Kentucky
Preview of Kentucky baseball’s three-game series with Ole Miss
The Wildcats are back in Lexington after a series win over Texas A&M for an SEC showdown against Coach Mike Bianco and the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels. The series kicks off Thursday at 7 PM ET at Kentucky Proud Park and will be televised nationally on the SEC Network.
Leading OffHead Coach Nick Mingione and the Wildcats traveled to College Station last weekend to face the preseason top-ranked Texas A&M Aggies. Kentucky took the final two games in the series after Texas A&M won the opener.
The Cats, who currently hold a record of 17-9 (4-5 in the SEC), scored 31 runs in the three-game series. Seven of those runs were off all three of Texas A&M’s starting pitchers, who all had an ERA under 3.00.
Kentucky Infielder Tyler Bell had an outstanding performance on the road and was named SEC Freshman of the Week. Bell brought home eight runs in the series, including three doubles, a home run, and seven RBIs.
On The RebsAs they say down in the Sip, “Don’t Let The Rebs Get Hot!” Ole Miss leads the all-time series against Kentucky 54-39. The last time the Rebels faced the Cats was in March 2025, where Kentucky, ranked No. 15 at the time, swept the series against Ole Miss at home in Oxford. Will the Rebels return the favor?
One player to watch is former Kentucky catcher Austin Fawley, who has been a standout performer for the Rebels this season. Fawley is hitting an impressive .314 with a .405 on-base percentage and .600 slugging percentage, including four doubles and two home runs in SEC play. The Rebels currently rank eighth in the country with 55 home runs.
As Keeneland’s opening weekend has already been pushed back, the Wildcats are hoping for favorable weather to allow their series to take place. If the games go ahead, fans can catch the Cats in action this weekend. Stay tuned for an exciting weekend of baseball!
Catch The Cats
Thursday, April 3 vs. #9 Ole Miss
7 p.m. ET; Lexington, Ky. (Kentucky Proud Park)
Radio: UK Sports Network, UKathletics.com (630 AM Lexington); TV: SEC Network
UK – TBD; MISS – LHP Hunter Elliott
Friday, April 4 vs. #9 Ole Miss
6:30 p.m. ET; Lexington, Ky. (Kentucky Proud Park)
Radio: UK Sports Network, UKathletics.com (630 AM Lexington); TV: SECN+
UK – RHP Scott Rouse; MISS – RHP Riley Maddux
Saturday, April 5 vs. #9 Ole Miss
2 p.m. ET; Lexington, Ky. (Kentucky Proud Park)
Radio: UK Sports Network, UKathletics.com (630 AM Lexington); TV: SECN+
UK – LHP Ben Cleaver; MISS – RHP Mason Nichols
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Time is of the essence if you’re Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats right now. With the transfer portal set to close in just a few days, chaos reigns as programs and players scramble to secure their next opportunities. Among the fray is Kentucky, which finds itself navigating a tumultuous landscape in search of elite talent. With many of the Top 25 players already committed, the urgency for the Wildcats to land a game-changing recruit has never been more at the forefront following this season.
One of Pope’s primary targets is Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman. The 6-foot-9 rising junior made waves during his time at Syracuse, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 47.4 percent from the field last season. His potential is undeniable; many experts predict Freeman will be a future first-round NBA draft pick, making him a coveted asset for any program.
Freeman’s recent visit to Kentucky has sparked much-needed hope. However, despite positive feedback from his trip, he left without making a commitment to join one of college basketball’s blue bloods. The competition is fierce. The question looms: Can Kentucky outmaneuver these schools and secure his commitment?
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Well, Friday morning, the Cats were able to outlast one of their deepest competitions for now in Connecticut. Freeman was set to make his way to see the Huskies, but he has since cancelled his Friday visit, per UConn Report (subscription required). Now it appears the Huskies officially have bowed out of the race. That’s one down, and just the Alabama Crimson Tide, it appears, stands in the way for Mark Pope and Kentucky.
Mark Pope faces additional pressure following the return of Rob Wright to BYU, leaving the Wildcats in a precarious position when it comes to key portal targets. They need to act swiftly to avoid being left without significant talent as the portal closes. Freeman’s skill set would not only bolster their roster but would also complement rising star Malachi Moreno, as Freeman would be the ideal fit for the power forward.
As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on Mark Pope and his ability to close this deal. The stakes are high, and for Kentucky, landing Donnie Freeman could be the key to turning chaos into triumph, but will they be able to close perhaps the deal amidst the age of transfer portal madness? Well, they are one step closer now, it appears.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball closing in on a Donnie Freeman commitment?
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