Anthony Davis blocked 15 shots in two games this while scoring 40 total points on 88.2-percent shooting. (Chet White, UK Athletics)
John Calipari and select Kentucky players will be available to the media later this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s game against Florida, so you can look for video interviews and a story then. In the mean time, let’s run through some news to begin your week:
- Freshman roommates Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were named on Monday to the Oscar Robertson Award Midseason Watch List. The two forwards are among 20 players on the list for the award, which annually recognizes the national player of the year in men’s college basketball. UK, along with North Carolina (three players), is the only team with multiple players on the list.
- The honors don’t stop there for Davis, who was impressive in two games last week even by his lofty standards. He averaged 20 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 blocks and two assists in games against Tennessee and South Carolina, surpassing Shaquille O’Neal’s Southeastern Conference freshman record with 116 blocks. Davis was named national co-Player of the Week by ESPN.com and SEC Player of the Week for his efforts.
- UK held serve in two wins last week, strengthening its grip on the top ranking. The ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll was the first to be released and the Cats remained the unanimous No. 1, receiving all 31 votes. Florida moved up to a tie for seventh with Murray State, setting up a matchup of top-10 teams on Tuesday in Rupp Arena. UK is also No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 with the Gators checking in at No. 8. The Cats had 63 out of a possible 65 votes for the second week in a row.