#MascotMadness: Vote for your favorite mascot
We’ve all been there. It’s March Madness time and the blank bracket lays before us in its immaculate difficulty. We consider ourselves masters of the madness, capable of dropping knowledge about basketball like it’s our job. And for one month –it is. We painstakingly consider each game, each player, each possible upset, until, in the end, we’ve filled out the perfect bracket. With pride, we turn the bracket into our office pools, fraternity contests, and ESPN’s latest competition.
Then we lose to the person that picked their bracket based on team mascots and which colors were prettier. We curse the system, rip up our bracket, drink ourselves into submission, and forget that we just witnessed a hell of a basketball tournament.
If you can’t beat them –why not join them?
This is a chance to fill out THAT bracket. This is a chance to decide which mascots reign supreme in the world of Division I College Basketball. This is a chance to tell office-gal Ruby, the defending March Madness Champion, to take her love of huskies and shove it. ‘Cause this time, it’s an equal playing field. Let the Mascot Madness begin.
Here are the rules:
Thirty-two teams have earned the right to be on the first StraitPinkie Mascot Madness Bracket. It’s up to you to decide who wins. Click here to vote at StraitPinkie.com.
Can you blame him?
Yes, Kentucky wide reciver coach Tee Martin bolted for the University of Southern California. It’s Southern California. You know, the University in Los Angeles? Yeah. When you get the opportunity to hop from a nobody in the Southeastern Conference to one of the premiere college football programs in the nation, you do it.
If anyone is surprised by this move, they are naive in believing that this football program has a chance to succeed in the immediate future. Can they return to a bowl game, sure. But they have no chance of competing for an SEC Championship in the next 3-4 years because they aren’t getting the talent. If you don’t have a great group of talent and you aren’t at a premier school, even if you are a coach, you want to continue to move up and better yourself. Tee Martin’s plans and career expectations were not capped at the University of Kentucky and their wide receiver coach position. Martin’s dreams and aspirations are bigger than that.
The Kentucky football program and the fans will miss him. They should. He was a great recruiter, had a great personality, and was a good football coach. All of those descriptions are exactly why he was courted by and left for USC. Southern California will be eligible for postseason play next year, and with Matt Barkley back in the fold, are likely to be National Championship contenders. It was a jump that Tee Martin, even if it was a lateral move position-wise, will lead to much better opportunities for him in the future. It’s a no-brainer.
This will greatly effect the Kentucky football program, but Martin did his job. He got some of the best talent to ever commit to Kentucky to join Joker Phillips and his vision for the team. Kentucky fans should thank Martin for staying as long as he did and all he contributed to Kentucky in his short time there. They should also wish him the best in his decision to do what is best for him and his family.
Kentucky will have to regroup, but they will have plenty of time to do so. The talent is already signed and in the fold for next season. If Kentucky is serious about winning and rebuilding this program, they will have to continue to find talented guys like Martin looking to get their start. Kentucky is going to have to be a stepping stone for a while. If they start to show some progress, that can be a good thing.
Regardless, Martin does not make or break the program. He was a nice piece to the staff, but ultimately, teams should be known and defined by their head coach, and who their postion coaches are should be much less of a factor. Joker Phillips has been given a new life and his philiosphies and strategies must change. If this season even slightly resembles last season, then there may be some big problems in the Commonwealth. Just don’t blame it on Tee Martin.
Tee Martin to be named wide receivers coach at USC
Have received zero confirmation on this, but USC 2012 Heisman hopeful Matt Barkley tweeted out earlier that Tee Martin will take the wide receivers coaching position at Southern California.
This would be a huge loss for the Cats. We’ll keep our eyes open.
9:49 p.m. update – Just received confirmation from Aaron Cordero, of BleedBlueKentucky.com, that there is, and I quote, “something to this Barkley tweet about Tee Martin”. On his blog, he says, “where there is smoke there is fire.”
I’m sure something official will be announced sometime soon. Big loss for Kentucky.
2012 NBA Draft projections: An early look where Cats will land
With the college basketball season nearing postseason play, the nation’s top players are rising to the top as they prepare to set their teams up for nice runs in their respective tournaments. But once the season is over, and hopefully once the Wildcats have won their 8th National Championship, it will be time to figure out just who exactly will become the NBA’s next rookie class.
With a roster full of NBA potential, Kentucky boasts potentially 6 future first-round draft picks. Will all of those players be available for the 2012 NBA Draft? Only time will tell. Luckily there are a lot of people who like to project the NBA Draft even before the season starts, but now that it has and we are right in the thick of both NBA and college seasons, they have a little bit better idea of who will be entering the NBA Draft and who will be taking them. All of these websites have updated projected drafts, and each one is littered with Wildcats.
After taking a look, everyone can pretty much agree on one thing: Amthony Davis will be the #1 pick overall. After that, it’s anyone’s guess as to who goes where and when. And remember, take these with a grain of salt. There is still a lot of season to be played and almost none of these drafts are based on need of the NBA teams.
