Let’s begin the Arizona Wildcats or Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Debate for 2014-15
By Paul Jordan
Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Make no mistake, the addition of Luke Hiers last night was a huge grab for Mark Stoops and company in the 2015 class. And there is plenty of excitement for 2014 as the new guys will start summer practice soon. You can tell the hype because ESPN did their list of the “fresh faces” in the SEC East and Kentucky newcomers made up 30% of the list.
"Drew Barker, QB, Kentucky: Even though Patrick Towles played better in the spring game, Barker impressed the Kentucky coaches this spring and heads into the summer right in the thick of the Wildcats’ starting quarterback race. True freshman starters at quarterback are rare in the SEC, but Barker is a rare talent. C.J. Johnson, DT, Kentucky: The defensive line should be one of the strengths of Kentucky’s team next season, and even with the Wildcats losing their top three defensive tackles, they feel good about what Johnson will provide in the middle. Similar to Za’Darius Smith at end last season, Johnson could be the second straight junior college player to make a big impact for the Cats. A.J. Stamps, S, Kentucky: The Wildcats had a big need at safety, and Stamps jumped in and gave the entire secondary a boost with his play this spring. Coach Mark Stoops really likes Stamps’ versatility. He’s athletic enough to match up and play man coverage in certain sets"
Is it time to start getting concerned about NOT having the SEC Network? Apparently some UK fans (including Oscar Combs) is getting nervous and I have to admit, being a Brighthouse customer, I am getting antsy. The SEC announced that two of Kentucky’s first three football games are on the SEC Network and every SEC team is going to get their time there as well. Here is a list of the SEC Network’s initial offerings.
| Date | Time (ET) | Game |
| Thu, Aug. 28 | 6 p.m. | Texas A&M at South Carolina |
| 9:15 p.m. | Temple at Vanderbilt | |
| Sat, Aug. 30 | Noon | Tennessee-Martin at Kentucky |
| 4 p.m. | Arkansas at Auburn | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Southern Mississippi at Mississippi State | |
| Sun, Aug. 31 | 7 p.m. | Utah State at Tennessee |
| Sat, Sept. 6 | Noon | Florida Atlantic at Alabama |
| Noon | Arkansas State at Tennessee | |
| 4 p.m. | Eastern Michigan at Florida | |
| 4 p.m. | Nicholls State at Arkansas | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Sam Houston State at LSU | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Lamar at Texas A&M | |
| Sat, Sept. 13 | Noon | UCF at Missouri |
| 4 p.m. | Louisiana-Lafayette at Ole Miss | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Kentucky at Florida | |
| Sat, Sept. 20 | Noon | Troy at Georgia |
| 4 p.m. | TBD | |
| 7:30 p.m. | TBD |
That’s a lot of football to miss out on and so far, only a few carriers have signed on. Here is more from a UKAA release.
Television selections for the remaining games in the opening weeks, including UK’s Sept. 6 home matchup with Ohio, will be announced at a later date.
"As of this date, four carriers have signed on for the SEC Network – AT&T U-Verse, DISH, Google Fiber and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative. The SEC Network will feature SEC content around the clock and televise more than 1,000 live events in its first year. Fans who do not have one of the carriers listed above should request the SEC Network at the Web site GetSECNetwork.com. In 2014, SEC football games will be carried on CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network and Fox Sports Network (FSN is in its final year of its broadcast agreement with the SEC)."