John Clay

John Clay is sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Find his blog at www.kentucky.com. Follow him at twitter @johnclayiv. 

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Kentucky-Duke basketball

Though forever together in college basketball lore, Kentucky vs. Duke doesn't happen that often. It does Tuesday night in Atlanta. It's the Champions Classic. It's the first of possibly many battles between Jon Scheyer and Mark Pope.

My column for Kentucky.com

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What we've learned about the UK men's basketball team (so far)

I talked with Ben Roberts about what we learned from interviews with Kentucky men's basketball players, what UK fans might be worried about and what's next this summer for Mark Pope's Wildcats.

Watch the video here.

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Five takeaways from interviews with the new Kentucky basketball players.

We've now had the opportunity to interview all 12 new players Mark Pope has brought on campus for his first Kentucky men's basketball team.

After those conversations, I put together my five takeaways.

Read about it at Kentucky.com.

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'You can have him.' Why John Calipari's exit from Kentucky basketball is best for both parties.

You can read my column on Cal's agreement to start 'Calling the Hogs' here.

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Kentucky basketball's loss at Texas A&M

Here's my follow column on Kentucky basketball's 97-92 overtime loss at Texas A&M on Saturday.

"Brace yourself. Saturday at College Station wasn’t a one-off. It’s not the fact that Kentucky basketball lost 97-92 in overtime to the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. It’s the fact that it was another down-to-the-wire nail-biter that required winning plays. Get used to it."

Kentucky.com

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Video: Kentucky vs. North Carolina basketball preview

I talked with Jadyn Watson-Fisher of the Raleigh News and Observer and Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader about Saturday's Kentucky vs. North Carolina blue blood battle in the CBS Sports Classic at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

You can find the video here.

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Kentucky basketball goes all-in on freshmen

My latest column can be read here.

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Pat Riley is the GOAT of Kentucky basketball alums

When the Miami Heat play the Denver Nuggets in the opening game of the NBA Finals on Thursday, it will be the 19th finals involving Riley, the current president of the Heat. That's 25 percent of all finals in the 76-year history of the league.

Read more here.

#NBAFinals #MiamiHeat #BBN #kentuckybasketball

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This is a huge week for Kentucky basketball

The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft is Wednesday, May 31. That's the day that Oscar Tshiebwe, Antonio Reeves and Chris Livingston must make their final stay-or-go decisions regarding Kentucky basketball.

I made some predictions.

Read here

#BBN #kentuckybasketball #nbadraft #nba #ukbasketball #johncalipari

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Kentucky football topics for 2023

I wrote a spring/summer Kentucky and college football column on topics heading into the 2023 season. By the way, the opener will be here before you know it.

Read it here.

#kentuckyfootball #BBN

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The best NFL Draft landing spots for Will Levis, ranked

"The important part comes next. It’s not where you’re picked, it’s how you play. So said Bill Walsh. Not all situations are the same. So here we rank the best potential landing spots for Mr. Levis:"

Read more at: https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/john-clay/article274694156.html#storylink=cpy

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John Clay Podcast: Catching up with Kentucky football

Jon Hale of Kentucky.com joined me to review Kentucky football's spring practice and discuss where Will Levis may go in Thursday's 2023 NFL Draft.

Listen here

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John Clay Podcast: Kentucky-Kansas basketball preview

Talked with Gary Bedore of the Kansas City Star and Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader about Saturday's Kentucky-Kansas matchup at Rupp Arena. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kentucky-kansas-basketball-preview/id1533175935?i=1000596783437

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My stories this week (Dec. 11-17)

Sunday

Is this Kentucky basketball team improving?

Three takeaways from Bengals' win over the Browns

Tuesday

Two architects of Kentucky football's Air Raid era are gone too soon

Wednesday

Don't look now, but SEC basketball is off to an impressive start

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My stories this week (March 21-27)

After suffering an NCAA Tournament humbling, can John Calipari bounce back?

SEC basketball coaching undergoing a youth movement

Emailbag: Kentucky basketball fans weigh in on John Calipari

Your NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 rooting guide

The John Clay Podcast: What's next for Kentucky basketball?

Kentucky football's new OC brings different look to run game

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Kentucky-Arkansas college basketball preview podcast

I talked with Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about Saturday's showdown between the Kentucky Wildcats and Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville.

Click here to listen.

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Kentucky-Kansas basketball review podcast

Mark Story and yours truly reviewed Kentucky basketball's big win at Kansas and discussed how the Wildcats stack up with other national contenders. We also talked about Louisville basketball's opening for a head coach. Included is John Calipari's post-game press conference from Kansas.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reviewing-kentucky-basketballs-big-win-at-kansas/id1533175935?i=1000549451562