But now it’s March. The Madness has begun. The time of year when veteran players realize that their collegiate careers could end abruptly with one loss and montages of players having played their last game with a towel over their head is all too familiar. But, it’s also the time of year when the veterans are counted on the most

In UK’s Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinal win over Ole Miss, the sometimes overlooked UK veterans—Darius Miller, DeAndre Liggins and Josh Harrellson—offset Terrence Jones’ ailing ankle and Brandon Knight’s poor shooting effort (5-for-15, including 0-for-6 from 3-point range) to lift the Cats to victory.

It’s not that Harrellson, Miller or Liggins have yet to play any good games this season, but more so that they always seem to fill the sidekick role. They’re as trusty as Robin was to Batman, making clutch plays, but never fully trusted to drive the Batmobile. Now, it should be clear to see that this team goes beyond the prolific freshmen duo even in crunch time, against a team that needed to win to go dancing.

‘They’ll see (it’s more than just the freshmen),” Jones said. “Earlier in the season they maybe wouldn’t say that, but the (veterans) have deserved everything they’ve been getting.”

UK head coach John Calipari has repeatedly stated this year that he thinks of this team as one that is built around his veterans, but it was hard to believe until Knight’s long-range shots eventually never did fall. And Jones’ ankle, which he doesn’t expect to keep him out of Saturday’s semifinal, was noticeably bothering him en route to his 3-of-11 shooting from the field.

“Brandon didn’t have one of his better floor games,” Calipari said. “And Terrence didn’t play very well throughout the whole game. But they should have been anxious. They’re 19 years old.”

It’s completely understandable that 19-year-olds should be nervous one year removed from playing in high school gymnasiums and now playing in an NFL stadium when stakes are higher than they’ve ever been for them.

That’s where the veterans come in. They’ve been in this position before. They’ve played in an SEC Tournament before and understand the rigors of winning three games in three days.

Harrellson chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds and wasn’t absent until the final three minutes of the game like he was in the Cats’ regular season finale at Tennessee.

Miller, who infamously passed up a potentially game-winning shot in Oxford, Miss., versus the Rebels in the teams’ last meeting, redeemed himself with fantastic late-game execution in this meeting. With 2:27 remaining in the game, Miller drew a charge then made a jumper for a five-point Cats’ lead. Both plays were completed in a 10-second span and had the jumper not been made, the Rebels would have tied the game at 66 on their next position, thanks to senior guard Chris Warren’s three.

“What (Miller)’s done the last three weeks, you think of the big shots we have made, he’s made probably half of them,” Calipari said.

Even better than Harrellson and Miller was Liggins, whose play on the court mimicked his behavior in a postgame altercation in the players’ tunnel: tenacious, yet restrained at key moments.

As per usual, Liggins was getting under the skin of several opposing players, notably Reginald Buckner, with his trash talk. Buckner took a swing at Liggins during the postgame, but Liggins didn’t bite.

There was no need to given that Liggins, along with freshman guard Doron Lamb, limited Warren, Ole Miss’ star player who hit the game-winning three against the Cats in the last meeting between the two, to 5-of-20 shooting, many of which were contested 3-point attempts.

“Everytime he steps on the court, his intensity lifts us up,” said Knight, who added that “making a lot of noise” is as much a part of Liggins’ defensive repertoire as his length and quickness.

Liggins isn’t afraid of getting after his own teammates either, injured or not.

“Coach (Calipari) told me to go in for (Jones), and I said ‘no, he’s fine,’ because we needed him to play,” Liggins said.

Clearly, Jones and Knight have an onus to the veterans to control every game as best they can.

But on those days when the responsibility can’t be carried out solely by the freshmen, whether because of injury or because of off-shooting, it’s clear that the UK veterans know that playing beyond their early-season form is the only way to survive disastrous results.

According to the NCAA release, Kanter received “benefits above his actual and necessary expenses while playing for a club basketball team in Turkey.”

