Courtside with the Kentucky Wildcats
The basketball grapevine says that Penn is one of the schools on Morakinyo Williams’ list of possible destinations.
Williams, a 6-foot-11 center, was on Kentucky’s team this past season. He decided to transfer after playing sparingly.
Williams will need time to develop.
Ben Hansbrough, the former Mississippi State guard and the brother of North Carolina All-American Tyler Hansbrough, will transfer to Notre Dame.
That was reported by The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Here’s the wire story:
Ben Hansbrough, who helped Mississippi State advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament last month, is transferring to Notre Dame.
<*J>The 6-foot-3 guard started 28 of Mississippi StateÕs 34 games and was fourth on the team with a 10.5 scoring average. Hansbrough is the younger brother of AP Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough, a forward for North Carolina.
<*J>The younger Hansbrough said he chose the Fighting Irish over Purdue and Oklahoma State.
<*J>ÒThey have a great style that I feel I can flourish in,Ó he said by phone Tuesday from Starkville, Miss., where he prepared for his last two finals. ÒThey have a great team and itÕs a great school.Ó
<*J>Hansbrough announced earlier this month that he would not return for his junior season at Mississippi State. He said Tuesday he decided to leave because Òit wasnÕt the best fit for me.Ó
<*J>After sitting out a year at Notre Dame, Hansbrough would be allowed to play in the 2009-10 season and have two seasons of eligibility. He could fill the void left by Kyle McAlarney, who has one year of eligibility left with the Irish.
<*J>Hansbrough said he informed Irish coach Mike Brey of his decision Monday night. It was first reported by the South Bend Tribune.
<*J>ÒI absolutely love the way they play,Ó he said. ÒHe (Brey) lets his players get up and down and play.Ó
UK Coach Billy Gillispie scoffed at the rumors of his viability as a candidate for the job at Oklahoma State this spring.
“There’s always a ton of rumors,” he said at a Thursday news conference.
Gillispie said he made it a policy not to discuss such speculation until it becomes “real,” which he defined as another school asking for permission to talk to him about a job.
“That definitely never became real,” he said of the Oklahoma State job.
Former UK player Travis Ford is widely expected to be named OSU coach as soon as Thursday.
When asked if he saw value in clearing the air of such speculation, Gillispie said, “I certainly don’t.”
He said it would be “disrespectful” if deny involvement in another job if not approached by that school’s officials.
Former UK Coach Joe B. Hall will be signing commemorative Maker’s Mark bottles on Friday morning at Keeneland.
Here’s the news release from Keeneland:
Coach Joe B Hall will be joined by Maker’s Mark president, Bill Samuels Jr, and Keeneland Race Track president, Nick Nicholson, in signing the special bottles that honors Coach Hall and his biggest fan, his late wife Katharine, who died of cancer last year.
Friday, April 11 starting at 6:30 AM
Trackside of the Keeneland Race Track, Lexington, Kentucky
The unique partnership between Keeneland Race Track, University of Kentucky and Maker’s Mark Distillery will have raised over $3 million in three years for important cancer research in Kentucky.
This is the 30th Anniversary of Coach Hall’s 1978 NCAA Championship, and when Hall was also named college basketball’s Coach of the Year.
Made of blue glass and dipped in “Kentucky Blue” wax, the 18,000 numbered limited edition bottles, that were sold only in Kentucky, were sold out within hours on Friday April 4, 2008.
The signing will be for first 1300 people in line with each person limited to two (2) bottles and only this year’s 2008 bottle will be signed (no other bottles or memorabilia will be allowed).
Father Ed Bradley, the unofficial UK team chaplain when Rick Pitino was coach, was scheduled to lead the memorial service for Bill Keightley Thursday night.
Pallbears were 11 student managers who worked for Keightley. The 11 were Jeff Bergstrom, Craig Callihan, Will Campbell, Terrance Commodore, Jeremy French, Will Herschleman, Dustin Marr, Luke Mason, Zach Murphy, Chad Sanders and Jeff Sturm.
In preparation for the service, Rupp Arena workers laid down the court. A grand piano was set up at one foul line near UK’s bench. Flowers and a podium were set up at the opposite foul line.
Dr. Everett McCorvey, who annually sings “My Old Kentucky Home” at Senior Day, were listed as the vocalist. Nan McSwain was listed as the pianist.
At least two SEC coaches are expected to attend the Thursday memorial service for longtime UK equipment manager Bill Keightley. Both have Kentucky ties.
Florida Coach Billy Donovan, who began his coaching career at UK as a Rick Pitino assistant, is expected to attend.
So is Mississippi State Coach Rick Stansbury, a native of Brandenburg.
UK plans to add a sensitive touch to Friday’s farewell to longtime equipment manager Bill Keightley.
The school announced on Thursday that Keightley’s funeral procession will drive by the Avenue of Champions’ side of Memorial Coliseum Friday at 8:55 a.m. en route to the private memorial service at Lexington Center.
Memorial Hall tower chimes will play “On, On U of K” at that moment.
UK released a list of speakers for Thursday’s public memorial service for equipment manager Bill Keightley.
Here’s the list:
Mitch
Billy
Joe B. Hall, former Head Coach
Rick Pitino, former Head Coach
Jeff Morrow, former student manager
Vinny Tatum, former student manager
Other speakers, including former players, are still being finalized
Louisville Coach Rick Pitino is scheduled to be among the speakers at Thursday’s memorial service for Kentucky basketball equipment manager Bill Keightley.
Other persons expected to address the crowd include UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart, UK Coach Billy Gillispie, former UK Coach Tubby Smith and former UK manager Vincent Tatum.
The service is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in Rupp Arena. Doors open at 5 p.m.
The Cincinnati Reds plan to honor Bill Keightley before Thursday nijght’s game.
The public address announcer will say a few words while a photograph of Keightley appears on the videoboard.
Keightley, who worked in the UK basketball equipment room since 1961-62, died on Monday. He had gone to Cincinnati to continue a tradition of attending the Reds’ season-opening game.
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.