Yearly, males’s school basketball waits for its flip to enter the general public consciousness after school soccer ends. Now it is right here once more. The 2022-23 convention season is already hectic. And school basketball’s finest motion will unfold within the weeks forward as we head towards the convention and NCAA tournaments.
This weekend’s slate of video games options key matchups that would have an effect on NCAA match seedings, convention championship races and the futures of some high coaches. This is what to observe, and why.
The principle occasion
Kentucky (10-6, 1-3 SEC) at No. 5 Tennessee (14-2, 4-0 SEC) might hasten John Calipari’s divorce from the varsity Midday ET, Saturday, ESPN
Waldo wasn’t this misplaced. Throughout Tuesday’s 71-68 dwelling loss to South Carolina — the identical South Carolina workforce that misplaced to George Washington by 24 factors earlier this season — a Kentucky fan was eliminated after he displayed a “Please Go to Texas” signal geared toward John Calipari. The fast response from the constructing’s safety employees was essentially the most aggressive protection Rupp Enviornment had seen in weeks.
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Proper now, Kentucky just isn’t a lock to make the NCAA match, though it would get a number of alternatives to safe high quality wins at dwelling within the weeks forward. However the rift between Calipari and the fan base is rising. With the opening at Texas and experiences the Longhorns have curiosity, possibly he’ll stroll.
Saturday’s recreation is one other take a look at of Kentucky’s ceiling. Accidents to Cason Wallace and Jacob Toppin have been a priority for a program that faces a Tennessee workforce with Remaining 4 potential. It is a dangerous rebound matchup for Kentucky. Opponents have realized Picket Award winner Oscar Tshiebwe struggles defensively in pick-and-roll conditions. Opposing groups have made 56% of their pictures on pick-and-pop eventualities when Tshiebwe has guarded the shooter, per Synergy Sports activities knowledge. The Vols, led by Santiago Vescovi (12.9 PPG, 2.2 SPG), are ranked first in adjusted defensive effectivity on KenPom. This could possibly be a blowout and one other signal that Calipari’s finest years at Kentucky — regardless of the upcoming arrival of D.J. Wagner and a top-ranked recruiting class — are behind him.
Prediction: Tennessee 74, Kentucky 63
Three others to observe
Jerome Tang’s rise continues with No. 11 Kansas State (15-1, 4-0 Huge 12) at No. 17 TCU (13-3, 2-2 Huge 12) 2 p.m. ET, Saturday, ESPN2
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Final season, Kansas State received 14 video games total. This season, Kansas State has received 16, with a nine-game successful streak that features 4 victories towards top-30 groups on KenPom. Tang has already modified the tradition at Kansas State midway by means of his first season as head coach. Markquis Nowell is averaging 27.7 PPG and 10.0 APG in Huge 12 play. These aren’t typos. A highway win over a TCU squad that has surrendered a 54% clip contained in the arc so far in league play would assure Tang’s workforce a slice of the Huge 12 lead getting into subsequent week, and provides his marketing campaign for convention and nationwide coach of the yr honors one other enhance.
Prediction: Kansas State 73, TCU 70
No. 14 Iowa State (13-2, 4-0 Huge 12) goals to take the Huge 12 lead at No. 2 Kansas (15-1, 4-0 Huge 12) 4 p.m. ET, Saturday, Huge 12/ESPN+
When Tyrese Hunter left for Texas after successful Huge 12 freshman of the yr honors final yr, Iowa State confronted questions on its future. Then T.J. Otzelberger added transfers Osun Osunniyi (8.1 PPG) and Jaren Holmes (13.1 PPG, 37% from the 3-point line) from St. Bonaventure to workforce with returning veterans Gabe Kalscheur (11.8 PPG) and Caleb Grill (11.1 PPG). Kansas, nevertheless, is chasing one other nationwide title. With Jalen Wilson and freshman star Gradey Dick on the ground collectively this season, the Jayhawks have shot 43% from past the arc and 52% from inside, per hooplens.com. The winner of this recreation is assured a share of first place in a powerful league getting into subsequent week.
