The explosiveness of this man is unreal. He’s a TRUE POINT GUARD. He shouldn’t be able to do things like this.

Two names that UK fans will come to know well as the summer progresses are 2010 point guard Kyrie Irving and 2011 small forward Michael Gilchrist. Both are top level prospects (Gilchrist may be the best prospect in high school, independent of class) and happen to be teammates in New Jersey.

Here are some highlights of Gilchrist:

The two are also best friends that are considering the possibility of playing together in college. UK is thought to be in excellent shape for Gilchrist, but may be behind Indiana for Irving, even though Irving’s godfather is UK assistant Rod Strickland. Even so, UK is the one school that the two really have in common, so it has the best shot of nabbing both.

ZagsBlog has an article today about this very subject:

Kyrie Irving and Michael Gilchrist have already teamed up to lead Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick to the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title.

Could they be pairing up together in college, too?

“We’ve considered it. We’ve talked about it,” Irving said in a recent interview. “We’re trying to do it but right now we’re just open in our recruiting process.”

And what school might the dynamic duo wind up at?

“Me and Mike, we talk about Kentucky mainly,” Irving said. “Coach Cal [John Calipari], he’s a great coach. And the whole coaching staff when I got to know them at Memphis, I have a great relationship with them. It’s just a top program.”

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Irving is the No. 4 point guard in the Class of 2010 according to Rivals.

He transferred to St. Patrick from Montclair (N.J.) Kimberley prior to last year and helped the Celtics win the New Jersey TOC. He and Gilchrist became fast friends.

“We became best friends when I transferred in,” said Irving, who along with Gilchrist, will be at the LeBron James Skills Academy beginning Sunday. “When we played in the first tournament together, I just got to know him and things developed from there.”

Irving’s complete list looks like this: UConn, Georgia Tech, Duke, Indiana, Seton Hall, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Florida, Marquette and Kentucky.

He has taken unofficials to UConn, Indiana and Texas A&M and says he plans to take more in August.

Kentucky has connections to both players. Assistant Rod Strickland is Irving’s Godfather and William Wesley, aka “Worldwide Wes,” is a very close family friend of Gilchrist and his parents, and is also close with Calipari.

The 6-6, 190-pound Gilchrist is the consensus top player in the Class of 2011.

His mother, Cindy Richardson, emphasizes that her son is still young and not thinking about the recruiting process.

She said in a text message that it’s “not true” that Irving and Gilchrist are thinking of playing together.

St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle confirmed that Gilchrist is still open.

“I’ve talked to mom about Mike and the recruiting recently,” Boyle said. “When he was young he said he was going to Memphis and a lot of people automatically have him going to Kentucky now.

“She’s adamant that that’s not true and that he’s open to schools of high quality who have interest in him. It’s a little early I think.

“Now you have a lot of people calling, asking ‘Do I have a shot? Obviously, anybody would take him if they can get him.”

Boyle said Villanova coach Jay Wright, Georgetown coach John Thompson III and West Virginia coach Bob Huggins are among those who have expressed the strongest interest in Gilchrist and Boyle said he also needed to speak more with North Carolina coach Roy Williams.

Kentucky remains a strong player as well.

“Kentucky and Coach Cal, without question, are going to make a strong play for him,” Boyle said.

Could Kentucky land both players?

“I don’t know,” Boyle said. “Kentucky is recruiting both of them so that’s not an impossibility there. I do think Kyrie does want to go somewhere that he’s going to have a chance to get the ball and run the offense his freshman year.

“Will Kentucky have that available? I don’t know. You might have John Wall there a year or two.”

When I found out once and for all that Xavier Henry would stick with his Kansas commitment, I immediately started wondering “How is John Calipari going to structure the rotation for his first team at Kentucky?” I figured that the best predictor of next year’s rotation would be the rotations for Calipari’s last few teams at Memphis.

