Calipari Talks to Jim Rome About Staying at UK for 10 Years

Kentucky head coach John Calipari appeared on the Jim Rome Show on Wednesday. He discussed several topics, including how long he plans to stay at UK:

Louisville Uses Big Run to Hammer IUPUI

(5) Louisville 90
IUPUI 60

Final from Louisville, Kentucky

Game recap by U of L:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Chris Smith matched his personal best with 19 points to go over 1,000 for his career and No. 5 Louisville beat IUPUI 90-60 Wednesday night for the Cardinals' 16th straight victory at home.

Gorgui Dieng hit all eight of his shots to set a career high with 18 points to go along with 12 rebounds as the Cardinals started 8-0 for the second straight season.

Louisville's schedule hasn't been too difficult with only one road game so far before the Cardinals travel to face No. 1 Kentucky in a Dec. 31 showdown.

In the meantime, they're continuing to get healthier with the return of forward Rakeem Buckles. He hadn't played since tearing a ligament in his right knee in February and had a three-point play during a key 15-0 second half run that sealed the victory.

Stephen Thomas led IUPUI (2-8) with 14 points.

The Cardinals are still missing forward Wayne Blackshear (right shoulder), guard Elisha Justice (broken nose), Stephan Van Treese (left knee) and Mike Marra (left knee). Blackshear and Justice should return in the coming weeks, while Van Treese and Marra are out indefinitely.

Complete Recap

Indiana Students Camping Out for Kentucky Game

Some Indiana University students are camping out in anticipation of Saturday's huge home game against No. 1 Kentucky.

Here's an excerpt of the report from WTHR.com:

Pitching their lot is okay, but pitching a tent is another story.

From breakfast of hot cakes and sausage to pizzas delivered from anonymous sources, food has not been a problem to the students at Camp Crean. The undefeated Hoosiers take on the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats Saturday at Assembly Hall.

"I want to be there and be a witness to the future of IU basketball," said Allison Fulton.

That is refreshing, even encouraged, but pitching a tent is not. Some students did just that on Tuesday and were told to take it down. That caught Camp Crean by surprise, since tents were allowed a year ago when students camped out for the Purdue game.

"Not even a year later, we're told we can't pitch tents, so we are kind of wondering what changed in a year, that we can't do what they did last year?" said Connor Sullivan.

Tent-less students camp out for IU game

UK Announces that Rivalry Game Against Louisville is Sold Out

The University of Kentucky has confirmed that the rivalry game against Louisville on December 31 is already sold out.

Limited tickets are available for several other games, including SEC games against South Carolina, Arkansas and Alabama.

Here's more from UK:

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tickets for the UK men’s basketball game against Louisville on December 31 have been sold out.

A limited number of single game tickets for the South Carolina, Arkansas and Alabama games go on sale Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online through Ticketmaster.com, at Ticketmaster outlets statewide, and by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

Tickets will be $35 each, and limits will apply. Upper level tickets for UK’s holiday games against Chattanooga, Samford, Loyola and Lamar are also available for purchase.

Josh Harrellson Trying to Catch Up After NBA Lockout

Former University of Kentucky big man Josh Harrellson is trying to "catch up" following the NBA lockout.

Harrellson, a second round draft pick, is in New York and hopes to make the Knicks' roster. Since the NBA Summer League was cancelled during the lockout, Harrellson's opportunity to catch on is now.

Here is more from NYPost.com:

Harrellson spent the lockout at Kentucky, working out with potential No. 1 pick Anthony Davis plus former Kentucky players DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, John Wall and Rajon Rondo. Even LeBron James and Rudy Gay showed up for some run with the Wildcats.

“I think we have the best facilities in the world at Kentucky,’’ said Harrellson, whose nickname is “Jorts’ because of his penchant for wearing jean shorts. “They did a lot for me to get drafted. I got the best trainers there and got to work out for free.’’

Harrellson said Knicks fans can expect a grinding, tough-guy center but he may not play much this season. Center is their thinnest position and is a focus of free agency, with Jeff Foster and Kurt Thomas their top choices.

“I’m a lot like Kendrick Perkins, Dennis Rodman type player,’’ Harrellson said. “I’m tough and I’m going to do the little things, offensive rebounds, going to play good defense, take charges. The little things that those two did to make their teams successful: Kendrick at Boston, Rodman for the Bulls (and Pistons). The little things those guys did to make championships teams better.’’

Knicks rookie Harrellson playing catchup after lockout

Report: Kings Offer Chuck Hayes $20 Million

Good news for former University of Kentucky star Chuck Hayes - he reportedly has a $20 million offer on the table from the Sacramento Kings:

ESPNSteinLine Kings source confirms Sacramento has offered four-year deal at midlevel exception ($20 million) to Chuck Hayes and optimistic he'll accept

Racer Report with Head Coach Steve Prohm - 12/7/2011

Here is the latest version of The Racer Report with Murray State head coach Steve Prohm:

Perfect Gift for Big Blue Nation: The Season Never Ends Calendar

The Kentucky Basketball 2012 Calendar is here (featuring UK hero Josh "Jorts" Harrellson on the cover), brought to you by Season Never Ends. Our all-new fourth edition is filled with your favorite UK basketball memories on the days they actually happened - old memories and brand new ones, like over 35 from the 2010-2011 Final Four season. Legendary players, games and moments drawn from over 100 years of the nation's #1 basketball program.

Available online from seasonneverends.com for just $14.99. Use the coupon code "Kentucky" and take $3 off shipping. Buy three to qualify for free shipping and save even more.

You can also find it at the following stores: Allsports (Fayette Mall), Alumni Hall (Fayette Mall, St. Matthews Mall, Greenwood Mall), Kennedy's Book Store, Kentucky Korner (Fayette Mall, Shops at Lexington Center, Jefferson Mall & others), Joseph-Beth (Lexington Green), Gift Shops at Elk Creek Vineyards (8 locations), Beckers (2 Louisville locations), Fan Outfitters (2 stores in Lexington & 2 in Louisville) and more.

ESPN Writers Thinking Indiana Upset Over Kentucky

Three of seven writers at ESPN.com are predicting that Indiana will upset No. 1 Kentucky on Saturday.

Andy Katz says Memphis better watch out for Murray State.

Here's an excerpt:

2. Who will be the next player to break out and become a national name?

Katz: Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He had been the quiet member of the vaunted UK freshman class, not getting as much pub as Anthony Davis or even point guard Marquis Teague. But Kidd-Gilchrist might be the one who has the best chance to become a superstar.

4. What's going to be the next big upset?

Gasaway: Court, prepare to be stormed: Indiana stuns Kentucky. Sure, the top-ranked Wildcats are the superior team. But the Hoosiers will be playing at home, the crowd has waited for a game like this for three years, and Tom Crean's team will sink enough 3s to win a close one.

Katz: Don't be shocked if Murray State upsets Memphis at the FedExForum on Sunday. The Tigers had a solid win at Miami on Tuesday, but the Racers are cruising at 9-0 after winning the Great Alaska Shootout and crushing Dayton. Murray has the confidence and the experience to hang with the Tigers, even on the road.

Leung: Indiana could very well surprise No. 1 Kentucky on Saturday. The Hoosiers are undefeated behind a strong start from freshman Cody Zeller and the crowd is sure to be a factor against the rival Wildcats.

Medcalf: Indiana over Kentucky. Tom Crean's Hoosiers are due for a huge win. Assembly Hall will be buzzing like Times Square on New Year's Eve for this matchup. That atmosphere will fuel an emerging IU's upset over the Cats.

O'Neil: Washington beats Duke in New York on Saturday. The Huskies have lost two heartbreakers in the past week -- a last-bucket loss to Marquette and an OT loss to Nevada. So they're due. And while I'm sure Mike Krzyzewski has turned the Ohio State game film into a Zapruder tape, breaking down every missed assignment and miscue, there's no doubt that dose of humility is playing on the Blue Devils' minds.

Complete Article

Northern Kentucky University Headed to the Atlantic Sun

I've been told by a good source that Northern Kentucky University will accept an invitation to join the Atlantic Sun Conference.

NKU was recently turned down by the Ohio Valley Conference and has been in discussions with both the Atlantic Sun and Summit League.

Official word is expected to follow a Board of Regents meeting on Thursday afternoon.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, both the school and the conference have declined to confirm the news.

Here is an excerpt:

NKU has scheduled a special Board of Regents meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss intercollegiate athletics.

Spokesman Chris Cole would not confirm that it would join the Atlantic Sun, but representatives from that league have been on the Highland Heights campus and have expressed interest in NKU before.

NKU was turned down by the Ohio Valley Conference in mid-November and also had talked to the Summit League.

The move means NKU will play a full conference schedule starting in fall 2012. It will immediately be eligible for conference championships in individual sports, but will serve a four-year probation before it can participate in post-season tournaments for team sports or share conference revenue.

