Kentucky
The Decline of Kentucky’s Coal Industry Has Produced Hundreds of Safety and Environmental Violations at Strip Mines – Inside Climate News
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Because the coal business has collapsed in Kentucky, corporations have racked up a rising variety of violations at floor mines, and state regulators have did not convey a file variety of them into compliance, inner paperwork present.
Enforcement knowledge from 2013 by February, together with current inner emails, each supplied to Inside Local weather Information by the Kentucky Vitality and Setting Cupboard in response to a state open data regulation request, paint an image of an business and its regulators in a state of disaster.
The paperwork reveal an company struggling to implement rules designed to guard the general public and the atmosphere from a few of the business’s most harmful practices amid mining firm bankruptcies and an total business decline that has additionally seen the shedding of 1000’s of coal mining jobs within the state.
Environmental advocates concern lax enforcement may be taking place in different coal mining states, equivalent to West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, resulting from comparable pressures on the business and regulators, regardless of a current uptick in coal mining. And they’re calling on federal regulators to verify slowed, idled or bankrupt mines should not left to deteriorate.
“This knowledge reveals there are plenty of zombie mines on the market,” stated Mary Varson Cromer, an lawyer and deputy director of the Appalachian Residents’ Legislation Middle Inc., in Whitesburg, Kentucky, utilizing a time period that refers to mines which were idled, typically for years, with out the required reclamation work on their websites.
In a single Dec. 15 electronic mail, a state official famous that the variety of notices of noncompliance with floor mining rules statewide had reached a file excessive of 810 the earlier month. The rise got here regardless that the variety of lively mining permits had declined 28 % since 2013, a 12 months when there have been roughly half as many unresolved violations regardless of extra mining exercise.
“That is utterly uncontrolled,” warned Courtney Skaggs, a senior environmental scientist within the Kentucky Division for Pure Sources, in a separate Dec. 15 electronic mail to the division’s commissioner, Gordon Slone. “That is going to explode in somebody’s face,” wrote Skaggs, a former appearing director of the company’s Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement.
That very same day, Skaggs wrote to John Lyons, the deputy secretary on the Kentucky Vitality and Setting Cupboard, which oversees environmental rules within the state.
“You as soon as advised me to return to you if I noticed an issue,” Skaggs stated. “I’d slightly sit down and speak by this, however within the interim, have a look at this knowledge. There are plenty of variables, together with the large decline in coal manufacturing, however what we’re doing proper now is just not addressing the issues. One thing has to offer/change earlier than we now have a significant drawback on our fingers.”
Skaggs declined a request for remark, saying cupboard coverage was for all communication to undergo John Mura, the cupboard spokesman.
The enforcement knowledge might be defined by “an unprecedented variety of bankruptcies brought on by market forces within the coal business which are exterior of the management of (the cupboard),” Mura stated in a written response.
The cupboard stays obligated to examine mines and write violations, “whether or not there’s a viable permittee or not,” he stated. Many of the violations will stay unabated till one other mine operator might be discovered for an idled mine, or the mine has been reclaimed, he stated. If a violation represents an imminent hazard, he wrote, the cupboard “seeks quick enforcement.”
Much less Enamel in Enforcement
The skyrocketing variety of non-compliance notices flagged in mid-December by Courtney Skaggs didn’t enhance over the subsequent two and a half months. On the time she sounded the alarm contained in the vitality cupboard, she accused the present director of the state’s Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement, Jim Ward, of “not attempting to repair it.”
As of the top of February, regulators have been counting much more unresolved notices of non-compliance, 817 in all, based on knowledge supplied by the vitality cupboard in response to the open data regulation request.
Such notices can embody a number of violations of efficiency requirements that mining corporations are purported to observe, which might vary from environmental monitoring to the stabilization of cliffs left behind by blasting, Cromer stated. The info from the state confirmed a complete of 1,219 violations of all efficiency requirements as of the top of February.
