Armstrong Cable to Offer SEC NETWORK

Just received an email back from the President of Marketing at Armstrong Cable about them carrying the SEC Network...

This is what he had to say...

"Jason, Armstrong plans to launch the SEC Network on August 14.  The agreement was just completed late last week."

So there you have it Armstrong Customers, you WILL receive the SEC Network and on time. 

Big Blue Madness Camp-out Info

Big Blue Madness, the unofficial tip-off of the 2014-15 men’s and women’s basketball seasons, has been set for Friday, Oct. 17 at Rupp Arena.

At the request of campus public safety officials, fans wishing to line up ahead of time at Memorial Coliseum for ticket distribution are asked to do so no earlier than 5 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17. The athletic department will provide portable restroom facilities, but the use of permanent, wooden-type structures; portable generators; and propane tanks or other open flames used in cooking is prohibited due to safety concerns. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are not permitted. Additionally, selling sports tickets in excess of face value is illegal in Kentucky.

Tickets for the 2014 Big Blue Madness event will be available Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7 a.m. ET at the Memorial Coliseum ticket windows on Euclid Avenue and online at UKathletics.com andTicketmaster.com. Madness times and broadcast info, as well as more ticket information, will be released at a later date.

A limited amount of control cards will be issued to those camped out on Friday, Sept. 19, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.  Fans are encouraged to start lining up for Saturday morning’s ticket distribution between 4-5 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20.  All fans must be present to obtain their control cards and only one control card per person will be accepted at distribution.  Based upon availability, control cards will not be distributed after 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 and all persons with control cards must be in line by 7 a.m.

R.I.P. Dash "The Dog" Calipari

John Calipari and family have a heavy heart tonight as they lay to rest a long time member of the family and friend. Their dog, a German Shepherd named "Dash" was put to sleep following a sudden illness. Here's what Calipari had to say about the untimely death...

"It’s a sad day for every one of us in the Calipari family.

It breaks my heart to report that our German Shepherd, Dash, also known as the Mean and Nimble One, has passed away. Like a dog or a cat is to most of you, he had become part of our family and we are sick to our stomachs to lose him.

I don’t want to get into the medical terms of what it was, but this all happened in the last 24 hours. He was sick last night and we didn’t know what it was so we took him to the hospital and they kept him overnight. At first they told us there would be a 70 percent chance he would survive, but when I saw him this morning and he wasn’t doing any better, I had a bad feeling of where this was headed. At 9 years old and at his size, the vet said it’s like he’s 80 years old.

Fearing it may be the last time we would see him, we stopped in to see him before practice this evening. Unfortunately when we got there our fears became a reality; we were told we had to put him to sleep.

Dash was such a great dog and companion. He was loving, loyal and protective — everything you could want in a dog.

He was like a security blanket for Ellen and Brad. He was a German Shepherd so he had a look of meanness to him. I always had to put him up when the players came over because they were scared of him, and Rod Strickland would never leave his car unless he knew he was locked up.

The thing is he would never hurt anyone if he knew you. We have two other small dogs, and even though they would eat Dash’s food and mess with him while he was sleeping, he would never get nasty with them. He didn’t even bother our cat.

There’s nothing worse than losing family, and Dash was certainly a part of ours. We are going to miss him"

I speak for the rest of BBN when I say we are sorry to hear of the loss and also...

R.I.P 'Dash'

John Wall Cut From Team USA

Unfortunately, former Cat John Wall has been cut from the Team USA roster. I really hate to see that as I think John could bring a lot to the table for Team USA with just his ability to get the rim alone.

There is some good news however, Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis made it past the cut... For now. As I look for Davis to eventually make the final roster without question, Demarcus will have to survive another round of cuts when the roster gets cut down to the final twelve in a couple of weeks. So let's hope 'Boogie' can prove himself and show Coach K what the rest of the basketball world already knows. HE DESERVES TO BE THERE.

John Calipari's Women's Clinic Info

The University of Kentucky men's basketball program has announced the date and times for the 2014 Women's Clinic.

The sixth annual John Calipari Women’s Clinic is scheduled forSunday, Sept. 28 from 3-6 p.m. ET at the Joe Craft Center on the University of Kentucky’s campus. This unique clinic is designed for women with all levels of basketball knowledge and experience and offers an exclusive inside look at the University of Kentucky men’s basketball program. Don’t miss the opportunity to become the first in your household to get a look at the 2014-15 Wildcats.

