UK is just not ready to play anyone even average yet. I hate to say this, but I give the edge to Kansas State.
Final score, Kansas State 79, Kentucky 74.
Friday, November 28, 2008
GameNight: Kentucky vs Kansas State (Las Vegas Invitational)
UK is just not ready to play anyone even average yet. I hate to say this, but I give the edge to Kansas State.
Final score, Kansas State 79, Kentucky 74.
McNabb redeems himself - this week he is a god among the arm-chair QB's
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=281127021
PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb got pulled for Kevin Kolb again. This time, he earned a seat on the bench with a superb performance instead of a stinker.
McNabb threw four touchdown passes, Brian Westbrook tied a team record with four scores and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Arizona Cardinals 48-20 on Thursday night.
The Eagles end a three-game skid behind Brian Westbrook, who becomes the fourth player in NFL history with two rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns and 100-plus rushing yards in a game. He is the first since Lydell Mitchell in 1975. Westbrook's four TDs are a career-high.
• After compiling a 40.4 passer rating and five interceptions against one passing touchdown in his last two games, Donovan McNabb had four passing TDs, no INTs and a 121.7 passer rating.
PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb got pulled for Kevin Kolb again. This time, he earned a seat on the bench with a superb performance instead of a stinker.
McNabb threw four touchdown passes, Brian Westbrook tied a team record with four scores and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Arizona Cardinals 48-20 on Thursday night.
The Eagles end a three-game skid behind Brian Westbrook, who becomes the fourth player in NFL history with two rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns and 100-plus rushing yards in a game. He is the first since Lydell Mitchell in 1975. Westbrook's four TDs are a career-high.
• After compiling a 40.4 passer rating and five interceptions against one passing touchdown in his last two games, Donovan McNabb had four passing TDs, no INTs and a 121.7 passer rating.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Basketball | NCAA disciplines Kelvin Sampson
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/collegesports/2008437064_sampson26.html
By Bloomberg News and The Associated Press
PREV of NEXT
DARRON CUMMINGS / AP
Ex-Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson, shown reacting to a call in a Dec. 8 game, received a five-year show-cause punishment from the NCAA that makes it unlikely he will be a college coach in the next five years. He is an NBA assistant coach for Milwaukee.
INDIANAPOLIS — Kelvin Sampson probably won't coach college basketball for the next five years after receiving an NCAA penalty Tuesday for recruiting violations while he coached at Indiana.
The five-year show-cause punishment by the NCAA prevents Sampson — a former Washington State coach — from any recruiting activities from 2008 to 2011 and drastically limits any contact he could have with high-school players in 2012 and 2013.
The severity of the discipline makes it unlikely the 53-year-old Sampson, who is an assistant coach for the NBA Milwaukee Bucks, would land a coaching job in college in the next five years. He had a combined record of 425-226 at Indiana, Oklahoma and WSU.
Sampson issued a statement Tuesday saying he was "deeply disappointed" by the NCAA findings.
"The accusations at hand are things that happened on my watch and therefore I will take responsibility," he said. "I am truly sorry that there were so many people who were hurt in this situation. For the sake of everyone involved, including my family, it is time to move on."
Sampson accepted a $750,000 buyout to resign as Indiana's coach on Feb. 22 after an investigation into allegations he and his assistants made more than 100 impermissible calls to recruits. He was on probation at the time for making improper calls from 2000 to 2004 while coaching at Oklahoma.
The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions said Sampson committed extensive rules violations and provided false or misleading information during the investigation when he knowingly violated committee penalties.
Sampson joined Milwaukee as an assistant in May.
Indiana's program forfeits one scholarship and will be on probation for the next three seasons for failing to monitor the activities of Sampson and his assistant coaches, NCAA officials said. The Hoosiers will be permitted to play in postseason events, including the NCAA tournament.
"I really believe this allows us to put the whole, ugly episode behind us and move forward," said incoming athletic director Fred Glass.
First-year Indiana coach Tom Crean said, "It's bittersweet. We didn't want to lose postseason, scholarships or television. Thank God we didn't lose any of those so we can continue to move the program without the what-ifs."
Infractions committee chairwoman Jo Potuto acknowledged Indiana was spared additional punishment because of its cooperation with the investigation, its own decision to take away a scholarship and extend recruiting restrictions and the school's long tradition of abiding by the rules.
"This is what gutting a program looks like, and you have to keep moving forward," Crean said. "That's what we'll do, and we get to do it in the long term."
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
ESPN's Hesiman Watch
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/heisman/index
By Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com
Editor's note: Each week, ESPN.com asks one of its Heisman Watch voters to explain his/her picks. You can register your vote at 2008 Vote Heisman.
My actual Heisman Trophy ballot arrived via express mail last weekend. I haven't even opened it. I believe it's still at least a four-man race between three Big 12 quarterbacks and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow of Florida. Tebow can make quite an impression the next two weeks. So can Bradford, whose team plays at rival Oklahoma State on Saturday night.
1. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma -- Bradford is the latest Big 12 quarterback at the top of my ballot after he out-dueled Texas Tech's Graham Harrell in last week's 65-21 rout in Norman. Bradford has been the model of consistency all season, completing 68.2 percent of his passes with 42 touchdowns and only six interceptions. His only blemish has been tossing two interceptions in the 45-35 loss to Texas on Oct. 11.
2. Colt McCoy, Texas -- McCoy is one of only three quarterbacks playing at FBS schools who have passed for more than 3,000 yards and run for more than 500 this season. (Rice's Chase Clement and Illinois' Juice Williams are the others.) McCoy has completed 77.2 percent of his passes for 3,134 yards and 30 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. His passer rating of 177.6 ranks fourth nationally and his 77.2 completion percentage ranks first. His worst game might have come in Texas' 39-33 loss at Texas Tech on Nov. 1, when he completed 58.8 percent of his attempts and threw two touchdowns and one interception.
3. Tim Tebow, Florida -- If Tebow plays well in Saturday's game at Florida State and against Alabama in the Dec. 6 SEC championship game, it will be hard for me to not move him to No. 1 on my ballot. He has been every bit as good as he was last season, when he became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. Tebow leads the SEC in passing efficiency, throwing for 2,114 yards with 22 touchdowns and only two interceptions in 225 attempts. He also has rushed for 427 yards with 11 touchdowns.
4. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech -- It's so hard to separate Harrell, McCoy and Bradford. It's like trying to decide which Big 12 South team is the best. Harrell has completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 4,438 yards with 39 touchdowns and six interceptions. He played very well in Texas Tech's biggest victories -- throwing for 474 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Texas and completing 40 of 50 passes for 456 yards and six scores in a 56-20 rout of Oklahoma State.
5. Brian Johnson, Utah -- Why not? Give the senior quarterback some love for leading the Utes to an unbeaten record. He completed 30 of 36 passes for 303 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in last week's 48-24 victory over rival BYU. On Nov. 6, Johnson produced the last-minute touchdown drive to beat TCU 13-10. He's completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 2,636 yards with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
Browns’ Quinn done for season with broken finger
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Aq.NJbjiJLOpY2ARXZT1k105nYcB?slug=ap-browns-quinn&prov=ap&type=lgns
BEREA, Ohio (AP)—Browns quarterback Brady Quinn doesn’t regret playing with a broken right finger that will sideline him for the rest of this season and may require surgery.
Quinn did more damage to his finger when he started Sunday against the Houston Texans.
“I knew that was a consequence if I went in and played,” Quinn said Wednesday. “That was something that I was willing to risk. If I had a chance to do it over, I would do it again.”
Quinn is now trying to decide whether to have an operation on the finger or just have it immobilized in a splint. Whatever he decides, the second-year QB, who waited 25 games to make his first NFL start, will miss the Browns’ final five games in what has been a disastrous season for a team that entered the season with playoff expectations.
“It’s frustrating,” said the former Notre Dame star, who broke the tip of his finger and sustained tendon damage in his second start on Nov. 17 at Buffalo. “I can’t begin to tell you. I’m hurting right now because I love to play the game. I wish I could be with my teammates. I feel bad for the fans because I really wanted to be out there and continue to play and continue to grow in this league.
“Hopefully, this will allow me to grow stronger and something good will come from this.”
Before last week’s game, Quinn consulted with team doctors as well as noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. Quinn was presented with three options: keep playing, immobilize his finger or have surgery. However, when it came down to whether he would suit up or not, Quinn said he made the call.
“It was my decision in the end,” he said. “It wasn’t anyone else’s, so it didn’t matter what anyone else thought but me.”
Quinn started but was ineffective in a 16-6 loss to the Texans. He was benched late in the third quarter by coach Romeo Crennel and replaced by Derek Anderson.
Anderson, who lost his job three weeks ago to Quinn, will start Sunday when the Browns host Indianapolis.
Although he only saw Quinn play in three regular-season games, Crennel, whose job could depend on how the Browns finish the season, sees potential in the former first-round draft pick.
“I’m impressed with what he (Quinn) has done on the field, off the field, the way he’s handled situations, the way he’s handled the team. I like the kid a lot,” he said.
Assuming he’s back in 2009, Crennel said Quinn would be his starter.
“I had planned to go with Brady as the quarterback,” Crennel said. “When he comes back, he’s going to be healthy and he’s going to be the quarterback. Quinn is the starter next training camp.”
BEREA, Ohio (AP)—Browns quarterback Brady Quinn doesn’t regret playing with a broken right finger that will sideline him for the rest of this season and may require surgery.
Quinn did more damage to his finger when he started Sunday against the Houston Texans.
“I knew that was a consequence if I went in and played,” Quinn said Wednesday. “That was something that I was willing to risk. If I had a chance to do it over, I would do it again.”
Quinn is now trying to decide whether to have an operation on the finger or just have it immobilized in a splint. Whatever he decides, the second-year QB, who waited 25 games to make his first NFL start, will miss the Browns’ final five games in what has been a disastrous season for a team that entered the season with playoff expectations.
“It’s frustrating,” said the former Notre Dame star, who broke the tip of his finger and sustained tendon damage in his second start on Nov. 17 at Buffalo. “I can’t begin to tell you. I’m hurting right now because I love to play the game. I wish I could be with my teammates. I feel bad for the fans because I really wanted to be out there and continue to play and continue to grow in this league.
“Hopefully, this will allow me to grow stronger and something good will come from this.”
Before last week’s game, Quinn consulted with team doctors as well as noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. Quinn was presented with three options: keep playing, immobilize his finger or have surgery. However, when it came down to whether he would suit up or not, Quinn said he made the call.
“It was my decision in the end,” he said. “It wasn’t anyone else’s, so it didn’t matter what anyone else thought but me.”
Quinn started but was ineffective in a 16-6 loss to the Texans. He was benched late in the third quarter by coach Romeo Crennel and replaced by Derek Anderson.
Anderson, who lost his job three weeks ago to Quinn, will start Sunday when the Browns host Indianapolis.
Although he only saw Quinn play in three regular-season games, Crennel, whose job could depend on how the Browns finish the season, sees potential in the former first-round draft pick.
“I’m impressed with what he (Quinn) has done on the field, off the field, the way he’s handled situations, the way he’s handled the team. I like the kid a lot,” he said.
Assuming he’s back in 2009, Crennel said Quinn would be his starter.
“I had planned to go with Brady as the quarterback,” Crennel said. “When he comes back, he’s going to be healthy and he’s going to be the quarterback. Quinn is the starter next training camp.”
IU blown out again!
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081126/SPORTS04/811260473/1002/SPORTS
That's Indiana University basketball in a nutshell after yesterday's 80-54 defeat to Saint Joseph's in a consolation semifinal in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.
IU (2-2) -- which landed no players in double–figure points, had 23 turnovers and was unable to slow down the Hawks -- will play tournament host Chaminade, which lost to Alabama 78-56 yesterday, at 7 tonight for seventh place in the eight-team tournament.
"We have to all stay up, stay encouraged and encourage each other," said IU coach Tom Crean, whose team was blown out by Notre Dame 88-50 on Monday. "We just have to keep working to get through it. I have no doubt that we'll turn it; I just don't know how to expect it yet. We are all very young men, with the exception of (senior) Kyle Taber, on the court.
"And we're playing against groups of people that have been together for 'x' amount of years and have well-established programs. It's not an excuse; it's just a fact."
The Hoosiers played briefly before the NCAA announced the program would be placed on three years' probation for infractions committed under former coach Kelvin Sampson. They were within 34-29 at halftime, then got four quick points from Tom Pritchard to open the second half and narrow the gap to 34-33 with 18:05 to play. Then IU's lack of experience reared its ugly head.
A three-pointer by Saint Joe's Darrin Govens, who led all scorers with 23 points and finished 7 of 9 on threes, and two IU turnovers that were converted into dunks by the Hawks (2-2) started a 19-0 run.
