Mar 9, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts to a call during the game against the Florida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Florida 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Well, BBN, as it turns out there IS a method to John Calipari’s coaching madness/genius and it’s not magic or voodoo; it’s intentional planning. That’s right, the brash, no nonsense, psychological thriller of a coach, Calipari is going back to the basics this year en route for his second National Title in five (5) seasons at UK. You see, this historic recruiting class including the Harrison twins, Julius Randle, James Young, Marcus Lee, Dakari Johnson, and Derek Willis is made up entirely of kids, roughly 18 who are studs on the court, athletically and mentally superior to almost every other athlete on the court, in the country. This class is arguably the top recruiting class in history and that not hyperbole. This class is stacked and after the disaster of last season, where Calipari admits he let some people dictate how some things went down that had a negative impact on the team, he vowed to never let that happen again. And according to Sports Editor for the Winchester Sun, Keith Taylor, John Calipari started the follow through on that vow yesterday.

Kentucky coach John Calipari and his staff begin a ‘two-day’ retreat scheduled to start today. The point of emphasis is to plan ahead for next season.

“What we’re primarily going to be doing is (figuring out), ‘What do each of these kids need from us?’ Because every one of these kids we’re bringing in need to be coached and they need something from us. I’ll give you an example: We had Michael (Kidd-)Gilchrist. Michael needed something from us that was different than what Anthony Davis needed from us. Marquis Teague needed us in a different way. Terrence Jones needed something different than Doron Lamb needed or Darius Miller – ‘Be more aggressive!’ I mean, every one of those kids needed us in different ways because it is about them. It is about players first. Well, this team we’re coaching now with eight new players, four or five returning players, each of these guys are going to need us in different ways.”

Calipari added that it will take time for the staff and players, both returning and new, to come together.

“So the process, this galvanizing process, the patience we’re going to need, we’re starting on Monday. We need to say, ‘OK, where are we going to go with this? What do each of these kids need?’ because let me just say this folks: They’re a talented crew, we’ll have a talented team, (but) they need (to be) coached. Each individual player needs (to be) coached. They need direction. They need to be taught the level of commitment, the intensity. The will to win has to come out. The alpha males that we didn’t have a year ago I think we have, but those guys got to do that. They can lead, but they got to lead us in the way we need to be led. Michael Gilchrist, how did he lead us? Breakfast club. What did he do in practice? Was unbelievable in his work ethic. What did that mean? Two years ago, we did not have one bad practice. Not one. Last year we had about five good practices that I would say in my mind over the years would be the kind of practices I felt comfortable with.

“So those are some things to throw out.”

Now it seems a simple task to figure out how to coach each player individually but it if were that simple then Michael Jordan would have won an NBA Title with the Washington Wizards, right? Exactly. There is nothing simple or easy about getting to know a player so well that you can anticipate their mood swings, behavior or thought process and plan accordingly or even deal with them on the fly as they change. These are still kids. Even the returning players are still kids. Anyone who has ever been around a kid knows how complicated they are.

Did Calipari have a two day retreat with his staff last year? I have no idea but based on how things went last year I’d say not and if they did then something went horribly awry. I don’t see that happening twice.

This team has, perhaps, the best combination of talent and experience that Cal has had since he set foot on campus in 2009, including the 2012 National Title team, yet there is still much work to be done with these young men.

This commitment to his players, the program and winning is exactly what the BBN loves about our brash, occasionally controversial psychologist/coach John Calipari.

If you didn’t expect to hang #9 already, let it sink in that on May 20th, John Calipari and his staff are already deep into prepping themselves to understand and help this ridiculous recruiting class and team reach their potential and goals on May 20th, 2013.

If it’s any indication, this season will be historic, with our Kentucky Wildcats wrestling that NCAA Championship Trophy away from those damn Dirty Birds up Northwest.

Mar 9, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Archie Goodwin (10) celebrates after dunking the ball against the Florida Gators in the first half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Florida 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

After seeing several tweets during the Indiana Pacers-New York Knicks series finale comparing Archie Goodwin to Lance Stephenson coming out of college, I decided to give it a look-see and see how it stands up. As it turns out, it’s not really a bad comparison. First let me show you the tweets:

ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla likens Archie Goodwin to Lance Stephenson, a heralded prospect who used the D-League as a launch into the NBA

— Aaron Kall (@AaronsUKBBBlog) May 16, 2013

If Lance Stephenson can make it in the NBA, maybe Archie Goodwin can too.

— Dan Bodner (@KYHoopsBuzz) May 19, 2013

Seriously, Archie Goodwin should pick Lance Stephenson’s brain. Lance was an early 2nd rounder who shot 22% from three in college.

— Dan Bodner (@KYHoopsBuzz) May 19, 2013

Lance Stephenson had twice the doubts that Archie Goodwin has pre-draft. There is hope for you Archie.

— Jay Hochstetler (@JayHochKSR) May 19, 2013

Archie Goodwin can learn a lot from Lance Stephenson.Be patient, listen, learn and work hard.

— Thomas Beisner (@thomasbeisner) May 19, 2013

And now, putting all cards on the table, I remember Lance Stephenson when he committed to the Cincinnati Bear Cats. He was raw, heralded and extremely talented but with as much talent as he had on the court, he had as much propensity to blow it off. That’s baggage that Archie Goodwin didn’t come with.
They both were in the Top 20 in their respective recruiting classes with Rivals.com having Lance Stephenson at #11 and Archie Goodwin at #14. Both are big, athletic shooting guards who can create off the dribble but are questionable decision makers and shot takers. Neither shy away from the spotlight or big shot, yet neither lived up to their expectations as super Frosh. Both played with incredible energy and heart. Interestingly enough, Lance Stephenson, before his freshman season was over, announced that he was returning for his sophomore season at Cincinnati. Sound familiar? Right after the Kentucky Wildcats got popped by Robert Morris in the First Round of the NIT, despite Archie’s herculean effort (18 points and 7 rebounds), he proclaimed to the BBN this:

“I don’t think it’s a question of whether I’m going (to the NBA) or not,” said Archie Goodwin, who led UK with 18 points. “I don’t think I’m ready to go.”
Then Goodwin added, “There’s no reason any of our guys should really leave. We should come back next year . . . and just try to do better.”

