Kentucky
Kentucky to play in Milwaukee for only the second time ever
Even the most pessimistic fan has to credit a first-year head coach like Mark Pope for securing a 3-seed in the NCAA tournament.
And in Pope’s case, he inherited zero players and was forced to assemble an entire roster in just a few weeks.
Despite it being a roller coaster of a season, the Kentucky Wildcats fought their way through the toughest conference in modern basketball history to position themselves well for a March run.
Now, it’ll be Kentucky taking on the 14th-seeded Trojans of Troy on Friday night at 7:10 ET. The game will be played in Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum.
To my surprise, the first-round match-up will mark only the second time ever that UK has traveled to play a game in Milwaukee.
The first time?
According to our friend Corey Price from the UK Sports Network, it was way back on February 3rd, 1940, when the Cats beat Marquette by a score of 51-45.
.@KentuckyMBB has only played 1 game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in program history:
– February 3rd, 1940: defeated Marquette 51-45
— Corey Price (@coreyp08) March 16, 2025
So, it’s fair to say that the Big Blue Nation may not be very familiar with Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Being that it’s within driving distance and a favorable Friday evening game time, I expect that the streets will be paved in blue all weekend.
After a quick Google search, here’s what I landed on as far as top tourist activities in the downtown Milwaukee area:
• Milwaukee Art Museum: Explore a diverse art collection, including German expressionism and modern design, in a unique architectural setting.
• Milwaukee Public Museum: Discover natural and human history through interactive exhibits.
• Historic Third Ward: Wander through this creative hub, known for its performing arts venues, studio spaces, indie boutiques, and patio dining.
• Milwaukee Public Market: Enjoy a vibrant market experience with gourmet food, fresh seafood, and meats.
• RiverWalk: Enjoy a stroll along the Milwaukee River, with options for kayaking, paddleboarding, and boat tours.
• Old World Third Street: Explore a variety of restaurants and bars along the Milwaukee River.
• Lakefront Brewery: Take a brewery tour and enjoy a scenic riverfront patio.
If you are planning to make the trip to Milwaukee — be safe and cheer loud!
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Time is of the essence if you’re Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats right now. With the transfer portal set to close in just a few days, chaos reigns as programs and players scramble to secure their next opportunities. Among the fray is Kentucky, which finds itself navigating a tumultuous landscape in search of elite talent. With many of the Top 25 players already committed, the urgency for the Wildcats to land a game-changing recruit has never been more at the forefront following this season.
One of Pope’s primary targets is Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman. The 6-foot-9 rising junior made waves during his time at Syracuse, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 47.4 percent from the field last season. His potential is undeniable; many experts predict Freeman will be a future first-round NBA draft pick, making him a coveted asset for any program.
Freeman’s recent visit to Kentucky has sparked much-needed hope. However, despite positive feedback from his trip, he left without making a commitment to join one of college basketball’s blue bloods. The competition is fierce. The question looms: Can Kentucky outmaneuver these schools and secure his commitment?
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Well, Friday morning, the Cats were able to outlast one of their deepest competitions for now in Connecticut. Freeman was set to make his way to see the Huskies, but he has since cancelled his Friday visit, per UConn Report (subscription required). Now it appears the Huskies officially have bowed out of the race. That’s one down, and just the Alabama Crimson Tide, it appears, stands in the way for Mark Pope and Kentucky.
Mark Pope faces additional pressure following the return of Rob Wright to BYU, leaving the Wildcats in a precarious position when it comes to key portal targets. They need to act swiftly to avoid being left without significant talent as the portal closes. Freeman’s skill set would not only bolster their roster but would also complement rising star Malachi Moreno, as Freeman would be the ideal fit for the power forward.
As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on Mark Pope and his ability to close this deal. The stakes are high, and for Kentucky, landing Donnie Freeman could be the key to turning chaos into triumph, but will they be able to close perhaps the deal amidst the age of transfer portal madness? Well, they are one step closer now, it appears.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball closing in on a Donnie Freeman commitment?
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