Registration for the Women's Clinic will be from 1-3 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Lexington Avenue entrance of the Joe Craft Center (UK ticket office side). Throughout the designated check-in time, attendees will enjoy refreshments and lunch, plus a self-guided tour of the Joe Craft Center, including team locker room and training facilities. Men’s basketball staff members will be stationed throughout the facility for demonstrations and questions.

Following check-in, the women’s clinic will include scheduled presentations by staff and players on the inner workings of the program, as well as a Q & A with UK coaches and the 2014-15 Wildcats.

Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable attire (athletic shoes) and participate in activities and presentations (at own risk).

Parking will be available in the E lot located on the north side of the Joe Craft Center. Attendees MUST park in a legal parking spot in that E lot only (parking in R lots is not permitted).

Please note that this clinic is open to WOMEN ONLY and recruitable age participants (currently in the 7th-12th grades, junior college or prep school) are NOT permitted to register for or attend the clinic, per NCAA rules.

Date: Sunday Sept. 28, 2014
Check-in: 1-3 p.m.
Time: 3-6 p.m.

Location: Joe Craft Center and Memorial Coliseum (338 Lexington Avenue)
Cost: $100 (Includes T-shirt and lunch)

Those who wish to register for the2014 John CalipariWomen’s Clinic can do so online (http://www.ukathletics.com/camps/) and are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible due to limited spots available. The 2011, 2012 and 2013 Women’s Clinics were sold out.

Once you have completed the registration process, you will receive a confirmation email with itinerary. You will receive reminder emails with additional details of the event.

Any clinic related questions can be called into the men’s basketball camp line at 859-257-9457 or859-257-1916.

Julius Randle's Rookie Picture

Today was the NBA Rookie shoot, where all the rookies take their first pictures as part of an NBA team. Julius seemed to enjoy his...

J30_RANDLE Rookie shoot was fun today!! Good experience 👌 http://t.co/KyjsC2y3hO 8/3/14, 8:36 PM

Statement From UK on Hiring Tony Barbee

Former UTEP and Auburn head coach Tony Barbee has joined the Kentucky men’s basketball staff as the special assistant to the head coach, John Calipari announced Friday.

He will take on an administrative role in operations formerly held by Rod Strickland, who left to become an assistant coach at the University of South Florida.

Barbee was previously the head coach at UTEP and at Auburn and has served as an assistant coach under Calipari for a total of nine seasons in his career.

“Tony has been a part of my basketball family for over 20 years,” Calipari said. “I’ve had the pleasure of watching him grow up and mature with this game since I started recruiting him when he was 16 years old. I’m thrilled with the knowledge and experience he brings to this program and our staff and am looking forward to working with him again.”

"I’m so excited to reconnect with my coach, mentor, and friend Coach Cal on his staff at Kentucky,” Barbee said. “I can't wait to join the Big Blue Nation in its quest for No. 9."

Barbee played for Calipari at UMass before starting his coaching career as a graduate assistant on the Massachusetts staff in 1995-96. The Minutemen advanced to the NCAA Final Four in Barbee’s first season as a member of the coaching staff.

He served as an assistant coach for two seasons at UMass before taking an assistant coaching position at Wyoming. Barbee rejoined Calipari as an assistant at Memphis for six seasons from 2000-06. The Tigers earned a 20-win season in each of his six years on staff. The Tigers claimed a pair of Conference USA titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times during his tenure including an Elite Eight run in his final season.

Barbee was hired as UTEP’s head coach in 2006. During his four-year tenure at the helm of the Miners program he averaged 20.5 wins per seasons and exceeded his win total from year-to-year. His most prolific season at UTEP was his last in which he led the Miners to a 26-7 overall record, a C-USA regular-season title and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009-10.

He became Auburn’s head coach prior to the start of the 2010-11 season. He spent four seasons as the head coach of the Tigers and has amassed an overall 131-127 record as a head coach.

As a player, Barbee helped lead the Minutemen to a pair of Atlantic 10 championships and two NCAA Tournaments. UMass went 91-39 during his four-year career. Barbee still ranks among the school's all-time leaders in numerous statistical categories, including scoring with 1,643 points. He was a second-team All-Atlantic 10 player in 1991 and 1993 and All-Atlantic 10 Freshman team selection in 1990.

The Indianapolis native played professionally in Spain and France after his playing career at UMass. He earned his B.A. in sports management from UMass in 1993, with a minor in African-American studies. He and his wife, Holly, have a daughter, Hayden Alexandra, and son, Andrew Marsh.