Kentucky

Kentucky vs. Ohio State: Preview, Odds & How to Watch

Published

5 months ago

December 21, 2024

Kentucky vs. Ohio State: Preview, Odds & How to Watch

As the great philosopher Alicia Augello Cook once said, New York is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of and there is nothing you can’t do. Kentucky‘s dream is to leave with another big-time win, this time vs. Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic. The Wildcats are riding a three-game winning streak into this one while the Buckeyes are limping in losing three of the team’s last five. It’s a chance to start 11-1 on the season for the first time since the 2012 national championship with a victory putting the team one Brown win on New Year’s Eve away from a 12-1 non-conference finish going into SEC play in January.

What do you need to know about the matchup at Madison Square Garden? KSR has you covered from the Big Apple.

Kentucky vs. Ohio State: How to Watch, Listen

Kentucky vs. Ohio State is the second half of the CBS Sports Classic, which tips off with UCLA vs. North Carolina at 3:00 p.m. ET. The Cats will tip-off against the Buckeyes at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Television: CBS (Brad Nessler, Bill Raftery, Jenny Dell)
Streaming: Paramount+
Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
Online Radio: iHeart
Satellite Radio: Sirius 158 or 191
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

You can also follow the game via our new LIVE BLOG on the website, which will begin an hour before tipoff, or join the conversation on KSBoard.

Early season rewind

Kentucky: KenPom 12

11/4: 103-62 W vs. Wright State
11/9: 100-72 W vs. Bucknell
11/12: 77-72 W vs. No. 6 Duke
11/19: 97-68 W vs. Lipscomb
11/22: 108-59 W vs. Jackson State
11/26: 87-68 W vs. Western Kentucky
11/29: 105-76 W vs. Georgia State
12/3: 70-66 L at Clemson
12/7: 90-89 W OT vs. Gonzaga
12/11: 78-67 W vs. Colgate
12/14: 93-85 W vs. Louisville

Ohio State: KenPom 38

11/4: 80-72 W vs. Texas
11/11: 81-47 W Youngstown State
11/15: 78-64 L at Texas A&M
11/19: 80-30 W vs. Evansville
11/22: 104-60 W vs. Campbell
11/25: 102-69 W vs. Green Bay
11/29: 91-90 L vs. Pittsburgh
12/4: 83-59 L at Maryland
12/7: 80-66 W vs. Rutgers
12/14: 91-53 L vs. Auburn
12/17: 95-73 W vs. Valparaiso

Series History

The all-time series slightly favors Kentucky 11-10, though Ohio State enters the matchup on a two-game winning streak with CBS Sports Classic wins in 2019 in Vegas (71-65) and in 2015 in Brooklyn (74-67). Before that, it was Brandon Knight’s game-winner in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats upsetting the No. 1 seed Buckeyes in Newark. OSU leads the all-time neutral-floor series 6-4.

Mark Pope has not taken on the Buckeyes at his previous stops while this is first-year coach Jake Diebler’s first matchup against the Wildcats.

Kentucky vs. Ohio State Odds

Spread: Kentucky -5.5
Total: 160.5

Kentucky covered the spread in its first five games of the season before falling just short of that mark in back-to-back matchups vs. WKU and Georgia State. The Wildcats then lost outright as slight favorites at Clemson before winning outright against Gonzaga in Seattle as solid underdogs. They did not cover the spread vs. Colgate or Louisville despite the wins. KenPom projects an 83-78 victory for the Wildcats while Bart Torvik sees UK coming away with an 84-77 win inside Madison Square Garden.

Kentucky Projected Starters

#1 – Lamont Butler
6-2 – 208 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
15.1 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.1 RPG

#00 – Otega Oweh
6-4 – 215 – GUARD – JUNIOR
15.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG

#2 – Jaxson Robinson
6-6 – 192 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
12.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.9 APG

#7 – Andrew Carr
6-11 – 235 – FORWARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
10.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.7 APG

#22 – Amari Williams
7-0 – 262 – CENTER – GRADUATE STUDENT
10.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.6 BPG

Ohio State Projected Starters

#2 – Bruce Thornton
6-2 – 215 – GUARD – JUNIOR
14.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 5.1 APG

#0 – John Mobley Jr.
6-1 – 175 – GUARD – FRESHMAN
12.1 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.5 APG

#8 – Micah Parrish
6-6 – 205 – GUARD – SENIOR
10.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.9 APG

#21 – Devin Royal
6-6 – 220 – FORWARD – SOPHOMORE
15.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 0.9 APG

#0 – Sean Stewart
6-9 – 220 – FORWARD – SOPHOMORE
5.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 0.5 APG

Statistical Comparison

(via Kentucky’s game notes)

Fun stats from UK’s game notes:

Lamont Butler is coming off SEC Player of the Year and USBWA National Player of the Week honors following a 33-point effort vs. Louisville
Kentucky leads the nation in scoring at 91.3 points per game with four 100-point performances. The Cats are No. 3 in assist-to-turnover ratio, No. 8 in assists per game and No. 9 in fastbreak points
UK leads the country in defensive rebounding (32.73) and sits in fourth in total rebounds (44.45).
The Cats are 5-5 in the CBS Sports Classic, but 0-2 against Ohio State in the event. This is the first head-to-head matchup against the Buckeyes since 2019-20.

