Good morning, Kentucky Sports Radio radio listeners. Got your Cleveland Cavaliers t-shirt yet? You better get on it.

On today’s show, Matt and Ryan will talk about the Cavs’ upset win last night’s NBA draft lottery and what it means for Nerlens Noel. They’ll also discuss a little football and our excitement as Charles Ramsey Day approaches.

Join in on the fun by calling (502) 571-1080.

Topics include:

– Nerlens to Cleveland?

– UK vs. WKU

– Atlases

– Thursday and Friday’s shows

Listen to Kentucky Sports Radio

KSR Affiliate List

WAIN (93.9 fm) Columbia
WHIR (1230 am) Danville
WCLU (1490 am) Glasgow
WJKY (1060 am) Jamestown
WLAP (630 am) Lexington
WFMW (730 am) Madisonville
WFTM (1240 am) Maysville
WKYM (101.7 fm) Monticello
WMSK (101.3 fm) Morganfield
WKJK (1080 am) Louisville
WKYH (600 am) Paintsville
WLSI (900 am) Pikeville
WPRT (960 am) Prestonsburg
WSFC (1240 am) Somerset
WTCW (920 am) Whitesburg
WBTH (1400 am) Williamson, WV

On Delay…

WBGN (1340 am) Bowling Green 3-5 pm
WKFC (101.9 fm) London 6-8 pm
WLBQ (1570 am) Morgantown 3-5 pm
WRIL (106.3 fm) Middlesboro Thur 8-10 pm
WKYQ (1560 am) Paducah 5-7 pm

On Tuesday, I broke down the strength of this non-conference schedule for 2013-14, and concluded that it will be one of John Calipari’s best non-conference schedules.  Often times, it is the second tier games that make or break the difficulty of the schedule.  UK will always have the UNC’s and Louisville’s of the world on the schedule.  But it’s Boise State and Belmont that make the schedule especially tough this year.  Those are mid-major teams with high NCAA Tournament hopes and the ability, on a great night, to challenge UK.  But I have to wonder: why not give a little more love to the in-state schools? 

Frankly, WKU has made the last 2 tournaments.  Murray State has won games in the tournament TWICE in the last couple years.  Morehead State beat Louisville just 3 years ago in the tournament.  Eastern Kentucky has a really awesome looking mascot.  But the point is scheduling these teams would not decrease the quality of the schedule one bit.  Would we rather see WKU and EKU in Rupp Arena or UNC-Asheville and Robert Morris?  Below are the 5 in-state Division-1 schools not named Louisville in the state and the times UK has played them in the John Calipari era:  

Morehead State: 2009 and 2012
Western Kentucky: 2012 (NCAA Tournament, Last regular season game was 2001)
Eastern Kentucky: NONE (Last scheduled game was 2006)
Murray State: NONE (Teams have never played)
Northern Kentucky: Scheduled for 2013

How big of an issue is this for me?  Not very big.  But look, I am a WKU alum.  In my 4 years in Bowling Green, I saw WKU play UL twice, play Murray every year, Eastern Kentucky every year, and never even sniff playing UK.  And I can tell you in those 4 years, WKU would not have beaten UK once, or played them within 10 points.  Point being, there was no harm in scheduling WKU.  All it would do is give the UK fans another non-conference game that would garner more interest while keeping the schedule strong.

And if you’re argument is that you are scared these teams might actually beat the Cats, then what does that say about you?  That you are scared of mid-major programs in the state?  And that is no way to approach a schedule.  I see no negatives to scheduling these teams.  They wouldn’t try and make you play in their gyms, big interest in the state, small chance of losing.  I don’t see any reason not to seriously consider this.    

I just wonder what you all think.  Do you want to see more in-state schools on the schedule on a yearly basis?  Or is that an unimportant factor in the schedule for you? 

On a completely unrelated note to a trivial basketball schedule, take a minute to watch this video of a CBS report from Oklahoma.  So much grief in that state right now, it’s great to see an occassional bright story.  Especially when it comes to family pets:  

Follow me on twitter @BryantheIntern

Many of you may not know the two young women up above, but they are all the rage for the high school and college basketball set. They are the Gonzalez Twins, Dyl and Kota (short for Dylan and Dakota) and they are the next big thing in women’s college basketball. The two young women are headed to Kansas next year, but they have already spawned tons of admirers in the Twitter world and have met celebrities ranging from Kevin Hart to Magic Johnson. Some even joked when Andrew Wiggins picked Kansas that he was doing it for the Gonzalez duo (which would be more understandable than if he had picked for Bill Self). But now as the world admires the Gonzalez Girls, they seem to admire Anthony Davis. Our favorite Unibrow has been rumored on the social media sites to be dating one of the girls (I think its Dyl, but I am not a specialist on telling twins apart…I still dont know which Collins twin is gay). The girls posted these pictures recently of a visit from Davis with them:

Then, Dyl got the speculation going even further with this tweet to Anthony this week:

I miss you 😩😩😩 @antdavis23

— Dyl & Kota Gonzalez (@Dollbaby_duo) May 21, 2013

Now I of course have no idea if the two are an item, and honestly I don’t care. But I do think it is interesting that these two women, who will be the stars of college basketball…at least from the fan point of view…next year have found their way into a rumored fling with Anthony Davis. It shows just how far Davis’s media profile has risen and just what a future star he is. Plus, I think it is a better rumor than when everyone said he was dating Brittney Griner. Do your thing Anthony.

The stories don’t stop coming out of Moore, Oklahoma after Monday’s devastating tornadoes. Some stories are tragic, some are heartwarming, and some give you faith in mankind, like the news that NBA superstar Kevin Durant is donating $1 million to tornado relief. Durant has been in Oklahoma City for five years, and in a message through his foundation, said that he considers the town his home:

“As the day went on and I saw the footage and the casualties and the houses being blown away, it was tough to see. I call Oklahoma City my home. I go through Moore all the time. It’s unfortunate. We’re going to come together as a city like we always do and we’re going to bounce back.”

Durant was in Minneapolis during the tornadoes, but says he hopes to be back in Oklahoma City on Wednesday to continue to give back:

“Just to get to the hospital, see some kids. Something. Just something to give some hope. Playing for the Thunder, we mean so much to the state. So many people support us and I just want to go back and support those people.”

Good on ya, Kevin. Let’s all do the same by donating what we can to the victims through the Red Cross.

– The big news of the day was the Cleveland Cavaliers winning the number one pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. However, with their cap space, two first round picks and interest in improving fast, there were reports on Tuesday night that the Cavs are going to investigate trading the number one pick. If they keep the pick, it is widely expected that they will select Nerlens Noel. It’s a win-win for both parties: Nerlens gets to join forces with Kyrie Irving and potentially another top pick next season; and Cleveland gets a player that, once rehabbed, will have an immediate impact inside. Chad Ford said that Nerlens “might be the perfect fit for the Cavs” due to his compatible defensive presence and the fact that they can be patient for him to fully recover because of bigs Anderson Varejao and Tyler Zeller. Ford also said that barring any bad news about his knee (NBA docs evaluate him this weekend), he thinks Nerlens will be a Cavalier.

Smile, Nerlens, you’re probably headed to Cleveland!

(The size of Nerlens’ hand in this .gif might haunt me forever.)

