Kentucky

John Calipari’s fastball looks gone with Kentucky in danger of missing March Madness

Published

1 year ago

February 13, 2023

John Calipari’s fastball looks gone with Kentucky in danger of missing March Madness

The bar was purported to be the Candy 16. At a minimal. Final March’s epic loss to Cinderella Saint Peter’s felt fluky, a kind of gorgeous outcomes the NCAA Match produces yearly.

As an alternative, it appears to be a part of a regarding current pattern at Kentucky, as this proud, powerhouse program fades beneath John Calipari.

With a NET rating of 45, a 1-7 report in Quad 1 video games and a Quad 4 loss, the Wildcats are at risk of lacking the match for the second time in three years. In the event that they don’t go dancing, it will imply zero NCAA Match wins within the final three years. The final time that occurred in Lexington was 1988-91, as a consequence of a postseason ban.

It’s truthful to marvel if Calipari, regardless of his recruiting prowess, has misplaced his fastball on the age of 64. He actually isn’t bringing it like he as soon as did. There isn’t a different rationalization for this group to seek out itself in its present predicament. It returned Oscar Tshiebwe, the Nationwide Participant of the Yr a season in the past, level guard Sahvir Wheeler and sharpshooter CJ Fredrick. It introduced in a top-five recruiting class led by five-star wings Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston, and added high quality Illinois State switch Antonio Reeves. The group was ranked fourth within the preseason. It was anticipated to be one of many nation’s premier groups.

Kentucky coach John Calipari could also be the issue for the Wildcats.

But, it’s early February and Kentucky is on the bubble after a dismal loss at rebuilding Georgia on Saturday. Apart from a formidable win at No. 6 Tennessee on Jan. 14, the résumé is pedestrian at greatest. The protection is ranked 87th nationally in effectivity. It actually doesn’t look good for Calipari that Bryce Hopkins, an uber-talented wing who not often performed final season, has blossomed right into a Huge East Participant of the Yr candidate beneath Ed Cooley at Windfall. Kentucky may use him this 12 months.

Now, there are many alternatives left for the Wildcats within the top-heavy SEC to play their manner off the bubble. They nonetheless have video games left in opposition to projected match groups Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn and Texas A&M, after which the convention match. This group has proven cases of promise, most notably the win at Tennessee. Consistency, nevertheless, has escaped Calipari and Co. Kentucky nonetheless has a number of weeks left to seek out it. In any other case, it is going to create some undesirable historical past, and the warmth on the coach will improve considerably. If not for a giant end, increasingly questions will come up about his potential to win massive once more, regardless of the top-ranked recruiting class he has coming in subsequent 12 months. This group’s drawback, in any case, doesn’t really feel like a expertise situation.

Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe (34) is defended by Arkansas' Makhel Mitchell on Feb. 7, 2023. — Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe (34) is defended by Arkansas’ Makhel Mitchell on Feb. 7, 2023.

Guess on the Huge 12

The NCAA Match continues to be over a month away, however I will likely be selecting groups based mostly on one unscientific technique: Again the Huge 12. No groups will likely be higher ready than these coming from the most effective league within the nation. The league is cannibalizing itself. No. 12 Kansas State has misplaced three of 4. No. 17 TCU has dropped three straight. No. 11 Iowa State has fallen in three of its final 4 contests. Solely two losses separate six groups on the prime of the convention.

Regular as she goes

Within the switch portal period, the place we see coaches flip round applications in a single 12 months, there are examples of persistence paying off. You’re seeing it at Pittsburgh as Jeff Capel has the Panthers tied atop the ACC with No. 8 Virginia in his fifth season and also you’re seeing it at Northwestern, the place Chris Collins has the Wildcats in place to return to the match for the primary time in six years after their upset of No. 1 Purdue — the varsity’s first ever over No. 1 — on Sunday. The fast hook doesn’t all the time repay. Continuity can work.

Jeff Capel has Pittsburgh tied atop the ACC.

Recreation of the Week

No. 3 Alabama at No. 6 Tennessee, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

The Crimson Tide aren’t simply the lone undefeated high-major program in convention play, they’ve hardly been examined within the SEC, profitable their 12 league video games by a median of 21.1 factors. Wednesday in Knoxville will likely be Alabama’s stiffest problem, dealing with Tennessee’s top-ranked protection based mostly on effectivity. It’s a fascinating distinction in types, the go-go Crimson Tide in opposition to the plodding, defensively stout Volunteers.

