Kentucky
KSR Gameday: No. 12 Kentucky hosts Arkansas in John Calipari's returns to Rupp Arena
Good morning, folks! How are we feeling today? Nervous? Excited? Ready for it to be Sunday already? I’m currently a mix of everything. We’re 11 hours away from one of the most highly anticipated Kentucky games in quite some time. John Calipari, who won a lot of basketball games during his 15 years in Lexington, will return to Rupp Arena tonight. He’ll look different tonight though, wearing a red blazer on the opposing sideline.
Calipari brings his Arkansas Razorbacks to town for a game that will feature a heavy contingency of national media. North Carolina and Duke may be getting the College Gameday treatment, but there will be plenty of eyes on Kentucky-Arkansas for this primetime ESPN showdown. The cheer/boo debate over Calipari’s introduction has officially put a hole in my brain. Do whatever you’d like, BBN. It won’t bother this writer.
I’ve gone back and forth with this being a “must-win” game for Kentucky and new head coach Mark Pope. I think I’ve safely landed on the other side though. UK has produced an excellent season already with one of the best resumes in the country. Arkansas is not playing good basketball under Calipari (12-8; 1-6 SEC) and this is a home game for the Wildcats, but dropping this one would not be the end of the world — it would just sting like hell in the short-term.
Luckily, I don’t think it will matter. Kentucky is clearly the better team with better talent. FanDuel has the ‘Cats as 11.5-point favorites as of this morning. KenPom calls for an 84-73 victory. Even without Lamont Butler (who was ruled out last night) and a half-healthy Andrew Carr (probable), UK will have the edge in just about every category. Emotions could play heavily in this game, but at the same time, there are only a handful of Arkansas players (and none from Kentucky other than Travis Perry/Trent Noah) who truly know how high the stakes are for Calipari.
“Probably as we get closer to game time, I know the emotions will build. The fans should be able to do what they want,” Calipari told ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes. “If they want to boo, they can boo. If they want to cheer, they can cheer. I’m not expecting an overwhelming reaction because, at the end of the day, I’m an opposing coach. I’m not coming in here to lose this game.
“I get it. It’s a big game for the fans — ‘We’ve got to crush Cal and Arkansas,’ all of that. I’ve done this long enough. I always say, if I go to an opponent’s court, I almost expect it. I’m not looking up and seeing (who is booing), you just coach the game.”
Calipari will more than likely get some sort of tribute video on the jumbotron before the game. He’s earned that. Now let’s strap in for a long day of anxiety. Make sure you listen to Calipari’s entire 17-minute sitdown interview with Dykes from the Rupp Arena floor. After that, dive in below for the rest of this morning’s news and notes.
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Kentucky vs. Arkansas: How to Watch, Listen
- Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- Television: ESPN (Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes, Alyssa Lang)
- Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
- Online Radio: iHeart
- Satellite Radio: Sirius 84
- Live Stats: StatBroadcast
You can also follow the game via our new LIVE BLOG on the website, which will begin an hour before tip-off, or join the conversation on KSBoard.
Friends of Coal is dedicated to informing and educating Kentucky citizens about the coal industry and its vital role in the state’s future. We provide a united voice for an industry that has been and remains a critical economic contributor to Kentucky. By working together, we can provide good jobs and benefits for future generations. Coal is RESILIENT, RELIABLE, and AFFORDABLE.
Friends of Coal is a volunteer organization. All are invited to be a part of our organization, which consists of proud Kentuckians as well as residents from beyond our borders. Head to friendsofcoalkentucky.org to learn more.
Come to KSBar for a LIVE Sources Say
After you get done watching Seth Greenberg sit on his high horse during College Gameday, come to KSBar and Grille for some real entertainment. We’ve got a special LIVE episode of Sources Say planned to begin around 1:00 p.m. EST. As always, Jack Pilgrim and Shawn Smith will run point. I’ll fill in alongside them and we’ll have a rotating fourth guest (some Arkansas media members, some Kentucky) for however long we decide to talk.
So come hang out with us as we talk Kentucky-Arkansas until our lips fall off. How else are you going to pass the time for this late-night tipoff?
Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.
Kentucky FB All-American Herschel Turner passes away
UK announced on Friday that Herschel Turner, who was an All-America and All-SEC lineman for the Wildcats from 1961-63, died at the age of 82. He was a three-year letterman with Kentucky, playing offensive and defensive tackle along with offensive guard. Turner was coached by both Blanton Collier (1961) and Charlie Bradshaw (1962-63).
After spending the 1960 season on the freshman team, Turner became an All-SEC Sophomore Team performer. He followed that up with All-SEC nods as a junior and senior, including an All-American accolade in his senior campaign. The native of Breathitt County went on to be selected in the second round of the 964 NFL Draft by St. Louis, but injuries cut his pro career short after two seasons.
Rest in Peace to a Bluegrass Star.
UK Gymnastics knocks off No. 11 Auburn on Excite Night
Memorial Coliseum was packed with over 6,000 screaming fans for last night’s Excite Night featuring No. 7 Kentucky Gymnastics (4-2) and No. 11 Auburn (8-2). With the crowd behind them, Kentucky topped 197 for the second time this month in a 197.050-196.600 victory over the Tigers. UK won four out of five individual events while adding seven team titles across three apparatus.
Up next? A first-time conference matchup with the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners next Friday in Norman.
GRAYSON, Ky. (WSAZ) – New information has been released in the search for a missing woman at Grayson Lake.
According to game wardens with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Marly Kinney, 19, of Ashland, was last seen at Grayson Lake on Wednesday afternoon.
They say search efforts are focused on the water at this time and include Kentucky State Police aerial support, drones, boats, and K9 assistance.
Crews suspend search for missing teen for the night
The search is now into its third day, with officials saying on and off rain has hindered their search and that a group of 50 volunteers are walking the banks of the lake to help in the search.
Search and rescue boats have been seen at the lake as well.
Officials say there are still many questions, including if Kinney is still alive and where exactly she went missing.
They also say they’ve been using a variety of equipment, including sonar and thermal detectors, as well as helicopters and underwater drones.
WSAZ received a statement from Kinney’s family Friday afternoon:
“We are very appreciative of the absolute surplus of support from law enforcement, search and rescue, 1st responders, and all of the community and its volunteers that are here with us and for us searching for Marly. We do not even know how to express our absolute gratitude to you all. We continue to have faith she will be found and brought back to us. We know we have the very best people doing all they can to bring her home.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
We are still working to get more information.
Previous coverage can be found here.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.
Cash Ball
02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09
Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 6-3-0
Midday: 9-6-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 5-7-6-0
Midday: 5-2-6-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.
In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.
John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)
In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.
Kentucky hits the road at Texas
This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.
Which game could be a trap?
We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.
Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.
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