Kentucky

KSR Staff Predictions: [3] Kentucky vs. [6] Illinois, NCAA Tournament 2nd Round

Published

1 year ago

March 23, 2025

KSR Staff Predictions: [3] Kentucky vs. [6] Illinois, NCAA Tournament 2nd Round

Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team advanced out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in the last four years on Friday. Tonight, they take on No. 6 seed Illinois in hopes of advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.

It won’t be easy. The Fighting Illini are the betting favorite and will have the crowd advantage in Milwaukee. They also have star power, with freshmen Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley both projected to go in the first round of the NBA Draft. Tomislav Ivisic, Big Z’s twin brother, anchors the inside. Another familiar name, Orlando Antigua, is on the sideline, returning to Brad Underwood’s staff at Illinois when John Calipari left for Arkansas last spring.

With Lamont Butler still not at 100% and Amari Williams dealing with a back injury, Kentucky took care of business vs. Troy thanks in large part to the bench, which contributed 25 points. Can the Cats scrap together and exorcise some more March demons? The KSR crew is ready to weigh in.

First, a message from our friends at Georgetown Periodontics.

At Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, your smile is our number one priority. We are committed to providing you with the comprehensive periodontal and implant care that you need to improve your oral health and function. Our office offers a safe and relaxing environment to ensure patients receive personalized treatment.

Give them a call at 502.570.5700 or learn more at https://www.georgetownkyimplant.com/.

Tyler Thompson

I’m not feeling great about this game, but I think that’s mostly because of Kentucky’s scoring droughts vs. Troy and the fact that Illinois will likely have a massive crowd advantage (unless a Big Blue caravan is currently en route). Add in Lamont Butler being practically duct-taped together and a pair of projected first-round draft picks on the other side of the ball and it’s very easy to talk yourself into a loss, nerves aside.

But, time and time again this season, this Kentucky team has risen to the occasion when you least expect it. The Cats got the monkey off their back with a win over Troy on Friday. Hopefully, Amari Williams’ back is feeling better and Butler can contribute some offense (he was 0-5 vs. the Trojans). Ansley Almonor has been very quiet recently, scoring just four points over the last four games. He’s due for a March moment.

Illinois’ offense was humming vs. Xavier. The Fighting Illini are 15-3 in games in which they make 10 or more threes. They hit 12 on Friday at a 40% clip. That said, Illinois is last in the Big Ten in three-point percentage (30.1%), so the hope is they cool off. If Kentucky can win the battle beyond the arc and Amari Williams returns to form, I feel good about the Cats making it to Indy. If not, we may need another game-winner from Otega Oweh. Either way, this one’s gonna be close.

Score: Kentucky 86, Illinois 84

Zack Geoghegan

Kentucky can win this game without being 100 percent healthy, but I get the sense a hot shooting night for the ‘Cats will be part of what makes that possible. Since losing to Duke by 43 points a little over a month ago, Illinois has produced a top 10 offense in the country, but a defense that ranks 83rd. UK went 10-26 from deep against Troy. That might not be good enough today against an Illinois team that will do everything it can to get over 30 three-point attempts.

Freshman Will Riley does scare me a bit. The 6-foot-9 wing is a microwave scorer and future pro. Tomislav Ivisic can do everything his brother can, and then some. 6-foot-6 point guard Kasparas Jakucionis is a projected top 10 pick, for crying out loud. The Illini will have more than enough offensive juice to make the Sweet 16.

This game could easily be a race to 90 points. Illinois does not force opponents into turnovers and has been especially shaky on defense the last few weeks. Prior to beating Xavier 86-73, the Illini allowed at least 80 points in three straight games. Lamont Butler has to score more than zero points though. Amari Williams has to finish around the rim. Mark Pope has to get the bench production he did against Troy. I think we’re in for one of the better games we’ll see all postseason long.

Score: Kentucky 89, Illinois 88

Drew Franklin

I’m afraid we’re going to see a rare sight in Fiserv Forum later today: Kentucky fans outnumbered in the stands by the other team. Illinois fans have packed Milwaukee since Thursday’s open practices, and more have turned up throughout the weekend from the neighboring state. Orange will get in, and they’ll be loud.

