GAMEDAY: Walter McCarty Returns to Rupp with the Evansville Purple Aces

The last time Walter McCarty was on the Rupp Arena hardwood, he was celebrating a National Championship. Twenty three years later he returns to play the No. 1 team in America as the head coach of the Evansville Purple Aces.

The former Kentucky Wildcat averaged 11.6 points a game for Rick Pitino’s 1996 Championship squad. You may recall that time he knocked down a corner three-pointer to complete Kentucky’s Mardi Gras Miracle vs. LSU. Following the 96 season, the 6’10” stretch-four was taken with the 19th overall pick by the New York Knicks. He spent most of his ten-year career as a Boston Celtic, the same team where he spent five years as an assistant coach.

McCarty parlayed his position with the Celtics to a head coaching gig in his hometown of Evansville. In his first season at the helm, the Purple Aces’ rebuild got off to a sluggish start, finishing 11-21 and finishing Missouri Valley play with only five wins. They didn’t win a bunch of games, but they did bring back their infamous sleeved jerseys.

McCarty isn’t the only familiar name on Evansville’s sideline. SGA’s little brother, Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander, is a reserve freshman guard. The Aces are led by DeAndre Williams, their star forward who had 26 points and nine rebounds in the 75-71 season-opening victory over Ball State.

You can learn more about Walter McCarty’s team later today in Brandon Ramsey’s scouting report, but let’s be honest, tonight is all about the Wildcats.

Who Will Step Up?

The season-opener belonged to Tyrese Maxey. Nick Richards starred with a 21-10 double-double against EKU. Who will be the player everyone is talking about on Wednesday? My money is on Keion Brooks. We saw his motor pump out 11 and 8 against the Colonels and I think he’s only scratched the surface.

TV, Radio, Vegas

Kentucky opened as 25-point favorites with a game total of 137.5. Paul Sunderland and Andy Kennedy are on the call for the 7 p.m. ET SEC Network tip-off. If you can’t watch, there are multiple ways to listen to The Voice of the Wildcats and Mike Pratt.

• AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
• FM: 98.1 WBUL
• Satellite: XM-190 and Sirius-134
• Online: iHeart Radio

E.J Montgomery is Doubtful

We don’t know much about Mr. Montgomery’s injury. John Calipari has kept the details of his absence limited ever since UK revealed just before tip-off Friday night that he would not play after suffering an ankle injury in the Champions Classic. Yesterday Calipari simply said E.J. is doubtful with the ‘day-to-day’ injury.

“One guy’s misery is another guy’s opportunity, but still, we are not as good a team without [EJ], obviously, he’s one of our better players but you want him healthy,” Cal said.  “You don’t want guys — their body is their castle and you try to tell them at an early stage, you have to listen to your body and if it tells you to stop, you stop. In this case the doctors and everyone else — it’s day to day, they’re making sure, keeping an eye on it.”

Tonight’s Tale of the Tape

It’s hard to read too much into stats this early in the year, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t share them.

Will Wiseman Play?

The Memphis Tigers were initially defiant, playing their top-ranked center Friday night against UIC after the NCAA ruled him ineligible. That was just UIC. Tonight the Tigers have one of their toughest games of the season when they travel to Portland to play No. 14 Oregon. Penny Hardaway appears to be sticking to his guns and playing Wiseman regardless. We’ll find out how it all goes down as soon as Kentucky’s game ends, with tip-off set for 9 p.m. on ESPN.

Leah Edmond Named SEC Player of the Week

Tyrese Maxey grabbed the headlines as the SEC Basketball Freshman of the Week, but Leah Edmond was the only Wildcat to take home the big weekly award. UK volleyball’s all-time leader in kills tied a school record with 22 in a three-set victory over Georgia. That victory, along with another three-set win over Auburn on Sunday, helped the Cats secure a spot in second place of the SEC.

Football Stuff and Things

Mark Stoops spent more than an hour and a half talking to the media at his press conference and to fans on the coach’s show. Stoops provided a few injury updates, shared plenty of recruiting optimism and dug into the details behind the decision to stick with Lynn Bowden over Sawyer Smith against Tennessee. To wrap up the eventful day, the KSR Football Podcast vented some frustrations from the Tennessee loss as our own personal therapeutic outlet. We have a feeling after you listen that you will feel better too.

A New Matt Jones Podcast

KSR’s Fearless Leader is off the air , but he can’t stay away from the microphone for long. Back in the Bluegrass, this morning he’ll talk to his buddy Steve Romines about his wild week. Subscribe to The Matt Jones Podcast feed on iTunes to get it on your phone first when the audio goes live this afternoon.

Oh Man

The Jeopardy Tournament of Champions is extra special this year. Tonight ‘Jeopardy James’ Holzhauer will play for a chance to get revenge on the librarian who ended his streak. Before Emma Boetcher picked up the win, there was a touching moment during Final Jeopardy from Brown University student Dhruv Gaur.

Today's Final Jeopardy! includes a heartfelt moment with Alex and another win for Emma! #TournamentOfChampions pic.twitter.com/qWnKFUKL2U

— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) November 12, 2019

The Debut of Disney+

The streaming service from the Mouse House has received hype on every conceivable Disney platform. Now you can watch all of the animated classics, Marvel movies and The Mandalorian under one roof. In the midst of a new streaming service explosion, this one is a must-have. I just recommend holding out a little longer until football slows down. Right now there are just too many sports to watch and not enough time.

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