Atlantic Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart would not confirm an invitation to NKU. But he acknowledged the site visit and said he was impressed with NKU’s campus and facilities, particularly the 10,000-seat Bank of Kentucky Center.

Complete Article

From a basketball perspective, here's the Atlantic Sun as it stands today:

Atlantic Sun Standings

TEAM CONF OVERALL
Belmont 2-0 6-2*
North Florida 1-0 5-4
Stetson 1-0 4-4
Florida Gulf Coast 1-0 3-5
Mercer 1-1 5-3
Lipscomb 1-1 6-4
USC Upstate 0-0 6-3
Jacksonville 0-1 2-5
East Tennessee State 0-2 3-4
Kennesaw State 0-2 2-5

* Belmont is leaving to join the Ohio Valley Conference

Jaron Jones Has Career Night, Leads EKU to Victory

Eastern Kentucky University 75
North Carolina Central 62

Final from Richmond, Kentucky

Game recap by EKU:

RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior Jaron Jones poured in a career-high 30 points to lead the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team past North Carolina Central, 75-62, Tuesday night in McBrayer Arena.

EKU (5-5) led by only three, 61-58, with just over five minutes to play in the game, but the Colonels used a 14-4 run to end the game and finally silence visiting NCCU (5-4).

Jones became the first Colonel to score 30 points in a game since Mike Rose did it in a 74-70 win over Morehead State on Feb. 18, 2009. The Lexington, Ky., native shot 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line to achieve the career night.

Junior D’Mitri Riggs also had a career night for the Colonels, scoring 17 second half points on 3-of-5 shooting from deep, while also recording several key steals down the stretch to help put the Eagles away. Riggs finished with seven steals, a season-high for EKU.

After shooting just 20 percent (2-of-10) from three-point range in the first half, EKU found its range in the second half, sinking 75 percent (6-of-8) of its long-range attempts to secure the win.

Complete Recap

Orlando Antigua Watched Chris Walker on Tuesday Night

University of Kentucky assistant coach Orlando Antigua checked out 2013 star Chris Walker Tuesday night.

Walker, a 6-8 power forward at Holmes County (FL), had 30 points, 16 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists in a win.

Here's an older video of Walker in action:

Video: Pitino and Calipari Actually Talked Last Night

WHAS has video proof that Kentucky's John Calipari and Louisville's Rick Pitino actually conversed and appeared cordial to each other at Butler High School last night:

Jones Leads NKU in Blowout Win Over Ohio Midwestern

(23) Northern Kentucky 96
Ohio Midwestern College 52

Final from Highland Heights, Kentucky

Game recap by NKU:

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A fact of life inside The Bank of Kentucky Center is that all non-conference men's basketball opponents leave with a loss after facing Northern Kentucky University.

Eshaunte Jones launches a 3-pointer against Ohio Midwestern. Jones hit seven treys and finished with a career-high 25 points.Ohio Midwestern College learned that lesson Tuesday night during a 96-52 loss at NKU. The Norse shot 55.2 percent from the field and improved to 23-0 all-time against non-conference foes in The Bank of Kentucky Center.

Eshaunte Jones scored a career-high 25 points to lead unbeaten NKU (7-0), which jumped into the NCAA Division II national rankings Tuesday afternoon at No. 23. Jones was 7-for-8 from 3-point range and led a Norse outside attack that finished 13-for-24 from behind the arc.

Ohio Midwestern actually owned a 6-0 lead two minutes into the game, but NKU responded with a 16-2 run to build a 16-8 advantage. Jones sparked the Norse spurt by knocking down four 3-pointers.

Complete Recap

Calipari, Pitino Show Up on Same Night to Watch Derek Willis

Kentucky head coach John Calipari and Louisville head man Rick Pitino both showed up tonight to watch 2013 big man Derek Willis of Bullitt East High School.

Calipari and Pitino both attended Bullitt East's 60-50 win at Butler High School.

Here's more from Jody Demling:

The two coaches had assistants with them watching Bullitt East High School junior Derek Willis. The 6-foot-9 Willis is listed among the top 25 players in the country in the Class of 2013.

Willis finished with 16 points and nine rebounds as Bullitt East edged Butler 60-50 in a battle of top teams from the Sixth Region.,

Pitino was joined by assistants Richard Pitino and Kevin Keatts, while assistant Kenny Payne made the trip with Calipari.

Pitino, Calipari watch Derek Willis

Photo: Rivals.com

Hot-Shooting Campbellsville Hammers Asbury University

Campbellsville University 92
Asbury University 76

Final from Wilmore, Kentucky

Game recap by CU:

WILMORE, Ky. - Campbellsville University men's basketball bounced back to the win column Tuesday with a 92-76 win at Asbury University, thanks to 55 percent shooting.

The Tigers hit 13 3-pointers and out-rebounded Asbury 30-to-7 off the Eagles' glass to help roll out a 16-point win.

Reggie Smith started the offense for the night with a 3-pointer and 3-0 lead just over a minute into the game. From that opening basket, Campbellsville trailed only once, 10-8, after a Dakotah Euton basket with 16:23 left in the first half. After Assbury gained its brief lead, the Tigers scored 11 unanswered points. Smith hit a 3 shortly before halftime to stretch its lead to its largest of the first half, 46-33, at the break.

In the second half, the Tigers stretched their lead to 20 points on another Smith basket. He finished the game with 16 points. Cedric Henderson scored 20 to lead the Tigers. The senior point guard was close once again to a triple-double, bringing down eight rebounds and seven assists.

Complete Recap

Eric Bledsoe Mentioned in Chris Paul Trade Rumors

Former University of Kentucky star Eric Bledsoe is being mentioned in trade rumors involving NBA superstar Chris Paul.

Here is more from Yahoo! Sports:

The Hornets were significantly engaged in talks with the Clippers in talks on Tuesday, but the Clippers have shown no desire to meet Chandler’s request for a contract starting at more than $12 million a year, sources said. The Clippers are worried about an ability to pay significant money to Blake Griffin(notes), Eric Gordon(notes), Paul and Chandler over the long term.

The Clippers would have to include 23-year-old restricted free-agent center DeAndre Jordan(notes) in a package to get Paul, along with forward Al-Farouq Aminu(notes), guard Eric Bledsoe(notes) and the 2012 first-round pick they acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Complete Article

Kenneth Faried's Key to Success: Stay H.A.T.

Mind of an Athlete catches up with former Morehead State University star Kenneth Faried and asks him about the mind you must have to succeed. Faried's advice: stay H.A.T. - humble, appreciative and thankful:

Kentucky Wesleyan No. 5, Bellarmine Drops in DII Poll

Kentucky Wesleyan College (6-0) has climbed to No. 5 in the nation in this week's NABC/Division II Coaches Poll.

Bellarmine University (6-1) dropped 5 places to No. 6 this week after suffering a tough loss.

Northern Kentucky University (6-0) enters the top 25 this week at No. 23.

NABC/Division II Coaches Poll (Dec. 6, 2011)

Record Points Pvs
1. Missouri Southern (7 first place votes) 8-0 199 2
2. Metropolitan State, Colo. 7-0 189 3
3. (tie) Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. 8-0 176 4
3. (tie) Southern Indiana 6-0 176 5
5. Kentucky Wesleyan (1 first place vote) 6-0 170 9
6. Bellarmine, Ky. 6-1 158 1
7. Colorado School of Mines 5-0 156 11
8. Humboldt State, Calif. 5-1 123 6
9. Findlay, Ohio 6-1 120 13
10. Fort Hays State, Kan. 7-0 97 24
11. West Liberty, W.Va. 7-1 94 14
12. Tarleton State, Texas 6-1 83 16
13. Rollins, Fla. 6-0 81 25
14. (tie) Cal Poly Pomona 4-0 79 22
14. (tie) Indiana, Pa. 5-1 79 8
16. Augustana, S.D. 5-1 74 18
17. Winona State, Minn. 6-1 70 20
18. Alabama-Huntsville 5-2 66 7
19. Georgia Southwestern 6-1 63 12
20. Bowie State, Md. 3-1 53 17
21. Benedict, S.C. 3-1 51 10
22. Alaska-Anchorage 4-2 35 21
23. Northern Kentucky 6-0 33 NR
24. Midwestern State, Texas 6-0 29 NR
25. Arkansas Tech 4-1 26 15

Others receiving votes: Western Washington 19, Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 16, Montevallo (Ala.) 16, Harding (Ark.) 12, Bloomsburg (Pa.) 10, West Georgia 9, Mount Olive (N.C.) 8, Hillsdale (Mich.) 6, LIU-C.W. Post (N.Y.) 6, Seattle Pacific (Wash.) 4, West Texas A&M 4, Franklin Pierce (N.H.) 2, St. Cloud State (Minn.) 2, Western Oregon 2, District of Columbia 1, Grand Valley State (Mich.) 1, Southern New Hampshire 1, Stonehill (Mass.) 1.