– Right now, Draft Express has Nerlens going first to the Cavs, and Archie Goodwin going 30th to the Phoenix Suns, while Chad Ford left Archie out of his mock first round. Here’s the complete first round draft order:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Toronto Raptors)
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz
15. Milwaukee Bucks
16. Boston Celtics
17. Atlanta Hawks
18. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets)
19. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles Lakers)
20. Chicago Bulls
21. Utah Jazz (from Golden State Warriors)
22. Brooklyn Nets
23. Indiana Pacers
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Clippers
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis Grizzlies)
27. Denver Nuggets
28. San Antonio Spurs
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
30. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)

– Bill Simmons had to go and troll the BBN with this possibility on Twitter: if you were the Cavs, would you trade the number one pick to Sacramento for DeMarcus Cousins? Hmmm…

– Another Cat will have a shot at making a team when Julius Mays works out in the Brooklyn Nets’ league-wide NBA combine on Thursday. The combine features five-on-five competition between potential second rounders. Mays is scheduled to play with Pierre Jackson (Baylor), Travis Releford (Kansas), Marshawn Powell (Arkansas) and Alex Oriakhi (Missouri) in Thursday’s 11:15 a.m. session. Last week, Mays worked out for the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Toronto Raptors. If Uncle Julius makes a team, Calipari is officially the king of getting players in the league. Game over, end of story, give him the scepter.

– The baseball team’s season ended on Tuesday with a 4-1 loss to Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament. The team’s late season collapse is truly disappointing, as they were ranked as high as seventh at times this year. The loss also kills any postseason dreams the Bat Cats have. The Bat Cats ended the season with a 30-25 record after a 22-6 start. Ouch.

– Rivals updated their 250 for 2014 on Tuesday, and some future Cats jumped up the list. Drew Barker moved up to #117 from #153, Mikel Horton up to #131 from #209, and Thaddeus Snodgrass jumped on the list at #205.

– Cincinnati safety Mike Edwards reportedly enjoyed his trip to UK on Monday, and according to current 2014 commitment Mikel Horton, will be a Cat soon. Horton said that Edwards is a “UK lover,” and that he feels they’ve “got him.” What about Edwards’ BFF Darius West, who came in at #185 on the Rivals250? Horton called West a “hell of an athlete” that “gets the job done,” and said that West tells him loves Kentucky, but also has interest in Louisville. West will announce his decision on May 30th, while Edwards has yet to set an announcement date. They’ve both said that they plan on playing on the same team at the next level.

– Another exciting week rolls on, with a huge slate of radio guests set to end the week. On Thursday, Matthew Mitchell will be in-studio to co-host with Matt, and on Friday, Matt and Drew will travel to Floyd County where Cleveland superhero Charles Ramsey will be doing a public appearance. Ramsey has agreed to come on the radio show, which is just about the most exciting thing to happen around here since BTI came back. Don’t miss out.

Some good stuff as Nerlens interviews with ESPN on his “Car Wash” Tour

The NBA Draft lottery just wrapped up and the Cleveland Cavaliers have been awarded the number one pick. Most analysts, including ESPN’s Chad Ford, say the Cavs will select Nerlens Noel, who spoke to ESPN after the lottery concluded. Noel said that he thinks his game definitely translates well to the Cavs, and that once he returns to the court, his shot blocking ability will have an immediate impact on the Cav’s defense. He said he liked the idea of playing with Kyrie Irving, and as many people have mentioned, there is the possibility that LeBron James could return to Cleveland in two years, making the team an legitimate title contender.

Better stock up on some more knit caps, Nerlens. I hear it’s cold up there.

Since its inception in 2005, the one-and-done rule has completely changed the sport of basketball, and no one knows that better than John Calipari. Cal has become synonymous with the rule, and in turn, is college basketball’s biggest villain. The sport’s purists work themselves into a fury talking about how Cal’s “NBA factory” at Kentucky has demoralized and cheapened James Naismith’s great invention. To them, painting Calipari as the villain is easier than accepting the cold hard truth: the rule is a necessary evil for success in college basketball. And John Calipari’s the only one willing to do something about it.

Let’s start by looking back at how we got into this mess.

During collective bargaining talks in 2005, the players’ association and the league came up with the “one-and-done rule” as a solution to the influx of prep stars making the leap to the NBA without attending college. The NBA wanted more time to evaluate high school talent and hoped that a year in college would help players mature. The players’ association didn’t wholly approve of the concept, but agreed to it to get other things they wanted from the league. Therefore, the rule stating that a player must be 19 years of age, or have spent one season in college or playing abroad in order to play in the league was born.

In its first few years, the rule seemed to benefit both NBA and college basketball. Stars like Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, and Greg Oden only spent the requisite year in college, but helped their teams to postseason success, and Durant became the first freshman ever to win the Oscar Robertson Trophy. College basketball benefited from a jolt of talent that previously, would have followed in Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James’ shoes by leaping to the league straight out of high school, and the NBA got its slightly more developed stars. At age 22, Rose became the league’s youngest MVP, a feat that LeBron James didn’t achieve until he was 24.

The problems with the one-and-done rule began once the sport had a few years to adjust to it. Some coaches accepted the rule and found a way to make it work, while others refuse to adapt their practices, and in turn, lag behind the curve. The nation’s top high school talent sees which coaches/programs are most successful in putting players in the league (Kentucky), and as a result, other coaches are left in the cold, which breeds jealousy and contempt.

Cal’s approach to the rule? Put the players first. “I’m not recruiting one-and-dones; I’m recruiting basketball players,” Calipari said in 2011. “I tell kids, ‘Don’t come here if you think you’re leaving after one year. If you’re ready to go after a year, I will be fine with it.’ You recruit the best kids you can recruit and then you make judgments when the year is over. People say, ‘Cal, if he had stayed, you would have had another guy and maybe won the national title.’ Maybe it would have been better for us, but it wouldn’t have been better for him.”

The fact that the media really only started making noise about the evils of the rule after Cal began to have success at Kentucky is not a coincidence; Kentucky was already the villain of the sport, and when Cal came along, he vaulted it back to elite status with such speed that the rest of the teams in the sport were left spinning. It didn’t take the critics long to take the low road to explain Kentucky’s sudden shot of success.

ESPN and CBS commentator Len Elmore in 2011: “You have coaches now running and telling kids, ‘Come with me, and after your freshman year I’ll have you ready for the NBA.’ It used to be in recruiting the coach would say, ‘Come with me and I’ll develop you into a man and you’ll get a degree.’ …I won’t name names, but you know who they are. And it still boggles my mind how a coach can think he can take a kid for six months and get him ready for the NBA.”

At this point, the one-and-done rule isn’t exactly helping the players out, either. The number of one-and-doners drafted that end up in the D-League is going up. While they’re getting paid, it is clear in some cases that another year or two in college would have helped both the players and the teams make a better decision. Now, teams are full of players who are young, raw players who need development. Critics love to blame Cal for the system, but he’s quick to point out that he’s not the one who created it, he’s just found a way to make it work, and in turn, reap more rewards:

“All these people are trying to make this one-year rule my rule. When did it become my rule? I don’t even like it. Would I like them to stay four years? Absolutely, I would like them to stay four years. But it’s not the rule. This is the rule,” Cal has said. “There’s only two solutions to it: Either I can recruit players who are not as good as the players I’m recruiting or I can try to convince guys that should leave to stay for me.” “

He’s even gone as far to trump his system’s “success rate,” aka a graduation rate in the one-and-done era. His players may not make it to their sophomore year, but they do put in work towards their degrees over the summer, while at the same time still chasing their dreams and taking care of their families’ financial situations. It ain’t pretty, but until the rule changes, it works.

When will that rule change? Probably not anytime soon. Yet, Cal has been one of the few college coaches to offer some solutions. He’s proposed the “two and through” system, in which the age requirement for the league would be bumped up to 20, or two years of school. The two-year rule would make it easier for players to get their degrees, while still having the time they need to develop their skills and mature in college. Cal told Mike DeCourcy back in 2011 that it’s the perfect medium:

“If it’s two years, the kids understand they’ve got to go to college. I think we would have 100 percent graduation rate along with all these kids getting drafted. When a kid leaves after one year and he’s 90 credits short, that’s going to take seven or eight years. …Two years is a good number. Kids can come in and do their thing, they can get close to graduating, you can have an impact on their lives.”

