I have just arrived home from a LONG journey back to Lexington after the SEC final this afternoon.  I encountered two wrecks, each of which kept my party on the interstate for just under an hour and this relatively easy drive from Nashville to Lexington became a much longer ordeal.  It was a relatively entertaining final game as both teams shot the ball poorly, but played with a great deal of intensity and passion.  The sight of Renaldo Balkman so distressed by his missed attempt at sending the game to overtime, crying and falling to the floor is what college basketball is to me.....well that and Woo and Shagari.

Brackets were announced during my trip as well.  The Cats ended up in the one place I didnt want to see them....the 8-9 game opposite Connecticut.  I for one am not quite as worried about UAB as some of the rest of the Kentucky fans seem to be.  They are without a couple of the players who really hurt Kentucky two years ago (the Taylor brothers) and Demario Eddins may not even play.  They still have Squeaky and press a great deal, but I am always hopeful that we play teams whose strength is in the guard play as I believe it plays into our forte.  I think the Cats will win and avenge a part of the 04 loss.

Now Connecticut....yikes, that could get ugly.  But we will cross that bridge when (and if) we get there.  Also surprised about Tennessee getting a two seed....talked to Bruce PEarl after the game and he was expecting a 4....so this must have been a happy night for him.

And the fact that the Missouri Valley has 4 is silly.  No one can tell me that those teams could compete on a night-in, night-out basis in the ACC or Big 12....but the mid-major caravan rolls on.  Very important for the future of these leagues that these teams do well....if not, it will have a major effect on future attempts at getting multiple bids from a league.

More SEC tidbits later tonight...but now the Sopranos season opener is on.

KSR Blue Blooded Opinions

Bracket Busting

Good morning, folks! It's Gameday once again for the Kentucky men's basketball team. On today's schedule? A matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes

Mark Pope - UK Athletics

KSR Basketball

KSR Gameday: No. 4 Kentucky vs. Ohio State in Madison Square Garden

As the great philosopher Alicia Augello Cook once said, New York is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of and there is nothing you can't do.

The Ohio State Buckeyes warm up prior to the NCAA men's basketball game against the Valparaiso Beacons at Value City Arena in Columbus on Dec. 17, 2024 (© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Kentucky vs. Ohio State: Preview, Odds & How to Watch

There's about a half hour until tipoff at Rupp Arena and noise is building outside of the Kentucky locker room. Inside, it's quiet as the team

jaxson-robinson-mark-pope-kentucky-dog-basketball

How Mark Pope and a very good dog saved Jaxson Robinson's basketball career

Zach Calzada is the fourth starting quarterback in five years to join the Kentucky football program from the transfer portal. When you tally up the

Zach Calzada lowers his shoulder, via Thomas Shea, Imagn Images

KSR Football

5 Reasons Why Zach Calzada is a Good Fit for Kentucky

Kentucky's win over Belmont wasn't pretty, but in the end, a win is a win.  The Cats struggled to get going early, and they even trailed 39-33

watch-ksrs-rapid-reaction-to-kentucky-wbbs-84-78-win-over-belmont

KSR Women's Basketball

WATCH: KSR's Rapid Reaction to Kentucky WBB's 84-78 win over Belmont

Ohio State is putting its pieces together on the fly, missing Aaron Bradshaw (personal) since Evansville on Nov. 17, followed by Meechie Johnson

Jul 9, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Jake Diebler uses pads to defend forward Aaron Bradshaw during a summer workout in the practice gym at the Schottenstein Center. (© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Jake Diebler says experience has separated Kentucky while Ohio State awaits availability clarity

The winter transfer portal window officially opened last week. We’ve seen some heavy player movement and are expecting some more. Teams are working

JJ Hester5

Transfer Portal Bio Blast: J.J. Hester

It's been 11 days since Kentucky Women's Basketball played a game at Memorial Coliseum. Previously, the 'Cats overcame a stagnant first quarter to

Kentucky-defeats:falls-belmont-moves-to-10-1

Kentucky defeats the Belmont Bruins, 84-78, to move to 10-1

The latest episode of KSR's Zoom Action is living up to its name.  Kentucky head coach Mark Pope used plenty of Zoom Action sets to help lead the

How Mark Pope used Zoom Action to beat Louisville | Zoom Action

ZOOM ACTION: How Mark Pope used Zoom Action to beat Louisville

Make that three transfer portal commits in one day for the Wildcats.   On Friday night, Wyoming defensive tackle transfer Jaden Williams announced

Wyoming DT Jaden Williams - Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images