Antoine Walker Receives Probation, Ordered to Pay Debts

Former Kentucky and NBA basketball star Antoine Walker was sentenced earlier today to five years of probation and was ordered to pay more than $750,000 in gambling debts to three Las Vegas casinos.

Here is an excerpt from LasVegasSun.com:

Walker, 35, pleaded guilty in June to felony bad check charges after he failed to pay back gambling debts from 2009 at Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and Red Rock Resort.

Walker, wearing jeans and a gray sweatshirt, was in Clark County District Court on Tuesday morning but did not speak at his sentencing. He declined to comment after the hearing.

His sentencing was initially scheduled for Nov. 1 but was twice delayed because Walker lives in Chicago and was in training camp attempting to make a return to professional basketball.

As part of a deal struck with prosecutors, Walker will have to pay back $770,050 in restitution to the casinos and is prohibited from gambling. He was also given a one-year suspended sentence, which would go into effect if he fails to meet the terms of his probation

Former NBA player Antoine Walker ordered to pay $750,000 in gambling debts

Dick Vitale Gives Kentucky, Davis Weekly Awards

ESPN's Dick Vitale is giving plenty of love to Kentucky after the Wildcats destroyed St. John's and survived North Carolina.

Today, Vitale named UK his "Team of the Week" and labelled freshman Anthony Davis his "Diaper Dandy of the Week."

Here's an excerpt:

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Kentucky

The young Wildcats scored a huge win over North Carolina at Rupp. That came after big blue put a hurting on St. John's.

DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

He had a great game against St. John's (15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and second consecutive).

Weekly awards

After I posted the article on Twitter, Vitale added that he believes Davis is the best freshman in college basketball:

DickieV @awireman Davis best frosh in USA

Thomas More to Give Tickets in Exchange for Food Donations

Thomas More College will give tickets to fans in exchange for food donations on Wednesday night.

Here is more from TheRepublic.com:

The school is accepting canned food and nonperishable items in exchange for tickets to the Saints' basketball doubleheader Wednesday with Washington & Jefferson College.

The women's game starts at 5:30 p.m. EST, followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.

The school says it will donate items collected to the Brighton Center, a community support agency located in Newport.

Complete Article

Ramon Harris Earns Another Shot in the NBA D-League

Former University of Kentucky guard Ramon Harris has been reacquired by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA Development League.

Here's more from JournalGazette.net:

Jabril Banks and Ramon Harris, who were waived during the Ants’ training camp, were reacquired Monday when the NBA Development League announced that teams could temporarily expand their rosters from 10 to 12 in preparation for possible reduction.

Banks, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 13.2 points and 5.8 rebounds as a senior at Northern Colorado. He spent the past two seasons in Germany and Morocco.

Harris is a 6-7 guard who averaged 3.4 points at Kentucky. Last season he averaged 17 points and 5.9 rebounds in China.

Both players will be with the team in Canton, Ohio, for the Ants’ 7 p.m. game Wednesday against the Chargers.

2 rejoin Ants as rosters expand

Antoine Walker Talks About Kentucky and Much More

Former University of Kentucky star Antoine Walker sat down with SportsCityChicago.com recently. Walker talked about his journey to the NBA, his time at Kentucky and much more.

Check it out (video by thesportscitychicago on YouTube):

UK Recruit Jarnell Stokes May Enter College in January

Jarnell Stokes, who ranks No. 11 overall on the Rivals.com list for 2012, may be playing college basketball sooner than expected.

There is a good chance that Stokes will enter college in January and be eligible to play this season as a mid-term enrollee.

Stokes is considering Memphis, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida and Connecticut.

Here is more from the Memphis Commercial-Appeal:

Though Jarnell Stokes is still pondering his college decision, there's a good chance the five-star 2012 forward prospect and Southwind High senior will be playing for one of the six schools he's considering in January as a mid-term enrollee.

Stokes, a 6-8, 255-pound forward ranked the No. 11 senior prospect nationally by Rivals.com, says he's on pace to graduate this month from Southwind. If he does graduate early, Stokes, an honors student, could enroll in college in January and play this season once he's attending classes and is cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Spring semester classes at Memphis begin on Jan. 12.

"I've set myself up to go to college midyear. I really don't know yet, but that's definitely an option," said Stokes, who's considering the University of Memphis along with Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee. "I have other options that me and my dad don't want to reveal. I walk by faith and not by sight, so I'm just waiting on God to give me the word on what's my next option."

Sidelined prep star Jarnell Stokes may be at college soon

Photo: Rivals.com

Murray State Moves Up to No. 10 in Mid-Major Top 25

The Murray State Racers moved up to No. 10 in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll this week.

CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25

1. Creighton (28) 7-0 772 2 Missouri Valley
2. Harvard (1) 8-0 730 3 Ivy League
3. Iona 6-1 684 4 Metro Atlantic
4. Gonzaga (1) 5-1 676 1 West Coast
5. Cleveland State 8-1 618 5 Horizon
6. Belmont 5-2 599 6 Atlantic Sun
7. Wichita State 5-2 560 9 Missouri Valley
8. Kent State 5-1 504 8 Mid-American
9. Saint Mary's 5-1 493 11 West Coast
10. Murray State (1) 9-0 482 19 Ohio Valley
11. Weber State 5-1 395 7 Big Sky 12. George Mason 6-2 363 15 Colonial Athletic 13. Long Beach State 4-3 344 10 Big West 14. UCSB 4-2 341 13 Big West 15. BYU 6-2 317 16 West Coast 16. Indiana State 6-2 296 12 Missouri Valley 17. Middle Tennessee 8-1 280 22 Sun Belt 18. Oakland 6-2 250 21 Summit 19. College of Charleston 7-1 233 23 Southern 20. VCU 5-3 193 20 Colonial Athletic 21. Northern Iowa 7-1 174 NR Missouri Valley 22. Valparaiso 6-2 121 NR Horizon 23. Davidson 6-1 93 NR Southern 24. Butler 4-4 87 14 Horizon 25. Ohio 5-1 77 NR Mid-American

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Denver 74, Robert Morris 51, Missouri State 27, North Dakota State 26, Akron 21, Campbell 21, Wisconsin Milwaukee 20, Norfolk State 18, Coastal Carolina 17, Loyola 17, Lamar 16, Old Dominion 16, Santa Clara 16, Drexel 15, Fairfield 7, Cal State Bakersfield 5, Oral Roberts 4, South Alabama 4, American 3, Portland State 3, South Dakota State 3, UTSA 2, Toledo 2, Eastern Illinois 1, Elon 1, Norfolk State 1, Utah Valley 1, Yale 1.

ESPN's Andy Katz says Murray State just keeps winning:

Memphis had best watch out Sunday night at the FedExForum.

Coming to town will be 9-0 Murray State, easily one of the most consistent programs in college basketball and now one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the country.

The Racers are one of just 15 left out of 344 Division I teams (joining Xavier, Syracuse, Louisville, Marquette, Baylor, Missouri, Kansas State, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Harvard, Creighton, Kentucky and Tulane).

Murray State went through a coaching change from Billy Kennedy to top assistant Steve Prohm, but standing atop the Ohio Valley Conference is the norm for the Racers, no matter how many coaches come and go. Murray has strung together a remarkable 24 straight winning seasons, a tally that ranks behind only Syracuse (41), Kansas (28) and Arizona (27) nationally.

As for this Racers team, it's starting to look a lot like the 2009-10 version that won 31 games, knocked off Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament on a Danero Thomas 15-foot jump shot and gave eventual national runner-up Butler its toughest test, according to Bulldogs coach Brad Stevens, en route to the title game.

"We've got the same mental makeup as two years ago," Prohm said. "We're focused here early in the season. You don't know what you're going to get until you start playing games. But these guys are ready to compete at a high level."

Complete Article

High Point to Honor Former UK Coach Tubby Smith

High Point University will honor former University of Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith during halftime of Wednesday night's game against Wake Forest.

Smith scored 1,589 points at High Point and was also a star for the track and field team.

Here is the release from HPU:

High Point University will honor 1973 alum Orlando "Tubby" Smith during halftime of the HPU men's basketball team's game against Wake Forest on Wednesday night at the Millis Center. Smith scored 1,589 points during his four seasons at HPU and went on to become a national champion head coach.

Wednesday's game has been designated "Tubby Smith Night" and High Point University will unveil a banner in his honor at halftime. It will be the first time HPU has ever hosted an ACC opponent in men's basketball.

Smith played at High Point University from 1969-73, playing under coach J.D. Barnett his junior year and Jerry Steele his senior year. Barnett later became head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University and hired Smith as his assistant coach, giving Smith his first collegiate coaching job.

