The Rural Democrat

Marquis Teague's Selfish Play Ending, Puts Together Brilliant Game Against Portland

Marquis Teague appears to be coming alive as he has had two straight games with more assists than turnovers. Earlier in the week against Radford Teague made 5 assists and only committed 2 turnovers while adding 13 points. Tonight against a sharp-shooting Portland team Teague had 8 assists made 0 (yes that is a ZERO) turnovers and added 14 points, READ MORE on Kentuckywildcatbasketball.net

Marquis Teague's Selfish Play Continues: Teague Must Play to Win not Play to be Seen

Freshmen point guard Marquis Teague's young season is causing a little anxiety for UK fans as his assist to turnover ratio only seems to get worse from game to game. It is way too early to start swigging the Maalox but Teague must start to show improvement. I am still a bit concerned by Teague's body-language during Calipari's intense teaching sessions on the bench as Teague still appears to want Calipari to just shut-up during these periods of personal instruction.

We can begin to build a comparison chart between Teague's predecessors (an peers) 

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Kentucky Wildcats defeat the Old Dominion Monarchs in a Sloppy Performance

A tired and often discombobulated Kentucky Wildcat team defeated a scrappy Old Dominion team 62 to 52 in the finals of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic tournament. Kentucky struggled against Old Dominion's 3-2 zone defense but Kentucky's tough man defense propelled the Cat's to victory.

Kentucky shot a poor ........ READ MORE ON Kentuckywildcatbasketball.net 

Doron Lamb scores 26 in route of Penn State

Doron Lamb scored an impressive 26 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in a less-than-impressive win over a weaker Penn State team 85 to 47. I say less than impressive because I cannot recall if UK actually......

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2011-12 Kentucky Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels Game Preview

We only have a couple of weeks until one of the most anticipated match-ups of the entire 2011-12 college basketball season as the North Carolina Tar Heels will bring their (if they remain unbeaten) number 1 ranking into Rupp Arena to face the number 2 (also, if they remain unbeaten) Kentucky Wildcats. This game will feature size and speed but the focus will be on the size of both team's post players as North Carolina can certainly match Kentucky's length.

There will be a monumental match-up between .................

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Can Calipari Coach-Out Marquis Teague's Selfish Play ?

The only anxiety I have watching this amazing array of talent, besides the small heart attacks I have every time one of our high flying stars hits the deck, is the selfish play of Marquis Teague. Calipari has worked wonders with past freshmen talent but I have to hark back to the lost cause that was Eric Bledsoe as an example of a hard-to-reach (or never-reached) talented freshmen. Calipari never seemed to........

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Kentucky Basketball 2011-12 - Team Analysis - Part One

We begin with a quick overview of the 2011-12 Kentucky Wildcats and will explore the team's strengths (which are many) and the teams weaknesses (which are few). We will just get the weaknesses out of the way and they are few.

Team:

Of course this team is young, with many of the key players being freshmen. The biggest question on the minds of all college basketball fans is......

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We are back! Sports Only - Kentucky Wildcat Basketball 2011-12 Season Analysis

That's right, we are back but it's it not what you think. The Rural Democrat is still, even though we are largely idle, a very popular weblog.

Even though our blog was dedicated to Kentucky and National politics we also have a deep interest in sports, especially Kentucky Wildcat Basketball. Kentucky's web-based media is crammed packed with websites dedicated to UK Basketball so we are simply just another piece of wood on the fire.

Just to be up-front; we will not always sing the praises of the team or the coach, we will provide a very truthful analysis of UK Basketball but we do support our team, we will not be Jerry Tipton part two.

So sit back and enjoy this season!!! It's going to be a good one...

Kentucky Wildcat Basketball scandal, Eric Bledsoe at the center of NCAA investigation

We have come out of retirement for one reason only, to rant about the apparent scandal that is unfolding with the University of Kentucky Mens Basketball team. If the NCAA prove their case you might as well burn those nifty UK2K shirts because we will be forfeiting all the games in which Eric Bledsoe participated in, which is pretty much all of them.

Rumors have been circulating for months in regards to a possible NCAA investigation. A Louisville publication said as much a few month ago.

