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Who Should Be the Special Guest for Kentucky at Big Blue Madness in 2026?

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Who Should Be the Special Guest for Kentucky at Big Blue Madness in 2026?


First, it was Rick Pitino in 2024. Then, it was John Wall in 2025. Kentucky has had two iconic special guests at Big Blue Madness over the last two years.

The last two Big Blue Madnesses have been ones to remember. However, it’s never too late to look ahead to 2026, even just hours removed from our most recent BBM.

KSR+ is choosing five candidates to be the special guests at Big Blue Madness in 2026. Some names are realistic candidates, while others are pipe dreams. Might as well have the full spectrum of people on here.

Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins made his return to Big Blue Madness in October 2023, which feels like ages ago. Let’s make it happen again.

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Cousins hasn’t been exactly Big Blue Nation’s favorite former player since John Calipari left. He caught flak after saying Kentucky would “never be the same” after Calipari’s departure. However, the love for Boogie in Lexington is clear.

It’s only fitting for Kentucky to bring back Cousins one year after John Wall makes his return. If there’s anyone who’s been to BBM recently that fans would love to see again, it’s Cousins. Nothing would make things right like Mark Pope introducing him to a raucous crowd at Rupp Arena.

Kentucky coach John Calipari (Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio)

John Calipari

Okay, this one might be a bit far-fetched. That’s mainly because he’s currently the head coach at the University of Arkansas. But can you imagine?

John Calipari was the head coach at Kentucky from 2009 to 2024, winning a national title in 2012. He led UK to four Final Fours in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015. However, his tenure ended on a sour note, losing to No. 14 seed Oakland in the 2024 NCAA Tournament before leaving to take the head coaching job at Arkansas.

We saw just last year a sitting head coach at another program come into Big Blue Madness and make his return after leaving for a rival program wearing red. Why can’t we see another?

Nov 15, 2011; New York, NY, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Tyshawn Taylor (10) has his shot blocked by Kentucky Wildcats forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first half at the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis feels like an obvious choice as the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in Kentucky’s latest NCAA title in 2012. His NBA career has lived up to the hype.

Davis had one of the best one-and-done seasons in NCAA history during the 2011-12 season. He was the national college player of the year, NABC defensive player of the year, the NCAA blocks leader, the SEC Player of the Year, and he won Kentucky’s first NCAA Title since the 1997-98 season.

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Davis is one of the most decorated Kentucky players in the NBA. He’s been named to 10 NBA All-Star games, won an NBA title in 2020, and is a four-time First-Team All-NBA selection. Bringing him back to Big Blue Madness would remind Kentucky fans of its latest title.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

It’s crazy I’ve gone this long without mentioning the reigning NBA MVP and Finals MVP. What’s even crazier is that I wasn’t even 100 percent on including him.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was excellent at Kentucky, earning second-team All-SEC honors in 2018 and being drafted No. 11 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. Yet, he was never close at Kentucky to reaching the heights he’s reached in the NBA.

Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off one of the greatest seasons in NBA history. He captured MVP honors, won a scoring title, and was named NBA Finals MVP, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to its first-ever title. He might not have the legacy at Kentucky like some of the other players on this list, but his status in basketball is unmatched right now.

nba-insider-makes-case-kentucky-guard-reed-sheppard-number-one-draft-big-boards
Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

Reed Sheppard

Sure, Reed Sheppard might have upset a lot of Kentucky fans when he wore an Arkansas shirt ahead of the UK-Arkansas game earlier this year. However, by Big Blue Madness 2026, that will be a distant memory.

Sheppard was beloved during his one season at Kentucky. The son of Kentucky NCAA Champion Jeff Sheppard, Reed exceeded all expectations for him during the 2023-24 season.

Sheppard was the national freshman of the year by some outlets during his lone season at Kentucky, eventually being drafted by the Houston Rockets with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

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Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026

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Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026


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The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.

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Cash Ball

02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09

Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Evening: 6-3-0

Midday: 9-6-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Pick 4

Evening: 5-7-6-0

Midday: 5-2-6-6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Millionaire for Life

03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.



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Takeaways from Kentucky’s home and away SEC schedule for next season

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Takeaways from Kentucky’s home and away SEC schedule for next season


On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.

In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.

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Jan 24, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope claps after a possession during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)

In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.

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Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope shakes hands with Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari prior to the game at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

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Kentucky hits the road at Texas

This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.

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Feb 15, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope argues with an official during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Which game could be a trap?

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We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.

Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.

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Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky? See laws ahead of Fourth of July

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Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky? See laws ahead of Fourth of July


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  • Kentucky state law permits fireworks use unless prohibited by local ordinances.
  • In Louisville and Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are illegal, but smaller items like sparklers are allowed.
  • Certain fireworks are banned in Louisville if their labels include words like “explosive,” “rocket,” or “firecracker.”
  • Safety officials advise keeping water nearby, not relighting “dud” fireworks, and never allowing children to ignite them.

Fourth of July is almost here, and Kentuckians are getting ready to light up the sky.

Before you plan your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed under Kentucky law. Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and safety tips in the Bluegrass State ahead of Independence Day.

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Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky?

Yes. As long as you live in a place where local ordinances don’t prohibit it, according to the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.

Are fireworks legal in Louisville?

In Louisville or Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are not legal due to a local law. Some consumer products that don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers, are allowed.

If the cautionary label on the firework has the words “explosive,” “emits flaming pellets,” “flaming balls,” “firecracker,” “report” or “rocket,” it is automatically a no-go, according to the Louisville-Jefferson County Code of Ordinances.

But, smaller ones like sparklers, cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners are legal. Still, don’t let the size fool you − they can burn up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

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Learn more: Check out these 4th of July events taking place across Kentucky

How to use fireworks safely

The state fire marshal suggests following the following advice when using fireworks:

  • Use fireworks outdoors.
  • Obey local laws.
  • Keep a bucket of water or a working water hose nearby.
  • Use fireworks as intended and avoid altering them or combining them.
  • Never relight “dud” fireworks. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
  • Spectators should keep a safe distance from the person lighting the firework (the individual lighting it should wear safety glasses).
  • Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated adult operator.”
  • Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
  • Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
  • Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
  • Read and follow all instructions on the label.

Former Courier Journal reporter Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.



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