“My total sense is as coal manufacturing has declined, the company has much less and fewer tooth in its enforcement,” stated Cromer, the residents’ regulation heart lawyer. “The first stick of its enforcement mechanism is the allow block,” she stated, explaining that that’s the place the state will forestall violators from getting new mining permits if they’ve unresolved violations on present mining permits.
“The state can maintain writing violations,” Cromer stated. “To the extent these corporations aren’t serious about getting new permits, they don’t care.”
Cromer stated she’s additionally annoyed at what she described because the gradual tempo of the state’s negotiations with insurance coverage corporations that maintain bonds supposed to cowl the price of reclamation for mining corporations which have gone bankrupt.
“I see a cascade coming” if state regulators can’t transfer extra rapidly and extra corporations file for chapter, she stated.
Tucker Davis, president of the Kentucky Coal Affiliation, didn’t return an electronic mail and voice mail requests for remark.
Mura stated cupboard officers share Skaggs’ frustration with “the laborious and prolonged course of” concerned in reaching agreements with insurance coverage corporations to resolve violations and reclaim mines.
He stated that officers imagine the state is “best-served” when staff really feel “empowered to convey something to mild that they really feel may influence the well being or security of employees or residents.”
Mura additionally stated that these officers have “full confidence in Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement Director Ward’s skill to deal with the numerous points offered by the multitude of coal bankruptcies.”
Failed Reclamation
Strip mining in Central Appalachia rips forests from the bottom and makes use of dynamite to blast the tops and sides of mountains away to get at coal buried a whole bunch of toes beneath them. Corporations are purported to observe sure rules to scale back the results of this violent course of that leaves the land completely altered.
State regulators are overseen by the federal Workplace of Floor Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), a department of the Inside Division.
Corporations are additionally purported to reclaim mine websites contemporaneously, as they’re mining new areas. Reclamation can include backfilling and grading a mined space, eliminating unstable “excessive partitions” and mine waste, planting grass or timber, and managing and treating water that runs off the location, which might be poisonous. The federal Floor Mining Management and Reclamation Act of 1977 usually requires that mined land be returned to its approximate authentic contour.
The regulation additionally requires coal mining corporations to safe bonds to cowl the prices of reclamation ought to the businesses go bankrupt. In Kentucky, the state additionally operates a shared-risk bond pool funded by charges on the business to cowl reclamation prices if the mining firm bonds fall brief.
In Kentucky, greater than half of the unresolved violations are on mines that have been operated by corporations which have gone bankrupt, together with Ember Vitality, Blackjewel and Revelation, which was owned by Blackjewel, based on state officers.
13 months in the past, a federal chapter decide set the stage to permit Blackjewel, as soon as the nation’s sixth-largest coal producer, to stroll away from cleansing up and reclaiming greater than 30 coal mines in Kentucky, with dozens extra throughout the area dealing with the chance of abandonment.
Negotiations with the Indemnity Nationwide Insurance coverage Co. relating to numerous Blackjewel and Revelation permits started in April 2020 and are ongoing, as are negotiations that started in March 2021 with Lexon Insurance coverage Co. relating to an Ember allow, Mura stated. “No last agreements have been reached but,” Mura stated.
At the very least one Kentucky landowner who leased property to a mining firm that went bankrupt is rising impatient.
On Tracy Neece’s property in japanese Kentucky’s Floyd County, Revelation, the bankrupt Blackjewel firm, left behind practically two miles of unstable rock-faced cliffs that Neece estimates are as excessive as 250 toes. Information present the state had cited the corporate between 2016 and 2019, the 12 months the corporate declared chapter, for failing to take care of correct drainage to regulate sediment runoff and to correctly handle waste rock, referred to as mine spoils, that had been blasted from the hillside.
Neece shared his story with Inside Local weather Information and The (Louisville) Courier Journal final 12 months. Final week, Neece, who’s represented by Cromer, stated state officers nonetheless haven’t required any reclamation.