Kanter played three season for Fenerbahce in his homeland from 2006-07 to 2008-09 season; he competed on the club’s senior team in 2008-09, during which time the NCAA Eligibility Center found that Kanter received $33,033 more than his expenses for the 2008-09 season.

“Enes took advantage of an opportunity to play at the highest level available to him, but the consequences of receiving payments above his actual expenses is not compatible with the collegiate model of sports that our members have developed,” NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs Kevin Lennon said in the NCAA release.

UK will appeal the decision and made this statement:

“We appreciate that the NCAA has an appeals process to allow this young man to defend the uniqueness of his circumstances,” UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart said in the NCAA’s release. “Enes is a great kid who is working hard in the classroom and enjoying being a college student. It is our hope that he will be allowed to continue his academic and athletic career at Kentucky.”

UK spokesman DeWayne Peevy declined further comment on the situation.

Sports editor Chandler Howard contributed to this report.

UK women’s basketball head coach Matthew Mitchell suprised everyone when he broke out some nifty dance moves at Big Blue Madness.

Mitchell was doing the “Dougie,” a dance move popularized by Cali Swag District’s hit song “Teach me how to Dougie,” but more surprisingly, he was doing the dance quite well.

At UK women’s basketball media day Thurssday, Mitchell explained how he learned to bust-a-move.

“I’m just a naturally talented dancer,” Mitchell said.

The media laughed. Then, Mitchell owned up and explained that it was Amber Smith, his senior point guard who taught him how to Dougie. Smith managed to help choreograph Mitchell’s dance, despite the fact she is recovering from offseason knee surgery. That’s a one-legged Dougie!

After watching how to do the Dougie on YouTube in Mitchell’s office, Smith and others convinced Mitchell to give it a shot in front of the crowd at Rupp Arena.

The affable Mitchell agreed, but said he did wonder how he got himself into the situation for a split-second before he came out and danced.

Now Mitchell is a YouTube sensation. All thanks to the Dougie.

***

This Saturday’s UK-Georgia game, airing at 7:30 pm ET on Comcast Sports Southeast, may be seen live by Insight customers in Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, Bowling Green and Evansville/Henderson.

Channel placements vary in each district. Copied below is a full schedule by region:

Louisville – Channel 503 for customers with a digital box; Channel 15 for customers without a digital box.
Lexington – Channel 503 for customers with a digital box. Channel 14 for customers without a digital box.
Northern Kentucky – Channel 503 for customers with a digital box. Channel 99 for customers without a digital box.
Bowling Green – Channel 503 for customers with a digital box. Channel 5 for customers without a digital box.
Evansville/Henderson – Channel 503 for customers with a digital box. Channel 74 for customers without a digital box.

UK head coach Joker Phillips said that a 5-3 record would be good enough to win the Southeastern Conference East Division after UK’s 31-28 win over No.10 South Carolina Saturday.

Funny thing is, he’s not exaggerating. Even after being upset by the Cats, the Gamecocks remain atop the SEC East with a 2-2 conference record.

Here’s a look at the current standings and the remaining conference games for each team in what should be a wide open race to the finish.

1. No.10 South Carolina (4-2, 2-2 SEC)

-@ Vanderbilt Oct.23
-vs. Tennessee Oct.30
-vs. No. 12 Arkansas Nov.6
-@ No. 22 Florida Nov.13

2. No.22 Florida (4-3, 2-3 SEC)

-vs. Georgia Oct.30
-@ Vanderbilt Nov.6
-vs. No.10 South Carolina Nov.13

3. Georgia (3-4, 2-3 SEC)

-@ UK Oct. 23
-vs. No.22 Florida Oct.30
-@ No.7 Auburn Nov.13

4. Vanderbilt (2-4, 1-2 SEC)

-vs. No.10 South Carolina Oct.23
-@ No.12 Arkansas Oct.30
-vs. No.22 Florida Nov.6
-@ UK Nov.13
-vs. Tennessee Nov.20

5. UK (4-3, 1-3 SEC)

-vs. Georgia Oct.23
-@ Mississippi St. Oct.30
-Vanderbilt Nov.13
-@ Tennessee Nov.27

6. Tennessee (2-4, 0-3 SEC)

-vs. No.8 Alabama Oct.23
-@ No.10 South Carolina Oct.30
-vs. Ole Miss Nov.13
-@ Vanderbilt Nov.20
-vs. UK Nov.27

Following his graduation from Henry Clay High School, Kercheval was a lettermen for the Cats in football from 1931-1933; he received his all-conference honors in 1933, the inaugural year of competition for the SEC.