The Hoosiers turned it over six times in that span and trailed 53-33 with 13:19 to play.
"We just didn't come out with a lot of energy, and we just had too many turnovers and didn't pick it up," said Taber, who had seven points and six rebounds. "It's just an area where we need to improve. We need to play with the same intensity level for 40 minutes."
Malik Story was IU's leading scorer with nine points, and Verdell Jones III scored eight.
Crean said he's encouraged by how hard his team played while facing competition that is simply higher than his Hoosiers are ready for.
"It's just a different level game right now for us," he said. "We can't mirror that in practice. We've got freshmen guarding freshmen, we've got freshmen being guarded by walk-ons, and we come out in games and we're being guarded by grown men.
"And we just have to continue to take all these experiences that we're going through, keep getting better in practice and keep trying to turn it around."
That's Indiana University basketball in a nutshell after yesterday's 80-54 defeat to Saint Joseph's in a consolation semifinal in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.
IU (2-2) -- which landed no players in double–figure points, had 23 turnovers and was unable to slow down the Hawks -- will play tournament host Chaminade, which lost to Alabama 78-56 yesterday, at 7 tonight for seventh place in the eight-team tournament.
"We have to all stay up, stay encouraged and encourage each other," said IU coach Tom Crean, whose team was blown out by Notre Dame 88-50 on Monday. "We just have to keep working to get through it. I have no doubt that we'll turn it; I just don't know how to expect it yet. We are all very young men, with the exception of (senior) Kyle Taber, on the court.
"And we're playing against groups of people that have been together for 'x' amount of years and have well-established programs. It's not an excuse; it's just a fact."
The Hoosiers played briefly before the NCAA announced the program would be placed on three years' probation for infractions committed under former coach Kelvin Sampson. They were within 34-29 at halftime, then got four quick points from Tom Pritchard to open the second half and narrow the gap to 34-33 with 18:05 to play. Then IU's lack of experience reared its ugly head.
A three-pointer by Saint Joe's Darrin Govens, who led all scorers with 23 points and finished 7 of 9 on threes, and two IU turnovers that were converted into dunks by the Hawks (2-2) started a 19-0 run.
The Hoosiers turned it over six times in that span and trailed 53-33 with 13:19 to play.
"We just didn't come out with a lot of energy, and we just had too many turnovers and didn't pick it up," said Taber, who had seven points and six rebounds. "It's just an area where we need to improve. We need to play with the same intensity level for 40 minutes."
Malik Story was IU's leading scorer with nine points, and Verdell Jones III scored eight.
Crean said he's encouraged by how hard his team played while facing competition that is simply higher than his Hoosiers are ready for.
"It's just a different level game right now for us," he said. "We can't mirror that in practice. We've got freshmen guarding freshmen, we've got freshmen being guarded by walk-ons, and we come out in games and we're being guarded by grown men.
"And we just have to continue to take all these experiences that we're going through, keep getting better in practice and keep trying to turn it around."
NCAA: IU Men's Basketball 3 Years Probation
http://www.wlky.com/sports/18144826/detail.html?rss=lou&psp=news
Ball State keeps on winning
They should play in one of the three main bowl games. I know people whine they played cupcake teams but 12 and 0 is well, 12 and 0.
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/sports/index.ssf/2008/11/at_120_ball_state_unlikely_to.html
Ball State just finished a 12-game regular season without a loss, which might earn it a Motor City Bowl berth against Minnesota, if it wins the Mid-American Conference title game. That would be almost vulgar, and the Cardinals aren't getting much support to avoid it, even from those for whom inclusion has worked best.
President-elect Barack Obama? He supposedly represents the party of inclusion and broad thought but certainly dumbed down college football with his recent call for an eight-game playoff. First, he will stabilize the economy and establish world peace before a playoff. Second, since there are 11 conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision, you might think someone interested in diversity would include all the champions.
Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly? He shares a Grand Valley State background with Brady Hoke, Ball State's coach, though they were assistants there at different times. Kelly also was a head coach in the MAC.
His Bearcats are one victory from a major bowl in a conference, the Big East, which is under scrutiny for its automatic bid. So you might think Kelly would favor any argument for inclusion, including the legitimacy of Ball State's Bowl Championship Series candidacy.
"If you were asking that question and both Utah and Boise State weren't also in the mix, I would say, 'Absolutely,' " Kelly said. "But it's getting a little crowded, so I think it gets to be a question of who are the best two out of the three."
Essentially, it was pointed out, that means non-champions from the Big 12 and Southeastern conferences warrant a major bowl before an undefeated Ball State.
"Yes, that's what I'm saying," Kelly said.
Oh, the lack of love Ball State must feel after completing its regular season with a 45-22 victory Tuesday against Western Michigan.
I'm completely left-wing on the subject of college football inclusion. I favor a 16-team playoff, because I think the Sun Belt champion should find out what a first-round game at Norman, Okla., is like. I once advocated Steve McNair for the Heisman Trophy.
I also realize no one from Alcorn State wins the Heisman, I will not live to see a major-college playoff and, unfortunately, Ball State's best chance to qualify for the broken BCS model is if Boise State loses its last game, Friday against Fresno State.
It isn't as if the 10 BCS spots can't accommodate three unbeatens from the MAC, Western Athletic Conference, Mountain West, Sun Belt and Conference USA -- unless you cling to the idea of power teams in power bowls, in which case there isn't room, not with Texas and Oklahoma death-watching each other in the Big 12 South, and the Alabama-Florida SEC winner almost certain to play for the national title.
Who can tell one of those teams it not only won't play for the national title, but won't play in a major bowl?
Ball State is the one staking that holdout argument, although it has become clear that inclusion -- the purpose of the fifth-game addition to the BCS -- means inclusion up to a floating glass ceiling, which never has been whacked harder than Ball State seems likely to do now.
The ceiling level might change from one year to the next, but this year, it seems to be two -- the number of non-power conference teams likely to be admitted to the $17 million bowl club, whether Ball State finishes 13-0 or not.
The only guaranteed breakthrough is if Ball State cracks the BCS top 12. At 15th, and with the Big East and ACC champions behind them yet to be determined, the Cardinals' numbers are iffy, even factoring in a MAC title win against Buffalo.
As with all things pertaining the major bowls, a conference championship always carries added heft -- as long as it's the right conference.
That's why the logjammed ACC, which is packed with average and below-average teams, is guaranteed a major January bowl.
It's also why if Ball State plays in January, it's just as likely to be the International Bowl in Toronto.
