Kentucky
Kentucky vs. Duke viewing info, what to watch for, and predictions
The Kentucky Wildcats finished the first week of the regular season 2-0.
But on Tuesday, they will have their first big test of the season, traveling to Atlanta to take on the Duke Blue Devils in the 2024 Champion’s Classic.
Duke comes in with a roster reminiscent of past Kentucky teams, full of elite freshmen. Meanwhile, Kentucky comes in with the oldest team in program history. It will be a true battle between youth and experience.
The Wildcats are just 1-6 in their last seven Champions Classic games and just 1-5 against Duke over their last six meetings.
Will the Wildcats be able to change course? Let’s take a look at what to watch for when the Wildcats take on the Blue Devils.
Rebounding Battle
Duke has the tallest team in the country, with an average height of 6’7.5”. That certainly helps them in their battle of the boards, where they are averaging 45 rebounds and 14 offensive rebounds through two games.
Meanwhile, Mark Pope has not been pleased with Kentucky’s effort on the boards to start the season. In their latest game against Bucknell, rebounding was a clear point of emphasis as the Cats grabbed 57 rebounds, including 22 offensive boards.
Kentucky doesn’t give up too much height, but they do give up some athleticism. With a lot of long rebounds from threes, all five Cats on the floor need to box out.
Turnover Battle
Duke has the height and length to be a pest on defense. Through two games, the Blue Devils have combined for 18 steals on defense, which allows them to create easy offense.
After turning the ball over 15(!) times against Bucknell, eight of which were between Amari Williams and Andrew Carr, they’ll have to be aware of the pressure inside and keep the ball moving.
Conditioning
Mark Pope has talked about improving his team’s conditioning. He wants them to be in shape reminiscent of Rick Pitino’s 90s teams, which Pope was a part of. They will be able to see where they stand physically and potentially use it to their advantage.
Currently, Kentucky ranks 26th in adjusted tempo, while Duke ranks 181st. However, both team’s average possession lasts less than 15 seconds. This means a fast-paced game should be expected.
Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg has cramped in each of the Blue Devils’ first two games. If Kentucky can push the pace, it will give them a better chance at winning.
The Stage
This is Kentucky’s most experienced team in program history. However, on Tuesday, many of them will be playing on the biggest stage of their career.
We have seen Kentucky freshmen struggle in this event in the past. Now, with a team of veterans, can they contribute when the lights shine the brightest?
This is exactly what they signed up for when they chose to come to Kentucky. Let’s see if they’re ready for the big stage against a legitimate national championship threat.
Opposing Players to Watch
G/F Cooper Flagg 6-9, 205 lbs
- 15.5 PPG
- 9 RPG
- 4 APG
- 2.5 SPG
G/F Kon Knueppel 6-7, 217 lbs
G Tyrese Proctor 6-6, 183 lbs
- 12.0 PPG
- 5 RPG
- 1.5 APG
- 50% 3P
Time: 9:00 PM ET on November 12th
Location: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
TV Channel: ESPN
Announcers: Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas, Jess Sims
Online Stream: ESPN+, and the ESPN app.
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the radio call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).
Rosters: UK | DUKE
Stats to Know: UK | DUKE
KenPom: UK | DUKE
Team Sheet: UK | DUKE
Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook does not yet have the lines for this game. Please check back Monday afternoon for official odds. But for the first time this season, the Wildcats are set to be underdogs. Bart Torvik (31%), EvanMiya (30.7%), ESPN (29.1%), and KenPom (26%) all give Kentucky less than a 35% chance of achieving victory.
Predictions: The early projections have Kentucky losing a close one, including KenPom (83-76), EvanMiya (84-77), Bart Torvik (81-76), and Haslametrics (82-78).
Be sure to send us your Kentucky vs. Duke score predictions in the comments section!
In these days of cell phones, social media and hundreds of TV channels, teenagers have a lot of distractions.
To be good in fishing, you have to set all of that aside and be locked in to what you’re doing for eight or more hours.
Ten Northern Kentucky high schoolers will take on that challenge this weekend at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state bass fishing tournament. The event is a two-day competition, May 8-9, at the Kentucky Dam Marina in Gilbertsville, western Kentucky.
Anglers can catch a maximum of five fish per day. Teams win by accumulating the highest total weight of fish.
“I’m pretty excited,” said Covington Catholic junior Drew Berling, one of the competitors. “Fishing up in Northern Kentucky doesn’t get a lot of recognition and hopefully we can do pretty well.”
Berling and teammate Eli Scroggins are one of five two-person teams that will have a boat in the competition after qualifying from the Region 2 tournament in Jamestown. They finished 14th in the regional.
Grant County has two boats. Hunter Lilly and Kyle Lilly finished third in the regional, Brian Hamm and Raymond Hamm finished 27th. Bishop Brossart’s Cooper Lackey and Paxton Litmer finished sixth. Ryle’s Tanner Norman and Owen Miller placed 28th.
Berling and Scroggins finished 49th in the state meet last year. Scroggins is competing at state for the third straight season.
Northern Kentucky has never won a bass fishing state title. CovCath has a strong recent history of success, with three top-10 finishes in the past five seasons, including second place by Brandon Smith and Phoenix Parks in 2024.
