When Mark Pope announced that he would be taking questions directly from BBN, we all knew things could get interesting. But honestly, it turned out pretty good; you had some honest questions and some good answers. Sure, there were sarcastic questions that just were never going to be answered, but Pope did address the GM situation. While it wasn’t the answer a lot of people hoped for, at least there is now a clear hierarchy within the basketball front office. Let’s break it down.
Kentucky
Depth Charts: Louisville vs. Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rivalry week has finally arrived. The Louisville and Kentucky football program are set to do battle once again, facing off in Lexington for the annual Battle for the Governor’s Cup.
Here are the depth charts for both the Cardinals and Wildcats:
Changes from Louisville’s Depth Chart vs. Pitt:
Quarterback
9 Tyler Shough (6-5, 230, Gr.)
10 Pierce Clarkson (6-1, 190, R-Fr.)
OR 15 Harrison Bailey (6-5, 230, R-Sr.)
OR 12 Brady Allen (6-6, 220, R-So)
Running Back
25 Isaac Brown (5-9, 190, Fr.)
21 Donald Chaney Jr. (5-10, 210, R-Jr.)
26 Duke Watson (6-0, 180, Fr.)
22 Keyjuan Brown (5-10, 210, R-Fr.)
Wide Receiver
0 Chris Bell (6-2, 220, Jr.)
81 Cataurus Hicks (5-10, 180, R-Fr.)
Wide Receiver
1 Ja’Corey Brooks (6-3, 195, R-Sr.)
49 Kris Hughes (5-11, 190, R-Fr.)
82 Jahlil McClain (5-11, 180, R-Fr.)
Wide Receiver
81 Cataurus Hicks (5-10, 180, R-Fr.)
24 Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (5-11, 180, Sr.)
0 Chris Bell (6-2, 220, Jr.)
Tight End
83 Mark Redman (6-6, 255, Gr.)
85 Nate Kurisky (6-3, 240, R-So.)
88 Jaleel Skinner (6-5, 225, So.)
Left Tackle
71 Monroe Mills (6-7, 315, Jr.)
70 Trevonte Sylvester (6-6, 280, R-Jr.)
Left Guard
68 Michael Gonzalez (6-4, 305, Sr.)
73 Madden Sanker (6-5, 310, R-Fr.)
Center
50 Pete Nygra (6-4, 300, R-Jr.)
73 Madden Sanker (6-5, 310, R-Fr.)
Right Guard
56 Renato Brown (6-4, 315, R-Sr.)
OR 51 Austin Collins (6-3, 295, R-Jr)
Right Tackle
70 Trevonte Sylvester (6-6, 280, R-Jr._
Defensive End
9 Ashton Gillotte (6-3, 275, Sr)
41 Ramon Puryear (6-3, 275, R-Sr.)
91 Richard Kinley II (6-3, 235, R-Sr.)
Nose Tackle
99 Dezmond Tell (6-1, 295, Sr.)
90 Rene Konga (6-4, 290, R-Sr.)
55 William Spencer (6-5, 305, R-Fr.)
Defensive Tackle
93 Jared Dawson (6-2, 305, R-Jr.)
50 Thor Griffith (6-2, 320, Gr.)
Leo (DE/LB)
19 Tramel Logan (6-4, 247, R-Sr.)
33 Myles Jernigan (6-3, 235, R-Sr.)
98 Adonijah Green (6-6, 240, R-Fr.)
Middle Linebacker
34 T.J. Quinn (6-1, 230, R-Jr.)
32 Jurriente Davis (6-1, 235, R-Sr.)
18 T.J. Capers (6-2, 220, R-Fr.)
Weakside Linebacker
6 Stanquan Clark (6-3, 230, So.)
15 Dan Foster Jr. (6-3, 225, R-Sr.)
STAR (LB/S)
35 Antonio Watts (6-2, 225, Jr.)
OR 10 Benjamin Perry (6-3, 205, R-Jr.)
Cornerback
3 Quincy Riley (6-0, 185, R-Sr.)
23 Tahveon Nicholson (5-11, 180, Sr.)
Cornerback
14 Corey Thornton (6-1, 190, Sr.)
OR 23 Tahveon Nicholson (5-11, 180, Sr.)
