Friday's News and Views

  There are a few times in sports where you feel like things just went right, you know? Like justice was done. Today was one of those times, when Boogie was named to his first All-Star team. I feel like all of us in Big Blue Nation just let out a sigh and said, "Way to go, D Cuz." After everything everyone had said about Cousins - right or incredibly wrong - no one can argue with his 23.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 26 double-doubles. That spells All-Star. And no one seems to point out that he does it all in Sacramento, one of the poster children for instability in the NBA. (Will the franchise stay? Will they go? Who is their coach now, anyway?) In fact, as coaches come and go in Sac-Town, Cousins is the only stable force on that team. I hope he manhandles everyone in that All-Star game. I'll call it right now - Boogie for All-Star MVP.

And finally, an apology

Cousins actually got something else that may be even more shocking today - an apology from Clay Travis.   After our own Drew Franklin found a five-year-old Tweet from Clay in which Travis stated Boogie would be arrested within the next five years, the world seemed to blow up on the issue Friday, calling out Travis for his insensitive remarks. Big Cuz called out Clay on Twitter (above), and our man Bomani Jones even gave Drew a shoutout on Around the Horn. Again, justice was served as Travis apologized to Boogie and pledged five thousand dollars to the charity of Cousins' choice.

Still on All-Star watch for Knight

Brandon Knight has also been putting together quite an NBA season, one many argue is worthy of an All-Star selection if Dwyane Wade cannot play in the game due to injury. His averages this year? 17.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

More good and bad for UK football

First, the good. Highly regarded three-star wide receiver Tavin Richardson from South Carolina committed to UK this afternoon. Richardson picked Kentucky over Central Florida, with other offers from Louisville, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Miami (Fla.). Yahtzee! But, in following a troubling trend, another UK player switched his commitment. This time it was Tyrone Riley, a three-star defensive end, who flipped to NC State. That’s now four lost commits this month.

Alabama comes in short-handed

As if getting beat by 22 on your home court two weeks ago, then coming into Rupp Arena for the rematch wasn't enough of a challenge, Alabama will be doing so without their starting point guard Saturday. Ricky Tarrant, the Tide's second-leading scorer, hung back in Tuscaloosa with a leg injury, which means we may have to revisit the 20-point spread Vegas has set for the game.

Robic not worried about WCS

After a less than stellar performance Thursday night, John Robic reinforced that no one is worried about big man Willie Cauley-Stein. “It might’ve been a tough game for him yesterday,” Robic told reporters this afternoon. “He had a lot of family and friends that were there from the Kansas City area. I think you can think about that a little bit. It just wasn’t one of his better games, but I think he’ll rebound.” “We’re not concerned at all,” he continued. “We’ll put that one behind him.” *** We’ll be back in the morning to get you ready for Kentucky-Alabama!