Grant’s Hunter Lilly finished 14th last year with a different partner. Dixie Heights had a fourth-place showing in 2015.
Berling, who has been fishing since seventh grade, said constant communication is a key between the partners.
“I like being out in the water and hanging out with my buddies,” he said. “Being out in the water is fun.”
While it’s fun, you have to be laser focused on what’s going on in the water. Patience is key.
“You can’t just be screwing around in the boat,” Berling said. “You got to really lock in and focus on the goal, which is to win the tournament. If you’re not focused, you’ll lose fish. You might pass over something that potentially holds the tournament-winning fish.”
The closest competition water to Northern Kentucky is Williamstown Lake, where Berling and others compete once or twice a week.
Berling said like any other sport the ability to stay in the present after a mistake is also important.
“If you’re angry and frustrated it’s pretty easy to lose your focus,” he said. “You just have to move past it.”
Bourbon and Beyond 2025 recap: See day one of music festival
Bourbon & Beyond brought thousands to the fairgrounds to enjoy the music, vibes, food and even Kentucky Kingdom. Recap day one.
Kentucky Kingdom opens for the 2026 season on May 9.
Whether you’re looking to soak up some sun at Hurricane Bay or check out the new $14 million roller coaster, the Flying Fox, it may be time to plan your next visit.
Here’s what to know.
When does Kentucky Kingdom open for the 2026 season?
Kentucky Kingdom will reopen for its 2026 season on May 9.
When does Hurricane Bay at Kentucky Kingdom open?
Hurricane Bay opens for the 2026 season on May 23.
How much is a season pass to Kentucky Kingdom?
Season passes start at $79.99 and go up to $209.99. Pre-K children’s passes are free.
How much is a single-day ticket to Kentucky Kingdom?
Single-day ticket costs vary by day. There is currently an opening sale, with single-day tickets available for $34.99. Tickets are valid for one day admission from May 9 to June 15.
When is Kentucky Kingdom open in May?
Beginning May 9, the park operates on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The park opens on weekdays beginning May 25, which is Memorial Day. Typical weekday hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What are Kentucky Kingdom’s hours during the summer?
During most of June and July, Kentucky Kingdom is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The park stays open longer from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 3-4 for its Bluegrass & Booms event.
When is Kentucky Kingdom open in August?
After Aug. 5, Kentucky Kingdom is closed on weekdays. The park will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 8-9, before hours switch to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Aug. 15.
The park will also be open on Sept. 7 for Labor Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
When does the summer season end at Kentucky Kingdom?
Hurricane Bay closes after Sept. 7, and Kentucky Kingdom closes for the season after Sept. 13. Hours will be reduced to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12-13.
When do Halloween hours start at Kentucky Kingdom?
The Halloween-themed Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom event begins on Oct. 2 and operates from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. The last day for the event is Nov. 1.
When are Christmas hours at Kentucky Kingdom?
Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom opens on Nov. 21. Hours and days of operation vary. Visit kentuckykingdom.com for more details.
Reporter Maggie Menderski contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness Stakes next weekend, trainer Cherie DeVaux announced Wednesday.
DeVaux and owners decided to skip the Preakness and set their sights on the Belmont Stakes on June 6 at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. DeVaux, who became the first woman to train a Derby winner, is from Saratoga Springs, which is hosting the Belmont for a third and final time this year.
“We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run,” DeVaux said in a statement. “Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort. His health, happiness and long-term future will always remain our top priority.”
Golden Tempo is the third Derby winner in the past five years not to be entered in the Preakness. For various reasons, it is the sixth time in eight years the Preakness will happen with no chance of a Triple Crown on the line. American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 are the only horses to sweep all three races over the past four decades.
The two-week turnaround from the Derby to the Preakness, which used to be commonplace, is considered a nonstarter for many trainers and owners given that most elite thoroughbreds now typically go a month or more between races. It has caused endless debate in horse racing circles about the spacing of the Triple Crown in modern times.
Maryland racing officials are considering moving the Preakness back from the third Saturday in May to the fourth to increase the chances of not just the winner but other horses from the Derby being considered for the second leg of the Triple Crown. None of the 18 who ran this year at Churchill Downs are heading to the Preakness, with Golden Tempo the only one considered.
The Preakness is taking place at Laurel Park between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., this spring while its longtime home, Pimlico Race Course, is rebuilt as part of a massive construction project that included demolishing the debilitating old structure. Pimlico is set to become the site for year-round racing in Maryland beginning next year when the state takes control from 1/ST Racing, with Laurel becoming a training venue.
Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby as a 23-1 long shot in spectacular fashion, making a charge from the back of the pack down the stretch to the finish line a neck ahead of morning line favorite Renegade. DeVaux and co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito said they would see how the colt came out of the race before making any decisions.
They followed the lead of trainer Bill Mott and Godolphin Racing, which last year chose to bypass the Preakness with Derby champion Sovereignty to give him extra rest for the Belmont. Sovereignty rewarded them by winning the Belmont and the Travers Stakes and is back racing as a 4-year-old.
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