Links: Duke basketball rolled at North Carolina State; Bobby Petrino on move again

Some links for a Thursday:

Kentucky basketball playing with double-edged sword

Ben Roberts of the Herald-Leader writes: “UK (10-4, 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference) was ranked No. 4 nationally to start the 2022-23 campaign — and ESPN’s Bracketology website had Kentucky as the No. 1 overall seed in the 2023 version of March Madness after just one game — but the Cats now find themselves clinging to a spot in the NCAA Tournament conversation. If not for the name on the front of the jersey, Kentucky might be on the outside looking in, an unthinkable notion given the preseason expectations around this Wildcats team.”

Kentucky plays at No. 7-ranked Alabama on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN.

Five encouraging signs for Kentucky basketball

In my column I wrote: “After trying first this and then that, Calipari has decided on how and who will play. He’s pushing a more deliberate offensive approach. He has settled on five starters who, if Tuesday is any indication, are going to receive a large chunk of playing time. Ironmen Oscar Tshiebwe and Cason Wallace both played all 40 minutes Tuesday night. Sahvir Wheeler played 37 minutes, Jacob Toppin 31 and Chris Livingston 29. Only two subs made it onto the floor. Antonio Reeves played 14 minutes; Daimion Collins nine.”

Alabama put on a shooting exhibition

Joseph Goodman of the Birmingham News writes: “There was a funny moment at the end of Nate Oats’ news conference on Tuesday night after Alabama’s 84-62 thunder punch of Ole Miss. Oats is in his fourth season as Alabama’s coach, which is how long Avery Johnson lasted in Tuscaloosa. With any luck, and also maybe a new arena, Oats will be around a long time. He’s turning into one of the best college basketball coaches in the country, and his teams play hard, purposeful basketball every night.”

North Carolina State rolls all over Duke

Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News and Observer writes: “This hasn’t been the most compelling season of ACC basketball so far, maybe the least interesting in a generation, especially in these parts. Last spring was always going to be as hard an act to follow as James Taylor, but this hasn’t come close. But in an ACC season that’s been dull if not downright stultifying at times, basketball in the Triangle retains the capability to both shock and captivate, and whatever anyone might have expected from Duke and N.C. State on Wednesday, it wasn’t this.”

JD King of Duke Basketball Report writes: “Terquavion Smith said that he was going to go right at Duke’s guards and, as they say, it ain’t bragging if you can do it. And he, and his unranked State teammates, took it to #16 Duke big time. Duke’s first half against NC State was really bad. NC State was more intense, more confident and, really, better in every way. It was a nightmare all around, perhaps most of all for Jon Scheyer.”

Georgia basketball knocks off Auburn

Jack Leo of Dawg Nation writes: “Georgia basketball sent a shockwave through the SEC as it knocked off a heated rival and one of the conference’s premier programs in Auburn. The Bulldogs (11-3, 1-0 SEC) pulled away to upset the No. 22-ranked Tigers (11-3, 1-1 SEC) 76-64 in a physical matchup that featured 36 total fouls.”

Arkansas rallies to beat Missouri

Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writes: “The University of Arkansas men’s basketball team and Razorbacks junior guard Ricky Council had big comebacks on Wednesday night. The No. 13 Razorbacks rallied from a 17-point deficit in the first half to beat No. 20 Missouri 74-68 at Walton Arena with Council scoring 21 of his 25 points in the second half. It was the second-largest comeback for Arkansas in Eric Musselman’s four seasons as coach.”

Texas A&M basketball wins at Florida

Travis L. Brown of the Bryan/College Station Eagle writes: “In a game that saw the Texas A&M men’s basketball team comically unprepared to start, the Aggies’ readiness to roll with challenges helped them beat Florida 66-63 in their Southeastern Conference opener. The Aggies (9-5, 1-0) began Wednesday’s game trailing 1-0 after drawing a technical foul for a delay of game due to their uniforms being left at the hotel. Florida (7-7, 0-2) was given a technical foul free throw prior to the tip.”

Bobby Petrino joining Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M

Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports writes: “Texas A&M is finalizing a deal to hire Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. Petrino, who’s expected to take over play-calling duties from Aggies Coach Jimbo Fisher, most recently served as head coach at FCS Missouri State from 2020 through this past season, and was hired as offensive coordinator at UNLV in December 2022. First-year Rebels coach Barry Odom later confirmed Petrino’s sudden departure from the program.”

Jay Boulware to fix Kentucky’s special teams

Jon Hale of the Herald-Leader writes: “Somewhat lost in Kentucky football’s inability to score any points in the Music City Bowl loss to Iowa was the continuation of another worrying trend for the 2022 Wildcats. Iowa’s average starting field position in the game was its own 35-yard line. The Hawkeyes’ lone touchdown drive started at the Kentucky 42-yard line after a poor punt from Wildcats punter Wilson Berry from the shadow of his own end zone.”

Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s win over the LSU Tigers

First Scouting Report: Can UK earn a signature win with an upset at No. 7 Alabama?

Distressed by Kentucky football’s ugly Music City Bowl loss to Iowa? Don’t be.

Is slow really the way to go for Kentucky basketball? We’ll soon find out.

Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s win over Louisville