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/20/2564996/three-uk-freshman-indicate-theyll.html#storylink=cpy

Now I’m not dogging him for making a poorly thought out statement in the heat of the moment. He’s just a kid still but it is another similarity.
Neither Lance nor Archie can shoot 3’s worth a crap, 22% and 26% respectively but both can create space and know how to use their bodies to post up smaller defenders. Archie guarded three positions at UK and has better lateral movement than Lance but is about 30 pounds lighter so could get muscled around a bit.
Here are the draftexpress.com profiles of both

Lance Stephenson

April 28, 2010
Kyle Nelson

Toward the end of his freshman season, Cincinnati shooting guard Lance Stephenson surprisingly announced that he would return for his sophomore year. Weeks later, he shocked few when he reneged on that announcement and entered the NBA Draft with an agent (reportedly his lawyer, Alberto Ebanks). While Stephenson always seemed like a one-and-done player, he had a subpar freshman season that exposed many of his flaws and showed the limit of his potential.

Physically speaking, Stephenson has solid height for an NBA shooting guard at 6-5 with good length and a strong frame. As was the case in high school, he relies on his strength to overpower weaker players and compensate for his lack of athleticism. From a conditioning standpoint, he did not appear to be in ideal shape this past season, likely carrying an extra 10-15 pounds on his thick frame. He is quick in the open floor, but lacks the explosiveness and lateral quickness expected from wings at the next level. While he will continue to work on his strength and conditioning, there is no doubt that Stephenson is a below average athlete in the NBA.

His offensive skill set, which is heavily reliant on isolations and muscling his way to the basket, will probably have to be adapted at the next level, given his lack of explosiveness and quickness. While Stephenson’s touch around the basket is not bad, his overall shooting during his freshman season was extremely poor. He shot a dismal 21.9% from beyond the arc, converted under 50% from inside the arc and made just 66% of his foul shots.

On film, his shooting motion with his feet set is not terrible. He has a fairly fluid motion and release. But he has issues with excess lower body movement, and when he shoots off the dribble, his mechanics are less consistent and he has a tendency to fade away while shooting.

The biggest issue here is Stephenson’s decision making. He settles for bad shot after bad shot, in spite of miserable percentages and open teammates. He seems to lack any sort of understanding of shot selection. Even when his shots were not falling, he forced the issue and, if his teammates sought their own offense, he tended to pout and fade into the background. This is likely the primary cause for concern from NBA scouts, as Stephenson has never really shown the ability to play team-oriented basketball and could certainly have issues adapting to a situation where he’s simply a role player.

Stephenson does a good job of creating space off the dribble, showing solid ball-handling skills for his size. The effectiveness of his mid-range game suffers due to his poor shot selection, but he has shown an ability to find shots inside the arc and pull up off the dribble. Similarly, he was at his best last season when he attacked the basket both in transition and in half court situations, where he could use his size and strength to his advantage. He must improve his willingness to find the open man, though, as his tunnel vision often results in offensive fouls and untimely turnovers.

Though Cincinnati did not field the most competitive or disciplined team last season, Stephenson’s lack of offensive efficiency and selfish style of play have been omnipresent throughout his career. During workouts, he must somehow convince scouts that he is capable of playing team-oriented basketball and has the ability to produce efficiently in a smaller role. As we have written before, Stephenson possesses NBA-caliber scoring abilities. His average athleticism and questionable decision making ability, however, may force him to work his way up through the D-League first.

On the defensive end, Stephenson did a decent job at Cinncinati, but his lack of lateral quickness limits his potential in this area at the next level. He will struggle to guard bigger and more athletic guards in the NBA, though his strength and length will likely work in his favor. His strong frame also helps him on the boards, where he averages 7.5 rebounds per 40 minutes, pace adjusted — solid numbers for a wing player.

His behavior off of the court has also been a well-documented issue in recent years. He stayed out of trouble at Cincinnati, but he has accumulated quite a collection of red flags during his brief time as an amateur basketball player. Any NBA team that considers drafting him will have to do extensive research about his background, and decipher why he was in such a big rush to leave Cincinnati after such a sub-par freshman season.

While there are a tremendous amount of obstacles in his way, Stephenson still has the potential to be a contributor at the next level at some point down the road. While his lack of explosiveness and mediocre shot selection are areas of significant concern, he has good scoring instincts and a decent offensive repertoire. Stephenson is sure to be one of the most controversial players in the draft. There is no guarantee that he will even be picked, but he may be able to carve out a career for himself regardless, a la Stephen Jackson.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz2Tnc6MRXh

http://www.draftexpress.com

Archie Goodwin

April 25, 2013
Scouting Report by Kyle Nelson. Video Analysis by Mike Schmitz

Archie Goodwin entered the University of Kentucky as the 12th-best recruit in the country according to Recruiting Services Consensus Index and a key component of another stellar John Calipari recruiting class.

Things did not come together by any means for Kentucky, though, as the team struggled with inconsistency, maturity, and injuries, ultimately floundering to a first round exit in the NIT and a 21-12 record. Goodwin emerged as the team’s leading scorer and go-to guy, but struggled with inefficiency for much of the year.

Despite the stern comments he made upon being eliminated in the NIT (“If any of us were saying we think we should leave, then we’d all be delusional,”) and supposedly against coach John Calipari’s advice, Goodwin decided not to return to Kentucky, declaring for the NBA Draft with the intent to hire an agent. Now, following a freshman season marked not only by flashes of excellence, but also by long stretches of inconsistency, Goodwin must prove to NBA front offices that he is worthy of a first round selection and is capable of contributing at the next level in the not-too-distant future.

Goodwin is an excellent NBA prospect from a physical perspective, standing around 6’5 in shoes with a massive 6’10 wingspan and a developing 198-pound frame. Additionally, he is an explosive athlete around the basket, quick in both transition and off-the-dribble. Simply put, Goodwin has the physical profile of an NBA shooting guard with athleticism and length that will allow him to compensate for any height deficiencies at the next level once his frame fills out.

His prospects are less sure when analyzing his performance on the offensive end of the floor. As an 18-year-old freshman, one of the youngest players in college basketball, Goodwin played a significant role for the 21-12 Wildcats, commanding a team high 27.5% (by a wide margin) of Kentucky’s overall possessions and scoring a solid 17.4 points per 40 minutes pace adjusted. Furthermore, he was at his best against Kentucky’s best competition, posting solid scoring numbers in early-season contests against Louisville, Duke, Baylor, and Maryland.