E-mail David Mayo: dmayo@grpress.com
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/sports/index.ssf/2008/11/at_120_ball_state_unlikely_to.html
Ball State just finished a 12-game regular season without a loss, which might earn it a Motor City Bowl berth against Minnesota, if it wins the Mid-American Conference title game. That would be almost vulgar, and the Cardinals aren't getting much support to avoid it, even from those for whom inclusion has worked best.
President-elect Barack Obama? He supposedly represents the party of inclusion and broad thought but certainly dumbed down college football with his recent call for an eight-game playoff. First, he will stabilize the economy and establish world peace before a playoff. Second, since there are 11 conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision, you might think someone interested in diversity would include all the champions.
Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly? He shares a Grand Valley State background with Brady Hoke, Ball State's coach, though they were assistants there at different times. Kelly also was a head coach in the MAC.
His Bearcats are one victory from a major bowl in a conference, the Big East, which is under scrutiny for its automatic bid. So you might think Kelly would favor any argument for inclusion, including the legitimacy of Ball State's Bowl Championship Series candidacy.
"If you were asking that question and both Utah and Boise State weren't also in the mix, I would say, 'Absolutely,' " Kelly said. "But it's getting a little crowded, so I think it gets to be a question of who are the best two out of the three."
Essentially, it was pointed out, that means non-champions from the Big 12 and Southeastern conferences warrant a major bowl before an undefeated Ball State.
"Yes, that's what I'm saying," Kelly said.
Oh, the lack of love Ball State must feel after completing its regular season with a 45-22 victory Tuesday against Western Michigan.
I'm completely left-wing on the subject of college football inclusion. I favor a 16-team playoff, because I think the Sun Belt champion should find out what a first-round game at Norman, Okla., is like. I once advocated Steve McNair for the Heisman Trophy.
I also realize no one from Alcorn State wins the Heisman, I will not live to see a major-college playoff and, unfortunately, Ball State's best chance to qualify for the broken BCS model is if Boise State loses its last game, Friday against Fresno State.
It isn't as if the 10 BCS spots can't accommodate three unbeatens from the MAC, Western Athletic Conference, Mountain West, Sun Belt and Conference USA -- unless you cling to the idea of power teams in power bowls, in which case there isn't room, not with Texas and Oklahoma death-watching each other in the Big 12 South, and the Alabama-Florida SEC winner almost certain to play for the national title.
Who can tell one of those teams it not only won't play for the national title, but won't play in a major bowl?
Ball State is the one staking that holdout argument, although it has become clear that inclusion -- the purpose of the fifth-game addition to the BCS -- means inclusion up to a floating glass ceiling, which never has been whacked harder than Ball State seems likely to do now.
The ceiling level might change from one year to the next, but this year, it seems to be two -- the number of non-power conference teams likely to be admitted to the $17 million bowl club, whether Ball State finishes 13-0 or not.
The only guaranteed breakthrough is if Ball State cracks the BCS top 12. At 15th, and with the Big East and ACC champions behind them yet to be determined, the Cardinals' numbers are iffy, even factoring in a MAC title win against Buffalo.
As with all things pertaining the major bowls, a conference championship always carries added heft -- as long as it's the right conference.
That's why the logjammed ACC, which is packed with average and below-average teams, is guaranteed a major January bowl.
It's also why if Ball State plays in January, it's just as likely to be the International Bowl in Toronto.
E-mail David Mayo: dmayo@grpress.com
Vick in court yet again
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ordine/blog/2008/11/post_515.html
Michael Vick was in court again today, this time in Virginia to plead guilty to state dog fighting-related charges, as the former star quarterback's legal problems continue to unwind.
According to reports, Vick's plea deal in Virginia will set the stage for his eventual release from federal custody in July, just about the time that NFL training camps will be opening. Actually. the timing might be a moot point since Vick may still have to spend time in a halfway house that could preclude him from attending an NFL camp.
However, whether it is this summer or midway through the season or even in anticipation of the 2010 season, at some point Vick will be in a position to ask the NFL to lift his suspension and seek to resume his football career.
The question is will there be any takers?
Vick may be the most toxic exiled player to ever hope for another chance. Without debating the relative egregious nature of various bad behavior -- substance abuse, assaults, domestic violence -- that have led to NFL players being suspended, there's no question that the public relations fallout for any team signing Vick will be noisier than in any other case.
So who would take such a chance? Well, a lot will depend on teams' needs at the time and the comfort level with the local fan base. And there will be the not inconsiderable issue of Vicks' skill level after two or more years out of the game.
Posted by Bill Ordine on November 25, 2008 9:57 AM | Permalink
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
College Football current top 25
From www.espn.com
BCS top 25
1. Alabama 11-0
2. Texas 10-1
3. Oklahoma 10-1
4. Florida 10-1
5. USC 9-1
6. Utah 12-0
7. Texas Tech 10-1
8. Penn State 11-1
9. Boise State 11-0
10. Ohio State 10-2
11. Georgia 9-2
12. Oklahoma State 9-2
13. Missouri 9-2
14. TCU 10-2
15. Ball State 11-0
16. Cincinnati 9-2
17. Oregon State 8-3
18. BYU 10-2
19. Michigan State 9-3
20. Florida State 8-3
21. Boston College 8-3
22. Georgia Tech 8-3
23. Oregon 8-3
24. Northwestern 9-3
25. Pitt 7-3
AP top 25
1. Alabama (63) 11-0 1,622
2. Florida (2) 10-1 1,512
3. Oklahoma 10-1 1,486
4. Texas 10-1 1,482
