KSR Gameday: Kentucky is ready to spoil Gonzaga's Rupp Arena debut

AdamStrattonKSR

ksr-gameday-kentucky-ready-spoil-gonzagas-rupp-arena-debut — Photo by James Snook | USA TODAY Sports

Back in April of 2022, John Calipari — who turned 65 today. Happy Birthday, Coach! — teased a major announcement during a fundraising effort for Eastern Kentucky flood relief. To his credit, he did not let Big Blue Nation down. Mark Few popped up on the jumbotron and the two announced a series between Gonzaga and Kentucky.

“We will absolutely come [to Lexington]” Few said during the event. “We’ve never played in Rupp Arena and it would be awesome.”

After a forgettable trip to the Pacific Northwest last season, it is time for the Bulldogs to return the favor and visit the Bluegrass state. And that day is today.

Good morning, and happy game day, folks. Kentucky showed signs of domination on Tuesday when they put a beatdown on the fighting Brad Caliparis of Vanderbilt in Nashville. They will look to extend their winning streak to two against the Gonzaga Bulldogs this afternoon.

For what it is worth, the powers that be in Spokane need to change the university’s mascot to the Zags. Every other middle school in America is nicknamed the Bulldogs but the Zags is unique. I don’t know what a Zag is, but is far superior.

When Calipari and Few announced the series, the ~~Bulldogs~~ Zags were the No. 1 team in the nation. That is not the case anymore. The longstanding mid-major powerhouse enters today’s game unranked with a 17-6 record, holding losses to St. Mary’s, Santa Clara, and Washington, among others.

Drew Timme is not walking through that door.

They are, however, coming in off of a 30-point win over Portland and will be looking to improve their NCAA resume against the ‘Cats.

How to Watch and Listen

No. 17 Kentucky (16-6) vs. Gonzaga (17-6)
4 p.m. ET | Saturday, Feb. 10 | Rupp Arena

TV: CBS (Brad Nessler, Bill Raftery, Jay Wright)
Streaming: CBSSports.com
Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
Online Radio: iHeart
Satellite Radio: Sirius 160 or 190
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

What Vegas is saying

Most everyone in the sports betting world is looking forward to the big game tomorrow, but they would be remiss to overlook one of basketball’s marquee matchups today. I used the term big game because if you use the official terminology out loud in public, a swat team of NFL copyright lawyers burst through your window and shoot you on-site.

As for Kentucky versus Gonzaga, the line opened in favor of the ‘Cats by 4.5 points. Our friends over at Fanduel have set the total points at 167.5, one of the higher over-under totals you’ll see. The ‘Cats are 12-10 against the spread this season but 17-5 when it comes to hitting the over. Meanwhile, Gonzaga is 10-12 against the spread this year while hitting the over in points in just nine of their 22 games.

What Mark Few is saying

Both Kentucky and Gonzaga enter today’s game needing a Quad 1 win and both coaches know it. After his team’s blowout win over Portland, Mark Few said:

“They’re desperate just like we are but man, they’ve got some high-level talent. Cal’s done a good job bringing freshmen in and mixing in some experienced transfers and keeping a couple of guys around from last year and they’re really, really something on offense right now. We’ll have to prep for them tomorrow. It’s a long flight and they’ll be ready for us.”
Mark Few | Gonzaga Athletics

Few also raved about the talent of Kentucky’s freshmen.

“I’m so impressed with their freshmen’s skill level. It’s crazy. [Reed] Sheppard and [Rob] Dillingham, just how skilled they are. Obviously, they’re talented but it’s amazing how they shoot it and shoot it so easily, how confident they are. The whole group is very impressive.

“I don’t think offensively they were quite there last year but this is a really, really good offensive team. And they’re deadly in transition so we’ve got to get back and guard the three-line and try to set our defense and keep them in front.”
Mark Few | Gonzaga Athletics

If nothing else, Gonzaga is coming into this game knowing what they’re up against.

What Jordan Burks and Aaron Bradshaw are saying

Jordan Burks had his breakout game in a Kentucky uniform against Vanderbilt on Tuesday, scoring 13 points and not missing a shot. It earned him media responsibilities as he helped preview the game against the Zags.

Burks admitted he had no idea he was going to play against Vandy, but Coach Calipari tells him before every game to stay ready.

Burks said: “You gotta keep the phone on the hook, you can’t ever have the phone off the hook. Gotta keep it on the hook in case you get called. I’m ready.”

I’m pretty sure Burks has never owned a phone with a hook, but props to the nostalgic analogy.

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Will Tre Mitchell and DJ Wagner play?

The Kentucky men’s basketball program has always been very upfront and transparent about injuries, so when it comes to Tre Mitchell and DJ Wagner, who have missed time with various ailments, the team announced well in advance that their status is…haha…I’m just joking. Your guess is as good as anyone else’s about whether they will play or not. Who knows? Maybe even Big Z is sick again. There’s no telling.

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My uneducated guess is that Mitchell and Wagner will both sit out, but that is just the pessimistic cynic in me dropping elbows on any potential budding positivity trying to shine through on this topic.

We will likely find out for sure an hour or two before tipoff.

Kentucky is a consensus 6-seed…for now

ESPN, The Athletic, USA Today, and Mike DeCourcy all have Kentucky projected to be a 6-seed in the NCAA Tournament as of now. When you hear Jack Pilgrim and others talk about the importance of Quad 1 wins, this is why. The ‘Cats are just 2-4 in Quad 1 matchups this season and with not many more opportunities to seize, today’s game against the Zags is an important one to help climb the seed latter a rung or two.

Preferably three.

I’ve never been a big investor in early-season bracketologies, but with only nine games left in the regular season, these crystal balls are only growing more and more accurate.

The ‘Cats need this one.

UK Softball starts season 2-0, including top 5 win

Rachel Lawson’s group kicked off the 2024 softball season on Friday in San Diego. Kentucky is playing five games this weekend, including three against ranked opponents. Two games in, the Wildcats are already 2-0.

Friday started with a 5-1 win over UC Santa Barbara, followed up by an impressive 2-1 victory over No. 3 Stanford. Transfer Jaden Vickers was terrific in her Kentucky debut, throwing a complete game while only allowing two hits and a run against the Cardinal. Stanford is the highest-ranked opponent that UK has beaten on Opening Day in program history.

Can Kentucky do it again on Saturday? The Wildcats will take on Stanford once again with first pitch scheduled for noon EST. It will be the first game of another double-header as UK will face San Diego State later in the night at 7:30 p.m. EST. Sunday’s weekend finale comes against Minnesota at 1:00 p.m. EST.