Out of Lefkoe Field

Wristpocalypse…Wristmageddon…whichever your flavor,...

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:34:02 -0500

Wristpocalypse…Wristmageddon…whichever your flavor, this has been a rough weekend for Louisville sports. Saturday afternoon, Teddy Bridgewater, the most important UofL football player in years breaks his non-throwing wrist. Then, late tonight, it’s revealed that Gorgui Dieng, starting center for the Top-5 UofL Basketball team, broke his non-shooting wrist.

Gorgui is expected to miss anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the report, and that absence will be glaring. On defense, on offense, in the locker room. His presence in the lane allowed guards Russ Smith and Peyton Siva the freedom to take risks on defense knowing they had an eraser in support. Stephen Van Treese played fantastic against Duke on Saturday night, but that type of performance should not be expected on a regular basis. Defensively and on the boards, the combination of SVT and Zach Price will be able to fill some of the “Gorgui Void”, but offensively, I don’t see it.

Gorgui had begun hitting the mid-range jumper with more regularity, his passing was good enough to have him ranked 2nd on the team in assists, and his presence on the court was a calming one. Can Louisville compete in its games until Dieng’s return, absolutely. We witnessed that Saturday. But defeating Kentucky on December 29th…that Calipari losing streak may have been extended another season.

Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t throw with his left hand…but that doesn’t make his injury minor. Teddy seemed to be uncomfortable under Center after suffering the injury, forced to take more snaps out of the shotgun formation. Teddy showed in his return that he can still make all the necessary throws, but scrambling and ball security could be a major issue. There’s a reason you haven’t seen many QB’s tapping the ball against a cast before unloading down the field. Teddy showed some serious grit, adding to his legacy, but let’s see how defenses game-plan against a cardinal with a busted wing.

Seemingly forgotten amidst Wristpocalypse, Charlie Strong. Two straight losses, two uninspired games, two seemingly unprepared teams. Monday morning, two wrist injuries that will have this city bemoaning bad Louisville luck and not the sudden collapse of its football team. The Cards are no longer ranked or relevant on the national landscape…and unfocused players can’t constantly be blamed. FIU, Marshall, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, UCONN…this is more than a trend. If the players are drinking “Fake Juice”, stop serving it. That can all change Thursday night. It has to. A 9-3 season looked great in August, but now it reaks of disaster. Three straight losses would mean another collapse with a Big East Title on the line…even worse with it occurring during an unsettling period of conference realignment.

Strong is going to be up for a number of high-profile gigs in upcoming weeks, heck, TV stations in Knoxville are already calling WHAS-11 requesting video of Strong because they believe he is a serious candidate for the Tennessee job. With the deteriorating Big East as the backdrop, I’m not sure whether Strong stays or leaves. He is a man with strong morals, a man whose word I take as bond, but he’s in a tough spot. It’s tough to recruit when you can’t definitively tell recruits which conference, let alone TV network, they’ll be playing on. A month of hype before a BCS bowl game could do wonders for Strong, the football program and conference talks. A month of silence before a return trip to the Belk Bowl, that transforms the 2012 dream season into a nightmare.

Video

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:40:24 -0500

Video

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 21:04:49 -0400

So that’s where Any Katzenmoyer disappeared off to…

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 23:39:17 -0400

So that’s where Any Katzenmoyer disappeared off to…

Video

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:10:52 -0400

Just a quick turn on the newest fad in UK...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:00:02 -0400

Just a quick turn on the newest fad in UK basketball…Nerlens Noel and his flattop.

Video

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:09:44 -0400

Video

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 19:14:46 -0400

It’s been five months since a tornado destroyed the small town...

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:53:47 -0400

It’s been five months since a tornado destroyed the small town of Henryville, Ind. Homes and buildings have been rapidly restored. So have the people.

WHAS 11’s Adam Lefkoe and photographer Michael Driver discovered that the town isn’t just rebuilding, it’s been reborn.

Two years ago, Charlie Strong began nominating players as the...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:55:00 -0400

Two years ago, Charlie Strong began nominating players as the “Face of the Program”. It’s been Bilal Powell, Victor Anderson and now Teddy Bridgewater.

It has to be Teddy.

In the open practices thus far, Teddy has lived up to that billing. Looking accurate and poised, albeit in shorts.

Coach Strong has not announced “The Face” yet, but it appears everyone but Teddy thinks he’s the guy.

Video

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:58:52 -0400

There are few things that keep my attention. Even to write this...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:28:45 -0400

There are few things that keep my attention. Even to write this post, it’s taken an intense amount of willpower and Ray Charles. While undiagnosed, ADHD is a guaranteed conclusion.

