Former top 30 recruit Stacey Poole has decided to transfer from Kentucky to Georgia Tech. Poole transferring to Georgia Tech could help Tech get his younge brother, Soloman. A 5 star point guard.

Andy Katz does not see a team other than Kentucky winning the SEC title.

Shabazz Muhammad had 33 points an 11 rebounds in a win on Friday. UK is very high on his list.

UK recruit Derrick Willis recorded a triple-double in his high school teams game Friday night.

There might have been a little extra motivation for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in yesterdays game. His mother Cindy was the stands watching him play.

“With legs the size of tree trunks and a shooting touch most guards would die for,” Josh Harrelson filled in nicely last night for the Knicks. Scoring 14 points and ripping down 11 rebounds. 12 of his 14 points came from the 3 point line.

Class of 2013 five star point guard Kasey Hill has committed to Florida.

“NO. 4 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (12-1) AT NO. 3 KENTUCKY WILDCATS (12-1)

Game Time: 12:05 p.m.
Location: Rupp Arena: Lexington, Ky.
Television: CBS
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Clark Kellogg (color analyst).
Officials: Tony Greene, Jamie Luckie, Michael Stephens.
Favorite: Kentucky by 10
Last Meeting: Kentucky won 78-63 in Louisville on 12/31/10.
Probable Startling Lineups

STATISTICS

QUOTABLE

“I’m going to have a lot of fun with Louisville.” –Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
“This game is going down in history as one of the best games ever.” –Chane Behanan
“I think Kentucky is the better basketball team right now. Running up and down and trying to outscore Kentucky would be a futile attempt to try to get a ‘W’.” –Rick Pitino
“We don’t send Christmas cards, but we’re cordial to each other. I went up to him, talked to him, told him he’s doing a fabulous job with his team, the way they’re playing, blah, blah, blah. And he said, ‘Your team’s really good and dah, dah, dah.’ OK?” –John Calipari
“It’s (Rupp Arena) a very hard place to play. I’ll just leave it at that.” –Kyle Kuric
“(Pitino) said ‘I hope we beat you’ and I said ‘I hope we beat you’ and I went and got a Diet Coke. That was about it. I don’t know what to tell you.” –John Calipari
“It would have been nice to give them their first loss, but it would be nice to give them their second one too.” –Doron Lamb
“When I moved to Kentucky, I got the feel for it and understanding of it (the rivalry). It’s serious, real serious.” –Chane Behanan
“I haven’t bought a ticket to a game in a long, long time, but I would pay to go to this game. You can’t draw a rivalry like this up any better.” –Tim Welsh
“We know they are a very physical team. They play with a lot of intensity and we’ve got to match that. We’ve got to make them try to match our intensity and how tough we play.” –Darius Miller
“It’s a big game for our fans, but it’s a regular game for us really, and we’re going to go out there and try to win. They just want us to win so bad. They’re always talking about it. They’ve been talking about this game since the beginning of the season.” –Doron Lamb
“I love to go against good point guards. It’s just something that’s always there. Kentucky is a great school. They have great players and they’re definitely the most talented team in the nation. We’ve just got to come in there and play team ball and continue to execute.” –Peyton Siva
“Every guy on their team is a pro.” –Chris Smith
“Similarities? We’ve both taken three teams to the Final Four, we both got fired in the NBA and we’re Italians with big noses. I respect what he’s done, respect the program, respect the city and the school.” –John Calipari
“Four things I’ve learned in my 59 years about people. I ignore the jealous, I ignore the malicious, I ignore the ignorant and I ignore the paranoid.” –Rick Pitino
“There’s no other state, none, that’s as connected to their basketball program as this one. Because those other states have other programs. Michigan has Michigan State, California has UCLA, North Carolina has Duke. It’s Kentucky throughout this whole state, and that’s what makes us unique.” –John Calipari
NOTABLE

–Kentucky currently owns the nation’s longest winning streak at 43. The Wildcats have not lost at Rupp Arena under head coach John Calipari.
–This is the first time Louisville and Kentucky have ever met with each boasting a top five national ranking.
–UK is 58-1 under John Calipari when holding an opponent to 67 points or fewer.
–Over its first 13 games of the season, Louisville has produced 15 runs of 8-0 or better. The Cards forced their opponents into 28 scoring droughts of three minutes or more.
–Kentucky leads the country with 9.4 blocks per game.
–Louisville has played a game on New Year’s Eve on nine previous occasions, compiling a 3-6 record in those contests.
–This is the 30th meeting between the teams met in the 1983 NCAA Tournament, prompting the renewal of the annual series. Kentucky leads the series 19-11 over that span.
–Rick Pitino is 11-6 all-time against John Calipari.
–Louisville is 5-15 all-time against Kentucky in games played in Lexington.”"