He’s also suggested that players who stay two years or more get a year off their initial contract in the NBA, which would give them a bigger contract sooner and provide incentive for them to stay in school. In the past, NCAA president Mark Emmert has proposed getting rid of the rule altogether and letting kids go to the league right out of high school, something which Cal pointed out in a 2012 speech was how we got into this mess in the first place:

“The NCAA president said let them go right out of high school? What? How many ninth graders will think, ‘I’m going right to the NBA?’ Five hundred? One thousand? Now those kids will be really focused on academics. How could you make that statement?”

Calipari’s ire for the NCAA and its rules has swelled to the point that on our radio show last week, he suggested that Kentucky may secede from the NCAA until things are changed. And while the one-and-done rule is an NBA rule, the NCAA is doing nothing to fix it. Until they do, college basketball and the nation’s top talent will continue to suffer from a broken system:

“I’m the one guy out there saying we’ve gotta change this somehow,” Calipari told Matt last week. “We’ve gotta encourage these kids to stay two years. But the NCAA’s gotta do some stuff, and if they don’t do it we need to separate from them. I’m not afraid to say it. Look, they’ve embarrassed me. I’ve done nothing, so they’re not gonna come in, show retribution to me and do stuff. I don’t really care. But something’s gotta change with this one-and-done rule. I seem to be the coach saying anything.”

We all joke about how often Cal talks about his “players-first” system, but the reason he does is because it falls on deaf ears to those who have the power. The system isn’t perfect, but right now, it’s the only line of defense until the NCAA, the NBA, and the Players’ Association come together to find a proper solution, which Cal has even already put together for them.

But he’s the villain, right?

It’s time to break out that old Charlotte Hornets Starter jacket! Team owner Michael Jordan announced this afternoon that the Charlotte Bobcats have filed the necessary paperwork to take back their old “Hornets” nickname, which was freed up when New Orleans became the Pelicans. The NBA Board of Governors will vote on approving the name change when they meet up in July. Jordan also indicated that the colors may change from teal and purple, and that the logo may be modified.

Will two Cats soon wear Hornets gear? We’ll find out shortly during tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery (8:30 pm ET on ESPN).

5 stats/keys to success to keep an eye on:

1. Perimeter defense- Kentucky had interior defense last season when Nerlens Noel was healthy, but the Wildcats never found the guy who could contain the other team’s best perimeter shooter or guard. Not only did hot shooting guards plague the Cats last season, but quick/penetrating point guards often burned Kentucky as well. Kentucky may not find a DeAndre Liggins or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist… but guys like Brandon Knight and Marquis Teague became formidable perimeter defenders though during their time at Kentucky.

2. Shot blocking- We have become accustomed to great shot blocking over the past two years with Anthony Davis and Nerlens Noel. Marcus Lee is not necessarily either of those guys– at least not yet. Cauley-Stein showed flashes of shot-blocking brilliance late last season. The shot blocking will likely be an effort by committee rather than simply one player dominating the statistic.

3. Two 3-point shooting threats- We know that Kentucky has Kyle Wiltjer. Although his shot wasn’t consistently falling last season, he is likely to see a lot more open looks with the personnel Kentucky will have on the court. We’ve also seen Wiltjer’s defense though. Kentucky would benefit greatly from having another three point shooting threat in addition to Wiltjer in times when his defense is a major liability for the team.

4. Fouls- Kentucky will have no shortage of interior defenders between Willie Cauley-Stein, Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee, Alex Poythress and Julius Randle. Not only does that list include a list of very good players, but that’s also 25 fouls per game to spare. Not that Kentucky would (or would want to) give up 25 fouls, but foul trouble shouldn’t ever be an issue with the big men on this team. Calipari has already mentioned that he wants to press more with this team. Kentucky will be able to gamble more on all areas of the court with the depth this team will have.

5. Who will be the back-up point guard? I honestly think this is one to keep an eye on. Jarrod Polson gained a lot of experience last season and also had a lot of success. Dominique Hawkins is more athletic, but lacks the experience Polson has.

4 potential losses:

1. vs. Michigan State –Kentucky will have only had 2 true games and 2 exhibition games under its belt before facing an experienced, talented and well-coached Michigan State team. Kentucky will be the kind of team you want to catch early next season if you hope to have a chance. Michigan State will definitely have a chance.

2. @ North Carolina– The Tar Heels are 1 Andrew Wiggins short of having the talent to go toe-to-toe with Kentucky like they did 2 years ago when Anthony Davis became the late-game hero. The home court advantage for North Carolina might not be enough to even the playing field, but it’s enough to make it awfully close.

3. vs. Louisville– Kentucky was an NIT team (barely) last season and still almost beat Louisville ON the road. Louisville essentially has the same team coming back, minus a few key pieces. Kentucky will have a totally revamped and more talented roster. Stranger things have happened though in the UK/UL series than the favorite losing. You have to give the defending national champions a chance, especially in a game played in December.

4. @ Florida– Kentucky and Florida will be the class of the SEC and it’s not even really close. Both match-ups next season should be the premier SEC games of the entire season. Florida returns a great deal of talent while also bringing in one of the nation’s top recruiting classes. I expect at least 1 of the 2 games between these two teams to be a 5-point or less game.

3 things that shouldn’t surprise you at the end of the season:

1. Orlando Antigua finding his first head coaching job– It’s only a matter of time. I feel like we’ve been saying that ever since Calipari and Antigua arrived in Lexington. Antigua has passed up on a number of potential opportunities. His name will continue to be thrown into the coaching carousel mix year in and year out. If Kentucky wins its second national title in three years, coming off of yet another #1 ranked recruiting class aided STRONGLY by the recruiting of Antigua– what better timing could he have to make the move? Also, don’t be surprised to see him back in Lexington again someday…

2. At least 5 players averaging double figures. No one averaging more than 14 ppg. — Kentucky will have so many weapons that it’s hard to pinpoint who the leading scorer on this team will be. Any of the top 7 guys when you look at the roster could average double figures, easily. My guess is at least 5 of them do. Much like the national championship team of two years ago, I can’t see any one particular player scoring the lion’s share of the points either. Balance, balance, balance. Teams will have to pick their poison on any given night.

3. Louisville fans who told us “not to live in the past” for years about our national championships… living in the past and still talking about 2013.

2 sleeper games to keep an eye on:

1. Boise State

2. Belmont

I don’t expect that both of these games will be close, but I do predict that 1 of them will be closer than you would expect (at least until late in the 2nd half). Kentucky will likely pull away in the end, on its home court, but both of these NCAA tournament-experienced/veteran teams could give Kentucky a little trouble at first.

1  player leaving at the end of the season who you did not expect to be a one-and-done

We’ve seen this happen before with guys like Eric Bledsoe and Marquis Teague. If Kentucky wins the national championship, you can almost be sure that at least one player who had a better season than expected will make the jump. Calipari tends to have at least 1 player every season who really over-achieves. I’m not saying it will for sure happen, but keep an eye on a guy like Dakari Johnson who has developed rapidly in the last 6 months alone. As the old saying goes As someone has probably at least said once, “you can’t teach being a 7-footer.”

Julius Mays will participate in the Brooklyn Nets’ league-wide NBA combine this week. The two-day event begins tomorrow and is open to all NBA teams. The Nets’ combine features mostly five-on-five competition between potential second rounders, as opposed to individual workouts like what we saw from the draft’s top prospects in Chicago’s combine last week.