An honorable mention high school All-American out of Great Mills in Maryland, Smith made an immediate impact for the Panthers, averaging 13.3 points and 5.2 rebounds his freshman year. He began his sophomore year after having surgery on his wrist during the offseason, but still managed 12.6 points per game.

Smith was one of HPU's top scoring threats his junior and senior seasons, averaging 16.4 points on 45.9 percent shooting in 1971-72 and averaging 17.3 points 49.2 percent shooting along with 5.2 rebounds in 1972-73.

Along with his well-known basketball exploits, Smith was an outstanding sprinter for High Point's track & field team and helped HPU to three conference championships. He was a member of HPU's record-setting 440-yard relay team.

Complete Release

Georgetown College Rises to No. 4 in NAIA Coaches Poll

Georgetown College (10-0) moved up to No. 4 in the second NAIA Division I Coaches Poll.

The Tigers lead a group of Mid-South Conference teams that are in the top 25.

University of the Cumberlands (8-1) moved into the rankings at No. 12 this week.

Lindsey Wilson College (7-3) has also entered the rankings at No. 16.

The University of Pikeville (7-3) dropped 21 spots to No. 22 this week.

St. Catharine College dropped out of the rankings but picked up one vote.

Rogers State, which includes former University of Kentucky players Donald Williams and A.J. Stewart, moved up to No. 6 this week.

2011 – 12 NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – (Dec. 5)

RANK SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) 2011-12 RECORD TOTAL POINTS

T1 Robert Morris (Ill.) (6) 9-0 306
T1 Concordia (Calif.) (5) 8-0 306
3 Oklahoma Baptist 8-0 292
4 Georgetown (Ky.) (1) 10-0 284
5 Shorter (Ga.) 9-0 269
6 Rogers State (Okla.) 7-0 261
7 Texas Wesleyan 6-1 251
8 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 8-2 237
9 Mountain State (W.Va.) 8-3 236
10 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 6-2 219
11 Westminster (Utah) 10-2 208
12 Cumberlands (Ky.) 8-1 206
13 Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 6-1 195
14 Evangel (Mo.) 9-3 181
15 Biola (Calif.) 6-1 176
16 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 7-3 136
17 Montana State-Northern 11-2 133
18 Southern Poly (Ga.) 6-2 130
19 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 7-3 124
T20 Tougaloo (Miss.) 9-4 119
T20 John Brown (Ark.) 9-1 119
22 Pikeville (Ky.) 7-3 102
23 Saint Xavier (Ill.) 7-3 80
24 Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 5-3 74
25 Fresno Pacific (Calif.) 6-3 62

Others receiving votes: Xavier (La.) 54; Columbia (Mo.) 43; Voorhees (S.C.) 32; Baker (Kan.) 28; Montana Western 26; Cumberland (Tenn.) 22; William Carey (Miss.) 19; SAGU (Texas) 8; Oklahoma Christian 4; MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 3; Lee (Tenn.) 1; Spring Hill (Ala.) 1; Northwestern Oklahoma State 1; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 1; Carroll (Mont.) 1; Westmont (Calif.) 1; St. Catharine (Ky.) 1.

Mid-South Conference Ratings:

1. Georgetown College (Ky.) (4-0 / 10-0)
2. University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) (2-1 / 8-1)
3. Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) (2-1 / 7-3)
4. University of Pikeville (Ky.) (1-3 / 7-3)
5. St. Catharine College (Ky.) (2-1 / 6-4)
6. Shawnee State University (Ohio) (2-2 / 6-3)
6. Campbellsville University (Ky.) (1-2 / 6-3)
8. University of Virginia's College at Wise (1-3 / 3-6)
9. University of Rio Grande (Ohio) (0-2 / 4-4)

Isaiah Canaan, Eric Stutz Earn OVC Weekly Honors

Murray State University's Isaiah Canaan has been named Ohio Valley Conference Co-Player of the Week.

Eastern Kentucky's Eric Stutz was named OVC Freshman of the Week.

Here is an excerpt of the league's release:

CO-PLAYER

Isaiah Canaan, G • Jr., 6-0, 193 • Biloxi, Miss. • Murray State
Canaan earned the OVC Player of the Week award for the second-straight week after averaging 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists/game while also hitting 52.2 percent (12-of-23) from the field, 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from 3-point range and 88.9 percent (8-of-9) from the free throw line. Canaan led the Racers to a road win over Western Kentucky and a home victory over Dayton to help the team to a 9-0 start, its best start since 1998-99; with the start the Racers are now receiving votes in both major Top 25 polls. The junior hit 5-of-10 shots and scored 18 points in the 70-59 road win at WKU; in that contest he had five rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes of action. Three days later he hit 5-of-8 (62.5%) from 3-point range in scoring 21 points in a 75-58 win over Dayton; he also added three rebounds and five assists in that game. Canaan currently leads the OVC in scoring (20.3 points/game) and 3-pointers made (3.3/game).

FRESHMAN

Eric Stutz, F • Fr., 6-8, 225 • Newburgh, Ind. • Eastern Kentucky
Stutz was named OVC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season after averaging 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists/game as Eastern Kentucky lost at Delaware State and topped Brescia in its first home game of the season. The forward led the Colonels in scoring in each game, including scoring 13 points to start the week at Delaware State. In that game Stutz added four rebounds and an assist in 21 minutes of action. He concluded the week with a season-high 22 points in a 107-43 win over Brescia, the team's first home game of the season after playing its first eight contests of the year away from home. In that game he hit 9-of-14 shots (64.3%) while also adding eight rebounds (5 offensive) and four assists. For the week Stutz hit 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the field).

Complete Release

Cardell McFarland Named GLVC Player of the Week

Kentucky Wesleyan College's Cardell McFarland has been named Great Lakes Valley Conference player of the week.

Here is the release from the GLVC:

INDIANAPOLIS - Kentucky Wesleyan College’s Cardell McFarland (Evansville, Ind./Bosse) is the Great Lakes Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. McFarland guided the ninth-ranked Panthers to a pair of road wins in league play, connecting on late three-pointers in each contest to secure the victories.

On Thursday, in Kentucky Wesleyan’s 81-78 overtime win at Wisconsin-Parkside, McFarland canned the go-ahead three-pointer in the extra session to give the Panthers their first lead since the first half. He finished with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting and also collected six rebounds, five steals and a pair of assists.

McFarland knocked down the game-winning three-point shot on Saturday afternoon with 1.3 seconds to play, lifting Kentucky Wesleyan to 74-71 win at Lewis. The basket capped an 8-0 run by the Panthers in the final minute of which McFarland collected six points. He tallied a game-high 28 points in the victory and was 11-of-18 from the field. McFarland connected on 4-of-7 three-point attempts and added two steals, a rebound and assist.

On the week, McFarland averaged 26.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.5 assists per game. He shot 54.3 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from the three-point line. McFarland also connected on 9-of-10 free throw attempts.

He is currently averaging 23.7 points, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game, while shooting 63.9 percent from the field and 90.3 percent from the free throw line. McFarland ranks second in the league in scoring and is in the top ten in all five categories.

Complete Release

LWC's Kalen Kimberland Named Mid-South Player of the Week

Lindsey Wilson College's Kalen Kimberland has been named Mid-South Conference Player of the Week.

Here is the release from the MSC:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Lindsey Wilson College's Kalen Kimberland is the Mid-South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, conference officials announced on Monday.

The weekly conference award is Kimberland's first of the season and the first of his career.

Kimberland averaged 21.5 points, four rebounds and 2.5 assists per game last week as the Blue Raiders won a pair of home conference games.

The Columbia, Ky., junior guard, scored 17 points on eight for 12 shooting in the Blue Raiders' 79-72 win over visiting UVa.-Wise on Thursday. Kimberland closed the week on Saturday with a career-high 26 points in a 76-73 win over No. 1-ranked University of Pikeville.

Kimberland connected on 68 percent (17-of-25) of his shots from the field including three for four from beyond the three-point arc. He also made six of eight from the free throw line.

For the season, Kimberland ranks 15th in the conference averaging 15 points per game. He ranks sixth in the conference in free throw percentage (77.8).

Lindsey Wilson is 7-3 overall this season and 2-1 in conference play.

Kentucky's White Boy Academy Needs Your Help

Kentucky's Jarrod Polson and the "White Boy Academy" need your help:

jpolson05 #WBA Christmas music video may happen soon... Need as many people as possible

In case you've forgotten:

Calipari and Crean Take Blue-Red Battle to Twitter

Indiana University head coach Tom Crean and University of Kentucky head man John Calipari have engaged in a friendly "nerd war" on Twitter.

Crean went to Twitter on Sunday night with a plea to "keep the blue out of Assembly Hall" on Saturday:

TomCrean Watching Kentucky tape and this thought keeps coming bact to me. KEEP THE BLUE OUT OF ASSEMBLY HALL ON SATURDAY!

