Kentucky

Playing at home has been sweet for Kentucky freshman, fan favorite Reed Sheppard – NKyTribune

Published

10 months ago

March 14, 2024

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Playing at home has been sweet for Kentucky freshman, fan favorite Reed Sheppard – NKyTribune

By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today

Time flies when you’re having fun and Reed Sheppard has enjoyed every minute of his freshman season at Kentucky.

“This year has flown by,” said Sheppard, who was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year Monday. “Being able to play in Rupp Arena in front of the best fans in the world for a lot of games this year was awesome.”

Sheppard was one of only two players who made an appearance all 31 games during the regular season and started five games for the Wildcats. He averaged 12.7 points per game, third behind leading scorer Antonio Reeves (20.2 ppg.) and Rob Dillingham (15 ppg.). Sheppard also had 140 assists and 78 steals and made 71 shots from long range.

Reed Sheppard reacts after Kentucky’s win over Miami earlier this season. (Photo by Les Nicholson, Kentucky Today)

The North Laurel High School product and reigning Kentucky Mr. Basketball drew praise from John Calipari, who relied on Sheppard to fill a variety of roles in the backcourt at various times this season. At times he has been a point guard and during other sequences, he has been a shooting guard.

“(He’s a) great teammate, terriﬁc player, (and has an) unbelievable feel (for the game) and reactions (on the court),” said Calipari. “… I love coaching him because he’s an unbelievable teammate. The guys know they can count on him.”

Calipari added that Sheppard also has a “coaches mentality” and it has shown during discussions between the coach and player.

“He will come to me with stuff (dealing with) different players,” Calipari said. “He’s the greatest in that. … Just give (the ball) to Robert (Dillingham) and we will get away from it.”

Former Kentucky and current St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, who coached Sheppard’s son Jeff at Kentucky, has followed Reed’s progression all season and also has been impressed with Sheppard’s progress.

“He’s tremendous,” Pitino said. “He’s a great shooter, great passer (and) he’s extremely athletic.”

Sheppard hasn’t been the lone ranger when it comes to being among the top players on the team and credits his teammates for having a role in his success. He’s third on the team in scoring behind Reeves and Dillingham.

“That’s what’s so special about this group is that, any one person or multiple people can go out and and go crazy” he said. “That’s what’s so special about this group and everybody’s OK with it. No one’s going to be mad if Rob (Dillingham having a good game) or if it’s Antonio’s night. Everyone’s going to be happy and supportive. That’s what’s so special about this group.”

Sheppard is glad to be a part of a squad that is carrying a five-game winning streak into the postseason. The Wildcats (23-8) are the No. 2 seed in the Southeastern Conference Tournament that begins Wednesday in Nashville. They also are trending for a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m glad I don’t have to play against this team,” he said. “I’m glad I don’t have to guard our guards. As a guard in practice, and that’s hard enough (and) I’m glad I don’t have to go out and compete against them for 40 minutes. I’m very happy and lucky to have them as my teammates.”

When the season does come to an end, will Sheppard be a one-and-done or return for a second season?

“He’s got a big decision to make,” Pitino said. “He’s probably a top eight pick in the draft. He’s the closest thing to a Rex Chapman for Kentucky. Does he stay? Does he leave? Because they’re (Jeff and Stacey) two Kentucky people. I think I know the answer to that question, but I’ll keep it to myself.”

Until then, Sheppard intends to stay in the moment instead of looking ahead toward the future.

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Kentucky

Bipartisan bill filed that would target violence committed by minors

Published

5 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Press Room

Bipartisan bill filed that would target violence committed by minors

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – Kentucky’s general assembly is currently on a break after convening for four days to start 2025 legislative session.

However, hundreds of bills were filed in those four days.

“I feel like too many young people are committing act of violence with guns and we need to get it under control,” said Rep. Kim Banta (R-Ft. Mitchell).

Republican Rep. Banta said House Bill 55 does not just apply to guns.

“My party asked me they said, ‘look why pick on guns, why not any weapon?’,” she said. “And so, I changed it and so if you buy your child a machete and they choose to put it in their backpack and go to school and harm people, you’re going to be held accountable for it.”

The bill would make parents or guardians civilly liable for injury caused by a destructive device, explosive, firearm or other deadly weapon. The bill would apply to legal guardians who allow the minor to have the device, know that the minor has a delinquent history or knows that the intended use is to commit a crime.