Pregame Storylines

A BATTLE OF 3-POINT SHOOTING

Kentucky was stuck in a shooting funk leading up to Louisville before finally getting back on track with an 11-21 finish (52.4 percent) against the Cards. That pushed the Cats back up to No. 78 nationally in efficiency while sitting at No. 30 in total makes per game, though no one is doubting this team’s ability to shoot long-term. As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes are a bit flipped — No. 13 in efficiency, but No. 85 in makes and No. 222 in attempts. Of those with at least 10 attempts on the year, Kentucky has six shooting at least 30 percent while Ohio State has four hitting that mark. Which side will come out on top Saturday?

REUNITING WITH AARON BRADSHAW

The former five-star forward signed with Kentucky out of high school, one of John Calipari’s top recruits in the program’s top-ranked class in 2023. Suffering a broken foot in the spring, Bradshaw was then limited to 26 games played in Lexington, averaging 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per contest. He struggled to carve out a clear role alongside Zvonimir Ivisic and Ugonna Onyenso before deciding to transfer for his sophomore campaign, opting against following Coach Cal to Arkansas in favor of the Buckeyes in Columbus. He’s played in four games at OSU, averaging 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game before being held out while being investigated by the school since November 22. Bradshaw has since been cleared to return to team activities, but “it’s not a clear answer yet on his availability” for Saturday as he ramps back up physically, Diebler said.

WILL MEECHIE JOHNSON PLAY?

Bradshaw was the first major loss for the Buckeyes, and now, Meechie Johnson has taken a leave of absence with the team, as well. The fifth-year guard is away to “address some personal matters,” the team announced, and his return remains unclear. “Meechie is still working through his personal stuff,” Diebler said this week. Transferring in from South Carolina where he was an All-SEC member a year ago, Johnson is second on the team in minutes played at 28.8 per contest with 10 starts while scoring 9.1 points per game on 35.7 percent shooting from three.

OSU IS JUGGLING THE CFB PLAYOFF

The very first line of the official game notes says this is “the second biggest game for an Ohio State team this weekend.” The basketball program knows its place as the football team takes on Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff, that matchup scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET in Columbus. What does that mean for Madison Square Garden? Well, don’t expect a strong showing from the Buckeyes in terms of fan support while Big Blue Nation travels anywhere for anything. NYC at Christmas? You better believe it is a sea of blue up here.

A NEW YORK HOMECOMING

Koby Brea is a native of Washington Heights, NY while Ansley Almonor is from Spring Valley, NY. Otega Oweh isn’t too far, either, as a native of Newark, NJ — just 15 miles away from Madison Square Garden. Andrew Carr’s hometown of West Chester, PA is just 122 miles away, too, making it a short drive for friends and family. Go down the list and there are connections all over the place, including with Mark Pope, who grew up in Yorktown Heights, NY.

Join The Discussion on KSBoard

Want to interact with the KSR crew during tonight’s game? Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard, where we’ll be sharing live updates as your eyes and ears inside Madison Square Garden while also answering questions and providing real-time analysis (and probably complaining about the officiating).

New members can get KSR+ for seven days for just $1.

Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel

Miss the game? KSR’s got you covered with a Rapid Reaction live on the KSR YouTube Channel. We’ll also have wall-to-wall postgame coverage on the website, including highlights, comments from Mark Pope and the players, stats, and takeaways.

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.

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Kentucky

Kentucky QB Zach Calzada continues to be disrespected by the national media

Published

9 hours ago

May 13, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky QB Zach Calzada continues to be disrespected by the national media

There are not very high expectations for this Kentucky football team, and the fan base continues to grow more and more impatient with Mark Stoops.

After Will Levis left for the NFL, the coaching staff has gone 0-2 in the transfer portal at quarterback despite high expectations for both Devin Leary and Brock Vandagriff.

The Wildcats have once again brought in a transfer portal quarterback who will likely be the starter, and that is Zach Calzada. Last season, Calzada played at Incarnate Word, but he has made two stops in the SEC at Texas A&M and Auburn.

Brad Crawford of 247Sports ranked all of the projected starting quarterbacks in the SEC, and he had Calzada ranked dead last.

Here is what Crawford had to say about Calzada and why he had him ranked 16th: “Expectations are low involving Calzada, the latest transfer quarterback to assume starting honors for the Wildcats. The Brock Vandagriff experiment worked out poorly, and Mark Stoops prays this former Texas A&M quarterback can execute the game plan with more precision.”