TomCrean We have to keep them out of the paint. You need to keep the fans out of our seats. Dominate this building with cream and crimson.

Calipari responded with:

UKCoachCalipari #BBN, don’t lose your vacation money or your kid’s scholarship fund but if you’re buying tix to the IU game, don’t tell them you’re w/ UK.

UKCoachCalipari Show up in red w/ blue underneath & don’t take it off until our intros. U can leave the red shirt in the arena when u leave. #BlueGetsIn

Kentucky Remains No. 1, Louisville Moves Into Top 5

The University of Kentucky (8-0), fresh off a weekend win over North Carolina, remains No. 1 in both major college basketball polls this week.

The Louisville Cardinals (7-0) have moved up to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 and No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

Murray State (9-0) received 2 votes in the AP poll and 8 votes from the coaches.

AP Top 25

RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Kentucky (47) 8-0 1,606
2 Ohio State (18) 8-0 1,575
3 Syracuse 8-0 1,491
4 North Carolina 6-2 1,328
5 Louisville 7-0 1,325
6 Baylor 7-0 1,283
7 Duke 7-1 1,264
8 Xavier 6-0 1,133
9 Connecticut 7-1 1,120
10 Missouri 7-0 1,009
11 Marquette 7-0 982 12 Florida 5-2 923 13 Kansas 5-2 833 14 Wisconsin 6-2 665 15 Pittsburgh 7-1 660 16 Alabama 7-1 635 17 Mississippi State 8-1 493 18 Georgetown 7-1 491 19 Creighton 7-0 352 20 Michigan 6-2 312 21 Memphis 4-2 216 22 Texas A&M 6-1 199 23 Gonzaga 5-1 197 24 Illinois 8-0 193 25 Harvard 8-0 191

Others receiving votes: UNLV 188, Vanderbilt 141, Michigan State 135, San Diego State 50, Virginia 26, Saint Louis 25, Stanford 23, Purdue 12, California 11, Cleveland State 9, Florida State 7, Kansas State 6, Arizona 5, Indiana 4, Murray State 2, Northern Iowa 2, Oregon State 2, UC Santa Barbara 1

ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Kentucky (19) 8-0 763
2 Ohio State (11) 8-0 754
3 Syracuse (1) 8-0 713
4 Louisville 7-0 654
5 Duke 7-1 611
6 North Carolina 6-2 594
7 Baylor 7-0 582
8 Xavier 6-0 538
9 Connecticut 7-1 533
10 Missouri 7-0 511
11 Marquette 7-0 468 12 Florida 5-2 419 13 Kansas 5-2 385 14 Pittsburgh 7-1 359 15 Alabama 7-1 326 16 Wisconsin 6-2 306 17 Creighton 7-0 222 18 Mississippi State 8-1 208 19 Michigan 6-2 164 20 Memphis 4-2 154 21 Georgetown 7-1 136 22 Gonzaga 5-1 96 22 Illinois 8-0 96 24 Harvard 8-0 95 25 Texas A&M 6-1 79

Others receiving votes: UNLV 62, Vanderbilt 61, California 32, San Diego State 30, Michigan State 29, Indiana 23, Saint Louis 18, Northwestern 8, Murray State 8, Stanford 7, Kansas State 4, Purdue 4, Saint Mary's 4, Virginia 4, Washington 3, Cincinnati 3, Cleveland State 3, Tulane 2, Arizona 2, George Mason 1, Northern Iowa 1

Kentucky's Terrence Jones Named SEC Player of the Week

University of Kentucky sophomore Terrence Jones has been named SEC Player of the Week following his performances against St. John's and North Carolina.

Ole Miss's Jarvis Summers has been named Freshman of the Week.

Here is the release from the SEC:

Kentucky’s Terrence Jones, a 6-foot-8, 252-pound sophomore forward from Portland, Ore., was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 3.0 steals leading the Wildcats to wins over St. John’s and fifth-ranked North Carolina. Jones tallied a season-high 26 points while tying his season marks with nine rebounds, four blocked shots against St. John’s. He tied or set career marks with four steals, 11 free-throws made and 16 free throws attempted. Jones scored 14 first-half points in win over North Carolina and finished the game with three blocks. He has made a 3-pointer in every game he’s attempted one this season.

Wojnarowski: Chuck Hayes May Be Headed to Sacramento

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, league sources are indicating that Chuck Hayes may be heading to the Sacramento Kings.

Here is an excerpt:

The Sacramento Kings have emerged as a frontrunner to sign Rockets free-agent forward Chuck Hayes(notes), league sources said. Sacramento had wanted to sign Hayes to a lucrative one-year deal to keep cap space for the summer of 2012, but could come back with the kind of multiyear offer now needed to acquire him. For Hayes, a native of nearby Modesto in Northern California, it would be a unique chance to return home.

Source

Kevin Keathley Breaks Down UK-UNC, Says UK Has 7 Pros

Kentucky native Kevin Keathley has more than a decade of experience coaching and scouting college and professional basketball players.

Keathley currently works a dual role as a head coach in the Premier Basketball League and a Professional Player Personnel Advisor in the NBA Development League.

I asked Coach Keathley to give a breakdown of the Kentucky-North Carolina game from a pro scout's point of view.

Here are Keathley's thoughts on the game and a scouting breakdown of the Kentucky Wildcats (I'll post the UNC breakdown later this morning):

I don't know if there has been a game in recent memory with as many future NBA draft picks as this one had in Rupp Arena. Someone coined the game as the NBA's first game of the 2011-2012 season and in many ways, it really was. You had two of the nation’s best coaches, along with the two most talented teams in America. A lot of times with all the hype, some of the big time players disappear. I don't think that happened in this game.

I thought each player delivered in their own way at some point during the game - the marquee players showcased their talents and their strengths on both teams. It might not have been spectacular individual performances from top-to-bottom, but they delivered.

Terrence Jones in the first half probably had his best all-around game of the season. He did it all - he was physical, he finished around the rim, scored off the bounce, knocked down perimeter jumpers and showcased great leadership. I think what scouts will be happy to see is he didn't float on offense and he played a very aggressive game. He was able to keep his game under control. You look at Harrison Barnes for UNC, the scouts saw exactly why he will be a very solid NBA player. He can knock down the long ball and he has the ability to find shots for himself.

Scouts/NBA G.M.s got their money’s worth - each player displayed what makes them potential NBA lottery picks or a draft pick in a future draft.

The scouts in attendance weren’t looking for the mistakes or the weaknesses in each player's game. They were looking to validate the strengths that each player has. Most of these players are underclassmen and G.M.s are aware that improvement needs to take place as the season and years move forward. If you count them up, there were at least 13 future NBA players in uniform today in my opinion. The great thing about this game was both teams played with passion and each possession mattered. Given how well they played, I believe the Scouts and G.Ms in attendance will be just as impressed with their efforts as the talent they seen on the floor.

University of Kentucky: Seven Future NBA Draft Picks

Marquis Teague: Teague will one day play in the NBA, but right now for Coach Cal and the Kentucky Wildcats it's about developing him into a consistent floor general. Teague showed improvement today. He is a freshman point guard playing in one of the most hyped regular season games in a long time. I thought he did a much better job of running the show and taking care of the basketball. It's not about the NBA for Marquis right now; it's about getting better one possession at a time. These type of games will prepare him once March gets here. He took a big step today in growing into the player Coach Calipari and his team needs him to be.

Doron Lamb: The worry on Lamb is that he doesn't have a true position at the next level, but I think he's proved over the last two years that he's an offensive playmaker; Doron just knows how to put the ball in the hole. He has deceptive quickness, he finishes around the rim, and he has a quick release on his shot from mid-range and long distance. He is easily one of college basketball's biggest threats from the three. I thought he showed today against UNC that he has the ability over time to be a solid combo guard in the NBA. Bottom line is, he's a scorer and that will make him an NBA first round pick when he turns pro.

Anthony Davis: Anthony didn't have a 15 point, 15 rebound and 8 block performance - but, he didn't have to. He showed the NBA scouts in attendance his ability to run the floor, his defensive length and his athleticism. He's a young man that is just now learning to play in his new seven-foot frame. This will take a couple of years for him to truly get used to banging on the blocks night in and night out. There will be moments that you will just be amazed at some of the things he does on the basketball court. He can handle the basketball, knock down jumpers, can finish in transition and is a game changer on the defensive end. He might not have showcased all of it today; however, he was a game changer in one important defensive effort. He blocked a very tough shot and then recovered the basketball to seal the deal for Kentucky.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: Michael showed that he is about relentless aggression and hustle. He is a player that just plays the game and doesn't care about the stats or who gets the credit. He will out hustle you, out defend you and he will attack the rim on a fast break like few others in college basketball. He's a glue guy that every team looks for. He's not the same player obviously, but he brings the same qualities that Chuck Hayes did a few years ago for UK. He plays with all heart - a great glue guy that every coach would love to have. Great pro potential.