“They’ve carried out nothing but,” Neece stated, including that he lately complained to state officers about new drainage issues, solely to be advised that “one thing must be actually dangerous” for the state to require a repair by the insurance coverage firm.
“They stated they wouldn’t do something except it was life-threatening,” Neece recalled. Annoyed, he added: “I assume a boulder must come down and hit a home earlier than they’d do something.”
Surging Reclamation Legal responsibility
Peter Morgan, an lawyer with the Sierra Membership who’s carefully monitoring coal bankruptcies nationally, sees two potential explanations for Kentucky’s lackluster enforcement.
For corporations which are nonetheless working or are idled however not bankrupt, Morgan stated, they may very well be in monetary misery and never maintaining with their regulatory necessities. On the identical time, he stated, state officers may very well be involved that if they’re too aggressive, they might push the businesses into insolvency.
With corporations already bankrupt, the state regulators are behaving as in the event that they don’t have the funds for by both surety bonds or the state’s shared bond pool to completely cowl the prices of reclamation, Morgan stated.
“If the cash was there, then the cupboard would have a free hand to finish bond forfeiture and rent contractors to do the work immediately,” Morgan stated. “The one purpose I can see that the cupboard hasn’t gone this route is as a result of the cupboard is aware of that the sureties don’t have the cash to pay out the total bond quantities, and the bond pool doesn’t have the funds to make up the distinction.”
In his written response, Mura stated the cupboard has an obligation to offer bondholders with “the chance to show the flexibility to finish the reclamation plan inside an affordable timeframe.”
Nevertheless, the cash seems tight.
General, Kentucky’s reclamation legal responsibility ranges from $1.9 billion to $2.4 billion, in comparison with corporations’ bonds of about $888 million, based on a July 2021 report by Appalachian Voices, an environmental group. Related shortfalls exist in different coal states.
On Neece’s property alone, the state estimated the fee for reclaiming greater than 300 acres to be $10 million, based on data filed in chapter court docket. The state solely required about $1.7 million in reclamation bonds.
An actuarial report on the state’s bond pool fund from July 2021 discovered that it could stay viable for a minimum of three years. Nevertheless it additionally discovered that the “major threat of the present bonding program … is that the generated monetary sources should not ample to cowl precise future losses. In consequence, the lands may sit awaiting reclamation for years.”
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The U.S. Vitality Info Company forecasts coal manufacturing nationally rising 7 % this 12 months and a pair of % subsequent 12 months, pushed partially by rising exports and refilling energy plant inventories that have been depleted through the pandemic. In Kentucky, manufacturing rose 12.6 % through the fourth quarter of 2021 in comparison with the identical interval in 2020, after declining sharply over the earlier decade.
Kentucky nonetheless has about 20 % of all coal mines within the nation, third-highest behind West Virginia and Pennsylvania, based on the company.
However with the Biden administration working towards a objective of eliminating carbon emissions from electrical energy technology by 2035, and greater than 40 international locations pledging to section out coal to satisfy local weather objectives, the gasoline’s long-term future stays doubtful.
Greater than ever, the Biden administration wants to verify floor mining regulation and reclamation legal guidelines are enforced, Morgan stated. That shall be tougher proper now, he stated, as a result of the White Home has but to appoint somebody to steer the federal Workplace of Floor Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, effectively over a 12 months after President Biden took workplace.
The White Home press workplace didn’t reply to a query concerning the emptiness, and OSMRE didn’t reply to questions on Kentucky’s enforcement file.
“The coal mining business goes by an unprecedented disaster,” Morgan stated. “To have a management vacuum on the high of the federal regulator presently is disappointing and problematic. The state businesses want to reply. There additionally must be a coordinated federal response.”
