Saturday vs. Kansas is shaping up to be a wild night in Lexington.
Good time to throwback to the best atmosphere I’ve ever been a part of. Loudest I’ve ever heard Rupp Arena.
Bring the energy this weekend BBN!
Spoke with a booster connection tonight. The Craft’s have been actively rounding up money for 2 years already to get Cal gone. The 33 million buyout is much lower than previous 80+.
Cal will not be head coach next season.
BREAKING:
Aaron Bradshaw has returned to practice and is beginning his ramp up into 5v5 work. Not expected to play vs. Marshall or Miami, but will return likely in early December.
(per Jack Pilgrim & David Sisk)
F - Amari Williams ✅
F - Great Osobor 🔜
G - Devion Smith 🔜
G - Johnell Davis ❔
G - Koby Brea 🔜
F - Jaxson Robinson ❔
G - Javon Small 🔜
Don’t let the Pope get hot… 🔥
2023 CB Cristian Conyer, the
#1
football player in the state of Kentucky, just committed to Tennessee. Tough loss for the Cats.
Have to think NIL played a part in his decision. UT has a massive collective for recruiting. UK may be falling behind…
Coach Cal called a really good game vs. Michigan. We executed set after set and it was really satisfying to watch. As a fan for 15+ years, it was shocking to me how many plays he ran - it seems he knows this team may need that guidance to play to their full potential!!
THREAD:
A lot of buzz around Kentucky and Tre Mitchell…
6’9 PF from West Virginia. Was a starter and averaged 12pts/6reb while shooting 36% from 3. Played at both Texas and UMass before WVU and performed well. Would be a very good addition…
Keep in mind Klutch was also Chris Livingston’s agency, who demanded he start and play the 3 all of last season or he would quit the team mid-year. Big time locker room issue came from them.
Kentucky basketball can’t be held hostage by a 3rd party any longer.
If you want to listen to guys who actually know what they’re talking about, I suggest Sources Say with Jack Pilgrim and Shawn Smith.
They discuss how SPECIAL this Kentucky team is rather than the KSR show which still constantly pokes at Cal and tries to stir controversy.
Kentucky has a huge opportunity tonight to pick up a win vs. a top 10 team. Pack Rupp and get LOUD!!
Let’s remember our last top 10 non-con home win…
#RowdyRupp
AJ Dybantsa, the
#1
player in the 2025 class, picked up an offer from Kentucky today.
AJ is a generational talent and is a lock to be the
#1
draft pick in 2026. Has ties to Terrence Clarke and speaks highly of UK. Calipari should be all in on AJ.
Kentucky basketball’s 2024 recruiting class has quietly gained a head of steam recently. How it could end up:
Somto Cyril -
#11
C, signed
Boogie Fland -
#3
CG, signed
Travis Perry -
#6
PG, signed
Jayden Quaintance -
#2
PF
Billy Richmond -
#6
SG
Karter Knox -
#4
SF
Tre Mitchell really reminds me of one of my favorite Kentucky players: Terrence Jones. Both are 6’9 & 240+lbs with skill and power.
Jones 2012 NCAA title season:
12.3 pts / 7.2 reb / 1.3 ast / 33% 3pt
Mitchell at WVU:
11.7 pts / 5.5 reb / 1.8 ast / 36% 3pt
For those who aren’t aware, pictured below is Doug, a 19 year VOLUNTEER Blue Coat for UK bball & fball.
Doug was on camera flipping off a group of Florida fans along with the student section on Saturday.
Doug has since lost his job. We have to help him get it back.
#FreeDoug
Mitch Barnhart reported to offer Danny Hurley $11 million in starting negotiations. Would make him the highest paid college coach in the country by a large margin.
It’s now basically confirmed that Kentucky will add the Croatian sensation Zvonimir Ivisic to this season’s roster. Be on the lookout for the official announcement.
I love this idea as long as he pans out to be eligible.
People asking me why Klutch would want to shut down Bradshaw for the season.
IMO, they think it’s not a good fit even though he wanted UK. They wanted him to USC, and think Cal won’t put him in the best position to showcase his skills properly. Therefore an injury to hide him.
Aaron Bradshaw’s situation looks to be a battle between Kentucky and Klutch.
Yesterday’s reports and 4-6 month timeframe came from Klutch, hence why it came from an NBA insider.
UK believes he will be back much sooner. On IG, Bradshaw says the same.