Doron Lamb understands the huge rivalry between UK an UL, he played against them last year, but he is taking a laid back approach to the game today.

UK recruit Shabazz Muhammad broke his schools all-time points record, previously held by current Chicago Bulls PG CJ Watson.

UK signee Alex Poythress scored 46 points, had 18 rebounds and had 7 blocks in his game

Well the midterm exams have been taken.  The work has been assessed. It is time to give out the grades. Every player gets a letter grade and a coinciding number grade. Also the team as a whole will be graded on several aspects.

Doron Lamb  A+  98

Lamb has been more than what people expected him to be this year. He is this teams leading scorer thus far. Doron is shooting 50% from the 3-point line, that is crazy good folks. Doron Lamb would get a 100 from me, but I would like him to be more of a leader on the court.

________________________

Anthony Davis  A-  94

With Davis standing at 6-11, you would expect him to be a good shot blocker, well I’m sorry Anthony Davis is not a good shot blocker. Anthony Davis is an excellent shot blocker. After just 12 games, he has over 50 blocks(4.3pg). He is on track to come close to last years shot blocking king William Mosley 156(4.87pg). Davis gets a 93 because he needs to be more of a dominating force down low on the offensive end. Learn post moves, get a hook shot or even pass better.

________________________

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist  B+  93

When it comes to defense Kidd-Gilchrist is phenomenal. He is one of, if not the best, defenders in college basketball. His motor is unbelievable; he gives his all on every single play. He is bringing down 7 rebounds a game. He only gets a 93 because he needs to be a more reliable 3-point shooter. Also with the type of player he is, he will get fouled a lot, he needs to be a better free-throw shooter. Currently he only shoots 77% from the charity strike.

________________________

Terrence Jones  B-  88

Terrence is bigger, stronger and has more swagger.  BUT where do you wander off to when the big games are to be played? Where were you the North Carolina game? Indiana game? Are you going to show up for the Louisville game? I hope so. Terrence Jones is an All-American, IF… He starts being a dominating factor for this team when they need it. If you haven’t wondered, that is why he gets an 88.

________________________

Darius Miller  B-  88

Well,  except for that dunk against St Johns, Miller is the same old player he has always been, good but not as good as good as he could be. And for that he gets a middle of the road grade to match his performance on the court.

________________________

Kyle Wiltjer  B-  86

The awkward play that Kyle had in high school, has definitely found it’s way in college in Lexington. Although he is in the rotation he only sees the floor 16 minutes a game, he is productive most of the time he is in the game. Averaging 7 points in 16 minutes. He also shoots a cool 82% from the free-throw line. He needs to take the wide open 3′s that he so often passes up.

________________________

Marquis Teague  C  80

Ahhhh Marquis Teague, you sir are electric. But that was in high school. You have yet to do what this team needs you to be, and that’s an assist monster. You are only averaging 4.5 assists a game… Really dude? 4.5? Goodness Davis almost averages more blocks than you, and thats tougher to do. so you need to step it up. On flip side, you are just like every PG Calipari has had, you are teachable. So, around February I think you’ll be one of the top 3 PG’s in America.

P.S. – Sllllooooow down

 ________________________

 Now on to the teams assessment as a whole:

Offense: A- 94
Defense: A  95

3-point shooting: B+  92
3-point defense:  C    83

Post Off: B  80
Post Def: A  95

Free-Throw Shooting: C+ 86

________________________

As you can see people were graded fairly and nothing was sugar-coated.  Overall the players and the team are all way above passing grades, and that is why they are the #3 team in the country.

A couple of sources say Khem Birch might be talked out of leaving Pitt, once he returns home.

UK commit Archie Goodwin had 13 points Friday night in a game.

In the latest bracketology for ESPN, they Have Kentucky as the third overall #1 seed with teams like Louisville, Kansas and Michagan State.