Consequently, I researched a little bit into how minutes were distributed for John Calipari’s last 4 teams as the head coach of the Tigers. What I found is that Calipari has been very consistent in the depth of his rotation and his starting lineup. I consider a player “in the rotation when he averages over 10 minutes per game and plays in a majority of the team’s games:

2008-2009:
-9 man rotation
-5 players started at least 27 of team’s 37 games
-Same 5 players averaged at least 25 mpg
-1 player averaged more than 30.2 minutes

2007-2008:
-9 man rotation
-5 players started at least 33 of team’s 40 games
-Same 5 players averaged at least 25 mpg
-No player played more than 29.5 mpg

2006-2007:
-8 man rotation
-5 players started at least 35 of team’s 37 games
-7 players played at least 20 mpg
-No player played more than 28 mpg

2005-2006
-9 man rotation
-6 players started at least 21 of team’s 37 games
-Each of those 6 played at least 21.1 mpg
-No player played more than 27.3 mpg

As you can see, Calipari has used a 9 man rotation in 3 of the past 4 seasons and has found a pretty consistent starting lineup by the end of each year. Calipari’s starters generally get the bulk of the minutes and the 3 or 4 players off the bench play around 15 minutes a game. Also, in 2008-2009 Calipari had 2 players play 30 minutes a game (Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier), and that was the only time he had a player play that many minutes in the last 4 seasons.

I believe we can expect basically the same the same during the upcoming season. Let’s take a look at the 9 men who I believe will fit into this rotation. Players in bold are expected starters.

John Wall - G
Eric Bledsoe - G
Darius Miller - G/F
Patrick Patterson - F
DeMarcus Cousins - F/C
Daniel Orton - F/C
Ramon Harris - F
Darnell Dodson - G/F
DeAndre Liggins - G/F

The 3 players that I do not believe will factor into the rotation are Perry Stevenson, Josh Harrellson, and Jon Hood. I think each will get chances early in the year as Calipari learns his team, but I see the rotation shaking out like this.

Some will also argue against Ramon Harris factoring in the rotation, but Calipari has reportedly liked his defense. If you look at Calipari’s last 4 Memphis teams, it has been Antonio Anderson who has led the team in minutes the past 4 years. His defense got him minutes even though he average double figures just once. For this reason, I think you will see Ramon Harris on the court this year.

I also think DeAndre Liggins will be a part of the rotation because of his ability to play point guard in case Bledsoe and Wall are on the bench and the small forward position due to his size. I see him playing 15 minutes or so per game.

I also think that it is likely that 6 players on this years roster will play at least 20 minutes a game (5 starters plus Daniel Orton). You will notice that I include only 3 natural post players in the rotation. Patrick Patterson figures to play 30 minutes a game at either the 4 or 5 (maybe even the 3 from time to time), which leaves 50 minutes at those two positions. I think Orton and Cousins will get the vast majority of those minutes.

Also, people who have not been hearing reports about the pickup games in Lexington may be surprised to see Eric Bledsoe along John Wall in my forecasted backcourt. Bledsoe has been a revelation in these games, giving John Wall everything he wants and more. I think Bledsoe and Wall will be able to play very effectively together, although you have to imagine that a lineup with Wall and Bledsoe will see plenty of zone defense. That will put pressure on Darius Miller or whoever is playing the 3 to hit the outside shot. Even so, can you imagine a bigger upgrade in ballhandling in the backcourt from last season with these 2 playing together? Bring on the ball pressure!

Let’s take a look at how I see the minutes being divvied up at each position when UK plays a close game. Expect the 3 players not listed in the rotation to steal a minute or 2 here or there, but for simplicity’s sake I have excluded them.

PG - Wall (25), Bledsoe (10), Liggins (5)
SG - Bledsoe (13), Miller (10), Wall (5) Dodson (5), Liggins (7)
SF - Miller (15), Dodson (10), Liggins (7), Harris (8)
PF - Patterson (25), Cousins (5), Orton (5), Harris/Miller (5)
C - Cousins (17), Orton (17), Patterson (6)

Comment below if you disagree with any of this!

Fort Sanders, TN - Former Vol backup quarterback Jim Bob Cooter is facing aggravated burglary charges after allegedly getting into bed with a woman after climbing through a window of her Fort Sanders apartment, according to an arrest warrant as published on WVLT’s Web site.

The warrant says Cooter climbed through woman’s window on Franklin Station Way, stripped down to his underwear and got into bed with the woman early Saturday morning, the WVLT story stated.

She called police and Cooter was arrested.  Cooter is charged with aggravated burglary.  He has been released on a $10,000 bond. He’s set to be arraigned on the burglary charge on July 13.

While a player at UT, Cooter was arrested on a driving under the influence charge in June of 2006. He was suspended for the season opener with Cal.

Cooter served as a graduate assistant at UT in 2007 and 2008.