Somehow, digging through hours of old footage keeps me calm. There’s something about watching history and appreciating the moment that captures my creativity. I put myself on the sideline of a sporting event or in the back of a press conference…and just watch. It’s pretty common to find me walking around the newsroom of WHAS11 after 4 a.m. with a smile.

Before the story above, I had a pretty limited recollection of Derek Anderson. The most prominent being a pregame feature story during the NBA playoffs deeming him the “X-factor” for a Portland Trailblazers playoff run. Nonetheless, this former Kentucky legend had requested a video chronicling Kentucky’s last four Championship teams. With just more than a week before the due date, I accepted.

Throughout the week I ingested hours of video. I spent more than 15 hours watching and ingesting every game from the 1996 and 1998 seasons. I listened to interviews with players, coaches and random fans with an insane obsession for Kentucky basketball. It was cumbersome, but it provided me insight and a calm that I craved. I even edited the first four minutes of the video in preparation for the final product. It was due Saturday.

Friday night, I sat down at the computer around midnight. I had every intention of finishing the piece within a few hours. There was plenty of work still to be done, but the most difficult tasks were complete. I plugged in my external hard drive and prepared to wrap up the piece.

ERROR MESSAGE: FILES CORRUPT

Now, I am one to cuss. They began mildly. I restarted the computer.

ERROR MESSAGE: FILES CORRUPT

Words began combining in unusual patterns. I began including family positions like “Sons” and “Mothers”. I frantically searched through folders, networks and “attics” hoping to find some remnants of anything salvageable. It was now 2 a.m.

ERROR MESSAGE: FILES STILL CORRUPT…YOU’RE SCREWED.

Everything was gone. The editing, the video, the hours of chronicled clips. Gone. That calming feeling that typically accompanied these projects…you betcha…gone.

For the next 14 hours I began dumping hours of footage into the system and frantically editing. I lost track of plays, games, even seasons. Around noon I took a one hour nap on the floor of the Sports office…wrapped in a Snuggie and using two “Taco Bell Taco Hats” as my pillow. Oh, what a night.

Somehow I finished around 4:30 in the afternoon. I made deadline. Which in this business, too often, is the only aspect that matters. The video you see above is the result of the mayhem from that evening. Like most of my work, I see an incredible amount of things that I’d like to tweak now that it’s “complete”. Overall, I still can’t figure out how it got done.

As sports fans, we often link moments in sports to moments in our personal lives. Every dunk, every touchdown, every win comes with a story that includes yourself. Each point of view unique and intrinsically meaningful. The coolest part of my job is helping people relive those moments. “When that happened, I was…” may be my favorite line to hear. I hope you guys enjoy reliving, or in some cases, learning about these past Kentucky teams.

If you have any moments that you think I should delve into…shoot me a tweet or email:

Twitter: @AdamLefkoe

Email: alefkoe@whas11.com

Thanks for reading.

President of the United States…Rick Pitino?! (Taken with...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:35:39 -0400

President of the United States…Rick Pitino?! (Taken with Instagram)

Adam Lefkoe (@AdamLefkoe) took a trip up to St. Vincent Sports...

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:50:00 -0400

Adam Lefkoe (@AdamLefkoe) took a trip up to St. Vincent Sports Performance in Indianapolis to catch local stars Kyle Kuric and Darius Miller preparing for the NBA Draft. This video is a snapshot of their workouts.

I filled in for Drew Deener on the Early Birds and got the...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:31:25 -0400

I filled in for Drew Deener on the Early Birds and got the chance to interview UofL Assistant Basketball Coach and Lead Recruiter Kevin Keatts as well as UofL Associate Head Football Coach Clint Hurtt. Take a listen.

I caught up with IU Athletic Director Fred Glass and coach Tom...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 23:35:44 -0400

I caught up with IU Athletic Director Fred Glass and coach Tom Crean to get their reaction to the recent John Calipari comments.

Interview with Indiana Athletic Director Fred Glass

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:29:27 -0400

Interview with Indiana Athletic Director Fred Glass

Video

Wed, 30 May 2012 19:18:46 -0400

“Oh! They are battling today”, yelled Coach Ed...

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:57:00 -0400

“Oh! They are battling today”, yelled Coach Ed Schilling. “Take him! C’mon National Champ!” A violent collision of potential fought for a rebound. Former Kentucky forward Darius Miller and current Creighton stud Doug McDermott had taken their battle to the low post. With a quick spin and a Nowitski-esque knee raise, McDermmott nailed the floater with Miller’s hand in his face. “Yeah, he’s going to be alright” Schilling said through a full smile.

About a dozen NBA hopefuls spent the morning at St. Vincent Sports Performance, a professional training facility that helps prepare everyone from high school freshman to U.S. Olympic hopefuls. Patrick Patterson of the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward are recent graduates of the program. The ahletes spend their mornings under the tutelage of Ed Schilling, a longtime coaching assistant at nearly every level of the game. Using his seemingly endless supply of energy and eastcoast wit, Shilling pushes each player by focusing his attention on their weaknesses.

