Kentucky Wildcats will not travel to Tennessee Volunteers for basketball for first time since 1952-53
By Paul Jordan
Jan 15, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Cuonzo Martin takes with Tennessee Volunteers forward Jarnell Stokes (5), forward Kenny Hall (20), guard Skylar McBee (13) and guard Jordan McRae (52) during a time out in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Tennessee 75-65. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
We all knew that this years SEC Basketball schedule would be different due to the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M. Last years schedule was hastily put together but we knew that new and possibly changes would be made concerning UK and their “traditional rivals”. And I have to say that I am completely not OK with the changes that are leaking out.
"Tennessee won’t have a home game against Kentucky for the first time in over six decades. Although the Southeastern Conference hasn’t released its complete 2013-14 schedule, Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin confirmed Tuesday that the Volunteers would face Kentucky only once and that it would be at Rupp Arena. Tennessee’s 247 Sports site earlier reported the news. This will mark the first time since 1952-53 that Kentucky hasn’t played a regular-season game at Tennessee. The two former SEC Eastern Division rivals aren’t guaranteed to play each other twice every season anymore because the conference no longer is divided into two divisions for basketball. Kentucky was one of the five conference opponents Tennessee played twice last season, but that won’t be the case this year."
I really don’t like where this is going and if UK had to sacrifice one of their border schools, you would think that Vanderbilt would make more sense to ax rather than the Vols. But it’s all in the name of progress, right? I guess …
March 2, 2013; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts to a play during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas defeated Kentucky 73-60. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
John Calipari seems to feel pretty confident that he will land one of the point guards he has already offered as it appears that Josh Perkins will not get an offer. Time is running out as Perkins will make his announcement in less than two weeks.
"John Calipari reached out to the Class of 2014 prospect earlier this summer and the UK coach and his assistants have had several conversations with Perkins and his father over the past few weeks. The player’s father told the Herald-Leader on Tuesday night that UK is still in contact, but there hasn’t been a offer. “They’re in touch,” said Randy Perkins. “It’s kind of died down a little bit. It’s not as intense as it was before.” Time is running out if Kentucky wants to land the 6-foot-3 recruit from Aurora, Colo. His announcement date was previously supposed to be August 25, which is also his birthday. But Randy Perkins said Tuesday that the announcement will actually come on August 24."
And that last-minute offer to Perkins seems even more unlikely now that 2014 PG Tyler Ulis will take an unofficial visit to Lexington this weekend. That, combined with the fact that Tyus Jones and Emmanuel Mudiay are taking officials to UK pretty much eliminates an offer for Perkins. The visits are stacking up however, and Big Blue Madness looks to once again, be a star-studded event. Here is a complete list of the official visits thus far.