KSR Today: Hump Day Kentucky Football Conversations

Happy Hump Day, Big Blue Nation. We’re in the middle of the final week of September. That means the football and basketball teams are in the middle of a grind.

Mark Pope tipped off his first preseason basketball practices on Monday. With 20 hours of practice allotted per week, the Cats are in the middle of two-a-days, five days a week. The building blocks for success this season are being laid with a lot of sweat at the Joe Craft Center.

The UK Sports Video department was kind enough to share more clips of the Cats getting buckets during Tuesday’s workouts.

We are hooping 🔥😼 pic.twitter.com/jNQXdwMaU4

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) September 24, 2024

Meanwhile, across campus, the Kentucky football team is preparing for its first road trip of the season. Playing the fifth-ranked team in the country is no walk in the park. Ole Miss is putting up preposterous numbers through the first month of the season. This afternoon’s practice serves as the execution polish as Kentucky goes through the gameplan with fully-padded situational work.

Brad White and members of the Kentucky defense will debrief with the media this evening around 5 pm. Until then, let’s catch up on what we learned about the Cats while chatting with the offense on Tuesday.

Kentucky Offense Gearing Up for Road Trip

Kentucky is going back on the road again. They can’t wait to get on the road again. The offense is well aware of the tall task that lies ahead. They’re preparing with a little extra crowd noise as Bush Hamdan tightens up the game plan for the contest against No. 5 Ole Miss.

“We know the brand we have to play. I think it’s become pretty apparent to me in the first couple of weeks what that is. We’ve gotta execute our plan to the best of our abilities,” said the UK offensive coordinator.

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Kentucky, Ole Miss Head Coach on the SEC Teleconference

Brad White isn’t the only coach talking with the media today. Mark Stoops and Lane Kiffin will be taking questions from reporters around the SEC on the weekly coaches’ teleconference. That happens around noon and you can expect updates during the afternoon.

A Message from AARP Kentucky

There’s a lot on the line this election – from protecting the Social Security you’ve earned to supporting family caregivers. And you have the power to make the candidates listen. Because voters 50 and over decide elections. That’s why AARP Kentucky has created an election guide with the most up-to-date information about when, where, and how to vote. Make sure the candidates hear from you. Get trusted election information at aarp.org/KYvotes. That’s aarp.org/KYvotes. Paid for by AARP.

Weird College Football News

UNLV started its season by going on the road and beating two Big 12 teams. Barry Odom’s squad is ranked No. 23 in the Coaches Poll and competing for the G5 spot in the CFB Playoff. Now they’ll open conference play without their starting quarterback.

Matt Sluka, a Holy Cross transfer, beat out two others for the starting job and posted 318 passing and 253 rushing yards over the first three weeks of the season. The entertaining athlete shared that he’s going on the shelf for the rest of the season because of an apparent NIL dispute with UNLV.

“I committed to UNLV based on certain representatives that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled,” he said on social media. “Despite discussions, it became clear these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future. I wish my teammates the best of luck this season and hope for the continued success of the program”

A Cool Look at a Kentucky Football Pregame

The UK Sports Video department shares stuff the average Kentucky football fan doesn’t typically see. Ahead of the Ohio game, the camera crew put on first-person mode to provide an immersive pregame experience. Unfortunately, the camera cut off before it took a hit on the opening kickoff.

POV: you are a Kentucky Football player on a #Caturday pic.twitter.com/8KNtKTPsTn

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) September 24, 2024

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Champions Classic Tickets on Sale

We are less than 50 days away from Mark Pope’s first night under the college basketball limelight. Kentucky will get a pair of tune-ups in early November, then receive the national spotlight when the Cats take on Duke in the Champions Classic.

If you didn’t use the presale code to secure your spot at State Farm Arena to see the blueblood matchup, tickets go on sale to the general public on Ticketmaster today at 10 am EST. With four straight losses in the event, a victory over Duke feels like the perfect way to ring in the start of the Pope era at Kentucky.

Trivia with Matt Jones at KSBar

Dust off that old thinking cap and prepare for a night of knowledge at KSBar and Grille. Typically, facts are optional with KSR’s Matt Jones, but we’re breaking that mantra with a couple of hours of competitive trivia. The first questions will be asked at 7 pm EST. Make sure you arrive early to secure your seat and enjoy some Wingsday specials.