Still, Kentucky can win the game with bench contributions like it got in the first-round win over Troy. The starting five will need to play well, but Collin Chandler, Brandon Garrison, Ansley Almonor, Trent Noah, and Travis Perry will also have to contribute to take down the Fighting Illini, a team that lost three straight games by an average of 26 points last month.

Illinois can be inconsistent, and Kentucky will need Sunday to be one of those days when the shots aren’t falling. If Illinois shoots like it did in the first round (40% from 3), it will likely be an exit for the Cats. But Illinois shot only 30% in conference play. If that Illinois shows up and the pick-and-pop doesn’t work, Kentucky is on to the next round. I think we’re in for a close game dictated by the team that knocks down 3s, and Koby Brea and the Wildcats are up for the challenge. Make at least five, Koby.

Score: Kentucky 84, Illinois 80

Jacob Polacheck

No Jaxson Robinson? No Kerr Kriisa? No problem. Kentucky’s depth has shown to be a problem for opposing teams down the stretch and I don’t expect that to change on Sunday.

Illinois has a solid team but is inconsistent at times. I’m predicting that the Cats can pull off with Lamont Butler and Amari Williams set to play (albeit not at 100%). Koby Brea will need to show why he was considered the best three-point shooter in the country heading into the season, while Otega Oweh will need to keep doing what he’s been doing.

It could be a rough night for the Illini if Kentucky can get off to a fast start. Don’t let Will Riley get hot, don’t let Illinois knock down a bunch of threes, and then wear them down with depth. If that happen, the Cats should cruise.

Score: Kentucky 81, Illinois 79

Adam Luckett

The Round of 32 has arrived with Kentucky getting Game 3 in 5:30 p.m. ET Sunday window on CBS. You can feel the big-game nerves of the Big Blue Nation across the Commonwealth. The Cats are the only higher-seed to be a dog in this round. There are some reasons to feel good.

Illinois struggles to hit perimeter shots (No. 296 nationally in three-point field goal percentage) and do not force takeaways on defense (No. 360 in turnover rate). Kentucky should have a big advantage in both areas. No. 6 seeds have also struggled to win in this spot when they are a favorite over a No. 3 seed.

But the concerns outweigh the positives for me.

Kentucky is fresh off its worst consecutive scoring performances of the season against Alabama and Troy. This offense could be in trouble if Otega Oweh is not scoring. The Illini project to win the three-point volume battle by a sizable number and that could negate some of Kentucky’s strengths in this matchup. The Illini have also been better in shootouts. Kentucky’s two-point field goal percentage defense (No. 281 nationally) is highly concerning

This is just a tough matchup on-paper. Both teams play pace-and-pace but Illinois extends more possessions with offensive rebounds, has better shot creation than Kentucky, and has two bonafide draft picks at point and on the wing. The lllini have more answers.

The Kentucky offense comes up short in a big spot.

Score: Illinois 83, Kentucky 77

Nick Roush

Ahead of the NCAA Tournament, pundits circled this potential second round matchup as one to watch. Both teams bring a ton of offensive firepower, albeit on an inconsistent basis.

Illinois can bottom out in the blink of an eye. I was optimistic that it would happen against Xavier. It did not. They’ve hit 11+ threes in four of their last five. They’re getting hot after Duke embarrassed them at the end of a three-game losing streak.

Kentucky needs to hold the Fighting Illini to seven threes or fewer. The Cats are trending in the wrong direction offensively. Lamont Butler is limited, eliminating a scorer around the rim, and Amari Williams proved on Friday that his woeful trip to Nashville wasn’t a one-off.

There are zero outcomes in this game that would surprise me and that’s scary. Unfortunately, it feels like Illinois is getting all of the right mojo as Kentucky runs out of steam.