Kercheval played quarterback, defensive back and was a punter during his collegiate years. He also competed in basketball and track.

Following graduation from UK, Kercheval played for seven years (1934-1940) in the NFL as a running back and punter for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Kercheval also served in the military during World War II and later enjoyed a successful career in the Thoroughbred industry. He already has a place in the state of Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame and the UK Athletics Hall of Fame.

Tydlacka punted four times for an average of 50.5 yards per kick, including a career-long 73-yard punt in the fourth quarter that was downed at the three-yard line. His punt average was also a single-game career best.

For the season, Tydlacka is averaging 46.4 yards per punt, good for third in the Southeastern Conference.

The NFL’s Oakland Raiders confirmed the death Monday and issued a statement on behalf of the organization that Blanda spent the last nine years of his professional career with before his retirement in 1976, one month shy of his 49th birthday.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of the great George Blanda,” the statement said. “George was a brave Raider and a close personal friend of Raiders owner Al Davis.”

At the time of his retirement, Blanda set pro career records most seasons played (26), games played (340), total points (2,002) and PATs (943). His record for seasons played and PATs still stand.

In college, Blanda played for UK from 1945-1948; the latter three years of his collegiate career he was coached by legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

As the Cats’ starting quarterback in 1947, Blanda guided UK to an 8-3 record and the first bowl victory in school history, a 24-14 win over Villanova in the Great Lakes Bowl.

Current UK head coach Joker Phillips offered his condolences in a statement released Monday.

“George was very personable and a gracious gentleman,” Phillips said in the statement. “He loved the state of Kentucky and Kentucky football. I first met him when he came here for a speech. He did an unbelievable job of telling his story and motivating the audience. Our condolences and prayers go out to Betty and the Blanda family.”

Senior fullback Moncell Allen, who’s suffering from a hamstring injury, will make the trip to Gainesville, Fla., for Saturday’s game against the Gators. Allen was worked out at practice and Phillips said that Allen “is close enough where two days might help him.”

Junior offensive guard Stuart Hines (ankle) will not be making the trip.

Junior linebacker Danny Trevathan, who Phillips called “a warrior,” broke his left hand before halftime against Akron, but continued to play the entire game recording a team-high eight tackles.

Trevathan will have to play with a cast for the second straight season. Last year, he wore a cast after breaking his wrist against Louisville.

Phillips said that he doesn’t anticipate Trevathan’s tackling ability to be affected by his cast because he’s not an “arm-tackler,” and instead “puts his face on people.”

“He should be fine. He’s played with it most of his career,” Phillips joked.

Last year, former UK head coach Rich Brooks wasn’t buying into all the hullabaloo about having alternate jerseys and the team stayed with the traditional UK blue and white all season.

Now, it seems UK is store for much of the same, even with the younger, more ‘hip’ Joker Phillips at the helm of the football program.

Phillips was answering questions about senior tailback Derrick Locke and he explained that Locke usually comes in to his office and lobbies for certain things, such as the chance to don black jerseys.

Probably much to the players’ chagrin, Phillips said there are no plans for UK to wear black anytime soon.

“We’re blue and white, I’m a Kentuckian through and through and all I’ve seen is blue and white,” Phillips added.

TV information

UK’s game against Florida on Sept. 25 will be televised on ESPNU at 7 p.m.

UK’s Oct. 2 game at Mississippi will kickoff at 12:21 (11:21 Central time) as the SEC Network Game of the Week.