John Calipari has a team full of talented players, including John Wall — the No. 1 prospect in the nation.

First, Patrick Patterson withdraws from the NBA draft and decides to return to school. Then John Wall, the nation’s number one recruit and lighting-quick point guard, decides to sign with Kentucky.

I’m guessing that Coach Cal is chomping at the bit to get the 2009-2010 basketball season underway.

Even though Kentucky already signed Eric Bledsoe, another talented point guard, Wall is excited to compete for the starting position.

“Being able to play against Eric (Bledsoe) is a big plus,” he said, according to Rivals.com.

Duke, Miami and Florida were also at the top of Wall’s list. But playing for Coach Cal and the situation that has opened up for Kentucky is what ultimately swayed his decision. Wall joins No. 2 ranked prospect DeMarcus Cousins, No. 22 ranked prospect Daniel Orton, Bledsoe (No. 23 overall) and four-star prospects John Hood and Darnell Dodson. (As well as returning star, Patrick Patterson.)

Does anyone really want to question Coach Cal’s move from Memphis to Kentucky at this point?

Visit Rivals.com for John Wall’s scouting report.

Image: Zuma

Post from: EveryJoe

John Wall — No. 1 Recruit — Picks A School

John Calipari couldn’t be happier, especially since this will be his first go-round as Kentucky’s head coach — a position that is largely viewed in a fishbowl, with everyone (fans, trustees,the administration, etc.)  watching and scrutinizing the coach’s every move.

Patrick Patterson decided to return to Kentucky to play for John Calipari for his junior year.

The move comes as a bit of a surprise, since Patterson was projected as a first-round pick in the June 25th draft.

“I want to help Kentucky compete for a national title, and even more than that win its eighth national championship,” Patterson said in a statement released by the school. “I’m also really excited about playing for coach Cal and developing my game in the dribble drive offense.”

Image: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Patrick Patterson Withdraws From NBA Draft

#13 Georgia 42, Kentucky 38

• GEORGIA SURVIVES KENTUCKY 42-38 at Football on the Brain
• Georgia-Kentucky Recap at …but they missed the extra point
• Kentucky Football: Two games remaining to change our stars at A Sea of Blue

South Carolina 34, Arkansas 21

• FIVE POINTS: South Carolina 34, Arkansas 21 at Garnet and Black Attack
• Arkansas\’ bowl hopes dim at The Natural State Hawg

Wyoming 13, Tennessee 7

• Rocky Top Low: Vols Fall to Wyoming For Homecoming at AJ-T Sports
• Wyoming Topples Tennessee, 13-7 at MWC Football News

Auburn 37, Tennessee-Martin 20

• TENNESSEE-MARTIN AT AUBURN at MrSEC.com
• Auburn 37, Tennessee-Martin 20 at Arkansas Razorback Sports Network

#1 Alabama 27, #16 LSU 21 (OT)

(Note: In addition to game recaps, this game was at the center of a double-murder between fans. So, the many links below cover that story as well!)

• Alabama-LSU game good? Yes, it was, but worthy of murder? at This Chick\’s View on Sports
• Weekend Recap: LSU vs Alabama at Where Y\’at, Mr. Credo
• Two Dead Following Alabama v. LSU Football Argument at Roll \’Bama Roll
• 2 Die in Argument over Alabama-LSU Football Game at Kreuzer\’s Korner
• Alabama vs. LSU, the full recap at Tide Corner

#5 Florida 42, Vanderbilt 14

• Instant Analysis: Florida-Vanderbilt at Gator Football
• Florida Beats Vanderbilt at The Bull Gator
• Florida postgame quotes at Vanderbilt Football News

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 11: Blogging about the SEC

Mississippi 17, Auburn 7

• Mississippi 17, Auburn 7 at Arkansas Razorback Sports

Arkansas 30, #18 Tulsa 23

• Listen Up Playoff Proponents at Picture Me Rollin
• Final Tailgate of the year: Arkansas vs. Tulsa at Question Certain Perfection?
• Tulsa’s Undefeated Hopes Dashed in Arkansas at NCAA Football Fanhouse

Kentucky 14, Mississippi State 13

• UK at Mississippi State at Big Blue Thoughts
• Home Game Review / Replay of my Prediction (Kentucky) at Watch Out! Nails in the Road!
• UK Edges Mississippi State, 14-13 at KY Sports and Scores

#2 Alabama 35, Arkansas State 0

• Alabama – Arkansas State, the full recap at Tide Corner
• Alabama-Arkansas State, the day after… at The Rap Sheet
• Arkansas State From The Couch at Bama Sports Report

#8 Florida 49, #6 Georgia 10

• Thoughts on Georgia/Florida at A Bulldog in Exile
• Perspectives at Battle Hymn Notes
• Georgia Falls To Florida, 49-10 at Georgia Football Headline News

