Web Wednesday: 4.29.09

Week News

Some news since last wednesday:

•  According to Marc Maggard, Eric Bledsoe is visiting Kentucky this weekend. This comes only a week after visiting Memphis.
•  Jody Demling says John Wall is going to cut his list this week. Look for UK and Duke to make the final cut along with possibly Miami (FL) and/or Florida.
•  John Calipari talked to Dan Issel. And he is ‘twittering’.
•  Calipari is meeting with tons of five-star recruits. Will Barton, Brandon Knight, Adreian Payne, Roscoe Smith, Harrison Barnes, and Joe Jackson have all gotten visits in the past two weeks.

Rumor Mill

•  One rumor floating around is that both Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks are going to return to school and if they do it looks like John Wall will follow. Wall wants to win a title in his only season in college and with Meeks and Patterson coming back that can happen.
•  Another rumor is that AJ Stewart will be leaving the team, along with Donald Williams. AJ seems to be the odd-man out in the scholarship situation.

Former Faces

A lot of former UK players are being discussed in the NBA recently. Rajon Rondo has had perhaps the best postseason of any player in the league, averaging 24-10-10 in the playoffs, and yes that’s a triple-double. But in the last 12 hours it has been his slap across the face of Brad Miller that has been keeping him in the news.

Tayshaun Prince has been a staple in the Detroit Pistons starting lineup for 6 full seasons but it appears his may be on his way out. Mass turnover of the Pistons roster is due to go down this summer and Tayshaun looks like he may be one to go.

It looks like Chuck Hayes is getting some recognition. Hayes seems to be the best at defending Blazers big man LaMarcus Aldridge, helping the Rockets control the Blazers.

UK vs. Miami (FL): Preview

Today Kentucky gets their first shot at a team that has, at one point in the season, been ranked. Miami (FL) is no longer ranked because a loss at Ohio State but do not let that fool you, they played the majority of the game without their best player, Jack McClinton, after McClinton felt it was necessary to punch a guy in the face and get himself ejected. Had he been in the game odds are they would have won so UK should look at Miami as a ranked opponent.

Miami is led by McClinton, who returns for the game, and Dwayne Collins, who is averaging 12.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Miami comes in pretty balanced scoring wise, having eight players averaging 6 ppg or more on the season as they are averaging 76 ppg this season as a team. Miami also has a highly recruited freshman out of New York named DeQuan Jones who, although he is averaging just 3.5 ppg, can really jump and could explode in a game.

KEYS TO THE GAME

The biggest thing Kentucky needs to do is to cut down on their turnover numbers. UK comes into this game leading the nation in turnovers per game with 22 tpg where as Miami is only averaging 13.2 tpg. With Michael Porter hurt, but still playing, look for DeAndre Liggins to start at point guard. Liggins, although turnover prone himself, does not throw the ball away as much as Porter, who commits about 3 tpg in only 18 mpg. Liggins helped lead the Cats to victories in Las Vegas over Kansas State and West Virginia with his big plays in the second half of those ball games. If UK can stay around even with Miami in terms of turnovers then we will have a good shot to win.

Another key will be to keep Patrick Patterson out of foul trouble. It seems as though in every game Patterson picks up two quick first half fouls and then has to sit for a long time and then will come in the second half and pick one up. Patterson is averaging less than 30 mpg. which is not good. With Miami having many guys that can come down low and score it is crucial that Patterson is in there to match them and to help prevent them from scoring. Patterson is the best player in the SEC and he will need to have an All-SEC performance today to help propel the Cats.

Prediction

I think that Gillispie is a very good coach, especially at putting the right lineups on the court at the perfect time and I think he does it again for the Cats. I think Patterson has a monster game and Meeks has another 18-22 point performance in helping the Cats to a 72-65 win over the Hurricanes. One very important factor will be the point guard play. I assume Liggins and Galloway will again get major minutes and with them both being new players to the program it is crucial that they play smart.

UK news and notes

– First off, good to hear that Ramon Harris has been released from hospital after suffering a scary injury to his neck. He is listed as day-to-day, but I would not expect him to be in action saturday vs. Miami (FL). Michael Porter seems to be in a bit better shape after his injury caused him to get 10 stitches, he should play against Miami (FL), unfortunately.

– I thought Coach Gillispie handled the DeAndre Liggins situation perfectly, and not because Liggins basically led us to victory over West Virginia the day after his tantrum, but because it is understandable that he was upset and in my opinion he had every right to be. I’m sure Liggins understands why he got some extra “gifts” in practice this week after his reaction. I would start him over Porter saturday if I were Gillispie.

Miami (FL) star Jack McClinton

 

– I expect that Cats to win this weekend at home against Miami (FL). After watching Miami’s first national game vs. Ohio State earlier this week I do not think they should beat us or even come close. Although they played the majority of the game without their skilled, yet easily angered, guard Jack McClinton (left) they still did not look impressive. UK has gone just about every game with Patterson on the bench due to consistent foul trouble and we have already beaten two teams that went to the NCAA tournament a season ago. I expect Patterson to have an enormous game, about 25 pts and 11 rebs.

– The starting lineup for UK-Miami SHOULD be:

D.Liggins
J.Meeks
D.Miller
P.Patterson
J.Harrellson

With Stevenson, Galloway, Stewart, and Porter coming off the bench. I am assuming of course that Harris is not going to play, in which case he should come off the bench at SF.