Coronavirus hits close to Big Blue Nation, plus more notes and links
Let’s play catch-up:
Kentucky basketball and the coronavirus pandemic
▪ Former UK basketball star Karl-Anthony Towns made an emotional post overnight saying that his mother is in a coma after testing positive for the coronavirus.
▪ Kentucky Coach John Calipari held a video conference call with the media on Tuesday. That produced these links:
- Calipari says coronavirus could lead to changes in college basketball, reports Jerry Tipton. The coach said he may get his wish of the end of summer recruiting.
- Jerry also writes that more mystery than usual exists for Kentucky players who will decide whether to take a chance on the NBA or return to the Cats.
- Here’s my column on how Calipari knows about economic hardships similar to the ones being experienced now by those affected by the pandemic. His father was laid off from his job when he was 55.
- I’ve also downloaded a podcast of the audio from today’s conference call with the Kentucky coach.
▪ Don’t forget Rex Chapman’s foundation, which is also helping to raise coronavirus funds.
▪ Excellent piece from Paul Daugherty about how the coronavirus pandemic has reminded us that we need each other.
▪ Two former college basketball players have died reportedly of the coronavirus, reports the Washington Post.
College and high school basketball links
▪ Columbia grad transfer Patrick Tape committed to Duke. The 6-foot-10 center from Charlotte, N.C., averaged 11.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season for the Lions, who finished 6-24. Tape shot 66.7 percent from the floor.
▪ Harvard grad transfer Seth Thomas picked Ohio State. An Ohio native, The Ivy League’s Player of the Year in 2018 did not play last season after battling through two surgeries over two years to fix a torn ACL. He’s an Ohio native.
▪ Illinois’ Alan Griffin announced Tuesday he has entered the transfer portal. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 8.9 points per game as a sophomore this past season.
▪ Dayton Coach Anthony Grant was named AP National Coach of the Year and Flyers’ star Obi Toppin was named AP National Player of the Year.
▪ We’re doing a series on the 16 teams that did not get to play in the Boys’ Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena.
- Mark Story wrote on the Ashland Tomcats, who were ready to bring a 33-0 record to Rupp.
- Josh Moore wrote on Martin County High School. The Cardinals were so excited they were going to take a limousine to Lexington.
- Jared Peck wrote that a new gym inspired the George Rogers Clark Cardinals on their way to a 10th Region title.
- Josh Moore wrote about how Hazard built on its proud tradition in winning the 14th Region championship.
▪ If you missed it, the state’s top prep prospect, Bowling Green’s Zion Harmon, committed to Western Kentucky. The 5-foot-11 point guard grew up in Maryland was living in Tennessee before transferring to Bowling Green, where he won the 2017 state title.
▪ Meet the 2020 Lexington Herald-Leader All-State Girls’ Basketball Team, as voted on by coaches across Kentucky.
Kentucky and college football links
▪ Kentucky football received a commitment from Somerset quarterback Kaiya Sheron for 2021. Sheron is a 6-foot-4 junior who led the Briar Jumpers to a win over Mayfield in the 2A state championship game. Josh Moore talked with Sheron on Tuesday about his choice.
▪ The NCAA says Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence can resume his coronavirus fundraising.
▪ Alabama released a PSA from Tide football coach Nick Saban urging people to stay home.
▪ Louisville football coach Scott Satterfield is confident that the college football season will be played as planned in 2020.
▪ The NFL is at odds with general managers over the NFL Draft. It’s still scheduled for April 23-25, though it won’t be held in Las Vegas, as planned.
Horse racing notes and links
▪ Gulfstream Park threatened legal action if Hallandale Beach city officials tried to prevent its Wednesday races and Saturday’s Florida Derby. “They need to stop racing,” said Hallandale Beach Vice Major Sabrina Juvellana.
▪ If you missed it, a prominent bloodstock agent contracted the coronavirus and said during its progression he wished he were dead. “(It’s) like you’re suffocating to death.”
▪ Maximum Security was scoped and got a full bill of health, but a stain on his record, writes Eric Crawford of WDRB.
▪ Not really a horse racing link, but interesting nonetheless: Waffle House has closed 365 locations across the U.S. because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 7:30 AM.