5. USC 9-1 1,352
6. Penn State 11-1 1,238
7. Texas Tech 10-1 1,212
8. Utah 12-0 1,206
9. Boise State 11-0 1,064
10. Ohio State 10-2 1,043
11. Oklahoma State 9-2 997
12. Missouri 9-2 917
13. Georgia 9-2 874
14. TCU 10-2 750
15. Ball State 11-0 731
16. Cincinnati 9-2 640
17. Oregon State 8-3 604
18. Georgia Tech 8-3 339
19. Oregon 8-3 320
20. Boston College 8-3 309
20. Brigham Young 10-2 309
22. Michigan State 9-3 274
23. Florida State 8-3 214
24. Northwestern 9-3 145
25. Mississippi 7-4 127
USA Today top 25
1. Alabama (56) 11-0 1,518
2. Oklahoma (4) 10-1 1,412
3. Florida (1) 10-1 1,401
4. Texas 10-1 1,370
5. USC 9-1 1,288
6. Penn State 11-1 1,157
7. Utah 12-0 1,153
8. Texas Tech 10-1 1,073
9. Boise State 11-0 1,033
10. Ohio State 10-2 994
11. Missouri 9-2 896
12. Oklahoma State 9-2 858
13. Georgia 9-2 842
14. TCU 10-2 695
15. Ball State 11-0 673
16. Cincinnati 9-2 572
17. Oregon State 8-3 544
18. Oregon 8-3 397
19. Brigham Young 10-2 321
20. Northwestern 9-3 310
21. Michigan State 9-3 296
22. Boston College 8-3 290
23. Georgia Tech 8-3 241
24. Florida State 8-3 204
25. West Virginia 7-3 83
BCS top 25
1. Alabama 11-0
2. Texas 10-1
3. Oklahoma 10-1
4. Florida 10-1
5. USC 9-1
6. Utah 12-0
7. Texas Tech 10-1
8. Penn State 11-1
9. Boise State 11-0
10. Ohio State 10-2
11. Georgia 9-2
12. Oklahoma State 9-2
13. Missouri 9-2
14. TCU 10-2
15. Ball State 11-0
16. Cincinnati 9-2
17. Oregon State 8-3
18. BYU 10-2
19. Michigan State 9-3
20. Florida State 8-3
21. Boston College 8-3
22. Georgia Tech 8-3
23. Oregon 8-3
24. Northwestern 9-3
25. Pitt 7-3
AP top 25
1. Alabama (63) 11-0 1,622
2. Florida (2) 10-1 1,512
3. Oklahoma 10-1 1,486
4. Texas 10-1 1,482
5. USC 9-1 1,352
6. Penn State 11-1 1,238
7. Texas Tech 10-1 1,212
8. Utah 12-0 1,206
9. Boise State 11-0 1,064
10. Ohio State 10-2 1,043
11. Oklahoma State 9-2 997
12. Missouri 9-2 917
13. Georgia 9-2 874
14. TCU 10-2 750
15. Ball State 11-0 731
16. Cincinnati 9-2 640
17. Oregon State 8-3 604
18. Georgia Tech 8-3 339
19. Oregon 8-3 320
20. Boston College 8-3 309
20. Brigham Young 10-2 309
22. Michigan State 9-3 274
23. Florida State 8-3 214
24. Northwestern 9-3 145
25. Mississippi 7-4 127
USA Today top 25
1. Alabama (56) 11-0 1,518
2. Oklahoma (4) 10-1 1,412
3. Florida (1) 10-1 1,401
4. Texas 10-1 1,370
5. USC 9-1 1,288
6. Penn State 11-1 1,157
7. Utah 12-0 1,153
8. Texas Tech 10-1 1,073
9. Boise State 11-0 1,033
10. Ohio State 10-2 994
11. Missouri 9-2 896
12. Oklahoma State 9-2 858
13. Georgia 9-2 842
14. TCU 10-2 695
15. Ball State 11-0 673
16. Cincinnati 9-2 572
17. Oregon State 8-3 544
18. Oregon 8-3 397
19. Brigham Young 10-2 321
20. Northwestern 9-3 310
21. Michigan State 9-3 296
22. Boston College 8-3 290
23. Georgia Tech 8-3 241
24. Florida State 8-3 204
25. West Virginia 7-3 83
The Real IU is seen last night - Fighting Irish routes IU 88-50
Hey, at least UK isn't the only local team that sucks -
http://www.indystar.com/article/20081125/SPORTS0601/811250391/1069
LAHAINA, Hawaii -- Low on experience, lacking size and athleticism, and facing the nation's No. 8 team, Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean knew his team had to do the little things well Monday if it had any chance against Notre Dame.
As it turned out, IU wasn't real good at anything, big or small.
Tory Jackson scored 21 points and handed out six assists, and Kyle McAlarney added 18 points on six 3-pointers to lead Notre Dame to an easy 88-50 victory over Indiana in first-round action of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.
Former Indianapolis Star Indiana Mr. Basketball Luke Zeller had 10 points and 11 rebounds in 21 minutes off the Irish bench.
It was far and away IU's worst loss in 13 games all time in Maui. The most lopsided previous loss was 86-68 to Tulane in 1994. Overall, it was IU's worst loss since falling 80-41 to Kentucky in December 2003 at the RCA Dome.
IU (2-1) will face St. Joseph's (1-2) at 1:30 p.m. today. St. Joseph's lost to No. 7 Texas 68-50 on Monday.
Crean said his team didn't communicate or get deflections on defense. The Hoosiers had trouble on offense, too.
"We're obviously in a learning process and we learned a lot today,'' Crean said. "We didn't put up nearly enough resistance on the defensive end, and we tried to finesse shots and create shots at the rim rather than just going in and taking what the defense was giving us. There were a couple of times when we had a great opportunity for a layup, but we were searching for a foul.
"And we just have to work through that. We have to get guys to understand that some times we just have to play basketball.''
Indiana trailed 13-9 with 11:41 to play in the first half in the tiny gym at the Lahaina Civic Center, which has a capacity of 2,500.
The Hoosiers matched Notre Dame's intensity early but missed 10 of their first 14 shots. When the Irish got clicking on offense, they pulled away for a 44-23 halftime lead.
Notre Dame has one of the nation's most experienced lineups and IU is quite young. Crean said age mattered in this one.
Crean has said for several weeks that Indiana needs to talk more. The Irish exploited that lack of communication.
"It's a lack of experience,'' Crean said. "It's a comfort level of being with one another so many different times. It's hard for the players to answer because they haven't been through it. We just have to keep trying to have them understand how important it is for that defensive and offensive communication.''
Nick Williams, who scored 10 points in 25 minutes off the bench, said he knows his team has a long way to go.
"We just need to move the ball more and make better decisions and talk to each other,'' Williams said. "I think that will help us get better and win some games.''
Freshman forward Tom Pritchard led the Hoosiers with 14 points and six rebounds, while Devan Dumes had 10 points.
Boston looking like champs so far in the NBA
http://www.nba.com/celtics/
The Celtics once again demonstrated why they are the reigning powers of the Atlantic Division.
Ray Allen registered 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and Kevin Garnett posted 15 points as Boston cruised past host Toronto, 118-103, on Sunday for its fifth straight triumph.
The C's, who defeated the Raptors earlier this season in dramatic fashion when Paul Pierce led a furious fourth-quarter comeback, never trailed in this one as they improved to 6-1 on the road.
