KSR Today: Dust settles on SEC Media Days...

The four-day adventure in Nashville has come to an end for the KSR Football crew at SEC Media Days, a gathering of all of the league’s best coaches, players and talking heads inside the Grand Hyatt. When Nick Roush, Adam Luckett, Drew Franklin and Freddie Maggard weren’t roaming Broadway or beefing with rival personalities, they were producing top-notch football content for your eyes and ears on the KSR podcast network and YouTube channel.

A consistent stream of interviews and analysis from start to finish, in-depth breakdowns you simply couldn’t get anywhere else as the Kentucky football season inches near.

Take a look at the wall-to-wall coverage throughout the week:

Marks Stoops takes the mic

Stressing Kentucky’s status as a blue-collar program was a key theme for Coach Stoops, digging into his roots of bringing tough and physical football to the SEC, winning in the trenches. That’s how he first earned respect when he joined the league back in 2012, and that’s how he wants to continue doing it moving forward.

He also raved about Brad White’s continued presence and Liam Coen’s return at the coordinator positions while making it clear the team’s execution in the special teams simply has not been good enough in recent years. That’s where Jay Boulware’s value comes in.

Stoops spoke for nearly 50 minutes in main stage and local scrum setups, then an additional four-plus with Nick Roush — who used part of his exclusive interview time to ask if it was time to go bald.

JJ Weaver, Octavious Oxendine, Eli Cox speak to the media

From there, Kentucky’s three in-state representatives talked about getting back to blue-collar football, individual growth, what the Wildcats are getting in quarterback Devin Leary and the national perception of Stoops’ program in Lexington.

KSR analysis and content from Nashville

Does Kentucky have the national respect going into 2023? KSR checked in with analysts Cole Cubelic, Connor O’Gara, Andy Staples, JD PicKell, SEC Mike and Cousin Shane to get their thoughts on the Wildcats leading up to college football season.

And you better believe the KSR crew put together their own podcast content throughout the week, dropping live editions of 11 Personnel and the KSR Football Podcast in Nashville.

If you missed those, check them out below:

Kroger SEC Kickoff Previews

KSR teamed up with our good friends at Kroger to help make the crew’s trip to Nashville possible. As part of the partnership, Freddie Maggard previewed each team in the SEC as their head coaches took the podium inside the Grand Hyatt.

What does No. 18 think of all 14 teams in the conference, including his own beloved Kentucky Wildcats? Read for yourself below — it just means more.

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SEC Media Voting Revealed Friday

You won’t have to wait long to see where the Wildcats are projected to finish within the conference this season. That announcement is set to come today, as SEC media voting is set to be revealed in the coming hours. We will get the predicted order of finish, overall league champion and preseason All-SEC Teams around lunchtime on Friday.

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How does the KSR crew expect things to unfold? Roush, Luckett and Maggard unveiled their own projected conference standings.

Nick Roush

SEC East

Georgia
Kentucky
Tennessee
Florida
South Carolina
Vanderbilt
Missouri

SEC West

Alabama
Texas A&M
LSU
Arkansas
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
Auburn

SEC Champion: Georgia

Freddie Maggard

SEC East

Georgia
Tennessee
Kentucky
South Carolina
Florida
Missouri
Vanderbilt

SEC West

LSU
Alabama
Texas A&M
Ole Miss
Arkansas
Mississippi State
Auburn

SEC Champion: Georgia

Adam Luckett

SEC East

Georgia
Tennessee
Kentucky
South Carolina
Missouri
Florida
Vanderbilt

SEC West

Alabama
LSU
Texas A&M
Arkansas
Ole Miss
Auburn
Mississippi State

Don’t forget the basketball content

It isn’t all about football around these parts — there are still plenty of basketball leftovers following Kentucky’s trip to Toronto for the GLOBL JAM, a 4-0 finish that included a gold medal to wrap things up.

As the Wildcats put a bow on the successful trip north of the border, the video crew put together a recap that nicely summarizes the FIBA championship experience.

Embraced the experience.

Wrapped up a 4-0 trip to Toronto with 🥇 pic.twitter.com/wU9YCZrpMt
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 20, 2023

Looking for more? The Sources Say Podcast will go live again this afternoon to recap the event and look ahead to the regular season. You can head back to the KSR YouTube channel and find that in time for your drive home from work.

There’s also plenty of reading content to get you through the day, as well. I put together three questions and three answers for the Wildcats leaving Toronto, over 2,100 words of what worked for Kentucky and what needs to be fixed in the coming months. And then KSR’s Zack Geoghegan discussed other areas of improvement he saw on his end, as well.

How about some recruiting updates? KSR’s got you covered with the latest on 2025 five-star talents Caleb Wilson and Darius Acuff. Both players have real interest in the Wildcats and would like to take official visits to Lexington in the coming months.

Plenty more where that comes from.

Rest in peace, Mike Cyrus

Our hearts are with the Cyrus family this week following the loss of a husband, father and friend, Mike Cyrus. A co-owner of Christopher Michael Images, the talented photographer who worked with us here on occasion at KSR, along with TOPS of Lexington, Bluegrass Sports Nation and Sports View America, passed away from cancer on Wednesday at the age of 51.

KSR continues to send its thoughts and prayers to his wife Misty, daughters Rachel, Allison, and Hannah, family and friends. Mike Cyrus fought the good fight until the very end, wearing his heart on his sleeve and continuing to comfort others through the pain of his own battle. He was truly one of a kind.

Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Sunday at Victory Life Church. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Victory Life Church conducted by Pastor Gary Toney. Burial will follow at the Lexington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the UK Markey Cancer Center. Everyone is encouraged to bring a picture of themselves and Mike to share/give to the family as a photo tribute.

#FightLikeMike