Score: Illinois 88, Kentucky 75

Jack Pilgrim

Kentucky meets its hot and cold match in the Big Ten, Illinois having some ridiculous highs to go with some ridiculous lows. They’ve beaten Arkansas, Wisconsin, Mizzou, Oregon in Eugene, Indiana in Bloomington, UCLA, Michigan in Ann Arbor and Purdue. They’ve also lost by double digits at home to USC and by nine at Rutgers while also getting run off the floor by Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament. When they’re hitting threes, the Fighting Illini are a force to be reckoned with. If not, they’re fairly pedestrian. Sound familiar?

As Roush pointed out, they’ve hit 11+ threes in four of five, but we’ve also seen them go 6-27 against Maryland and 2-26 against Duke in recent weeks. Again, they rank No. 315 nationally in 3PT% for a reason. They’re also one of the worst teams in college basketball at forcing turnovers (5.9% steal rate, 12.5% turnover rate), so Kentucky should be able to get into its offense and create good looks to win the 3-point make battle, even if Illinois wins the volume battle.

It’s a back and forth day that keeps BBN on edge until late, but Ansley Almonor steps up and hits a few big shots to send the Wildcats to their first Sweet 16 since 2019.

Score: Kentucky 84, Illinois 78

[3] Kentucky vs. [6] Illinois: How to Watch, Listen

Date, Time: Sunday, 5:15 p.m. ET
Television: CBS (Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi)
Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
Online Radio: The Varsity App
Satellite Radio: Sirius 210 or 203
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.

Source link

Kentucky

Fayette County school board chair, KEA sue to block Kentucky law that would oust current members

Published

2 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Fayette County school board chair, KEA sue to block Kentucky law that would oust current members

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX NEWS) — Fayette County Board of Education Chair Tyler Murphy and the Kentucky Education Association have filed a lawsuit challenging a newly enacted Kentucky law that would overhaul the governance structure of Fayette County Public Schools and force all current board members out of office at the end of 2026.

The lawsuit names the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Fayette County Board of Elections and Fayette County election officials as defendants.

At the center of the legal challenge is Senate Bill 4, which lawmakers passed over Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto earlier this year.

Under the law, the seven-member Fayette County Board of Education would be reduced to five district-based seats, the lawsuit reads. The terms of all current board members would end Dec. 31, 2026, and new elections would be held for the restructured board.

The lawsuit argues the law is unconstitutional and asks the court to block its implementation, including any election-related actions tied to the measure.

Court filings contend the legislation unlawfully targets a single school district and interferes with the terms of duly elected local officials. Plaintiffs also argue the law violates provisions of the Kentucky Constitution governing local elections and public officeholders.

Attorneys included exhibits detailing criticism of Murphy and Fayette County Public Schools leadership from state lawmakers, including a petition seeking Murphy’s removal and a letter from state Sen. Chris McDaniel calling for the resignations of Murphy and Superintendent Demetrus Liggins.

The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the law is invalid and requests expedited review from the court due to upcoming election deadlines.

No hearing date had been announced as of Wednesday.

The lawsuit comes as Fayette County Public Schools continues to face scrutiny over budgeting decisions, district spending and governance issues that have drawn attention from state lawmakers over the past year.

In a statement, Representative Matt Lockett criticized Murphy as he highlighted what he stated are district failures under Murphy.

“This lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the disaster that Fayette County Public Schools is under Tyler Murphy’s leadership as board chair. Under his watch, the district has spiraled into a financial crisis so severe that it is now seeking to borrow up to $110 million simply to keep the lights on and make it through the school year. Students have been failed. Families have been failed. Teachers and staff have been failed. Taxpayers have been failed. And the Lexington community has been left paying the price for years of mismanagement and poor oversight.
Rather than taking responsibility for the district’s financial failures and focusing on what is best for students, he has chosen to file a lawsuit challenging a law that was duly passed by the General Assembly and enacted through the constitutional process. He may be emboldened by recent rulings by activist judges, but there are no legitimate grounds for overturning a duly enacted statute simply because you can’t do the right thing by this community. The General Assembly has both the authority and the responsibility to establish standards for public offices and governance structures across the Commonwealth.
At a time when Fayette County schools are facing unprecedented financial turmoil, the focus should be on accountability, transparency, and fixing the problems that have brought the district to this point. The only filing Fayette County taxpayers should be expecting from Mr. Murphy is his resignation.”