James Bruggers
Reporter, Southeast, Nationwide Setting Reporting Community
James Bruggers covers the U.S. Southeast, a part of Inside Local weather Information’ Nationwide Setting Reporting Community. He beforehand lined vitality and the atmosphere for Louisville’s Courier Journal, the place he labored as a correspondent for USA As we speak and was a member of the USA As we speak Community atmosphere staff. Earlier than transferring to Kentucky in 1999, Bruggers labored as a journalist in Montana, Alaska, Washington and California. Bruggers’ work has received quite a few recognitions, together with finest beat reporting, Society of Environmental Journalists, and the Nationwide Press Basis’s Thomas Stokes Award for vitality reporting. He served on the board of administrators of the SEJ for 13 years, together with two years as president. He lives in Louisville together with his spouse, Christine Bruggers.
This Kentucky basketball team is now 5-0 after a blowout win against Jackson State. A big part of the Wildcats’ success this season has undoubtedly been their unslefishness and the ability to make that extra pass. Their assist numbers prove it. Through five games, Kentucky has an assist rate of 61.6% of all of their made baskets through those games combined.
After the game, Mark Pope talked about how well this team shares the ball, and he describes it as a type of built-in DNA that each player on this Kentucky roster has. It has showed so far this season.
“I thought our guys did an unbelievable job making plays for each other. You know, 29
assists is a good number for us and I would take that any night, especially in a game
like this where it is so easy to think, awe man, in this game I’m just going to get one for myself. We just have a DNA, these guys have built a DNA on this team where they are actually excited to make plays for each other and I’m telling you that bodes well and it’s rare and it is important for the way we play and how this game is made up and our guys are going to continue to believe more and more that the more they give the more they get back, it’s the way this game works when it’s right and certainly they got to feel that tonight. I was really proud of them. …One of the special stories for us tonight is that we had 11 players score, 11 of our 12 guys scored. The only player that didn’t score led us in assists. That’s exactly how a Kentucky basketball team is supposed to function. We had one guy that didn’t score and he led us in assists with seven. And every other guy on the court scored and shared the ball, I think we had four guys with five or more assists in the game.”– Pope on Kentucky’s unselfishness.
Kentucky has been sharing the ball all season, and that is a huge identity for this team. On Friday night, their assist numbers were impressive. The Wildcats had 29 assists on their 41 made shots, which is an outstanding percentage of baskets being off of assists. It’s also worth noting that Kerr Kriisa didn’t score, but he dished out 7 assists in just 12 minutes of action.
The way this Kentucky team passes the ball adds to the excitement when watching them. A fun brand of basketball, especially when the ball moves around as much as they make it happen.
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope addressed the media after the No. 9 Wildcats’ 108-59 win over Jackson State on Friday night at Rupp Arena.
******
MARK POPE Q&A:
MARK POPE: All right. Great night. This Jackson State team, man, these guys played really hard. They just compete, compete, compete, and Mo clearly, come on, he’s one of the best basketball guys and ambassadors to this game ever. The opportunity to have Kenny Walker, and Purvis in the gym was super special. You know, BBN showed out like they always do for a game that might not be perceived as a headline game. It was great night, proud of our guys. I thought they did a ton of good things. It was fun. We got to see everything. We got to see a ton of transitions and a ton of shots.You know, all kind of fireworks from all of our guys and we got to see shoes flying in the air. It was a magical evening. Lee is saying, I should not have said that. I thought it was fantastic.
Q Mark, your guys at the end seem to get a bigger kick out of anything with Travis and Trent both getting their first 3s, do you remember your first collegiate points and what it meant to you and what do you think it meant to those guys?
MARK POPE: That’s a great question. I can’t actually, I’m not sure. I didn’t score many, so you would think I would remember. I don’t remember for me. I think for TP and Trent, you know, those guys are- we talked about them a lot. They are really really special. They are having a massive impact on his team and their futures are incredibly bright and it’s hard to sit for 35 minutes and come play. I think they are taking it really seriously and I thought they came to play tonight, I thought they were awesome, I thought they were really good doing a really hard thing. So, I’m proud of those guys. It’s incredibly beautiful to have freshman that you can trust like we trust them and they have great futures.
