Kentucky
Sunday Headlines: Big week ahead for Kentucky Basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats have some momentum, which seems like a crazy thing to say after where this team was to begin conference play.
The Cats have been playing well, and actually are tied for second in the league following a wild day of SEC basketball yesterday.
However, the Cats will face a pair of big tests this week. The Cats go on the road Tuesday to take on Vanderbilt, who ended their three-game losing skid yesterday by demolishing Mississippi State in Starkville by a score of 88-56. The Commodores were once 16-0 and ranked in the top 10 nationally. They average 90 points per game, so Tuesday night’s showdown in Nashville will be a tall task for the Cats.
Then Kentucky travels to Fayetteville for a matchup with John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks next Saturday. The game won’t have quite the same emotion as Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena last year, but it still holds some extra meaning, at least to the fanbase.
The Hogs have one of the best freshmen in the country in Darius Acuff, who averages nearly 20 points and 6 assists per game. Acuff scored 31 in yesterday’s win at LSU.
In a perfect world, Kentucky wins both of these matchups, but they’ll most likely enter as underdogs in both. If they somehow manage to win both, it would be a major boost for this team and open up conversations about what this team’s ceiling actually is.
If Kentucky could manage to split these two games, I think it would be considered a success considering the level these teams have played at and both being on the road.
How are you feeling heading into this week?
All of us jumped out of our seats when he made that shot!
Still a really good crowd at Rupp despite the incoming weather.
Maybe we’ll see them back on the bench soon.
That stretch when he came in was a difference-maker.
There was the airball, and he never really got going.
A big milestone for Rick.
The AFC North will have 3 new coaches next season.
It seems like KAT and the Knicks are heading toward a split.
He’s about to earn a big payday.
One of the wildest things I’ve seen.
Kentucky
Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report
Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.
One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.
Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.
The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.
Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.
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.
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