Darius Miller: (He's overlooked right now, but I believe by the end of the year he will be in the conversation with the rest of these guys) I think a lot of G.M.s and Scouts left Rupp tonight with a lot more interest in Miller. In the media, he's probably the most overlooked player on both teams because he isn't one of the McDonalds All-Americans. Miller is a 6'7 guard that has an NBA body; he can play inside or out. He can create his own shot off the dribble, he has outstanding range, he can handle or run in transition, and is a strong finisher in transition. I thought his second half performance was one of the big keys in Kentucky’s win. He plays at such a great pace. He never really does anything out of control. He's the total package as a pro. He can score, he can defend, he can play multiple positions and he's a coachable player. I don't think it matters to scouts how much he does or doesn't play this year or whether he starts. I'm certain come the 2012 NBA draft he will be selected. He has the most complete skill set of any player that was out on the floor tonight. He might not be the most talented or explosive, but his game is complete. He showed enough tonight that will give NBA’ers a lot to think about.

Terrence Jones: I thought Terrence played his best basketball of the year and he showed almost every aspect of his game. He played physical in the paint, he finished around the rim, scored on dribble/drives and he showed his perimeter game as well. He did all this playing under control for most of the game. When Terrence plays within himself he's a beast on both ends of the floor.

Kyle Wiltjer: He wasn't seen today, but Kyle is as versatile as any forward in the country. He has an arsenal of old school post moves, he's a solid passer and has deep range. Give the young man a couple of years and he will be a Dominant low post player for Kentucky. He has NBA ability on the offensive end.

Basketball in Kentucky: Schedule for the Week of December 5

Another week of basketball is about to tip off around the Bluegrass state.

The week will be highlighted by No. 1 Kentucky travelling to Indiana, undefeated Murray State challenging Memphis and the University of Pikeville's rematch against Mountain State (remember the last time they met?).

Here is a complete schedule for the upcoming week:

Monday, December 5:

6:00 p.m. University of the Cumberlands at Carver Bible College

Tuesday, December 6:

5:00 p.m. University of the Cumberlands at Life University
7:00 p.m. Ohio Midwestern at Northern Kentucky University
7:00 p.m. University of Pikeville at Mountain State University
7:30 p.m. Campbellsville University at Asbury University
8:00 p.m. North Carolina Central at Eastern Kentucky University
TBA Alice Lloyd College at Gardner Webb University

Wednesday, December 7:

7:00 p.m. IUPUI at University of Louisville
7:00 p.m. Illinois State at Morehead State University
7:30 p.m. Washington & Jefferson at Thomas More College*
7:30 p.m. Transylvania University at Earlham College*
8:00 p.m. Brescia University at Fisk University
8:05 p.m. Western Kentucky University at Southern Illinois

Thursday, December 8:

Noon Indiana University-Southeast at St. Catharine College
7:30 p.m. Virginia Intermont at Alice Lloyd College

Friday, December 9:

4:00 p.m. Cincinnati-Clermont vs. Berea College (at Asbury University)
5:00 p.m. St. Catharine College at Southern Indiana
7:30 p.m. Ohio Valley University at Bellarmine University
8:00 p.m. Central Christian College at Asbury University
8:00 p.m. Mid-Continent University at Georgetown College
TBA Kentucky Christian University at Taylor University

Saturday, December 10:

2:00 p.m. Central Christian College vs. Berea College (at Asbury University)
3:00 p.m. Westminster College at Spalding University*
3:00 p.m. Transylvania University at Manchester College*
4:00 p.m. Thomas More College at Bethany*
4:00 p.m. Lindsey Wilson College at Samford University (Exhibition)
4:00 p.m. Campbellsville University at Mountain State University
4:00 p.m. Fairleigh Dickinson at University of Louisville
4:30 p.m. Cedarville at Kentucky Wesleyan College
5:15 p.m. University of Kentucky at Indiana University
6:00 p.m. Cincinnati-Clermont at Asbury University
7:00 p.m. Georgia Southern at Eastern Kentucky University
7:00 p.m. Western Kentucky University at IUPUI
7:00 p.m. South Dakota at Morehead State University
7:30 p.m. St. Catharine College at Bellarmine University
9:00 p.m. Union College at Brescia University
TBA Kentucky Christian University vs. TBA (at Upland, Indiana)
TBA TBA at Georgetown College
TBA TBA vs. Mid-Continent University (at Georgetown College)

Sunday, December 11:

5:00 p.m. Urbana at Northern Kentucky University
6:00 p.m. Murray State University at Memphis

Terrence Jones Drops the Hammer on Tyler Zeller

Watch as Kentucky's Terrence Jones drops the hammer on North Carolina's Tyler Zeller:

Video: Northern Kentucky Recruit Tyler White in Action

Check out Northern Kentucky recruit Tyler White in action (via Hometownstations.com):

Morehead State Hammers Mid-Continent University

Morehead State 83
Mid-Continent 57

Final from Morehead, Kentucky

Game recap by MSU:

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Junior Marsell Holden scored a career-high 20 points on 6-of-10 from beyond the arc and the Morehead State men’s basketball team rolled to an 83-57 victory over NAIA opponent Mid-Continent (Ky.) on Sunday afternoon at Johnson Arena.

The meeting was the first ever in regular-season play between the two schools. The Eagles improve to 4-5 on the season and 2-0 at home, while the Cougars fall to 1-10 overall.

Holden tallied nine points during the first half, then added 11 more after intermission. It was his second straight career high after posting 10 points on Thursday at Kent State.

“Marsell has spent extra time in the gym and practiced well over the past few weeks,” Morehead State Head Coach Donnie Tyndall said. “Marsell has always been known for making shots. That’s one of the reasons we recruited him. It was good to see him get in a rhythm today.”

Holden led four Eagles in double figures. Freshman Angelo Warner tallied 14 points and a team-best nine rebounds, while senior Ty Proffitt and junior Milton Chavis contributed 13 points apiece.

Complete Recap

Western Kentucky Survives Bowling Green Comeback

Western Kentucky 60
Bowling Green 53

Final from Bowling Green, Kentucky

Game recap by WKU:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU led by as many as 18 points three-and-a-half minutes into the second half before Bowling Green State stormed back and tied the game at 53 with 2:18 left in the game, but the Hilltoppers regrouped and made seven of 10 free throws after that to earn a 60-53 win over the Falcons Sunday afternoon at E.A. Diddle Arena. Despite not making a field goal for the final 6:26 of the game WKU moves to 3-6 with the win, and Bowling Green State drops to 4-3 on the season.

In a striking tale of two halves, WKU shot 60.9 percent from the field in the first half (14-of-23) but made just 4 of 22 shots in the second 20 minutes (.182) and missed all 11 of its three-point tries. The Hilltoppers made two free throws in the first half and 19 in the second half, which proved to be the difference in the game. WKU outrebounded Bowling Green State, 44-33, and the plus-11 rebounding margin matches the Saint Joseph's game for the largest of the season for the Hilltoppers.

George Fant had 13 points and seven rebounds to lead WKU, and he also had four blocks, three steals and two assists. Teeng Akol added nine and eight and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line, and Derrick Gordon had eight points and six rebounds. Kahlil McDonald also went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 1:04 to help WKU seal the victory. Scott Thomas and A'uston Calhoun led Bowling Green State with 16 and 11 points, respectively.

Complete Recap

Murray State Nets Impressive Win Over Dayton

Murray State 75
Dayton 58

Final from Murray, Kentucky

Game recap by MSU:

Murray State remained undefeated Sunday afternoon, running away with a 17 point 75-58 vivtory against Dayton on its home court at the CFSB Center.

Isiah Canaan led the Racers in points for the seventh time this season, scoring a game-high 21 on 7-13 shooting from the field. He was 5-8 from behind the three-point line as the Racers were a combined 9-15 (60 percent) from three.

The Racers took a 29-23 lead into halftime, and pushed the advantage out to 17 with 11:12 remaining in the second half.

The Flyers would score the game's next seven points over the next three minutes before MSU would go on to score seven strait of its own to lock up the victory.

Latreze Mushatt added 14 points off the bench for MSU on 6-8 shooting and five rebounds, and Ivan Aska scored 13, going a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line.

The nine wins to open the season tie head coach Steve Prom with Tevester Anderson (1998-99)

Murray State returns after a week off on Sunday, Dec. 11, traveling to Memphis, Tenn., for a 6 p.m. tip-off against Memphis at the Fed Ex Forum.