Leaders for the season -
Points - Paul Pierce 19.0
Rebounds - Garnett 8.7
Assists - Rondo 6.5
NCAA sanctions Salem's sports programs
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/25/sports/Salem-International-Probation.php
SALEM, W.Va.: The NCAA punished Salem International University for major violations, putting the Division II school on three years' probation and cutting scholarships in several sports.
The NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions also vacated all games in which ineligible players participated in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball and women's golf. Scholarship cuts were ordered in these sports.
The committee said Monday the violations occurred from the school years of 2002-03 through 2007-08 school years. The NCAA said the school showed a lack of institutional control and allowed 16 ineligible players to play.
Six soccer players were paid for work they did not perform because the university didn't adequately track work-study hours.
Salem officials didn't thoroughly investigate violations when they were discovered, or when they should have become known, and didn't bar ineligible players from competing, the committee said. Violations weren't reported to the NCAA.
A call to athletic director Keith Bullion on Tuesday was not immediately returned. Bullion also coaches the men's and women's water polo and swim teams. Several other coaches oversee more than one sport. The committee said juggling multiple duties and titles was a "significant part of the issue."
The NCAA said Salem must inform all opponents in writing that the games have been vacated, plus remove all public mention of the vacated games. Salem's probation began Friday and will run through Nov. 20, 2011.
Terms of Use
SALEM, W.Va.: The NCAA punished Salem International University for major violations, putting the Division II school on three years' probation and cutting scholarships in several sports.
The NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions also vacated all games in which ineligible players participated in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball and women's golf. Scholarship cuts were ordered in these sports.
The committee said Monday the violations occurred from the school years of 2002-03 through 2007-08 school years. The NCAA said the school showed a lack of institutional control and allowed 16 ineligible players to play.
Six soccer players were paid for work they did not perform because the university didn't adequately track work-study hours.
Salem officials didn't thoroughly investigate violations when they were discovered, or when they should have become known, and didn't bar ineligible players from competing, the committee said. Violations weren't reported to the NCAA.
A call to athletic director Keith Bullion on Tuesday was not immediately returned. Bullion also coaches the men's and women's water polo and swim teams. Several other coaches oversee more than one sport. The committee said juggling multiple duties and titles was a "significant part of the issue."
The NCAA said Salem must inform all opponents in writing that the games have been vacated, plus remove all public mention of the vacated games. Salem's probation began Friday and will run through Nov. 20, 2011.
Terms of Use
Monday, November 24, 2008
Three counts tossed from Bonds case
11 more to go, hopefully he's found guilty of at least five -
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081124&content_id=3690901&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
federal judge on Monday threw out three counts in the government's perjury case against Barry Bonds, but left intact most of the felony charges.
Judge Susan Illston agreed with Bonds' lawyers that one count was repetitive, another included an answer by Bonds to a grand jury that was too vague and that a third included an ambiguous question. She also ordered that two other counts be merged.
Bonds, who is alleged to have made false statements under oath regarding his use of performance-enhancing drugs, still faces 12 counts in the case, which is scheduled to go to trial on March 2 in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California.
Illston denied a defense request to dismiss seven other counts, and said that federal prosecutors must also clarify one other charge. The merged counts means that Bonds is expected to face 11 charges at trial.
Federal prosecutors can choose to refile the dismissed charges or proceed with the remaining allegations against Bonds.
Bonds, Major League Baseball's all-time leader with 762 career homers, first appeared before a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative on allegations of money laundering and illegally dispensing performance-enhancing drugs on Dec. 4, 2003.
On numerous occasions Bonds was asked and responded that he never used anabolic steroids, testosterone and human growth hormone or had been administered any of those drugs with a needle during the period from 2000 to 2002. The feds say that they have a Bonds positive drug test seized during a raid of BALCO's headquarters in 2003.
Monday's ruling isn't expected to alter the overall perjury case. The original indictment was filed on Nov. 15, 2007, but was judged earlier this year by Illston to be ambiguous and repetitive, and was sent back to federal prosecutors to be rewritten and clarified.
Farve shows why at age 71 (really age 39) he's still one of the NFL's best
http://www.thespread.com/nfl-football-top-stories-100/jets-first-to-beat-titans-with-road-win.html
Favre threw two touchdown passes, Leon Washington ran for two scores and the New York Jets served notice they will be a factor in the AFC this season by routing the Titans 34-13, ending the perfect start by the NFL's last undefeated team.
``I'm not going to sit here and say we've established ourselves as the best team in football,'' Favre said. ``All it says is I think we beat the best team in football today, definitely if you go by record and the way that they've played. They have been the best team in football.''
The Jets (8-3) came in atop the AFC East after a victory over New England at Foxborough. They have won five straight for the first time since October 2004 and seven of their last eight. The win also pulled them within two of Tennessee (10-1) with five to play in the race for home-field advantage through the playoffs.
Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas called it a statement to the rest of the NFL.
``Now people are going to start looking at us and say, 'They are a team you have to reckon with,''' Thomas said.
New York coach Eric Mangini said he was proud of his team for playing, and winning, in a challenging environment. The Titans sold out their 101st consecutive game.
``We've been down here the last three years. It's loud, and it's always been a tough place to play,'' Mangini said.
The Titans had won 13-straight regular-season games dating to Dec. 16, 2007, in becoming only the 11th team since 1970 to win its first 10 games.
``It was a great run, and we've got to win our next game,'' Titans coach Jeff Fisher said of playing Detroit on Thursday.
This time, the NFL's stingiest scoring defense that had been allowing 13.1 points per game had no answer for Favre and the Jets, even with the return of defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch.
The Jets spread out Tennessee, Favre threw fast and often, and they wore the Titans' defense down by keeping it on the field for more than 40 minutes. New York overcame two turnovers and two sacks in the first half by outgaining Tennessee on offense 409-281.
``We really didn't have an answer for it today,'' Vanden Bosch said. ``Favre had a really good game. Give him credit. We knew what to expect from him. He's a great player, and he beat us today.''
Not that they got any help from their own offense.
``It felt like we were on the sideline forever just watching Brett Favre play,'' Titans fullback Ahmard Hall said. ``The defense, I felt bad that we on offense couldn't get anything going and keep them off the field.''
This was only the third game in NFL history featuring two starting quarterbacks with more than 100,000 yards combined yards passing in Favre and Kerry Collins.
