KSR Today: Kentucky Basketball continues with Media Day

Good morning and welcome to a very busy day for Kentucky Basketball. Today also marks my return from a mini-vacation so it’s good to see you again. I missed our long talks.

Let’s go ahead and jump right in. You look great by the way.

Today is Kentucky Basketball Media Day

While Kentucky Football’s season has the week off, the attention to Kentucky Basketball ramps up with Media Day later this afternoon. John Calipari is set to kick off a big day for journalism with a lengthy press conference in Memorial Coliseum, expected to last about an hour. He will address the current state of the team, the season ahead, the one that didn’t go so well, and whatever else he wants to get across.

After Calipari holds court, the players will take questions about their personal journeys and time at Kentucky to date. There is lots to learn and a lot of content to come, so stick around Kentucky-Sports-Radio-dot-com as we pick up basketball coverage with all of the Media Day fun.

Tubby is going in the rafters

In pre-Media Day news, Mitch Barnhart made a big Tuesday night announcement that Tubby Smith will have his coaching jersey retired at the University of Kentucky. The 1998 national champion head coach will be enshrined when Kentucky hosts Smith’s High Point team in Lexington on New Year’s Eve.

“It is with great pride, enjoyment, and a sense of excitement that we add one more name to the list of people who will see their names in the rafters of Rupp Arena and that’s Orlando ‘Tubby’ Smith,” Barnhart said. “A national championship coach, National Coach of the Year, a gentleman who brought so much class, honor, and excellence to UK, Tubby is special and so deserving.

“We are thankful to have the chance to honor him and will do so when his team comes to play the Cats in December. A lot of folks are going to want to come back and be part of that time. Tubby and (wife) Donna contributed so much to the fabric of the University of Kentucky and we want to thank them in a special way.”

The 44th jersey to go up in Rupp Arena, Smith will join fellow former coaches Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, and Rick Pitino in the rafters.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

Tubby Smith's jersey is officially heading to the rafters of Rupp Arena@UKMitchBarnhart made the announcement on @BBNTonight ⬇ pic.twitter.com/0wwpzpbSrw

— BBN Tonight (@BBNTonight) October 19, 2021

The NBA season started last night

The National Basketball Association’s 2021-22 regular season began Tuesday night with the Kyrie-less Brooklyn Nets at defending champion Milwaukee followed by the Warriors at the Lakers in Los Angeles.

In the first game, Patty Mills came off the Brooklyn bench to provide support in the backcourt in Irving’s absence. Mills hit 7-of-7 three-pointers on the road, but the Nets were no match for Giannis’ 32 points and 14 rebounds. The Bucks won, 127-104.

The second game of the night had a heavy Kentucky contingency with Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo, and Malik Monk playing heavy minutes for the Lakers. Davis scored 33 points with 11 rebounds in his 10th season debut while Rondo and Monk each played 20 minutes off the bench. However, it was Steph Curry owning the show with his first triple-double since 2016 in a Warriors’ victory.

There are 11 NBA games on tonight’s schedule.

Reed Sheppard enjoyed his time at Big Blue Nation

Reed Sheppard was one of the special VIP guests at Big Blue Madness and he had a good time, according to his dad. Jeff Sheppard told KSR, “It was a lot of fun for him and he had a really good weekend.”

Jeff also confirmed Kentucky’s biggest competition in Reed’s recruitment is Virginia, Louisville, Indiana, and Ohio State, the four schools pursuing him the most.

Get caught up on all the latest around Reed Sheppard following his Madness visit.

The KSR Preshow shot up the iTunes charts

Have a day, Shannon and Billy.

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They’re on the air now then we have a full house on Kentucky Sports Radio at 10 a.m.