Mays is scheduled to run with guys like Pierre Jackson (Baylor), Travis Releford (Kansas), Marshawn Powell (Arkansas) and Alex Oriakhi (Missouri) in Thursday’s 11:15 a.m. session. Other notable prospects participating in Brooklyn are Peyton Siva (Louisville), Christian Watford (Indiana), Phil Pressey (Missouri) and Jack Cooley (Notre Dame), to give you an idea of what level of talent is invited.

Friday has the potential to be a pretty epic day on KSR Radio. America’s favorite hero Charles Ramsey will be on KSR Radio with me and Drew on Friday. We are making the trip to Floyd County, where Ramsey will be doing a public meet and greet. Drew and I are beyond excited and the interview could be the highlight of our young careers. So do not miss it and while you are waiting, make sure to listen to his great words set to music again…my only hope is that we can eat ribs with this dude on Friday:

On Monday, Tyler Thompson dropped a poll asking you, the Kentucky Sports Radio readers, to cast your realistic opinion on the upcoming football season. No frills, no strings attached. The results seemed optimistic overall, but there was plenty of naysaying and overboard positivity in the comments.

Without a doubt, morale is high around the program. Mark Stoops has sent a massive surge of energy into the recruiting scene and has rallied a dormant fan base around a team that mustered only two wins last season. If what Stoops has done off the field in just a few months is any indication of the product we get on the field, this season will be fun. However, the SEC is still the SEC. It will take time for the young guns to get acclimated to the size and speed. Results will not be immediate, in all likelihood.

That is not discouraging the KSR readers. They have spoken, and the majority says the Wildcats will just miss out on a bowl berth, posting a 5-7 record overall. Twenty-nine percent of the votes say the Cats will be one win shy of the post-season. That is still quite an improvement from what we saw a season ago. Next, with 25 percent of the votes, say 4-8 is most likely. Third was an even 6-6 record, getting 20 percent of the votes.

Kentucky loses five offensive starters from a unit that was among the worst overall in all of college football. That claim was no fault of two veterans on the front line, however, center Matt Smith and guard Larry Warford. Replacing these big boys up front will be no easy task. The quarterback and running back position will be the deepest for offensive coordinator Neal Brown, who can’t wait to air it out.

Defensively, Stoops has a lot to work with. The only major loss is safety Martavius Neloms, and some of the brightest players with the most upside are still young. Fans have a lot to be excited with in defensive end Bud Dupree, along with tackle Mister Cobble and Donte Rumph. Throw in linebackers Avery Williamson and Miles Simpson, and there is plenty of experience in the unit, along with its top three tacklers from last season.

The outlook for the season is not pristine, especially with teams like Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia  on the schedule. But with Stoops at the helm, surely this ship with right itself before long. I have to say the KSR readers are optimistic at 5-7. Pick up one surprise upset and we could be bowling!

Anthony Davis is in New York City to represent the New Orleans Pelicans with his head coach in the draft lottery. The Pelicans have an 8.8 percent chance of receiving the pick for a second consecutive season.

Chad Forde believes the Pelicans will take Otto Porter if awarded the top overall pick. Trey Burke and Ben McLemore are No. 2 and 3 on the Pelicans’ board.

The NBA draft lottery is five hours away and fans are anxiously awaiting the draft order. Once the ping-pong balls are drawn tonight, we will have a pretty good idea whether or not Nerlens Noel will become the third No. 1 overall pick from Kentucky in four years under John Calipari.

Here are the team-by-team and pick-by-pick odds:

SI

Let’s go Charlotte. Or Sacramento.

Follow along on ESPN at 8:30ish.

Every fan base has its trolls. We know them well here at KSR. While most of us just ignore them and wait for them to slither back beneath their bridge, Vanderbilt offensive line/run game coordinator Herb Hand took action. Hand received some offensive tweets about his wife from a Tennessee fan, and replied to them with the following message:

“Feel free to come by anytime so we can talk about this in person like men. …You are welcome to come to my office so we can discuss this face to face…I fully welcome the opportunity.”

He also copied the tweet into a text message and sent it to Tennessee head coach Butch Jones. Here’s a screencap (warning: salty and somewhat blurred language ahead):

Hand has since deleted the tweets from his feed, but posted this message to his followers this morning:

Some will say that Hand went too far and should have just ignored the tweets, but I applaud him for calling the guy out. Next time you guys get unruly in the comments section, maybe we’ll have him pay you a little visit.

After going into the season ranked eighth in the country, it was a sad day in Hoover for your University of Kentucky baseball team, who lost to Ole Miss 4-1 in the opening round of the SEC Baseball Tournament. The Rebel Black Bears jumped out to an early lead, and despite having the bases loaded in the seventh inning, the Cats couldn’t mount a comeback. Their lone run came in the fourth inning off a delayed-steal play with two outs.

The Bat Cats started the season 22-6 and ranked as high as seventh in some polls, but a late season skid has totally halted their postseason plans. They will finish the season with a 30-25 record. Ole Miss will move on to face Arkansas tomorrow.

Get ‘em next year, boys.

Rivals.com updated its 2014 college football rankings today and Drew Barker got a bump up from a 5.8 four-star to a 5.9 four-star player. Barker is ranked No. 117 (previously No. 153) in the list of 250.

Mikel Horton joins Barker as the only other UK commit rated 5.9. Horton is the 131st (previously No. 209) overall player and the 22nd-ranked running back.

Thaddeus Snodgrass also made the list at No. 205 overall.

Cats.

UK safety Ashely Lowery is still recovering from his horrific car wreck earlier this month at his mother’s home in Georgia, and according to this picture from Lowery family friend Doug Stutsman, he’s got plenty of reading to do. Stutsman posted the picture of Ashely’s get well cards on Twitter with the caption “Never seen so many get well cards before. #BBN.”

Ashely expects to return to school in June.

Archie Goodwin is one of four NBA prospects tabbed as combine “losers” in a piece at SI.com. Though the label is only “for the moment,” it is clear that Archie’s inconsistent jump shot may be too much for him to overcome as he tries to improve his stock in these weeks leading up to the draft.

Losers (For The Moment)

Archie Goodwin

Goodwin struggled with his jump shot throughout the combine — “Very flat,” a Western Conference coach said — and looked like the player who said he would be “delusional” to think he was ready for the NBA. There is a raw, Jamal Crawford-like talent in Goodwin, an athletic, dynamic combo guard who can score in a variety of ways. But it could take years to develop that player in him, if it can be brought out at all.

Once a potential lottery pick, Archie is now expected to go in the late first round to early second round range. Draft Express updated its mock draft today and it projects him going to the Suns with the last pick in the first round.

Another combine loser, according to SI.com: Shabazz Muhammad.

[SI.com: Winners, losers from the 2013 NBA draft combine]

While talking about Louisville’s success in an interview with KSR last week, John Calipari said, “We won it first.” Now, that jab at the Cards is a t-shirt in The KSR Shop for members of Big Blue Nation to own.

Pre-order your “We Won It First” t-shirt at TheKSRShop.com today!

One of the few setbacks from Spring Practice was Donte Rumph’s shoulder injury. However, Rumph is recovering nicely from his surgery, and should be ready to play once the season rolls around. In fact, ESPN’s Chris Low says that he’ll be one of the top defensive tackle prospects from the SEC in next year’s draft:

Donte Rumph, Kentucky: He had his spring cut short by shoulder surgery, but the 6-3, 323-pound Rumph is an imposing figure in the middle. If he’s healthy, look for him to be on a lot of teams’ draft boards.