Calzada put up elite numbers at Incarnate Word and beat a Nick Saban-led Alabama team while at Texas A&M, so he has proven to be a capable quarterback.

The veteran signal caller has made it clear that he is playing with a chip on his shoulder, and the disrespect from these types of ranking lists will fuel him this offseason. Calzada is a good quarterback who has been dying for another opportunity in the SEC after a bad stop at Auburn, and he will get that this season in Lexington.

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Kentucky

Kentucky Derby-winning Jockey Junior Alvarado to appeal fine, suspension from HISA per report

Published

1 day ago

May 12, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky Derby-winning Jockey Junior Alvarado to appeal fine, suspension from HISA per report

Jockey Junior Alvarado is appealing a fine and suspension for excessive crop use in the Kentucky Derby.

Jockey Junior Alvarado is appealing his fine and suspension given to him by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. Alvarado’s agent, Mike Sellitto, said the ruling is under appeal, according to Byron King of Bloodhorse.com reporting.

Alvarado was fined $62,000 and suspended two days as the result of excessive crop use during his winning ride on Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

HISA ruled Alvarado used his crop eight times on Sovereignty, when the rule is that jockeys may use their crops no more than six times.

The penalty is 10% of the jockey’s earnings from the race — which would be $31,000 for the Kentucky Derby — and a one-day suspension. Since this was Alvarado’s second violation in the last 180 days, his penalty was doubled.

On Courier Journal columnist C.L. Brown’s podcast, Alvarado said, “I forgot it was a rule. … I was seeing my dream coming true right in front of me. The whip rule was the last thing I had in my mind. I have to pay the consequences, I guess.”

Sovereignty will not run in the Preakness on May 17 and is expected to return for the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont on June 7 at Saratoga.

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.

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Kentucky

Salary bump for mayor? More city commissioners? How a city is changing its government

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2025

Press Room

Salary bump for mayor? More city commissioners? How a city is changing its government

COVINGTON, KY. – The mayor of Covington will likely have a lot more power by 2029 – and a higher paycheck.

Those changes are among several that city commissioners will consider in the coming weeks as local committee members reconfigure how government and day-to-day operations in Northern Kentucky’s largest city should run.

For the first time in about a century, the city is moving away from a city manager-run form of government to what’s known as a strong mayor system. It’s part of an overhaul voters approved last fall. The changes will go into effect in 2029.

Here’s what you need to know about the government changes:

Why is the Covington government changing?

About 61% of voters cast a ballot in favor of the changes that include a strong mayor system.

That style of government gives the mayor direct authority over city departments, staff and the general day-to-day running of the city.

It also eliminates the position of city manager, who has traditionally had those responsibilities and acted as a buffer between elected officials and city staff.

The Committee on Form of Government Transition was created after the election to hash out the changes. Roughly 30 to 40 people applied to be on the committee. Nine voting members and seven non-voting members were selected from that pool.

Since January, the committee has met three times a month, conducted surveys, hosted two in-person forums, and solicited online and mail-in feedback about the process.

What will change?

Last week, Committee Administrator Sebastian Torres presented the group’s first recommendations to Covington city commissioners at a caucus meeting. They include:

A 185% increase in the mayor’s salary from $33,395.58 annually to a maximum of $95,335.76.
A 33% pay decrease for city commissioners from $26,680.73 annually to a maximum of $17,787.15.
Six city commissioners instead of four.

Torres told The Enquirer the proposed pay rates were primarily based on two factors: comparative data from other Kentucky cities and the expected workload change for elected officials.

“Currently, the mayor is working 50-plus hours a week,” he said. “If we’re going to encourage anyone, who’s frankly not retired … to run for this position … the position is going to need to have a (market rate) full-time salary attached to it.”

A higher salary will be necessary when the city no longer has a city manager and the mayor takes on additional duties, Torres said.

Other similarly sized cities in Kentucky, like Florence and Georgetown, pay their mayors salaries in the same range, according to data collected by the committee.

Meanwhile, Torres said, the workload for commissioners will decrease because they will no longer have to vote on issues like employment contracts.

The committee is recommending a larger county commission based on the data, surveys of residents and in-person comments, Torres said. He provided copies of the surveys which reflect that preference.

What’s next?

In the coming weeks, commissioners could approve, deny, or ask for changes to the committee’s recommendations.

They’ll do that for the first time at the city council meeting at 6 p.m. May 13 at city hall.

If commissioners approve the recommendations as-is, they’ll consider them again in a second reading, which could happen as soon as May 27.

Meanwhile, the committee will keep working on other government change details.

“Now we’re going to turn our attention to the city government structure, how we do things, and look for opportunities to kind of reshape how the government is, in itself, a body, (and) how we get our work done,” Torres said.

Committee meetings are open to the public and include a public comment period. The committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at city hall, with more information on the Covington city website.

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