The New York Times is reporting that former UK Basketball player Eric Bledsoe may not have had the grades to go to the next level. And they're also reporting that one of Bledsoe's high-school coaches paid rent for Bledsoe and his mother and demanded that rent from the Universities who recruited Bledsoe. You couldn't make this stuff up.

Brenda Axle, the landlord for the house where Bledsoe and his mother moved for his senior year of high school, said that Bledsoe’s high school coach paid her at least three months’ rent, or $1,200. By moving there, Bledsoe was eligible to play for Parker, which he led to the Alabama Class 5A title game. Maurice Ford, the coach, denied paying the money.

.....

A college coach who recruited Bledsoe said that Ford explicitly told his coaching staff that he needed a specific amount of money to let Bledsoe sign with that university. The coach, who did not want to be named out of fear of repercussions when recruiting in Birmingham, said Ford told him and his staff that he was asking for money because he was helping pay rent for Bledsoe and his mother. Ford denied this, saying, “I don’t prostitute my kids.”

He said he had done nothing wrong, adding: “I’m a poor black man. And when one black man tries to help another black man, there’s always something wrong.”

If this goes the distance John Calipari should be branded on the forehead and sent into exile.

Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton will stay in the NBA Draft

John Calipari told ESPN that Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton will remain in the NBA Draft. The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft is at 5PM today.ESPN

If Bledsoe and Orton get picked up in the first round then I think they made the right decision but I would not be surprised to see Orton go in the early second round. He has a big enough body to make a roster but he should have returned for another season. The difference between being picked 5th or 35th is huge in regards to the payday one would receive. Orton would have been a lottery pick next year. But with a potential lockout looming for the NBA next year it is probably wise to take the jump now.

Patrick Patterson's UK career is over, will enter NBA Draft

Thanks to Patrick Patterson for returning for his Junior Year. He will be one of the most beloved Kentucky Wildcats of all time. But his career is over at UK. Patterson will hire an agent and enter the NBA Draft. He appears to be a top ten pick, or at very least a Lottery pick, in the NBA Draft.

Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton NBA Draft update; has Eric Bledsoe signed with an agent?

nbadraft.net have updated their projections for the 2010 NBA Draft. One thing that is particularly disturbing is the fact that nbadraft.net's analysis leads me to believe that Eric Bledsoe has either signed with an agent or is close to signing with an agent.

Questionable Decision Signing with Agent
Players who have a shot to get in first round but had more to gain by returning.

Player: Eric Bledsoe], Kentucky- In what looks like a weak field of point guards entering this years draft, Bledsoe could certainly benefit. He's played in John Wall's shadow for most of the year, while improving as the season progressed. With a strong NCAA tournament shooting the ball, he did leave on a high note. But many scouts still have question marks about whether he's truly a point guard, making him a likely late first rounder but not a lock. Testing before making a decision would have been a wise move for him. but for Bledsoe, returning to college might have been in his best long term interest, but helping out his family situation is his priority.

A lot of "might have(s)" and "would have(s)" in this report. nbadraft.net is certainly in the know and they appear to have a line of communication open or an indirect line to Bledsoe himself. Unless this report is BS the story reads like he has already signed with an agent. That would dash any hope of a return.

Eric Bledsoe's updated draft position -  28 (late first round)

Daniel Orton's father, Larry Orton, is waiting on the NBA to call him, according a story written by Larry Vaught.

Larry Orton said. “If he doesn’t sign with an agent, I won’t know any more or any less than anyone else. But if teams start calling me, then that will be a good sign. LINK

But Orton's draft stock is hovering around the 26th pick. Not exactly what Daniel Orton would have hoped for. His stock may rise but if these projections hold I would figure that Daniel Orton will return to the University of Kentucky for his Sophomore season.  

Should Patrick Patterson return to UK?

Even though Patrick Patterson is set to obtain his degree in 3 years at the University of Kentucky he may want to think about returning for a 4th season. Patterson was kind of caught up in the mosh pit this year with Wall and Cousins gaining most of the attention.

Lets look at his draft status.

