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Kentucky football bringing back a physical mindset to its defense

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Kentucky football bringing back a physical mindset to its defense


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Mark Stoops built the UK football program on being tough and able to battle. That was a trait which had escaped the Wildcats before his arrival. Stoops constructed that culture on defense.

UK has several returning anchors on defense, led by linebacker JJ Weaver and d-lineman Octavious Oxendine. A killer instinct has returned to the Cats after suffering through mental lapses last season.

“I just ask for one thing, and that is a mindset,” said Stoops. “What is our mindset to go do those things? And to put ourselves in a position to prepare the right way, work smart and efficiently, be ready to go, and just make sure the mindset is ready for everything that comes our way.”

One of the main areas that need improvement is getting to the QB and bringing an uneasiness to the opponent’s backfield. A return to toughness is front and center for the Wildcats.

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“Getting out there on that practice field and working on those things that you need to get better at, and that is something Coach (Stoops) has been harping on us,” said defensive lineman Octavious Oxendine. “We have been on that practice field pass-rushing our butt off, trying to do everything we need from top to bottom just to get to that quarterback.”

“Last year we were playing too much ‘pitty-pat football,” said linebacker JJ Weaver. “That means like putting hits on them and not making the play. This year (in spring and practice), we have been consistent with our hands, our movement, everything we do just has more motor, more dominant up front, just being powerful.”

JJ Weaver is pulling pages from former UK All-American Josh Allen. Weaver has bulked up, and he must stay healthy if he is to lead the UK defense.



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Kentucky

Tale of The Tape, Predictions: Louisville vs. Eastern Kentucky

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Tale of The Tape, Predictions: Louisville vs. Eastern Kentucky


LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville (7-5, 1-1 ACC) is set to face Eastern Kentucky (6-6, 0-0 ASUN) on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 12:00 p.m. EST at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. Here’s how the Cardinals stack up against the Colonels:

*Mobile users can scroll left and right on the tables below*

E. Kentucky

Louisville

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AP/USAT

NR/NR

NR/NR

SOS

183rd

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9th

SOR

200th

62nd

BPI

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254th

60th

NET

198th

53rd

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RPI

227th

26th

KenPom

227th

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50th

Torvik

154th

46th

EvanMiya

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231st

53rd

E. Kentucky

Louisville

Points

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Devontae Blanton (16.4)

Chucky Hepburn (15.3)

Rebounds

Devontae Blanton (6.1)

J’Vonne Hadley (7.8)

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Assists

Devontae Blanton (3. 8)

Chucky Hepburn (5.1)

Steals

George Kimble (2.9)

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Chucky Hepburn (2.9)

Blocks

Yvens Paul (1.6)

James Scott 0.8

E. Kentucky

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Louisville

Points Per Game

77.0

78.0

Field Goal %

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41.9%

43.3%

FGM/FGA Per Game

28.2/67.3

26.2/60.4

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Three Point %

31.8%

29.8%

3PTM/3PTA Per Game

9.4/29.6

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9.6/32.2

Free Throw %

66.5%

71.7%

FTM/FTA Per Game

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11.3/16.9

16.1/22.4

E. Kentucky

Louisville

Rebounds Per Game

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38.3

37.3

Off. Reb. Per Game

15.8

12.4

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Def. Reb. Per Game

22.5

24.9

Rebound Margin

0.1

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3.6

E. Kentucky

Louisville

Opp. Points Per Game

75.0

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71.3

Opp. FG%

46.8%

45.1%

Opp. 3PT%

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35.6%

35.8%

Steals Per Game

9.8

7.3

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Blocks Per Game

3.7

2.8

Turnovers Forced Per Game

15.6

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14.6

E. Kentucky

Louisville

Assists Per Game

13.5

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13.4

Turnovers Per Game

11.2

12.1

Turnover Margin

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4.4

2.5

Assist/Turnover Ratio

1.2

1.1

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– ESPN Prediction: Per ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, Louisville has a 95.6 percent chance to win against Eastern Kentucky. The Cardinals have a BPI rating of 9.8 (60th overall), whereas the Colonels have a BPI rating of -5.3 (254th overall).