MyNBADraft.com
1. Anthony Davis – Charlotte Bobcats
4. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – New Jersey Nets
14. Terrence Jones – Memphis Grizzlies
35. Marquis Teague – Detroit Pistons (2nd Round)
40. Doron Lamb – Atlanta Hawks (2nd Round)
NBADraft.net
1. Anthony Davis – Charlotte Bobcats
7. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Sacramento Kings
16. Doron Lamb – Minnesota Timberwolves
19. Terrence Jones – Denver Nuggets
21. Marquis Teague – Boston Celtics
55. Darius Miller – San Antonio Spurs (2nd Round)
DraftExpress.com
1. Anthony Davis – Charlotte Bobcats
3. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Washington Wizards
11. Terrence Jones – Milwaukee Bucks
31. Doron Lamb – Charlotte Bobcats (2nd Round)
NBA-Draft.com (Second round N/A)
1. Anthony Davis – Charlotte Bobcats
6. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Golden State Warriors
15. Terrence Jones – Milwaukee Bucks
29. Doron Lamb – Chicago Bulls
TheHoopsReport.com
1. Anthony Davis – Charlotte Bobcats
6. Terrence Jones – New Jersey Nets
9. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Houston Rockets
18. Marquis Teague – Los Angeles Lakers
29. Doron Lamb – Chicago Bulls
Cats in the Pros
With 16 players in the NBA, the Cats rank 2nd only to Duke in total players in the pros. By the way, Duke has 17, so more than likely the Blue Devils only have one more year to carry the torch. So without further adieu, check out your Cats in the Pros last night:
Spurs at Pistons
Tayshaun Prince (DET): 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists
Brandon Knight (DET): 16 points and 4 assists
Bulls at Kings
Chuck Hayes (SAC): 2 points, 1 rebound in 10 minutes
*Demarcus Cousins (SAC): 28 points, 17 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
Rockets at Grizzlies
Patrick Patterson (HOU): 2 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in 25 minutes off the bench.
Jazz at Thunder – Battle of Old vs Youth
Enes Kanter (UTA): 7 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.
Nazr Mohammed (OKC): 8 points, 2 rebounds and 3 blocks
Wizards at Blazers – Classic Wall
John Wall (WSH): 29 points (10-14 FG and 8-9 FT), 9 assits, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks
Player of the Night: Cousins. The big man is averaging 22 points and 14 rebounds over his last 6 games. Honestly, he should be in the All Star game and might have a chance if a couple of veterans decide not to go. On a side note – Cousins hit his first 3 pointer of the season last night… he’s 1-4 from behind the arc this season, gotta love it.
Play of the Night: Wall with a beautiful finish.
Reinvigorated Cousins has huge night in loss
It’s not much of a surprise for Kentucky fans who saw the potential and the dominance rendered while he wore the Blue and White, but Demarcus Cousins is strait beasting on fools right now in the league. After a rough patch earlier this season with former Head Coach Paul Westphal, a new staff and change in philosophy has allowed Cousins to blossom and it seems that he is starting to put it all together. Though the Kings fell to the Chicago Bulls Tuesday, Cousins was definitely the biggest story of the night.
On Valentine’s day, Cousins dominated with 28 points, 17 rebounds, two assists, three steals, two blocks and his first 3-pointer of the season on Tuesday. He and former Calipari point guard Tyreke Evans combined for a total 55 points in the loss. Cousins is averaging 22 points, 13 rebounds and more than a steal and block over his last five games. He’s really starting to get it.
He’s been so impressive, along with former teammate John Wall, that Coach Cal tweeted this out earlier this morning:
@UKCoachCalipari: Man, the way
@boogiecousins and@John_Wall are playing lately I must have held them back. Proud of you guys.#WeAreUK
And for all you romantics out there, listen to our man “Boogie” wax poetic about Valentine’s Day…
Today’s open practice information
With no game scheduled between last Saturday’s win in Vanderbilt and this up-coming Saturday’s tilt with Mississippi, Coach Cal will once again hold an open practice for students in Memorial Coliseum for the second time in his tenure. Not only will the team practice, but they will hold a scrimmage to help the team stay sharp over the week-long layoff. The last time Kentucky had a full week off, they went to Indiana and played a poor game, so Calipari hopes to ensure that same type of performance does not show up on Saturday against Ole Miss.
Here is some important information regarding the open practice:
- Practice will begin at 3 p.m. and run until approximately 5 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.
- There will not be any general-public access to today’s practice. The school says there is not enough parking on campus during the day to handle general admission.
- There are still student tickets available. Tickets are FREE. Students can stop by the UK Ticket Office in Joe Craft between 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Approximately 900 Anthony Davis posters are available on a first come, first serve basis.
- If you can’t make it today’s open practice for UK students/faculty/staff, you can view the practice live on ESPNU or WKYT in Lexington from 3-5 p.m. ET.
