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KSR Today: Kentucky fights through the ice to get to Alabama

Jack PIlgrimby:Jack Pilgrim•02/04/22
John Calipari, team, huddle, Jacob Toppin, Kentucky, Davion Mintz
Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

Will the Kentucky Wildcats make it to Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide this weekend? Well, that’s the hope.

A winter storm consisting of ice, sleet and snow has blanketed the area, making travel conditions difficult throughout the state. As a result, details on Kentucky’s trip to Tuscaloosa remain a bit unclear at the moment. The goal is for the Wildcats to leave at some point today, getting to Alabama well in advance of the teams’ head-to-head battle on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

If conditions remain too difficult, the team may be forced to wait until tomorrow to make the trip.

“We’re not going to be able — we were thinking of leaving (Thursday) if we could get out but we’re not going to be able to,” John Calipari said following Kentucky’s win over Vanderbilt on Wednesday. “We’re hoping the ice will subside and we can get out on Friday, but we may not be able to get out on Friday.

“So, we’re just going to follow the weather but we’re not going to put ourselves in any tough position travel-wise.”

Alabama enters the matchup with a 14-8 record overall and 4-5 record in conference play, a bizarre resume that features strong wins — they’ve beaten Gonzaga, Houston, Tennessee, LSU and Baylor — and abysmal losses — Iona, Memphis, Davidson, Missouri and Georgia.

ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the edge to Kentucky with a 61.8% chance to win, with Barttorvik projecting the Wildcats as 3.5-point favorites. Official odds will be released later today.

Game information can be found below:

When: Sat., Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. ET
Where: Coleman Coliseum (Tuscaloosa, AL)
TV: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: UK Sports Network with Tom Leach and Mike Pratt

Calipari, players preview Alabama

What does John Calipari think of the head-to-head matchup? What are the team’s travel plans? The UK head coach and select players will speak to the media at 11:30 a.m. ET to break it all down.

KSR will have all of the coverage you need right here on the website throughout the afternoon.

TyTy Washington’s father wants you to “rub some dirty on it”

Just one game after returning to the lineup for Kentucky, freshman guard TyTy Washington found himself banged up again the team’s win vs. Vanderbilt. Playing just 19 total minutes, Calipari confirmed that Washington fought through some pain against the Commodores.

“TyTy [Washington] kind of coming up limping early in the game,” Calipari said. “Like, you’ve got to be kidding me. He came back and played. I’ve got to check on that. I’ve not seen him to ask him that.”

What’s Washington’s status going into the team’s trip to Tuscaloosa? Well, just ask his father.

“All I know is we ain’t built to sit games!!” Tee Washington wrote on Twitter. “We here to win & do anything to help the team win!! Kid played (with a) wrist injury, tried to play through (a) leg cramp, a (sprained) ankle won’t stop us!!

“Rub some dirty on it & let’s go!”

Rub some dirty on it, folks. We’ve got business to take care of.

New KSR podcasts for your listening pleasure

Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns named NBA All-Stars

Two former Kentucky standouts have been named reserves for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns both making the roster.

Team reserves were announced Thursday evening, with Booker making his third consecutive All-Star appearance and Towns making his third appearance overall and his first since the 2018-19 season.

Booker is averaging 25.4 points (44.5% FG, 38% 3PT, 86% FT), 5.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.5 turnovers in 33.8 minutes per game. Meanwhile, Towns is averaging 24.4 points (51.8% FG, 40.9% 3PT, 81% FT), 9.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.1 steals and 3.3 turnovers in 34.3 minutes per contest.

Former Kentucky teammates turned Western Conference All-Star teammates.

Future Wildcats (and targets) on ESPN+

Need more basketball in your life leading up to tomorrow’s matchup? Some future Wildcats and targets will be playing in the 2022 Metro Classic on ESPN+.

Games began last night, with several names of note impressing during their time on the floor:

  • Chris Livingston (Oak Hill) — 14 points (5-10 FG, 3-5 3PT), seven rebounds, two assists, one steal
  • Dajuan Wagner Jr. (Camden) — 18 points (8-19 FG, 2-7 3PT), seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, two turnovers
  • Aaron Bradshaw (Camden) — Seven points (3-10 FG), 13 rebounds, three blocks, one assist
  • Mackenzie Mgbako (Gill St. Bernard) — 11 points (5-17 FG, 1-7 3PT), nine rebounds, two blocks, one steal
  • Naas Cunningham (Gill St. Bernard) — 10 points (5-15 FG), four rebounds, three steals, two assists, one block

Check out today’s schedule below:

  • Oak Hill vs. Wasatch – 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Chris Livingston
  • Montverde vs. La Lumiere – 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Skyy Clark (injured*)
    • KJ Evans

Montverde (Clark and Evans) will take the floor again on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, followed by Camden (Wagner) at 7 p.m. ET, with both games being streamed live on ESPN+.

*Clark suffered a minor hand injury and is being held out of this weekend’s slate of games, sources tell KSR.

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2025-01-10