ABOUT KENTUCKY
8th meeting…6th in Lexington…series began during 1920-21 season…UK leads 7-0.
Last meeting was on Dec. 5, 2006 in Freedom Hall in Louisville, a 79-63 UK win.
The 3rd-ranked Wildcats are 8-1 on the year winning, on average, by 22.4 points per game.
Doron Lamb leads the team with a 14.9 points-per-game scoring average…five Wildcats average in double digits.
Anthony Davis is posting 11.6 points and a team-best 9.1 rebounds per game…UK owns a +6.7 rebound margin.
The Mocs last win over an SEC program was in Shulman’s first season, a 69-68 triumph over Tennessee on Dec. 5, 2004.
OPENING TIPS

Saturday is the final contest in a four-in-five-game stretch away from the friendly confines of McKenzie Arena. The Mocs end the pre-holiday schedule at home Wednesday, Dec. 21, hosting nearby Hiwassee at Noon.
Chattanooga finished classes on Friday, December 9. Spring semester classes begin on Monday, January 9. Senior Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.) graduates Saturday and then will hop in a car for the trip to Lexington.
UTC is 1,172-946 in its 91st season. The Mocs moved to DI in 1977-78 after the 1977 DII National Championship. In the DI era, Chattanooga is 644-397, 347-192 in the SoCon. The program has posted 27 winning ledgers in 34 DI seasons with 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament. For more on the Mocs’ history, see the info in the shaded area to the left.
The Mocs lead the SoCon in assists (15.9) and steals (8.5/gm). Senior captain Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.) leads the league in assists at 7.1 per contest ranking eighth nationally (as of 12/14), while junior captain Dontay Hampton (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is tied for third individually at 1.7 steals per game. Senior Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.) is the conference leader in three-pointers made per game (2.8). For UTC team ranking and SoCon leaders see page five. Individual ranks are in the player notes on page four.
UTC has out-rebounded one DI opponent in 2011-12…Indiana by nine in the season opener. The Mocs are 94-46 all-time under Shulman when winning the battle on the glass.
The Mocs are shooting 45.0 percent (148-329) inside the 3pt arc this season after making 17 of 26 (65.4%) against Spalding Tuesday night.
TRENDING

UTC shot 38.1% (33% 3pt) in its 1st 5 games, 44.9% (40.8% 3pt) over last 5.
Over last 5, Ricky Taylor’s averaging 14.6 ppg & 4.6 rpg shooting 46.8% FG, 50.0% 3pt & 94.7% FT.
Hampton is making the most of his playing time. He’s averaging 20.2 pts per 40 min played over last 5.
Keegan Bell has had 5 or more assists in all 10 games this season with 8 or more 4 times.
Mocs have limited 5 opponents to less than 40% shooting from the floor. School record is 15 (2004-05).
PLAYER NOTES
Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.)

Leads the SoCon in assists at 7.1 per game while ranking eighth nationally.
2nd in SoCon in assist/turnover ratio (2.1).
Was on the 2011 Bob Cousy Award Watch List and made All-SoCon 2nd Team (Media).
His 412 career assists is 3rd all-time at UTC…needs three to break the record of 414 held by Tim Brooks (1992-93) and Wes Moore (1996-99).
10th all-time in 3pt FG Made with 126…two behind John Oliver (1994-96) with 128 in ninth…Ricky Taylor is eighth with 129.
6th in career 3pt FG Attempted with 408…Tim Parker (2000-03) is fifth with 418.
643 career points (735 including Vanderbilt numbers – 507 assists combined).
Eight career 20-point games…28 games with double digit scoring numbers…has led the team in scoring twice this season, 10 times in his career.
47 career five-plus assist games including all 10 this season.
Made four or more threes 15 times in two-plus seasons.
Chris Early (Huntington, W.Va.)

Topped 500 points for his career in the win over Savannah State…544 total.
386 career rebounds…looking to become 10th UTC player in DI era with 500.
SoCon Ranks: 5th in 3pt% (45.8), 13th in rebounding (6.0) and 8th in defensive boards (4.7).
Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.)

42 points shy of 1,000 for his career with 958…would be the 18th UTC student-athlete in the DI era (1977-78) to accomplish the milestone…currently 20th all-time in scoring, 12 shy of Brooks in 19th with 970 and 36 behind James Hunter (1984-87) in 18th with 994.
SoCon Ranks: T16th in scoring (12.2), 4th in FT% (85.7), 4th in 3pt% (46.2) and T15th in 3pt made/game (1.8).
Ranks 23rd all-time at UTC in FGM with 320, seven behind Brooks in 22nd with 327…18th in FGA with 775, three shy of Daren Chandler (1989-90) in 17th with 778 and 20 short of Johnny Taylor (1996-97) in 16th with 795.
8th all-time in 3pt FG Made at 129 which is 20 away from Isaac Conner (1996-99) in seventh with 149…9th in 3pt FGA (365), trailing Long (380) in eighth and Bell (408) in seventh.
Led the Mocs in each of the last two seasons in free throws made (151 total) and leads this year with 30 thus far…tied for 21st all-time with Maurice Head (1984-87) with 189….Keith Parker (1978-80) is 20th with 194.
Is 23rd in career FT% (75.6), but is 11th among those who have shot 200 or more.
53 double-digit scoring nights for his career, eight in 2011-12…nine career 20-pt games…led team in scoring four times this season, 21 times in career.
Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.)