Complete Recap

Check Out the Kentucky-North Carolina FanCam

The University of Kentucky presents the Kentucky-North Carolina FanCam. Click on the image below to check it out and see if you can find yourself:

Surprised, Shocked and Stunned Tar Heels Forgot to Foul

The North Carolina Tar Heels were so stunned by Anthony Davis' dramatic block of John Henson's potential game-winner on Saturday that they forgot to foul Davis, allowing the game clock to expire.

After the game, Robbi Pickeral of ESPN.com asked the UNC players how they felt about that final play.

Here is an excerpt:

Surprised. That’s how Tyler Zeller felt.

Shocked. That’s how John Henson felt.

Stunned. That’s how Kendall Marshall felt.

And it’s really the only explanation North Carolina’s players had as to why, with five precious ticks left on the Rupp Arena clock Saturday -- in a game where every play, every possession, every second seemed to matter -- no one thought to foul.

“I just knew we were going to win this game,’’ a still-stunned Marshall said after his fifth-ranked Tar Heels lost to top-ranked Kentucky 73-72. “I had that feeling, ‘we’re going to make this shot’ and I think it took me a second to realize what had happened. It took everyone a second to realize what had happened … and as a team, I think we thought time had run out.”

In a way, you can’t blame them. It’s not every day you see 6-foot-11 UNC junior John Henson, who has used his 7-foot-4 reach to steadily push his way up the school’s all-time blocks charts, have one swatted back at him.

Stunned Heels leave 5 seconds on clock

Northern Kentucky Blasts UINDY on the Road

Northern Kentucky 80
Indianapolis 63

Final from Indianapolis, Indiana

Game recap by NKU:

INDIANAPOLIS – Northern Kentucky University placed four players in double figures Saturday night, and the unbeaten Norse rolled to an 80-63 win over Indianapolis in Nicoson Hall.

Tony Rack (pictured left) scored 19 points as NKU improved to 6-0 overall, 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Rack buried five shots from 3-point range en route to tying his career-high point total.

The Moeller High School graduate also scored 19 points last season against West Liberty State.

“Rack felt it from the outside, and we did a great job of finding the open man,” NKU head coach Dave Bezold said after his team shot 10-for-24 from 3-point range. “Our shooting in the first half helped us get a double-digit lead, and we did a great job of closing this game out in the second half.”

NKU was 7-for-14 from 3-point range in the first half and owned a 39-29 lead at the break. Stretch Watson scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half. The 6-foot-7 junior also grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots.

Jon Van Hoose finished with 15 points for the Norse, while teammate Ethan Faulkner added 12 points and eight assists. DeAndre Nealy pulled down seven rebounds and collected three blocks.

Complete Recap

Lindsey Wilson Defeats Top-Ranked Pikeville

Lindsey Wilson College 76
(1) University of Pikeville 73

Final from Columbia, Kentucky

Game recap by LWC:

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- For the second straight game it didn't seem like Kalen Kimberland could miss a shot.

There was no better opponent to keep a hot streak alive against than the top ranked University of Pikeville (Ky.), as the junior from Columbia poured in a game-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting to propel the Lindsey Wilson College men's basketball team over the Bears 76-73 on Saturday in Biggers Sports Center.

Senior Chase Spreen added 15 points for Lindsey Wilson and junior Darren Ballou tallied a tough 12 points and three rebounds while battling inside the paint with Pikeville's bounty of big men.

The biggest of the Bear centers, Shane Burrell, put up the biggest stats, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Trevor Setty added 18 points, but missed 12 shots as he finished 7-of-19 from the field.

The game's final minute provided another classic ending inside Biggers Sports Center.

Junior Josh White put the Blue Raiders up by one with a minute to play on a put back of senior Justin Archie's missed layup. McHenry came right back up the court for the Bears and put them back up with a long jumper with less than a minute to play.

Complete Recap

Goodman: Louisville Not Worthy of No. 6 Ranking

Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com says the University of Louisville doesn't deserve the No. 6 ranking at this point.

Here is an excerpt:

"We're still waiting to get some guys back," said Kyle Kuric, who finished with 15 points and hit a couple of huge shots down the stretch.

If Blackshear does somehow get 100 percent by the middle of Big East play - and Louisville avoids the injury bug that has plagued the program for the last year-plus, there's no reason to believe that the Cardinals can't eventually become the No. 6 team in the land.

But they aren't there right now.

They struggled to beat a Vandy team that is extremely vulnerable without their 7-footer Festus Ezeli on their own home court, a Commodores team that is desperately clinging to its Top 25 ranking without its least dispensable player.

"We continue to win," Pitino said.

Last season, with a team that was picked to finish eighth in the Big East, Pitino wound up finishing third in the most daunting league in the country.

And this team, if and when it gets healthy, is deeper and more talented. That means Pitino can utilize his pressing defense more to his liking to speed up opponents instead of being forced to keep opponents guessing by constantly switching defenses.

Pitino's Cards aren't worthy of No. 6 spot - yet

Eastern Kentucky Abuses Brescia in Home Opener

Eastern Kentucky 107
Brescia University 43

Final from Richmond, Kentucky

Game recap by EKU:

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team won its 14th consecutive home opener on Saturday night, as the Colonels erupted for their first triple-digit scoring output since 2009 in a 107-43 win over Brescia in McBrayer Arena.

EKU (4-5) scored 17 unanswered points early in the first half to take a lead it would never relinquish. The Colonels shot a season-best 62 percent (37-of-60) from the field and 64 percent (16-of-25) from three-point range in the victory.

Freshman Eric Stutz led the way for EKU with a career-high 22 points and eight rebounds. Seniors Jeff Allgood (15), Joshua Jones (14) and Jaron Jones (13) as well as junior Mike DiNunno (14) also reached double figures. Eleven different Colonels entered the scoring column in the win.

Myron Christian paced Brescia with 10 points on 2-of-3 shooting from three-point range.

After falling behind 3-0 to begin the game, EKU was sparked by a pair of Joshua Jones three-pointers and exploded on a 17-0 run to take a commanding lead at the initial media timeout. The Colonels did not look back, continuing to push the tempo on offense and defense, and another Jones three-pointer, this one at the halftime buzzer, sent the home team into the locker room ahead, 51-26.

Complete Recap

Bellarmine Gets Back on Track with Win at Saint Joseph's

(1) Bellarmine 78
Saint Joseph's 75

Final from Rensselaer, Indiana

Game recap by BU:

RENSSELAER, Ind.--The No. 1 Bellarmine University men's basketball team gritted out a tough 78-75 victory over St. Joseph's College on Saturday afternoon in a Great Lakes Valley Conference road game.

The Knights (6-1, 1-1 GLVC) got big efforts from Jeremy Kendle and Chris Dowe in getting the win. Kendle recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Dowe led the Knights in scoring with 20 while hitting three of four clutch free throws down the stretch.

"All in all in was a great, great win, and I'm incredibly proud of our guys, said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport. "We dug in. We rebounded the ball, and we defended the three."

Bellarmine shot out to an early 12-point lead, but the Pumas (3-3, 0-2) slowly chipped away at the lead and finally caught the Knights and pulled ahead at the 3:24 of the first half. Luke Sprague banked home a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Knights a 42-38 lead at the break.

Complete Recap

Kentucky vs.UNC: Most Talent in College Game...Ever?

The NBA scouts were impressed with what they saw at Rupp Arena this afternoon.

One scout told Adam Zagoria: "I've been doing this 25 years and that's the best game I've ever seen."

Chad Ford told Zagoria that Anthony Davis is essentially a lock to be the No. 1 pick next summer:

AdamZagoria @ChadFordInsider on whether there's any chance Anthony Davis is not the No. 1 pick: "If he tears his ACL."

He also stated:

@ChadFordInsider Per out Big Board: 6 lottery picks, 9 players in our Top 30 and 12 players in our Top 100 playing in the UK-UNC game

Wow.

NBA superstar Chris Paul liked Darius Miller's game:

CP3 I REALLY like #1 for Kentucky's game...Darius Miller, he's solid on both ends of the court and plays with a gr8 pace!

LeBron James was impressed:

KingJames Wow what a block by lil bro @AntDavis23 for the game! #BigBlueNation

Cardell McFarland Drains Game-Winner for KWC

(9) Kentucky Wesleyan 74
Lewis University 71

Final from Romeoville, Illinois

Game recap by KWC:

Cardell McFarland hit a game-winning three-pointer with one second left to vault No. 9 Panthers to a 74-71 comeback win at Lewis in Romeoville, Ill., on Saturday afternoon.

KWC jumped out to a 20-points lead in the first half 36-16 with 2:36 remaining. In the first half. Lewis took the lead at 55-54 with 6:45 left in the game.

Both teams exchanged baskets during the next five minutes until the Flyers scored five straight points to take the lead at 71-66 at the :1:05 mark.

McFarland made a three-pointer followed by a layup by Brandon Johnson to tie the score with 43 seconds left.