Courtesy of GoVolsXtra.com

I hate Tennessee and this story makes me smile.  First off, you have a backup quarterback by the name of Jim Bob Cooter.  That is funny enough.  Then the man climbs into some lady’s window, drops his drawers and climbs in bed with her. 

Hey Jim Bob, you better watch your back. You are going to get your ass kicked by Billy Jack Haskins the next time you climb in some chicks window, lose your shorts and try to get you some snuggle action.

I love this country and I love Ed Rusher loving this country. However, Mr. Rusher is not too fond of our sarcastic love of his work. He emailed us back in February cussing us out for ridiculing his song. Read his cussage outage by clicking here.

Fact is, I don’t think most of us even realize how lucky we are that we live in this great Country. We as Americans are truly blessed and should thank people, like Mr. Rusher, for giving us the freedoms that we cherish so much.

Still your singing…not that good.  And your video…a lil’ corny.

Happy Fourth of July!

Today’s Yump is an aspiring actress that has had a few minor guest appearances on TV shows where she has played the roles of: “Model,” “Bangin Hot Girl,” and “Dead Blonde Woman.” She was a Deal or No Deal Model for all four seasons, holding case number 23 (Also subbed for cases #1, #2, #3 and #6). If you choose not to check out her full gallery after the below preview, it very well maybe the biggest mistake of your life; cuz: Aubrie Lemon, UH YUMP!!

[CLICK HERE FOR AUBRIE'S FULL GALLERY AND TO AVOID REGRETTING NOT CLICKING HERE]

Accounts of battles between John Wall and Eric Bledsoe are already becoming the stuff of legend. Seeing the two potentially play together has to be a terrorizing prospect for opponents.

The two are part of UK’s top ranked recruiting class that is now in Lexington getting accustomed to eachother and the rest of their new teammates, save for Darius Miller (U-19 Team USA), Daniel Orton, and Patrick Patterson (training in California with “Hell’s Trainer”). By all accounts, the group is getting along really well and enjoying eachother quite a bit.

They seem to be very aware of the high expectations for this season and even embracing of them. Steve Moss of WKYT has the following report on the summer so far:

John Calipari’s first recruiting class is on campus and some of my friends at UK say the pick-up games this summer have been, shall we say, interesting.

From all indications, John Wall and Eric Bledsoe are blending together nicely. Calipari has said he has no problems having two point guards on the floor at the same time. In fact, he has said, the dribble drive offense is very effective with two, penetrating point guards in there together, pitching and dishing, or getting to the rim.

Wall and Bledsoe fit the bill, according to folks who have seen the pick-up games. Wall is dazzling, as we’ve seen in the Hoops Summit and McDonald’s All-American games. According to witnesses, Wall has dominated at times and has thrown down more than a few “sick” dunks.

Bledsoe was the first point guard to commit to Calipari and UK. Many have wondered how Bledsoe and Wall would co-exist. Sources say Bledsoe and Wall get after each other during these pick-up games and many times Bledsoe gets the best of Wall.

I’m told Wall isn’t the only guard with blazing speed — Bledsoe is extremely fast in the open court. Each player tries to get to the rim whenever possible.

You’ll remember, Calipari said he likes to recruit “big” players, or at least, guys that play big. Bledsoe is listed at 6-feet, but according to those who’ve seen him go against Wall, Bledsoe plays much bigger. Bledsoe has thrown down several dunks over Wall and had a memorable slam over Jon Hood, who stands 6-foot-6.

Off the court, I’m told, these two really like each other and are becoming fast friends. On the court, it appears they’re pushing each other to their limits.

Freshman big man DeMarcus Cousins is also making his presence known this summer. Cousins, the 6-foot-10 big man from Birmingham, has been a beast in the pick-up games. I’m told Cousins hasn’t been afraid to voice his disapproval when some of the upperclassmen don’t play hard.

(This is great to hear about Cousins, a guy who consistent work ethic has been called into question)

Daniel Orton hasn’t been in town this month — he’s on the west coast with Patrick Patterson, training with Frank Matrisciano. Calipari said Darnell Dodson isn’t on campus either. Calipari said he hopes Dodson would be in Lexington for the final 4-week summer school session.

Looking to start your 4th of July weekend off right?  How about two great days at Louisville Slugger Field with the Bats.  The Bats are in town tonight and tomorrow with great drink specials, music, and fireworks, and baseball.  What’s more American than that?  Here is what’s going down at the ballpark by the river.

