KSR Today: Happy Valentine's Day; Sorry About Your Super Bowl, Cincinnati

Good morning and Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone but Eli Apple and Zac Taylor’s playcalling because there is nothing to love about them today. One couldn’t cover Cooper Kupp in a phone booth; the other took the ball from Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, and Ja’Marr Chase to give it to second-string running back Samaje Perine on the final third down of the Super Bowl. Bengals fans, you deserved better in your first Super Bowl appearance in over three decades.

For the Rams, Matthew Stafford was good enough to get the win but not good enough to win the MVP award as the betting favorite. It was Kupp who took MVP honors instead with his two-TD night, becoming only the eighth wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP. With 93 yards receiving and the game-winner, he edged out Aaron Donald’s three-sack performance for top individual honors in the Rams’ 23-20 victory.

However, the real winners of the night were Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and the first Super Bowl halftime show to challenge Prince’s back in 2007. Closing it out with Dr. Dre’s nod to 2Pac on the piano, followed by “Still D.R.E.”, was the perfect hip-hop tribute to the host city.

Now for some things to know/watch as we move forward to life without football for awhile….

Anyone else break something during Kentucky Football’s new Super Bowl commercial or just me?

Kentucky Football drummed up excitement throughout its fan base with another one-minute Super Bowl spot to promote the upcoming season. With the new “22 On Me” ad, Mark Stoops joins the likes of Mean Joe Greene, the Budweiser clydesdales, the Budweiser frogs, Terry Tate office linebacker, and Cindy Crawford chugging a Pepsi as some of the most influential figures in Super Bowl ad history.

See Stoops in the new “22 On Me” commercial that ran in the Lexington TV market and then I’ll see you in Atlanta in December:

Liam Coen Watch is underway

With the NFL season officially over, we can officially worry about Liam Coen’s future in Lexington. You’ve probably heard the Rams need a new offensive coordinator for next year’s title defense and Coen is high on Sean McVay’s list to replace the outgoing Kevin O’Connell as OC of the champs.

Yesterday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote:

“But the Rams have reinforcements on their mind. Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who already has worked as the Rams’ quarterbacks coach under Sean McVay, is a prime candidate to succeed O’Connell, per league sources.”

ESPN.com

If offered, Coen would be crazy to turn down a return to McVay’s staff. It’s a fast track to a head coaching gig as four McVay assistants have already gone on to NFL head coaching jobs from the Rams sideline.

Kentucky fans excited for another year of Coen better hope McVay goes a different direction.

Bruiser Flint, Lance Ware to preview Tennessee

Moving on to basketball, Kentucky has a big road trip to Tennessee tomorrow night for a rematch with the Vols. But before the Cats head south to Knoxville, assistant coach Bruiser Flint and rising fan favorite Lance Ware will preview the game in the Monday press conference.

Hopefully, there is a positive update on TyTy Washington’s lower leg injury. We’ll let you know.

A new No. 1 team in college basketball, Kentucky not far behind

With last week’s loss at Arkansas, Auburn will lose the first No. 1 ranking in school history. Gonzaga is expected to reclaim the top spot in the Top 25 when the Associated Press and USA Today release their college basketball polls later this afternoon.

Not far behind, Kentucky should climb a spot or two in the top five thanks to No. 3 Purdue’s 24-point loss at Michigan. Kentucky and Arizona are currently fifth and fourth in one poll, fourth and fifth in the other.

Kentucky eyeing another SEC Player of the Week award

Oscar Tshiebwe is in a good spot to bring the SEC Player of the Week trophy back to Lexington. Barring any surprises in today’s announcement, Kentucky’s National Player of the Year candidate should win his second P.O.T.W. award for his combined 45 points and 33 rebounds in two Kentucky wins.

Here’s everything Tshiebwe did to Florida:

John Calipari on “Billions”

In case you missed it, John Calipari made a special guest appearance on the popular Showtime series, “Billions.” Calipari played himself giving a $200,000 motivational speech to Mike Prince Capital in the new episode’s opening scene.

Can coaches win Emmys???

Thanks for inviting me @SHO_Billions! pic.twitter.com/ofik65EBEj

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) February 13, 2022

Kentucky WBB earned a big road win

Kentucky Women’s Basketball had five straight losing Sundays until yesterday’s trip down to Alabama where the Cats earned a close win. Dre’Una Edwards, not Rhyne Howard, was Kentucky’s leading scorer with 24 points off the bench, including the last field goal of the game with a minute to go. Alabama’s 3-point look to win it was no good and Howard made two free throws to seal it at the other end, 67-63, for only the third SEC win for Kentucky this season.

UK hosts Mississippi State in Memorial Coliseum tomorrow night.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

See more Kentucky Basketball-themed Valentine’s Day cards here.