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Kentucky boasts a highly-ranked frontcourt rotation

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Kentucky boasts a highly-ranked frontcourt rotation


After starting from scratch with an entire roster overhaul this offseason, Mark Pope may have brought in an underrated squad.

Pope’s first transfer commitment at Kentucky was Drexel big man Amari Williams and that may very well end up paying dividends.

CBS Sports lists the duo of Williams and fellow big man Brandon Garrison as a top-eight big man duo in college basketball.

“Mark Pope’s sharp offensive system requires big men who can pass the rock. That’s a huge piece of Williams’ game. The fifth-year senior out of Drexel gives Pope a smart dribble handoff hub who can whip backdoor dimes or spray it out to Kentucky’s cavalry of 3-point shooters. Garrison can also do a bunch of those things, too. Williams is the vet. Garrison is the young, rising sophomore. Together, Kentucky should be able to have 40 minutes of a real playmaking big man on the floor who also has plenty of defensive chops. Williams’ durability is a real question. He only played 30+ minutes twice last season, so Garrison is clearly poised to play early and often. Don’t be surprised if this is close to a 50-50 split.”

Alongside that big man duo is Andrew Carr, a presumed starter for Mark Pope’s Wildcats. Last season at Wake Forest, Carr averaged 13.5 points and shot 37.5% from three.

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247 Sports predicts that Carr will start for Pope and will be at the epicenter of Kentucky’s new-look offense.

“Carr was so good last year for Wake Forest. The 6-foot-10, 220-pound big man is a fantastic play-finisher. He can stretch the floor (37% from downtown) or kill you on the block. Carr rated in the 92nd percentile nationally in post-up efficiency, per Synergy last year. Yes, Kentucky wants to shoot 3s, but you can’t hide a small guard on Carr and expect to get away with it. He’s just too polished offensively, and Carr will chip in defensively as a useful secondary rim protector. Carr also makes his free throws at a high clip and could even get some minutes at the 5 in closing lineups. There’s so much lineup versatility on this Kentucky roster, and Carr is at the epicenter of all of it.”

The Kentucky Wildcats may very well boast one of the top big men rotations from the 4 and 5 positions in the SEC.

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Kentucky

Top Kentucky Football transfer Lance Heard had minor spring procedure

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Top Kentucky Football transfer Lance Heard had minor spring procedure


There is an old saying that there is no such thing as a minor procedure when it happens to you. But that’s exactly what happened over the spring football season as top transfer Lance Heard had surgery on an undisclosed injury that was deemed “minor.”

While Kentucky did not release what exactly the big left tackle had surgery on, anytime you are down your starting left tackle over Spring is not ideal. The good news is Heard has plenty of SEC experience, starting at LSU before transferring to Tennessee.

The biggest thing for an offensive line is reps, but offensive coordinator Joe Sloan told KSR he was happy with what he was seeing.

“You’re starting to see them work really well together, and they have an opportunity to be a strength of our team.” If that comes to fruition, Kentucky will have a really good year. As for the fans, expect a different style this year in Kroger Field.

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Kentucky’s offense will be different

Under Mark Stoops, the calling card became a physical offensive line, a punishing run scheme, and a ball control style. That offense will be very different this year, not because of a shift away from the run game, but because there will be a lot more chances taken.

Sometimes, that is a good thing, and other times it causes turnovers. Will Stein said he never called a play he didn’t think would score a touchdown. That aggressive style is what will define Stein’s time in Lexington. He chose a defensive coordinator known for dialing up the blitz. He has gone after nearly all the top recruits, and he isn’t backing down from saying he expects to be the best head coach in the country.

Will it work? I don’t know, but I do know it will look different than what Mark Stoops was putting out. But it all depends on the health of the key players Stein brought in, and that starts with a healthy offensive line.



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Kentucky Colonels executive to speak at Florence Rotary Club on Monday, public welcome to register

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Kentucky Colonels executive to speak at Florence Rotary Club on Monday, public welcome to register


Kentucky Colonels Executive Director Sherry Crose will speak to the Florence Rotary Club on Monday. Crose will be speaking about the history and traditions of the Kentucky Colonels, one of Kentucky’s highest honors, recognizing individuals for service, leadership, and goodwill. Behind the organization is a mission of charitable giving and community impact that seeks to…



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Tornado ripped through Florence area during storms, NWS confirms

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Tornado ripped through Florence area during storms, NWS confirms


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A tornado was confirmed to have ripped through the Florence area during the overnight storms June 18.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington released a statement June 20 saying a tornado traveled eastward 6.2 miles across the Northern Kentucky city, 10 miles south of Cincinnati. It had estimated peak winds of 100 mph, which classifies it as an EF1 “moderate” tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

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The tornado’s path goes mostly through residential areas, and the first evidence was found on Landings Way where several trees were snapped at their trunks, the weather service reported.

The tornado progressed east, crossing Interstate 71/75 and then seemingly dissipating on Tallwood Circle where multiple large branches were downed, the final known instance of damage.

Along the way, the tornado uprooted multiple trees and snapped branches, damaged several buildings and businesses, and snapped a large power pole near the intersection of U.S. 42 and Dream Street, according to the weather service.

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How many tornadoes have been confirmed in Greater Cincinnati, beyond?

As of 1 p.m. June 20, the weather service has confirmed that apart from the one in Florence, two other tornadoes touched down in Greater Cincinnati on June 18:

  • An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled about 9 miles from Dearborn County, Indiana, to Boone County, Kentucky.
  • An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled just over 5 miles from Franklin County, Indiana, to Butler County, Ohio.

A few other tornadoes have been confirmed outside the Greater Cincinnati region, including an EF2 that traveled 23.6 miles from Scott County, Indiana, to Trimble County, Kentucky; an EF2 that traveled 9 miles across Pike County, Ohio; and one in Grant County, Kentucky, just north of Williamstown.

The weather service said details on the Grant County tornado will be released later on June 20.



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