Brooks speaks...

Coach Brooks had a presser earlier, and here are the details, in a nut shell:

Hartline may play later this year. There is no ACL damage, but there is a tear of MCL, PCL, and cartilage damage. As of right now, it looks like no surgery will be required, which is certainly good news.

Lindley is still out and will miss at least two more games. He could be back in time for Mississippi State.

Morgan Newton and Will Fidler will receive plenty of time in practice this week, while Randall Cobb will remain a receiver. He will still be used as QB in the Wildcat formation, but not much else.

The coaching staff thinks Auburn is a scary team, and will be even more difficult to beat without Hartline and Lindley.

BBNR on the air!

Our fearless leader, Michael Lee, will be on the Travis Turner Sports Show this afternoon at 4:30 PM. The Travis Turner Sports Show airs every weekday from 3:30 to 5 PM on 1130 AM, an affiliate of ESPN Radio out of Murray. Michael will be on the air to discuss the site, college basketball, and other rumblings from around Big Blue Nation. Tune in if you can. If not, we'll post the podcast for you when it's available.


MORE LATER!

The weekend that was...

Another eventful weekend in Kentucky, and what is par for the course in recent months, most of its not the best of news. Kentucky lost another heart breaker to South Carolina and also lost Hartline to an injury. MRI results should be announced today, but the rumblings around the interweb is that it doesn't look good. While many critics were begging for a change at QB, I don't think anyone wanted to see it go down like this. I know we didn't here at BBNR. Yet, it is what it is, and a change at QB seems inevitable, at least for a few weeks, if not longer. Whether that will be Newton, Fidler, or Cobb remains to be seen, but we'll know more after we know the extent of Hartline's injury. Some are already reporting that Hartline is out for the rest of the season, but that has not been officially announced by UK as of yet. Stay tuned.

In other news from around the state, we can't not mention the arrest of Terrence Jennings and Jerry Smith, two basketball players at the University of Louisville. The details of this arrest and fallout that will result from it are still fuzzy. Rick Pitino and the UofL administration has yet to pass down any penalties from the school, but that is expected soon. This is yet another black eye on the downtrodden Cardinal program, that was still dealing with the Pitino scandals. How all of this will actually factor into the upcoming season remains to be seen, but it certainly doesn't look good for our non-friends in red.

Big Blue Madness is only a few short days away. Those of us not lucky enough to be there in person, we'll be able to see it all from the comfort of our living rooms on the Big Blue Sports Network. There may not be another season more anxiously awaited in the history of Kentucky Basketball, and our wait is finally (nearly) over. The madness kicks off the start to an exciting season that will be followed by a Blue-White game on the 28th and then exhibition games the first week of November. Expect full coverage of the Kentucky basketball events in the coming weeks.

Well, I guess that's all for now. Stay tuned for more news and views today and throughout the week. We'll be posting our upcoming preseason top 25 and more previews for the upcoming College Basketball season. Should be fun!

Close, but no cigar...

Final Score: South Carolina 28, Kentucky 26

Kentucky played hard and never gave up but some costly penalties, questionable play calling, and a second half injury to Mike Hartline sealed their own fate. Kentucky must now travel to #17 Auburn next weekend. As we said a few weeks ago, the schedule is tough and wins are just going to be hard to come by in the SEC this year.

Here's hoping for a quick recovery for Hartline, whom played very well before the injury sidelined him in the third quarter. We need him back and playing well, which is what he was doing today.

More later...

Gameday!

Kentucky tries to right itself today against the "Ole Ball Coach". If history is any indicator this could be another bad day for the Cats. Let's hope that the staff has learned more about this team over the last few weeks and that they can compete today. We'll be along throughout the day giving thoughts on what we hope is a good, close game.
2-2 UK (0-2)
4-1 USC (1-1)

Waiting for Madness...

Here's a cool video with some of the highlights from Big Blue Madness Camp. T-Minus one week, people!

ESPNU to cover the Madness...

According to Tipton.

MORE LATER.

Hartline debates rolls on...

The seemingly endless debate about Mike Hartline and the UK quarterback situation continues to be debated from Pikeville to Paducah and every diner in between. At best, he's solid but inconsistent, and at worst, he couldn't start for any other division one team in the country, depending on who you're talking to. I think Hartline has some ability, and he has shown it at times, such as last year's bowl game against ECU and this year's season opener against Miami OH. When given time in the pocket against opponents of equal or lesser talent, Hartline is serviceable. That's not intended to be a hateful remark... just the truth.

The problem is, UK fans are ready to see the program go to the next level. Three consecutive winning, Bowl producing seasons is great, no doubt, but continuously getting drummed by the elite of the SEC is getting old. When fans look at the team and see the outstanding play of some, and the mediocre play of others, the frustration is at the very least understandable. That's why Hartline is taking the hits. Period. Forget that Kentucky has played perhaps the two best teams in the country the last two outings... this is the SEC and every game is big and every opponent is tough.

This week's game against the Cocks is big. We'll see for perhaps the first time this season what type of team (and more specifically, starting quarterback) we have. If we get dealt with soundly by Spurrier's powder-puff-gals, then we can truly pack it in and start focusing on the Madness exclusively. However, if we can compete and battle and show some grit, even if we lose, this season could still be worth watching.

We're pulling for you, Cats, and you too Mike. Prove the naysayers wrong and beat the Cocks. And as Michael Scott would say... "That's what she said."