Tremendous 16

A prediction of the highest 4 seeds within the NCAA Match

1. Alabama, Purdue, Kansas, Houston

2. Texas, Arizona, UCLA, Tennessee

3. Virginia, Baylor, Marquette, Gonzaga

4. Iowa State, Indiana, Kansas State, Connecticut

Inventory Watch

Up

Baylor

The 2021 nationwide champion is wanting like a Last 4 contender of late. It has moved inside one sport of Huge 12-leader Texas after profitable 9 of its final 10 video games, which have included victories over No. 9 Kansas, No. 17 TCU and on-the-rise Oklahoma State. There are few backcourts higher than the trio of Adam Flagler, elite freshman Keyonte George and LJ Cryer, which has led the nation’s greatest offense when it comes to effectivity, and the frontcourt just lately obtained a lift from the return of skilled ahead Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua from harm.

Convention USA

The highest-three of Florida Atlantic, North Texas and UAB are pretty much as good as any mid-major’s greatest trio within the nation. All three are ranked within the prime 64 of the NET, and have the items to do injury within the NCAA Match. However solely Florida Atlantic, courtesy of its 5-2 report in Quad 1 and a pair of video games and 20 NET rating, has a shot at an at-large bid. Led by dynamic guard Jordan Walker, UAB reached the match final 12 months and has received 5 of its final six video games. That features a victory over Florida Atlantic, the Owls’ lone convention loss. Convention USA’s postseason match has the potential for some epic video games.

Down

Windfall

Saturday afternoon on the Backyard would possibly find yourself costing the Friars a shot at repeating as Huge East regular-season champions. Their ugly loss to disappointing St. John’s within the least makes the highway lots tougher. No. 20 Windfall is now a sport within the loss column behind the massive three of No. 10 Marquette, No. 13 Xavier and No. 23 Creighton, and has dropped two of its final three video games. The beginning backcourt of Noah Locke and Jared Bynum shot a mixed 4-for-21 from the sphere within the shocking loss. Windfall’s final high quality win was manner again on Jan. 4 over No. 21 UConn.

LSU

You figured it will take time. A lot expertise left this system after Will Wade’s firing. It’s nonetheless fairly gorgeous to see LSU not solely within the SEC basement, however proudly owning a 1-11 convention report. Matt McMahon is a high quality coach. He reached three NCAA Tournaments in his final 5 seasons at Murray State. The SEC, after all, is a distinct animal from the Ohio Valley Convention. He’s studying that rapidly this winter together with his group within the midst of a depressing 12-game shedding streak. additional

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Kentucky

Kentucky receiving official visit from 4-star CB Dawayne Galloway

Published

5 hours ago

June 2, 2024

Press Room

Kentucky receiving official visit from 4-star CB Dawayne Galloway

Dawayne Galloway is one of the best high school prospects in the state of Ohio. He’s already earned four-star status and is ranked No. 142 overall from the 2025 class by the On3 Industry Ranking. And since he’s a talented football player from Ohio, it didn’t take long for Kentucky associate head coach Vince Marrow to take note.

Galloway was offered by the Wildcats back in September, received an in-home visit from Marrow in January, and then unofficially visited UK in February. Next, he’ll officially visit the program later this month. Galloway will be in Lexington from June 18-20 for his official. KSR first reported the news on Saturday night.

Along with Kentucky, Galloway has four other official visits currently scheduled. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound cornerback begins his official to West Virginia today and will also make stops at Purdue (June 7), Syracuse (June 14), and Penn State (June 21).

Galloway is down to a Top 12 list of schools, which he announced in late February. Kentucky made the cut, as did Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia, Colorado, Georgia, Central Florida, Penn State, Texas A&M, Michigan, and Syrcause. But so far, only five of those dozen are set to receive official visits. Nearby Ohio State has been in the mix but has yet to extend a scholarship offer.

Of note, Galloway will officially visit Kentucky at the same time as four-star wide receiver Andrew Marsh out of Texas. Marsh is ranked No. 61 overall in the 2025 class and is being recruited by UK’s new wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts. The elite pass-catcher has additional OVs locked in with Southern California (June 7), Texas (June 14), and Oklahoma (June 21). Marsh officially visited Washington in May.

June was already shaping up to be a significant month of recruiting for Kentucky’s staff. With Galloway in the mix too, it just got that much more important. The Wildcats currently have six 2025 commits, including one other defensive back in four-star safety Martels Carter.

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Kentucky

Class of 2026 CB Sean Johnson believes Kentucky offer was a ‘blessing’

Published

12 hours ago

June 2, 2024

Press Room

Class of 2026 CB Sean Johnson believes Kentucky offer was a ‘blessing’

Kentucky continues to offer players in the Class of 2026, and that is what they did on Wednesday, May 8, as Brad White offered cornerback Sean Johnson.

Johnson is from Severn, MD, and he comes in at 6-foot-1 and weighs 175 pounds, according to 247Sports. The corner recently spoke to A Sea of Blue after he got offered and what that means to him.

