It’s worth checking out.  If it’s UK football, there are often more questions than answers this time of the year.

ESPN with their take of where the team is at.  http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/43365/kentucky-spring-wrap-3

The bottom line is, if Max Smith is the man, and it looks like he is, and if he turns into a special player, he can make the difference in 2-4 games.  You don’t like to put pressure on one player, but if UK’s quarterback play was much better last year, the Cats bowl streak probably would have continued.

Kentucky (41-11, 18-9 SEC) enters the final weekend leading the conference by half a game, heading to No. 25 Mississippi State starting Thursday. UK embarks on a road trip on Tuesday that could extend as long as 15 days, starting at Murray State in Paducah, Ky., on Tuesday night, before traveling to Mississippi State. UK will then travel to Hoover, Ala., from MSU for the SEC Tournament, from May 22-27 at Regions Park.

FINAL WEEK QUICK NOTES

• UK (18-9) leads the SEC by half a game over South Carolina (17-9), which had its final game of the series at Georgia suspended due to weather. South Carolina hosts Western Division leader LSU (17-10) on the final weekend, with Florida (16-11) the only other club in striking distance of the SEC Title.
• At 41 wins, UK became the first team in the NCAA to soar to 40 wins, with the Wildcats leading the nation in wins and owning the second-most wins in UK program history.
• UK’s 18 SEC wins ranks second-most in program annals, just behind the 20 wins during the 2006 SEC Championship campaign.
• UK is 15-5 in one-run games, 17-6 in one or two-run games, 12-8 vs. top-25 foes and 10-5 vs. top-10 teams.
• With a 29-5 record at home, UK set a new wins record at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
• Player Watch Lists/Award Finalists:
  • Austin Cousino, CF (2012 USA Collegiate National Team)
  • Trevor Gott, RP (USA Baseball Golden Spikes, NCBWA Stopper of the Year)
  • Corey Littrell, SP (College Baseball Hall of Fame NCAA Pitcher of the Year)
  • Luke Maile, C (USA Baseball Golden Spikes)
  • Thomas McCarthy, 3B (Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award)
  • A.J. Reed, LHP/1B (College Baseball Hall of Fame John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year)

Fresh off a thrilling 12-inning win at Indiana on Wednesday, No. 7 Kentucky wraps up its home regular-season schedule, hosting Alabama in a three-game set, starting on Friday at 7 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The series will resume at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday and conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

The three games will be broadcast live on the UK IMG Radio Network, available in Central Kentucky on WLAP 630-AM, in Louisville on WKJK 1080-AM and online at UKathletics.com. The Friday game will be televised live on CSS, with Matt Stewart and Rusty Ensor on the call.

Kentucky (38-11, 15-9 Southeastern Conference) sits one game out of the SEC Championship race, trailing South Carolina and LSU, who own 16-8 record, with UK boasting series wins over both. The Wildcats have two SEC weekends remaining, vs. Alabama before traveling to No. 25 Mississippi State for the final weekend of the regular-season. UK has already clinched a berth in the SEC Tournament, set for May 22-27 at Hoover, Ala.

Kentucky coming off a 6-5 12-inning win at Indiana on Wednesday night, as UK rallied with go-ahead runs in the 11th and 12th innings as nightfall descended on IU’s Sembower Field, which doesn’t have lights. UK got strong relief pitching from several Wildcats, with Trevor Gott picking up the win and Sam Mahar notching his first career save in the bottom of the 12th. The win improved UK to a staggering 14-4 record in one-run games and a 15-5 mark in one or two-run contests.

The Wildcats are in the midst of a historically unprecedented season, sitting with the fourth-most wins in the 107-year history of the program and the third-most SEC wins in school annals. The Wildcats opened the season on a school-record 22-game winning streak, posting series wins in conference play over No. 2 South Carolina, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 1 LSU and at Tennessee, No. 18 Georgia and No. 9 Arkansas. UK has suffered its first series defeats of the year the last two weekends, at two-time defending SEC Champion Vanderbilt and vs. No. 5 Florida, the preseason consensus top-ranked team in the nation.