Free Safety
12 Tamarion McDonald (6-2, 195, Sr.)
OR 21 D’Angelo Hutchinson (6-3, 195, Jr.)
26 M.J. Griffin (6-1, 200, R-Sr.)
21 D’Angelo Hutchinson (6-3, 195, Jr.)
Punter
93 Brady Hodges (6-1, 200, Sr.)
39 Carter Schwartz (6-4, 230, R-Fr.)
Placekicker
38 Brock Travelstead (6-1, 205, Sr.)
98 Nick Keller (6-1, 200, R-So.)
Holder
93 Brady Hodges (6-1, 200, Sr.)
39 Carter Schwartz (6-4, 230, R-Fr.)
Long Snapper
48 Shai Kochav (6-3, 230, R-Jr.)
46 Brady McEnaney (6-2, 225, Fr.)
Kick Returner
1 Ja’Corey Brooks (6-3, 195, R-Sr.)
25 Isaac Brown (5-9, 190, Fr.)
Punt Returner
24 Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (5-11, 180, Sr.)
3 Quincy Riley (6-0, 195, R-Sr.)
Left Tackle
69 Marques Cox (6-5, 318, Sr-1L)
71 Malachi Wood (6-8, 320, Fr-RS)
Left Guard
62 Jager Burton (6-4, 316, Jr-2L,)
53 Aba Selm (6-4, 303, Fr-HS)
Center
75 Eli Cox (6-4, 309, Sr-4L)
50 Koby Keenum (6-4, 302, Fr-RS)
Right Guard
52 Jalen Farmer (6-5, 314, So-Tr)
73 Dylan Ray (6-6, 310, Jr-1L)
Right Tackle
71 Malachi Wood (6-8, 320, Fr-RS,)
78 Anfernee Crease (6-6, 315, So-Tr)
Wide Receiver (F)
9 Ja’Mori Maclin (5-11, 190, Jr-Tr)
5 Anthony Brown-Stephens (5-10, 176, So-1L)
Wide Receiver (X)
7 Barion Brown (6-1, 182, Jr-2L)
13 Fred Farrier II (6-1, 182, Jr-Tr)
Wide Receiver (Z)
6 Dane Key (6-3, 210, Jr-2L)
13 Fred Farrier II (6-1, 182, Jr-Tr)
Tight End (Y)
84 Josh Kattus (6-4, 246, Jr-2L)
81 Willie Rodriguez (6-4, 245, Fr-HS)
Tight End (F)
85 Jordan Dingle (6-4, 238, So-1L)
15 Khamari Anderson (6-5, 252, So-1L)
Quarterback
12 Brock Vandagriff (6-3, 217, Jr-Tr)
8 Cutter Boley (6-5, 214, Fr-HS)
or 2 Gavin Wimsatt (6-3, 227, Jr-Tr)
Running Back
0 Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (6-0, 210, Sr-1L)
10 Jamarion Wilcox (5-10, 197, Fr-RS)
Defensive End
90 Tre’vonn Rybka (6-4, 284, Sr-3L)
8 Octavious Oxendine (6-1, 278, Sr-4L)
Nose Guard
9 Keeshawn Silver (6-4, 336, Jr-1L)
99 Kendrick Gilbert (6-5, 275, Fr-RS)
Defensive Tackle
0 Deone Walker (6-6, 345, Jr-2L)
92 Kahlil Saunders (6-5, 291, Jr-2L)
Strongside Linebacker
3 Alex Afari Jr. (6-2, 222, Jr-2L)
or 42 Tyreese Fearbry (6-5, 242, So-1L)
Outside Linebacker
13 J.J. Weaver (6-5, 255, Sr-4L)
55 Noah Matthews (6-5, 254, So-1L)
2 Jamon Dumas-Johnson (6-1,245, Sr-Tr)
22 Grant Godfrey (6-3, 225, Fr-RS)
Middle Linebacker
2 Jamon Dumas-Johnson (6-1,245, Sr-Tr)
22 Grant Godfrey (6-3, 225, Fr-RS)
Weakside Linebacker
3 Alex Afari Jr. (6-2, 222, Jr-2L)
34 Jayvant Brown (6-0, 225, So-1L)
Field Cornerback
6 JQ Hardaway (6-3, 191, Jr-1L)
or 10 Jantzen Dunn (6-0, 185, Jr-1L)
Boundary Cornerback
1 Maxwell Hairston (6-1, 186, Jr-2L)
5 DJ Waller Jr. (6-3, 202, So-Tr)
or 21 Nasir Addison (6-0, 199, So-1L)
Strong Safety
11 Zion Childress (6-0, 195, Sr-2L)
4 Kristian Story (6-1, 213, Sr-Tr)
Free Safety
25 Jordan Lovett (6-2, 205, Jr-2L)
or 14 Ty Bryant (6-0, 197, So-1L)
Kicker
16 Alex Raynor (6-0, 185, Sr-1L)
91 Jacob Kauwe (6-1, 206 (Fr-HS)
Kickoffs
48 Aidan Laros (6-2, 212, Jr-Tr)
91 Jacob Kauwe (6-1, 206, Fr-HS)
Punter
48 Aidan Laros (6-2, 212, Jr-Tr)
93 Wilson Berry (6-4, 217, Jr-1L)
Long Snapper
42 Alex McLaughlin (5-10, 229, Jr-Tr)
56 Walker Himebauch (6-1, 223, So-1L)
Short Snapper