Prediction: Kansas 75, Iowa State 70
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No. 25 Marquette (14-4, 6-1 Huge East) at No. 12 Xavier (14-3, 6-0 Huge East) is a key matchup within the Huge East title race 12 p.m. ET, Sunday, FOX
After shedding key gamers from final season, the Golden Eagles had been picked to complete ninth within the Huge East within the preseason. However second-year head coach Shaka Sensible had different plans. Kam Jones (16.1 PPG) is having a breakout sophomore season, and Marquette led the nation with a 60.1% clip contained in the arc. Sean Miller’s Musketeers are high 10 nationally in 3-point proportion (41%). With the veterans who returned from final season’s NIT championship squad and UTEP switch Souley Boum (17.7 PPG), Xavier — tied with Windfall for first place within the Huge East — has manufactured a 10-game successful streak.
Thanks to a dominant offensive performance from every position across the net, No. 12 Kentucky picked up a 3-1 victory over No. 24 Missouri Wednesday night in Columbia (25-19, 25-14, 23-25, 25-20) to capture the SEC Title outright for the second-consecutive season.
As they’ve done for much of the season, the Cats once again turned to their superstar sophomore to deliver under the brightest lights as DeLeye recorded a match-high 19 kills on an impressive .359 clip. She also picked up five service aces in the winning effort and rattled off a 5-0 service run to bring the Cats back within a point and kickstart a comeback after trailing by as many as six in the fourth and final set.
DeLeye wasn’t doing it by herself against the Tigers, however, as Megan Wilson (13) and Brooke Bultema (11) also eclipsed double figures in the match. Rounding out the scoring was Jordyn Dailey, who finished with nine kills on a .750 hitting percentage and Erin Lamb, who finished with eight terminations.
Kentucky was paced by senior setter Emma Grome who dished out a match-high 54 assists as the Cats hit .377 as a team.
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On the back line Eleanor Beavin led the way with 15 digs and a pair of service aces. Molly Tuozzo added 14 digs to go along with four assists and a service ace, Grome finished with eight digs, Wilson had six, and DeLeye had five.
Dailey led the defensive effort at the net with four rejections. Grome added three, Wilson had a pair, and Bultema and DeLeye each totaled one.
With the victory, Kentucky concludes the regular season with a 20-7 overall record and a 14-2 mark in the SEC and are currently riding an 11-match winning streak. With no matches left to play, the Cats claimed the SEC Title outright and the NCAA Tournament’s automatic qualifier over Texas, who currently sits in second place with three losses and a match still left to play. With the regular season concluded, Kentucky now awaits their NCAA Tournament berth as the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Selection Show airs Sunday evening at 6:00 pm ET. The top-16 seeded teams named by the committee will host the First and Second Rounds next weekend on campus.
Kentucky football lost a 2025 wide receiver when recruit Ja’kayden Ferguson re-opened his recruitment in mid-November. Now, they have gained a commitment from top 500 receiver Dejerrian Miller to take the open spot.
Miller is a 6’3″, 195 lb receiver out of Missouri. He is rated four stars, and is ranked as the number 379 overall player in the 2025 class in the 247sports composite rankings. He is the 53rd ranked receiver in the class.
Eight options to replace coach Mark Stoops
Coach Mark Stoops and his staff have put together a solid recruiting class for 2025 so far. It’s currently ranked 25th in the country, though it is the 13th best class of the 16 teams of the SEC.
Miller joins Quintin Simmons Jr., Preston Bowman, and Montavin Quisenberry as wide receivers who are committed to Kentucky for 2025. Miller’s size should be an advantage for him as he looks to find playing time. It’s good get for the Wildcats and Stoops, who continues to bring in quality players at the receiver position.
EASTERN KENTUCKY (WYMT) – On Wednesday, President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists in Kentucky.
As a result, President Biden ordered federal assistance to supplement recovery efforts. This is locally as well as statewide following the damage left behind by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
In a news release, federal funding will be available to eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations. This will be on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the remnants of the hurricane.
This includes many counties in our area: Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lee, Letcher, Magoffin, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Powell, Rockcastle, Rowan, and Wolfe.
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In the announcement, it said federal funding will also be available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire state of Kentucky.
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