Kentucky

Kentucky embraces first true road environment in trip to Clemson: “We're going to face adversity.”

Published

1 year ago

December 2, 2024

Kentucky embraces first true road environment in trip to Clemson: “We're going to face adversity.”

Duke was the only game worth sweating in the early non-conference schedule for Kentucky with all six other opponents ranked outside the top 100 by KenPom leading to an average margin of victory of 32.5 points in those matchups. The Wildcats aced their test in the Champions Classic while steamrolling through a weak home schedule with minimal pushback — Western Kentucky was the closest margin of victory at 19 points.

That changes this week as Mark Pope takes his squad away from Rupp Arena in back-to-back contests, starting with the first true road game of the season at Clemson on Tuesday. The Tigers received votes in both AP and Coaches Polls while sitting comfortably at No. 25 overall in the latest KenPom update. Brad Brownell’s actually got his group ranked No. 18 overall in the first release of the NET rankings — the NCAA’s primary sorting tool for March Madness — which translates to a solid No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Oh, and then the Cats head to Seattle to take on Gonzaga, ranked No. 3 by KenPom and No. 7 in the AP. No explanation necessary.

Pope and the players have called every game the biggest of their lives since day one, vowing to respect every opponent equally in an effort to avoid slippage. That approached has worked with no Evansvilles or UNC Wilmingtons slowing them down. Now, though, it’s about rising to the occasion beyond the first statement game and all of the emotions that came with it in the Champions Classic. Can this team be consistently great against top-tier competition? How will the Wildcats respond in a hostile road environment with an arena full of fans actively rooting against them?

That’s why you bring in seven seniors and nine total players with prior experience in games like this. You never know until you know with it being the first of the year, but Pope signed the best group possible to respond on the road.

“We’ve got the experience,” Jaxson Robinson said of the opportunity. “This is an old team and it’s our first road game together. I’m excited to go out there and play a tough Clemson team and hopefully come out with a win.”

“Oh yeah, it’s fun. It’s a test,” Lamont Butler added. “It’s hard to win road games. I’ve been in college for, what — this is my fifth year. It’s hard to win road games. We’re gonna go out there and compete, try to win one. I’m excited to see how we respond.”

The Wildcats have been used to impressive Rupp Arena crowds with 98 percent of those in attendance rooting for your success — and we appreciate the opponents’ family and friends making up the other two percent. They had fans rooting against them in State Farm Arena, but it was a split crowd with Blue Devil fans making up the other portion. This will be the first time they’ll have the two percent or so in a sea of orange and purple.

The good news? That’s just the way this group likes it.

“I’ll say the away fans,” Amari Williams said of his favorite part of true road games. “Some places are louder than others, but having that fire to go prove them wrong and go against not only the other team, but the fan base too, is always really fun.”

“The atmosphere, I would say,” Otega Oweh added. “When you’re at home, everybody is showing love, so it’s just easier — everything is smooth-sailing. When you’re away, it gets a little bumpy. You hear some boos and people are rooting against you. I just like doing that. When you come up with a victory, it’s even better.”

The players had their favorite road environments over the years — some against better competition, others against mid-major foes. Hostile fans are hostile fans, though.

“At San Diego State, New Mexico was a fun place to play. They were rowdy,” Butler said. “Boise State, Utah State was hard. Those three were in my conference and they were tough ones. GCU — when we played them, they were loud. I’d say those were the best.”

“Oklahoma State or Kansas,” Oweh continued. “Those two were crazy, those environments.”

Speaking of those pesky Seahawks the Wildcats are all too familiar with following that December disaster last season — did you know that 80-73 loss was exactly one year ago today? — Williams always had trouble with them at Drexel, too.

“I would say UNCW,” he said. “They had a crazy student section, the best in the conference, for sure.”

This is the first true road game, sure, but that Duke matchup was a pretty significant measuring stick of this team’s ability to overcome adversity away from home, too.

What’d the Wildcats learn in that one?

“That we just can’t give up. In the first half, Duke had it going their way — I think they were up 10 at halftime,” Williams said. “We knew we couldn’t give up there and had to fight until the final buzzer. That’s what we ended up doing.”

They plan to take that response with them to Clemson, then again to Seattle when they take on the Bulldogs this weekend. They’re chances to grow together as a group in a new setting as the push for No. 9 continues.

“It’ll still be a business trip at the end of the day, but these road trips are definitely opportunities for us to bond,” Oweh said. “We’re going to face adversity so it’s a chance to grow from that. … These are the types of games all college players live for — top-tier teams competing in a big arena.”

“I can’t wait,” Butler added.

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Kentucky

Body found in Ohio River in northeast Kentucky ID’d as Columbus man

Published

3 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Body found in Ohio River in northeast Kentucky ID’d as Columbus man

A body found in the Ohio River on May 4 has been identified as a 38-year-old Columbus man.
Authorities identified the man as Jason D. Frisbie after working with Ohio officials.
The body was discovered in the river in Vanceburg, Kentucky, near Ohio’s Shawnee State Park.
The cause of death remains under investigation by authorities.

