LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Minnesota State
Kentucky wraps up its exhibition schedule vs. Minnesota State tonight at 7 p.m. Follow KSR’s Live Blog for updates, highlights, and analysis of the Cats vs. the Mavericks at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky impressed in its first exhibition game, beating Kentucky Wesleyan by 71 points, the largest margin of victory in any game since November 2016. Tonight, the competition steps up slightly. The Mavericks from Mankato are the defending Division II national champions, bringing a wealth of experience to Rupp Arena for the first meeting of the two programs. Picked first to finish in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), Minnesota State returns two All-NSIC selections in Kyreese Willingham and Justin Eagins. The Mavericks are led by Matt Margenthaler, who has a 488-211 record over his 23 seasons as Minnesota State’s head coach.
The game will stream on SEC Network+, so if you’re unable to watch, we’ve got you covered. Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from both Rupp Arena and the couch. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
Brandon Garrison discusses his big performance
10/29/2024, 8:46:43 PMOklahoma State transfer Brandon Garrison got a bigger opportunity against Minnesota State following an injury to Amari Williams and the sophomore took advantage. The 6-foot-11 big finished the win with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting with four rebounds and one thunderous jam in 23 minutes.
Garrison joined Darren Headrick and Cameron Mills after the blowout win to discuss his performance.
FINAL: Kentucky 98, Minnesota State 67
10/29/2024, 8:38:43 PMThat was fun. After a cold and sloppy start, the Cats caught fire to beat Minnesota State 98-67. Jaxson Robinson led all scorers with 24 points on 8 threes, followed by Otega Oweh with 15 points, Andrew Carr with 14 points, and Brandon Garrison with 12. The Cats shot 53.6% from the floor and 33% from three, making 13 treys in total. While it was a sloppy start, they finished with 28 assists to 8 turnovers and totaled an impressive 15 steals.
Check out all the stats below. Go Cats.
There’s a Pope in the eRupption Zone
10/29/2024, 7:26:44 PMI’m sure this will be a popular Halloween costume this year. Also, Ls Down.
HOLY POSTER BRANDON GARRISON
10/29/2024, 7:25:30 PMLadies and gentlemen, we have our first best dunk of the 2024-25 season, courtesy of Brandon Garrison. Garrison is up to 12 points and Kentucky’s lead is now 90-52 with 5:46 to go.
A Beautiful Kerr Kriisa Dime
10/29/2024, 8:20:37 PMIt’s going to take a little bit for the eyes to get adjusted to seeing someone wearing No. 77 on a college basketball court, but it won’t take long if Kerr Kriisa is dropping dimes like this to Andrew Carr.
Kentucky is still Wearing the Same Uniforms?
10/29/2024, 8:18:28 PMThis is a good-looking Kentucky basketball uniform, don’t get me wrong, but it’s the same uniform we wore for an old coach. Why?
A new coach calls for a new uniform. When I see the Wildcats wearing these, I think of a team that lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. We need new uniforms to create a visual connection to the beginning of the Mark Pope era.
We’ll let you know when Jaxson Robinson cools down
10/29/2024, 8:12:29 PMI mean, my goodness. Jaxson Robinson started hot, racking up 15 first-half points on five threes — and he ain’t slowing down anytime soon. The BYU transfer is now up to 24 points with eight threes (!!!) on just 12 attempts from deep. Oh, and he’s added six rebounds, three assists and two steals in 24 minutes.
Robinson returned to college wanting to prove he’s a pro and he’s done just that in his first couple of appearances in blue and white. When will he ever come back to Earth? We’ll be sure to let you know — but we’re enjoying him right where he is now.
Under-16 Update
10/29/2024, 7:06:23 PMWith 15 minutes left to play, Kentucky leads Minnesota State 60-29. The Cats are a perfect 7-7 from the floor in the second half, with Jaxson Robison hitting the lone three so far. That’s his sixth this game, which brings his point total to 18. He had five threes in the Cats’ first exhibition game last week.
Commercial rant
10/29/2024, 7:01:00 PMI love the musical Wicked, but if I have to see the Target commercial for the upcoming movie one more time, I may lose my mind.
That’s all. I’d love to see more dunks like this from Andrew Carr. He just scored again to make it 53-25 Kentucky with 16:57 to go.
Amari Williams update
10/29/2024, 6:56:33 PMThe second half is underway and Amari Williams is done for the night. According to Darren Headrick, Williams is not available for the remainder of the game after limping off with an apparent knee injury in the first half. Williams came back out from the locker room toward the end of the first half and was spotted riding the stationary back, so let’s hope the injury is very minor and holding him out for the second half is simply a precaution.
Jaxson Robinson is on fire
10/29/2024, 7:45:33 PMThe BYU transfer showed us all why he is a legitimate NBA Draft prospect in that first half. Robinson poured in 15 points on five three-point field goals and powered that big Kentucky run. The wing looked like the best player on the team for a large stretch. Impressive shotmaking from the only player to follow Pope to Lexington to Provo.
HALF: Kentucky 43, Minnesota State 23
10/29/2024, 6:52:45 PMWell, that changed quickly. After being cold for most of the first half, the Cats got microwave-hot, going on a 21-3 run to take a 20-point lead into halftime. A big chunk of that scoring came from behind the arc. Kentucky started the game 2-13 from three and have been 6-11 since. As Dickie V would say, these Cats have spurtability.
Jaxson Robinson leads the way with 15 points, all from threes. He’s the only player in double figures. Kentucky is shooting 43% from the floor and 33% from three. Check out the entire box score below.