• Hoops Report
  18th
• Draft Depot
  11th
• NBA - Draft - .com
  19th
• NBA Draft Room
  13th
• Draft Express
  11th
• My NBA Draft
  14th

Patterson's draft position really hasn't changed much from last year. I would figure Patterson may go around 14 and that would set him up with a $1.4 million payday next year. But as many Kentucky fans noticed Patterson developed a nice outside shot this year. But in the NBA that shot may not be available to him because of his slow release. Patterson is listed as 6-9 but he is more like a tall 6-7. His body is what will get him drafted, he is Jamal Mashburn strong and that intrigues th NBA.

So lets make a case for Patterson's return to UK. He can certainly be more of a marquee player next year. He can be the undisputed team leader. And will likely improve his outside shot and play making ability. Plus he can begin to work on his post graduate degree while playing ball.

Patterson is certainly NBA ready and if he decides to take the leap he will be a first rounder and maybe a lottery pick. So its a flip of a coin if he should or should not return to UK.

Star recruit Brandon Knight to announce his college choice on Wednesday

I have to admit one thing about John Calipari's method of move'em in and move'em out recruiting, it makes for some exciting commentary after the season ends. I have to clear something up here. I have received around 200 emails from folks who both share my pessimism in regards to Calipari's tactics and those wish to see me leave the state because I am pessimistic in regards to Calipari's tactics. I am not a Calipari hater but I am critical of his coaching style and his recruiting style. When a kid attends college, he attends "college", to obtain a degree. But it seems that graduating players is not on Calipari's ton ten. Hey this is the system we have so we can love it or hate it, but I certainly smell a scandal and we can only hope its a media scandal not an NCAA scandal.

Now to Brandon Knight. Start recruit Brandon Knight is a thoroughbred of a basketball player. He is certainly no John Wall (and I certainly hope Knight is not held down because of the comparisons to Wall which is sure to come), he is a scorer. Thats what he does. According to multiple media sources Knight is set to announce his college choice on Wednesday. The speculation is that he will attend the University of Kentucky.  

Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton NBA Draft status, position

Well lets take a look, as we did last year for Jodie Meeks, and see where Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton fit in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Bledsoe has been getting a beating in the press for his decision to "as it appears today" test the NBA waters. John Calipari is not going to wait around and do nothing and there is a distinct possibility that Bledsoe may be pushed out or even transfer once all this is over. Kentucky will be guard heavy with a (theoretical) Brandon Knight, Stacy Poole, Deandre Liggins, Darius Miller, Jon Hood, Darnell Dodson and (slight possibility) a Josh Selby, all guards. Someone has to go; who will it be? My bet is Dodson. Our roster will be thin next year so maybe everyone stays, who knows.

Draft Position (4/9/10 - 5:46PM)

Eric Bledsoe

• Hoops Report
  15th
• Draft Depot
  NOT DRAFTED
• NBA - Draft - .com
  13th
• NBA Draft Room
  NOT DRAFTED
• Draft Express
  NOT DRAFTED
• My NBA Draft
  15th

Daniel Orton

• Hoops Report
  21st
• Draft Depot
  32nd
• NBA - Draft - .com
  22nd
• NBA Draft Room
  17th
• Draft Express
  26th
• My NBA Draft
  21st

Analysis; We could be seeing a shift in attitude in regards to Eric Bledsoe. I think we may see him level off around 16th or so, if the shift actually happens. If not, then he may go early or mid second round. If he really does peak at 16 or so he will get a $1.3 million payday next year. Around 600Kafter uncle sam is done with him. If he goes early second round, he would get nothing and have to slug it out against veterans for a position on an NBA team. We will have to wait a few days and see where Bledsoe levels off.

Daniel Orton on the other hand seems more of a stable first round pick. If he levels off around 20, on the high side, he would make $1.1 million. If he comes back to UK and goes next year he would likely be a lottery pick, that guarantees him $1.5 mil minimum and $4.2 mil max. I think he may be gone if his numbers hold. Orton is big guy will tons of raw talent. But 3.3 point per game? I still thinks its a joke, but the GMs call the shots not me.  

