Kentucky basketball kicked off its annual Massive Blue Insanity occasion on Friday, correctly introducing UK followers to each the mens and womens basketball groups.
The occasion kicked off with the ‘Massive Blue Carpet’, a Hollywood purple carpet-esque introduction to each groups and most of the NBA skills that returned for the occasion.
The one energetic participant to not stroll the blue carpet was returning consensus nationwide participant of the 12 months Oscar Tshiebwe, who was on crutches following a “minor” knee surgical procedure earlier than the occasion.
Earlier than the occasion might even get began followers in attendance got a deal with when information broke that five-star middle Aaron Bradshaw dedicated to Kentucky, offering the Wildcats with the No. 1 total freshman middle for the 2023-2024 season.
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As soon as the occasion received going each Bradshaw and his highschool teammate and fellow five-star recruit DJ Wagner, who Kentucky can also be actively attempting to recruit, had been in attendance.
Beginning off the occasion itself, the primary hour was devoted to the womens basketball program, which regarded slightly totally different from final season with simply 5 out of 15 gamers having been on the group prior.
Throughout introductions various gamers garnered massive crowd reactions together with Kentucky native Cassidy Rowe, Oregon switch Maddie Scherr, returning Kentucky native Emma King and returning veteran Robyn Benton, however no athlete received a bigger response than returning star Blair Inexperienced, who missed her senior season final 12 months with an harm.
Head coach Kyra Elzy additionally garnered a big response, using into the sector on a motorbike and approaching stage to a dwell musical efficiency, each homages to former head coach Matthew Mitchell, who retired from Kentucky as a result of a mind harm.
The ladies held a 3-point contest, which was gained by Inexperienced, who scored 16 factors and defeated Scherr within the ultimate. King and Benton additionally participated within the contest however had been knocked out within the first spherical.
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The ladies then hosted a blue-white scrimmage, which was finally gained by the blue group composed of Zennia Thomas, Jada Walker, Amiya Jenkins, Nyah Leveretter and Scherr. The white group, composed of Rowe, King, Eniya Russell, Saniah Tyler and Benton got here up quick by a ultimate rating of 12-10.
“I feel (the womens group) will likely be good,” lifelong Kentucky fan Jimmy Turner (54) mentioned. “They’re younger however I feel they need to do properly.”
Following the scrimmage, Kentucky celebrated 50 years of Title IX, the legislation that prohibits sex-based discrimination and was partially created to make sure equal alternatives in mens and womens sports activities.
With the celebration Kentucky honored a number of members of its Title IX Prime 50 group, which options 50 of one of the best feminine athletes in college historical past.
After the celebration, each the cheer and dance groups placed on performances for the now packed home.
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With seats largely full within the venue, Kentucky showcased various its present and former NBA alumni that determined to return for the occasion. These in attendance included Brandon Knight, Tyler Ulis, Kevin Knox of the Detroit Pistons, Nick Richards of the Charlotte Hornets, Hamidou Diallo of the Pistons, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Warmth and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
Following the skilled company, it was time for the mens group to make its entrance with a lot of the returning expertise, together with Damion Collins, Lance Ware, Jacob Toppin and Sahvir Wheeler, receiving massive reactions from the viewers. Massive Blue Nation additionally welcomed new prospects equivalent to Ugonna Onyenso, Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston with massive quantities of cheers as properly.
That mentioned, no participant acquired a louder response than Tshiebwe, who hobbled onto the stage together with his crutches and launched head coach John Calipari.
With the group prepared to indicate what it’s able to, the boys began much like the ladies: with a 3-point contest. Illinois State switch Antonio Reeves gained the competition with a rating of 19, defeating reigning champion CJ Fredrick, Toppin and Livingston.
Subsequent, the boys held a dunk contest which, regardless of the 2 main scorers being Livingston and Collins, who scored 78, was gained by Toppin due to votes from the followers and visitor choose Diallo.
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Shifting on from the dunk contest, it was time to shut the occasion with the boys’s blue-white scrimmage, much like how the ladies ended their portion of the occasion.