We want the Rumph…gotta have that Rumph…

Have you ever woken up on a Tuesday and wondered, “Man, I wonder what Ramel Bradley is up to these days?”? Apparently Bradley has his team, GreenTops Netanya, one game away from the Israeli Premiere League Final Four. Netanya was down in the series 0-2, but Bradley led them to two straight wins, with 19 points and had 7 rebounds and 6 assists in last night’s victory. Game 5 is Thursday night, and if they win, they move on to the Semifinals.

In case you missed it a few weeks ago, Ramel also accidentally hit his coach in the face while trying to save a ball. Smooth.

On this morning’s radio show, Matt and the crew will discuss the NBA draft lottery, football expectations, and navigating the world the way it’s meant to be navigated: with an atlas.

#TeamNoGPS

Join in on the fun by calling (502) 571-1080.

Listen to Kentucky Sports Radio

KSR Affiliate List

WAIN (93.9 fm) Columbia
WHIR (1230 am) Danville
WCLU (1490 am) Glasgow
WJKY (1060 am) Jamestown
WLAP (630 am) Lexington
WFMW (730 am) Madisonville
WFTM (1240 am) Maysville
WKYM (101.7 fm) Monticello
WMSK (101.3 fm) Morganfield
WKJK (1080 am) Louisville
WKYH (600 am) Paintsville
WLSI (900 am) Pikeville
WPRT (960 am) Prestonsburg
WSFC (1240 am) Somerset
WTCW (920 am) Whitesburg
WBTH (1400 am) Williamson, WV

On Delay…

WBGN (1340 am) Bowling Green 3-5 pm
WKFC (101.9 fm) London 6-8 pm
WLBQ (1570 am) Morgantown 3-5 pm
WRIL (106.3 fm) Middlesboro Thur 8-10 pm
WKYQ (1560 am) Paducah 5-7 pm

It’s never too early to breakdown a schedule, right?  No, not the football schedule, but the basketball schedule.  UK’s non-conference slate this season looks pretty good on paper.  A true road game against a Top 25 North Carolina, a home game against the national champion, neutral site games against Michigan State and Baylor, plus tournament teams Boise State and Belmont as well.  But just how well does it stack up against the previous 4 years of John Calipari non-conference schedules?  And, I put together a little formula to determine the best.  It goes as below:

+2 for every RPI Top 10 team
+1 for every NCAA Tournament Team
+.5 for every true road game
-1 for every RPI 300+ opponent
(some opponents can fall under multiple categories)

Now, we are just ranking these non-conference schedules by their difficulty, not by how successful these teams were against those schedules.  NCAA Tournament teams in bold: 

2012-13 (13 games, 9-4 record)
RPI Top 10: at Louisville, Duke (N)
RPI Top 25: None
RPI 26-50: at Notre Dame
RPI 51-100: Maryland (N), Baylor
RPI 101-200: Lafayette, Morehead St, Long Island
RPI 201-300: Marshall, Portland, Lipscomb, E.Michigan, Samford
RPI 300+: None

Recap: 4 NCAA Tournament Teams (1 Final Four), Five 200+ RPI opponents, 1 true road game
TOTAL: 9 POINTS

2011-12 (15 games, 14-1 record)
RPI Top 10: North Carolina, Kansas (N)
RPI Top 25: Louisville, at Indiana
RPI 26-50: None 
RPI 51-100: Loyola (MD)
RPI 101-200: Old Dominion (N), Lamar, St. Johns, Penn State (N), UALR
RPI 201-300: Marist, Portland, Samford
RPI 300+: Chattanooga, Radford

Recap: 6 NCAA Tournament Teams (2 Final Four), Five 200+ RPI opponents, 1 true road game
TOTAL: 8.5 POINTS

2010-11 (14 games, 12-2 record)
RPI Top 10: at North Carolina, Notre Dame (N)
RPI Top 25: UCONN, at Louisville 
RPI 26-50: Washington  
RPI 51-100: E.Tennessee St., 
RPI 101-200: Portland, Oklahoma, Boston U, Penn, Indiana  
RPI 201-300: Winthrop, Coppin St, Mississippi Valley St
RPI 300+: None

Recap: 6 NCAA Tournament Teams (1 Final Four), 3 200+ RPI opponents, 2 true road games
TOTAL: 11 POINTS

2009-10 (15 games, 15-0 record)
RPI Top 10: None
RPI Top 25: None 
RPI 26-50: Louisville
RPI 51-100: UCONN (N), Sam Houston St, Morehead St, North Carolina
RPI 101-200: Long Beach St, Rider, Miami (OH), Drexel, Austin Peay, Stanford (N), Cleveland St (N),  
RPI 201-300: UNC-Asheville, at Indiana
RPI 300+: Hartford

Recap: 2 NCAA Tournament Teams (0 Final Four), Three 200+ RPI opponents, 1 true road game
TOTAL: 1.5 POINTS

Let’s get the obvious out of the way.  Calipari’s first team had one of the more laughable non-conference schedules ever.  Admittedly, much of that came from their good teams having down years.  But their lone road game was against the worst Indiana team in 50 years.  The faced ZERO teams in the RPI Top 25 and their “marquee” games came against North Carolina and UCONN, both of which missed the tournament that year.  No wonder they went 15-0.

Now, the other 3 schedules are fairly comparable.  But the Brandon Knight-team gets the BTI nod for the best schedule of the bunch.  2 true road games against Top 20 teams, and 2 more Top 20 games.  Plus 2 other NCAA Tournament teams and nobody above 251 in the RPI.  If I remember correctly, that team had many question marks coming out of non-conference play, but looking back, the fact they went 12-2 against that slate of game was pretty impressive. 

The last 2 years have had very respectable schedules as well, although not up to the 2010-11 team.  They may have been a little heavy in the 200+ teams, but not at Gillispie levels.  This season, UK has what amount to 6 bunnies on the schedule (UNC Asheville, Northern Kentucky, Robert Morris, UT-Arlington, Cleveland St, Eastern Michigan), and 3 more opponents that should be more than beatable but inside the Top 150 (Boise State, Belmont, Providence).  And obviously the schedule is held up by MichiganState, Louisville, North Carolina, and Baylor.  So, here is the BTI prediction for this year’s schedule in terms of finishing RPI:

Top 10: Michigan State, Louisville
Top 11-25: at North Carolina
Top 26-50: Baylor
Top 50-100: Belmont, Boise State
Top 101-200: Providence
Top 201-299: Cleveland St, E.Michigan, Northern Kentucky, Robert Morris, UNC-Asheville
Top 300+: UT-Arlington
TOTAL: 9.5 POINTS

Not looking too bad, eh?

Follow me on Twitter @BryantheIntern.

Lets get started with my favorite video of yesterday, Jim Ross calling the Miguel Leg Drop from the Billboard Awards:

Then we can add a rapper (who admittedly I have never heard of) Mac Miller deciding to rep the Cards jersey. I know nothing of him, but by appearance alone, if we get Drake then the Cards deserve Mac:

Now you might have a job you don’t like, but my guess is that this guy’s office experience is worse than yours:

And we finish with the official hello in the KSR Office when BTI returned to work this week as acted out by Colorado Rockies Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki:

Have a great Tuesday and remember, you will have to stream the radio show online, since we are preempted on air in Lexington and Louisville due to the UK Baseball game. Use IHeart Radio or go to TalkRadio1080.com.

Ladies, gentlemen and Louisville fans, something we never thought we’d see again popped back up Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. and smacked us all square in the mouth. It was a post from Bryan The Intern. Yes, the same Bryan The Intern you once despised on KentuckySportsRadio.com. BTI made his return Monday after 556 days away from the website and he’s back for good, like he never really left.