I talked to someone
My thoughts on the potential additions of Joey Hart and Jordan Burks:
Both seem like great fits for high upside role players. My only concern is they are more freshmen. Kentucky is lacking severely in the experience category.
Get Reeves back and land Kaluma and things change!
Big Blue Wall has an opportunity to bully the Georgia D-Line a little bit…
With how stout our defense is playing, my confidence in our chances grows by the day.
Georgia pass rush
+4 sacks in 5 games
+30.8% pressure rate (not great)
+iDL Warren Brinson leads them in pressures (9) indicating a lack of an edge rush
The Dawgs still have stellar pass numbers but this is a defense that is winning with coverage.
My biggest area to watch for Kentucky basketball this week:
• Defense
Straight line drives and rim protection are key. Looking for Wagner and Onyenso to lead.
The last Kentucky team to finish top-10 in KenPom defense was led by PJ Washington…
To me, the clear best fit is Billy Donovan.
- He was an assistant here, knows what the program means to the state
- Has no guaranteed future in the volatile NBA
- Could retire after Kentucky as a top-5 CBB coach of all time
- Knows modern basketball and how to strategize it
I’m no doctor, but doesn’t 4-6 months for a hairline foot fracture seem insane?
Pretty clear to me at this point Klutch Sports did not want Bradshaw to Kentucky. USC push was from them. Now they’re trying to shut him down for the year. Embarrassing.
Gonzaga is going to be a lot tougher matchup for Kentucky than some may think. They have skill and are not bad defensively.
I expect the spread somewhere around Kentucky -4. Cats gotta focus defensively and get back on track.
Despite the preseason doubters and naysayers, Rob Dillingham is proving why he was the
#1
ranked PG in America at one point. To start the season, Rob is averaging:
16.8 PPG
4.3 APG (2.8 A:T ratio)
50% FG / 44% 3FG
Special.
For what it’s worth, I still believe Kentucky will add 1 more big to the current roster in August. This week in Canada will likely expose us as vulnerable in the frontcourt.
I still believe in Onyenso but gotta have a backup.
Auburn lost by 7 on a last second touchdown with a first-year head coach.
South Carolina lead at halftime and lost by 10 with a third-year head coach.
Kentucky gave up 51 pts and had 425 fewer yards of offense than UGA.
I don’t want to hear shit about NIL right now.
Hearing Kentucky is heavily involved with a bunch of players still not yet in the portal, couple guards who would make the BBN very happy.
Still favorites to land Dayton sharpshooter Koby Brea as well as Great Osobor.
Cal: “If I spent all day reading what people say online.. I can’t be doing that. Neither can these kids but they can’t resist. I’ve been taking the phones.”
“Think of these kids as your own son. They need to be lifted up when they’re down.”
1. Dissecting every Cal statement with a microscope
2. Creating lineup controversies
3. Openly tweeting about players’ deficiencies
4. Perpetuating doubt around injury situations
5. Being loud when losing and quiet when winning
6. Tempering excitement but exacerbating doubts
Right out of the gate Cal calls a backdoor cut off the high post. Leads into a flat high ball screen. Wheeler has the option to pass to Reeves off the right corner flare, or drive with his dominant left to a wide open lane with Wallace spotting up. Draws a foul. GREAT SPACING
Cal in his postgame interview again hits on the team struggling with mental toughness:
“Kids will google their name and read all the clutter - you can’t be doing that.”
Calls the fans “classy” and pushes us to continue to lift this team up and drown out “non-basketball fans”.
BREAKING:
The Kentucky basketball team held a players-only meeting after the loss to South Carolina and prior to the victory over Tennessee in Oscar Tshiebwe’s room.
(1/2)
Last play of the half - it was beautiful. Wheeler makes a mistake and gets too deep. Double backscreen for Onyenso serves as a decoy to allow Collins to come off Fredrick’s backscreen for a wide open left side lob. Wheeler has to slow down and get that to him sooner. Wide open.
Providence doesn’t start a player over 6’8. Hopkins is their leading rebounder.
They play a similar offense to Kentucky out of horns set with both blocks posting. Shoot 35% from 3 as a team.
Not strong defensively - allowing 71 PPG albeit in a good offensive conference.
🔊🔊INBOUNDS PLAY ALERT🔊🔊
Simple double curl we ran several times this game (hallelujah). Michigan defends super poorly here. Inbounds man should never let that pass through. But this is why you run a play!! Make the defense MOVE
Wheeler lets Wallace take this one at point. Gets straight into a left wing ballscreen to allow him to come off with his dominant hand. Collins downscreening for Reeves on the oppo side. Wallace and Reeves both put the ball on the floor and create separation. Open 3. Good energy.
