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Goalkeeper of the Year twice and

  • December 9, 2019 2:50 AM EST

    Tuscaloosa, AL (SportsNetwork. Kirk Gibson Jersey .com) - Devin Booker headed a strong Kentucky shooting effort with 13 points and the No. 1 Wildcats kept on rolling with a 70-48 pasting of Alabama at Coleman Coliseum. Kentucky (17-0, SEC 4-0) dominated in all facets en route to its second straight blowout win after a pair of narrow overtime triumphs to begin SEC play. The Wildcats shot 50 percent from the floor, knocked down 8-of-17 attempts from 3-point range and finished 16-of-18 from the foul line. They controlled the glass as well, outrebounding the Crimson Tide by a 30-21 margin, while forcing 15 turnovers to deal Alabama its first home loss of the season. Booker finished 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and Tyler Ulis hit 3-of-4 from long distance in an 11-point effort. Dakari Johnson also tallied 11 points for Kentucky, which remained one of the nations two lone unbeatens along with Virginia. Alabama (12-5, 2-2), which entered Saturdays matchup 10-0 in Tuscaloosa, received 13 points from Levi Randolph and 10 out of Rodney Cooper in its second straight conference setback. Kentucky took control early, putting forth a 10-0 run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by twin brothers Aaron and Andrew Harrison to jump out to a 12-4 lead. An 8-0 stretch, in which Booker and Ulis each buried treys, not long afterward had the Wildcats up by a 21-9 count nearing the midway mark of the first half. The Wildcats, who held Alabama to a 7-of-22 effort from the field for the opening period, continued to stretch the lead prior to the close of the frame. Consecutive jumpers by Marcus Lee and Johnson had the Tide down 33-15 two minutes prior to the intermission, and Kentucky cruised into the break owning a comfortable 33-17 advantage. Kentucky missed its first five shots of the second half, though, enabling Alabama to cut the deficit to 11 via a 7-0 spurt. The lead was whittled down to nine with 13:14 left when Ricky Tarrant followed Coopers 3-pointer with a steal and layup to bring the Crimson Tide within 39-30. The Wildcats then reasserted themselves by embarking on a 16-2 tear to put the game out of reach. Ulis drained two more triples during the back-breaking run, which Booker capped with a 3-pointer of his own to extend the margin to 55-32 with nine minutes to play. Game Notes Kentucky is the first top-ranked team to enter Coleman Coliseum since the Tide downed No. 1 Arkansas 66-64 on Jan. 8, 1994 ... The Wildcats had lost in their two most recent visits to Tuscaloosa, but have now won nine of the last 11 overall in the series ... Alabama, which went just 3-of-7 from the free throw line, fell to 2-4 this season when its opponent attempts more foul shots. Troy Stokes Jr. Jersey . -- Darrelle Revis says at least 26 teams called after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tyler Alexander Jersey . On Friday night, after a long rain delay, he was scratched from his scheduled start.TORONTO -- Toronto FC fans have likely seen the last of goalkeeper Julio Cesar. The Brazil No. 1 is headed to the World Cup and says Englands Queens Park Rangers want him back afterwards. QPRs loan deal with Toronto called for the 34-year-old Brazilian to stay with the MLS side through December but Toronto manager Ryan Nelsen says there is a "gentlemans agreement" that the English team can have him back sooner. Cesar, while confirming QPR wants him back in August, is unsure of where his future lies. "Im contracted still in England for a few more years," he said through an interpreter Tuesday in his final meeting with the Toronto media before leaving to join the Brazilian World Cup team. "Im contracted to return in August after the World Cup but I really dont know what the future holds after the World Cup so I cant give you a clear answer as to my fate after the tournament." Asked if he thought his time in Toronto was over, Cesar switched to English: "I dont know. Depends (what happens) after the World Cup." The Cesar move to Toronto was always a marriage of convenience, with a short time frame. QPR, relegated to the second-tier Championship, wanted to reduce its salary obligations and Cesar was a prime target, with weekly wages pegged at between 70,000 and 100,000 pounds (C$128,500 and $183,500). Manager Harry Redknapp, who inherited Cesar from Mark Hughes, made former England keeper Rob Green his No. 1 so Cesar needed a place to play to hold down his Brazil job. There were reported links to Italys Napoli and Brazils Gremio, but Nelsen, who is close to Cesars agent and knew the player from his own days at QPR, convinced him to come to Toronto. For TFC, the loan was like a fourth designated player. And Nelsen knew that Cesars influence on 25-year-old goalie Joe Bendik would last long after the Brazilian had departed. QPR meets Derby County in the Championship playoff final at Wembley this weekend with the winner moving up into the Premier League. But it seems unlikely that Cesar will finish out his contract in a QPR jersey whatever happens on the weekend. The English team, taking advantage of what hopefully will be a World Cup showcase in Brazil, is more likely to try to sell him and recoup some of its investment. MLS would be unlikely to take on the cost of Cesars contract and QPR would no doubt want more than it is likely getting under the current loan deal. Bendik, last years No. 1 in Toronto, will take over in goal for Toronto, either for the short-term or long. He has played the last three games for Toronto, two in the Amway Canadian Championship and in Saturdays 2-0 league win over the New York Red Bulls. Gates Brown Jersey. Cesar missed the weekend game with the flu. Nelsen, while keeping the door open, says hes "not sure" that Cesar will be back after the World Cup. "Julios been absolutely fantastic here and if he decides to stay, brilliant. But if he decides to move on and QPR decides to move on, then Toronto will move on -- having had a great experience of Julio with us." Privately, the club does not expect him back. Cesar played seven MLS games for Toronto this season going 3-4. With just nine goals conceded in eight league games, defence has been solid at Toronto. The offence has produced just nine goals, with Englands Jermain Defoe accounting for four. Speaking through an interpreter, Cesar said his time in Toronto has prepared him well for the World Cup. "I feel like Im a better person being here after three months and experiencing what the club has had to offer me and getting me ready for the World Cup," he said. Cesar says retirement after the World Cup is not in the cards. "Im still under contract for the next two years. So even if I win the World Cup, Im going to keep to my word, Im going to return to my club (QPR) and help them win championships. Thats what I was contracted to do, so thats what Im going to do." QPR could also read that as "Im going to collect what Im due." The veteran Brazilian has already won five Italian titles, seven Italian cups, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. He was named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year twice and nominated for the Ballon dOr award in 2009. He has been a class act in Toronto, winning praise from coaches and teammates alike for his ability as a player and easy-going personality. "Its just a pleasure to have a man like that on the team," Nelsen said of Cesar. Bendik, who started the season as a backup to the Brazilian despite signing a new, enriched deal after winning the No. 1 job last year, has credited Cesar for making him a better goalie and calls him a friend. In other team news, Nelsen has injury concerns with Brazils Jackson (concussion) and fellow midfielder Jonathan Osorio (hamstring and hairline fracture in his hand). Jackson has yet to resume training and Osorio, who is due for a scan on his hamstring, seems doubtful for Friday nights game in Kansas City. Nelsen said the Canadian international may have come back too soon from a previous hamstring injury, which extended his absence from the lineup. "We have to be a bit careful with him," said Nelsen. ' ' '