KSR Today: Kentucky MBB in Indy, Weetabix, and the Sweet 16(s)

Good morning, folks! The Kentucky men’s basketball team is currently in Indianapolis ahead of tomorrow’s Sweet 16 matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers. The Wildcats are set to host a short 15-minute practice open to the media only later this morning, where our friends Jack Pilgrim and Steven Peake will have boots on the ground. As always, they’ll share everything they can from their time around the team once they finish up.

And even though we have to wait another night before watching the ‘Cats, we’ve got a handful of NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 games scheduled for tonight to help get our excitement levels back where they need to be. Three SEC teams will contend for an Elite 8 spot, including John Calipari‘s Arkansas Razorbacks — the lowest-seeded team remaining in the field. Four more SEC teams will play on Friday, highlighted by the intraconference duel between the ‘Cats and the Vols.

Thursday	Matchup
7:09 PM (CBS)	(6) BYU vs. (2) Alabama
7:39 PM (TBS/truTV)	(4) Maryland vs. (1) Florida
9:39 PM (CBS)	(4) Arizona vs. (1) Duke
10:09 PM (TBS/truTV)	(10) Arkansas vs. (3) Texas Tech
Friday	Matchup
7:09 PM (CBS)	(6) Ole Miss vs. (2) Michigan State
7:39 PM (TBS/truTV)	(3) Kentucky vs. (2) Tennessee
9:39 PM (CBS)	(5) Michigan vs. (1) Auburn
10:09 PM (TBS/truTV)	(4) Purdue vs. (1) Houston

The city of Indianapolis hasn’t been too kind to the Wildcats as of late, but we’re all ready for Mark Pope to exorcise those demons. Jack Pilgrim has yet to see a Kentucky win in Indy as a full-time KSR writer. Lucas Oil Stadium will have plenty of blue in the stands, but no one will feel confident about a win until the clock hits 0:00. Having already taken down the Vols twice in the regular season helps, but you know what they say about beating the same team three times…

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Boys Basketball Sweet 16: Day 2

Day one of the 2025 UK HealthCare Boys Basketball Sweet 16 opening round is in the books. Ashland Blazer, Bowling Green, South Oldham, and Jeffersontown all advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals with wins yesterday in Rupp Arena. JTown gave us the upsets of all upsets, knocking off top-ranked St. Xavier before the Tigers’ run to a state title could even begin. Four more teams will join them today as we close up first-round action.

Of note, Kentucky commit Malachi Moreno and No. 2 Great Crossing will look to avoid the same fate that St. Xavier met. Great Crossing takes on Daviess County in the first round tonight at 6:00 p.m. ET. A team I have my eye on as a possible sleeper to make it to the championship game? Montgomery County, led by star guard Cayden Reed. MoCo faces Lawrence County today at 1:30 p.m. ET.

[Can’t make it to Rupp this week? You can watch every Sweet 16 tournament game live online thanks to our good friends at PrepSpin]

Day 1 recaps:

• Bailey’s OT Game Winner Powers Bowling Green Past Adair County in Sweet 16
• Jeffersontown pulls off Sweet 16 upset, takes down top-ranked St. Xavier in first round
• No. 12 South Oldham secures first Sweet 16 win since 2016 with 67-44 victory over No. 6 Danville Christian
• No. 22 Ashland Blazer avenges last year’s first round loss with 81-64 win over No. 4 Calloway County

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Weetabix responds!

And it’s about time, too. The BBN’s newest favorite breakfast cereal company confirmed to KSR’s Tyler Thompson that, yes, they are indeed aware of the craze that has broken out within the fan base following Amari Williams‘ (somewhat reluctant) endorsement after the win over Illinois.

“With a number of big basketball fans at Post Consumer Brands, word of Amari’s interview started making the rounds Sunday night,” Weetabix’s representative told KSR. “There’s been a fun energy inside the company the last few days as it’s incredibly cool to have Weetabix be included in conversations around something like the NCAA Tournament.”

And yet, there is still no NIL deal to be found between Williams and Weetabix. I did my duty by purchasing a box, and I plan to have a big ole bowl of it for breakfast (with warm milk and some sugar on top) after I get done typing up this article. You’re missing out on easy sales here, Weetabix. Pick up the phone and get the seven-footer on the line!

[Weetabix Breaks Silence on Amari Williams’ Shoutout, Kentucky’s Unexpected Cereal Craze]

Kentucky MBB portal target tracker

The transfer portal officially opened Monday and well over 1,000 men’s college basketball players have already jumped in. Kentucky’s season might still be alive, but the portal waits for no one. The UK staff is balancing Tennessee prep with navigating the portal. Below is a list of the Wildcats’ transfer targets so far.

• Elijah Moore – Syracuse – 5.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 39.1 FG%, 31.5 3PT%
• Donovan Dent – New Mexico – 20.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 6.4 APG, 49 FG%, 40.9 3PT%
• Magoon Gwath – San Diego State – 8.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.7 APG, 50.6% FG, 37.8% 3PT
• Taylor Bol Bowen – Florida State – 8.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 47.7 FG%, 41.4 3PT%
• Elyjah Freeman – Lincoln Memorial – 19.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 57.8% FG, 46.3% 3PT
• Nick Davidson – Nevada – 15.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 50.0% FG, 37.1% 3PT
• Dedan Thomas – UNLV – 15.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 4.7 APG, 41.3% FG, 35.3% 3PT
• Treysen Eaglestaff – North Dakota – 18.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 41.6% FG, 35.9% 3PT
• Kam Williams – Tulane – 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 48.5% FG, 41.2% 3PT
• Lamar Wilkerson – Sam Houston – 20.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.1 APG, 47.7 FG%, 44.5 3PT%
• Alvaro Folgueiras – Robert Morris – 13.8 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 54.4 FG%, 41.5 3PT%
• Frankie Collins – TCU – 11.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.4 APG, 42.2 FG%, 26.1 3PT%

For more in-depth intel on which UK coach is leading the charge, how serious the interest is, when possible visits might happen, and more, make sure to head on over to KSR+ where Jacob Polacheck has all the latest scoop.

Fresh episode of Memorial Memo

The offseason for Kentucky women’s basketball has arrived, but in today’s age, there truly is no offseason. Three Wildcats have already entered their names/plan to enter their names into the portal this week, none more shocking than 6-foot-7 freshman Clara Silva. Head coach Kenny Brooks, who will also lose his starting backcourt of Georgia Amoore and Dazia Lawrence, has some open scholarships to play with this offseason.

The Memorial Memo crew of KSR’s Phoenix Stevens and Katie Hutchison is here to give you the latest on the portal. They also put a bow on Brooks’ first run in charge with a look back on everything that happened this season. Listen below.