Now wipe that vomit off the floor and get that dry wall fixed. You could’ve hit a stud, you know.

The coveted 9:00 a.m. time slot saw seven different authors over his 18-month hiatus, but none could provide the level of suck it takes to start our day like BTI. He has such an amazing ability to rile everyone up with each and every Rant and Ramble, and he came back to use his weapons of mass despicable to reclaim his throne atop Mt. Opinionated in the Land of Argumentative. The surprise return yielded so many great responses:

The Water Boy: “ugh… I feel like someone just pissed in my Frosted Flakes.”

Walden Schmidt: “Missed you like I would a bleeding hemoroid.”

Frew Drunklin: “KSR must be desperate to bring this chotch back.”

BTI Sucks: “With all due respect… now remember I said with all due respect… I am pretty sure I felt a little part of me die with this news.”

Nick, a commenter on Monday morning’s post, hit the nail on the head when he suggested this video is a reenactment of our reactions to BTI’s return at the KSR compound:

But in all seriousness, welcome back, BTI. You complete us.

 There isn’t a ton of news flying off the KSR newswire at this time of the year but I guess we have Tuesday night’s NBA draft lottery to look forward to tomorrow. We should have a pretty good idea about where Nerlens Noel will end up once the selection order is decided, and whether or not he’ll become Kentucky’s third No. 1 draft pick in four years of NBA. That’s absurd, by the way.

However, Noel is not a sure thing to be the first name called at next month’s draft, according to Chad Ford. Ford believes as many as five lottery teams will pass on Noel if they hold the top pick. Utah, Portland, Minnesota, Detroit and New Orleans are franchises he lists with interest in other players. New Orleans has the highest odds among those teams at 8.8 percent. The other four have little to no chance at winning the top pick, although the Chicago Bulls shocked everyone by receiving the top pick, Derrick Rose, with a 1.7 percent chance in 2008.

Ford also wrote that very few teams believe any of the prospects are worth a first round pick this summer, so some teams will be more inclined to take a gamble. He also thinks Nerlens Noel’s weight from the NBA combine is causing his stock to slip a little. At 206 pounds, Noel is one of the lightest big men to ever enter the league.

 Archie Goodwin is No. 37 on ESPN’s Top 100 draft prospects list. His ESPN scouting report opens with this sentence: “Everyone still wants to love Goodwin, but every time they go to the tape it’s brutal.”

Make them eat they feet, Archie. Burr, burr, burr.

 In football recruiting news, Denzel Ware tweeted that he will visit Kentucky June 9-11. The four-star recruit committed to Kentucky on February 12 but changed his mind two months later with a tweet suggesting he will commit to Florida. Now, Kentucky is getting another look at the Alabama defensive end. He has offers from Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas and USC, to name a few. It was huge news for UK football when he committed the first time.

 Mike Edwards, the 27th-ranked safety in the class, visited Kentucky on Monday. He and his parents drove down from Cincinnati to meet face-to-face with the staff. He will attend college with Darius West, the 13th-ranked safety in the class, and both are announcing soon. West’s announcement is scheduled for May 30 and Drew Barker plans to drive to Lima, Oh. to attend.

 SLAM Magazine named its High School All-Americans Monday and there was no shortage of Kentucky players on the squads. Julius Randle and the Harrison twins were named to the first team, along with Aaron Gordon, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. James Young received second team honors; Dakari Johnson the third; and Marcus Lee was named honorable mention. The magazine called this crop of talent “a potentially historic class of up-and-comers,” the best since 2007 when Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and James Harden were graduating high school.

 Former Louisville Cardinal Terrence Williams was arrested over the weekend on gun charges. He was waving his pistol around while visiting his child, allegedly. #L1SeeThis is why we make fun of you.

 In gambling news, Kentucky is a 3-point favorite over Western Kentucky is the season opener in Nashville, according to BetOnline. The website released its Week 1 college football lines on Monday just minutes before UK fans hammered the bet. I think the Wildcats cover for one reason and one reason only: Za’Darius Smith.

 Kansas basketball got even better Monday when the Jayhawks added Tarik Black, a transfer from Memphis. The six-foot-seven forward started five games for Josh Pastner last season with averages of 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. He will be eligible to play immediately as a graduate student. Bring it.

 #PrayForOklahoma

BTI’s up next…

The Calipari Foundation will be donating $10k to the Red Cross for the victims & families effected by this horrendous tornado in Okla.

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 21, 2013

It’s a heartbreaking scene in Oklahoma right now. Keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers.

A few weeks ago I wrote on here about how this is going to be the “Summer of Transition” on KSR as we move to some new endeavors and expand what we do on this site. We are very excited about the changes and looking forward to announcing new additions to the site in the months to come. One of those additions is bringing on some new writers, a couple of which are names from the past (BTI and John Wilkinson), some new names you don’t yet know and a couple of folks you do know that you will be excited (and surprised) to see in the KSR environment.

But along with that, it is time to once again cast a net and add some new writers to the KSR family from our readership. It has now been 2 1/2 years since our last blogger contest and in these 30 months, we have not added on any new writers from outside the KSR world or the KSR College environment. This summer that changes. Over time, the most important names at KSR have come from either the Blogger contest or writing on separate blogs and then joining Kentucky Sports Radio. Now we will set out to look for the new Beisner, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson from our KSR Readership. So we are asking you, do you have what it takes to write for KSR.

Here is What We are Looking For:

1. Creative Writers to Cover UK Sports: You know the KSR style. Do you think you can do it? If so, we would like to read your submission. If you decide to apply for one of these positions, make sure and let us know what sports you would focus on and what you consider your expertise. Remember, most will say basketball and football, so if you have an interest in another area, please let us know. You can be any age, any walk of life and have any profession…just a desire and ability to write at a high level about Kentucky sports.

2. College Students: Many of our best writers have come from KSR College and we are continuing another year of that starting in August. The form of KSR College will alter slightly and the posts will be integrated into the main site as part of the redesign. But if you are interested in joining the KSR College group, you should apply for this position. This involves actual covering of UK games, press conferences and events (last year writers from KSR College were able to cover the John Calipari Fantasy Camp). We prefer to have students who can be in the Lexington area for events, although this is not required. If you are a college student, this is the best position to apply for and we have had a number of writers coming from KSR College land full time sports reporting jobs after their time with us.

3. Creative non-UK Sports Writers: Part of our new endeavor will be to create a “Culture” page, similar to what Bill Simmons has done with Grantland that will include writing beyond the world of UK sports. Some of our best writers, such as Tomlin, Drew and others will be writing extensively here. If you think you are particularly capable of writing about interesting, non-UK topics (movies, politics, pop culture, long features), this is the position for you and you can be part of building a spin-off phase of KSR going forward.

These are the three main types of writers we are now seeking. We are adding a KSR Photographer, but she has already been picked and will be joining us in June. What we are looking for now are great writers and I know you are out there. If you come down this path, it can literally change your career, just as it did for Thomas Beisner, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson. And now is the time for you to try as as well.

To Apply, EMAIL KSRJOBS1@gmail.com with this information:

— Reference in SUBJECT OF THE EMAIL as to which position/s you are interested in

— A couple of paragraphs on who you are, where you live, what you do for a living, why you are interested…a biographical look at the person applying. Make sure to use this as a time to sell us on you as it will be (at least until we interview you) our only chance to know who you are as a person.

— At least 2 WRITING SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK. This can be created specifically for this application or something you have done elsewhere. But we are interested in seeing your writing ability.

— Contact information and schedule availability. If you are chosen, how often, and when, would you be available to write.

