TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: Cats practice to be televised by ESPU tomorrow

This is topic Cats practice to be televised by ESPU tomorrow in forum UK / NCAA Basketball at TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://www.thecatsdomain.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=031149

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 10-09-2014, 10:09 PM:

It will be on from 3-5 PM.

Kentucky approached ESPN, not the other way around, with the idea of televising a practice.

"Kentucky came to us," said Dan Margulis, senior director of programming and acquisitions at ESPN. "They were working on a special practice and asked if we were interested. And we were."

This telephone conversation in August began the process that led to the ESPNU telecast of Kentucky's practice Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. UK's "special practice" involved what has become known as an on-campus NBA "combine." NBA scouts and personnel can watch Kentucky's many pro prospects Friday and Saturday. Then, Coach John Calipari has said, UK practices will be closed to pro scouts for an undetermined length of time.

ESPN found the lure of a highly regarded Kentucky team packed with nine McDonald's All-Americans and maybe even more NBA prospects irresistible.

"Obviously, it's a pretty special group at Kentucky this year," Margulis said this week. "So it makes sense to do it."

ESPN and UK worked out a mutually beneficial date to televise the practice, Margulis said.

"We look who's on Kentucky's roster," Margulis said. "They're going to be a top-five team, obviously. ... To get that kind of inside access that was being offered up for us to show our fans and college sports fans was sort of a unique opportunity."

Kentucky's McDonald's All-Americans are Alex Poythress, Dakari Johnson, Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Marcus Lee, Trey Lyles, Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyler Ulis and Devin Booker. UK also returns 7-foot junior Willie Cauley-Stein, who made the coaches' All-Southeastern Conference Defensive Team last season.

Margulis said that ESPN analyst Chad Ford included 10 Kentucky players among his top 100 prospects for the 2015 NBA Draft. That translated into potential viewers interested in college and/or NBA basketball.

ESPNU plans to have no fewer than five announcers working the practice.

Margulis called Jay Bilas and former Virginia Tech Coach Seth Greenberg "college experts." Bilas also crosses over to NBA fans with his work on the draft each year.

Former NBA player and coach Avery Johnson helps "that draft angle," Margulis said.

Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com can work the blogosphere and act as sideline reporter.

The practice telecast also serves as something of a trial run/debut for former UK All-American Tony Delk, who Margulis said will be working for ESPN this coming season.

When asked why ESPNU assigned five announcers to the Kentucky practice, Margulis said, "We want to treat it like a big event. And make sure because it's a practice, it gives us time to explain what's going on and fill time that might be a little less compelling. And when it's compelling, just let the action speak for itself."

Link

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 10-10-2014, 04:58 PM:

Far too much camera on announcers and not on the players on the floor. At least they did stay on the five on five portion of the practice. Alex needs to be more involved than he was in the scrimmage today, he was pretty much a no show. Lyles and Towns impressive for freshmen and both look to have the talent to be starters this season. Going to be a very interesting year, am looking forward to seeing the finished product. Twins also looked good as did Dakari Johnson. Towns was out best rim protector today.

Posted by Green-Bean (Member # 13551) on 10-10-2014, 05:43 PM:

Yea way too much talk from announcers instead of calling game. Really could not tell much from it. I couldn't tell who was making shots and who wasn't. Dakari looked pretty good. Long way to go.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 10-10-2014, 07:17 PM:

Madness is next Friday night!

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 10-11-2014, 11:10 AM:

I'm watching a replay of the Combine right now. Johnson can flat get up and down the floor compared to last year!

Posted by CatFanInYankeeville (Member # 2025) on 10-12-2014, 08:14 PM:

It's about time Cal and UK started taking advantage of some free recruiting advantages. I've had enough of coach Krymeariver doing it for so many years.