Kentucky Wildcats Basketball nabs a #1 preseason ranking
By Paul Jordan
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Not everyone is so confident about the Kentucky Wildcats chances about Damien Harris. Seems some think that he is headed to Ohio State. OK, well take this with a grain of salt. This is from a Ohio State site and it quotes an anonymous Ohio State source who probably still thinks that this is the year that the Buckeyes win the title. Still, it’s out there. Cue the eyeroll.
"Elliott has been outstanding the past few games as Hyde’s main replacement. And according to one of our long-time Ohio State contacts, that will go a long way towards helping the Buckeyes in their bid to land 5-star Class of 2015 running back Damien Harris. “What Elliott has done, Harris has to see that and think he could do that at Ohio State, too,” the source said. “And he also has to see that Urban (Meyer) plays more than one (running) back. And Kentucky football is just not Ohio State. It’s hard for me to believe he picks Kentucky over Ohio State and being like Hyde and Elliott.” We like that way of thinking. EZ on Saturdays. ‘Los on Sundays. Marketing at its finest. That said, Damien’s Crystal Ball is trending blue (not navy blue, don’t worry) …"
Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
I think one sign of the culture change in Lexington is that the Wildcats now have four players to nab weekly SEC honors. Bud Dupree is the latest. Here is more info from a UKAA press release.
"LEXINGTON, Ky. — After grabbing an interception for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of Kentucky’s historic comeback win over South Carolina, senior Alvin “Bud” Dupree has been named Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week, it was announced by the league office on SEC Now on the SEC Network on Monday night. A native of Irwinton, Ga., Dupree intercepted a pass deflected by senior defensive tackle Mike Douglas and returned it for the game-winning touchdown with2:29 left in the fourth quarter of UK’s win over the Gamecocks. Dupree finished with six tackles, including one-half tackle for loss, with UK’s win marking its largest fourth-quarter comeback in program history. Dupree is the first UK player with a game-winning interception return for a touchdown since linebacker John Rader in 1998. Dupree has 23 tackles on the year, with three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, breaking up one pass and forcing two quarterback hurries. In his four-year career, Dupree has 196 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, five pass break-ups and two forced fumbles. Dupree leads all active SEC players with 17.5 sacks in his career. Dupree is a member of the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List, given to the NCAA’s top defensive end, and the Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists, annually given to the best defensive player in college football. Dupree is the fourth Wildcat to earn SEC weekly accolades in 2014, with senior Darrian Miller tabbed SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week last Monday. Sophomore center Jon Toth earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after UK’s season-opening win and wide receiver Garrett Johnson – who set a freshman record with 154 receiving yards at Florida – was tabbed SEC Freshman of the Week."