56 Walker Himebauch (6-1, 223, So-1L)
42 Alex McLaughlin (5-10, 229, Jr-Tr)
Holder
93 Wilson Berry (6-4, 217, Jr-1L)
48 Aidan Laros (6-2, 212, Jr-Tr)
Kickoff Return
7 Barion Brown (6-1, 182, Jr-2L)
0 Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (6-0, 210, Sr-1L)
Punt Return
9 Ja’Mori Maclin (5-11, 190, Jr-Tr)
or 7 Barion Brown (6-1, 182, Jr-2L)
6 Dane Key (6-3, 210, Jr-2L)
*Depth chart from Kentucky’s last game vs. Texas. Their DT vs. Louisville has yet to be released.
(Photo of Ashton Gillotte: Matt Stone – The Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK)
You can follow Louisville Cardinals On SI for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram:
Facebook – @LouisvilleOnSI
Twitter/X – @LouisvilleOnSI
Instagram – @louisvilleonsi
You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter/X
Warm and humid weather for Preakness Stakes this weekend
The second race of the Triple Crown is May 16 in Laurel, Maryland. Conditions at Preakness Stakes are expected to be warmer with humidity. There could be a spotty thunderstorm after the race.
Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby. He won’t be at the Preakness. And that’s becoming a familiar story.
This marks the second straight year and the third time in five years that the Derby winner has decided not to compete in the Preakness Stakes despite having a healthy horse. The reason is almost always the same: two weeks isn’t enough time.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux made the call quickly after Golden Tempo’s dramatic last-to-first Derby victory on May 2.
“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime,” DeVaux said in a statement. “We believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.”
DeVaux and Golden Tempo are focused on the June 6 Belmont Stakes instead.
The pattern is pretty clear.
From 1997 to 2018, every Kentucky Derby winner ran the Preakness, keeping the Triple Crown path intact. That streak ended with Country House, who won the Derby on the disqualification of Maximum Security, was scratched from the Preakness. The sport has been wrestling with the question ever since. Maryland’s racing leaders have considered moving the Preakness one week later, from the third Saturday in May to the fourth, though no change has been made.
Of the 14 horses entered in the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, just three made the trip from Churchill Downs. None of them won the Derby. One nearly caused the biggest upset in recent memory.
Ocelli (Post 2, 6-1)
The most intriguing Derby returnee. Ocelli finished third at 70-1 odds on May 2, giving trainer Whit Beckman and jockey Tyler Gaffalione a surprise ticket to Laurel Park. He was the lone maiden in the Derby field and remains a maiden heading into Saturday. Nobody expected him to be here.
Incredibolt (post 12, 5-1)
The morning-line co-favorite among Derby runners. Incredibolt finished sixth at Churchill Downs and trainer Riley Mott moved quickly to point him to Laurel Park. Jockey Jaime Torres won the 2024 Preakness aboard Seize the Grey. The connections believe the 1 3/16-mile distance suits Incredibolt better than the Derby’s mile and a quarter.