His lack of productivity can, in part, be attributed to a prolonged slump once Kentucky reached conference play, during which he averaged 12.7 ppg and shot just 18% from beyond the arc and 57% from the free throw line, but his inconsistency amidst his significantly better run in November and December suggests that this may be more of an issue than simply hitting the freshman wall. SEC teams undoubtedly figured out how to stop Kentucky and Goodwin struggled badly under the pressure of being the only player on the roster capable of creating their own shot effectively. The scrutiny that comes along with playing at such a large program coming off a national championship may have been more than he was ready to handle at this stage of his career.

Goodwin’s offensive struggles begin with his inefficiency from the perimeter. According to Synergy, he makes just 33% of the 90 overall jump shots he attempted this season, while making just 27% of his three-pointers. While Goodwin started off the season fairly well, making 40% of his 3-point attempts in the non-conference portion of Kentucky’s schedule, he lost his confidence midway through the season and saw his shooting mechanics break down almost entirely, dipping the ball nearly to his knees upon the catch, elevating and releasing the ball from different vantage points, looking extremely off-balance with his footwork, and thus short-arming many of his shot-attempts.

Even though he does not get that much arc on his jumper, Goodwin appeared to be capable of making shots from the perimeter when taking open attempts in rhythm with full confidence. When guarded, he tends to force and rush shots, compromising his rhythm and mechanics in the process. Ultimately, even in his best moments as a shooter, the question still remains as to whether he can make perimeter jump shots from NBA range against bigger and more athletic defenders, something that will play a large role in his ability to be an efficient contributor long-term.

Looking elsewhere, Goodwin already shows significantly more potential, especially operating in transition, isolation and pick-and-roll situations, which comprise the biggest share of his offensive contributions. Though he must continue to develop his ball-handling ability in half-court situations, he already shows a very good first step and the ability to get to the basket at will. Additionally, he makes 54.5% of his shots around the rim and attempts an outstanding 7.9 free throws per 40 pace adjusted, fourth best amongst NCAA shooting guards in our top-100 rankings. He still has room to improve on his ability to finish through traffic, something that could come with added strength, and he will have to show he’s at least a capable shooter for defenders not to completely sag off him in the NBA.

More intriguing is his ability to operate as a shot creator out of the pick-and-roll, primarily in terms of attacking and creating good looks around the basket. Though he never lived up to his billing as a potential combo guard, he did emerge as a solid, albeit limited, distributor as a freshman. Along these lines, his 3.3 assists per 40 minutes pace adjusted and 3.8 turnovers show both the good and the bad.

Goodwin shows excellent potential on the defensive end – guarding three positions at the collegiate level – primarily due to his good lateral quickness and excellent length. Consistency and focus are significant issues for him at times, as they are for many freshman wings, but that he does show the ability to fight through screens and stay involved after he has been beaten speaks well to his prospects. He was, by far, Kentucky’s best perimeter defender as a freshman, and scouts will be evaluating his ability to consistently stay in front of NBA-caliber shooting guards throughout the pre-draft process.

While Goodwin presents quite a few weaknesses to scouts, it’s hard not to be intrigued the potential he brings to the table as an NBA prospect. Between his ability to get his own shot around the basket, his well above average physical profile, and his upside as a defender, Goodwin looks the part and already does a few things that NBA teams value highly in young players. That being said, his extreme youth, average fundamentals, inconsistency, and lack of comfort as a jump shooter will likely prevent him from contributing right away, making him more of a project than some expected him to be coming out of high school. Additionally, NBA scouts will want to do their due diligence surrounding his strange departure from Kentucky.

At the end of the day, however, Goodwin shows a good amount of promise for an 18-year-old freshman. His draft prospects are far from sure at this point, but he has every opportunity to solidify himself as a first round pick with solid showings in pre-draft settings, and could certainly emerge as a steal later on in his career if a team is willing to be patient with his development.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz2TncEWPYr

http://www.draftexpress.com

Lance was the 40th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and though most have Archie going anywhere from 18-Second Round, one thing is certain and that is NBA scouts won’t hesitate to send you to the D-League for development. Just ask Terrence Jones or DeAndre Liggins or Daniel Orton. They spent significant time down there this season.

But in the most important game of the Indiana Pacers season, Lance Stephenson showed just how justified Larry Bird was for drafting him at all. He led the Pacers in scoring with 25 while pulling down 10 rebounds to bounce the Knicks. Though the result was different for their season saving/moving on games, Archie Goodwin put his team on his back against Robert Morris but just didn’t have enough to overcome what seemed like destiny.

So, BBN, there is hope for Archie. Though he led the team in scoring at 14.1 PPG, that’s still short of what anyone expected and when you account for having to play PG when Harrow was out, and not having a great one when Harrow was back, he has some serious upside.

And I can’t wait to see it.

So what say you, BBN? What type of NBA player will Archie Goodwin be? How long will it take him to reach his potential? Who should take the chance?

I’d love to see him in Boston or Memphis. Hell or even Indiana.

Mar 15, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) dunks the ball during the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

Fresh off John Calipari’s presser this morning where he broke down this year’s team, player by player, I find this article by Eammon Brennon in which he details who he believes to be Kentucky’s most important player: Willie Cauley-Stein (WCS).

At first glance, you may scoff at the notion anyone above the class of Frosh could possibly be considered deemed the “most important,” swallow your tongue. He has some valid points and I agree with him on the choice. He plays with in a state of controlled chaos and with such passion that everyone is elevated around him.

WCS has just spent the most un-Wildcat like season in the doldrums of mediocrity, both individually on the court and with the team results. A first round NIT loss to Robert Morris certainly isn’t what he signed up for, and his decision to come back, more so even than Alex Poythress, was critical to our success because we are heavy on the SF and PF positions but moderately light at Center. Sure we have WCS and Dakari Johnson both competing for minutes but as raw as WCS still is, Dakari Johnson is at least that inexperienced. The battles in practice will be monumental and such a great benefit for both, they greatly increase the chances of our post presence being a dungeon that defenders will think three or four times before venturing in to. Now I’m not talking that wretched “twin towers” concept we saw a bit last season, but ferocious, space eating, shot blocking machines that will turn the game on its head.

And I can’t wait to see it, because when Nerlens Noel went down at Florida, Willie Cauley-Stein stepped up in such a way that he was almost a certain First Round pick. He chose to stay. Good for him. Good for us.