I’ve never understood the Wheeler slander. He led the SEC in assists/gm and even led the nation at some points.
Shooting isn’t his specialty. He’s an old fashioned true point guard.
Sahvir Wheeler makes it official he will be back at Kentucky next season.
CB3 🅿️roductions on Instagram: “Nothin but business this season for 2️⃣
@sahvir_
🎥: Kentucky Basketball”
We executed this well, shot 47% from the field and 60% from 3, and we STILL only won by 4. 10-20 from the free throw line hurts. Gotta be better. Credit to Michigan who played really solid and will be a sleeper in the NCAA tourney!
Overall great win for Kentucky. LSU came in hot and shot the ball really well.
Cats played hard and with motivation on both ends. Late game offense still needs work, but 3/4 of that game was very well executed offensively. Cal called lots of good action. Need to build on this.
@Jimothy875
I think the same can be said in the opposite for KSR 🤷🏻♂️ I love the show but they love to take the negative side of most situations related to basketball
🔊🔊INBOUNDS PLAY ALERT🔊🔊
Same double curl concept but this time to set up the opposite side. Fredrick gets in the way, but credit to Toppin for HOLDING the corner downscreen. Wallace curls and Toppin gets rewarded with a lob dunk. Simple execution and doing your job.
Mark Stoops in his interview on KSR:
“This year we were off. It wasn’t good. I take that responsibility that’s on me. I gotta move very quickly and get it right.”
That kind of accountability after a disappointing season gets you respect from fans. Humility.
Gameday once again BBN!
Kentucky takes on Canada at 8pm.
Game will be broadcast only on the Canadian network, but CBS will air a re-run at midnight tonight.
Seeing a lot of loss predictions… I don’t buy it.
Give me the Cats 76-70 with a 30 ball by Antonio Reeves!!
Don’t look now, but Kentucky is the 3rd ranked team & DEFENSE on Bart Torvik over the last 2 games…
If this team can put it all together they have the pieces to win a title.
Justin Edwards is ranked
#2
overall nationally, behind
#1
DJ Wagner.
Rob Dillingham is
#6
overall.
This will end up as one of Calipari’s greatest classes of all time!!
I personally don’t think the Kentucky basketball roster is final.
Ugo is the only true 5 capable of rebounding & defending that position. Got to get another center especially w/ Bradshaw’s injury. Grad transfer or Cyril reclass.
Absolutely RIDICULOUS performance. CATS WIN!
Reeves lost his damn mind out there. Toppin pull-ups were the difference in the game. Thiero stepped up and Tshiebwe came in ready to kill a man. Go score 80 and nothing else matters!
THAT’S KENTUCKY BASKETBALL!!!
I just don’t understand this back and forth. Who cares what Levis is projected in the draft! We are here to win college football games. Levis did not play like a “
#1
pick” or “heisman” on Saturday. People are right to be annoyed after hearing that narrative repeatedly.
In May the odds in Vegas for Will Levis to be the First pick in the NFL Draft were 35-1. After the Florida game they went down to 12-1. This morning it’s 6-1
For those who were saying “Will Levis cost himself millions on Saturday.”
He may or may not go
#1
but Sat won’t be why
My loyal KY Ops followers:
I am embarking on a 3-month work assignment in Japan today. 🇯🇵
My coverage of UK Sports will be more difficult. But I will do my best to keep up the content!
P.S. it’s Gold Medal Gameday!!!
Have no idea why people have been bashing DJ. Having a guard that can beat his man 1v1 and either create a shot or kick it out is exactly what we’ve been missing the past 3 years. Gotta have it in March.
@coreyp08
@KentuckyMBB
I got us 15-22 against Top 25 opponents overall the last 5 seasons (2017-2018 to now including SEC tourney).
Cal’s first 8 years: 35-16
Can you confirm?
@MZ6924
@BBN_Commenter
Basketball has a national brand, and only has 13 players. Football will rely more heavily on local money for 25-40 players.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that as soon as NIL has become prominent our recruiting has died. We had the best class in school history last year…
Another opportunity to make a statement…
Another opportunity to silence the doubters…
Another opportunity to prove your growth…
Another opportunity to put on a show…
CHASE GREATNESS ROB.