KSR Today: Game 7 + Memorial Day + Baseball's Selection Show + More...

Good morning and great to see you again, internet friends and strangers. I’m back from eight days off the grid in Colorado and Utah, where I only looked at my phone to take pictures or find my way back to civilization.

Here’s a look at a vacation sunrise last week:

Good morning and heavy breathing from off the grid pic.twitter.com/jRMTP5gzgQ

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) May 22, 2023

While I was away, I had hoped Kentucky Basketball‘s roster would answer some of its many questions, but I see there hasn’t been much progress on that front.

At least Waystar Royco finally decided its future last night.

But enough about me, the ongoing roster worries, and the Roy family drama. Today, we have another round of Monday morning news and notes, beginning with the most important topic of the day, our heroes…

Happy Memorial Day

Today on this Memorial Day holiday, we honor and remember the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives while serving in the armed forces. More than a day off from work or a barbecue, it’s a day to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who fought to protect our freedom and our future.

So, as many of you enjoy a three-day weekend near a body of water or grill, let’s all remember our Memorial Day heroes and their courage and dedication to our country.

Now, today’s less significant matters…

Kentucky to host an NCAA Baseball Regional next weekend

The regular season may be over, but Kentucky Baseball still isn’t done at Kentucky Proud Park because the NCAA named the University of Kentucky one of its sixteen host sites for postseason play last night. On the eve of the tournament’s selection show, an @NCAABaseball tweet revealed Kentucky would host postseason play for the first time since 2017 and only the third time in school history.

LEXINGTON REGIONAL

HOST: @UKBaseball#RoadToOmaha pic.twitter.com/ZLseffxLKH

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) May 29, 2023

Sure, Kentucky made a disappointing appearance at last week’s SEC Tournament with a quick exit at the hands, gloves, and bats of Alabama. Still, the ‘Cats have more to play for in 2023, and the strength of the league was proven in last night’s reveal when eight Southeastern Conference schools claimed half of the NCAA’s Regional sites:

Auburn Regional – Auburn
Baton Rouge Regional – LSU
Charlottesville Regional – Virginia
Clemson Regional – Clemson
Columbia Regional – South Carolina
Conway Regional – Coastal Carolina
Coral Gables Regional – Miami
Fayetteville Regional – Arkansas
Gainesville Regional – Florida
Lexington Regional – Kentucky
Nashville Regional – Vanderbilt
Stanford Regional – Stanford
Stillwater Regional – Oklahoma State
Terre Haute Regional – Indiana State
Tuscaloosa Regional – Alabama
Winston-Salem Regional – Wake Forest

Get your Lexington tickets here.

Postseason college baseball has returned to Lexington! pic.twitter.com/lYahlejOOm

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) May 29, 2023

Watch the NCAA Baseball Tournament Selection Show

To learn about Kentucky’s tournament opponent(s), tune in for the tournament’s selection show later today. The NCAA will release the entire 64-team bracket during a television special at noon on ESPN2.

Tournament play begins Friday.

Bam Adebayo’s Miami Heat face a shocking elimination in Boston

It was all good just a week ago. Bam Adebayo‘s Miami Heat held a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, one win from a Finals appearance and a shot at another Larry O’Brien. There was even buzz about Tyler Herro‘s return for the inevitable series against the Denver Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in the West while Miami was building its 3-0 lead over Boston in the East.

But then Boston won three straight with its back against the wall, including Saturday night’s thrilling Game 6 finish in Miami, to set up a Game 7 back home in TD Garden. Currently a seven-point favorite, the Celtics aim to be the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs.

Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m.

NIKE EYBL Session 4 plays on in Memphis

There is one more day of NIKE EYBL action in Memphis, where KSR+ is on the scene to chase Kentucky Basketball‘s prospects and coaches around the Memphis Sports and Events Center at the EYBL’s fourth session. Today, Jacob Polacheck has a new story on Woodford County’s Jasper Johnson, plus more to come, including a story on Billy Richmond, another Kentucky target.

Take advantage of our KSR+ Launch Special and join the conversation on KSBoard, the KSR+ Message Board.

Today’s action begins bright and early with a 9:30 a.m. local time start with Memorial Day games featuring the best talent from the Class of 2024 and beyond. You can follow along via EYBL’s website here.

On3’s Joe Tipton named Sunday’s top performers in Memphis.

The NBA Draft’s withdrawal deadline is Wednesday

Oscar Tshiebwe, Chris Livingston, Antonio Reeves, and their water-testing peers have until Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. to officially remove their names from the NBA Draft process to return to the college ranks for another year of ball.

Announcements can come at any time between now and then, so keep your head on a swivel. Even better, sign up for the KSR Newsletter to get breaking news and daily headlines delivered directly to your inbox, or text KSR to 41372 for breaking news text alerts.

I was off my phone for the last eight days, so I have no idea what to expect. I was hoping to return from Colorado with more players on the team by now, to be honest.

Wednesday!

KSR’s radio show is off today; the website is not

It’s a typical day here at KentuckySportsRadio.com, but the morning radio program has the day off due to iHeart’s company holiday calendar. You will hear a replay show from 10 a.m. to noon on your KSR airwaves, but we’ll keep the content flowing here on the website, where there hasn’t been a day off from content in my 14+ years of working here.

So, check back all day for new blogs because the whole staff is clocked in and ready to keep you informed, updated, and entertained with talk of the Wildcats.

We’ll have Kentucky Baseball’s path for you when it is announced at noon.

Go Cats.