Favre threw for 224 yards and had much more help than Collins, whose receivers dropped at least five passes in the first half, including one by Bo Scaife in Jets territory with room to run. Favre took advantage of a Titans' secondary featuring Chris Carr starting at cornerback in place of Nick Harper, and he was flagged twice on one drive for pass interference.
With the win, Favre broke a tie with Dan Marino for victories in the most NFL stadiums by winning in his 32nd at LP Field.
Washington scored on runs of 61 and 4 yards in the fourth quarter as the Jets padded their lead. Jay Feely also kicked two field goals.
The Jets led 10-3 at halftime and could have had an even bigger margin if not for two turnovers - the first at the Tennessee 21 at the end of the first quarter. Favre could not have started hotter as he completed his first eight passes for 89 yards, the sixth a 10-yard TD pass to Thomas Jones on the opening drive.
The Titans went three-and-out on three of their first five drives and had only 55 yards offense until a final drive just before halftime when Rob Bironas finally put Tennessee on the scoreboard with a 43-yard field goal. Bironas added a 49-yarder in the fourth quarter.
By the time Collins tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Hall, it was too late. They finished with just 45 yards rushing.
``We are a very confident team anyway, but coming in here and doing this and getting it done, that can only help us,'' Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said.
Notes: The Jets improved to 9-0 when Jones scores a touchdown. ... Jones had a chance for his third straight 100-yard game, but finished with 96 yards on 27 carries. Washington finished with 82 yards on eight carries... Favre had been 0-1 at LP Field, losing in his first visit here with Green Bay in 2001. ... Tennessee becomes the fifth team the Jets have held to 50 yards rushing or less. The Titans finished with a season-low 45. ... Chris Johnson's fumble in the third quarter was the first of the rookie's career. ... Tennessee punter Craig Hentrich played his 234th career game, passing Rohn Stark for eighth all-time.
Favre threw two touchdown passes, Leon Washington ran for two scores and the New York Jets served notice they will be a factor in the AFC this season by routing the Titans 34-13, ending the perfect start by the NFL's last undefeated team.
``I'm not going to sit here and say we've established ourselves as the best team in football,'' Favre said. ``All it says is I think we beat the best team in football today, definitely if you go by record and the way that they've played. They have been the best team in football.''
The Jets (8-3) came in atop the AFC East after a victory over New England at Foxborough. They have won five straight for the first time since October 2004 and seven of their last eight. The win also pulled them within two of Tennessee (10-1) with five to play in the race for home-field advantage through the playoffs.
Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas called it a statement to the rest of the NFL.
``Now people are going to start looking at us and say, 'They are a team you have to reckon with,''' Thomas said.
New York coach Eric Mangini said he was proud of his team for playing, and winning, in a challenging environment. The Titans sold out their 101st consecutive game.
``We've been down here the last three years. It's loud, and it's always been a tough place to play,'' Mangini said.
The Titans had won 13-straight regular-season games dating to Dec. 16, 2007, in becoming only the 11th team since 1970 to win its first 10 games.
``It was a great run, and we've got to win our next game,'' Titans coach Jeff Fisher said of playing Detroit on Thursday.
This time, the NFL's stingiest scoring defense that had been allowing 13.1 points per game had no answer for Favre and the Jets, even with the return of defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch.
The Jets spread out Tennessee, Favre threw fast and often, and they wore the Titans' defense down by keeping it on the field for more than 40 minutes. New York overcame two turnovers and two sacks in the first half by outgaining Tennessee on offense 409-281.
``We really didn't have an answer for it today,'' Vanden Bosch said. ``Favre had a really good game. Give him credit. We knew what to expect from him. He's a great player, and he beat us today.''
Not that they got any help from their own offense.
``It felt like we were on the sideline forever just watching Brett Favre play,'' Titans fullback Ahmard Hall said. ``The defense, I felt bad that we on offense couldn't get anything going and keep them off the field.''
This was only the third game in NFL history featuring two starting quarterbacks with more than 100,000 yards combined yards passing in Favre and Kerry Collins.
Favre threw for 224 yards and had much more help than Collins, whose receivers dropped at least five passes in the first half, including one by Bo Scaife in Jets territory with room to run. Favre took advantage of a Titans' secondary featuring Chris Carr starting at cornerback in place of Nick Harper, and he was flagged twice on one drive for pass interference.
With the win, Favre broke a tie with Dan Marino for victories in the most NFL stadiums by winning in his 32nd at LP Field.
Washington scored on runs of 61 and 4 yards in the fourth quarter as the Jets padded their lead. Jay Feely also kicked two field goals.
The Jets led 10-3 at halftime and could have had an even bigger margin if not for two turnovers - the first at the Tennessee 21 at the end of the first quarter. Favre could not have started hotter as he completed his first eight passes for 89 yards, the sixth a 10-yard TD pass to Thomas Jones on the opening drive.
The Titans went three-and-out on three of their first five drives and had only 55 yards offense until a final drive just before halftime when Rob Bironas finally put Tennessee on the scoreboard with a 43-yard field goal. Bironas added a 49-yarder in the fourth quarter.
By the time Collins tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Hall, it was too late. They finished with just 45 yards rushing.
``We are a very confident team anyway, but coming in here and doing this and getting it done, that can only help us,'' Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said.
Notes: The Jets improved to 9-0 when Jones scores a touchdown. ... Jones had a chance for his third straight 100-yard game, but finished with 96 yards on 27 carries. Washington finished with 82 yards on eight carries... Favre had been 0-1 at LP Field, losing in his first visit here with Green Bay in 2001. ... Tennessee becomes the fifth team the Jets have held to 50 yards rushing or less. The Titans finished with a season-low 45. ... Chris Johnson's fumble in the third quarter was the first of the rookie's career. ... Tennessee punter Craig Hentrich played his 234th career game, passing Rohn Stark for eighth all-time.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
UK starts season 0-2.... sad we are living in these times
http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=881055
Lexington, Ky. - Patrick Patterson simply decided it was time that "hassle" described defensive pressure, that "pick" was something done to help free a teammate for an open shot and that "blowing out" was the sweet sensation of Kentucky routing the enemy.
Sounds simple, but that wasn't always the case thanks to the sophomore's impossible-to-ignore Afro hairstyle, which generated a buzz when he had it lopped off last week.
"It was just too much of a hassle, just too much work," Patterson said. "Always having to pick it out and keep it neat. Instead of using a towel, you have to use a blow dryer to blow it out. I just thought it was time for me to go back to the regular look."
The reason is a mild bout with superstition. Patterson began the season with the new hairdo and Kentucky promptly lost both its games, a home-court shocker to VMI and a national television blitzing at North Carolina.