July 2nd Doubleheader vs Indianapolis Indians 5:30 pm

The Louisville Bats and Indianapolis Indians are locking up for a double dip tonight with two seven inning games.  First pitch is at 5:30 with gates opening at 5:00 pm. 

“Budweiser Game Time Happy Hour”-  $1 Bud & Bud Light from 5:00 til 7:00 p.m.  on the Overlook Grill.  That’s right, an extra 30 minutes to get your drink on for cheap.        

Live Musicby “Timmy and Sharfe” on the Overlook for your enjoyment while you down your frosty cold brew.  Band will be playing from 5:00-5:30.

Inflatamaniacs will be making an appearance.  There will also be pickle racing and nobody wants to miss the hilariousness of giant pickles running around. 

Fireworks-Stick around after the game for a Fireworks Extravaganza to kick off the 4th of July weekend. 

July 3rd vs Indianapolis Indians 7:05 pm. Gates open 5:30

$2 Michelob Craft Beer Happy Hour- Keep celebrating our country’s independence by knocking back a few more brewskis.  From 5:30-7:00 pm on the Overlook Grill, enjoy $2 Michelob. 

Live Musicfrom 5:40 till 6:40 with the Band “Troubadours of Divine Bliss”. 

Appearance by Duo Design

Dick’s Sporting Good’s Coupons-  Come get your discount to Dick’s Sporting Goods so you can get some fresh kicks, clothes, or equipment. 

Post- Game Fireworks- Night two of the Firework Extravaganza will take place immediately following the game.

Top 10 Threats To Sports Blogging (On 205th)

Man’s Best Friend Tattoo (Don Chavez)

Sleep Talkers Bring The Laughzzz (Urlesque)

Happy Birthday Pamela Anderson (MoonDog Sports)

New Test Driver For Lamborghini Wanted (Frat Fury)

Six Everyday Items You Touch That Are Much Dirtier Than a Toilet (Cracked)

Time Heals All Wounds: Cuban, Martin Are Cool Now (The Big Lead)

Jay Mariotti Has A Selective Memory (Awful Announcing)

Nick Cannon: Mariah Carey’s Not Dissing Eminem In ‘Obsessed’ (MTV)

Obsessed Lebron James Fan Gets Tattoo And Mouthguard (Hoop Doctors)

Joe Mauer Has Man Muscles (Babes Love Baseball)

See If You Can Name The AP Male Athlete Of The Year From 1931 On (Sporcle)

Stanley was a big kid. His mother had always supported him, constantly reminding him that his size was proof he was special. Stanley WAS special. At seven feet tall, and made out of plastic, Stanley excelled at sports. Though he had never met his father, his mother told Stanley his father’s name was Clifford, and he was also exceptionally sized.

One lonely night in ’87, Clifford and his favorite chew toy spent a wild night of passion together. Nine months later, Stanley was born. As she birthed the young boy through her squeak hole and cussed Clifford for leaving her all alone, she knew Stanley would grow up to be something special. Special and huge.

As he grew into a fatherless monster toy, Stanley always felt as if something was missing. He decided to find his deadbeat dad. Ignoring his mother’s high pitched, pleading squeaks Stanley struck out to find the father he’d never known. His mother stayed at home and wept, all the while cursing that filthy home wrecker, Emily Elizabeth.

Stanley did not know where to find his father, but his genial nature and wounded spirit made others want to help the young man on his quest. Surviving on the kindness of strangers, he made his way to Hollywood. Documenting the epic journey was Stanley’s best and only friend Cletus the Sock Monkey. After finding his absentee father, who turned out to actually be a Big Red Dog, Stanley confronted him with his truancy. Clifford was devastated, saying he never knew. Stanley and his father embraced, ending this story on a high note. Their oversized newfound happiness destroyed three buildings in Beverly Hills.

Pushing his son into the family show business, Clifford acted as yet another freakishly controlling parent/manager in Hollywood. He began by selling the rights for the heroic story to Lifetime for yet another lame, made-for-TV movie. Shown is a promotional picture snapped by Cletus the Sock Monkey as Stanley perches gracefully atop a small car, and asks an elderly couple for directions to I-10 in his marathon search for his father. The old man reportedly died of heart failure immediately, and the woman directed him to the interstate from the ground where she had fallen and broken her hip.