UK will send its regular weekend rotation to the mound with junior lefty Taylor Rogers (5-3, 4.81 ERA) on Friday, junior left-hander Jerad Grundy (4-2, 4.08 ERA) and sophomore southpaw Corey Littrell (7-0, 2.30 ERA). Alabama will counter with standout freshman right-hander Spencer Turnbull (2-4, 4.56 ERA), freshman southpaw Jon Keller (1-5, 4.14 ERA) on Saturday and junior right-hander Charley Sullivan (2-2, 5.03 ERA) on Sunday.

A native of Littleton, Colo., Rogers has made 12 starts in 2012 in the series opener, tossing 67.1 innings, allowing 81 hits and 15 walks, striking out 67. Rogers was strong in his last start, tossing six innings and allowing seven hits and three earned runs vs. No. 5 Florida, walking two and striking out five. In his last start vs. Alabama, allowing nine hits and six runs, not walking anyone and striking out five in 4.1 innings. As a freshman, Rogers turned in a strong outing, tossing 7.2 innings with five hits and two runs, not walking any and striking out five for his first career SEC win. Rogers will be opposed by Turnbull, who has emerged as one of the top freshmen pitchers in college baseball after tossing seven no-hit innings in a start at No. 4 South Carolina, before weather postponed the game. Turnbull has made 13 appearances with eight starts, tossing 47.1 innings, allowing 44 hits and 21 walks, striking out 41. While dueling with Mississippi State’s ace Chris Stratton, Turnbull worked 5.2 innings in his last start, allowing seven hits and three runs, walking one and striking out two.

Grundy, a transfer from Heartland CC and Miami (Fla.), has made 12 starts in the middle game of the weekends in 2012. Grundy has hurled 64 innings, allowing 58 hits and 25 walks, striking out 41. In his last start vs. Florida, Grundy worked 7.1 innings, allowing six hits and two runs, walking one and striking out two. Keller will be making his eighth start of the year in 18 appearances, tossing 54.1 innings, allowing 51 hits and 21 walks, striking out 34. In his last start vs. MSU, Keller worked seven innings, allowing three hits and three runs – two earned – walking three and striking out five.

A native of Louisville, Ky., and a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame NCAA Pitcher of the Year Watch List, Littrell has thrived in the series finale role for UK in 2012. Littrell has tossed 12 starts in 2012, with 74.1 innings, allowing 78 hits and 18 walks, striking out 61. In his last start, Littrell turned in a dominating outing, taking a shutout into the ninth inning vs. Florida, with UK holding a 2-1 win. Littrell worked eight innings, allowing nine hits and one run – a solo homer to leadoff the ninth – not allowing a walk and striking out five. Sullivan has appeared in 12 games with nine starts, tossing 53.2 innings, allowing 64 hits and 11 walks, striking out 32. In his last start, Sullivan worked seven strong innings vs. Mississippi State, allowing only five hits and two runs – one earned – not allowing and walk with five strikeouts.

The Wildcats have been led offensively in 2012 by freshman centerfielder Austin Cousino, who boasts a .345 average with 18 doubles, one triple, eight homers and 37 RBI, stealing 11-of-11 bases. Catcher Luke Maile owns a .320 average with 10 doubles, 11 homers and 45 RBI, stealing nine bags. Zac Zellers has hit .304 with nine doubles, one triple, five homers and 18 RBI, while third baseman Thomas McCarthy owns a .299 average with 15 doubles, five homers and 26 RBI. Reed has hit .296 with nine doubles, three homers and 39 RBI, while outfielder Cameron Flynn owns a .295 mark with eight doubles, nine homers and 32 RBI. Second baseman J.T. Riddle has hit .284 with 10 doubles, one triple, four homers and 31 RBI, while catcher Michael Williams has hit .277 with six doubles, two homers and 27 RBI. Shortstop Matt Reida has added a .259 average with eight doubles, one triple, two homers and 18 RBI.

In the bullpen, UK has been led by Gott (2-0, 3.00 ERA) who has a UK single-season record 10 saves in 11 attempts in 2012. He has tossed 18 innings in 19 appearances, walking only five and striking out 26. Tim Peterson (3-0, 2.66 ERA) leads the club with 24 relief appearances, notching one save in 23.2 innings, striking out 27. Alex Phillips (5-2, 2.89 ERA) has appeared in 22 games with five saves in 43.2 innings, allowing 29 hits and 11 walks, striking out 33. Reed (4-1, 3.00 ERA) has appeared in 13 games with four stars, tossing 36 innings, walking six and striking out 38. Lefty Sam Mahar (3-3, 3.00 ERA) has appeared in 18 games with two starts and one save, tossing 33 innings with 30 hits and nine walks allowed, striking out 31. Walter Wijas (2-0, 5.57 ERA) has also helped UK anchor a dynamic bullpen, appearing in 18 games.

