Morning, Big Blue Nation—we made it, dammit, we made it!  Yes, I’m quoting the immortal Clark Griswald from the even more immortal National Lampoon’s Vacation.  No, we didn’t finally make it to Wally World.  No, I don’t have a dead aunt strapped to the hood of the family truckster.  OK, maybe I have a crazy cousin who wears green dickies under white sweaters (don’t we all have a cousin that’s a little “off” though?).  Yes, we finally made it to Friday.  We don’t even have to kidnap John Candy with a BB gun to enjoy the final hours of the work week, do we?  We’ve got the University of Kentucky and its glorious athletics programs to enjoy.  When it’s all said done, isn’t that more than enough?  I wholeheartedly agree. 

Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts-ey, thoughts-thoughts (say it like a song and it might make sense—then again, I might be reaching)….

Matt’s Cats:  Thanks for coming out, Auburn.  Don’t let the door bump your ass on the way out.  The Lady Wildcats forced 30 turnovers in route to a 66-48 dismantling of the Lady Whatevers last night to stay undefeated in SEC play.  Those 30 turnovers led to 38 points.  Thanks for sharing, Auburn.  That was incredibly nice of you.  I’ll be sure to note that “you share with others” on your report card.  Auburn head coach Neil Fortner called UK’s defense “reckless abandon with a purpose”.  Well said, Fortner.  That’s usually what I call the my buddy’s little toddler.  He’s a  little tornado of living room destruction and he always smells weird.  Anyway, as predicted yesterday, A’dia Mathies responded with a 20 point/4 rebound/3 assist performance after her worst outing this past weekend against Florida.  Samarie Walker went all Dennis Rodman, pulling down a season-high 15 rebounds.  Coach Matthew Mitchell’s squad is still stuck at #6 in the country.  Keep winning, ladies.  Rankings always take care of themselves. 

Imani Cross:  Bleed Blue Kentucky is reporting the former Tennessee commit has chosen Nebraska over Kentucky.  From all reports, General Joker wanted him BADLY.  Note to self:  in the future, don’t get your hopes up about Kentucky making a big splash on National Signing Day.  It only leads to disillusionment and disappointment.  Cross was the big, bruising back the offense hasn’t had since Artose Pinner.  How long ago was that, you ask?  Facebook didn’t even exist and Rich Brooks was still retired.  Well, at least Cross won’t be in the SEC tormenting me.  UK has only one running back commitment in this year’s class in Dy’Shawn Mobley.  Will Shadrach Thorton enter back into the picture? 

Brandon Knight’s momma:  Tony wrote about it last night (click here) but it still deserves an obligatory day-after mention.  Everyone’s entitled to their day in court and the facts have yet to be sorted out, but whatever happened seems more than not paying for the hotel room mini-bar (I’m guilty of that).  I wasn’t there, you weren’t there, and the Hyatt Regency manager is in the witness protection program isn’t talking.  Mrs. Knight’s accusations are serious so I’m not going to joke about it.  Good luck on the book sales, Tonya Knight! 

Coach Cal on PTI:  John Calipari spent five minutes with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon on “Pardon the Interruption” yesterday afternoon, talking all things Kentucky.  As expected, Coach Cal’s last question was about the NBA and whether he’d ever go back to coaching a bunch of millionaire crybabies.  And as expected, Coach Cal repeated how happy he is at Kentucky without saying “NO—I’ll never be a head coach in the NBA again”.  Will he return to the NBA sidelines?  Frankly, I don’t know.  The Kentucky program is better than 97% of NBA franchises.  If the Lakers, the Knicks, or the Celtics made a run at him, he’d be crazy not to listen.  Those three franchises are giants of the professional basketball industry.  Still, I believe it would take more than a lot of Benjamin Franklin’s to get Coach Cal calling U-Haul to leave Lexington.  Like Rick Pitino, I’d expect he’d need a general manager/vice-president role to even consider it.  Regardless, I don’t see Coach Cal leaving anytime soon.  He’s got a good thing going here.  Why leave now? 

Hoosiers lose:  Indiana lost on the road to #25 Wisconsin last night.  Why bring this up, you ask?  As Kentucky fans, we get wrapped up in everything that’s wrong with our team instead of realizing we’re the #1 team in the country.  I think it’s genetic or something.  Anyway, had Christian Watford not hit the buzzer beater in Bloomington, Kentucky would be undefeated.  Let’s try our best to stop obsessing over every turnover, Terrence Jones expression, and Marquis Teague jump shot.  Enjoy this season. 

I’m out.  Follow me on Twitter @drewuksportsinf.