Each Wednesday here at Cat Scratches, we’re going to take a look back at the latest week’s news in UK Athletics from around the web.Best on the ‘netSoftball: Wildcats find offensive replacements (Graham Hays, ESPN.com)After losing a senior class that helped lead the program to its first two NCAA tournament appearances — a group that included All-American shortstop Molly Johnson — Kentucky was a logical candidate to take a step back from the softball spotlight this season.Instead, the Wildcats are stepping on home plate with greater and greater frequencySoftball: Sweep of Florida caps big week for UK (Kentucky Kernel)The Cats swept the previously No. 5 ranked Gators this past weekend en route to their sixth straight win and the lead atop the SEC East. The latest polls rank the team 18th in the nation, the highest mark in UK history.Aull led the way for UK, hitting four home runs in the series, while driving in eight runs and also scoring seven of her own. She became the first player in school history to hit two home runs in an inning during the team’s eight-run first inning on Sunday. . Men’s basketball: Surprising Cats offer a less in perseverance (Jerry Tipton, Lexington Herald-Leader)As the Cats lost close game after close game this season, Coach John Calipari tried to ease Todd’s anxiety by reminding him that the shorthanded, freshman-oriented team was making progress. But memories of No.1-seeded UK losing to Marquette in 2003 and Alabama-Birmingham in 2004 tested the president’s faith.”This is so pleasing,” Todd said of UK’s unexpected advancement to this year’s Final Four. “I’ve smiled for about two weeks. My (facial) muscles are hurting.”Men’s basketball: Friends Davis, Blackshear to be foes in UK-UofL rivalry (Jody Demling, Louisville Courier-Journal)Davis knows that Blackshear likes to joke around. The basketball buddies will battle in a huge rivalry next season after growing up together and becoming good friends.The Chicago high school stars met in 2005, then played several years together on the AAU circuit. They have spent a great deal of time at each other’s houses.Men’s basketball: Small crowd gathers to welcome Cats (Amy Wilson, Herald-Leader)The DC-10 carrying the ever-so-barely vanquished University of Kentucky Wildcats was cheered before it ever touched ground. Spotted first by airport personnel high above the northeast horizon around 2:43 p.m., the USA Jet Airlines flight battled the wind, wobbled a bit and landed solidly to cheers of a small but enthusiastic crowd of 75.Football: Newton getting prepared to lead Wildcats (Hal Morris, Danville Advocate-Messenger)Aside from freshman Max Smith, there are no challengers at the quarterback spot. Newton said this has been a new experience for him after battling Mike Hartline last season.”I’ve been here a couple years now, so I’m trying to start getting this mental preparation, stating to get all that figured out,” Newton said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “I’m just trying to go out here and be the leader and play fast and make good decisions.”Football: Offense being rebuilt around offensive line (Chip Cosby, Herald-Leader)The Kentucky offensive line was a big question mark heading into last spring, as the Cats were attempting to replace four starters from a rock-solid unit.Fast forward one year later and the same group that was trying to get its feet wet together are now looked at as the stabilizing force for an offense that will break in a new quarterback, tailback and No. 1 receiver.Men’s basketball: Knight bolsters resume with big tourney shots (Scott Howard-Cooper, NBA.com)But Knight was a freshman, on the big stage for the first time, with a lot of money at stake if he comes out.He got a big win.In the opener against Princeton in Tampa, Fla., he missed his first seven shots and was scoreless with Kentucky’s tournament hopes in the balance in a 4-13 matchup. But when Knight got the ball in a 57-57 game, he did not hesitate. He confronted a miserable day by nailing a driving layup with two seconds remaining that delivered victory.Men’s basketball: Rupp prominently featured on SEC “Bucket List”  (SEC Nation blog)Former Wildcats making headlinesOnce an afterthought, Jodie Meeks playing big role for Sixers (Reuben Frank, CSN Philly)Meeks, now 22-years-old, in his second NBA season and playing for his third NBA coach, is headed for the playoffs as a starting guard a year after getting traded and riding the bench for two different teams.”I’m happy for everybody,” teammate Andre Iguodala said after the Sixers beat the Nets to clinch a playoff berth Friday night. “But especially for Jodie Meeks, because of everything he’s been through.”Randall Cobb quickly rising on draft boards (Russ Lande, Sporting News)When Cobb (5-11, 186) declared early for the NFL Draft around the Senior Bowl, talk was that Boise State wide receiver Titus Young (5-11 1/4, 174) had been so good that he was going to be the third receiver taken. Definitely the first receiver under 6-feet to be selected. Over the last two-plus months, however, Cobb has been flying up draft boards with scouts, coaches and front office executives breaking down film and watching him workout. Cobb is an explosive playmaker with the ability to impact games anytime he gets the ball in his hands. While Young is a good prospect and Leonard Hankerson (6-1 5/8, 205) is an athletic big receiver, when it comes to an explosive playmaker, Cobb has vaulted over them, along with many others, to be viewed as the No. 3 receiver in the draft. He could end up being a late first-round pick.Wall named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for March (Carla Peay, Washington Times)Wall led all Eastern Conference rookies in assists with 8.6 per game, and steals with 1.7 per games. His 18.1 points per game were second only to Crawford, who had 18.2 points per games.Wall becomes the first player in Bullets/Wizards franchise history to win the honor for three straight months.”I think he’s had a great rookie season,” Wizards coach Flip Saunders said.News from UKathletics.comBaseball: Homers power 15-run outburstSoftball: Aull named SEC Player of the WeekMen’s basketball: Harrellson withdraws from Portsmouth Invitational due to illnessVolleyball: Cats begin spring with 2-1 weekendGymnastics: Gymkats earn highest Regional score in school historySoftball: UK passing mid-season contender testsVideo of the weekThe college basketball season ended only two days ago, but experts are already starting to talk about how good the Wildcats could be in 2011-12. Luke Winn of Sports Illustrated ranked UK fifth for next year, while Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports tabbed the Cats No. 1. Additionally, here’s video of Dick Vitale on SportsCenter Tuesday listing Kentucky behind only North Carolina in his way-too-early rankings.