Alabama (18-30, 7-17 SEC) is coming off a series loss vs. No. 29 Mississippi State in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Tide own series wins over Vanderbilt and No. 23 Auburn in 2012, suffering losses to MUS, No. 4 South Carolina, No. 3 LSU, Tennessee, No. 17 Ole Miss and No. 4 Arkansas.

As a team, Bama has hit .253 with 19 homers in 48 games, posting a 147-294 walk-strikeout ratio and stealing 32 bases. On the mound, Alabama has a 5.13 team ERA, saving five games and tossing 415.2 innings, walking 204 and striking out 300.

Offensively, Alabama has been led by freshman catcher Ben Moore, who has hit .352 with 10 doubles with two homers and 28 RBI. All-America centerfielder Taylor Dugas has hit .343 with 12 doubles, six triples, two homers and 25 RBI. Jared Reaves has hit .305 with seven doubles, four homers and 29 RBI. In the bullpen, Jake Hubbard (3-2, 3.37 ERA) has three saves in a team-high 26 relief outings.

UK trails the all-time series with Alabama 57-33, including a 23-15 mark in games played in Lexington. UK was swept by Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2011 with its last series win vs. the Tide coming in 2010 in Lexington, with UK winning the last two series played by Cliff Hagan Stadium.

In the last meeting between the two teams, Alabama swept UK at the Joe. In the opener, Nathan Kilcrease tossed a complete-game shutout for the win over UK, outdueling Alex Meyer, who worked 6.2 innings with eight strikeouts. UK was led offensively by a three-hit game from McCarthy, who doubled along with Maile. Alabama won the series on Saturday with a 6-5 walk-off win, plating the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth, after UK had rallied with four runs in the seventh to tie the game. UK starter Jordan Cooper worked 2.2 innings with six hits and five runs allowed. Wijas worked 3.1 shutout innings of relief to keep UK in the game, along with 2.1 innings without allowing an earned run. The Bama run plated after an error in the bottom of the ninth inning. In the finale, Bama plated four runs in the first inning, holding on for an 8-3 win. Rogers worked 4.1 innings, allowing nine hits and six runs. Tucker Hawley started for Bama, working seven innings, allowing six hits and three runs.

UK ranks throughout the SEC stats, checking in third in average (.303), second in slugging (.457), second in on-base percentage (.392), second in runs (324), third in hits (504), second in RBI (298), first in doubles (99), first in total bases (761) and third in hit batters (72). Defensively UK ranks fourth in the league in double plays turned, allowing the fewest stolen bases of any team in the SEC. Individually, Cousino ranks 11th in average (.345), seventh in slugging (.562), second in runs (49), 10th in homers (eight), second in doubles (18), second in total bases (114) and seventh in steals (11). Maile ranks eighth in slugging (.558), seventh in runs (40), third in RBI (45), fourth in homers (11) and seventh in total bases (101). Flynn ranks 10th in slugging (.534) and sixth in homers (nine), while Zellers ranks sixth in on-base percentage (.455) and first in hit by pitch (18). Riddle ranks eighth in runs (39) and seventh in hit by pitch (11), while McCarthy checks in seventh in doubles (15).

Records

Kentucky – 38-11, 15-9 SEC

Alabama – 18-30, 7-17 SEC

Rankings

Kentucky: No. 7 (Collegiate Baseball/Baseball America), No. 9 (USA Today/ESPN coaches/NCBWA)

Alabama: not ranked

Schedule (times Eastern and subject to change) — Lexington, Ky.

Friday, May 11 * vs. Alabama * 7 p.m. (CSS)

Saturday, May 12 * vs. Alabama * 2 p.m. (FSS)

Sunday, May 13 * vs. Alabama * 1 p.m.

