Linsanity's Wednesday News and Views

We can’t ignore what’s going on in New York any longer. I’ve tried and tried and tried to look past what Jeremy Lin is doing for the Knicks, but he just won’t stop. Through the first few games, I thought it was just beginner’s luck. When he did it against Kobe and the Lakers (38 points/7 assists/4 rebounds), it opened my eyes but I still wasn’t ready to crown him. Now, after watching him stretch New York’s win streak to six games with a game-winning three against the Raptors, I’m convinced. Jeremy Lin is the real deal.

Lin played his first real game for the Knicks on February 3rd against the Nets and scored 27 points with seven assists and five rebounds in 35 minutes. The second-year point guard had only played more than seven minutes one time this season prior to that game. Since that win over New Jersey, he’s averaging 27 points, nine assists and almost four rebounds in 40 minutes per game. Not only that, he’s taking over in the closing minutes of close games and doing what New York fans thought Carmelo would be doing when he joined the team. He’s winning games.

Maybe this is all Tebow-like hype for now and Lin will come back down to Earth soon enough. Or maybe the former D-Leaguer from Harvard, who was cut by both Golden State and Houston earlier this season, is the future for the Knicks. He fits the mold for a Mike D’Antoni point guard perfectly and he’s only going to make Carmelo and Amare better when they’re healthy again. He could very well save D’Antoni’s job if this keeps up.

Keep in mind, D’Antoni has been sitting on the hottest seat in the NBA this season and Calipari is always rumored for that job.

Jorts isn’t the only one for UK fans to watch in the Garden.

News. Views.

  Wednesday is a big day for fans of Kentucky basketball and an even bigger day for fans of Kentucky Sports Radio. Matt Jones will make his color commentary debut during UK’s 20-minute open scrimmage at Memorial Coliseum. Matt will join Buzz Baker at the broadcast table to form the greatest play-by-play duo to sit courtside at Memorial since the last two people who sat there to do play-by-play.

The open practice/scrimmage will air on WKYT and the local coverage was also picked up by ESPNU and ESPN3, meaning you’ll hear Matt’s voice on the Worldwide Leader’s two broadcasts. UKAthletics.com will also stream the event.

  Tickets are still available for UK students, faculty and staff who would like to attend. If you fall into one of those categories, take your valid UK ID to the UK Ticket Office at The Craft Center between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM to pick up a ticket. The practice will get underway at 3:00 and everything should be wrapped up by 5:00. Don’t act like you have something better to do for those two hours. You really don’t have a reason not to go.

  Calipari announced on Kentucky Sports Radio radio that some staffers at UK stumbled across a couple boxes of Anthony Davis posters in the basketball offices over the weekend. Therefore, a select number of fans at Memorial will receive an Anthony Davis poster, as long as supplies last. Now you really don’t have a reason not to go.

  It’s too early to start talking about Ole Miss. We’ll do that Thursday. Sound good to you? Good deal.

  While you were snuggled up on the couch with your sweetheart watching Cougar Town on Tuesday night, Coach Cal was in Texas to watch a trio of top recruits from the class of 2013. Cal and his staff started their Lonestar State tour off in the Houston area to see the Harrison Twins, and then moved north to Dallas to watch Julius Randle and Prestonwood Christian Academy in a late game against Bishop Dunne. All three players are in Scout.com’s top 5 for 2013 and Kentucky is in pretty good shape in these early stages.

  Kentucky could be in very good shape for Randle if his teammate’s wardrobe is any indication of where UK stands. Prestonwood freshman Mickey Mitchell emerged from the locker room after the game wearing UK basketball shorts. Randle’s 6-foot-7 teammate told @DadoHod he was wearing the UK gear because he wants to play at Kentucky. According to @DadoHod, who was at the game, Mitchell was the best player on the court.

  In NBA news, DeMarcus Cousins had ANOTHER big game for the Kings. DeMarcus scored 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds against Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls. It was another losing effort for Sacramento but Boogie continues to dominate the paint. He’s averaging 22 points and 13 rebounds in his last five games and he’s third in the NBA in double-doubles this season behind Dwight Howard and Kevin Love. It’s really a shame he didn’t make the NBA All-Star game this year; the numbers are there.

  Other NBA Cats to note:

— Brandon Knight scored 16 and dished out four assists in 37 minutes for the Pistons. Knight is now averaging almost 32 minutes per game for Detroit.

— Patrick Patterson played 26 minutes for Houston but only managed to score two points in the loss at Memphis. Patterson was 1-of-7 from the field with four rebounds.

— Enes Kanter grabbed six offensive rebounds for Utah in a blowout loss at Oklahoma City. Enes scored seven points in 20 minutes for the Jazz.

— With LaMarcus Aldridge out, the Wizards lead the Blazers 100-88 late in the game. Wall has 23 points and eights assists as the fourth quarter gets underway.

  Our former rival to the south is making some upgrades to its football facility, including a unique area for fighting. Derek Dooley said in an interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel that Tennessee’s new football training center will feature a mixed martial arts cage. The octagon will likely serve as a designated area for football Vols to blow off steam, rather than running off and fighting in a bar parking lot or holding up a gas station. The MMA cage will be positioned towards the back of the new practice facility, right in between the gun range and a hydroponic grow room equipped with intake and outtake ventilation and distribution tunnels.

  Billy Gillispie’s Texas Tech squad fell to 1-12 in the Big 12 after losing 47-38 at home to his former team, Texas A&M, on Tuesday night. It was the lowest point total this season for the Red Raiders and the third consecutive game where they’ve failed to score 50 points. I could continue to feed you unimpressive stats but it’d be easier if we both just agree that Texas Tech sucks. It’ll save both of us valuable time we could spend on more important things like not worrying about Billy Gillispie anymore.

  In other Big 12/alcoholic basketball coach news, West Virginia announced that it will leave the Big East to join the Big 12 on Tuesday. WV athletic director Oliver Luck said the university will make the official move on July 1st, the date that had been talked about since West Virginia accepted an invitation back in October. The Mountaineers will reportedly pay $10 million and the Big 12 will throw in another $10 million to pay the Big East’s exit fee. That’s not even a third of what Kobe had to pay Vanessa.

  I’ll be absent from the site over the next two or three days while I’m in Orange County, California at the Taco Bell headquarters. Taco Bell is sending a car to pick me up Wednesday morning and then flying me out west to tour the facility, play around in the innovation kitchen and sit in with the CEO for the announcement of some new stuff. The good news for you is that Tyler will be in charge of the site while I’m gone and she does a much better job than I do. It’s a win-win for all of us, really. If you have any interest in what new Fourth Meal items I’m cramming in my face, you can follow me on Twitter for photos and tales from the land of nacho cheese and deep fried deliciousness. I’ll have a full report of my journey on the website on Sunday, including a behind-the-scenes look at Taco Bell and the new menu items that’ll be released in 2012. Wish me, and whoever sits near me on the flight home, good luck.

Go Cats.