“Getting an offer from Kentucky is a blessing honestly, it doesn’t get better than the SEC,” Johnson says. “Coach (Brad) White the defensive coordinator offered me and we talked about my film and how Kentucky is a top 25 team and that he would like to get me down there for a visit.

After receiving the offer from Kentucky, he hopes he can continue to grow a relationship with the coaching staff, especially White and defensive backs coach Chris Collins.

“I would love to build a relationship with the whole coaching staff, especially with coach Collins and coach White,” Johnson tells A Sea of Blue.

Johnson could certainly see himself playing in the blue and white.

“I could most definitely see myself playing for Kentucky, based off that they are in the SEC and they are a top 25 team and most importantly based off how many defensive backs they have got to the league,” Johnson says.

Speaking of the success Kentucky has had on the defensive side, the program has been able to get many different defensive backs drafted in the NFL recently such as Lonnie Johnson Jr., Kelvin Joseph, Brandin Echols, Carrington Valentine, and others.

Johnson has taken notice of that success.

“I look at Kentucky’s former defensive backs and manifest that I could be one of them one day, I like that they know what they are doing with the cornerbacks cause that’s my position and hopefully one day my dream is to get to the NFL,” Johnson says.

It is still early on in his recruiting process, but he tells A Sea of Blue that he wants to take a visit to Kentucky. He has already visited Maryland, Penn State, Virginia, NC State, and West Virginia.

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Kentucky

Trey Pooser has been Kentucky's best made decision this season

Published

20 hours ago

June 1, 2024

Press Room

Trey Pooser has been Kentucky's best made decision this season

Moving right-hander Trey Pooser from the bullpen to the starting rotation has been Nick Mingione and Kentucky’s best made decision this season.

For the first month of the season, Pooser, who transferred from College of Charleston over the offseason, was used exclusively as a reliever. In six appearances out of the bullpen, Pooser boasted a 5.21 in 12 1/3 innings pitched.

Right-hander Travis Smith, who was expected to make the leap as one of the breakout pitchers in college baseball this season, just never seemed to get going in that time frame. Smith made five Friday night starts in the opening month, compiling a 1-2 record with a 6.69 ERA in 24 2/3 innings pitched.

This is when Nick Mingione made a decision that would alter Kentucky’s season in a major way.

Photo by Caleb Bowlin | UK Athletics

It was announced that Pooser would be making his first start as a Cat on March 22 against Missouri. However, Pooser was no stranger to being a starting pitcher. He made 36 career starts in four seasons at College of Charleston, compiling a career 3.93 ERA in 220 innings pitched.

“You know, he had experience before and starting experience at the college level,” Mingione said Saturday. “Anytime you can have that, that is a bonus. The transfer portal does allow you to be older, and it allows you to develop your high school guys. If you look at our lineup I feel like we had a great mix that played in this baseball game from a pitching and an offensive side.”

Since his move to the Friday night starter, Pooser has blossomed into Kentucky’s “ace.” Including Saturday’s masterful start where he allowed just one earned run in seven innings, the right-hander boasts a 3.57 in 63 innings pitched. Even he said he wouldn’t believe where he’d be at now at the beginning of the season.

“You always want to do good,” Pooser said. “You don’t ever know exactly how it’s going to go and everything doesn’t always go as planned, but I’m glad it has gone the way it has. Just got to keep going.”

He hasn’t been just good, he’s been absolutely shutdown. In his last 13 innings pitched against Arkansas (SEC Tournament) and Illinois on Saturday, Pooser’s allowed just one earned run (0.69 ERA) with 10 strikeouts.

When asked if Pooser has emerged as Kentucky’s ace, Nick Mingione gave a cheeky answer.

“Yes,” the head ball coach said. “We’ve got some other good ones, too. You look at Mason Moore. What is he, 8-3? He’s got beat by the same team. Twice. Two of this his three losses are from the same team (South Carolina). That guy could be sitting at 8-1. But I’ll let you guys decide what title or label you want to put on him.”

Pooser’s emergence has given Kentucky two aces down the stretch in himself and Mason Moore, who will start Sunday’s game in the Regional Final. For a staff that has been up and down this season, the Hanahan, S.C. native has provided much needed stability time and time again.

Pooser and right-hander Ryan Hagenow, who pitched the final two innings in Saturday’s win over Illinois, will be the two lone pitchers unavailable for Sunday’s game.

The Cats will now wait until Sunday at 6:00 p.m. EST, where they will play the winner of Indiana State/Illinois (who play Sunday at noon EST). With a Kentucky win, it would claim the Lexington Regional in just three games. With a loss, the Lexington Regional Championship would be Monday.

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