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John Calipari Suggests Separating from NCAA If One-and-Done Rule Doesn't Change [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:50:59 +0000

The NBA’s so-called “one-and-done” rule–a kid has to be 19 before he can play pro ball–has come under fire since its inception. It was set up to eliminate the growing phenomenon of a decade ago wherein high school seniors were jumping straight to the league. But that rule has discouraged kids from focusing on their [...]

John Calipari: 'The Program Almost Got Hijacked'

Dave Spencer — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:40:08 +0000

Hijacked. In 2013, it’s no longer a word you can use in a joke. And, trust me, I don’t think Kentucky coach John Calipari was joking. I don’t think anything could make him laugh right now. Or maybe the season was just such a colossal train wreck that you have to laugh just to try [...]

Missouri Win Was a Momentary Cure for Ailing 'Cats [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:02:06 +0000

It was a good type of game to win. Kentucky was playing a good Missouri team that was trying to prove it could beat a team on the road that wasn't woeful Mississippi State (7-19). But in the meantime, Kentucky was trying to prove that it could beat a team that was going to the NCAA Tournament.

John Calipari Discusses Remainder of UK's Season with ESPN's Andy Katz [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:47:40 +0000

It’s been three days since Kentucky got rocked at Tennessee. The Vols topped the ‘Cats 88-58. There’s been plenty of time for Coach John Calipari to get it through the players’ heads that Nerlens Noel is not walking through that door. It’s time for the ‘Cats to play as the team they are. And that [...]

UK's Nerlens Noel Suffers Scary Knee Injury in a Loss to Florida [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:57:19 +0000

With just over 8 minutes left to play in Kentucky’s Tuesday night matchup with Florida, freshmen defensive specialist Nerlens Noel charged after Gator Patric Young in an impressive hustle play. He did block Young’s shot, but then slammed right into the basket stanchion, seriously injuring his knee. Young was nearby and said his leg “wobbled” [...]

John Calipari Rethinks an Undefeated Season

Dave Spencer — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 03:00:14 +0000

Right after the Kentucky Wildcats won the 2012 National Championship, Coach John Calipari said that he would like to have an undefeated season before he leaves coaching. Yep, to be part of a short list that includes the ’72 Dolphins and the ’76 Hoosiers is his dream. But, now he says that’s unlikely to happen. [...]

UofL Center Dieng Returning for UK Game [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 03:45:38 +0000

During a win over 7th-ranked Missouri at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas last month, Louisville center Gorgui Dieng injured his wrist. He has been out for a month. Speculation in the Bluegrass State has been rampant about whether or not he’d return to go toe-to-toe with University of Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel. Well, [...]

UK Unranked for First Time in Calipari Era [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:30:50 +0000

Let’s see, you have to go back to the Billy Gillispie era to find the last time (before Saturday) that Kentucky lost a home game–it was a 4-point setback to Georgia in March of 2009. Now, you have to go back to the Billy Gillispie era to find the last time Kentucky was not ranked. [...]

John Calipari Sits Down with ESPN's Andy Katz [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 01:00:46 +0000

I think ESPN senior writer Andy Katz is one of the best sports analysts in the business. So I’m very fortunate that he covers college basketball. As a college hoops junkie, I could talk for hours with this guy. And so, apparently, could UK head coach John Calipari. I’ve seen Coach Cal interviewed any number [...]

Coach Cal's Duke Flop Comment Goes Viral [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:46:16 +0000

During halftime of last night’s Kentucky/Duke game, ESPN’s Andy Katz caught up with UK head coach John Calipari for a quick interview and assessment of the team’s performance in the first half. Coach Cal gave his thoughts about the team, generally acknowledging mistakes but being pleased with a mere two-point margin considering the wide gap [...]

Coach Cal, Wildcats Raise Nearly $1M in Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:24:35 +0000

When Coach John Calipari arrived at the University of Kentucky, he hit the ground running. He brought with him a monster recruiting class, sure. But it was his ability to tap his vast resources and raise $1 million for victims of the Haiti earthquake in 2010 that affected the most people and revealed what a [...]

Charlie Sheen a UK Recruiting Tool? Why Not?

Dave Spencer — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 02:30:24 +0000

UK coach John Calipari is a big Cincinnati Reds fan. And Lexington is about an hour and some change from the Queen City. So when you’re Coach Cal, and you can get sweet seats–or should I say “suite”–you go. Earlier this year, just before the Wildcats’ first official practice, Cal was at a Reds game [...]

Coach Cal and UK Grant ESPN 'All Access'

Dave Spencer — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:00:47 +0000

If every member of Big Blue Nation tuned into ESPN's new series "All Access Kentucky" on Wednesday night, it's possible it could have generated viewership numbers that would have made it, at least, a Top 25 program were it to have aired on a network.

Amid Great Wednesday News, UK Coach John Calipari Chats with ESPN About Coming Season [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:00:54 +0000

Yesterday was a very big Wednesday for Big Blue Nation. As expected, UK freshman sensation Nerlens Noel was cleared to play by the NCAA, meaning a full complement of top-flight rookies will take the floor for the 2012-2013 season. But that’s not all. In addition to the Harrison twins–the #2 and #4 players in the [...]

UK Wildcat Housing Makes for Intriguing Recruiting Tool

Dave Spencer — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:05:00 +0000

It’s called the Wildcat Coal Lodge. It sounds like a nice retreat in Eastern Kentucky where you might get away for the weekend…except that it’s the palatial new digs of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Why is “Coal” in the name, you might ask? Well, Joe Craft–president and CEO of Alliance Coal and the namesake [...]

UK, Coach Cal Inspire Rapper Drake to Finish School [VIDEO]

Dave Spencer — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 05:10:12 +0000

Over the weekend, Rupp Arena played host to the UK Alumni Charity Basketball Game. If you missed it, you can click here for some highlights. The Blue Team–coached by John Wall–and the White Team–coached by rap/hip hop star Drake–took to the Rupp hardwood and raised more than a quarter million dollars for a variety of [...]

Coach Cal Releases Video of Post-Title Game Locker Room Speech [VIDEO LINK]

Dave Spencer — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:17:55 +0000

This has been circulating throughout Facebook. That’s how I found it. But UK coach John Calipari has released the video of his speech to the team after the Wildcats won the National Championship nearly two months ago. The audio isn’t the greatest, but Coach Cal wasn’t miked either. But you can hear what he says [...]

Coach Cal: 'I Want to Create Experiences, Not Just Games'

Dave Spencer — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:14:13 +0000

Okay, enough already! And I'm talking to and about myself just as much as anyone who has written about the dissolution of the Kentucky/Indiana basketball series. The topic has been comprehensively covered, ad nauseum. Time to move on.

Coach Cal, Kentucky, Kroger and wbKr — Championship Trophy [Gallery]

Moon Mullins — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:36:56 +0000

Today Coach John Calipari arrived at Kroger in Wesleyan Plaza with the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Trophy in hand! Hundreds turned out to view the trophy, ask Coach Cal questions and relish the thrill of Kentucky’s winning season.Among those attending was WBKR’s Barg Birgy, who broadcast live on WBKR, shown here with the Wildcat. [...]

Coach John Calipari, Staff, Championship Trophy at Wesleyan Kroger Today

Dave Spencer — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:39:50 +0000

The throngs are already gathering at the Wesleyan Park Plaza Kroger. Is it the president? Is it the pope? No, it’s UK Coach John Calipari and his staff with the NCAA Championship Trophy. Coach Cal and his entourage have been travelling the Commonwealth, title hardware in tow, for several days, now. Needless to say, they’ve [...]