Our vision is that you will join us as a secondary hobby to whatever career you are pursuing now, but with the possibility of advancement, just as other KSR writers have done before. We need your submission by TUESDAY MAY 28 at 5 PM. We will spend some time reviewing the applications and then be in touch by mid-June. This is an exciting time for KSR and we are eager to pursue the next phase of the site’s growth this summer. We hope to have you a part of it and look forward to reading your submissions. Thanks!

The always venerable Wikipedia defines an expatriate as “a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country or culture other than that of the person’s upbringing.” In other words, they’re strangers in a strange land. University of Kentucky fans have always identified themselves as members of “Big Blue Nation,” and in many cases, the BBN really CAN be found almost anywhere your travels take you. With that in mind, the series “The Ex-Pats of Big Blue Nation” will profile those Kentucky fans who have moved away from the Bluegrass State for whatever reason, asking how they’ve managed to maintain their devotion and fanhood despite living in areas where every exhibition game isn’t televised or where no one in the neighborhood understands the significance of the date April 2, 2012. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Derek in Albania. Read on and enjoy hearing about life as a UK fan outside of Kentucky.

Let’s start with the basics. Please state your name, where you’re from, and current location for the official record. No need for exact addresses, I don’t want to get you in trouble on the Internet.

My name is Derek Dennis and I grew up in Oldham County. I graduated from UK in 2011 with an undergraduate degree in business management. I currently live in northern Albania. 

How did you get from Point A (Kentucky) to Point B (where you are now)?

After graduating, I went into the Peace Corps and was selected to serve in Albania. I have been working with a local government office on economic and youth development projects for over a year now. While I miss Kentucky, Albania has been a great place to work and live.

What team’s fans dominate your area? (College or professional)

The KS Besëlidhja Lezhë futbol klub represents my community in the Albanian national soccer league. Though, the European Champions League is king here. It dominates the coffee shop conversations year round.

Was it a hard adjustment going from living where everyone knows every detail about UK sports, to where people may conceivably think UK and Louisville are the same team?

Not only do people here not know about UK, but some of our behaviors don’t translate very well. For instance, the act of throwing up 3 goggles means something entirely different. It’s vulgar. Something to keep in mind during your next trip to Albania.

How many Kentucky fans would you say are in your general vicinity? Is there a local UK alumni group or bar?

Zero. I can go weeks without seeing another American.

How do you show off your fandom while living away from Kentucky?

UK shirts, hats, and flags.  

Derek hung this flag in his village during the 2012 championship run.

What’s the hardest thing about being a fan outside of the geographic BBN? The best thing?

Bad: Watching live games. Obviously, the 6 hour time difference for night games automatically cuts into my sleep. But I also have the occasional prolonged power or internet outage. Good: I don’t have to hear about UL.

What do you do for games?

Since most games are at night, I set my alarm, try to sleep as much as possible, and wake up a couple minutes before the start. I can usually stream into Tom Leach on my computer.  It’s odd listening to a game in Commonwealth or Rupp from my soviet-style block apartment at 4 am. In an environment so different from home, I try to keep up as much as I can because it helps make my fall and winter months feel somewhat normal.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to follow a game live?

During the game against Maryland in Brooklyn last November, my power went off early in the second half. It was in the middle of the night here, but I stayed up in the dark and luckily caught the final minute when the power came on.

How do you keep up with UK news without the local media readily accessible?

I’m able to stay updated through KSR and other sites. KSR helps out the most because I can stream the radio show periodically. Where else can I get news about Wiggins, the Waddy Werewolf, and the Bachelorette in the same place?

Since becoming an ex-pat, have you returned to Kentucky to watch the team play or seen the team play live in a different area? 

No, I haven’t had the chance to come back to UK.

You’re in Albania, a place that I could not locate on a map with a gun to my head. How do the locals respond to your fandom? Have you incorporated being a UK fan into your Peace Corps job?

A large aspect of my job includes culture exchange, so it’s a great opportunity for me to represent Kentucky. One of the ways I’ve introduced them to UK is through YouTube videos. The introduction clips seem to be the unanimous favorite within my office. People here also seem to love Wiltjer’s dance from big blue madness.

What advice do you have for anyone who may be considering a move from Kentucky who is concerned about missing out on following UK?

You can keep up with UK almost anywhere!

Any general stories that the readers of KSR would be interested to hear about living as a BBN ex-pat?

During the tournament run last year, I was living a rural village for an extended training period.  It was bittersweet for me because I had no way to watch or follow the games. I found out about the Final Four wins by making my brother call internationally after each game. I wasn’t able to actually watch the games until a couple months later. But I went through them all… from IU and Baylor, to UL and Kansas. Even though it was June, MKG’s block was still new to me.  It was awesome to finally watch the clock run out in New Orleans!

Disclaimer: The contents of this interview are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps.

If you’re an ex-pat of BBN who enjoys talking about yourself, email kristenmgeil@gmail.com

When the ping pong balls get to bouncin’ at tomorrow night’s NBA draft lottery, I will be pulling for the Charlotte Bobcats to win the rights to the draft’s No. 1 overall pick.

Am I a Bobcats fan?

Absolutely not. But I will be if the balls bounce in Charlotte’s favor. And so will you.

With Nerlens Noel currently projected to hear his name called first and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist already on the payroll, Charlotte provides the best scenario for fans of Kentucky basketball. Nerlens and MKG are two of Big Blue Nation’s all-time favorites, therefore putting them together gives UK fans a professional team to love a little more than others, and the Bobcats franchise could use all the extra support it can get.

You followed New Orleans for the first time in your life this season, didn’t you? I bet you checked Sacramento’s box scores from time to time, too. If Charlotte wins the No. 1 pick and selects Nerlens, the Bobcats’ bandwagon will be mobbed by UK fans, t-shirt money in hand, looking to find a seat on board.

But that ACL injury is a concern, some people will tell you. It’s too much of a gamble with that first pick, they say.

It’s not. It’s the opposite, really. In my opinion, the injury is even more of a reason the Bobcats, and Kentucky fans, need Nerlens Noel in Charlotte. Some say it’s a concern; I see it as a bonus, on top of the incredible athleticism, upside, work ethic, personality and marketability he already offers.

Look at it this way: Noel will be out until Christmas at the very earliest, so whichever team he ends up with will have to play the first half of the season with the same incompetent roster that got them in the draft lottery in the first place. That means another underwhelming season, and in turn, potentially the best odds to win the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. If you’re Charlotte, what’s it hurt to wait another year to make a stab at the playoffs in 2014-15? The team has been near the bottom of the standings throughout all nine years of its existence, it might as well tank one more time to be the favorite in the Andrew Wiggins Sweepstakes. If it works out that way, Charlotte will be on its way to becoming a contender with a young trio of Wiggins, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Nerlens Noel to build around.

Of course, Wiggins to Charlotte isn’t guaranteed if the Bobcats take Noel and compile the league’s worst record next season, which will almost certainly happen. In fact, you and I would love to see another franchise go first and take the soon-to-be Jayhawk. That would bust the gates wide open for the Bobcats to draft one of the four, five, or six Wildcats that will be projected to go in the top 10 in the 2014 draft.

How does a Noel-MKG-Andrew Harrison NBA connection sound? Can you imagine the hustle a frontcourt of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Nerlens Noel and Julius Randle would give? I’d drive to Charlotte once a month to see that lineup. The Bobcats would undoubtedly become the unofficial NBA team of the state of Kentucky during a time when Kentuckians have so many to choose from. Former Wildcats will soon be on half of the league’s rosters, but none will compare to a trio of UK stars headlining an NBA starting lineup only six hours away. Kentucky will finally have that professional NBA team it has so desperately wanted.