John Calipari needs to address the growing Patrick Patterson saga

I am sure Patrick Patterson will enter the NBA draft. Thats me being sure as a fan, which means absolutely nothing. The University of Kentucky Athletic Department on the other hand are so sure Patrick Patterson is gone they released a statement to the press. But Patterson's Mother and Patterson himself seem a little confused, actually they seem a damn confused.

The University of Kentucky is standing by their press release, but this ordeal is about to erupt. I am sure Calipari and or Patterson will put the lid on the smoldering volcano in the next few hours. Its not good when it appears that your University is pushing you out the door.

His Mother is steamed

Once her son called her back, he told her he still intended to think about it a "week or two and then make a decision" just as they planned.

"We were confused people by then," she said. "I have a problem with it going out and not being official. It is his decision. He has not declared for the draft and once he does he can’t back out because he declared for the draft last year. But I am very upset with all this because the statement Patrick gave to DeWayne, he didn’t know it was being released tonight.’

Tywanna Patterson also tried to call coach John Calipari, but he did not return her phone call.

"Me personally, I think it is Cal’s way to get recruits to commit and wants to make sure they know John (Wall), DeMarcus (Cousins), Daniel (Orton) and Eric (Bledsoe) are gone along with Patrick," Tywanna Patterson said. "Pat didn’t know they were sending that statement out tonight." SBNATION

Kentucky Wildcats decimated by the NBA Draft

Its official; 5 players will throw their names in the NBA Draft. No real surprise who those 5 players are;

• John Wall (projected number 1 pick overall),
• Demarcus Cousins (projected 3rd pick overall)
• Patrick Patterson (projected 14th pick) (11th pick) 
• Eric Bledsoe (projected 15th pick)(2nd round)
• Daniel Orton (projected 21st pick) (26th pick)

John Calipari recommended that each of these players enter thier name in the draft. I can understand why John Wall, Demarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson took the leap but Bledsoe and Orton should test the waters, but for the love of GOD I hope they arent stupid enough to hire agents.

Orton needs another year for damn sure. He averaged 3 points per game. Why? How? The NBA has changed over the years and they now draft on potential, not performance.

How can we build a program with 4 freshman going pro this year? You can't. Hopefully Calipari starts building a program next year instead of building a hype machine. We will have good years, we will have bad years. But we will never win a national championship. I hope we get a Final Four or two in the next ten years. Or its no different than Tubby-ball. Faster game but same results.

A John Wall return would change the game

Let us day dream here for a moment. The world is full of what ifs. What ifs keep us grounded in a depressed society, especially a depressed society such as the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

We will know within the next two weeks if John Wall, Demarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe will forgo their NCAA eligibility and enter the 2010 NBA Draft. I personally think its a done deal but the only tangible ray of hope is the fact that it appears John Wall and Demarcus Cousins will complete the Spring semester at the University of Kentucky. But that in itself means little at the end of the day. Wall and Cousins know damn well their positions in the upcoming draft. So they really don't need the extra workout time that dropping the semester would afford them.

If John Wall returns he would likely bring Cousins and Bledsoe back with him for a magical run in 2011. John Wall and his comrades would be bigger than the game. If they elect to enter the NBA Draft then Wall, Cousins and Bedsoe would be above average players in an above average league. They would never again be presented with an opportunity to be bigger than the game ever again.

If there is one small crack in the door for a Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe return John Calipari should be on his hands and knees begging for their return. Judging from Calipari's own comments on the subject it would appear that John Calipari will be pushing them out of the Kentucky program instead of begging them to stay. That I do not agree with in any way. Sure, Calipari should help them achieve their dreams of playing at the next level but his primary job should be keeping them as long as possible.

But the speculation will be over in a couple of weeks. The only bad thing that could result from a delayed decision by Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe would be the likelihood of losing one or a few of the top recruits available this year. So I hope Wall, Cousins and Bledose come back but I also hope they make up their minds quickly for the sake of the program.

OK John Calipari fans, lets talk basketball

I have been banned from every single UK Basketball forum imaginable. Why? For speaking out about John Calipari's inability to coach and his inability to keep his big mouth shut.