“They’re here to fix the holes in their game. Of course they’d rather do the things that come easy to them, but they’re past that point in their playing careers. It’s the little things that will separate an NBA player from an overseas pro.”

The morning is filled with rigorous repitition and attention to detail. About 45 minutes of intense ball-handling drills and dribbling exercises. Assistants with clipboards frantically chart the performance of each drill. Daily improvement is the key.

The guards follow-up with dribbling-shooting combination drills. They weave in and out of cones with two balls at a quick pace before firing off shots from different areas of the arc. The big men focus on their midrange game.

While players like Darius Miller fight for a first round grade, former Louisville standout Kyle Kuric is simply trying to get drafted. With a workout planned for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next week, Kuric spends an extra 20 minutes after the two-hour workout hoisting outside shots. His focus is consistency.

“They told they liked my three-point percentage from my Junior year (.449), but saw a decline in my senior season (.329)” explained Kuric. “I’ve got to get up more shots.”

“Kyle is a tireless worker” boasts Greg Moore, a Strength and Conditioning Coach. Moore runs the weightroom, the second stage of the SVSP program. A separate location, the facility is a juicehead’s dream. An endless amount of freeweights, training tables and staff available at any moment and a performance field for flexibilty work. From football players preparing for the NFL Combine to the USA Synchronized Swimming team, Moore has seen his share of athletes pursue their potential.

“Basketball players are typically the worst when it comes to the weightroom. They don’t realize how important this is, how much it translates to the court. That’ll change when they get to the league and see how big those guys are.”

This is a group of basketball players that Moore won’t hear many complaints from.

In addition to the soft spoken Kuric and McDermott, Tim Abromaitis of Notes Dame and Robbie Hummel of Purdue have joined the group. They rotate between inverted rows and shoulder presses. More assistants, more charting.

A gym full of giant NBA hopefuls would attract attention anywhere, but here, everyone turns to watch a 5’7” diver working at a tireless pace. She sprints from one exercise to another, taking no breaks. When she’s finished everyone takes a collective deep breath.

“You should see her arms”, Kuric says lifting his sleeve. “They’re bigger than mine!”

For years, basketball may have just been a game for these athletes. A passion that provided moderate fame and a free education. Now, it’s undoubtedly a business. Some will be lucky enough to be drafted, others will try their luck overseas. Looking to continue careers and avoid life without the game they love.

Notes:

- McDermott’s combination of range, size and fight is extremely impressive. He constantly hit long range shots and was unmatched when fighting for a rebound. Kuric told me he approached McDermott on the first day and inquired about which NBA teams had shown interest. “My mouth was on the floor when he told me he was just going to be a Junior.”

- I asked the coaches about the strengths and weaknesses of Kuric, Miller and Marquis Teague. They all shared similar insights:

Kyle Kuric - Extremely athletic with a great work ethic. Listens well to instructions and is frequently early for workouts. He needs to improve his ball-handling and the consistency of his outside shot. Physically, he needs to add weight to his frame to handle a longer season and create his own shot offensively. He needs to be more aggressive on the court.

Darius Miller - All the tools to be a star. Good shot and great size. ”There are times he makes a move and we look at each other in amazement” said Schilling. He has rested on natural ability for much of his athletic career, can reach another level if he actually embraces the weight room. “It’s a daily sales pitch everyday with Darius” explained Moore. Miller did not show up for the weightroom the day I visited (his Uncle texted management saying he had a foot appointment…SVSP had been unaware of this appointment) Moore did not seem overly surprised.

Marquis Teague - Great vision and good quickness. Still constantly compared to his older brother Jeff. Many agree that Jeff had a faster first step and more explosiveness. Marquis was at neither the basketball drills or the weight room the day I visited. Teague’s agent said he was practicing elsewhere and had other media engagements. Teague is said to be similar to Miller in the weightroom, once he embraces it his game will reach another level.

- All of the compliments thrown Robbie Hummel’s way seem deserved. Extremely humble and polite, Hummel has the maturity of an NBA vet. He tends to lead without trying. He has workouts with numerous NBA teams including the Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

- Kyle Kuric’s most memorable moment is probably his thunderous dunk on Scott Martin of Notre Dame. Within two minutes of talking with Abromaitis for the first time, that dunk was the center of conversation. “And what Knight said afterwards”, commented Abromaitis, referring to former Indiana Coach and ESPN commentator Bob Knight, “whatever Bob”.

Apparently just in time for #TheRivalry, UofL has a new song. ...

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:35:14 -0400

Apparently just in time for #TheRivalry, UofL has a new song. Here is “Game Time” by the Louisville Crashers.