Kentucky
Kentucky vs. Texas game thread and pregame reading
The Kentucky Wildcats will take on the Texas Longhorns on Wednesday night at Rupp Arena. Game time is set for 7:00 PM ET on the SEC Network. Kentucky is a 6.5-point favorite.
The Cats are now 12-6 on the season after a second straight come-from-behind victory over the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville on Saturday. Three days after coming back from 18 down against the LSU Tigers, Mark Pope’s squad came back from 17 down to defeat the Vols. Obviously, the slow starts are an issue, but a win is a win.
Kentucky has now won three games in a row, but no game is easy in the SEC. Jayden Quaintance will sit out his fourth straight game due to continued “knee swelling.” Hopefully, the Cats can start to put together two consecutive halves as we’ve seen in the second half of both the LSU and UT games.
As for the Longhorns, they’re 11-7 on the season, including 2-3 in conference. It’s been an up-and-down campaign thus far as they boast wins over Alabama and Vanderbilt but losses to the likes of Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and Arizona State. Sean Miller’s team possesses a high-powered offense to go with a horrific defense.
This will be an interesting matchup. Kentucky has been so inconsistent this season, and that includes on both the offensive and defensive ends. There’s no telling which Kentucky team will show up, which half they play on, and whether this will be a shootout or a defensive masterpiece.
At this point, it’s time to start stringing together wins and continue this newfound win streak.
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Kentucky
Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report
Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.
One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.
Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.
The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.
Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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