This team features five of the top ten in the 2013 class that will almost certainly be a catalyst on both ends of the floor. Freshmen are often fearless, which doesn’t always lea to success but couple their fearlessness with the experience from the horrid 2012-2013 that many returning players experienced, and you have a volatile, yet well balanced machine of destruction. I’m not saying it’ll be 40-0 destruction but 38-2 or 37-3 (at worst) is the likely scenario.

Brennon sees it this way:

The lesson here is something more fundamental about the game itself, and it’s true whether you’re playing in your pickup game or in the NBA: Talent isn’t everything. Championships don’t just happen. Personalities matter. Intelligence matters. Defense matters. Veterans matter.

That’s why, even as Calipari prepares to bring the best recruiting class in college hoops history into the fold, Kentucky can’t merely hope to glide by on glimmering talent. If UK is going to upend the reigning national champs at Louisville and avoid challenges from every corner, the Wildcats will need the scattered returners to step

None will be more important than Willie Cauley-Stein.

With Goodwin and Noel off to the NBA and Ryan Harrow having transferred to Georgia State, Cauley-Stein, Poythress and Wiltjer were the only three candidates for this prestigious position. I was actually torn about this Tuesday night, so I ran an informal poll among Kentucky fans on Twitter. Dozens of replies later, the consensus was overwhelmingly in favor of Cauley-Stein. Some made the case for Poythress, particularly in light of Andrew Wiggins’ decision to play at Kansas (thus preserving Poythress plenty of minutes and possibly a starting spot). Few made the case for Wiltjer, even though I would contend his length and shooting — he finished at 36.7 percent from 3 last season, which isn’t bad for a 6-foot-10 guy — could still be crucial in 2013-14.

But Cauley-Stein’s case really is the most convincing. You won’t find many 7-footers as athletic as Cauley-Stein at any level, full stop, and the big man already demonstrated solid rebounding on both ends of the floor and competent finishing ability around the rim. He ended the season having shot 62.1 percent from the field, which is great pretty much any way you slice it. Despite that output, though, Cauley-Stein couldn’t be relied on to score over a competent defender. According to Synergy scouting data, Cauley-Stein scored 1.55 points per possession when he cut to the rim and 1.05 on offensive rebound putbacks but just .067 points per trip the 75 times he was put in a legitimate post-up opportunity.

This is rawness personified. A little more touch and one or two reliable moves, and there’s no reason an athletic 7-footer can’t score over even the best collegiate post defenders.

But that would be a bonus. After all, Kentucky shouldn’t have much trouble scoring the basketball next season. The Harrison twins (Andrew and Aaron) will be deadly on the perimeter, and power forward Julius Randle — the No. 3-ranked player in the class, behind only Wiggins and Duke’s Jabari Parker — will be the go-to post force. Also, Kentucky has the No. 2 center in the class, Dakari Johnson, whose chief strength is his offensive polish.

No, what Kentucky needs — what has made Calipari such a consistently successful coach in the past decade — is defense. Last season’s Wildcats finished ranked No. 77 in KenPom.com’s adjusted efficiency rankings. That was the first time since the 2004-05 Memphis Tigers that a Calipari-coached defense wasn’t among the 15 stingiest in the country. In five of those years, it ranked in the top 10. This is Calipari’s formula: His offenses are usually excellent, but sometimes they’re merely good. What sets his teams apart is his ability to meld young players into a lockdown defensive group.

Cauley-Stein will be massive in this effort. He blocked a shot on 8.4 percent of his available possessions last season, which is a totally respectable rate on its own and especially impressive given that he was playing on the same team as human block-sponge Noel. Johnson is not known as an elite athlete or defender, beyond his ability to clog the lane. Cauley-Stein, on the other hand, has a chance to be a dominant defensive presence. He could be the prohibitive force that makes interior penetration against Kentucky impossible, the player who lets the rest of the team’s talent press out on shooters, unafraid of either (A) inefficient midrange shots or (B) deep drives. Cauley-Stein can be on that wall. He should be on that wall.

The great luxury of Calipari’s signing five of the best nine players in recent history’s most loaded incoming class is that none of his three returners will be seen as the team’s most important player. That title likely will go to either Aaron or Andrew Harrison, or Randle. Neither Poythress nor Cauley-Stein is guaranteed a starting spot; Wiltjer, veteran of a national title team, is practically guaranteed to come off the bench. And we haven’t even talked about James Young (a 6-foot-6 lefty scorer ranked eighth overall in the class) or Marcus Lee (the best oh-yeah-they-have-that-guy in recruiting history).

Conceivably, UK could start five freshmen — the Harrisons, Young, Randle and Johnson — and still be a legitimate national title threat, if not the favorite. But it is hard to imagine Kentucky approaching its incredibly lofty ceiling if Cauley-Stein isn’t contributing in big ways to that effort. The Wildcats need his size, his shot-blocking, his rebounding. They need the size and strength borne of a full offseason spent in an elite training and conditioning program.

They also need his anger. Few players were more vocal about the frustration of last season, how embarrassing getting walked off in Moon, Pa., really was.

“I feel like something’s empty, and I want to fill it,” Cauley-Stein told the Courier-Journal’s Kyle Tucker in April. Kentucky needs Cauley-Stein to be that guy — the guy who has been through it before, who knows it isn’t easy, that no matter how bad it gets in practice, he has seen worse. On every rotation and every box-out, Kentucky needs someone who feels an emptiness that can be filled only by winning.

In short, Kentucky needs a veteran. Poythress or Wiltjer might be that guy. Maybe all three are. Maybe there’s an MKG in the freshman mix. Someone must embrace the role, tangible or otherwise. Kentucky will be very good the minute it begins the season. Whether it will be great is another matter entirely, one up to Cauley-Stein and, to a lesser extent, Poythress and Wiltjer.

Because that is the real lesson of the past two seasons of Kentucky basketball. Talent is great, but greatness is about so much more than talent. Sometimes we need a reminder, you know?

So BBN, erase the bad taste of the 2012-2013 season but don’t forget it. Willie Cauley-Stein is on a mission this year, Chuck Norris style, and this team will be cutting down the nets for #9 in April.

On, On, U of K!