Amari Williams Update: He’s on the exercise bike
10/29/2024, 7:34:50 PMWilliams is near the sideline on an exercise bike, working out that knee.
Rockcastle County Middle School Basketball got in and got upgraded
10/29/2024, 7:33:20 PMRockcastle County Middle School’s basketball team couldn’t practice tonight because the chorus had the gym, so the coaches brought the team to Lexington for a team-building trip. They were by me at the top of Section 236 when the game started, but quickly got an upgrade to the lower bowl from UK. There are plenty of open seats tonight.
Kentucky takes control with 10-0 run
10/29/2024, 6:30:37 PMWatch out, because the Cats are heating up! Kentucky just went on a 10-0 run push the lead to 12, 32-20, with 4:06 to go until halftime. That stretch included threes by Trent Noah, Lamont Butler, and Jaxson Robinson.
Otega Oweh, Lamont Butler leading the way for the Cold Cats
10/29/2024, 6:25:34 PMKentucky still leads Minnesota State, but just barely 22-20 with 6:23 until halftime. The Cats are very, very cold, shooting just 9-22 from the floor and 2-13 from three. Mark Pope is letting them play through it, with Lamont Butler and Otega Oweh stepping up on defense and offense, Oweh scoring the last seven points, including this tough bucket:
ESPN+ is the Worst
10/29/2024, 7:23:59 PMI understand that streaming is the way of the future. I’m a Millennial cord/cutter subscribed to WAY too many streaming services. I can say with 100% that ESPN+ is the worst by a country mile.
I logged in last Wednesday to watch. Why must I login again? Wanna read a Bill Connelly article? Get ready to log in again!
I’m already watching most of my TV on YouTubeTV. Can we just make ESPN+ a channel and avoid the login madness?
It’s a 1-Point Game
10/29/2024, 7:22:23 PMThe Cats were gassed but Mark Pope made them suck it up to reach the second media timeout. They led 18-14 as the long balls clanked off the rim. Minnesota State briefly cut it to a one-point game before the Cats woke up.
Welcome to the show, Kerr Kriisa (in a headband!)
10/29/2024, 7:12:11 PMAt long last, the Estonian sensation has arrived for the Cats. After missing the Blue-White Preseason Event and Kentucky’s first exhibition game vs. Kentucky Wesleyan, Kerr Kriisa made his debut early in the first half of the exhibition finale vs. Minnesota State.
And it took him no time to launch his first three in blue and white. It was a miss, but he’s got plenty of makes up his sleeve. Oh, and he’s got a headband on, so automatic bonus points there.
Sloppy start by Kentucky, Amari Williams limps off
10/29/2024, 7:07:50 PMAt the Under-16 timeout, Kentucky leads Minnesota State 10-4 with 15:26 to go until half, but it has been a sloppy performance by the Cats so far. Kentucky has turned the ball over three times thus far, just two fewer than they had in the entire first exhibition. In other, potentially very bad news, Amari Williams limped off clutching his knee. He’s in the locker room now. Hopefully, we’ll see him again soon.
Otega Oweh leads all scorers so far with 7 points on 3-4 from the floor to go along with 2 rebounds and an assist. Jaxson Robinson has Kentucky’s other bucket, a three.
Your starting lineup is…
10/29/2024, 6:59:26 PMWho will get things rolling for the Cats tonight at Rupp?
- Lamont Butler
- Otega Oweh
- Jaxson Robinson
- Andrew Carr
- Amari Williams
Koby Brea, Kerr Kriisa, Collin Chandler, Brandon Garrison Ansley Almonor, Travis Perry and Trent Noah will come off the bench for Kentucky.
Pregame crowd shot (shout out Jerry Tipton)
10/29/2024, 6:51:34 PMWe’re five minutes from tip-off here in Rupp Arena before the final dress rehearsal of the preseason. Since many of you are at home, here’s my best Jerry Tipton impersonation with a photo of the crowd as we count down to the 7 p.m. start.
Mark Pope wearing custom Book 1s
10/29/2024, 5:39:35 PMMark Pope is sporting some very special kicks tonight: a pair of Book 1s customized for the 1996 season. I’m not even a sneakerhead and I want a pair.
Mark Pope on Kerr Kriisa
10/29/2024, 5:35:37 PMIn case you missed Jack Pilgrim’s post below, Kerr Kriisa will play tonight. In his conversation with Tom Leach, Mark Pope said that he was hopeful Kriisa would be able to go and that the fifth-year senior guard has looked good the last few days at practice. Here’s hoping for a big debut for No. 77.
Who up, Live Blog?
10/29/2024, 5:30:14 PMGreetings, friends. It’s good to be live blogging again (or love blogging for the true OGs). We’re excited to try out this new format for games. We’ll share score updates, highlights, and the best moments from the broadcast and social media, while those of us at Rupp (tonight, that’s Drew, Jack, Zack, Jacob, and Steven) give you an inside look at what it’s like at the game.
This is our first time trying this out for a game, so please be gentle.
Kerr Kriisa warms up ahead of Kentucky debut
10/29/2024, 5:58:48 PMWill West Virginia transfer Kerr Kriisa make his debut in the final exhibition matchup? That answer is yes, KSR has learned. The fifth-year senior is currently participating in pregame warmups with the intention of suiting up against Minnesota State.
Unlike the KWC matchup, Kriisa came out in full uniform (and headband, in case you were curious) and fired up threes with his teammates.
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