Big Blue Links: Sports Illustrated says UK one of eight teams who can win title

Big Blue Links:

▪ Kentucky is one of eight teams that could win the national title, so says Luke Winn of Sports Illustrated.

▪ If numbers never lie, analytics say Tyler Ulis is an NBA-quality point guard, writes Cody Daniel of the Herald-Leader.

▪ John Calipari’s early exit strategy and more random notes, from me.

▪ Some UK basketball recruiting news from Ben Roberts of Next Cats.

▪ Texas A&M ends SEC skid with win over Ole Miss, reports Richard Croome of the Bryan/College Station Eagle.

▪ Avery Johnson brings red-hot Alabama to Baton Rouge to face conference co-leader LSU, reports Sheldon Mickles of The Advocate.

▪ Quinndary Weatherspoon’s basket at the buzzer gives Mississippi State a comeback win over visiting Vanderbilt, reports Michael Bonner of the Clarion-Ledger.

▪ After a slow start, Florida rallies to beat Georgia, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.

▪ Amid turmoil, Missouri holds off South Carolina, reports Tod Palmer of the Kansas City Star.

▪ Intervention put Derek Willis on the path to production, writes Darrell Bird of the Cats Pause.

▪ Joe Dean, Jr. says the road to SEC title runs through Lexington, reports Jamie Vaught of KyForward.

▪ JaVon takes turn in Shelby order for UK baseball, writes Jared Peck of the Herald-Leader.

▪ Video: Kentucky basetball opens season Friday, reports Megan O’Brien of the Herald-Leader.

▪ Duke and North Carolina have taken different paths to similar point, reports Andrew Carter and Laura Keeley of the Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News and Observer.

▪ Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports on which coaches are doing it right, and which coaches are doing it wrong.