South Carolina 27, Tennessee 6

• FIVE POINTS: South Carolina 27, Tennessee 6 at Garnet and Black Attack
• Tennessee Volunteers 6, South Carolina 27: whatever at Rocky Top Talk
• Vols Lose to South Carolina in 27-6 Beatdown at Cincy Vols

#19 LSU 35, Tulane 10

• LSU trumps Tulane, now shifts to Bama at The Inside Source for LSU Athletics
• LSU-Tulane notes at LSU Tigers Football
• Inside the game: Tulane at LSU football at Go Green Wave

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 10: Blogging about the SEC

West Virginia 34, Auburn 17

• AUBURN: the aftermath at The Word
• Final: West Virginia 34, Auburn 17 at War Eagle Extra

#10 Florida 63, Kentucky 5

• Someone Forgot To Tell Kentucky They Had A Game Today at The Nasty Boys Sports Blog
• Expertise on Florida-Kentucky game from Wildcats beat writer at Swamp Things

Duke 10, Vanderbilt 7

• Big Day for Duke Sports at Zach Dotsey
• Duke holds Vanderbilt late 10-7 and go to 4-3 at Duke Sports
• Vanderbilt looks like ‘SOV’ in ugly loss to Duke at Star & Stripe

#7 Georgia 52, #13 LSU 38

• In this cornah: final thoughts on Georgia-LSU at Get The Picture
• Ten things you need to know about Georgia at LSU at A Bulldog in Exile

Mississippi 23, Arkansas 21

• Mississippi 23, Arkansas 21 at Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Mississippi State 31, Middle Tennessee State 22

• Mississippi Proves to Much for MTSU at WAAYTV.com

#2 Alabama 29, Tennessee 9

• 5 Alabama Bloggers on Tennessee week at Vol Nation
• Alabama Wins 29-9 at The Tide Druid
• Alabama defeats Tennessee 29-9! at Pointless Ramblings

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 9: Blogging about the SEC

#10 Georgia 24, #22 Vanderbilt 14

• Georgia – Vanderbilt: Game day open thread at Save the Shield!
• Vanderbilt vs. Georgia at On the Jericho Road
• Georgia twenty-something, Vanderbilt fourteen or so at A Free Man

#2 Alabama 24, Mississippi 20

• Alabama Survives Late Rebel Comeback at NCAA Football Fanhouse
• Alabama Survives Mississippi’s Upset Bid at ROCKSLAX

Kentucky 21, Arkansas 20

• Kentucky 21, Arkansas 20 at In the Loupe
• Arkansas loses a heartbreaker to Kentucky, 21-20 at RazorBlog
• UK vs. Arkansas: Five Minutes in Heaven at A Sea of Blue

Tennessee 34, Mississippi State 3

• Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs at Rocky Top Talk
• Tennessee beats Mississippi State 34-3 at DJ Football Blitz
• Some Positives in a Season Full of Negatives at Third Saturday in Blogtober

#13 LSU 24, South Carolina 17

• LSU @ South Carolina Thoughts at Cocky Talk
• Official in LSU/South Carolina game at Jumping Offsides
• LSU 24 – South Carolina 17: More Thoughts at And the Valley Shook

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC 

(check back soon if the link isn\\\’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 8: Blogging about the SEC

Arkansas against #20 Auburn

• Key Auburn-Arkansas statistics at Auburn Uncover News
• What A Day at Auburn Fanatics
• Hogs Win? at Fat Man in the Bathtub

#11 Florida against #4 LSU

• Hmmm Regarding That LSU/ Florida Game at Opinionated Catholic
• Sagarin was right about Gators vs. LSU at Saurian Sagacity

#10 Georgia against Tennessee

• Postgame from Georgia-Tennessee at The Word
• Georgia: 26 / Tennessee: 14 at DawgsGoneBlog.com
• A different take… at The Meat Packers: Georgia Sports Blog

Kentucky against South Carolina

• UK vs. South Carolina: \\\\\\\”Old\\\\\\\” Kentucky beats the \\\\\\\’Cats at A Sea of Blue
• Gamecocks Win On The Road, Defeat Kentucky 24-17 at South Carolina Gamecocks News

Mississippi State against #13 Vanderbilt

• LIVE BLOG: Vanderbilt at Mississippi State at Inside Vandy
• No. 13 Vanderbilt falls at Campus Confidential

Does not play this week:

• #2 Alabama
• Mississippi

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC    (If the link does not yet work, check back soon)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 7: Blogging about the SEC

Offense:

• Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
• Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia (unanimous selection)
• Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee
• Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
• Kenny MeKinley, WR, South Carolina
• Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida
• Andre Smith, OL, Alabama (unanimous selection)
• Michael Oher, OL, Ole Miss (unanimous selection)
• Anthony Parker, OL, Tennessee (unanimous selection)
• Herman Johnson, OL, LSU
• Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas (unanimous selection)

Defense:

• Greg Hardy, DL, Ole Miss (unanimous selection)
• Sen’Derrick Marks, DL, Auburn
• Tyson Jackson, DL, LSU
• Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida (unanimous selection)
• Rico McCoy, LB, Tennessee
• Darry Beckwith, LB, LSU
• Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia
• Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee
• Derek Pegues, DB, Mississippi

Also named to the team as DBs, in a three-way tie were Rashad Johnson from Alabama, Captain Munnerly from South Carolina, and DJ Moore from Vanderbilt.

