Cats Lose a Quarterback for Bowl

As the Kentucky Wildcats are preparing for their fifth straight bowl appearance they will do so without starting quarterback Mike Hartline, after being arrested early Friday morning.

Hartline was taken into custody outside a Lexington bar and was charged with second-degree disorderly conduct, alcohol intoxication in a public place and failure to notify the department of transportation of an address change.

After news of the arrest got to head coach Joker Phillips he went on to suspend Hartline from what would be his last game in a Wildcats uniform.

“Mike Hartline has had a good record here conduct-wise, and I regret that this happened,” Phillips said. “I really hate that it happened because of what he did, leading this program to our fifth straight bowl, and he’s done a great job at that. But we have clear expectations for how we want our players to act and for them to behave.”

This has been a big blow to the Wildcats going into the BBVA Compass Bowl without Hartline. He started all 12 of Kentucky’s games this season and put up some of his best numbers in senior season. So far on the year he is ranked sixth in the SEC and 24th nationally, in pass efficiency. Hartline also lead the Cats to a 6-6 record.

Since Hartline will not be allowed to play the Cats will look to Sophomore Morgan Newton to take the reins and lead them to a victory. Newton has thrown seven successful passes on season and will be expected to get the start.

The Wildcats will take the field on January 8 against Pittsburgh who has had problems of their own in the firing of former head coach Dave Wannsted after six seasons there.

Dancin' Their Way To the Sweet 16

Well it is a sweet time to be a basketball fan in the state of Kentucky, as both the men’s and women’s teams have reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. This is the first time the men have made it to the round of 16 since 2005 and the first time the women have done it since the expansion of the field in the tournament. This is the first time in my life that I can remember this happening, both teams start there seasons together with big blue madness can they end the season together as national champ? I think this may be asking a lot for Coach Matthew Mitchell and his Hoops team since they have never done it. Both of these teams spoiled wildcat fans as both the men and women was perfect at home, how many schools can say that both of their programs can do that.

These teams took way different paths to get there as the men’s cats team started the season expected to win, while the women hoops team was expected to have a good year but not as great as they have both teams started the seasons winning 13 straight and both beat in state rival Louisville, but they are not the same the Cats are 34-2 on the season the a number one seed in the tournament. While the hoops went 27-7 to be a number four seed in the tourney. The Cats have plowed over their opponents while the hoops had a couple close games verses Liberty and Michigan State but they looked good doing it.

These teams also have some things in common as they both have the SEC player of the year in John Wall and Victoria Dunlap, as well as SEC freshman of the year with DeMarcus Cousins and A’dia Mathies. So this year’s teams showed they are in the top of the SEC, I’m excited to see what happens as both of these teams finish the big dance.

Athlete of the Week: John Wall

I decided this week I am going to start a new segment that I’ve had in mind for a few weeks now called Athlete of the week. I am going to look over the high lights of the week and season the chosen athlete has accomplished.

This week’s Athlete of the Week is going to be University of Kentucky freshman John Wall. Wall lead the Wildcats to an 80-68 victory over Georgia, were he scored 24 points 3 assist and 1 steal. This freshman star has taken this team by the reigns and become its leader, he is not the leading scorer most nights but he always makes his showing. With the NCAA tournament coming up in a few weeks I feel he will come out and show his true colors to lead his team to the final four. On the season Wall averages 17 points per game, 6 assist and 1 rebound and he is said by some to be the 2010 NBA overall number one draft pick. His leadership skills on the court and his ability to take control of the tempo of the game are why he is this week’s player of the week.