The Saturday CatsIllustrated.com Newsstand covers a range of topics that include a number of sports.
- Baseball's untimely loss to Florida and Nick Mingione's ejections;
- Softball starts NCAA play with a win;
- Ethan Tucky has made his decision;
- UK football offers several new targets;
- Sources speak anonymously on Mo Bamba's decision
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INSULT TO INJURY
"It was Mingione's first career ejection. The loss puts UK a game behind Florida and LSU in the SEC race. The rubber match between the two teams will decide the SEC East winner. LSU clinched the SEC West with a win over Mississippi State. LSU can win the conference with a win against Mississippi State and a Florida loss."
LINK: UK baseball coach Nick Mingione tossed during loss to Florida
BAMBA: WHAT SOURCES REALLY THINK
"Kentucky was considered the favorite in Bamba's recruitment and while Texas wasn't a complete shock, some UK fans were surprised by the decision.
Under the protection of anonymity a college basketball analyst, a UK commit, two parents of UK commits and a former Cat provided statements to Cats Illustrated on Bamba's decision."
UK OFFERS LOUISVILLE COMMIT, OTHERS
"(Akeem) Hayes has only been committed to Louisville since the end of April, which means he might not have the very long-standing relationship with the Cardinals that some really early commitments might have, but that also means that the honeymoon period between Hayes and Bobby Petrino's staff hasn't cooled."
SOFTBALL STARTS NCAA PLAY STRONG
" Meagan Prince delivered six shutout innings and UK’s offense provided a five-run first inning to defeat DePaul 6-0 in the opening round of the Lexington Regional.
Prince earned her 20th win of the season as she allowed two hits and struck out four batters over six innings. The senior lefthander was perfect through the first 10 batters she faced. DePaul first baseman Dylan Christensen reached first base with one out in the 4th inning on an infield single to end any threat of a perfect game. Erin Rethlake pitched the seventh inning for the Wildcats."
LINK: UK softball defeats DePaul in opening round of Lexington Regional
MAHAN HONORED
"Mahan, who has been named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week three times this season, is batting .349 in 54 games, with 22 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 52 runs scored, 56 RBI and eight steals. He is slugging .674 and owns an on base percentage of .403.
In SEC play, Mahan has been even better. He leads the league in runs (33), doubles (12), total bases (98), slugging (.852), triples (3) and home runs (11). He’s second in batting average (.409) and hits (47) and fourth in RBI (31)."
LINK: UK second baseman Riley Mahan Named Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist
BEST OF THE BOARDS
"How many schools can say they missed out on a number 2 player in the nation, but yet have 4 five-star front court players coming in on top of Wenyen and Sacha returning?
Losing Bamba doesn't leave us vulnerable down low, it just prevents us from being a scary good shot blocking team. Now, either Diallo comes back or Cam Johnson comes in and we have all the pieces for a great team next year. Bamba would've made them #1, but we're still top 10 level to start he year."
LINK: BEST OF THE BOARDS: Top fan takes at Cats Illustrated (5/19)
TUCKY'S PLANS
CatsIllustrated.com has the latest on transferring BC linebacker Ethan Tucky's situation. He's made a decision and the House of Blue is discussing.
WHO STARTS AT CENTER?
Here's a topic without a consensus; a question without a clear cut answer: Who starts in the middle for Kentucky in 2017-18?
Could it be a motivated sophomore Sacha Killeya-Jones? A raw but imposing Nick Richards? A sleeper like Tai Wynyard? Or will UK go small and play another forward? The House of Blue's discussion rages on.
CALIPARI AFTER EIGHT YEARS
House of Blue members are also discussing the John Calipari era in context. No one could have imagined what a ride it's been for Kentucky's basketball program over these last eight seasons. The program's image has changed and so has its approach to the sport.
Here are some numbers and one fan's take on results that are "more than (fans) could have hoped for."
