Kentucky
Hardest 3-Game Stretch in Modern Kentucky Basketball History?
As will be the case throughout this SEC season, you are not going to have any real stretch of easy games for the next two months. Yes, an LSU or South Carolina (or Arkansas) might give you a slight breather, but Kentucky is facing the hardest gauntlet of conference games in its history — and potentially college basketball history.
But after digging through the record books, I was somewhat surprised that the game against Alabama will mark just the seventh time in the last 25 seasons in which Kentucky has faced three consecutive ranked opponents. And Kentucky has actually played five in a row as Georgia is now ranked, although the Bulldogs were not when they played Mark Pope’s team on Jan. 7.
So my question is this: simply based on ranking alone, is this the toughest three-game stretch in modern UK history?
THE 7 INSTANCES
2024-25 (COMBINED RANKING: 25)
at #14 Mississippi St: WIN
#11 Texas A&M: WIN
#4 Alabama: ?????
2020-21 (COMBINED RANKING: 38)
at #9 Alabama: LOSS
at #18 Missouri: LOSS
#11 Tennessee: LOSS
2000-01 (BEST COMBINED RANKING: 43)
#25 Notre Dame: WIN
#4 Tennessee: WIN
at #21 Ole Miss: LOSS
at #18 Alabama: LOSS
2018-19 (COMBINED RANKING: 49)
at #18 Auburn: WIN
#22 Mississippi St: WIN
#9 Kansas: WIN
2003-04 (COMBINED RANKING: 49)
#9 North Carolina: WIN
#20 Vanderbilt: WIN
at #20 Mississippi St: WIN
2002-03 (COMBINED RANKING: 49)
#10 Notre Dame: WIN
#24 Auburn: WIN
at #15 Alabama: WIN
2005-06 (COMBINED RANKING: 52)
at #24 LSU: LOSS
at #11 Tennessee: WIN
#17 Florida: LOSS
I don’t think there is any way around it. This is, at least based on ranking, the hardest three-game regular-season stretch we have faced in the last quarter century. And the fact Kentucky could potentially sweep those games shows this team has elite potential. It seems as if this team faces the hardest challenges the best. Which is good, because basically every game is hard.
Kentucky
Officials identify missing woman as search enters third day
GRAYSON, Ky. (WSAZ) – New information has been released in the search for a missing woman at Grayson Lake.
According to game wardens with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Marly Kinney, 19, of Ashland, was last seen at Grayson Lake on Wednesday afternoon.
They say search efforts are focused on the water at this time and include Kentucky State Police aerial support, drones, boats, and K9 assistance.
Crews suspend search for missing teen for the night
The search is now into its third day, with officials saying on and off rain has hindered their search and that a group of 50 volunteers are walking the banks of the lake to help in the search.
Search and rescue boats have been seen at the lake as well.
Officials say there are still many questions, including if Kinney is still alive and where exactly she went missing.
They also say they’ve been using a variety of equipment, including sonar and thermal detectors, as well as helicopters and underwater drones.
WSAZ received a statement from Kinney’s family Friday afternoon:
“We are very appreciative of the absolute surplus of support from law enforcement, search and rescue, 1st responders, and all of the community and its volunteers that are here with us and for us searching for Marly. We do not even know how to express our absolute gratitude to you all. We continue to have faith she will be found and brought back to us. We know we have the very best people doing all they can to bring her home.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
We are still working to get more information.
Previous coverage can be found here.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
Kentucky
Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
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.
Kentucky
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.
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.
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.
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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