SoCon Ranks: Leads in 3pt FG made per game (2.7) and is T16th in scoring (12.2 ppg).
Made his 100th three-pointer against Warren Wilson…tied for 15th in career treys made with Maurio Hanson (1994-95) with 116…Benny Green (1988-89) is 14th with 118 following Casey Long (2004-07) and Chad Copeland (1993-94) in 12th with 119.
Scored his 500th career point against Kennesaw State…now stands at 578 (654 including Georgetown stats).
24 points is season in loss at IU…two 20-pt efforts in 2011-12, nine career…28 career double-digit scoring games, seven in 2011-12.
Drazen Zlovaric (Novi Sad, Serbia)

SoCon Ranks: 9th in rebounding (6.3/gm), T6th on the defensive boards (5.0/gm) and 9th in FG% (50.3).
Game-high 10 boards in 1st collegiate action in more than a year at Indiana after sitting out the 2010-11 season due to transferring from Georgia.
7 or more rebounds in six of 10 games.
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs.  The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ChattanoogaMocs, or on Twitter, www.twitter.com/GoMocs.  Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.

The Cats are a 32 point favorite against the Tennessee Chattanooga Mocs.

Orlando news media outlets say Daniel Orton might see the court much if not at all this season.

Shabazz Muhammad scored 27 points in the City of Palms tournament last night, he may be losing interest in UCLA

Khem Birch was a former UK recruit, who is now leaving Pitt… No official list of schools has been made yet

UNC faces it’s toughest matchup of the season to date on Saturday, with a road game against Kentucky. Put aside the fact that they’re the number one team in the country, or the seventeen tons of history wrapped up in these two teams. Kentucky knocked the Heels out of the tournament last season, in what was a particularly painful loss. Watching the FInal Four a week later, you couldn’t help but think UNC should be there.

Of course, this is not the same team as last March. Brandon Knight, the freshman who led all scorers in that Carolina game, is currently cooling his heels waiting for the NBA to start up. Also gone is Josh Harrellson, the big man who gave John Henson so much trouble, and DeAndre Liggins, the player charged with defending Harrison Barnes with limited success. But John Calipari is great at bringing in new talent to replace the old, and there’s a whole crew of big men set to harass Henson and Zeller tomorrow.
Anthony Davis is this season’s phenomenal freshman, who has already been declared next year’s top pick in the NBA draft by, well, John Calipari. After a three point, six rebound performance. Calipari is obviously not planning on building a dynasty around this kid. Then again, the Penn State game was an aberration; as was last night’s game against St. John’s, where he had 15 points, 15 rebounds and 8 blocks, part of Wildcat-record 18 rejections. Davis’s is the team’s best rebounder, on both ends of the floor.
Davis is teamed with Terrence Jones, who Carolina fans are familiar with. First f. or the way he was completely shut down by John Henson in their first meeting. And then his performance in the second game, where he was better – Henson’s foul trouble helped – but still overshadowed by the performance of his teammates. It’s not that Jones is a bad player. He was the focal point of the offense last season, and although now in a tandem with Davis, is still the team’s leading scorer.
So we should learn something from his play against Carolina. Either UNC has had his number, or freshmen big men have a rougher transition on the college level. If the first is true, Davis is the much bigger threat; if the second, Terrence Jones will have the bigger night. Their toughest competition to date has been Kansas, where Jones and Davis combined for 29 points. The Jayhawk’s frontcourt isn’t their strong point, however.
The core of this Carolina team has played this Kentucky team twice. In the first meeting, UNC dominated the interior game, the second they were ineffectual. If the Wildcats can control the paint to the extent that, say, UNLV did – which was just slightly above a draw – the Tar Heels are probably toast. But the Kentucky win will come the perimeter; more on that in the next post.

There are expected to be more than 20 NBA scouts present for today’s game. There are 7 possible first round draft picks on the floor today.

Confidence from your players, in a big game is always what you want from them. Doron Lamb is showing that confidence for Kebtucky. He says they are better than UNC.

UK recruit Alex Poythress scored 30 points and came down with 13 rebounds in his last game.