Special Teams:

• Colt David, PK, LSU
• Ryan Shoemaker, P, Auburn
• Brandon James, RS, Florida

Looks like a good line-up. In the vote, coaches can’t name players from their own team, so “unanimous selection” really means 11 out of 12. I think that all of the coaches probably agree that this is a great list of talent.

Except one. You know that the only thought going through Urban Meyer’s mind was this:

“Who the FUCK is the communist that didn’t vote for Tebow?”

Post from: EveryJoe

Coaches Preseason All-SEC Team

Football uniforms have always been a hot topic. It makes sense – if I’m going to shell out the cash for a fan jersey, I don’t want to look like a douche. There are quite a few teams getting new uniforms in 2008, so I thought I’d compile a list of links to show you. If your team is getting new uniforms and you don’t see them on this list, leave a comment to let me know!

Hawaii

Kentucky (rumored, but I couldn’t confirm)

Miami

Minnesota (not yet revealed at time of this post)

South Florida

Utah

Post from: EveryJoe

New NCAA Uniforms for 2008

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville–great Casey has struck out.

Ok, wrong sport…but I imagine that’s the general feeling on the LSU campus today. The Tigers, ranked #1 going into their Saturday evening match up with Kentucky (ranked #17), Were looking to go undefeated to the championship, and by the looks of their schedule, they probably would have done it too.

What made this game so exciting was that it wasn’t one of those major upsets like we’ve been seeing with teams like Stanford beating USC. No, everyone knew that Kentucky was good. Still, no one expected a game like this.

Both teams had a good day as far as turnovers go, with just 1 by LSU and 2 by Kentucky. However, Kentucky’s Andre Woodson dominated the game, throwing 21 completions in 38 attempts for a total of 250 yards. Those stats may no seem all that impressive, but compared to Matt Flynn’s, Woodson is golden. Flynn only made 17 of his 35 attempts for a total of 130 yards.

But give LSU some credit here – they killed in rushing, led by Charles Scott (7 carried for 94 yards), with the help of the team’s bulldozer, Jacob Hester (18 carries for 61 yards). Hester was injured during overtime, which may have accounted for the team’s final loss. Well, what do you expect when you play in three overtimes and have Kentucky’s defense slamming into you again and again?

That’s right – three overtimes. And you thought the Hawaii – San Jose State game was exciting! Kentucky almost won during regular game plan on a huge last-minute 57-yard field goal attempt by kicker Colt David, but the ball swung to the side just slightly (although, amazingly, had it gone straight, it would have made it).

During overtime, Kentucky started off with the ball and a false start penalty. At that point, fans were biting their nails, hoping the team could at least make it forward a bit to put them back into field goal range. Kentucky’s MVP for the night? LSU’s Tyson Jackson. During the first overtime play, he got called for roughing the passer, a huge 15-yard penalty. Derrick Locke rushed in for the touchdown and Lone Seiber’s field goal attempt sailed right in.

LSU wasn’t rattled, and Flynn passed to Demetrius Byrd, who walked into the endzone. David’s point was also good, putting the game into the second overtime. This time, LSu started with the ball. They were forced to kick a field goal, and David’s attempt was good. Not to be stopped, Seiber made a 43-yard field goal kick look easy. Game still tied, and the players headed into the third overtime.

When Locke’s rushing attempt didn’t gain any yardage and Kentucky got called for delay of game, things looked a bit grim. Woodson pulled it out of the fire on the third down on the play of the game – an endzone pass to Steve Johnson. College rules say that you have to go for the two-point conversion during third overtime, and Kentucky failed…but that wouldn’t matter. LSU put Hester in the game and gave him the ball 3 times for a total gain of 8 yards. Hester limped off the field, and Scott tried to pick up those 2 yards they needed for a first down…and failed.

Cue sea of blue to the field.

It was one of the most exciting games I’ve seen in a long time. Personally, I was cheering for Kentucky because I’d like to see a Big Ten school win the championship, which they are now in the position to do. In any case, though, watching this game made me again realize how much I love college football!

AP Photo/Ed Reinke

Post from: EveryJoe

More Thoughts on the LSU – Kentucky Game