Complete Recap

John Calipari Talks About Kentucky's Win Over North Carolina

Here are John Calipari's comments following Kentucky's 73-72 win over North Carolina this afternoon (via UKAthletics.com):

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach Cal.

Q. Anybody else in America could have blocked that shot but (Anthony) Davis?

COACH CALIPARI: No. There may be somebody out there. What I told the team, I made Marquis Teague stand up and hug my man in there. You hug Anthony (Davis) because he saved you.

Again, in this game, there were so many terrific performances. How about Kyle Wiltjer? He made big plays. The basket, the trap, forced the ball loose. Darius (Miller) made some big baskets. We got hung up again on screens on 3-point shooters. Driving me nuts. We worked on it. Obviously not enough. That was a great team we played.

Again, if he didn't block the shot, we lose the game. And both teams gutted it out, just gutted it out. This is supposed to be in March, not now. I'm exhausted.

Q. You've been saying for a couple of days, Play this game and we'll learn where we are. What did you learn?

COACH CALIPARI: We only had 36 hours but we talked about sprint it up, speed it up, then grind it out. For a freshman team to do this, have nine turnovers, it's incredible. I don't know whether they knew they had to play a certain way and they didn't deviate.

I got on Doron (Lamb) on that turnover late. I'm not going to you if that's what's going to happen. You have to be tough, strong, make a play, get it off the backboard. Marquis (Teague) has a way to go. It's his eighth game. It's his eighth game. But I'm confident he'll be fine.

Michael (Kidd-)Gilchrist just did stuff. Terrence Jones, that was his best game of the year, and he was challenged by it.

Again, North Carolina is one of those teams. They're one of the best teams in the country. They're well-coached. They never gave up. We got down. They called a timeout and bang a 3. C'mon.

Roy (Williams) did a great job. We were very, very fortunate to walk out with a W.

Q. After the game you seemed like you were kind of at a loss for words. When you were approaching Roy (Williams), what was going through your mind at that time?

COACH CALIPARI: I have all kind of respect for Roy (Williams). He has been one of the nicest people to me throughout my career - when I was at UMass and Memphis. Not only is he a great coach, he and his wife Wanda (Williams) are just terrific people. I don't like playing people that I like. Now I got to go down there, he has to go and get on a bus, he lost. I know what that feels like, especially a game as hard-fought as this.

That's why I kind of go down, and Roy, I feel for him because I'm in this profession. It's tough.

Q. (Question regarding the defense in the second half.)

COACH CALIPARI: Well, again, we got on them at halftime. They got six 3s. Make them shoot 2s. They did at the very end, but they got 3s which closed the gap. I thought Anthony Davis did a great job. I thought Terrence Jones did a great job defensively.

It's amazing, they have seven blocks, we have six blocks. You're talking two heavyweight big, long, tough teams. We just happened to be that team that's a little bit younger. We're just an inexperienced team, so...

Q. Can you take us through what you saw on that last play, what was kind of going through your mind. (Davis) came out of nowhere to block it.

COACH CALIPARI: The play before, if you remember, they made the 3 in the corner. Anthony (Davis) ran up and the guy took a dribble through deep and he made a 3. I looked at him, ‘Run back.’ He was like, (talking gibberish). The next play was exactly the same and he sprinted back like he was supposed to.

You don't go up when they rebound, you go back. He's a young kid, 17-, 18-years old. He's playing by instinct right now. So is Marquis Teague, so is (Michael Kidd-)Gilchrist and Kyle Wiltjer. They're all playing on instinct right now.

Q. Can you talk about the offense Doron (Lamb) provided the last 10 minutes of the game.

COACH CALIPARI: He struggled. The play that made me angry was in that first half when that ball squirted out and he didn't have a basket so he was rushing in to score on 6'9" guys, got blocked. Why are you doing that? Pull it down, let's run offense.

I thought in the second half, I put the ball in his hands saying, ‘Let's go down.’ He did a couple layups. He had a couple 3s. They were big shots. That one in the corner was a huge shot. He knocked it down.

Look, I've got good players. We're young and we're inexperienced, but I've got really good players. I like my team. But more importantly, they love each other. You notice, Eloy (Vargas) helped us today, Kyle (Wiltjer) helped us today, and the other six played the majority of the minutes. That's a happy locker room in there today.

All I said prior to the game, I didn't realize, because I hadn't been watching much TV, that this game was being played up like the end alls of end alls. I turn on ESPN and it's on the ticker. Every announcer is talking about this game.

I came back to the gym last night about 11 and grabbed the guys. Look, I didn't realize everybody is making this big deal out of this. It's just another game. Let's learn from it. I've been in a ton of these.

You freshmen, just be there for your team. Be good teammates. Leaders, you three seniors, this is your game. You got to run this.

They were ready to play. Both teams were ready to play. They came out of the gate. No one stopped. That was 40 minutes. Whoever had the ball last was winning. We got the ball last and we won. That's what happens when two good teams do not quit.

Q. What is your impression of your team's toughness now after this game?

COACH CALIPARI: They had 15 offensive rebounds and they were huge. We missed a bunch of baskets right next to the rim. Again, I didn't realize we were 4 for 17 from the 3. How in the world did we win? They were 11 out of 18. So it just shows you. These are two really good teams. We happened to get this one.

If we had to go to North Carolina, probably dropping one. Let's hope if we have to play them again, when it is the very last game of the season, for both teams, in one place, and that's when we play them again.

Q. John (Calipari), you complained yesterday about your team not executing, being impatient. First half it looked like that. What turned it around? Was it Doron (Lamb) going to the point?

COACH CALIPARI: I think they want to win. See, they're going to question (me), because they're so young, they're going to try to show me they can do it their way and win. When they realize they cannot play that way and win against these kinds of opponents, they'll usually come back.

The only thing that brings about change, folks, is a crisis. Meetings don't, talking doesn't. They'll look at me, Okay. But when its crisis time, we're down five at half, now do you understand how we have to play?

We had a play where we had the ball, came down bounced it off our knee, crossed it over twice, pitched it back to a guy, he misses the shot, they make a three, it's a five-point swing. I go bonkers. I just gave it to them. You can't play that way in this kind of game.

Listen, this is a learning experience. I'm going to watch the tape. (I’m) Proud of our guys. I would have been proud if that last shot would have gone in. I would have said, ‘we're learning.’ We made mistakes, gave up a three. We did it to ourselves. We're going to be fine. That's what I would have said if that kid makes that shot.

Q. What did you think about Michael (Kidd-Gilchrist) and the way he competed?

COACH CALIPARI: Michael was unbelievable. He is unbelievable. He's the greatest kid. I used him on defense and left him alone on offense. I'm going to tell you this. If we need a free throw late in the game, I'm giving him the ball and letting him shoot it. He will not miss it late in the game. He will make a free throw late because he's got that kind of courage.

Thank you.

Kentucky Survives Heavyweight Battle with North Carolina

(1) Kentucky 73
(5) North Carolina 72

Final from Lexington, Kentucky

Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis blocked John Henson's shot in the final seconds to give the Wildcats a 73-72 victory over No. 5 North Carolina on Saturday.

"No," John Calipari said when asked if anyone else in America could have blocked Henson's jumper.

After the block, North Carolina (6-2) had time to foul Davis and force him to shoot free throws, but failed to do so as time expired.

"I knew we would foul," Carolina head coach Roy Williams explained after the game. "I'm screaming to foul...but we didn't."

Kentucky (8-0) trailed much of the game but found a way to take the lead late in the second half behind the hot shooting of sophomore Doron Lamb. Lamb scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half.

Playing in front of numerous NBA scouts, freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist led the Wildcats with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Terrence Jones joined Lamb with 14 points.

Darius Miller came off the bench to score 12 points and provide some critical upperclassman leadership.

The Wildcats were 14-25 (56%) from the field in the second half, but only managed 4-17 (23.5%) shooting from long range in the game.

On the other hand, North Carolina was an amazing 11-18 (61.1%) from the three-point line in the game, but shot just 10-29 (34.5%) from the field in the second half.

Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes each scored 14 points to lead the Tar Heels. P.J. Hairston, who was reportedly injured and not expected to play, added 11 points on 3-4 shooting. Henson chipped in 10 points.

"That was a great team we played," Calipari said of North Carolina. "If he (Davis) doesn't block the shot, we lost that game."

Calipari was proud of the effort given by his young Wildcats.

"For a freshman team to do this and have nine turnovers...it's incredible," Calipari said after the game.

He later added, "I didn't realize we were 4-17 from the three (3-point line). How did we win?"

Williams was surprised by Kentucky's interior play.

"They dominated us a little more in the paint than we thought they would," Williams stated.

The Wildcats will enjoy another week as the nation's top-ranked team before travelling to Indiana next Saturday for a 5:15 p.m. contest.

North Carolina hosts Evansville Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.