Sophomore Patrick Patterson cut off his Afro after Kentucky began this season 0-2.
"We started off slow this year and I figured it was because of the Afro," Patterson said. "It was a huge distraction so I just decided to get rid of it."
That was Wednesday. Three days later, Kentucky routed Delaware State 71-42, showing glimpses of a suffocating defense and a versatile offense heretofore hidden, perhaps in the shadow of the 'fro. … Seriously.
"It was probably somewhat of a distraction for me," Patterson admitted. "I may have been concentrating more on my hair."
Though not criminal, it's certainly believable. We tend to forget that under the armor that is Patterson's phenomenal basketball talent beats the heart of a 19-year-old. His Afro was unique and a popular novelty that drew even more attention to the Kentucky standout. Compound that with Patterson being plastered on every preseason magazine to stream off a printing press, persistent chatter about whether he might jump to the NBA after one more winter and the stage was set to lose focus on the target, if only ever so slightly.
Coach Billy Gillispie had cautioned Patterson – "All I've ever said about that is to make sure your focus is on your play and not elsewhere – but denied there was ever a problem.
"If he had left his hair," the coach said, "I'm sure Patrick would have played the same way because he approaches it the right way."
Still, Gillispie was happy with the change.
"I went straight to Coach G's office," Patterson said, "and he was like,'Is the reason you cut it because of me?' I said no and he started laughing and said, 'I like it. You look better.'
"The coaches love it. Teammates love it. Mom and dad love it, especially mom. She's wanted it cut for a while. My dad was fine, he didn't care."
The only person distraught was the barber.
"He was real disappointed," Patterson said. "He said, 'You just want me to line it up?' And I said, 'No, cut it off.' He was like, 'What?'" Then he said, 'You want me to keep the clippings?' I said, 'No, just throw them away. They're probably on eBay somewhere."
Another segment sure to be troubled is the UK fan base, particularly those behind a grassroots campaign to have T-shirts made in honor of Patterson.
"Yeah, I guess I killed the 'Fear the 'Fro,'" he said with a smile. "I was on the message boards and it was crazy. And people were all over my Facebook page asking if it was true?"
The idea originated last summer, a bet between Patterson and A.J. Stewart over who could grow their hair the longest.
"We kept it going over the summer, but then A.J. wanted to get his cut," Patterson said. "I wanted to keep going."
And he did, despite the nicknames that evolved in the locker room like "Shaft" and "Q-Tip."
"Finally, I decided to get rid of it. I told my teammates that I was going to get it cut and they were like, 'No you're not, you're going to keep it.' But we had a day off and after classes I just did it."
The only tangible drawback to Patterson's decision is that there may come a day when choosing his hairstyle may not be an option.
"My dad is bald. My grandfather is bald. My uncle is bald," Patterson said with a twinge of melancholy. "I've got a lot of bald people in my family, and one day it's probably going to come get me."
Lexington, Ky. - Patrick Patterson simply decided it was time that "hassle" described defensive pressure, that "pick" was something done to help free a teammate for an open shot and that "blowing out" was the sweet sensation of Kentucky routing the enemy.
Sounds simple, but that wasn't always the case thanks to the sophomore's impossible-to-ignore Afro hairstyle, which generated a buzz when he had it lopped off last week.
"It was just too much of a hassle, just too much work," Patterson said. "Always having to pick it out and keep it neat. Instead of using a towel, you have to use a blow dryer to blow it out. I just thought it was time for me to go back to the regular look."
The reason is a mild bout with superstition. Patterson began the season with the new hairdo and Kentucky promptly lost both its games, a home-court shocker to VMI and a national television blitzing at North Carolina.
Sophomore Patrick Patterson cut off his Afro after Kentucky began this season 0-2.
"We started off slow this year and I figured it was because of the Afro," Patterson said. "It was a huge distraction so I just decided to get rid of it."
That was Wednesday. Three days later, Kentucky routed Delaware State 71-42, showing glimpses of a suffocating defense and a versatile offense heretofore hidden, perhaps in the shadow of the 'fro. … Seriously.
"It was probably somewhat of a distraction for me," Patterson admitted. "I may have been concentrating more on my hair."
Though not criminal, it's certainly believable. We tend to forget that under the armor that is Patterson's phenomenal basketball talent beats the heart of a 19-year-old. His Afro was unique and a popular novelty that drew even more attention to the Kentucky standout. Compound that with Patterson being plastered on every preseason magazine to stream off a printing press, persistent chatter about whether he might jump to the NBA after one more winter and the stage was set to lose focus on the target, if only ever so slightly.
Coach Billy Gillispie had cautioned Patterson – "All I've ever said about that is to make sure your focus is on your play and not elsewhere – but denied there was ever a problem.
"If he had left his hair," the coach said, "I'm sure Patrick would have played the same way because he approaches it the right way."
Still, Gillispie was happy with the change.
"I went straight to Coach G's office," Patterson said, "and he was like,'Is the reason you cut it because of me?' I said no and he started laughing and said, 'I like it. You look better.'
"The coaches love it. Teammates love it. Mom and dad love it, especially mom. She's wanted it cut for a while. My dad was fine, he didn't care."
The only person distraught was the barber.
"He was real disappointed," Patterson said. "He said, 'You just want me to line it up?' And I said, 'No, cut it off.' He was like, 'What?'" Then he said, 'You want me to keep the clippings?' I said, 'No, just throw them away. They're probably on eBay somewhere."
Another segment sure to be troubled is the UK fan base, particularly those behind a grassroots campaign to have T-shirts made in honor of Patterson.
"Yeah, I guess I killed the 'Fear the 'Fro,'" he said with a smile. "I was on the message boards and it was crazy. And people were all over my Facebook page asking if it was true?"
The idea originated last summer, a bet between Patterson and A.J. Stewart over who could grow their hair the longest.
"We kept it going over the summer, but then A.J. wanted to get his cut," Patterson said. "I wanted to keep going."
And he did, despite the nicknames that evolved in the locker room like "Shaft" and "Q-Tip."
"Finally, I decided to get rid of it. I told my teammates that I was going to get it cut and they were like, 'No you're not, you're going to keep it.' But we had a day off and after classes I just did it."
The only tangible drawback to Patterson's decision is that there may come a day when choosing his hairstyle may not be an option.
"My dad is bald. My grandfather is bald. My uncle is bald," Patterson said with a twinge of melancholy. "I've got a lot of bald people in my family, and one day it's probably going to come get me."
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