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Ranking UK's non-conference basketball opponents

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Ranking UK's non-conference basketball opponents


Kentucky’s basketball program has announced a number of non-conference games scheduled for the 2025-26 season and right now it’s a blockbuster lineup of marquee matchups.

That doesn’t even include Purdue, a national contender which will face Kentucky in an exhibition at Rupp Arena on Friday, Oct. 24.

Kentucky is slated to face St. John’s, Louisville, Gonzaga, and Michigan State in the non-conference portion of the schedule. With much more scheduling set to be revealed, here’s an attempt at ranking those four opponents based on what they look like on paper.

Note: Kentucky also has non-conference games scheduled against Bellarmine and North Carolina Central.

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1. St. John’s

At the end of last month Jon Rothstein made the assertion that St. John’s will have the most talented roster in college basketball next season. Now, that doesn’t mean all of the parts will fit perfectly or that it’s the best assembled roster, but Pitino has the talent to be keep St. John’s in the headlines all season. The Red Storm will be regarded as a national contender. Zuby Ejiofor returns (14.7 PPG) and Pitino, a defensive mastermind, should have a starting five made up of only players who averaged double digits at high-major stops last season. They’re transfer heavy with UNC’s Ian Jackson, Arizona State’ Joson Sanon, Providence’s Bryce Hopkins, and Stanford’s Oziyah Sellers as some of their key pieces.

2. Louisville

Pat Kelsey took the Louisville Cardinals to the NCAA tournament in Year One after a lot of work in the portal and after another strong portal haul it looks like he has one of the best backcourts in college basketball. Virginia’s Isaac McNeely and Xavier’s Ryan Conwell provide punch from the portal and Mikel Brown Jr is one of UofL’s best recruits in years, and a couple of key pieces have returned. This looks like one of the ACC’s best teams and they could be a top-10 squad preseason.

3. Michigan State

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The Spartans look like a top-25 squad but probably not top-10 in the preseason according to the way too early polls that are floating around. The Spartans will be relying heavily on a couple of smaller program transfers in Kaleb Glenn from FAU and Trey Fort from Samford. Big man Jaxon Kohler needs to take a step forward this offseason. This looks like another interesting MSU team and Tom Izzo could get them to the second weekend of the tournament.

4. Gonzaga

Gonzaga loses quite a bit so Mark Few will have to put plenty of new parts together. Graham Ike is a great foundation piece in the middle after averaging 17.3 points per game last year. Braden Huff gives them a nice one-two punch down low but the backcourt is a question. The Zags have a couple of guards who sat out last year but will carry a heavy workload in ’25-26.

5. Indiana

IU has to replace several players who averaged double digits last season and they hit the portal big-time. WVU’s Tucker DeVries, Sam Houston State’s Lamar Wilkerson, Davidson’s Reed Bailey and Troy’s Tayton Conerway are some of the additions. Expectations will probably be lower for IU than the other teams on this list because of the extent of the overhaul and the new regime.

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Kentucky woman, 35, charged with homicide after using abortion pills then burying fetus in backyard

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Kentucky woman, 35, charged with homicide after using abortion pills then burying fetus in  backyard


A Kentucky woman was charged with fetal homicide after allegedly using abortion pills and burying the fetus in a Christmas-wrapped lightbulb box in her backyard — when she got pregnant following an affair.

Melinda Spencer, 35, was arrested Wednesday after going to a Campton health care clinic, where she told staff members she used medication purchased online to end her pregnancy, which is illegal in the state, according to Kentucky State Police, FOX 56 reported.

Police said Spencer allegedly admitted to taking the pills on Dec. 26 and burying the fetus — described as a “developed male infant” — two days later in a shallow grave at her Flat Mary Road home.

Melinda Spencer, 35, was charged with fetal homicide after taking abortion pills to end her pregnancy in Kentucky, where that is illegal. Kentucky State Police

After obtaining a search warrant, cops found the remains wrapped in a white rag and stuffed in the holiday-decorated box inside a plastic bag, court documents showed.

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Spencer later confessed that she allegedly ordered the pregnancy-ending drugs after conceiving with a man who was not her boyfriend, claiming she didn’t want him to find out, police said, per the outlet.

Authorities said she wanted to “abort the fetus on her own.”

Cops found the remains wrapped in a white rag and stuffed in the holiday-decorated box inside a plastic bag in her backyard. AP

It’s unclear how long she was pregnant before taking the pills.

An autopsy has reportedly been scheduled to establish how developed the fetus was.

In Kentucky, nearly all abortions are illegal, with a doctor only authorized to perform one to prevent death or serious injury to the mother.

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The deadly offense makes her eligible for the death penalty. Getty Images

There are no exceptions for rape or incest.

State law also bars the distribution of abortion medication.

Spencer was charged with first-degree fetal homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and first-degree promoting contraband, the outlet reported.

The homicide offense makes her eligible for the death penalty. She also faces life behind bars if convicted.

Spencer is being held at Three Forks Regional Jail in Beattyville.

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Lancaster resident describes Kentucky earthquake experience

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Lancaster resident describes Kentucky earthquake experience


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A 3.1 magnitude earthquake hit Kentucky Sunday afternoon with an epicenter between Richmond and Lancaster, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The USGS “Did You Feel It” survey received reports from people in Richmond, Danville, Stanford, Lancaster and Lexington.

Caroline Boyd, a retired nurse from Lancaster, was reading at home when the earthquake began at 12:47 p.m.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say shaking but it felt like a rumbling in my basement or even outside,” Boyd said.

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Boyd said she felt and heard the ground beneath her rumble followed by a loud boom.

“I thought to myself what on earth is that? Because there is no trains or train station nearby, so I knew it was not a train. So, I just sat there and listened. I would say it lasted about 10 to 15 seconds,” Boyd said.

After the tremor, Boyd called her neighbors and then the sheriff’s office. Dispatchers told her there had been an earthquake.

Dustin Price, deputy director and public information officer for Garrad County Emergency Management Agency, said the agency first heard from Bluegrass 911 about reports of a loud boom and shaking.

“Approximately we were able to confirm through the state that there was a confirmed 3.1 magnitude earthquake that hit through Garrad County,” Price said.

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No injuries or property damage were reported, according to Price.

Boyd said she was thankful the earthquake did not cause more serious problems.

“Even if I would’ve had to relocate if there was a problem. I have two pets, so it could’ve been really bad,” Boyd said.

Garrad County EMA said they are thankful for all the agencies who helped respond to the incident.

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3.2 magnitude earthquake with no immediate reports of damage confirmed in Garrard County

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3.2 magnitude earthquake with no immediate reports of damage confirmed in Garrard County


GARRARD COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Governor Andy Beshear reports that a 3.2 magnitude earthquake has been reported in Garrard County.

“This range does not typically produce sizable damage – just shaking – and thankfully, that is all that’s been reported so far,” Beshear said on social media Sunday.

According to the Lincoln County EMA, the earthquake happened around 12:47 p.m. with a shallow depth of 8 kilometers.

NWS Louisville reports the location of the quake to have been near the Garrard/Madison County line.

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Multiple agencies are also reporting no immediate reports of damage.





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