KSR Football Recruiting

Wyoming DT transfer Jaden Williams commits to Kentucky

Kentucky has added an important piece to the 2025 offense. Former Nebraska running back Dante Dowdell is transferring to Kentucky, according to On3’s

Nebraska RB Dante Dowdell hurdles a USC defender

Nebraska RB Dante Dowdell Transfers to Kentucky

Kentucky got a big 30-point win against Purdue last Saturday, but now, they'll look to keep up their momentum against Belmont at home (6 p.m. ET).

live-blog-kentucky-wbb-vs-belmont

LIVE BLOG: Kentucky WBB vs. Belmont

Transfer decisions are being made as we inch close to the Christmas dead period that arrives next week. Another former Kentucky player is heading to

Caleb Redd copy 1 copy

Kentucky EDGE transfer Caleb Redd commits to Kansas

Kendrick Law

Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Kendrick Law

Cassidy Rowe, a junior women's basketball guard at the University of Kentucky, has spent three years of her life playing as a Wildcat. But actually,

on-the-rowe-to-victory-how-cassidy-rowe-pays-tribute-to-her-papaw-everyday

On the Rowe to Victory: Cassidy Rowe's journey to becoming a Kentucky Wildcat

Kentucky is returning to Madison Square Garden for the 21st time at the famed venue. The Wildcats are 14-6 all-time but have lost two straight in the

Untitled design (12)

POINT SPREAD: Kentucky vs. Ohio State Opening Line in the CBS Sports Classic

Kentucky scored a big transfer portal win with an explosive wide receiver. Kendrick Law is transferring from Alabama to Kentucky, reports Pete Nakos.

Alabama WR Kendrick Law

Alabama WR Kendrick Law Transfers to Kentucky

Kentucky Basketball is back in action on Saturday in the Big Apple, taking on Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden (5:30 PM

Kentucky Wildcat mascot poses at Rupp Arena - Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

KSR Staff Predictions: Kentucky vs. Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic

On Saturday, Kentucky will play its 21st game at Madison Square Garden, or rather, the current version of the famous venue. The program has a long

An exterior view of Madison Square Garden with the Empire State Building in the background. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Great Kentucky Basketball performances in Madison Square Garden

Most of Big Blue Nation's attention is focused on which Kentucky football players the Wildcats will attract from the transfer portal. One high school

what-recruits-visiting-kentucky-vs-vanderbilt

Kentucky Signee Mikkel Skinner Shines Ahead of Postseason Showcase

For the first time since being traded from the Timberwolves to the Knicks in the offseason, Karl-Anthony Towns finally made his return to Minnesota,

Karl-Anthony Towns - Bruce Kluckhohn, Imagn Images

KSR Cats in the NBA

BBNBA: Karl-Anthony Towns goes for 32/20 in return to Minnesota

Koby Brea led college basketball in 3-point shooting percentage five games into the season, shooting 74.1 percent from long range, an astounding

Ohio State Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. (0) celebrates a three pointer during the first half of the NCAA men's basketball game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Value City Arena in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024

Ohio State Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. (0) celebrates a three pointer during the first half of the NCAA men's basketball game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Value City Arena in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Ohio State's John Mobley Jr. is in Koby Brea's way

The transfer portal is a chaotic time for college football fans. Allow KSR to deliver your daily morning dose of Kentucky football transfer portal

Transfer Portal Diary Good

Transfer Portal Diaries: Preparing for an Eventful Weekend

It's a rare Friday show at KSBar and Grille as the KSR crew takes Big Blue Nation into the weekend from 10 a.m. to noon. In the first of the two

ksr-show-thread

KSR Show, 12/20: Listen live from 10 a.m. to noon

I feel like Macaulay Culkin the morning his family was set to fly to Florida for Christmas in Home Alone 2, only this time I know the lot in advance

Bracket Busting

Discuss This Article

How Mark Pope and a very good dog saved Jaxson Robinson's basketball career

5 Reasons Why Zach Calzada is a Good Fit for Kentucky

WATCH: KSR's Rapid Reaction to Kentucky WBB's 84-78 win over Belmont

Jake Diebler says experience has separated Kentucky while Ohio State awaits availability clarity

Transfer Portal Bio Blast: J.J. Hester

Kentucky defeats the Belmont Bruins, 84-78, to move to 10-1

ZOOM ACTION: How Mark Pope used Zoom Action to beat Louisville

Wyoming DT transfer Jaden Williams commits to Kentucky

Lane Kiffin

Notre Dame vs. Georgia odds

Nick Saban

Desmond Howard

Kirby Smart reacts