Source link

Kentucky

UK Healthcare prepares to become Kentucky’s only Level 2 special pathogen treatment center

Published

12 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

UK Healthcare prepares to become Kentucky’s only Level 2 special pathogen treatment center

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has been causing fear around the world, and a Lexington doctor is preparing in the event a case is found in Kentucky.

According to the CDC, there have been 49 deaths and over 300 confirmed cases across the two countries, with more suspected cases still being investigated.

UK Healthcare is working to become a Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Center through the National Special Pathogen System, which would allow the facility to treat Ebola patients in-house.

Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels, an infectious disease physician at UK Healthcare, said the current outbreak is serious, but Kentucky residents are not at significant risk.

“Ebola scares people just because of the mortality, the death rate, associated with it and some of the long term consequences when you do survive. Fortunately, the strain that we’re seeing in Eastern (Democratic Republic of Congo) is thought to be not as deadly, but either way it’s a very serious disease. It carries a lot of stigma and fear,” Van Sickels said.

Here in Kentucky, however, is a very safe environment, Dr. Van Sickels said.

Currently, Dr. Van Sickels says UK Healthcare operates as an assessment hospital, meaning it can evaluate patients with symptoms who have traveled to regions with active outbreaks, coordinate testing with the state, and transfer patients to higher-level care centers if needed.

Once the Level 2 designation is complete, UK Healthcare will be the only facility in Kentucky with that capability.

“We’re the only facility in Kentucky that is able to have a level 2 designation once we finish this grant award and get approved,” Dr. Van Sickels said.

In January 2026, UK Healthcare received a grant from the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), the governing body of the National Special Pathogen System.

“It’s approximately half a million dollars to transform our institution,” Van Sickels said.

The funding has been used to run simulation drills in coordination with Lexington Fire, EMS, and the state health department. The grant also enabled UK Healthcare to upgrade its protective outerwear, with all seam points covered to provide additional protection. Ebola is transmitted through bodily fluids.

During a recent site visit and simulation, evaluators identified vulnerabilities in the facility’s previous protective suits.

“When we had our site visit and had our stimulation, for example, they said that the seams that we had on our old suits, you could pull and stretch, and that they were rather porous,” Van Sickels said.

Van Sickels had been working on the preparedness project since the beginning of the year.

Citing lessons learned from the 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which spread to the U.S. and resulted in 4 cases and 1 death.

“Ebola 2014 taught a lot of hospitals in the US about high consequence infections, established what is now NETEC, the educating body for our country, uh, about high consequence pathogens,” Van Sickels said.

“We’re constantly wanting to push preparedness, uh, because that is the key to success in evading further outbreaks,” Van Sickels said.

UK Healthcare expects to complete its Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Center designation by the end of summer.

Source link

Kentucky

Bryian Duncan Jr. flips from Kentucky to West Virginia

Published

23 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Bryian Duncan Jr. flips from Kentucky to West Virginia

The Kentucky Wildcats have had some fits with West Virginia over the past few days, as the baseball team was sent home by the Mountaineers on Monday night. Now, they have flipped a Wildcat commit.

Bryian Duncan Jr., a Cario, Georgia native, committed to the Wildcats in March and has now flipped to West Virginia. The 3-star running back had a recent visit to Morgantown, then announced his commitment to the Mountaineers.

Duncan, a 5-foot-9 player who can play out wide and at running back, is the No. 60-ranked ATH in the nation and the No. 89 player in Georgia, according to 247 Sports. He’ll play in the Big 12 with the Mountaineers, giving himself a good opportunity to become a true gadget guy with legit speed.

This isn’t a big disappointment for the Wildcats, as they’ll collect nearly 10 commitments as the summer rolls on and already have a pretty loaded RB room for the class of 2027. Kelsey Gerald and Mason Ball are two tailbacks who have already pledged their commitment to the program.

Head coach Will Stein and Co. have been stellar on the recruiting trail as they have the 13th-best class overall and the fourth-ranked class in the SEC, according to 247 Sports. Expect the Cats to pick up a few more commits here soon and rise in the rankings.

Source link