Finally, regardless of many followers feeling like the boys didn’t take the scrimmage very critically, the ultimate rating completed 23-23 between the white group, comprised of Wheeler, Onyenso, Toppin, Reeves, Brennan Canada and Walker Horn, and the blue group, comprised of Livingston, Adou Thiero, Fredrick, Collins, Wallace, Kareem Watkins and Grant Darbyshire.
“Truthfully I really feel like the ladies had extra power popping out than the mens group,” lifelong Kentucky fan Rachel Simpson mentioned. “The (mens) entrances prior to now had extra pleasure and (extra) to do so far as the present facet and this 12 months appeared to lack that.”
Solely Tshiebwe and Ware didn’t take part within the scrimmage, with Calipari saying Ware’s absence was nothing severe and that he will likely be able to go in “three-to-five days.”
Ending the occasion with a mic-drop, Calipari spoke to the followers earlier than the seats started to filter out and attendees started going residence anticipating the basketball season.
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“I believed (Massive Blue Insanity) was very nice,” lifelong Kentucky fan James Simpson (42) mentioned. “It’s good to see the older gamers come again and see the brand new group yearly.”
Turner agreed with Simpson in his evaluation, saying the occasion “brings again some nice recollections” together with of the 2012 Nationwide Championship.
With followers now correctly riled up for the basketball season to start, the annual blue-white scrimmage is ready to happen in Pikeville this Saturday, Oct. 22, earlier than the Cats tackle their first exhibition opponent, Missouri Western State, on Oct. 30.
The ladies will even host a blue-white scrimmage this Saturday inside Memorial Coliseum earlier than internet hosting a scrimmage towards Pikeville on Nov. 2.
Each groups kick off their respective common seasons on Nov. 7, with the boys internet hosting Howard inside Rupp Enviornment and the ladies internet hosting Radford inside Memorial Coliseum.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Clara Strack scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Teonni Key had 16 points and 13 rebounds and No. 14 Kentucky defeated Arizona State 77-61 on Tuesday in the Music City Classic to remain unbeaten.
Kentucky nearly had four players with double-doubles as Georgia Amoore added 20 points and nine rebounds and Amelia Hassett had eight points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (6-0), who shot 42% and scored 13 points off 14 Arizona State turnovers.
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Jalyn Brown scored 16 points and Nevaeh Parkinson added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Sun Devils (3-3). Arizona State shot just 30%.
The Sun Devils cut a 19-point deficit to 11 after three quarters but a 6-0 burst with baskets by Key, Amoore and Strack built the lead back to 15 midway through the fourth.
Kentucky led 42-23 at halftime after outscoring the Sun Devils 27-9 in the second quarter, scoring the first 13 points of the period with Struck putting in the final seven in the run. A couple ASU free throws later, the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run capped by a Hassett 3 and the lead was 20. Strack scored 14 points and Key 10 in the half.
The teams continue play in the Music City Classic on Wednesday with Kentucky playing No. 19 Illinois and Arizona State facing South Dakota.
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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
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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.)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (3-2) at Kentucky Wildcats (5-0)
Lexington, Kentucky; Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Wildcats -22.5; over/under is 164
BOTTOM LINE: No. 8 Kentucky takes on Western Kentucky after Koby Brea scored 22 points in Kentucky’s 108-59 win over the Jackson State Tigers.
The Wildcats have gone 4-0 at home. Kentucky is 10th in college basketball averaging 12.6 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 42.3% from downtown. Brea leads the team averaging 4.0 makes while shooting 74.1% from 3-point range.
The Hilltoppers are 0-1 in road games. Western Kentucky ranks third in the CUSA shooting 37.4% from 3-point range.
Kentucky scores 97.0 points, 24.2 more per game than the 72.8 Western Kentucky allows. Western Kentucky averages 9.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.8 more made shots on average than the 6.0 per game Kentucky gives up.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Brea is shooting 74.1% from beyond the arc with 4.0 made 3-pointers per game for the Wildcats, while averaging 16 points.
Julius Thedford averages 2.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Hilltoppers, scoring 11.4 points while shooting 54.5% from beyond the arc.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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