KSR Today: Calm Before the March Madness

It’s Tuesday of Championship Week, the perfect time to catch your breath before March Madness completely overwhelms the BBN. We’ve had 48 hours to enjoy an improbable Arkansas win. Now it’s time to regroup and prepare for what will hopefully be an extended postseason of Kentucky basketball. In the meantime, there’s still plenty of sports to fill up your cup and drink up before Blue takes over the Music City.

Three Injured Players Sit

It’s not just a time for fans to catch a breather. A few Kentucky Wildcats took the day off Monday. John Calipari revealed Cason Wallace, Sahvir Wheeler and CJ Fredrick did not participate in Monday’s practice. Typically the John Calipari Show shines a light on what we can expect from the injury front, but it’s best not to read too much into this update. Anybody that’s remotely dinged up doesn’t need to risk practicing four days before a game at this time of year.

Kentucky Wildcats Earns Postseason SEC Honors

The SEC Coaches have spoken. Antonio Reeves was tabbed Co-Sixth Man of the Year, while Oscar Tshiebwe earned First Team All-SEC Honors. Both of Kentucky’s sensation underclassmen, Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston, made the SEC All-Freshman Team.

I’m happy for the Cats. I also have an ax to grind. Why are there eight players on the all-conference teams? Only five players are on the floor at once. There should only be five members on each all-conference team.

Championship Week Continues

Two more tickets to the NCAA Tournament were punched Monday night. A year after Furman lost a buzzer-beating heartbreaker to UT-Chattanooga, they received revenge with an 88-79 victory over the Mocs in the SoCon Championship. It’s the Paladins first NCAA Tournament bid since 1980. Things got fun in the Sun Belt, what’s new? No. 8 seed South Alabama had an open three-pointer to tie the game at the buzzer but it fell short, putting the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns back in the Big Dance.

Four more teams will join the field of 68 and a local team could be among them. Darrin Horn is trying to get Northern Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in its sixth season of eligibility.

Horizon: Northern Kentucky (-1.5) vs. Cleveland State, ESPN, 7 pm
Colonial: Charleston (-9) vs. UNC-Wilmington, CBSSN, 7 pm
Summit: Oral Roberts (-10.5) vs. North Dakota State, ESPN2, 9 pm
West Coast: Gonzaga (-3.5) vs. Saint Mary’s, ESPN, 9 pm

Mark Stoops Kicks Off Kentucky Spring Football

The Kentucky head coach spoke for more than 20 minutes Monday morning after the Wildcats opened his 11th spring practice. Six players are sidelined by injury, including three tight ends, providing an opportunity for Izayah Cummings and freshman Khamari Anderson to receive significant snaps. One person who is healthy — Devin Leary. The quarterback is on a throw count but did not miss a beat.

Stoops was happy to have Liam Coen back, almost like he never left. The head coach also liked what he saw from the defensive line, particularly North Carolina transfer Keeshawn Silver.

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See more from Kentucky Spring Football

The Wildcats are back on the gridiron this morning. They’ll have one more practice Thursday morning before taking off a week for spring break. Liam Coen will speak to Adam Luckett and more local reporters within the next hour or so. Until then, see some snapshots and highlights from the first Kentucky football practice since December.

Sights and sounds: #SpringPractice is under way 😼👀🔉 pic.twitter.com/VTZhzVdCI9

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) March 6, 2023

NFL QB Dominos Begin to Fall

NFL free agency does not begin until March 15, but we already know where some players will be moving. Former Kentucky standout Bud Dupree will be looking for a new home as the Titans begin a rebuild. Derek Carr got tired of waiting for Aaron Rodgers, so he decided to pull the trigger and sign with the Saints. Additionally, Geno Smith signed an extension with the Seahawks, likely eliminating a potential destination for Will Levis.

Sweet 16 Tickets Punched

I thought I was going to watch my alma mater at Rupp Arena next week. Instead, J-Town rallied down six in the final minute to score a game-winner with 8.1 on the clock. DeSales has only made one Sweet 16 appearance ever, and there they were, just inches away from returning for the first time since 1979. It hurts being so close, yet so far away.

Elsewhere, Reed Sheppard and North Laurel cruised to a 13th Region Title, Breathitt County claimed the 14th Region, Martin County squeaked by Pikeville in the 15th Region final and Frederick Douglass won its first 11th Region crown with this clutch shot.

#4 Douglass 43
#2 Lex Cath 41
Final
Douglass wins 11th region for first time in school history!!

Armelo Boone is the hero with a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to put FD up 2.

I knew he was going to take the shot. You could just tell. pic.twitter.com/JreL1lbyey

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) March 7, 2023

Regional Tournament Schedule

The dreams of ten more teams will come true tonight. Here’s where you can catch the Regional Tournament action across the state.