“Anything that we can do that may deter a horrific crime would be something I’m all about,” said Rep. Tina Bojanowski (D-Louisville).

Democratic Rep. Bojanowski said she is cosponsoring House Bill 55 because as a teacher, she said it is important for parents or legal guardians to have a pulse on their child.

“You know maybe yeah your son really enjoys hunting and you gave them this knife, but you may want to think twice if he’s been accused and found guilty of a crime already,” said Rep. Bojanowski.

As the session continues, Rep. Banta said she hopes to convey that the bill is not about taking away guns or imposing restrictions.

Kentucky’s House of Representatives and Senate will meet for part II of the 2025 legislative session on Feb. 4.

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Kentucky

Strack scores 25, Amoore has 24, and No. 12 Kentucky women top Georgia 78-64

Published

13 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Strack scores 25, Amoore has 24, and No. 12 Kentucky women top Georgia 78-64

Associated Press

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Led by Clara Strack with 25 points and Georgia Amoore with 24 points, No. 12 Kentucky defeated Georgia 78-64 on Sunday.

Strack made 9 of 19 shots and 6 of 7 free throws. She had 12 rebounds to complete her fourth double-double this season. Amelia Hassett had 14 points and 10 rebounds for her third double-double this season and Amoore had eight assists.

Trinity Turner scored 19 points and De’Mauri Flournoy had 19 of Georgia’s 21 bench points.

Kentucky dominated the first quarter, building a 23-4 lead. All three players who scored for the Wildcats — Amoore (11 points), Strack (6) and Hassett (6) — outscored Georgia. The Bulldogs made one of 16 shots.

Kentucky led 44-31 at halftime before being outscored by nine points in the second half.

After the disastrous first quarter, Georgia battled back and got as close as 69-57 with two minutes left in the fourth quarter. A layup by Asia Avinger had Georgia within 12 points again, 73-61, with a minute to go but Amoore hit a jumper and Cassidy Rowe made 3 of 4 free throws to close it out.

The Wildcats are 16-1 overall and 5-0 in the Southeastern Conference, marking their fourth-best start to a season through 17 games in program history and their best start to league action since 2012-13. That season, the Cats won their first six conference games.

The win for the Wildcats was their 15th by at least 10 points but the 14-point margin ended a streak of six straight wins by 16 points or more.

Kentucky visits Texas A&M on Thursday.

Georgia (9-11, 1-5 SEC) is idle until a road game next Sunday against No. 13 Oklahoma. ___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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Kentucky

KSR Today: Recapping Kentucky's first shootout loss

Published

21 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

KSR Today: Recapping Kentucky's first shootout loss

We all knew a shootout was coming when Kentucky hosted Alabama on Saturday. Odds were decent that the first team to triple-digits would leave Rupp Arena victorious. Unfortunately, Kentucky ended up on the wrong side.

The Tide won the three-point attempt (34-27) and free throw attempt battle (34-20). Nate Oats saw his team win the shot volume battle and that was enough to knock off the Cats.

KSR Today is taking a look back at the loss and a look ahead to another Sunday Funday for Kentucky women’s basketball and the NFL playoffs.

KSR recaps Kentucky’s first home loss of the season

KSR has you covered from every angle as we recap what all went wrong for Kentucky against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Smash those links.

Kentucky WBB hits the road to face Georgia

Kenny Brooks has led his first Kentucky team to a 15-1 (4-0) start and is riding eight consecutive victories. But the Wildcats will be playing a road game on Sunday for the first time since the loss to No. 16 North Carolina on Dec. 5.

Georgia (9-10, 1-4) has struggled this season. Before the season, the Lady Bulldogs were picked to finishing 14th in the SEC.

KSR will have live in-game and postgame coverage as UK looks to improve to 5-0 in league play. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET. The game will stream on ESPN+.

NFL Divisional Round wraps up

The football was not boring on Saturday. Kansas City beat Houston in a slugfest as the Texans fall to 0-7 all-time in the divisional round. Then Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders shocked the football world when they took out the best team in football.

That sets the table for Sunday with two championship game participants locked in. The No. 6 seed Commanders could play an NFC East game next weekend and will hit the road for the NFC Championship no matter what happens in Philadelphia today. The Chiefs will host the winner of Baltimore-Buffalo.

Buckle in for some more playoff football.