Not to mention, Charlotte needs help in the paint. Bismack Biyombo is running out of time to prove himself and Josh McRoberts’ deal with the devil to stay in the NBA this long has to be up soon. Nerlens, though too skinny right now, will one day be a defensive force at the next level. He will defend the rim, alter shots and stop drives, just as we saw him do in Lexington prior to the injury. He’ll need to bulk up to be able to bang with the big boys — that’s what the down time is for — but his shot blocking ability is too good to not make him one of the league’s better defenders after a couple of years. And, again, Bismack Biyombo and Josh McRoberts. Don’t even make me mention Byron Mullens.

So when representatives from the NBA’s fourteen worst teams get together tomorrow night to determine the order for next month’s draft, I encourage you to join me and the small group of Charlottonians who aren’t doing something NASCAR-related in cheering on the Charlotte Bobcats. The franchise has the second best odds in the lottery (19.9%) and Nerlens Noel’s fate, and the fate of our NBA fandom is on the line. Last year, if you recall, the Bobcats were in position to acquire Anthony Davis but New Orleans swooped in and stole him away like a bad mascot name. The Bobcats hope to do the same to the Orlando Magic this year.

The NBA draft lottery is Tuesday night at 8:30 ET. It will be televised on ESPN.

The Bobcats might be the Hornets again by then.

Editor’s Note: This is all based on the assumption Michael Jordan doesn’t do something dumb with the first pick. I can easily see M.J. drafting Reggie Bullock No. 1 overall or throwing the pick in a trade for Harrison Barnes or John Henson. Or losing the pick to Charlie Sheen in a game of Texas Hold ‘Em.

A big KSR shout out to Josh Teater, who qualified for the British Open by shooting 7 under in the 36 hole United States qualifying event. With just a few people left to finish, Josh was leading all qualifiers and has played his way into the field for the Open in July. Teater is a huge UK fan (as shown above by his sporting an Enes Kanter jersey during a PGA Tour round) and a regular KSR reader. We will be pulling for him during the blustery Open conditions as he tries to bring the Claret Jug to the Bluegrass.

Now, The Article Links-

Whatever Calipari says, the most fascinating thing about the coach this season will be how he changes to meet the unique demands of what he’s trying to do in Kentucky

Calipari will be even more keen to get next year’s Wildcats back into the upper echelon of the nation’s elite defenses

Emmanuel Mudiay has definite interest in Kentucky

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is hot on the trail of Tyus Jones

No one is predicting a Hall of Fame career for Nerlens Noel, the likely No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft

Daniel Orton will serve as the walk ambassador for this year’s Lupus Walk and 5K run to End Lupus NOW on June 1 in Oklahoma City

What in the Sam Hill is going on at Baylor? The basketball roster has more moves than BTI at his ‘Welcome Back’ party last night.

First, Deuce Bello announced last week that he will transfer to another program. Then, just twenty-four hours later, L.J. Rose, a top 10 point guard in the 2012 class, also went public with news that he will leave Baylor for greener not-as-green pastures. Now a third player has opted out of playing in Waco next season when news broke this morning that Dominic Woodson backed out of his commit to the Bears and will look elsewhere. Woodson, a Huntington Prep product, is the ninth-ranked center in the 2013 recruiting class.

Cory Jefferson and Isaiah Austin, two guys that’ll give UK’s frontcourt fits, are still on the roster, though. They may be the only players on the team when Dec. 6 rolls around.

And for you Deuce Bello fans out there, you’ll still get your Bello fix in SEC play. He’s taking his high-flying talents to Mizzou. That dude can soar.

Above is time-lapse video of the devastation in Oklahoma after a tornado in Oklahoma City and Moore. The video is shocking, but the reports are even worse. A local tv reporter just said he is at an elementary school where 75 children were trapped when the tornado hit and many are still being rescued. Prayers go out to everyone involved.

Congratulations to Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, and Julius Randle, who were named SLAM Magazine All-Americans this afternoon. The trio of future Cats makes up half of the SLAM All-American First Team, which also includes Duke’s Jabari Parker, Arizona’s Aaron Gordon, and of course, Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins. James Young made the second team, Dakari Johnson the third, and Marcus Lee got honorable mention. SLAM calls the 2013 All-Americans “a potentially historic class of up-and-comers,” with the most prep talent the sport has seen since the 2007 class that included Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and James Harden.

Here’s what SLAM had to say about the Harrison Twins and Julius Randle:

Meanwhile, the Harrison twins have garnered attention for their superior guard skills and many believe they are the next great guards coming up the pipeline. And then there’s Julius Randle, who has proven to embody college-ready (or possibly even pro-ready) physique for the last few years.

Check out their individual portraits after the jump. Go Cats.

Aaron Harrison:

Andrew Harrison:

Julius Randle:

While enthusiasm surrounding the football program is at an all-time high, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s still going to take time for that enthusiasm to carry over to on-field results. Each major recruit that Stoops and company brings in creates more positive momentum, but we are still at least a year from seeing most of these guys in action. Stoops did his best with the 2013 class, pulling off major last minute coups like Jason Hatcher and Ryan Timmons, but it will take time for the team as a whole to resemble an SEC caliber squad. Playmakers at the skill positions will be key, especially considering the lack of depth at wide receiver.

The past few months have been thrilling for Kentucky football fans, who have been thirsty for a competitive squad for years, but immediate success in the SEC might as well be a mirage in the desert. A simple look at next year’s schedule will tell you why:

08/31/13        vs. Western Kentucky TV (Nashville, Tenn)
09/07/13        vs. Miami (Oh)
09/14/13        vs. Louisville
09/28/13        vs. Florida
10/05/13        at South Carolina
10/12/13        vs. Alabama
10/26/13        at Mississippi State
11/02/13        vs. Alabama State
11/09/13        vs. Missouri
11/16/13        at Vanderbilt
11/23/13        at Georgia
11/30/13        vs. Tennessee

Based on this schedule, what are your realistic expectations for next season’s record (excluding a bowl game)? Vote in the poll below and leave your reasons in the comments section.

For what it’s worth, I see Kentucky beating Western, Miami, Alabama State, and Tennessee to finish at 4-8, with a possible upset at Mississippi State or Vandy.

No judgment.

Even though Frontier League Baseball coverage is often overlooked by KSR, our Northern Kentucky friends have a promotional offer that is almost too good to be true. If the showdown between the Freedom and the Schaumburg Boomers won’t get you in the seats of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Stadium on Thursday night, Lennay Kekua bobbleheads for the first 1,000 fans should do the trick. The empty box should be a great mantle centerpiece over your fireplace.

Is it too late to keep joking on Manti? NO WAY! Thanks Freedom!

(P.S. does anyone have a clue what the Freedom’s logo is supposed to be? All I can see is what appears to be a 5-year old’s rendition of the yin/yang sign.)

The Green Bay Packers’ “Tailgate Tour” wrapped up on Friday after five days, 691 miles, and endless Randall Cobb photo ops. Cobb and his teammates traveled around Wisconsin and Iowa in a bus to throw tailgate parties for fans, raising over $300,000 for area charities. The players stopped by schools, hospitals, fire stations, and more to talk to fans, and Cobb even got a chance to try his hand at making pizza. As you can see from the picture above, it didn’t go too well. Next time, Randall.

Because I can’t end any Randall Cobb post on a bad note, here’s a picture of him in a full firefighter’s uniform from one of the stops:

Photos by Aaron Popkey, Packers.com

The lines are out for the first week of college football and BetOnline has your University of Kentucky Wildcats as a 3-point favorite over Western Kentucky. The season opening Stoops-Petrino clash will be played in Nashville on Saturday, August 31.

Cue the sirens.