Kentucky
Sunday Headlines: Big Win against Gonzaga Edition
Good morning, BBN!
Everybody’s probably still sleepy after last night, but what a night it was!
Kentucky looked dead in the water in the first half, trailing by 16 at halftime with Gonzaga poised to run away with the win, but Kentucky battled back and forced overtime, surviving a late Bulldog comeback in the final minutes of overtime, and hung on for a 90-89 win.
It was the first time in 175 games Gonzaga lost when leading by double-digits at halftime, and also tied the Kentucky record for largest halftime deficit that resulted in a Kentucky victory. According to Corey Price, Kentucky has only come back from down 16 at half to win two other times in program history.
Largest halftime deficits in a win for @KentuckyMBB in school history:
– 16 points vs. Gonzaga (December 7th, 2024)
– 16 points at Louisville (December 18th, 2004)
– 16 points at LSU (February 15th, 1994)
— Corey Price (@coreyp08) December 8, 2024
The win over Gonzaga certainly softens the blow from the loss to Clemson and also gives Kentucky another big win for its tournament resume when March rolls around. Those wins over Duke and Gonzaga will look really good come tournament time.
It also showed the fight this team possesses and also was a testament to Mark Pope, as the Cats looked like a totally different team in the second half.
We also saw Jaxson Robinson thrive after being thrust into a point guard role with Lamont Butler out and Kerr Krissa going out with an injury during the game.
A lot to take away from last night’s game, and you can certainly find plenty of it right here at Sea of Blue. As for now, let’s spend today getting rested up and celebrating another Kentucky victory!
Tweet of the Day
With all due respect to Patrick Sparks, I have a new favorite “Kentucky was down 16 points at halftime in a hostile environment and won” game. No shame in being #2, 2004-05 Wildcats. #BBN pic.twitter.com/f955COmWTU
— Terry Brown™️ (@TBrown_80) December 8, 2024
Coming back from down 16 is always memorable.
Headlines
Takeaways from Kentucky’s win over Gonzaga – Herald Leader
Is this a new edition of the Comeback Cats?
Pope’s defensive adjustments key to Kentucky win – Cats Pause
Throwing zone into the mix rattled the Gonzaga offense.
Jaxson Robinson stepped up as Kentucky’s PG – KSR
A big night for Jaxson.
Records Fall as Kentucky Track & Field Concludes Season Opener – UK Athletics
Multiple records broken in opener.
Biggest questions heading into playoff selection – Bleacher Report
SMU and Alabama is an interesting topic.
Scott Frost is back at UCF – ESPN
UCF is looking to recreate the magic.
Juan Soto likely to receive more than $700 million – Yahoo
Soto is about to be a very rich man.
Pitino honors Carnesecca with sweater – CBS Sports
What a nice tribute.
Gundy, OK State agree to new deal – NBC Sports
Looks like Gundy isn’t leaving Oklahoma State after all.
App State hires Loggains from South Carolina – Yahoo
Neal Brown was reportedly in consideration for the job.
Kentucky
Top Kentucky Football transfer Lance Heard had minor spring procedure
There is an old saying that there is no such thing as a minor procedure when it happens to you. But that’s exactly what happened over the spring football season as top transfer Lance Heard had surgery on an undisclosed injury that was deemed “minor.”
While Kentucky did not release what exactly the big left tackle had surgery on, anytime you are down your starting left tackle over Spring is not ideal. The good news is Heard has plenty of SEC experience, starting at LSU before transferring to Tennessee.
The biggest thing for an offensive line is reps, but offensive coordinator Joe Sloan told KSR he was happy with what he was seeing.
“You’re starting to see them work really well together, and they have an opportunity to be a strength of our team.” If that comes to fruition, Kentucky will have a really good year. As for the fans, expect a different style this year in Kroger Field.
Kentucky’s offense will be different
Under Mark Stoops, the calling card became a physical offensive line, a punishing run scheme, and a ball control style. That offense will be very different this year, not because of a shift away from the run game, but because there will be a lot more chances taken.
Sometimes, that is a good thing, and other times it causes turnovers. Will Stein said he never called a play he didn’t think would score a touchdown. That aggressive style is what will define Stein’s time in Lexington. He chose a defensive coordinator known for dialing up the blitz. He has gone after nearly all the top recruits, and he isn’t backing down from saying he expects to be the best head coach in the country.
Will it work? I don’t know, but I do know it will look different than what Mark Stoops was putting out. But it all depends on the health of the key players Stein brought in, and that starts with a healthy offensive line.
Kentucky
Kentucky Colonels executive to speak at Florence Rotary Club on Monday, public welcome to register
Kentucky
Tornado ripped through Florence area during storms, NWS confirms
Ohio tornado warnings: what residents should know
Severe storms June 17 in Ohio: know tornado watch vs. warning, safety steps, shelters and alerts.
A tornado was confirmed to have ripped through the Florence area during the overnight storms June 18.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington released a statement June 20 saying a tornado traveled eastward 6.2 miles across the Northern Kentucky city, 10 miles south of Cincinnati. It had estimated peak winds of 100 mph, which classifies it as an EF1 “moderate” tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
The tornado’s path goes mostly through residential areas, and the first evidence was found on Landings Way where several trees were snapped at their trunks, the weather service reported.
The tornado progressed east, crossing Interstate 71/75 and then seemingly dissipating on Tallwood Circle where multiple large branches were downed, the final known instance of damage.
Along the way, the tornado uprooted multiple trees and snapped branches, damaged several buildings and businesses, and snapped a large power pole near the intersection of U.S. 42 and Dream Street, according to the weather service.
How many tornadoes have been confirmed in Greater Cincinnati, beyond?
As of 1 p.m. June 20, the weather service has confirmed that apart from the one in Florence, two other tornadoes touched down in Greater Cincinnati on June 18:
- An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled about 9 miles from Dearborn County, Indiana, to Boone County, Kentucky.
- An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled just over 5 miles from Franklin County, Indiana, to Butler County, Ohio.
A few other tornadoes have been confirmed outside the Greater Cincinnati region, including an EF2 that traveled 23.6 miles from Scott County, Indiana, to Trimble County, Kentucky; an EF2 that traveled 9 miles across Pike County, Ohio; and one in Grant County, Kentucky, just north of Williamstown.
The weather service said details on the Grant County tornado will be released later on June 20.
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