Lets review for a moment. John Calipari made a very scary comment yesterday in regards to "goings on" within the UK Basketball program. He slipped and said;

"A lot of stuff went on this year that will not go on next year. Stuff surrounding the program and different...it will not go on next year. This will be that kind of program.This is not a CYO team. This is a major college, maybe the best, in the country."

Thats scary stuff people. But it seems that everyone, at least the trolls on the message boards, are blinded by Calipari's used car salesman routine.

So lets talk basketball. What ended Kentucky's season this year? The 1-3-1 zone ended our very promising season. Calipari sit on his hands for the entire second half of the West Virginia game and choked, he clearly choked.

The first 10 minutes of the game we were pounding the ball inside, and scoring points. We had West Virginia down 16-9 and we could have cruised. But what I observed was WVU players getting rough inside, the team is packed with straight up bruits. It rattled UK to the core. Then we started raining bricks and never really regained the inside momentum. The 1-3-1 is designed to allow the opposing team to shoot as many 3s from the wings as they want. If they are hitting those threes from the wings it pretty much breaks the 1-3-1. If you're not hitting the threes the 1-3-1 will stay in place. We clearly didn't hit the threes from the wings.

 Now what is our second option to bust open the 1-3-1? Drive on the baseline; you need a quick guard to do it, and make the strong side defensive player to react to the baseline intrusion. Notice I said "quick guard", well he HAD the quickest guard(s) in the nation. If that doesn't work you attack the 1-3-1 about 10 to 15 feet from the goal, post up your big guys and position yourself for the shallow rebound. We HAD the best big guy in the nation! You suck it up and pound it inside and drive Wall like a freight train down the middle and on the baseline.

This is high school basketball 101 stuff! Hells bells, if Tubby Smith would have had this team we would have been hanging another banner next week in rafters of Rupp. We shot 30 threes and made 4, we also missed 13 free throws. As bad as be played it would have took a minimal coaching effort to put 10 more points on the board.

So what did we accomplish this year? A great record and at least we won the SEC regular season and tournament championships. At least we got that but we missed our traditional 10 year NCAA championship and we may not get another chance for many years to come. I don't think these one and doners can win it all. If we missed our shot this year with the team we HAD on the floor we will never get it done with these one year superstars. Its time to start recruiting the ranked high school players 20 and below. Out of all the NBA prospects playing in this year's Final Four the highest ranked draft position is 17th. Now that should tell you something.

John Calipari's comments about the Kentucky program are disturbing.

John Calipari released a video expressing his opinions on his first year at the University of Kentucky. He talked about the team and one particular subject that would turn any Kentuckian's hair grey.

"A lot of stuff went on this year that will not go on next year. Stuff surrounding the program and different...it will not go on next year. This will be that kind of program.This is not a CYO team. This is a major college, maybe the best, in the country."

Oh crap; Calipari let it slip, Stuff going on around the program? If you pass gas the wrong way in the NCAA its probably a secondary violation. I observed this team in great detail. One thing that struck me as odd was the fact that Calipari lost control of his team during games. If you can't control your team in a game how in the hell are you going to control the same team off the court? It can't be done. So buck up Kentucky Wildcat fans we may be in for a long bumpy ride. Even if Calipari is just being his dramatic self, he may have just perked the interest of those NCAA scumbags.

 

Will John Wall come back to UK? No

John Wall has class. I really have to hand it to the kid. During his acceptance speech for the Rupp Award he stated that he would sit down with his family then decide if he will take the jump into the NBA.

But on the other hand he sounded like a kid who enjoyed the college experience and the impossible has happened before. He made a promise to his late father that he would get his degree and even though he is certainly the number one pick in the NBA draft he will finish out the semester. On the other hand Daniel Orton will drop his classes to go to California and work on his game.

Orton, who averaged 3 point per game, seems confident he will go high in the draft. I think its a joke, how in the hell do you go pro averaging 3 points per game? Who ever is advising him, and I hope to GOD Calipari will man up and advise the kid, needs to be forcefully removed from Orton's inner circle.

But one intriguing quote from Wall is the claim that he, Cousins and Bledsoe will make the decision to go pro together, If thats the 100% skinny then I guess there is a slim chance of a bona fide dream team in the NCAA next year. But I wouldn't bet on it. {Link to story}