May 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Memphis Grizzlies Tayshaun Prince (21) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half in game two of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

In what has been an up and down season for many of the former Kentucky Wildcats earning their living in the NBA, several have seen postseason action with their respective teams. Gone, but never forgotten is Jodie Meeks (Lakers), Eric Bledsoe (LA Clippers), Keith Bogans (Brooklyn Nets), and Terrence Jones (Houston Rockets). There are two games slated for tonight in the East and West Semis featuring Marquis Teague and Nazr Mohammed (Chicago) as they tangle with Miami; along with Tayshaun Prince (Memphis) and DeAndre Liggins (Thunder).

Marquis primarily plays in unfavorable foul situations for both Robinson and Hinrich, or when either is injured but Nazr has played his way into more minutes simply because he is busting his ass doing all the little things such as playing tough, hardnosed defense, being an enforcer of sorts like you see in hockey, and scoring here and there. DeAndre is playing primarily in cleanup duty, when the game is out of hand either way. Which brings us to Tayshaun Prince.

Tayshaun was a stalwart of the Detroit Pistons defense prior to his trade midway through this season, and as asinine as it looked on paper to give up the scoring of Rudy Gay, the proof is in the pudding with Tayshaun. With the Grizzlies in this postseason, he’s averaging the second lowest PPG average of his career (7.3) and, as a result, has returned to his once ballyhooed defense.

In game 1 of the series against OKC, Head Coach Lionel Hollins had him guarding Kevin Durant. In that game no one could guard Durant so he lit Prince up to the tune of 35. What killed the Grizz wasn’t Kevin Durant, rather it was Kevin Martin who is filling in as Robin while Russell Westbrook is out. Martin lit the Grizz up for 25 on 8/14 shooting in the Victory. Coach Hollins isn’t an idiot and for games 2 and 3, Tayshaun’s defensive assignment was Kevin Martin. Game Two (2) had Kevin Martin going for 6 points on 2/11 shooting while Game Three (3) had Martin going for 13 but on 6/17. Memphis won both those games despite Durant going for 25 in each.

So, tonight the Heat and Bulls are playing the fourth game of the series as Chicago looks to even it up at two (2) apiece. As tough as the Bulls are and as soft as Miami is, unfortunately it isn’t going to matter much. The fact of the matter is that Chicago doesn’t have LeBron on their team and despite the physicality of the series, the Heat are still in control. I don’t see Chicago winning another game.

Following this Bulls-Heat game is the OKC-Memphis game. This series turned, literally, when Russell Westbrook went down with a torn meniscus in the second game of the First Round series against the Houston Rockets. As great as Kevin Durant is, he needs help on the offensive end and since Tayshaun has, for all intents and purposes, shut down Kevin Martin, Durant can’t carry the full scoring load. And as long as Tayshaun is shutting Kevin Martin down, his value to the Grizz cannot be underestimated regardless of the offensive stat line he does or doesn’t have. Expect the Grizzlies to win again, though it will be close.

Former Kentucky Wildcats 2013 Post Season Stats
Player Team Series GP MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG
Marquis Teague Chicago Bulls Down 2-1 7 8 1.4 0.3 1.3 0.3 0.1
Nazr Mohammed Chicago Bulls Down 2-1 10 10.5 4.2 2.7 0.4 0.2 0.5
DeAndre Liggins OKC Thunder Down 2-1 8 8.5 1 1.8 0.5 0.1 0.1
Tayshaun Prince Memphis Grizzlies Up 2-1 9 33.8 7.3 4.3 2.2 0.7 0.4

Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls @ 7:00 PM EST on TNT
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies @ 9:30 PM EST on TNT

And remember for all Kentucky Wildcats news and rumors, follow @wildcatbluenatn on Twitter!

Hey BBN members, ICYMI yesterday, the #141 rated prospect in 2014 and #6 rated QB, Drew Barker has thrown his chips in with Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats.  He made his announcement yesterday and our own Darren Durham was on scene to capture all the awesomeness.  Barker was deciding between Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina so some have called this “get” a program changer.  Stoops seems to be doing a lot of  that lately.

Andrew Wiggins could make a decision this week “a report says which is hilarious considering the signing period is over May 15th and absolutely no one has any idea what the young man is going to do. Though to give some credence to this sentiment, the Courier-Journal is reporting this based on a conversation with Wiggins’ Mother. Adam Himmelsbach has this to report

Lesley Thomas, whose family has hosted Wiggins in West Virginia for the past two years, said in a phone interview on Monday that the decision has weighed on Wiggins. As the May 15 deadline to sign a national letter of intent approaches, his choice remains unclear. Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina and Florida State are his top four choices, but anything deeper than that is a guess.

Thomas said that when Wiggins returned from a whirlwind tour of high school all-star games and interviews last month, he was exhausted.

“I know for him,” she said, “he’s just ready to get the decision over with.”

Thomas said she still does not know the exact date of Wiggins’ reveal, but there are signs that it could be quite soon. Wiggins told her that his mother, Marita Payne-Wiggins, is planning to come to West Virginia from Canada to support his announcement. Thomas said that would be “sometime in the next week or so.”

“He said, ‘When I declare where I’m going, my mom is going to be there with me,” Thomas said.

If Wiggins decides after May 15, he would just sign scholarship papers rather than a letter of intent.

If his host Mom has anything to say about it, which she doesn’t, she would have him making the worst decision of his life.

Andrew Wiggins’s host mother would like to see him play for the defending champs.

“If it was my choice, I’d say he should go to Louisville,” Lesley Thomas, who has been Wiggins’ host mom in West Virginia since he enrolled at Huntington Prep, told the Courier-Journal. “Yes, I would have, because I love Coach Pitino’s program.”

Louisville already figures to be in the mix for a third straight Final Four appearance with the return of Russ Smith to a group that includes Luke Hancock, Wayne Blackshear, Chane Behanan, Montrezl Harrell and an incoming recruiting class headlined by junior college point guard Chris Jones, the National Junior College Player of the Year. Can you imagine if Wiggins joined the party, too?

Thomas hosted Louisville center Gorgui Dieng when he lived in Huntington. Dieng is now headed to the NBA Draft.

“I know Gorgui had a lot of mixed emotions leaving Louisville,” Thomas said. “Everyone there has been so good to him. It’s like a second home.”

It likely won’t happen with Wiggins as he is expected to pick between Kentucky, Florida State, Kansas and North Carolina.

He could announce by Wednesday, the end of the NCAA late signing period, although Huntington coach Rob Fulford said Friday no plans have been made for an announcement.

