This is a tough period for people like the staff at UK Wildcat Country. Nothing is happening – absolutely nothing. So in turn, I can’t write a long column on one subject, and I don’t like doing a WGCGA on consecutive days. I still have some information and opinions, but they’re all pretty short takes, so I’ll just post them all, Larry King style.
WHERE’S MARK COURY?
I’m not sure. If you believe what was said at yesterday’s press conference, then he isn’t here, at least not right now. I had a source tell me a couple weeks ago that Mark Coury had not only transferred, but the transfer occurred less than a month after the season ended. I was reluctant to post this information because it was the only source I had, and the last time I got information from that source, he told me Chris Singleton was coming to Kentucky on the same day he committed to Florida State. Turns out he may have been right after all. If I interpreted the press conference correctly, Coury is not in Lexington, but he might be by the time the season starts.
I always try to be as respectful as possible when talking about the players because every one of them is more deserving of wearing that jersey than I am. I can understand why Mark Coury started so many games and why he played so many minutes in December. Perry Stevenson didn’t find himself until January, and even when that happened, he preferred coming off the bench because he could get a feel for how the officials were going to call the game. Still, I wish it didn’t have to come to that, because Kentucky was usually in a bit of a hole by the time Mark Coury came out of the game at the first TV timeout. Sometimes he was responsible, other times it wasn’t, but it still happened. Without Coury, maybe we can see more minutes from Stevenson, plus extra minutes for Darius Miller, AJ Stewart and Josh Harrellson. If he comes back, he can do what he did last season – do everything his coach tells him in practice, except this time there will be more depth at his position. I say it’s a win-win situation.
AN UPDATE ON LIGGINS AND GALLOWAY
Things are looking better, especially compared to the pessimism apex that was last Friday. Remember last Friday? It seemed like both of Coach Gillispie’s 2008 point guard prospects were not going to get to play at all. Didn’t you get depressed? I know I did. No offense to Michael Porter or Jodie Meeks, but neither of them can be a point guard on a team that can optimize its potential. My man Dave Kersey seems to have a good grasp of the situation. I’m paraphrasing here, but he says that UK feels that DeAndre Liggins has met all eligibilty requirements for the University, and everybody’s just waiting on the NCAA clearinghouse. UK and the clearinghouse have sent paperwork to each other a couple of times, so the staff must be extremely confident in the chances of Liggins suiting up this year. The Kevin Galloway situation is even better, as Dave has called his likelihood of playing in the blue and white “a slam dunk.” This was to be expected when it came out that the Galloway situation was more of a Kentucky problem than an NCAA problem. Does that make you feel better? It should.
KNOW YOUR ROLE, SEC COACHES: A MINI-SHOOT
The views I’m about to express are my own, blah blah, etc. etc., you know how it goes. Here are two quotes from the SEC teleconference that have really started to grind my gears. Both quotes concern the commitment of Austin Rivers to Florida and the horrible double standard that has established. First up is South Carolina’s Darrin Horn.
“In Florida’s case, for example, that’s obviously a unique circumstance where there’s a great relationship there. It’s been built over time, and that kid’s been watched and evaluated. To me, that’s a very careful, wise thing versus something that’s very flippant and off the cuff, which I think is what the intent of that suggestion is.”
Now, here’s Billy Donovan.
“We have not done that (offer a young player based solely on potential, the main thing the NCAA wanted to get rid of with the “Billy Gillispie Rule”). Our situation is much more based upon what we feel is in the best interest of the young man and the University of Florida by way of (building) relationships.”
It is what it is, guys. Florida received a commitment from a freshman in high school, just like Kentucky did. The situations aren’t different. Nothing makes one situation okay and the other one bad. Donovan might be deserving of a pass because of the two national titles, but Darrin Horn? This isn’t the Sun Belt, Skippy. You actually have to run plays to win, unless you’re playing Tennessee. Trent Johnson’s new to the conference, and he didn’t say anything. You know why? Because he’s new to the conference – that’s why. I value the opinion of Mark Gottfried more than that of Darrin Horn, and Gottfried is one of the five worst coaches in the country, but at least he’s been around long enough to know that either both situations are okay, or they both aren’t.
I’m Seth Stogsdill, and I’d love some news.