Q Coach, last game you talked about Koby and how you tried to get him going outside of his three-point shooting. He went five of eight from three. But also in the first half, he used that shoulder a little bit like you were talking and finished around the rim. How is his game evolving outside of the lethal three-point shooter that we know he is?
MARK POPE: He had a couple of cuts that I loved and he had the late cut in the first half down to – on the left block and then he had the back door right in front of our bench where Amari, just like I’m going to throw it in that triple coverage and somehow Koby wanted that and earned himself free throws. It’s an unbelievable winning catch and it was really special. I thought Koby was really good tonight about choosing a simple play and executing really quickly. He was much more of a pop rule vibe tonight and I was really proud of that and I was really excited about his cuts. I thought he was excellent defensively, actually. Had a couple of strips that were a really incredible job. I was really proud of him for that. And I thought, I was really excited about his cuts and I thought he was excellent defensively, actually. Had a couple of strips that were really an incredible job with champion chess catching the moves, he was just catching multiple moves in isolation, I thought he was really good, I thought he was terrific. And then one of my many favorite moments tonight. He banged a three right in the corner in front of me and turned around and started talking trash to me. Which that was awesome. I love that. I mean, Kobe is in a tough spot. He goes five from eight from the three-point line and it’s destroying his shooting percentage, which is just crazy and I’ve never seen that in my lifetime. He’s sure is doing special things for us, like all of our guys are right now.
Q We did talk a lot about 3s this week. Obviously, the high for the season so far with makes and attempts. Did you see anything diferent out there or was there a diferent focus on that coming in?
MARK POPE: It was certainly diferent defensively and this was a team that was much more eager to the ball. They were much more heavy bottom bringing multiple bodies and it was just easier for extra passes to come by for sure. There was a lot of pressure, so the game got a little scattered.With all that said, I thought our guys did an unbelievable job making plays for each other. You know, 29 assists is a good number for us and I would take that any night. Especially, guys especially in a game like this where it is so easy to think, awe man, in this game I’m just going to get one for myself. We just have a DNA, these guys have built a DNA on this team where they are actually excited to make plays for each other and I’m telling you that bodes well and it’s rare and it is important for the way we play and how this game is made up and our guys are going to continue to believe more and more that the more they give the more they get back, it’s the way this game works when it’s right and certainly they got to feel that tonight. I was really proud of them. You got to approach it with faith. If I make this next pass, if I just trust this game or trust the way we play it’s going to work out for me, and it did. One of the special stories for us tonight is that we had 11 players score, 11 of our 12 guys scored. The only player that didn’t score led us in assists. That’s exactly how a Kentucky basketball team is supposed to function. We had one guy that didn’t score and he led us in assists with seven. And every other guy on the court scored and shared the ball, I think we had four guys with five or more assists in the game. And those are all really important markers for how we want to represent this state and how we want to play this game and what we believe wins. I was proud of that and you can tell I’m happy hyped about that.
Q Mark, Collin posted a team best plus 29 in just 13 minutes. Have you seen him get more comfortable? The last two games, he’s looked a lot more comfortable.
MARK POPE: Collin is not scared, he checked in the game and shot a 30 footer in transition and said yeah, I’ve got this. He’s an incredible talent. None of us, I can’t, there’s nobody in this room that can relate to going and putting down the basketball for two years and you know, he is an extraordinary talent and you know, we are all going to be surprised with what he turns into, but we shouldn’t be.He’s really an extraordinary talent. Beautiful, beautiful young man too.
Q Mark, you talk about the unselfishness, but this is 12 guys on the roster you had to put together really quickly. Were you able to determine that in kind of the interview process before you were ever extended?