To be clear, I am more than ready for Wiggins to decide simply because I am tired of hearing all the media sources declaring him to be leaning here or there because the fact remains that no one, outside of Andrew himself, has any idea what he’s thinking. Nevertheless, if Mike Courcy is right, and he usually is, this kid is worth the wait.

OK, it’s true that each of those players was a big-deal recruit at the time. And, in fact, each became a capable college player. Patterson was one of the top scorers on John Calipari’s first Kentucky team, which won 35 games and dual Southeastern Conference championships. Villanueva won a championship ring with Connecticut as a freshman reserve in 2004 and helped the Huskies to a Big East co-championship the following season. Henry’s only college team became the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed. All three of them became top-20 NBA draft picks.

With Wiggins, however, we are talking about someone truly extraordinary.

On the day Wiggins steps on an NBA court, and that’ll happen sooner rather than later, he’ll become one of the greatest athletes ever to play in the league. We’re talking about the very stratosphere of athletic gifts, where Dominique Wilkins, Russell Westbrook, Julius Erving and, yes, that Jordan guy reside.

his is why the Wiggins recruitment is such an affair. He has yet to make a decision, and the truth is he has the juice to wait as long as he wants to make up his mind, perhaps past the close of the spring signing period in late May, perhaps until the start of summer classes at the university he ultimately chooses—perhaps even until the fall, if he’d prefer to train at home for a while.

None of the coaches involved can talk about this—not Calipari, not North Carolina’s Roy Williams, not Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton or Kansas’ Bill Self—but each of them knows: Wiggins can do things on the basketball court that ordinary great players cannot.

It’s the speed of the first step, which launches as though he is trying to beat Tyson Gay out of the blocks. It’s the suddenness of the elevation, released as though he is trying to beat Tyson Chandler to the top of the block.
Andrew Wiggins has Jordan-like talent. (AP Photo)

It is extraordinarily difficult to measure any of this. There is no statistical gauge. His vertical leap can be measured and has been recorded at 44 inches, which does not approach the 52 inches once recorded by former Harlem Globetrotter Michael Wilson. No matter. Wilson could get higher, but did not generate the spectacular force of a flying Wiggins, who is 6-foot-8 and 205 pounds.

Wiggins has developed a full, well-rounded game while so many have focused on his dunks and blocks. He plays well in the low post and should dominate the unfortunate 6-4ish wings who’ll often be assigned to defend him in college. He is a developing 3-point shooter whose economical motion and obvious touch suggest he is capable of flirting with the 40-percent mark from deep. He’ll rebound at the defensive end and jet off on fast breaks. He’ll attack the offensive glass because he understands what a source of baskets that can be.

It’s possible Duke-bound Jabari Parker is a more complete, skilled player. It’s beyond question that Kentucky-bound Julius Randle is a more powerful figure who’ll be a load for any college program to stop.

Wiggins ultimately will be the greatest player from this great class, however. It’s been six years since we saw college basketball invaded by such a talented group, when Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Mike Beasley, Blake Griffin and O.J. Mayo entered college. It’s been even longer since we saw a prospect with the package of size, skill athleticism that Wiggins will take to some fortunate campus. Eventually.

With all this reporting on Andrew Wiggins, I couldn’t help but harken back to last night’s Bulls-Heat NBA playoff game where Nazr Mohammed showed us what playoff basketball is about. Nazr is around 40 years old and he punked LeBron James. Now admittedly I am no LeBron fan but this was hilarious. The only part I hate about this is…nothing. Absolutely nothing. It would have been nice had it ended with LeBron’s technical foul but I’ll take the “old lion” making a statement.

Nazr Muhammad is an aggressive blood thirsty old lion, assaulting David Stern’s prized headband mascot with reckless abandon!

— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) May 11, 2013

May 21, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; The NBA playoff logo lies on the floor of game five between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Since John Calipari’s arrival on UK’s campus, the NBA Draft has been must-see TV. He’s put 21 players in thus far with seven (7) being lottery picks with six (6) of them being of the “one and done” variety. With 2013 NBA Draft fast approaching (June 27), I’ve grown tired of the parity that comes with being a high draft pick; a lottery pick, if you will.

For those who do not know, the Lottery is composed of the fourteen (14) worst teams in the NBA who, via a lottery pick not unlike what is done in state lotteries, are fighting for the chance to select a draft pick from among the best college players. Coincidentally this practice is very similar to the format of the NCAA Tournament where the #1 seeds play the #16 seeds, #2-#15, and so on. So in both cases, the relationship is like this: as with the NCAA Tournament, the worst teams play the best teams and with the NBA Draft Lottery, the worst teams draft the best players. Guess who loses in that scenario? Yep, you guessed it…the players. It’s always the players.

Ignore the fact that these underachieving NBA teams are turning teenagers into instant millionaires; any system that rewards the worst with the best is flawed on a fundamental level. Make no mistake, the NBA is a money driven, revenue chasing business that cares only about their bottom line, and while I understand that, doing that at the expense, often times, of top tier talent is hardly successful.

There’s a reason why teams are terrible and seldom is because of the players, rather you typically need to look no further than the coaching staff and/or ownership.

A few members of the media comment, and in the case of Charles Barkley, lament that these players are coming out too early based on their physical and mental maturity in that neither are developed enough to succeed in the NBA. He has taken aim more at the 2013 Draft than any other as far as Kentucky is concerned. And as much as I hate to say it, he has some validity to that point. Of the two “one and done” entrants from Kentucky, Nerlens Noel absolutely belongs. Archie Goodwin doesn’t.

It’s unreasonable to expect a teen, no matter how good they were in High School or College, to carry a franchise as a Rookie so allowing the worst teams to draft the best players in order to turn your franchise around in a pipe dream.

