5 Things to Know About The Troy Trojans

Tonight, your University of Kentucky Wildcats will take on the Troy Trojans in Kentucky’s second game of the Adolph Rupp Classic. We’ve already told you a little about Troy, but here are five more things you need to know.

This is Troy’s first game in the Rupp Classic

Kentucky played its first game of the Rupp Classic on Friday night vs. East Tennessee State, but this will be the first game in the event for Troy, which started its season in Hawaii. The Trojans went 1-2 in the Rainbow Classic, beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff but losing to North Dakota and Hawai’i. On Thursday, they routed Brewton-Parker — which is a college in Mount Vernon, Georgia, not a UNC alum turned investment banker — 106-71.

After playing Kentucky tonight, the Trojans continue their run in the Rupp Classic with East Tennessee State on Wednesday, Delaware State on Monday, and UIC on Wednesday. In related news, I do not understand the Rupp Classic; how are Kentucky and Delaware State both in it if they don’t play each other?

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They visited Shadwell Farm this weekend

Troy arrived in town on Saturday, and made the most of their trip to Lexington with a visit to Shadwell Farm, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai. I doubt they got to meet the Sheikh, but they did get to meet Mohaymen, the son of Tapit that finished fourth in last year’s Kentucky Derby.

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They lost to Duke in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament

Troy won the Sun Belt Tournament last year, which earned them only their second NCAA Tournament berth in program history. Unfortunately, they drew Duke in the first round and lost 87-65, but there were some exciting moments, such as this dunk by Wesley Person in the second half:

We see you, Troy!#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/j9Pe7mcvR7

– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 18, 2017

With four starters returning from last year’s squad, Troy will not balk at the bright lights of Rupp tonight.

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Two familiar names

As Drew mentioned earlier, Wesley Person Jr.’s father is…you guess it, Wesley Person, a 14-year NBA vet. Person Jr. is Troy’s all-time leading scorer and three-point shooter, averaging 17 points through four games. Given opposing guards’ tendency to go off in Rupp, something tells me he’ll get more than that tonight.

Another name that might be familiar to you is Jordan Varnado. Troy’s junior guard is the younger brother of former Mississippi State star Jarvis Varnado, who actually won an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat in 2013. He’s now playing overseas.

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Their managers beat Kentucky’s managers yesterday

At the very least, Troy will take home one W from this trip. Last night, their managers beat Kentucky’s managers 70-61 in the Manager Games, earning a little love from Jay Bilas:

Time to up your game, UK managers.

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