Top 10 things Kentucky fans love
In honor of the worst holiday known to man, we also honor the University of Kentucky basketball team and Kentucky fans. But for most Kentucky fans, every day is Valentine’s day when it comes to the Cats. It’s not secret that the Big Blue Nation’s love affaird with the Wildcats is a strong as any fan base to team connection in the country, and because of that, we look at the top 10 things that Kentucky fans love about their Wildcats.
10. Ashley Judd - Ashley Judd is arguably the most famous of all Kentucky fans. She’s at the biggest games every season and let’s the world know it. When she’s at a home game and the camera shows her on all four of the big screens in Rupp Arena, the crowd goes wild for the former Kentucky student and current movie star.
9. Joe B. Hall – He is easily the most beloved Coach of all-time at the University of Kentucky. Joe B. still hangs around the Kentucky basketball program and has become great commrades with John Calipari. Coach Hall is still one of the greatest figure heads for the University and one of the most genuinely nicest men in the Bluegrass. He is responsible for the Wildcat Lodge which was named after him and has a daily radio show with former Louisville Head Coach Denny Krum. But you already know that because you love him so much.
8. Camping out for Big Blue Madness – One of the greatest traditions in all of Big Blue fandom is the pre-season ritual of camping out along the outter areas of Memorial Coliseum, and now Joe Craft Center, for free tickets to Big Blue Madness. What’s even crazier is that the tickets are now distributed online, also for free plus the service charge. Yet, the crowds continue to grow each year thanks to the environment created by UK Athletics, Calipari, and the players.
7. Big Blue Madness – While the campout is a blast before the event, Big Blue Madness, especially since Calipari’s arrival, has been turned into one of the best events of the year for Kentucky fans. Not only is it the first look at the the new players on the basketball team, but it’s become an even bigger show and celebration of the season to follow. Calipari gives the state of the union, players dance, and then they play a terrible brand of basketball full of dunks and alleyoops, but mostly sloppy play. Then, based off the performance, Kentucky fans try to determine the entire outcome of the season.
6. Bill Keightley – Also known as Mr. Wildcat, was and continues to be the epitome of Kentucky Basketball. The late Mr. Keightley passed away a few years ago, yet his spirit lives on. Keightley held the position of equipment manager for the University of Kentucky basketball team for 48 years, and he loved every team as much as the other. Keightley held the post under six different basketball coaches: Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and Billy Gillispie. He was part of three different Championship teams and he has his named retired in the rafters of Rupp Arena. We still miss you, Bill, and everything you gave to us.
5. John Calipari – Coach Cal hasn’t quite cemented his legacy yet, but right now, Calipari is easily one of the most loved entities of Kentucky basketball. Calipari is responsible for restoring the Kentucky basketball program to national prominence, and Kentucky fans love him for that. Cal brings in the top talent every year, he loves his job, and he handles the job better than any other person in the world could. Calipari and the Kentucky job are a perfect match, and he has the Big Blue Nation eating out of his hand. If he puts #8 up in the rafters, Calipari could easily climb this list and become one of the most beloved figures in Kentucky basketball history.
4. Rupp Arena – It may not be the mecca of college basketball, and it might not even be the best looking arena in the state, but it has the most tradition and is a staple to Kentucky basketball. As one of the largest venues in college basketball, 23,500 + fill the arena for every home game and the Big Blue Nation leads college basketball in attendance every season. When the proposition of a new arena came about, Kentucky fans worried about losing the tradition and mystique of Rupp Arena, and now it will receive a facelift in the coming years.
3. Beating Louisville – Nuff said.
2. The Players – If it weren’t for the players, there would be no basketball team. From Macey and Walker all the way to Wall and Davis, Kentucky fans fall in love with players for 1-4 years, and good or bad, Kentucky fans will love and remember them forever. As Calipari continues to make Kentucky a player’s destination and those guys continue to show their personalities that they have in the last three years, the love affair with fans and players will only continue to grow into a marriage.
1. National Championships – Kentucky has 7. Kentucky fans cherish them more than anything else, except for a fortuitous #8. When that day comes, which should not be too far off in the future, Kentucky fans will be on Cloud 9 and hoping for #9 while bedlham ensues in the celebration of an 8th National Championship.
Some reasons not to hate Valentine’s Day…
Here are two reasons not to hate Valentine’s Day…
Need even more reasons? Check out a plethora of Valentine’s Day yumps over at StraitPinkie.com by clicking here.
Who’s Your Valentine?
We all have someone we love… and it is usually a UK basketball player. There are many to choose from – Macy, Walker, Mashburn, Hayes, Patterson, Jorts… What about the coaches? Joe B., Rupp (if you’re old enough), Tubby, Cal… honestly you can’t go wrong. For me, I couldn’t get enough Tayshaun Prince. Prince is my all-time favorite Cat and always will be. The guy was always smooth and had those great moments that have always stuck with me. In honor of Valentines Day, I think it is appropriate to honor our favorite Cat… So, Tayshaun Prince, Be My Valentine! (feel free to comment with YOUR favorite Valentine)