But since the draft is around the corner, I decided to compare the “one and done” former Kentucky Wildcats who declared early and were drafted in the NBA lottery, to see how they and their team fared in the inherently one sided deal that is rewarding bad franchise with top talent.
College Statistics:

2009-2010 Player PPG RPG APG SPG BPG Record
John Wall 16.6 4.3 6.5 1.8 0.5 35-3
DeMarcus Cousins 15.1 9.8 1 1 0.9 35-3
2010-2011 Brandon Knight 17.3 4 4.2 0.7 0.2 29-9
2011-2012 Anthony Davis 14.2 10.4 1.3 1.3 4.7 38-2
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 11.9 7.4 1.9 1 0.9 38-2

NBA Rookie Season:

2010-2011 Player Pick Team Record PPG RPG APG SPG BPG
John Wall #1 Washington Wizards 26-56 (23-59) 16.4 4.6 8.3 1.8 0.5
DeMarcus Cousins #5 Sacramento Kings 25-57 (24-58) 14.1 8.6 2.5 1 0.8
2011-2012 Brandon Knight #8 Detroit Pistons 30-52 (25-41) 12.8 3.3 4 0.8 0.1
2012-2013 Anthony Davis #1 New Orleans Hornets 21-45 (25-55) 13.5 8.2 1 1.2 1.8
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #2 Charlotte Bobcats 7-59 (21-61) 9 5.8 1.5 0.7 0.9

As you can see, the immediate impact on the records of the teams is negligible at best. Only two (Davis and MKG) showed any improvement, with the rest losing at least one additional game from the prior season. Still though, even with the 14 game win improvement for the Charlotte Bobcats, they still only won 21 games during MKG’s rookie season.
But never mind the win totals of any of the former Wildcats during their rookie NBA seasons, the mental impact that comes with having to endure 40+ loss seasons is brutal to their psyche and during this stage in their adjustment to and development in the NBA, what’s primarily accomplished is that the owners are putting asses in seats.
The greedy monster is getting fed and these teenage rookies are the main course.
So of course the owners are happy, though they’d never say that publicly but player development always takes a backseat to the almighty dollar in the NBA.
This year we have two Wildcats who should hear their names called in the June 27th NBA Draft but only one, Nerlens Noel, is projected among the Top 3 picks. During his injury shortened freshman season at Kentucky, he sealed his fate for the Lottery.

Player PPG RPG APG SPG BPG Record
Nerlens Noel 10.5 9.5 1.6 2.1 4.4 21-12

And in case you are wondering, the 2013 NBA Lottery order looks like this:

The NBA draft lottery order has been finalized, with four ties being broken Friday in a drawing by the league in New York City. The draft lottery will be held on May 21, and the draft itself will be held on June 27. Here are the results of the drawings:
* Detroit (29-53) won a tiebreaker with Washington.
* Philadelphia (34-48) won a tiebreaker with Toronto.
* Houston (45-37) won a tiebreaker with Chicago and the L.A. Lakers; the Lakers then won a tie-breaker with Chicago.
* L.A. Clippers (56-26) won a tiebreaker with Memphis.

Only the top three picks will be selected through the draft lottery, with the remainder being selected based on the final record of the non-lottery teams. The Orlando Magic are at the top of the lottery board with a 250 out of 1000 chance to land the first pick, followed by the Charlotte Bobcats (199), Cleveland Cavaliers (156), and Phoenix Suns (119). The full draft order, and lottery chances are as follows:

Lottery
Orlando Magic (250) 20-62
Charlotte Bobcats (199) 21-61
Cleveland Cavaliers (156) 24-58
Phoenix Suns (119) 25-57
New Orleans Pelicans (88) 27-55
Sacramento Kings (63) 28-54
Detroit Pistons (36) 29-53
Washington Wizards (35) 29-53
Minnesota Timberwolves (17) 31-51
Portland Trail Blazers (11) 33-49
Philadelphia 76ers (8) 34-48
Toronto Raptors (7) 34-48
Dallas Mavericks (6) 41-41
Utah Jazz (5) 43-39

So, barring a statistical anomaly that would allow either Dallas or Utah to steal the #1 Overall pick, our beloved Nerlens Noel could be a member of the one of the three (3) worst teams in the NBA.
That’s some reward for being the best player in college basketball, right? Again, I’m aware he’ll make millions but it doesn’t set well with me. The kids who excel should be given an opportunity to develop a reasonable pace and not start their NBA career in the fire. At least let them get in the frying pan for a season.

Will the format ever change? I doubt it.

If the format changed what could it look like?  How about giving each team the same number balls in the hopper and let the selections fall where they may.

Does that mean that the NBA Champion team could end up with the #1 Overall pick?  It sure does but that’s a chance worth taking.

Is that the worst circumstance for the player?  On the contrary, it’s the best possible scenario for the player.

The rich may get richer, like Nick Saban does with EVERY recruiting class at Alabama, but the benefit to the player and franchise will be felt for years to come.

As it is, the top players will never find themselves in a position to learn the NBA game before having to shoulder the load for their team.

Perhaps staying in school for another year wouldn’t have hurt some of the “one and done” players but they’re adults making adult decisions who are being guided by adults who care nothing about their best interest.

It’s time for a change.

What say you, Big Blue Nation?  Are you tired of seeing the best of the Blue and White going to garbage teams?  Is it time to protect the players more than the bottom line?

How would you do it?!

For all the latest news and updates on EVERYTHING UK, follow @wildcatbluenatn !!

May 5, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Tayshaun Prince (21) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half in game one of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder defeated the Grizzlies 93-91. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder: 93

DeAndre Liggins (SG)-Oklahoma City Thunder
Tayshaun Prince (PF)-Memphis Grizzlies

Liggins and Prince’s team squared off in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals yesterday afternoon and it lived up to all the hype. It was back and forth the entire game with big players hitting big shots through out. Noticeable absent was Russell Westbrook, the shoot first PG who was lost due to a torn meniscus in the Houston series but Kevin Durant stepped up his game, as did Kevin Martin. Despite Tayshaun’s stingy defensive ability, he couldn’t stop Durant from scoring 35. However, Tayshaun did have a decently average game for the Grizzlies. He finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Though he did miss two Technical FT’s when Nick Collison was given a Flagrant 1 for a hard foul. While Tayshaun played 35 minutes for the Grizzlies, DeAndre Liggins started the 2nd Quarter and played only 4 minutes, missing his only shot and committing a foul. I don’t he expected to play much but considering he even made the playoff roster is a testament to his potential.

Game 2 is May 7th @ 9:30 on TNT.

Be sure to follow the Wildcat Blue Nation Twitter account @Wildcatbluenatn for all the latest in current and former Kentucky Wildcats news and updates!

