Kentucky

Thursday Headlines: Jay Bilas calls Kentucky the fastest team in the country

Published

5 months ago

January 11, 2024

Thursday Headlines: Jay Bilas calls Kentucky the fastest team in the country

Jay Bilas has recently given some praise for the Kentucky Basketball team, but recently, Bilas offered up even more positive comments about this year’s Wildcats squad.

Bilas, ranking the top 68 teams in college basketball in The Bilas Index, Vol II, ranked Kentucky 9th and had a lot of positive things to say about the Wildcats. Most notably, he said he thinks Kentucky is the fastest team in the country when getting out in transition.

If Kentucky defends and rebounds, this is the fastest team in the country. The Wildcats are deadly in transition, whether after a make or a miss. John Calipari has a group of players who can all dribble, pass and shoot, and this young team takes care of the ball like few others Cal has had in Lexington. The Wildcats are second in the nation in assist-turnover ratio and turnover percentage, and they lead the SEC in fewest turnovers and turnover margin.

And Bilas also had a lot of praise for Kentucky’s veteran players, Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell, while also noting that this team hasn’t really reached its ceiling as guys like Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw, and Ugonna Onyenso continue to improve and find their footing.

Antonio Reeves has been consistently spectacular, and Tre Mitchell has been Kentucky’s most valuable player. As Justin Edwards improves and becomes more comfortable and big guys Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso get more minutes, Kentucky will contend. The young Wildcats grew up in the second half on the road at Florida, winning a game where most young teams would have crumbled.

Interestingly, Bilas has two other SEC teams ahead of Kentucky. Bilas ranked Tennessee 6th and Auburn 7th. He did, however, place Kentucky one spot ahead of Duke, who comes in at 10th.

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Pretty cool to see.

Headlines

Spring practice will be key to determining next steps with transfer portal – Herald Leader

The Cats could (and probably should) look for more O-line help.

Get to know Kentucky DB Kristian Story – Cats Pause

Learn a little more about the newest Cat.

Tyrese Maxey reflects on being coached by John Calipari – KSR

Cool to hear Maxey talk about changing the way he looked at basketball.

Pete Carroll out as Seahawks coach, will serve as adviser – ESPN

A surprising move by Seattle.

Netflix is creating an NBA docuseries – Bleacher Report

If you liked the Quarterback series, this could be for you.

The Raptors coach was not happy about losing to the Lakers – Yahoo

Darko Rajaković was not happy to say the least.

Irrelevant Bowl has “no chance” to happen – CBS Sports

It was a long shot anyway, but that pretty much shuts the door.

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Kentucky

Ryan Nicholson continues to come up big for Kentucky

Published

2 hours ago

June 15, 2024

Press Room

Ryan Nicholson continues to come up big for Kentucky

Ryan Nicholson once again came up big for Kentucky on Saturday, belting a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game to extra-innings.

Kentucky pulled out the 5-4 win in 10 innings, earning its first College World Series win in program history to advance to the winner’s bracket.

“What a response,” Nick Mingione said postgame. “What a response. I mean, when I tell you guys in the ninth, this team has true belief. They really thought we were going to win the game.”

Since the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, Nicholson has been on another level. He’s 10-23 (.435 BA) at the plate with four home runs and eight RBI.

Jun 15, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Kentucky Wildcats first baseman Ryan Nicholson (25) hits a home run against the NC State Wolfpack during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Filed Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

“I’ve made this comment multiple times,” Mingione started. “But when our offense really got going is when, back in March, we got Waldy in there full time, and when Ryan started hitting the ball over the fence. I think he hit maybe one home run preseason. When you look at the amount of home runs he hit in our league, I think he has the third most amount of home runs out of everybody in the SEC in SEC games.”

Nicholson’s 22 are tied for ninth most among SEC batters, but it’s even more impressive when you take into account he hit just one home run in the first 16 games.

“Not a lot of people are talking about him but there’s a lot of really good offensive players, a lot of good home runs hitters. And he’s certainly one of them.”

Along with Nicholson’s success at the plate, he has truly reached another level as a fielder. Near the beginning of the season, it seemed like a move to DH was possible for the Cincinnati transfer. After making four errors in the span of nine games from April 11-April 27, Nicholson has made just one error in the last 19 games.

“But think about our defensive plays today,” Mingione said. “Ryan Nicholson made two plays where we need every bit — this game, you know this, the margin of victory is so small. What about the high chopper down first base that Nicholson jumps up and keeps fair? What about the pick that Nicholson jumps up and catches? We need every bit of his 6’4”. What about that first-and-second and nobody out and the double play we turned. That’s us at our best.

The Cats will now have to wait to see who wins the Saturday nightcap between Texas A&M and Florida, as they’ll play the winner Monday night at 6:00 p.m. CT/7:00 p.m. ET.

