Tuesday Roundup

I hope everyone had a good holiday weekend. Mine got a little better yesterday when I received word that Kevin Ware had finally chosen the Cards as his new home. Say what you want about the "Neverending Story" aspect of his decision, but there's no doubt that Louisville's chances for a major run next year just improved.

Next season is Peyton Siva's show, that's obvious, but Ware brings greatly needed depth to the point guard position, especially if Siva cannot correct his penchant for picking up ill-timed fouls. Russ Smith didn't show much in his limited role last season, and Justice experienced his ups and downs as well. Let those three battle it out in practice and may the best man win. If nothing else, Ware is another long, athletic frame that provides a fresh body to play the unrelenting defense we hang our hats on.

Other thoughts...

* I'm really encouraged by the early results shown by the new coaching staff. Kevin Keatts was instrumental in bringing in the solid Luke Hancock from George Mason, and now they've managed to re-lure Kevin Ware after so many ups-and-downs and a much-overblown Twitter dustup between he and the fans. No small feat, and each talked about how comfortable he felt with the coaching staff. Hancock especially, who has played under Keatts, praised his tough, motivational, yet genuine-care-for-his players style.

This makes me feel good about our program, and our ability to get and improve excellent college players. But, in my mind, our "brand" (though I hate that word) should be to surround those solid pieces around one or two blue chippers a season. Until the new staff lands an NBA bound stud, you can expect the conventional wisdom that the staff lacks the sizzle of a Tim Fuller to begin to harden.

* I'm not sure what ultimately made Ware's mind up, but I suspect that Chane Behanan played a large role. I watched them closely at the Derby Classic and they looked like brothers already; they were cracking each other up on the bench the whole time.

* Unless you've been living under a rock, I'm sure you know that Jim Tressel is OUT at Ohio State. And once again, I'm flabbergasted at the reaction of many in the media, how Tressel is being depicted as a victim of NCAA witch hunts. It says a lot about the state of college sports.

But whatever, I'm more interested in whether Strong can pickup any nice recruits from the Buckeye fallout.

* Speaking of cheaters, John Calipari stooped to new lows of pettiness last night, sending out a tweet bashing what UK fans refer to the triumvirate of reporters (Pat Forde, Pete Thamel, Dana O'Neil) that they feel are out to "get" Calipari and UK. Apparently, Cal was furious that each didn't write a front page story about his numerous charity works.

Gag me.  Millionaire coaches are supposed to do charity work, it's especially important for a coach with such a slimy reputation. The fact that he immediately looks around for pats on the back after a charity event says, to me, a lot about the man's character and the true motivations for his "generosity".

Two, it's also an example of Cal's diabolical genius, in that the tweet wasn't really aimed at the reporters, it was just red meat to his fans, feeding the massive inferiority-superiority complex and delusions of persecution that drives UK athletics.

They really are a match made in hell.