December 2011 | Page 27 of 28 | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Thursday / December 26.
  • LEXINGTON, Ky. Terrence Jones could be going through a dream season at Kentucky.

    His team is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation and he is a likely lottery pick in next year’s NBA Draft.

    Yet there is some sadness for Jones because he can’t share the on-court excitement with his close friend and roommate Stacey Poole, who decided last month to transfer.

    “I know it’s a tough situation for him and so I just try to be there for him,” Jones said after putting up 26 points and 9 rebounds in No. 1 Kentucky’s 81-59 rout of St. John’s at Rupp Arena.


    LEXINGTON, Ky.
    — It was a tough ask for St. John’s.

    Asking the undermanned Johnnies to go into Rupp Arena and win against the No. 1 team in the country without head coach Steve Lavin and with only seven true scholarship players was just too much.

    St. John’s entered as a 23-point underdog to Kentucky and ended up losing by 22, 81-59, in the Big East/SEC Challenge.

    The good news for the Johnnies is that help is on the way later this month in the form of 6-foot-7 wing Amir Garrett, who tweeted during the game that he expects to be “playing in about 3 weeks.”

    Oklahoma sophomore guard Calvin Newell has decided to transfer.

    The 6-foot-1 Newell, from Philadelphia, was OU’s second-leading scorer this season at 13.0 points per game.

    “I met with Coach [Lon] Kruger this morning and told him I’ve been dealing with issues regarding my family the past few months and that I’ve felt distracted lately,” said Newell. “I feel I need to get back closer to home and that’s why I’ve made this decision.”

    Newell added, “I like this team a lot and I know they’ll do well. I’ll be cheering them on.”

    LEXINGTON, Ky. — Just waking up here in Lexington after flying in last night from the Big Apple.

    Looking forward to three games in three days. I’ll see St. John’s-Kentucky tonight and Vandy-Louisville tomorrow, both part of the Big East/SEC Challenge.

    Then I’ll be at Rupp Saturday for the North Carolina-Kentucky game.

    Here’s the full schedule for the Big East/SEC:

    Thursday –            Providence at South Carolina (ESPNU)             7:00

    St. John’s at Kentucky (ESPN2)                           7:30

    Mississippi at DePaul (ESPNU)                            9:00

    Georgetown at Alabama (ESPN2)                      9:30

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