Follow KSR at the College World Series

KSR the show may not be headed to Omaha this weekend, but the website will be well-represented. KSR baseball beat writer Daniel Hager and videographer Steven Peake hit the road on Friday to capture all the action and excitement for Kentucky’s first College World Series appearance. They’ll be sharing all of their adventures on the site, social media, and special editions of “Bat Cat Beat” and Rapid Reactions on the KSR YouTube Channel, so make sure you’re following and subscribed to keep up with the Cats.

KSR’s trip to Omaha for the College World Series is presented by Summit Insurance Group, a veteran-owned, family-operated business. We want to introduce you to Steve Terrell, who is here to help and give you a tip.

Before signing any insurance policy, be sure to read the terms and conditions. Our practice goes much further than just writing your insurance policy. We want to make sure that in the event you are in an accident, and someone is injured, you have adequate coverage to cover any expenses related to the loss. Do you have enough money to pay for your medical bills? Do you have enough money to replace your vehicle? Our job as insurance advisors is to make sure that you do! We want to protect not only your vehicles but your home as well. We also offer business, life, Medicare supplements, and more. Give us a call at (859) 479-1234 for more tips!

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Kentucky

Kentucky battles North Carolina State in first round of the College World Series

Published

10 hours ago

June 15, 2024

Press Room

Kentucky battles North Carolina State in first round of the College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. (WYMT) – Kentucky takes on NC State in their first ever College World Series appearance.

The Blue and White went undefeated throughout the regional and super regional rounds to punch their first ever ticket to Omaha.

UK enters the game with a 45-14 record. They face a Wolfpack team that is making its fourth trip to Omaha. North Carolina State is 38-21 on the season.

The Wolfpack leads the all-time series with UK, 4-3.

The Wildcats beat NC State in the Lexington Regional in 2017 to win the school’s first regional championship.

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Kentucky

What channel is Kentucky baseball vs NC State on today in 2024 CWS? Time, TV, streaming

Published

17 hours ago

June 15, 2024

Press Room

What channel is Kentucky baseball vs NC State on today in 2024 CWS? Time, TV, streaming

OMAHA, Neb. — Kentucky baseball’s first College World Series game is on tap Saturday afternoon, opening against North Carolina State.

UK’s players took time to celebrate the super regional sweep of Oregon State, with Game 2 lasting into the wee hours Monday. But now that the Wildcats have boots on the ground in Nebraska, the time for talking — and celebrating past victories — is over.

“We’re all just ready to get playing,” third baseman Mitchell Daly said Thursday. “This first practice knocked the jitters off for a lot of people. I think everybody was just excited to get on the field, feel the dirt, see the scenery.

“Everybody is just ready to go.”

WATCH: Follow Kentucky baseball in the College World Series on Fubo (free trial)

A Kentucky (45-14) victory Saturday keeps it in the winners bracket; its next game would take place at 7 p.m. Monday. It would face the victor of Saturday’s second game: an all-SEC affair between Florida and Texas A&M. Should UK lose to N.C. State (38-21), the Wildcats will play an elimination game at 2 p.m. Monday against the loser of the Florida/Texas A&M tilt. The season is over for the loser of Monday afternoon’s game.

UK hopes Saturday’s game has the same result of its previous NCAA matchup against N.C. State: The Wildcats beat the Wolfpack in a winner-take-all game in a 2017 NCAA regional to advance to super regionals for the first time.

Here’s everything you need to know about Kentucky’s College World Series game Saturday at Charles Schwab Field, including time and streaming info:

NCAA College World Series: When is Kentucky vs NC State baseball on today?

Where: Charles Schwab Field (24,000); Omaha, Nebraska

Game time: 2 p.m. ET Saturday

Kentucky vs. NC State channel today in 2024 College World Series: Time, TV schedule

Kentucky’s College World Series game against North Carolina State will air at 2 p.m. Saturday on ESPN.

Kentucky vs NC State livestream in College World Series 2024

You can watch the game through WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or fuboTV.

How to stream the Kentucky baseball vs NC State College World Series game for free?

You can stream ESPN on Fubo, which offers a free trial here.

College World Series schedule, bracket, TV info

All times Eastern

Friday, June 14

Game 1: North Carolina 3, Virginia 2
Game 2: Tennessee 12, Florida State 11

Saturday, June 15

Sunday, June 16

Monday, June 17

Tuesday, June 18

Wednesday, June 19

Thursday, June 20

Game 13 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD, 2 p.m.; TV broadcast channel TBD
Game 14 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m.; TV broadcast channel TBD

CWS championship finals schedule 2024 (best-of-three series)

Saturday, June 22

Sunday, June 23

Monday, June 24

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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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