Kentucky

CatsIllustrated – Cats crash Vols' Senior Day party

Published

2 years ago

March 9, 2024

CatsIllustrated – Cats crash Vols' Senior Day party

Just as it did last year in the regular-season finale at Arkansas, Kentucky embraced the role of party crasher on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.

Antonio Reeves and Reed Sheppard each scored 27 points as the No. 15 Wildcats spoiled Senior Day for No. 4 Tennessee with an 85-81 victory at Food City Center.

Kentucky (23-8, 13-5 SEC) led by as much as 14 and looked to be in complete control with an 11-point lead in the final minute of play, but Tennessee had one last charge to test Big Blue Nation’s nerves.

The Volunteers scratched within three points after three consecutive UK turnovers down the stretch but missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds to go, and the Cats’ Rob Dillingham hit one of two free throws with :05.9 remaining to clinch the win.

“They deserve it,” Kentucky head coach John Calipari said. “They’re a bunch of kids who never think they’re out of a game. I told them at halftime, you understand they’re going to make a run, but did they ever get up on us? No.”

Balance was the key for Kentucky, which also got 16 points from Justin Edwards and 11 points from Dillingham to help offset a 40-point explosion by the Vols’ Dalton Knecht.

“Justin was ridiculous, by far his best game,” Calipari said of Edwards, who had 13 points in the first half to help establish the tone. “I know there were people (saying) don’t play him and don’t do this, but I stuck with him, and now you see why I believed in him.”

The Cats shot 46% from the field against the nation’s third-rated defense, knocked down 15 of 29 from beyond the 3-point arc, sank 16 of 18 free throws, and won the battle on the glass 42-37.

Sheppard, a freshman guard, scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half. He came off the UK bench to go 7-of-10 from the arc. The London, Ky., native also had six rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a key blocked shot down the stretch to help preserve the UK victory.

It was quite the turnaround from Kentucky’s 103-92 loss to Tennessee (24-7, 14-4 SEC) on Feb. 3 at Rupp Arena when Calipari’s club turned in a decent defensive effort against the Vols’ Knecht — holding the explosive wing to 16 points — but did not lead for a single second of play.

This time, Knecht looked like a serious player of the year contender, but he did not get the kind of help from his surrounding cast that UK featured. The Vols shot 38% from the field and went 12-of-36 from long range.

Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James, who combined for 37 points in the first matchup, had just eight points on 2-for-14 shooting from the field.

*****

In this “Rapid Recap” feature, we touch on some quick-hitters from the UK victory…

KEY MOMENT:

Leading 42-39 early in the second half and facing a Tennessee crowd that was starting to give its team a boost, Kentucky went on a 26-15 spurt to take its largest lead of the game and put the pressure back on the Volunteers. The Wildcats had eight three-point possessions during the seven-minute run, including: three treys by Reed Sheppard; a trey and three free throws by Antonio Reeves; a 3-pointer and traditional three-point play by Rob Dillinham, and a triple from Justin Edwards to create just enough cushion at the end of the game to escape with a win.

GAME BALL:

Antonio Reeves & Reed Sheppard, Kentucky — We’re gonna have co-MVPs today. The Cats’ backcourt duo combined for 54 points, 27 apiece, to help overcome Dalton Knecht’s dominant performance for Tennessee. They went a combined 10-of-15 from deep and also combined for 13 rebounds.

BY THE NUMBERS:

3:19 – Time that Tennessee held the lead. The Volunteers led for all but 12 seconds in their Feb. 3 win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena.

5-2 – Kentucky’s record against ranked opponents this season. The Wildcats own four victories over teams ranked in the Top 10 of both the NCAA’s NET rankings and the Ken Pomeroy rankings.

15-0 – UK’s record when winning the rebound column. The Cats outrebounded the Vols 42-37.

40 – Points for Tennesee’s Dalton Knecht were the most by a UK opponent since Elston Turner of Texas A&M had 40 on January 12, 2013, at Rupp Arena.

64 – Points for Antonio Reeves in his last two regular-season finales for Kentucky. He had 37 points last season in a 88-79 win at Arkansas and 27 points today at Tennessee.

161-78 – Kentucky’s lead in the all-time series against Tennessee. The Cats improved to 59-53 in Knoxville with their fourth win in the last five trips to the Food City Center.

QUOTABLE:

“We just gotta be better at the end of these games.” — Kentucky head coach John Calipari on watching an 11-point lead get trimmed down to three in the final 55 seconds of play.

UP NEXT:

Kentucky returns to action next week in the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The Wildcats will either be the No. 2 seed or No. 3 seed, playing their first game on Friday.

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Kentucky

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026

Published

4 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026

The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.

Cash Ball

02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09

Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Evening: 6-3-0

Midday: 9-6-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Evening: 5-7-6-0

Midday: 5-2-6-6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Millionaire for Life

03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.

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Kentucky

Takeaways from Kentucky’s home and away SEC schedule for next season

Published

15 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Takeaways from Kentucky’s home and away SEC schedule for next season

On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.

In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.

Jan 24, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope claps after a possession during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)

In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.

Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope shakes hands with Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari prior to the game at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Kentucky hits the road at Texas

This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.

Feb 15, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope argues with an official during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Which game could be a trap?

We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.

Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.

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Kentucky

Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky? See laws ahead of Fourth of July

Published

1 day ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky? See laws ahead of Fourth of July

Kentucky state law permits fireworks use unless prohibited by local ordinances.
In Louisville and Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are illegal, but smaller items like sparklers are allowed.
Certain fireworks are banned in Louisville if their labels include words like “explosive,” “rocket,” or “firecracker.”
Safety officials advise keeping water nearby, not relighting “dud” fireworks, and never allowing children to ignite them.

Fourth of July is almost here, and Kentuckians are getting ready to light up the sky.

Before you plan your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed under Kentucky law. Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and safety tips in the Bluegrass State ahead of Independence Day.

Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky?

Yes. As long as you live in a place where local ordinances don’t prohibit it, according to the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.

Are fireworks legal in Louisville?

In Louisville or Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are not legal due to a local law. Some consumer products that don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers, are allowed.

If the cautionary label on the firework has the words “explosive,” “emits flaming pellets,” “flaming balls,” “firecracker,” “report” or “rocket,” it is automatically a no-go, according to the Louisville-Jefferson County Code of Ordinances.

But, smaller ones like sparklers, cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners are legal. Still, don’t let the size fool you − they can burn up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Learn more: Check out these 4th of July events taking place across Kentucky

How to use fireworks safely

The state fire marshal suggests following the following advice when using fireworks:

Use fireworks outdoors.
Obey local laws.
Keep a bucket of water or a working water hose nearby.
Use fireworks as intended and avoid altering them or combining them.
Never relight “dud” fireworks. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
Spectators should keep a safe distance from the person lighting the firework (the individual lighting it should wear safety glasses).
Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated adult operator.”
Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
Read and follow all instructions on the label.