KSR Gameday: Kentucky looks to rebound against Penn, major football portal visitors

Good morning and happy game day, Big Blue Nation. It feels like the fanbase has been collectively wallowing in Kentucky’s loss to UNC Wilmington for a month and a half, but the calendar denotes it has somehow only been a week. The ‘Cats get their chance for retribution and in the words of Tre Mitchell, “I feel bad for whoever we play next.”

The unlucky team who will be the target of this faux sympathy is the University of Pennsylvania, or Penn for short. The Ivy League school is coming off an absolute thrashing of Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham. In the game, the Quakers knocked down 21 3-pointers to set a school record in the team’s 111-57 victory over the D-III school out of New Jersey. Nine different players hit a three in the 111-57 victory while turning the ball over a season-low seven times. Essentially, the scouting report says they can shoot.

The game will take place in Philadelphia, just across the river from Camden, New Jersey, where DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards, and Aaron Bradshaw played high school basketball. There is no doubt these guys will want to put on a show in what amounts to their homecoming game. They celebrated their return by using their NIL money to help fund a local food drive.

Aside from having a good friend attend the school, the name Penn holds a special place in my heart for a more personal reason. My wife and I briefly considered naming our son Penn but ultimately eliminated it from contention when we realized the first initial of his last name would be S, and being referred to as, “Penn S.” out loud might not work out so well for him later in life.

And with that, the news:

Game Info

No. 16 Kentucky (6-2) vs. Penn (6-4)
12 p.m. ET | Saturday, December 9 | Wells Fargo Center

• TV: ESPN2 (Kevin Fitzgerald and Carolyn Peck)
• Streaming: Fubo (Try for free) – For a limited time, new subscribers can save $20 on Fubo’s Pro, Elite and Premier plans for the first month
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 160 or 191
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

What oddsmakers are saying

Kentucky opened as a 14.5-point favorite over Penn on FanDuel. Other books have it as low as -13. The over-under in total points was set at 156.5.

The ‘Cats are 2-3 in their last five games against the spread and have hit the over in total points in their last five games. Penn is also 2-3 against the spread in their last five matchups and has hit the over in four of their last five games.

Kentucky practiced at the 76ers’ facility…with a full roster

Former Wildcat and rising NBA superstar, Tyrese Maxey, welcomed his former coach and the squad to Philadelphia and helped organize the team to be able to hold a practice at the 76ers’ facility on Friday. That alone would be noteworthy, but what makes this news stand out is that, for the first time all year, Kentucky practiced with its full complement of players.

The three seven-footers, Aaron Bradshaw, Ugonna Onyenso, and Zvonimir Ivisic, joined DJ Wagner as practice participants on Friday, marking the first known time all year that no one has completely sat out due to injury. As to what extent Big Z and Ugo were able to participate, it is hard to say, but it is good to see everyone in workout gear.

Thanks for letting us practice here, @sixers 🙏 pic.twitter.com/5VNmt7aNw7

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 8, 2023

The 76ers’ hospitality did not end there. The team attended Philly’s game against the Atlanta Hawks Friday night, where Tyrese Maxey put on a show. The former Wildcat finished with 30 points and seven assists in the team’s 125-114 win. Let’s hope Maxey’s performance is a good omen for today’s game in the same arena.

Big-time football transfer portal players visit Kentucky

While the basketball team is up in Philadelphia looking to take care of business, the football team is in Lexington prepping for their Gator Bowl matchup against Clemson (where Ray Davis will play and tickets are rapidly jumping in demand) and hosting a handful of important visitors.

Stoops’ top five targets are Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley, Ohio State running back Chip Trayanum, Mississippi State cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson, North Texas wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin, and Texas A&M wide receiver Raymond Cottrell. KSR’s Nick Roush entered Kentucky into his Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) picks for both Trayanum and Cottrell.

Speaking of wide receivers, four-star recruit, Shamar Porter, withdrew his name from the portal and will return to Lexington, a huge win in the perpetual recruiting battle that is the transfer portal.

The ‘Cats got their quarterback of choice quickly in Brock Vandagriff. Are there additional weapons on the horizon soon to join him? It is a big weekend for football in the Bluegrass.

Stoops and company are also hosting high school commits Quaysheed Scott, Steven Soles, and Marc Nave.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire and the Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker.

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