Tentative Pitching Matchups

Friday vs. Alabama

Jr., LHP Taylor Rogers (5-3, 4.81 ERA) vs. Fr., RHP Spencer Turnbull (2-4, 4.56 ERA)

Saturday vs. Alabama

Jr., LHP Jerad Grundy (4-2, 408 ERA) vs. Fr., LHP Jon Keller (1-5, 4.14 ERA)

Sunday vs. Alabama

So., LHP Corey Littrell (7-4, 2.30 ERA) vs. Jr., RHP Charley Sullivan (2-2, 5.03 ERA)

Promotions

Special Edition Baseball Trading Cards: Season ticket holders can begin picking up the final of three sets of the special edition UK baseball trading cards. To redeem, postcard holders should present their card to the promotions gazebo under the main grandstand. Each card will be stamped. Season ticket holders will receive one set for each season ticket in their account.

Cliff Dwellers: Be sure to register at the gazebo to earn your way towards an official Cliff Dweller T-Shirt. Attend any four SEC home games and get a white version, eight games for the blue version and 12 games for the black version.

Ice Cream Sundaes: Fans can enjoy Ice Cream Sundaes at the ballpark on Sunday.

Autograph Sunday: Fans can take part in SEC Autograph Sunday’s following the series finale on Sunday, the final chance to get autographs from the historic UK team.

An ESPN blog put out their top assistant coaches.  They have Orlando Antigua number one.  

The following, however, is a list of coaches, 40 and under, who have put themselves in a position to earn head coaching jobs in the future.

1. Orlando Antigua (Kentucky): The former Pitt standout helped John Calipari sign another top-ranked recruiting class. But he’s also assisted Calipari in developing the young prodigies who have come to Lexington. After Kentucky won the national title in April, he was a candidate for multiple jobs, including Duquesne. And it’s just a matter of time before he’s leading his own show. He turns 40 next year.
2. Travis Steele (Xavier): Xavier has produced some of the top coaches in the country (Skip Prosser, Sean Miller, Thad Matta, John Groce). Current coach Chris Mack says assistant Travis Steele, 27, is next in line. The Butler graduate has been on Mack’s staff for the past three seasons. Mack says Steele, who has helped develop and recruit the players who have led Xavier to four Sweet 16 appearances in five seasons, is “3-4 years” away from a head coaching gig.
3. Tim Fuller (Missouri): When opposing coaches say you’re on the rise, that means something. Fuller has amassed a solid reputation in coaching circles. After just one season with the Tigers, Frank Haith promoted Fuller to associate head coach. Fuller, who played at Wake Forest from 1997-2000, is just 34. But his stock is rising fast.
4. Steve Wojciechowski (Duke): The 35-year-old might be Coach K’s heir after a lengthy stint as one of his top assistants. He started out as an assistant in 1999 but was promoted to associate head coach in 2008. “Wojo” was known for slapping the floor on defense during his playing career and he’s equally passionate on the sidelines for the Blue Devils, who have won two national titles during his tenure.
5. Adrian Autry (Syracuse): The former Orange standout joined the staff prior to last season. And during a tumultuous year that included the firing of Bernie Fine over sexual abuse allegations and the dismissal of Fab Melo, the 39-year-old helped the program remain focused. He’s a reputable recruiter with strong ties to the D.C. area., connections that helped the Orange lock up the No. 15 recruiting class in 2012, according to ESPN.com
6. Mike Rhoades (VCU): In a short span, Rhoades has gone from a Division III assistant at Randolph-Macon (Ashland, Va.) to a top assistant under Shaka Smart. VCU has been defined by its gritty defense, better-than-they’re-ranked prospects and passion. Rhoades has helped the Rams embrace every tenet of Smart’s philosophy, one that helped VCU reach the Final Four last season. “He’s great,” Smart says.
7. Jeff Boals (Ohio State): The former Ohio forward joined Thad Matta’s staff in 2009. The Buckeyes have enjoyed success in all areas during his time with the program. He’s helped Matta develop top players such as Jared Sullinger and Evan Turner. And he’s also an energetic and effective recruiter. Boals, 39, won’t be an assistant for long.
8. Kevin Ollie (UConn): The program went south last season. But the year that preceded it ended with a national title. And Ollie was credited with equipping Kemba Walker and Co. for that run with his coaching on and off the floor. Ollie might take over the Huskies program if Jim Calhoun retires. But even if he doesn’t, he’ll be an attractive candidate for multiple openings in the near future.
9. Matthew Graves (Butler): Last year, Brad Stevens promoted Graves, who’s in his late 30s, to an associate head coaching position, a credit to his role in the program’s success. You don’t reach back-to-back national title games as a mid-major program by accident. Stevens and his staff put the program on the national map. With a move to the Atlantic 10, the Bulldogs will attain even more national exposure. And Graves, who’s been vital to the program’s efforts in recent years, will end up on a multitude of lists once jobs open up again after next season.
10. James Whitford (Arizona): Sean Miller’s longtime assistant was pursued by Miami (Ohio) in the offseason but decided to stay in Tucson, where he helped the Wildcats sign one of the top recruiting classes in the country. The Wildcats struggled during the 2011-12 campaign. But with Mark Lyons and some talented recruits headed to Arizona, the Wildcats could win the Pac-12 next year. It’s easy to see why Whitford, 40, stayed put.

For my two cents, Rondo is the most underrated basketball player in the world.  I don’t say that because he played at Kentucky.  I feel that way from watching NBA games.  It baffles me why he doesn’t get more respect.  It shouldn’t matter that he does some things that you might not like.  So what.  Talent is talent.

This is a wonderful piece on Rondo the talent.

Kentucky seniors Chanda Bell and Brittany Cervantes have been tabbed Southeastern Conference Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, it was announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

The duo was instrumental in leading the Wildcats to the first series sweep of No. 22 LSU in program history and helping the Wildcats secure a school-record sixth SEC series topping last year’s five-series won.

Bell is earning her second consecutive SEC Pitcher of the Week accolade after being tabbed the league’s top pitcher for the first time in her career a week ago after leading UK to a series win over No. 2 Florida. This is the third SEC Player of the Week honor of Cervantes’ career, but the first this season after previously winning the award once in her sophomore season and again during her junior campaign.

After having simply one of the best weekends of her career in leading the Wildcats to a series win at No. 2 Florida a week ago, Bell went and topped that performance by leading UK to a sweep of No. 22 LSU to become NCAA Tournament eligible and clinch the No. 5 seed at the SEC Tournament.

The right-hander played a part in the circle in all three victories for UK. In the opening game of the series, she worked a complete-game eight-inning win, yielding four hits and striking out 10. It was the second consecutive game against a top-25 opponent she struck out 10 or more batters in the win. In the series-clincher, she was brought into the game in relief in the top of the seventh with runners on first and second and UK clinging to a one-run lead with one out. She promptly recorded outs against the only two batters she faced to earn her third save of the season and a UK-record breaking fifth of her career.

She then saved her best performance for last. On Senior Day no less, Bell tossed a no-hitter to clinch a sweep of the Tigers. She worked all seven innings, striking out six and allowing just two walks. It was the fifth no-hitter of her career, but first of the season for the Indianapolis native. Following the weekend, she moves into third in UK’s single-season record books for saves (3), fourth for strikeouts (194) and fifth for wins (16).

With the two wins this weekend she becomes the first pitcher in program history to have 15 or more wins in all four seasons of her career. Furthermore, she became UK’s first hurler to top 900 career strikeouts with 16 tossed this weekend to run her career total to 903. Finally, her ERA falls to a program-topping 2.48 for her career.

Cervantes was a difference-maker in every at-bat in guiding UK to a sweep of LSU which marked the first-ever series win over the Tigers in program history. In Friday night’s opening game with Kentucky trailing 3-0, Cervantes delivered a two-out two-run RBI double to bring UK within striking distance. In the bottom of the seventh and with two outs, Cervantes drilled a two-strike home run over the center field wall to tie the score at 3-3 and force extra innings. Kentucky would eventually win in the bottom of the eighth.

In the second game of the series, she connected for her second solo home run in as many at-bats to drive in the game’s first run in UK’s 2-1 series-clinching win. Following the homer, she was walked twice to avoid her bat.

In the final game of the series, Cervantes opened the game with a double to mark all four hits in the series going for extra bases.

For the weekend, she batted a team-high .571 and had four RBI. Three of those runs brought in came against the nation’s leader in ERA in Rachele Fico who entered the game with a 0.90 ERA. With the tremendous weekend, Cervantes advanced in a number of categories in UK’s record books. She now has the fourth-most single-season doubles (16) and home runs (12) and has drawn the third-most walks (32) in a season. In the career books, she moved into second in slugging percentage (.580), third in total bases (363), fourth in doubles (42) and runs scored (146), sixth in assists (366) and seventh in career games played (228). She already owns UK career records in RBI and home runs and pushed those totals to 160 and 47, respectively.

Kentucky will begin its postseason run on Thursday at the SEC Tournament at Rhodes Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as the University of Alabama Crimson Tide will serve as the hosts of the tournament.

UK will be the No. 5 seed in the tournament and will face the fourth-overall seed in Georgia at 5 p.m. ET on ESPNU. In the regular season meeting between the two, Kentucky took two of three games, including a 4-0 win on Saturday April 14 in which Cumbess threw a no-hitter against the Dawgs.

The ESPN family of networks along with ESPN3 will combine to carry every pitch of the SEC Tournament.

Kentucky Football Season Ticket Renewals Due Wednesday

The deadline for renewal of Kentucky football season tickets is Wednesday, April 25. Tickets may be renewed online at ukathletics.com, in-person at the UK Athletics Ticket Office in the Joe Craft Center, or by mailing in the renewal invoice with payment.  Fans may also call the Ticket Office directly at (800) 928-2287 to renew their season tickets.

Beginning this week, current season ticket holders may also order tickets for Kentucky’s away games and additional tickets for home games at Commonwealth Stadium.  Ticket applications may be mailed or faxed to the UK Ticket Office.  Tickets may also be purchased online through My UK Account or ordered over the phone.  The priority deadline for single game ticket orders is Friday, July 13.

Fans wishing to obtain new season tickets for the 2012 season may contact the UK Ticket Office at (800) 928-2287, or submit the Football Season Ticket Request.  Application packets will be mailed out in June, after the renewal process is complete.  Season packages will include tickets to all seven home games, and tickets may be available in a variety of seating areas at Commonwealth Stadium.

Phillips Featured on KET “Conversations With Champions”

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips is the special guest on the television show “Conversations With Champions,” which will run on Kentucky Educational Television (KET) through the end of April.

The show features a 30-minute conversation with Phillips and host Billy Reed, covering Phillips’ background, his role as head coach of the Wildcats, and issues surrounding college football.

“Conversations With Champions” will be shown at these times:

Thursday, April 26 at 7 a.m. on KET3

Monday, April 30 at 4 a.m. on KET1

The University of Kentucky football team moved one day closer to the annual Blue/White Spring Game on Saturday by holding a two and a half hour practice Wednesday morning at the Nutter Training Center.

UK head coach Joker Phillips said after practice that Wednesday was the final true practice for the team this spring season. The head coach said the team will wear shorts and shoulder pads during practice Friday to fine tune some things before the Blue/White Game.

“This is our last day of working and getting physical and doing all the things that we need to do to get ourselves ready to play football,” Phillips said. “Friday we will be in shorts to work on technique and fundamentals.”

Phillips said the team had a very strong practice Wednesday, getting in some competitive work on both sides of the ball. Along those same lines, the head coach was again happy with the scrimmage film from last Saturday.

“I was really pleased with what I saw in the scrimmage,” Phillips said. “There were plays made on both sides of the ball and it was really competitive. We need to finish up these last two days strong. One is a fundamental and technique practice (Friday) and the last one is that we want to see how we compete in the scrimmage.”

Looking ahead to the Blue/White event on Saturday, which will have a regular game format just like last season, Phillips said he mainly wants to see players compete. Phillips said he and the coaching staff are starting to see playmakers develop and are looking for more to step forward.

“We really think right now we know who our playmakers are and guys who can make things happen,” Phillips said. “(Wide receiver) Demarco Robinson is one of those guys and (quarterback) Maxwell Smith is doing well for us and getting the ball out of his hands, which is important. People don’t consider (offensive guard) Larry Warford a playmaker but he is as big a playmaker as there is on this team. (Wide receiver) Daryl Collins has made a lot of plays. Ronnie Shields is holding down the starting tight end position and he has moved ahead of the rest of the guys. We have asked him to do a lot of things and were concerned early in the spring how he would handle that but he has stepped up to the plate and shown us he can do all the things we are asking him to do.

“On defense, (linebacker) Avery Williamson is playing really well and really pleased with the way (safety) Martavius Neloms is starting to lead this football team on defense. Two anchors inside, (defensive tackles Mister) Cobble and (Donte) Rumph are playing well.”

Phillips and the Wildcats will hold the final practice of the spring season Friday before the Blue/White Game on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. There are several promotion items for fans this season at the spring game, which are posted below.

For more information on the Kentucky football team, follow “UKFootball” on Twitter, or visit UKathletics.com.

Free Posters and Roster Cards to be Given Away: With the Blue/White Game being the first public football event since the conclusion of the 2011 season, UK Athletics has commemorated the season-ending victory over Tennessee – and the excitement of Commonwealth Stadium – with a special edition poster.

The poster features the celebration after UK’s 10-7 win, including quarterback Matt Roark being carried off the field by jubilant fans.  Quantities are limited and the posters will be given away first-come, first-served at the stadium gates.

In addition, fans attending the Blue/White Game may pick up free roster cards at the stadium gates.

“Super Surplus Sale” of Team Apparel: UK Athletics will have a “Super Surplus Sale” of team apparel Saturday in conjunction with the Blue/White Game.

Hundreds of items will be available from the sports of football, men’s basketball, baseball, soccer, track and volleyball.  The sale will include items such as jerseys, polo shirts, sweatshirts, warmups, hoodies, pants, etc.  This sale has been very popular in the past and items will be bargain-priced!

The sale will begin at 3 p.m. in the Wildcat Refuge area between the Blue and Red Lots at the stadium.  The sale will continue while supplies last, or through the conclusion of the Blue/White Game.

For the second-consecutive year, Coach Joker Phillips and the Kentucky coaching staff have decided to play a regular-game format for Saturday’s Blue/White Game.

The game will feature the first team (White) vs. the second team (Blue).  The Blue team will be staked to a 14-0 lead at the beginning of the game.

Last year, the format produced perhaps the most exciting Blue/White Game ever.  The Blue team actually extended the lead to 28-7 before the White squad posted a furious rally to tie the game at 28.  The Blues won, 31-28, with a 38-yard field goal by Joe Mansour in the final minute of the game.

The Blue/White Game begins at 6 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium.  Here is admission information for the game:

Admission and parking are free on a first-come, first-served basis.  (If you’ve never gotten to sit on the 50-yard line, here’s your chance!)
·         The Red, Blue and Green parking lots open at 8 a.m. and fans are invited to tailgate.
·         Stadium gates, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 open at 4:30 p.m.
·         Seating will be available in the north, west and south lower sections of the stadium.

Free Posters and Roster Cards to be Given Away: With the Blue/White Game being the first public football event since the conclusion of the 2011 season, UK Athletics has commemorated the season-ending victory over Tennessee – and the excitement of Commonwealth Stadium – with a special edition poster.

The poster features the celebration after UK’s 10-7 win, including quarterback Matt Roark being carried off the field by jubilant fans.  Quantities are limited and the posters will be given away first-come, first-served at the stadium gates.

In addition, fans attending the Blue/White Game may pick up free roster cards at the stadium gates.

“Super Surplus Sale” of Team Apparel: UK Athletics will have a “Super Surplus Sale” of team apparel Saturday in conjunction with the Blue/White Game.

Hundreds of items will be available from the sports of football, men’s basketball, baseball, soccer, track and volleyball.  The sale will include items such as jerseys, polo shirts, sweatshirts, warmups, hoodies, pants, etc.  This sale has been very popular in the past and items will be bargain-priced!

The sale will begin at 3 p.m. in the Wildcat Refuge area between the Blue and Red Lots at the stadium.  The sale will continue while supplies last, or through the conclusion of the Blue/White Game.

Fans May Renew Season Tickets at the Game: The stadium ticket office outside gate 4 will be open from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in order for current season-ticket holders to renew their tickets.

