Random notes: Whose foot stomp was worse? Draymond Green’s or Christian Laettner’s?
Random notes:
▪ Question of the day: In the notorious history of basketball foot stomps, which was worse?
Was it the ever-controversial Draymond Green stomping on the chest of Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis during Golden State’s loss to the Kings on Monday night in the NBA playoffs? Green was ejected from the game, then hit with a one-game suspension.
Or was it the villainous Christian Laettner stomping on the chest of Kentucky’s Aminu Timberlake in the famous 1992 UK-Duke East Regional final? Laettner remained in the game, hit arguably the sport’s most famous shot and the rest is history.
Laettner at least apologized. Years later.
▪ CBS Sports lists new UK quarterback Devin Leary as a “Tier 2: National breakout candidate” among transfer quarterbacks. Writes Shehan Jeyarajah, “Before an injury-plagued 2022, Leary presented as one of the most underrated passers in college football.”
▪ I’d venture a guess that Mark Stoops picks up a couple of players out of the current transfer portal window for upcoming season. The Cats appear to be still in the market for another offensive lineman.
▪ Big news in Cincinnati. After 21 years, Gold Star is out as the official chili of the Cincinnati Bengals. Skyline is in. And if you don’t think that’s a big deal, then you’re not familiar with Cincinnati.
▪ Money plays a role in most everything. And after the Eagles signed quarterback Jalen Hurts to a new five-year, $255 million contract, the Bengals will need every dime to pay Joe Burrow.
▪ Speaking of Cincinnati and contracts, smart move by the Reds to sign pitcher Hunter Greene to a new six-year, $53 million contract. With options, the contract could max out at more than $95 million. Greene projects as a premiere pitcher in the league for a long time. And the Castellinis needed to show the city they are willing to crack open the checkbook.
▪ The Reds’ hope for the future centers around three terrific young starting pitchers in Greene (23), Nick Lodolo (25) and Graham Ashcraft (25).
▪ Name to watch: Andrew Abbott. The second-round pick out of Virginia in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Reds prospect has allowed just two hits in 10 2/3 innings at Double-A Chattanooga. Last Thursday, the 23-year-old Abbott struck out 14 of the 20 batters he faced.
▪ An addition to my column on former Kentucky players shining in the NBA playoffs: Devin Booker scored 38 points Tuesday night to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 123-109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Series now knotted at 1-1.
▪ Interesting note: Tyrese Maxey was ranked No. 10 among class of 2019 prospects in the 247Sports composite. No. 11 that year? Kahlil Whitney, who played all of 10 games in the G League this season.
▪ Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi announced Tuesday he will be back in 2023-24 for his 12th season of college basketball. Not really. It just seems that way.
▪ ESPN’s Joe Lunardi is overdue for a vacation. There is no need for summer bracketology.
▪ Kentucky Derby winning trainer Graham Motion is among those asking for donations to help the family of Kaylin Gillis, the 20-year-old woman from Saratoga County who was shot and killed when she and her friends mistakenly turned into the wrong driveway in rural New York.
▪ Former Morehead State basketball star Johni Broome, who played last year with the Auburn Tigers, has entered the NBA Draft, but is retaining his eligibility. Broome averaged 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds for Bruce Pearl and Co. a year ago. He was a second-team All-SEC selection.
▪ If Darius Garland does not tear his ACL early in the 2018-19 college basketball season, Bryce Drew might still be the coach at Vanderbilt. Garland scored 32 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ win over the New York Knicks in Tuesday night’s NBA playoff game. Without Garland, Vandy went 9-23 overall, 0-18 in the SEC and Drew got the axe. Drew has coached Grand Canyon into two of the last three NCAA Tournaments.
▪ Rick Pitino and St. John’s picked up a portal commitment from UConn’s Nahiem Alleyne, who had six points and three rebounds in 18 minutes during the Huskies’ national title game win.
▪ UK has officially advertised for an assistant basketball coach to replace the departed K.T. Turner. One requirement not listed on the application: Ability to handle postgame radio show duties when needed.