MARK POPE: Yes, the answer is yes. It’s – yeah. Especially with these guys from the transfer portal, right? You have so much data on them and footage of them. Also, I don’t know, guys, I think Kentucky attracts really good people. I think really good people. Because if you come to Kentucky, then you, by definition, it is the one place in all of college basketball where you are representing just a fan base in a diferent unique way. And to want that, it’s almost like it’s own filter, right? To really want that. I think it’s built into the DNA of our guys and I think our job have done a really good job being intentional about and trying to learn each other and love each other and we talked about that a lot. I think that’s what Kentucky draws, right? You know, everybody knows that we talk about the name on the front of the jersey. Our guys know that and they know that when we recruit them. In general, you know, I think every guy that we recruit is desperately dreaming of hanging a banner and going to play in the NBA. But they believe the pathway to do that is not actually making this exclusively about themselves. And that sounds like a strong statement, but it’s actually hard not to be that way. I think the filter is pretty good and certainly our guys are proving that right now. It doesn’t come easy, it’s not a one conversation thing. It’s things our guys are talking to each other every single day. Trying to believe that and trust in that path, I’m proud of our guys functioning.
Q Mark, you have been talking about stretching Brandon out a little bit. Played a lot of minutes tonight, this line is just full of numbers. What did you like about his energy?
MARK POPE: I thought BG was great tonight and the six assists was a great number for that game. BG was a six two, which is really good for him, actually. Six assists is great with three steals and three blocks, right? in a really physical game on the interior with some big bodies, like some really big bodies. I thought as the game went on he got better and better and better. I thought he made some really great challenged catches. I thought he was really disciplined with how he distributed the ball and he is a decision-maker on our team and I thought he was terrific tonight. I thought he was super forceful inside trying to, you know, sometimes when he finishes moves a little bit weak soft going away and tonight, I thought he was super forceful against big bodies and there is a lot of growth in him tonight.
Q You mentioned Travis, Trent, Collin all being under diferent circumstances this season. Kerr, obviously, the guy who had zero points and seven assists. How big of an adjustment for him starting 93 games over his career and then coming into this roll and embracing it so far?
MARK POPE: He was that way from the beginning too, I think he knew exactly what he was walking into and I think he loves it. I’m telling you, Kerr Kriisa, I don’t know if we get him walking in our doors every year. I’m enjoying and savoring every second I get to coach him because he’s really unique, he’s bringing so much to our team, you know, it’s interesting. I don’t know if you guys notice this but we were in the second half we kind of made a run, this was back in the Duke game. We were somewhere in the second half and we made a run early and Duke kind of came back and pushed us up to seven, eight, or nine and we were a little stymied for a moment and we came to a media timeout and we were walking at the huddle and Kerr was pushing everybody, just shoving them, right? He just refuses to accept whatever the common vibe is. He’s going to be contrary to it.Right? It’s really important and our guys receive it really well. And it just keeps everybody really sharp. He’s really special, he’s got a really unique skill set and personality and he brings defiance and a swag and an insistence for a team. He’s also got this incredible commitment. I mean, I think it was probably the first blue-and-white scrimmage we all sat down and I mentioned that Kerr promised he was going to be the best pace guy in college basketball and he has lived up to that every second he’s been on the floor every single game, right? And that’s an incredible consistent determination is beautiful too and he’s got both of those vibes going on in a really special package. He’s special, and he was special tonight, if you think about it. Seven assists, zero points, let’s go, he’s cool with that. Dude is going to put up 20 one night when we need him to too.
Q Coach, I think you said in a previous press conference you have not been surprised by any of your players and you knew exactly what you were getting when you brought them here to Kentucky. But I think the play of Otega Oweh certainly surprised Big Blue Nation. Just talk about double O tonight with another 20 point game.