More later...

The Writing is on the WALL...

John Wall is the truth. Everyone that knows the kid and the game of basketball is 100% sure this guy is going to get it done, and in a big way. It has been a long while since we've had a incoming player with this much hype. He's yet to play a game as a Wildcat, and he's already being named the preseason player of the year by some.

Just another reason to get pumped up, folks. Madness is next week... can you believe it?

You need to read this guy...

Gomez here... UK Bloggers have sorta' lost our purpose. What is supposed to be writings about one's ideas and personal views concerning UK sports has instead become countless sites recycling the same headlines and links over and over with very little originality or creativity, two things paramount for a true blog. Meanwhile, UK bloggers compete with one another and strive to be the one place all fans come to get the scoop.


With all of that said, and as I step off my soapbox, I'll direct you to a guy that loves UK and talks about it better than anybody... Larry Vaught. We're huge fans of his and I felt like we needed to have a post where he was saluted. If you haven't read his work, you should. Click here.

More later...

Lindley out on Saturday...

Rich Brooks confirmed All-American Trevard Lindley will be out for Saturday's matchup at South Carolina. Trevard is battling a high ankle sprain. Also, Paul Warford is listed as questionable with a quad injury. While the UK secondary will be thin, as Chris Low reports, the Gamecocks will be without starting cornerback Akeem Auguste, who’s been suspended for violating team and university policy. Auguste will be replaced with another troubled player in sophomore C.C. Whitlock, who was suspended at one point this last offseason. Combine that with the fact that they are starting true freshman, Stephon Gilmore, at the other cornerback spot and Hartline has a chance to improve on last week. We shall see....

Tuesday Morning Links...

:: Billy Clyde's Infamous Bathroom Incident
:: CBS Sports' Preseason Top 25 (The Last Edition)
:: Rick Pitino ranks on top ten list of traitors

:: UK Football Super Fan's streak ends
:: Ramel Bradley dominating in French League

Forde strikes again...

Forde thumbs his nose at Kentucky, once again. Click here to get mad.

Monday Quick Clicks...

:: Cats 11th in SEC power rankings

:: Article in defense of struggling Hartline
:: Kansas still dealing with drama as it prepares for tip-off
:: Dickie V's latest Roundball Chatter
:: Clyde's DUI case set for February 2010

Cocks are next...

Gomez here... Steve Spurrier, Ric Flair, and the mighty Gamecocks of South Carolina are next up on the UK football schedule. The Cocks are back in the top 25 and playing well. Meanwhile, Kentucky has had two humbling defeats, in as many weeks, to perhaps the best two teams in the country: Florida and Alabama. While the Cats and Cocks are going in polar opposite directions, it doesn't mean Kentucky can't compete with South Carolina. However, if we're going to do that, we must play better defense in the secondary and Hartline has to be more accurate with the pass. With that said, Carolina isn't anywhere near as good as Florida or Alabama, so we can hope for at least a closer score. South Carolina has Alabama after Kentucky, so perhaps we can catch them in a trap game as they look ahead to the Tide. But don't count on it. Lindley is doubtful to play, and that only makes a UK upset that more unlikely.

The past two weeks have shown Kentucky fans that we just don't have the tools necessary to compete this year in the always tough SEC. Hartline, while good against weaker opponents, has not shown that he has the ability to perform under pressure. Last Saturday, he made bad decisions while throwing three interceptions and calling audible adjustments that offered less than desirable results. Meanwhile, when he did have an open man to throw to, he often threw it above his head, behind his stride, or at his shoe strings. He really struggled with hitting the receiver in the numbers, which is absolutely necessary when you have a receiver wide open with room to run.

I don't dislike Hartline. I think he has some skill and has shown resolve to be able to rebound from previous setbacks. However, he just isn't a SEC quarterback. He might be more serviceable if our o-line improves, and if he can find a way to be more accurate with the pass; yet, I really wonder if we'll be able to win even one SEC game this year with him under center.

Hey, I hope I'm wrong, and will be the first to admit it if proven so. Yet, I want to be realistic about this football team, and a 4-8/0-8 finish might be the safest bet on the men in blue.

Prove me wrong, Cats. I want you too.

Midnight Madness is near...

Tickets have been handed out, guests have been invited, and now we wait for the official beginning to Kentucky Basketball's quest for 2000 victories and an eighth national championship. The highlight of Saturday's football game against Alabama was Cal and his Cats being recognized at midfield during a timeout. The excitement was not only written on the face of thousands of fans in the stands, but also on the men standing on the field responding to the adoration of so many.

Just a few more days, Big Blue Nation. And then... it begins.

Alabama vs Kentucky 2009

After the Louisville game I said to enjoy it because the next three weeks would be the darkest period of the season. Now, as Kentucky appears to be headed to their second straight blow out I guess I was right. This is one time that I wish I wasn't. The Cats won't match up much better next week against the "Ole Ball Coach" either. Still the Cats have played MUCH better than they did last week and you can tell that the team is starting to mature. I still think the last half of the season will be a lot of fun, even if right now the easy thing to do is to say, "we suck again".

Gameday!

Kentucky is hosting Alabama on the SEC TV Game of the Week.

Check your local Listings

Yearbook in stores now...

The yearbook is now available in stores all around the state. Have you got yours yet?

Remember this?

I was at this game and it was one to remember.
Can the Cats do it again?