Robusta (Post 4, 30-1)
The longest shot of the Derby trio is Robusta, who finished 14th of the 14 in the Derby. The question with any horse coming back this quickly after a tough Derby is how much the race took out of him. At 30-1, it seems the market has answered that question.
COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) – A Northern Kentucky man is in jail, accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl who’d been reported missing.
Matthew Wade, 40, faces charges, including sexual abuse, unlawful transaction with a minor and assault.
Covington Police say they found the teen at Wade’s home on Highway Avenue on Monday. According to the police report, he was knowingly hiding her, knew she was missing and had cut her ankle monitor off.
Investigators say the teen was given alcohol, marijuana and magic mushrooms.
The girl told police wade slapped her and choked her.
Officers also say they found guns in the home.
Mark Pope has confirmed that no official GM position will exist for at least this season, and most likely won’t exist going forward. Why? Because he has the responsibilities spread out across 4 different people, and believes that is the best way forward.
“In this ever-changing college basketball dynamic, everybody is trying a different solution. For us, instead of hiring a singular GM, we’ve gone with a more comprehensive general management team approach. We have four members of the team. Keegan Brown is a data analysis and roster construction expert who’s worked in both college and the NBA. Nick Robinson is our salary cap strategy and management specialist. Kevin Sergent is our compliance officer, and he deals with all of our contracts and legal language. Kim Shelton is our JMI liaison, and she does all of our NIL contracts that deal with corporate sponsorships. That’s our four-person general management team.”
But who is each one of these people, and what makes them qualified?
Who’s doing what in the Kentucky basketball front office?
Well, Keegan Brown has been a video coordinator in the G-League. That essentially means he would go and watch all the videos on league opponents and potential prospects, and come up with data-backed scouting reports for the coaching and front office teams. Pope has worked with Brown at BYU, so there is some familiarity there.
Nick Robinson also worked with Mark Pope in Provo, being an assistant coach from 2019 to 2024 and following Pope to Lexington. He has been on staff all 3 seasons now, and is being tasked with handing out Kentucky’s money and setting a budget for each player.
Kevin Sergent is not new to Kentucky; he has been in Lexington since 2020. But this is his first time handling compliance on his own; his official title is Senior Associate AD for Athletic Compliance. He handles all the rules, applying for waivers, basically making sure the entire staff is doing everything the right way.
Kim Shelton is a UK alum who was more known for soccer than anything else. She was part of the very first Kentucky women’s soccer team and is a former CEO of Lexington Sporting Club. She worked for Kentucky when Commonwealth was renamed as Kroger Field, and played a role in setting up naming rights for Kentucky Proud Park. Right now, she is kind of the bridge between Kentucky and JMI, specifically handling BBNIL Suite.
If you don’t remember what BBNIL suite is, it’s essentially the opt-in program where student athletes agree to only work with deals through JMI. They find offers, broker deals, and help athletes make money. It is, of course, optional, but if players decline, they will not be able to use the University of Kentucky logos in their NIL marketing.
Trent Noah is probably the most successful NIL athlete who opted out. The Kentucky native is handling his own NIL, and by the amount of ads and cardboard cutouts I see littered around the state, he seems to be doing pretty well.
Seeing JMI integrated again into Kentucky Basketball is probably going to make some of you uneasy, and I get that. But everyone who has worked with them who has officially gone on the record says they are a pleasure to work with.
And that’s how Mark Pope wants it done. There is a theory out there that he wants a GM, but JMI won’t let him. Considering he has chosen 2 of the 4 people personally, I highly doubt that’s true.
What do you think of his explanation, and what do you think of how he is handling the GM role?
-
World2 minutes agoRussia’s prison population falls by 180,000 since start of Ukraine war
-
News32 minutes agoSuspect in murder of University of Washington student surrenders to police
-
New York2 hours agoFlag With Swastika and Star of David Flown on N.Y.U. Building, Police Say
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours agoEarly morning Montebello fire leaves resident critically injured
-
Detroit, MI3 hours agoWhat big announcement at DPSCD Hall of Fame Gala could mean for Detroit students
-
San Francisco, CA3 hours agoCasting shade on shadows: S.F. supervisor seeks to bar using shadows to block new housing
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoDallas Approves $180,500 for New Botham Jean Boulevard Street Signs
-
Miami, FL3 hours agoMiami residents sue over land for Trump presidential library