MARK POPE: It’s interesting with Otega, right? What is really great about Otega. He’s 8 for 12. He’s 4 for 4 from the free-throw line. He’s got 21 points, two assists, zero turnovers, three steals and ends up with 20 points on the night and we don’t get to him until the very end of the press conference.When he kind of does that every single night. He gets us of to unbelievable starts every single night. He’s got physicality and a joy about him. I think he’s been incredible. I’m really proud of him, you know, one of the things that all of us are working on growing and one of the things that he has been focusing on growing is being a every day, every play guy. Man, he’s probably been our most consistent guy in games. And that is a massive tribute to him. And Coach Fox works with him a lot. I’m just really proud of him and he’s just bringing joy to every single game. The only time I got mad at
Otega today was when he was celebrating with his guys too much after a play and not running transition defense. He’s really special. I have to stop talking about him because he started to get a big head back here, you know what I’m saying? Awesome. Thanks guys, have a great night.
And just like that, it’s time to watch Kentucky Basketball again. KSR’s new and improved LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Rupp Arena as the Cats host the Jackson State Tigers in the BBN Invitational (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network+).
Earlier this week, Kentucky cruised to its fourth win of the season, a 97-68 victory over Lipscomb. Tonight, they’ll face a Jackson State team that has yet to win a game, losing to No. 4 Houston, High Point, Xavier, Vanderbilt, and most recently, Western Kentucky. Mo Williams’ team is struggling, which could make for another 100-point game for the Cats, who have crossed the century mark twice this season.
For the last time this season, tonight’s game streams exclusively on SEC Network+; if you’re unable to watch, we’ve got you covered. Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from both Rupp Arena and the couch. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
Pope talks Kenny Walker, Purvis Short
11/22/2024 05:23:28 PM
During his pregame talk with Darren Headrick, Mark Pope shared some stories about Kenny Walker and Purvis Short, who will be honored tonight. Pope remembers Walker, Jamal Mashburn, and Rex Chapman coming back to campus to work out with the team when from his playing days in Lexington (to be a fly on that wall) and, once Pope was in the league, Short as a member of a group of NBA personnel that would make the rounds educating players on financing, media obligations, etc.
Can Kentucky cover a 34.5-point spread?
11/22/2024 05:20:12 PM
In case you missed it, the Cats are a massive favorite tonight. With 40 minutes until tip, the line is Kentucky -34.5 and the Cats’ team total is 95.5 points. That sounds like a lot, but Jackson State is statistically one of the worst teams in college basketball, ranking No. 322 in KenPom. Cats to cover and over team total may once again be safe tonight.
Kenny Walker, Purvis Short to be recognized tonight
11/22/2024 05:13:03 PM
This game is the fourth installment of the Unity Series, which aims to raise awareness of the missions of the HBCUs and to raise funds to provide opportunities for students at their institutions. As part of it, Kentucky will recognize two greats: Kenny “Sky” Walker and fellow top-five NBA Draft pick Purvis Short, a Jackson State legend. After his career as a Tiger, Short played 12 seasons in the NBA, racking up 14,607 points.
Both Walker and Short spoke to Dave Baker and Cameron Mills on the official UK pregame show, during which we learned that Walker is now an honorary member of the Committee of 101, blue coat and all. He may not know exactly where your seat is in the building, but he can tell you a heck of a story about his days as a Wildcat.
Last SEC Network+ game of the season
11/22/2024 05:00:44 PM
Cherish this moment, friends. This will be the final time this season you have to pull up the ESPN app and remember your login info to watch a Kentucky Basketball game. That’s right; no more SEC Network+ games after this one. As a reminder, if you have SEC Network through your cable subscription, you will be able to watch the game through the ESPN app on your phone, tablet, or TV via a streaming device.
If you don’t want to bother with that, you can listen to Darren Headrick (filling in for Tom Leach, who is in Austin) and Goose Givens on the radio or, of course, follow this here live blog. We’ve got you covered.
Streaming: SEC Network+/ESPN+ (Andrew Kappes, Cameron Mills)
Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Darren Headrick, Goose Givens)
Online Radio: iHeart
Satellite Radio: Sirius 106 or 191
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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