SPORTS HEADLINES 10/31/12

Happy Halloween!

Sports Tonight comes your way at 5:08 this evening on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP. Host Todd Hamilton will have previews of high school football playoff games for Christian County and Hopkinsville and also previews of Hopkinsville High basketball.

College Football: When Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt Saturday, both quarterbacks Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles will see action. Even though the offense was stagnant in last Saturday’s loss at Missouri, offensive coordinator Randy Sanders tells the Lexington Herald Leader the swap in signal callers did not cause the problem. Coverage of Saturday’s game airs at 9:30 am on Lite 98.7.

College Basketball: Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino was given a five year contract extension Tuesday. Pitino’s current deal, which was to expire in 2017, now runs through 2022. After saying he might not coach past 2017, the 60-year-old Pitino said Tuesday he couldn’t live without the highs and lows of basketball.

While we’re on the Cards, coach Pitino announced Tuesday Kevin Ware is suspended for Thursday night’s exhibition opener against Pikeville and Chane Behanan will now miss both pre season games.

Pitino announced 10 days ago Behanan was not allowed to speak with the media for the fall semester, and would sit out the first pre season game. However, Pitino said Behanan has not taken care of his responsibilities and will now miss both games.

Kentucky plays its first pre season game against Longwood tomorrow night, with coverage beginning at 4:30 on Lite 98.7.

Austin Peay senior guard Jerome Clyburn will miss at least a month due to a torn medial meniscus in his left knee. The school announced Tuesday the injury occurred in practice Sunday. Clyburn is to undergo surgery today.

The Tennessean reports Vanderbilt sophomore guard Dai-jon Parker has been suspended indefinitely for violation of Vanderbilt’s non academic team policy. Parker was expected to begin the season as the starting shooting guard.

Kentucky’s women’s basketball team is ranked 7th in the preseason USA Today coaches poll, with Louisville ranked 9th. Baylor is ranked first. Meanwhile, Kentucky is 6th in the preseason Associated Press poll, with Louisville ranked 9th.