Men’s basketball: Kentucky overwhelms South Carolina (Jerry Tipton, Lexington Herald-Leader)
If Kentucky wanted to solve the recurring problem of poor play in the final minutes of close games, this was the way to do it. UK never let it get close, scoring the game’s first 15 points, leading by double digits the final 35:34 and by 20 or much more the final 28:21 en route to the 90-59 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.
Men’s basketball: Liggins gives UK a boost off bench (Tipton, Herald-Leader)
For the game against South Carolina on Saturday, DeAndre Liggins took his turn coming off the Kentucky bench. It agreed with him. Liggins, who had made five of 17 shots (one of eight from three-point range) the previous two games, contributed 11 points to UK’s 90-59 victory.
Men’s basketball: UK gains momentum for late push (John Clay, Herald-Leader)
We’re down to the final four now, the final four games of the regular season when a team wants to make its final push, to get things right on the freeway to the post-season. And for the first 20 minutes Saturday, and for much of 40, the Cats played some of their best basketball of the entire campaign.
Men’s basketball: Miller’s surprising week (James Pennington, The Cats’ Pause)
To hopefully continue on his hot streak, Miller said he and his teammates just have to bear down and focus as best as they can. It’s been a long season, he said, but the hard part begins as soon as the regular season ends.
Men’s basketball: Liggins plays like Liggins on day he’s honored for character (Larry Vaught, Danville Advocate-Messenger)
This time DeAndre Liggins played the way that Kentucky needs the junior to play to make the team the best it can be.
Women’s basketball: Mitchell seeks consistency from UK women (Jennifer Smith, Herald-Leader)
There are some things that coaches just don’t know. Most don’t like to admit that, especially when it comes to discussing their own team, but Kentucky’s Matthew Mitchell knows what he doesn’t know.
Women’s basketball: Video of Mitchell talking about UK’s shooting slump
Women’s basketball: Dunlap’s family never far away on game days (Mark Story, Herald Leader)
OK, parents. How far would you go to support the endeavors of your kids? For Robin and King Dunlap IV — whose daughter, Victoria, will soon depart the University of Kentucky as the best women’s basketball player not named Valerie Still ever to play at the school — that answer is literally thousands upon thousands of miles.
Men’s basketball: John Wall learning to become a leader for Washington Wizards while learning the NBA (Michael Lee, Washington Post)
Rod Strickland noticed it the moment John Wall stepped on the basketball court for his first practice at the University of Kentucky. Coaches, players and fans were well aware that Wall had arrived in Lexington as the top high school recruit, but Strickland could tell through the first set of drills that although Wall possessed a lot of swagger he wasn’t content to rest on his reputation. Even before he was told to take the reins, it was clear Wall was a leader.
Men’s basketball: Wall gets his first taste of all-star festivities (Michael Lee, Washington Post)
On the night he arrived in the city where he trained before the Washington Wizards drafted him No. 1 overall, Wall was presented a challenge by Orlando Magic all-star center Dwight Howard at the celebrity pool tournament hosted by Magic Johnson and Alonzo Mourning. Howard dared anyone to get on the stage and show who could do the best rendition of the popular dance, the Dougie. Boston Celtics reserve Glen “Big Baby” Davis joined Wall and several others in a Dougie dance-off, and Wall was fairly confident about who came away the winner.
Football: Behind-the-scenes look at the SEC coaches meeting (secdigitalnetwork.com)
Football: The SEC’s impact redshirt freshmen (Chris Low, ESPN.com)
Brandon Gainer, TB, Kentucky: The weight room has been good to Gainer, who’s bulked up to more than 215 pounds. He was pushing to play last season, but was slowed by injury. With Derrick Locke gone, the Wildcats need Gainer to make a move next season.
Swimming and diving: ESPN bio blast of Greg Ferrucci, SEC Freshman Male Diver of the Year
Swimming and diving: Six swimmers place in top 10 in UK record books (UKathletics.com)
Seniors Kayla Sergesketter, Chatham Penrod, and Chip Aplin, juniors Claire Archibald and Matt Russell and sophomore Ramon Walton each swam times that put them in the top-10 all-time in UK history in their respective events on Saturday, day three of the Southeastern Conference Swimming Championships in Gainesville, Fla.
Softball: Cats off to a 7-2 start (UKathletics.com)
Kentucky improves to 7-2 overall on the year, while Georgia Southern drops to 4-6 overall. UK will now move onto the Championship game of the tournament will face Florida State for the second time in as many days.
