A New Tip-Off Time for the Cats and the Tar Heels in Saturday's Top 10

by:Nick Roush•12/17/16•

@RoushKSR

The best tip vs. UNC.

Most of the Big Blue Nation is asleep, or still awake, in Las Vegas. For the rest of the fans, we’ve got a long day of waiting until tip-off. Luckily, ~~CBS has moved up the estimated tip-off time 15 minutes to 5:30~~ CBS says the game will start no sooner than 5:30 EST, depending on the conclusion of the first game. It should not affect any normal pregame festivities — the KSR Pregame Show will begin at 3:00 from the T-Mobile Arena — but there’s still a significant amount of waiting to be done. Until then, read this:

1. UK is a 5-Point Favorite

“Was” a 5-point favorite is probably a better word to use. Since Vegas opened the line late Friday night, it’s been bet down to one point, and in some places it’s a pick ’em. Regardless of what the Vegas oddsmakers say, as long as the Cats win in Vegas I’m good with whatever.

2. Will Joel Berry Play?

Yes. It was not official until last night, but we all knew it was going to happen. That’s part of the reason the spread got bet down so quickly. The North Carolina point guard might be a little gimpy, but I’m pleased to see the Tar Heels at full strength. There’s no room for excuses today.

3. Get Hyped with KY Wildcats TV

Another Battle Of The Blue Bloods, don’t miss the @KentuckyMBB top 10 matchup today at 5:45PM EST! pic.twitter.com/ShWQhL9GOU

– KYwildcatsTV (@KYwildcatsTV) December 17, 2016

4. Happy Birthday Bill Keightley

Kentucky’s long-time equipment manager, appropriately dubbed Mr. Wildcat, would have been 90 years old today. On yesterday’s radio show we heard an anecdote from a listener who used to receive his mail from Mr. Keightley. If you didn’t believe that Mr. Keightley was a mailman for our trustworthy listener, this 1969 Herald-Leader picture of Mr. Keightley receiving a postal award should do the trick.

@KYPhotoArchive

5. Mark Stoops Met with the Media Yesterday

The Cats returned to practice after finals. Mark Stoops didn’t have much to say, but he is glad they still have two weeks to prepare for Georgia Tech.

“We have a lot of work to do, especially on the defensive side defending Tech’s offense,” Stoops said. “It’s nothing like a zone-read option or anything like that, or any option we’ve seen this year. It’s totally different, like I said, I think it’s very important that we have some extra time.”

6. A Story You Need to Read About Alex Montgomery

It got dusty earlier this week when Tyler Thompson told you about Wenyen Gabriel’s difficult upbringing. Prepare for all the feels when you read Jen Smith’s piece on the Kentucky wide receiver who’s career was caught short by ACL injuries. Five surgeries in three years is nothing compared to what he had to deal with as a child.

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Family broken, knees battered, UK football player finds way to ‘just keep living life’

7. A Pick Me Up

Now that the tears are flowing, you could use a good laugh to get back to normal. This video will do the trick.

This Teen Became A Meme After His Pure Reaction To Rare Animals In Class Went Viral https://t.co/DO0lS0UtMg pic.twitter.com/sAP5RTtqrt

– Ikran ðŸ‘©ðŸ¾â€ðŸ’» (@ikrandahir) December 17, 2016

8. Beginning of Bowl Season

The Cats don’t have Las Vegas all to themselves. The Las Vegas Bowl is the third bowl game of the day at 3:30. It all starts at noon with the HBCU’s Celebrations Bowl. Trey Huntsman will tell you what you should expect to see on the first day of Bowl Mania.

9. Big News in the Roush House

For the last three years, my little brother Nathan has been working his tail off for the WKU football team, trying like Red to get a mother bleepin’ scholarship .

mothafuckin-scholarship-o

That is no longer the case.

Before WKU departed for the Boca Bowl, interim head coach Nick Holt awarded Nathan and two other walk-ons full rides. It was never easy. There were times he wanted to give up, yet he persisted through adversity. It all culminated in the C-USA Championship with a handful of special teams tackles against the nation’s No. 1 kick returner and a forced fumble. I couldn’t be more proud of my hard-working, hard-headed little brother.