– KenPom Prediction: Per KenPom.com, the Cardinals have a 94 percent chance to take down the Colonels, with a projected final score of 86-69 in favor of UofL. Louisville has an adjusted efficiency margin of +15.05 (50th overall), whereas Eastern Kentucky has an adjusted efficiency margin of -5.07 (227th overall).

– Torvik Prediction: Per BartTorvik.com, the Cards have a 90 percent chance to take down the Colonels, with a projected final score of 85-69 in favor of UofL. Louisville has a “Barthag” of .8412 (46th overall), whereas Eastern Kentucky has a “Barthag” of .5033 (154th overall).

– Personal Prediction: Louisville 91, Eastern Kentucky 73.

(Photo of Khani Rooth: Sam Upshaw Jr. – Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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New laws coming to Kentucky starting in 2025

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New laws coming to Kentucky starting in 2025


LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — With the new year comes new legislation, and for Kentucky, a number of laws will begin affecting Kentuckians starting on Wednesday, January 1.

Starting in 2025, all Kentucky drivers seeking to renew their license will need to pass a vision screening.The exam will be the same as the one used for first time drivers. Free screenings are provided at driver license regional offices around the state.

The screening takes about a minute, and they do not require additional appointments.

“The important thing is we want you to be able to see well while driving, whether you need corrective lenses or not,” said Lori Weaver Hawkins with AAA Bluegrass.

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 19 states already have a similar law as a measure to cut down on accidents.

“We know that vision, having clear vision, is important for drivers to be able to successfully maneuver through traffic and to reduce that incidents of traffic crashes,” said Hawkins.

Also starting January 1, retailers will only be able to sell certain vape products. It’s part of House Bill 11, which was passed in April of this year to curb vaping among young people.

Jerry Wayne, who manages Magic Vape in Jessamine County, said the new law will severely impact his business.

“We will be firing 25 employees, closing 8 locations, and taking that money what we can,” said Wayne, “Basically, we will be out of business.”

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The bill states that the FDA must approve vape products that have nicotine, and if they’re not approved, they can’t be sold. Wayne said it cuts the product he can sell from 300 to two.

Medical marijuana can start being sold in 2025 as well. Two lotteries have already happened for growers and distributors. All products must be grown in the Commonwealth.





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Alleged Kentucky deadbeat dad who owes over $100K in child support arrested getting off cruise ship in Miami

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Alleged Kentucky deadbeat dad who owes over 0K in child support arrested getting off cruise ship in Miami


An alleged deadbeat dad who was on the run and owed more than $100,000 in child support was arrested last week as he exited a cruise ship in Miami, authorities said. 

Dominic Weaver, a Kentucky resident, had been on the lam for more than 10 years when his holiday vacation ended after being taken into custody and brought back to Louisville, WDRB-TV reported. 

FLORIDA ARTIST’S PATRIOTIC ANDY WARHOL PIECE FEATURED AT POPULAR EVENT DRAWING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS

Row of cruise ships docked at Port of Miami. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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Detectives from a local child support division flew to Miami and eventually brought Weaver back to the Bluegrass State.

“I don’t know when he left, but he fled the jurisdiction, and from the date of his sentence until today, and even today, he’s not paid one cent of child support,” Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell said. 

MEXICO TO IMPOSE TAX FOR CRUISE SHIP VISITORS STARTING IN 2015

Dominic Weaver mugshot

Dominic Weaver, 47, was arrested in Miami while exiting a cruise ship over thousands owed in back child support, authorities said. (Louisville Metro Department of Corrections)

Weaver, 47, owes somewhere between $114,000 and $120,000 in child support, according to O’Connell.

O’Connell said Weaver has a total of four cases with the child support division.

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“Two more of those are ready for indictment again of more felonies,” O’Connell said.

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O’Connell said he planned to ask a judge to revoke Weaver’s original sentence and ask that he be sentenced to four years in prison. 



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