairfax. Wall, Trevor Booker and Kevin Palmer performed the old, TLC R&B/Pop single, "No Scrubs," with each player taking turns to do the verses from T-Boz, the late Left Eye and Chili, and took to Twitter shortly thereafter.

"Yo, we put on a show," Wall said.

Complete Article

Here's an interview with Wall by NBA.com:

NCAA Says Enes Kanter Can No Longer Practice with UK

The NCAA has ruled that freshman Enes Kanter can no longer practice with the University of Kentucky basketball team at this time.

The waiver granted by the NCAA last month expired at the end of September.

As a result, he will not be allowed to practice while he and UK await the NCAA's decision on his college eligibility.

Here is an excerpt from Kentucky.com:

When a player's eligibility status is being reviewed, he or she can practice no more than 45 days with the team. Kanter's 45-day clock began in early August when UK began preparing for an August exhibition series in Canada.

The NCAA granted Kanter a waiver to continue practicing until the end of September. That waiver expired Thursday.

"Starting today, the student-athlete is prohibited from practicing to include the upcoming Midnight Madness practice," NCAA spokesman Chuck Wynne wrote Friday in an e-mail.

Kentucky could ask for another waiver so Kanter can resume practice.

Complete Article

OVC Teams to Participate in ESPN's BracketBusters in 2011

Murray State, Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky will be participants in this season's 9th Annual ESPN BracketBusters.

The Racers will host a BracketBusters game while the Eagles and Colonels will go on the road.

The 114-team field will feature teams from 15 conferences and one independent.

Here is a schedule:

Fri, Feb 18

7 p.m. ESPN2
9 p.m. ESPNU

Sat, Feb 19

11 a.m. ESPNU
1 p.m. ESPNU
3 p.m. ESPNU
5 p.m. ESPN2
5 p.m. ESPNU
7 p.m. ESPN2
9 p.m. ESPN2
11 p.m. ESPN2

Sun, Feb 20

1 p.m. ESPN or ESPN2

OVC Participants:

Home

Murray State
Southeast Missouri
Tennessee-Martin
Tennessee State
Tennessee Tech

Away

Austin Peay
Eastern Illinois
Eastern Kentucky
Jacksonville State
Morehead State

Calipari, Antigua on the Recruiting Trail for Kentucky

ZagsBlog.com says that Kentucky head coach John Calipari was scheduled to watch Michael Gilchrist at St. Patrick yesterday.

Gilchrist is already committed to Kentucky's 2011 recruiting class.

UK assistant Orlando Antigua was at South Kentucky (Conn.) to check out 2012 shooting guard Ricardo Ledo.

Source

Ledo ranks No. 7 on the Rivals150 List for 2012.

How Will Nunez Commitment Impact Others for Louisville?

With the commitment of Angel Nunez to Louisville's 2011 recruiting class, the Cards are likely down to 1-2 remaining spots in the class.

Currently, Louisville has commitments from (per Rivals.com):

- Chane Behanan PF Bowling Green, KY Bowling Green 6'6" 250 5 stars

- Wayne Blackshear SF Chicago, IL Morgan Park 6'5" 210 4 stars

- Angel Nunez SF Fitchburg, MA Notre Dame 6'7" 180 3 stars

- Zach Price C Louisville, KY Jeffersontown 6'8" 225 4 stars

- Ryan Taylor SF Louisville, KY Western 6'6" 185 4 stars

Tyler Harris, a 6-7 small forward, has already removed himself from consideration.

That leaves Deuce Bello, Quincy Miller, Rodney Hood and Tony Wroten.

Jody Demling feels that U of L is still in the mix for Wroten and Hood. Demling stated on Twitter following the Nunez commitment:

jdemling This changes NOTHING with Tony Wroten or Rodney Hood. Wroten will pick U of L or UW next week and they're still hoping Hood visits.

Still, there are many rumblings out there that Wroten will likely pick Washington. There is also a growing speculation that Deuce Bello is looking towards Baylor.

Then, there is Quincy Miller, who could take Louisville's class from really good to great if he chooses the Cardinals.

Strap in Louisville fans, it's going to be an interesting ride as Rick Pitino works to complete his 2011 roster...