Authorities said a body recovered May 4 from the Ohio River in northeast Kentucky has been identified as a Columbus man, Dispatch news partner NBC4/WMCH-TV reported.

Lewis County Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the body has been identified as Jason D. Frisbie, 38, of Columbus. Bivens said authorities in Kentucky worked with Ohio officials to identify Frisbie this week.

Bivens said Lewis County took a call around 4:30 p.m. May 4 about a body in the river in Vanceburg, Kentucky, a few miles south of Ohio’s Shawnee State Park. Bivens said responding agencies took the body to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office.

Lewis County authorities asked for public help identifying the body. On May 9, Bivens confirmed Frisbie’s identity after working with Ohio officials and local responders.

Bivens said the death remains under investigation, and authorities did not offer information about a suspected cause.

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Kentucky

Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region

Published

15 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region

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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped Friday evening from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt, police said.

The Morehead Police Department warned the surrounding community that two inmates had “walked away” from the Rowan County Detention Center.

Investigators said multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the escapees, with Kentucky State Police leading the investigation.

“These inmates should be considered dangerous,” police said, warning the community not to approach anyone suspicious or unfamiliar.

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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. (Morehead Police Department)

One of the inmates was identified as Michael Fogleman, 29, who is described as 6 feet tall and 188 pounds.

He has short or closely shaved hair and a short beard along his jawline and chin, according to police.

The second inmate was identified as James Smallwood, 52, who is listed at 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 215 pounds.

MANHUNTS ACROSS AMERICA IN 2025: FIVE CASES THAT LEFT CITIES, CAMPUSES AND TOWNS ON EDGE

Michael Fogleman, 29, is one of two inmates who escaped from a Kentucky detention center, police said. (Morehead Police Department)

He is described as having a medium to stocky build with gray facial hair around the mouth and chin area.

Smallwood was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and possibly a hat, police said.

James Smallwood, 52, is one of two inmates on the run after escaping from a Kentucky jail, authorities said. (Morehead Police Department)

Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and call 911 immediately if they see anything suspicious or have information about the escapees.

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Law enforcement agencies are searching for two escaped inmates in Kentucky, authorities said. (Silas Walker/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service)

Investigators said they will provide more information as it becomes available.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kentucky State Police and Rowan County Detention Center for comment.

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Kentucky

Kentucky Girls Jumpers Surge as State Records Come Into Range

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky Girls Jumpers Surge as State Records Come Into Range

The Kentucky high school 2026 outdoor track and field season has been exceptional, especially the girls competition.

In particular, the sprints and horizontal jumps.

Long Jump Leaders Set the Pace

First, the long jump.

Christian Educational Consortium’s Jade Hartlage, a rising superstar of track and field in its totality, has the state’s leading jump, 19feet, 9 inches, set March 26. She is partially homeschooled and not eligible for in KHSAA postseason.

Hartlage’s mark is followed by Simon Kenton’s Alexis Howard (19-0, March 26). Howard is another standout athlete. She was selected as a 2025 All-State Honorable Mention in soccer. Howard won the 3A indoor title in early March, recording a mark of 18-7 1/4.

Howard, Svidal Among Top Contenders

Walden School senior Natalie Svidal sailed to an 18-4 1/2 mark at the Walden Small School Championships May 5. That ties her for third in the state with Taleigha Nash of Great Crossing High School.

Triple Jump Competition Tightens

In the triple jump, Howard is atop the performance list. She leapt 40-5, April 25.

However, Svidal is close. She recorded 40-2 1/4 this past week.

Multi-Sport Stars Making Impact

Teigh Yeast, yet another standout athlete, who helped George Rogers Clark win a state basketball title in March and is a Robert Morris University basketball commit, logged a 40-0 1/2 jump April 21. Yeast was last season’s 3A champion at 39-5.25.

Walden School’s Natalie Svidal has the second and third best performances this season in the triple jump (40-2 1/4) and long jump (18-4 1/2), respectively. | Chris Adams

How Kentucky Stacks Up Nationally

Perspective and context need to be applied here. Here’s how Kentucky compares nationally.

National Benchmarks Set the Bar

Parker Coes of Morton Ranch High School (Katy, Texas) has surpassed 21 feet twice in 2026. Abigail Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa) is approaching the 21-foot threshold.

Coes’ marks were achieved in the early indoor season. The Texan has jumped 20-10 1/2 outdoors (April 3) but her last mark was 18-11 3/4, May 2.

Mecklenburg is yet to replicate her indoor marks outdoors.

The top outdoor jump so far in 2026 is 42-7.5, set by Daniela Hughes of Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California).

A significant challenge for the Bluegrass jumpers to surpass. But if there is a season for top-10 national rankings or records.

State Records Within Reach

With that said, the Kentucky state records are potentially breakable in the next two weeks. The current records are 20-4 (Maxine Graham, Fleming County High School, 1975) and 41-7 (Sophie Galloway, Marshall County High School, 2021).

Each has the speed and explosiveness to challenge those marks.

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