Jan 15, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Nerlens Noel (3) reacts after hitting a shot during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Tennessee 75-65. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

With the NBA Draft still months away, June 27th to be precise, the odds on favorites to be awarded the #1 Overall Pick via the Lottery would be willing to trade it or for it. Kentucky’s own Nerlens Noel is still considered the #1 pick despite still rehabbing a torn ACL but neither the Orlando Magic or the New Orleans Hornets need him. Yes it would be pretty cool to have Noel and Davis playing together but it’s not a likely scenario.  Here’s what Adam Zagoria posted:

The Orlando Magic and New Orleans Hornets would both strongly consider trading the rights to the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, according to SheridanHoops.com.

“Sources around the NBA have told SheridanHoops that if the Orlando Magic or New Orleans Hornets win the lottery, they both would be strongly inclined to trade the pick to whichever fellow lottery team wants to pay the most for the right to draft Nerlens Noel.

“The caveat for Orlando is that it does not want to lose out on Ben McLemore of Kansas, whom it covets the most, or Trey Burke/Victor Oladipo as a fallback. And it’s not that the Magic don’t like Noel. Rather, they don’t need him, already in possession of a top-tier NBA center on a rookie contract in two-year veteran Nikola Vucevic. Same with the Hornets and Anthony Davis.

“The 2013 NBA draft lacks elite prospects of years past such as Davis, Kyrie Irving or Blake Griffin, clear top picks regardless of who won the lottery. This year, Noel is the player atop the majority of draft boards but not quite on the same level as those other sure things.”
Mathematically, the Magic have the best chance — 25 percent — of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the June 27 NBA Draft. The Draft lottery is May 21.

According to the SheridanHoops Mock Draft, the Magic will take McLemore with the No. 1 overall pick, with the Charlotte Bobcats taking Noel at No. 2.

And speaking of Noel, take a gander at his 2013 NBA Draft Souting Video

 

In an all too familiar tale, former Kentucky Wildcat phenom Dwight Anderson sat down with Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald Leader for an interview that will blow your mind. Often I wonder how someone with any world at their fingertips can squander the opportunity but Dwight, dubbed the “Andrew Wiggins of 1978″ did just that.

Like a shooting star flashing through the night sky. Dwight Anderson shone brightly and briefly as a University of Kentucky player. And then he was gone.”The Blur,” as he was known, is a fitting epitaph as well as nickname.A UK star for less than two seasons (plenty long enough to tantalize fans with possibilities), Anderson came to Lexington Thursday hoping to make a more lasting impression. Now sober for four years and five months, he wants to be a cautionary tale. He and a publicist, personal assistant and business advisor are marketing Dwight Anderson’s life story.”Even the bad side,” he said. “The 25 years of using chemicals.”Anderson’s chemicals of choice were cocaine and cognac, an alliteration that led to near obliteration.”Brought me down 100 percent,” he said of an athletic arc that went from the nation’s No. 1 high school prospect to cameo NBA career. “I didn’t want to play. I wanted to get a paycheck and go to the party.”

A Second Round draft pick of the Washington Bullets in 1982, he never saw the court for them.

What came next made playing for the Dayton Wings seem exhilarating. Anderson became homeless. He hustled for drug money in pickup games (he noted a $1,000 payoff winning a one-on-one game). He got good at “casing” — the word he used — when fast-food restaurants took out the garbage, and so learned the times to get the best scraps.

It is popularly believed that Anderson’s descent began at UK, where he averaged 13.3 points as a star freshman in 1978-79. By Christmas of 1979, he had transferred to Southern California. When asked about the drug use while playing for the Wildcats, he said, “None. None.”I want to clear something up with that myth. I didn’t start using drugs till I went to California.”Anderson denied the accepted story that his departure from UK resulted from getting caught using drugs with then-teammates Sam Bowie and Dirk Minniefield. Not true, he said. He was home in Dayton at the time.”The only reason I left Kentucky, and this is straight from my heart, was (assistant coach) Leonard Hamilton and (head coach) Joe B. Hall didn’t see eye to eye,” he said. “And Hamilton asked me to leave. And I left.”Hamilton chose Southern California as his new team, Anderson said.Anderson said he still doesn’t know why Hamilton asked him to leave. He added that he intended to ask Hall that question Friday morning when he goes on the former coach’s radio show.Ironically, Minniefield, a recovering addict as well as a former UK teammate, helped Anderson stop using drugs. Minniefield was one of the counselors who worked with Anderson at the Lucas facility. Another former high school star of the same era, Isiah Thomas, helped pay for the treatment, Anderson said.”Basically, I found out what really was my problem,” he said. “If you know anything about this, I am my biggest problem, especially when it’s concerning drugs. I know I cannot do it.”

(more…)

May 1, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard DeAndre Liggins (25) attempts a shot against Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (12) during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Rockets defeated the Thunder 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Rockets-107 Oklahoma City Thunder-100

Terrence Jones, PF-Houston Rockets
DeAndre Liggins, SF-Oklahoma City Thunder

Last night featured former teammates Terrence Jones of the Houston Rockets and DeAndre Liggins of the Oklahoma City Thunder. In what was supposed to be a white wash of a series for the Thunder, everything changed after Russell Westbrook went down in Game Two with a torn meniscus after a steal attempt by Patrick Beverly. As a result of the injury, others had to step up and one of them was DeAndre Liggins. Having played in the D-League sporadically for much of the season, Liggins has been called on for his tough defense, ala Tayshaun Prince in 2003 with the Pistons. The following year Tayshaun would be an instrumental part of the Detroit’s NBA Title. Liggins is looking to be that guy.

During the game, Chris Webber had this to say about Liggins defense:

“I’m so impressed with Liggins’ defense off the ball. He is denying, getting screened, running into bodies.” — Chris Webber on TNT.

— ExCats (@ExCats) May 2, 2013

Terrence Jones didn’t see any action while DeAndre Liggins finished with 2 points, 2 rebounds, an assist and a block in 18 minutes on the floor.

Game 6 is Friday May 3rd @ 9:30 PM on ESPN.

Mar 9, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts to a call during the game against the Florida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Florida 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

If you’ve read or heard virtually anything come out of John Calipari’s mouth or fingers, you can guarantee there are multiple messages being sent to and received multiple people.  He has always been known as the “one and done” coach because he recruits, and often lands, the highest profile recruits available yet the rule that makes kids attend only one year of college is an NBA rule so his hands are tied.   Nevertheless, occasionally he has inherited players who don’t have a future in professional basketball anywhere so he took a moment yesterday to take aim at all the senseless idiots who sling rhetoric around like Peyton Siva texts hookers.  From coachcal.com: