NCAA WiretapMarch 2009 NCAA Wiretap

No. 3 Kentucky First NCAA Team To 2,000 Wins

Dec 22, 2009 3:44 AM

Kentucky head coach John Calipari spent weeks downplaying the school's pursuit of 2,000 wins, saying his team needed to be focused on getting better, not making history, according to an Associated Press report.

Moments after the Wildcats routed Drexel 88-44 on Monday night to become the first NCAA team to reach 2,000 victories, Calipari admitted it?s pretty good when you can do both.

?We weren?t a part of many of those 2,000 wins (but) we had a job to do and that was drag us across the line before that other blue team got there,? Calipari said, referring to North Carolina as he stood on the confetti-strewn floor at Rupp Arena. ?This is a special moment for this program and this state.?

AP

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
Calhoun Gets New Five-Year Contract

Dec 19, 2009 11:14 AM

Connecticut men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun has agreed to a new five-year contract with the Huskies, according to sources.

Financial details weren't released, but Calhoun is expected to receive a raise on the $1.6 million he currently makes per season.

Calhoun is in his 24th season with UConn.

ESPN

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
Knight Doesn't Understand Why Calipari Is Allowed To Coach

Dec 18, 2009 1:36 AM

Former coach Bob Knight said integrity is lacking in college basketball and cited Kentucky coach John Calipari as an example, according to an Associated Press report on Thursday.

?We?ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that?s why I?m glad I?m not coaching,? he said. ?You see we?ve got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation and he?s still coaching. I really don?t understand that.?

AP

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
Stephenson Adjusting Well At Cincinnati

Dec 17, 2009 7:57 PM

Lance Stephenson has adjusted well to college life even though he hasn't been nearly as dominant at Cincinnati as he was in high school in New York.

"In New York, when you're going good, it's all good, but as soon as something goes wrong, they blow it up and make you look like a bad person," Stephenson said. "I just wanted to get away from that and go somewhere comfortable where I could stay focused."

"He's not a finished product yet," head coach Mick Cronin said. "He plays really hard. He's a typical freshman. He makes occasional mental mistakes but for him it's not lack of effort, so I can live with that."

"This is a different stage," Stephenson said. "High school was pretty easy for me. Right now the other teams study the game and know what you're going to do each play so I'm just trying to get used to it and make the adjustment."

Stephenson says he's not thinking about the NBA.

Cincinnati Enquirer

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
LeBron Impressed With John Wall

Dec 11, 2009 9:23 PM

Like many basketball fans and NBA scouts and GMs, LeBron James has been very impressed with Kentucky freshman John Wall.

"He's great," James said Friday night. "He'll be the No. 1 pick in the draft."

James was asked what specifically he likes about Wall's game.

"His speed with the ball. He's like [Chicago guard] Derrick Rose," James said. "Derrick is much stronger than he is, but he has some of the same athleticism that Derrick has and Coach Cal [Kentucky coach John Calipari] is going to let those type of guys play. He has shown why he came out being the top player in high school and is one of the top 5 players in college."

AP

Tags: NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft

Discuss
Wall Leads Kentucky Over UConn In MSG Showdown

Dec 10, 2009 2:42 AM

Freshman John Wall scored a season-high 25 points, including 12 of his team?s last 15, and the fourth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats beat No. 14 Connecticut 64-61 on Wednesday night in the SEC/Big East Invitational, as reported by the Associated Press.

AP

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
Kentucky Survives 2nd Half Surge From UNC

Dec 5, 2009 5:18 PM

Staving off a second half comeback, Kentucky defeated North Carolina 68-66 at Rupp Arena on Saturday.

Patrick Patterson led all scorers with 19 points, while John Wall had 16 points and seven assists.

At halftime, Kentucky led by a score of 43-28.

The Tar Heels' second half run was trigger in part when Wall was forced to exit with leg cramps.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
Gordon Leaves UCLA After Detrimental Conduct

Dec 1, 2009 11:07 PM

Drew Gordon's departure from UCLA developed over several weeks, according to a source.

Gordon's detrimental conduct to the team led to a "mutual parting," between the two parties.

UCLA coach Ben Howland said in a statement that "after several discussions with Drew, we both have decided that it is in the best interests of our program and Drew that he continues his career at another school. He is no longer a member of our team and will transfer at the end of the quarter. This is not a spur of the moment decision and ultimately, it's what's best for all parties."

According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, Gordon's conduct was detrimental to the team.

Gordon could wind up with San Diego State or another Mountain West Conference team.

ESPN

Tags: NCAA

Discuss