Overall Record: 32-5, 11-4 SEC

Record Last Week: 2-2, 2-1 SEC

Recent Results

Tuesday, April 10 * lost vs. No. 19 Louisville, 0-12

Friday, April 13 * lost at No. 9 Arkansas, 7-8

Saturday, April 14 * won at No. 9 Arkansas, 5-4

Saturday, April 14 * won at No. 9 Arkansas, 2-1

Upcoming Schedule (times Eastern)

Tuesday, April 17 * vs. Cincinnati * 6:30 p.m.

Friday, April 20 * vs. No. 3 LSU * 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 21 * vs. No. 3 LSU * 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 22 * vs. No. 3 LSU * 1:00 p.m.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

Thomas McCarthy

6-2 * Sr. * 3B * Corvallis, Ore. 

Week Stats: .471 (8-for-17), 5 2B, 3 RBI, 13 total bases, .765 SLG%, SF

Notes: Senior third baseman Thomas McCarthy led UK during a four-game week at the plate, leading UK to its first series win at No. 9 Arkansas since the 2002 season, with UK snapping a nine-game home series winning streak of the Razorbacks … McCarthy hit .471 (8-for-17) during the week with five doubles, three RBI, 13 total bases and a .765 slugging percentage … McCarthy batted .462 (6-for-13) during the weekend series at Arkansas, with four doubles and three RBI … McCarthy went 2-for-4 during a rivalry game with No. 19 Louisville, including his first double of the week … In the series-opener at Arkansas, McCarthy went a season-best 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI … In the second game of the series, McCarthy collected a pair of hits, including a double down the opposite-field line, sparking a UK comeback rally to even the series … In the rubber-match win over Arkansas, McCarthy again ripped a double, leading off the inning that led to UK’s two runs in the 2-1 win … On the year, McCarthy has hit .319 (45-for-141) with 13 doubles, five homers and 23 RBI.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

Corey Littrell

6-3 * So. * LHP * Louisville, Ky.

Week Stats: 1-0, 1.42 ERA, 1 GS, 6.1 IP, 8 H, R, BB, 3 SO,

Notes: For the fourth consecutive weekend, Kentucky turned to Corey Littrell to start the finale of a series with the outcome of the set hanging in the balance … Littrell delivered his fourth consecutive win, with his sixth quality start of the season, tossing 6.1 innings on short rest, allowing only one run with three strikeouts … Littrell has paced the UK rotation in the Sunday spot all year, sporting a 6-0 record and a 1.95 ERA in nine starts, tossing 55.1 innings, allowing 14 walks and striking out 48.

TEAM NOTES

Facing its toughest test in a historically unprecedented season, No. 1 Kentucky baseball traveled to Baum Stadium and won a series at No. 9 Arkansas last weekend for the first time since 2002 and just the second time in the history of the program. UK won two of the three games at the high-octane Razorbacks, also suffering a midweek loss to No. 19 Louisville during the four-game week.

Kentucky (32-5, 11-4 Southeastern Conference) returns to action with four-game homestand during the week, hosting Cincinnati on Tuesday in a midweek matchup, before welcoming No. 3 LSU in a weekend series with conference standings implications, starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

The Wildcats are continuing the best start to a season in the history of the program, with its 11-4 opening through the first half of the 30-game league schedule the best in UK history. UK’s series win at Arkansas was the first in a nine-game home series span for the Razorbacks, and UK’s doubleheader sweep on Saturday was the first allowed by Arkansas to one team since the 1996 season.

UK leads the nation in wins, sits atop the SEC standings, own an 11-2 record in one-run games and a 9-4 record in games against top-25 teams. The Wildcats have opened up the year with series wins over No. 2 South Carolina, Tennessee, No. 18 Georgia, No. 10 Ole Miss and No. 9 Arkansas.

The Wildcats have been paced by a team offense that leads the conference in nearly every category, hitting .317 as a team, with a .483 slugging and a .406 on-base percentage, belting 41 homers in 37 games and stealing 34 bases. Individually, freshman centerfielder Austin Cousino leads UK with a .349 average, with 13 doubles, five homers and 23 RBI, stealing seven bases. Freshman A.J. Reed has hit .336 with eight doubles, three homers and 36 RBI, while senior third baseman Thomas McCarthy has batted .319 with 13 doubles, five homers and 23 RBI. Catcher Luke Maile leads the club with 36 RBI, batting .319 with nine doubles and nine homers. Outfielder Cameron Flynn has also belted nine homers.