KSR Today: Kentucky Wildcats headline Thursday's Olympic events in Paris

The 2024 Paris Olympics are winding down, but today brings must-see events for America and the Big Blue Nation. Team USA Basketball is back in action, playing for a spot in the gold medal game. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will run in the women’s 400m hurdles final. Avery Skinner is in the women’s volleyball semifinal and lots more.

So, we begin Thursday morning’s rundown with the singing of our national anthem, performed by the Florida Orchestra under the direction of maestro Jahja Ling and sung by Grammy award-winner Whitney Houston.

Avery Skinner and U.S. women’s volleyball in the semifinals

Coming up at 10 a.m., former Wildcat Avery Skinner and USA Women’s Volleyball will compete against Brazil in the semifinal, with a spot in the gold medal match on the line. The USA and Brazil are a couple of Olympic powers in women’s volleyball. Brazil won two straight golds in 2008 and 2012, then lost gold to the Americans in 2021.

Skinner has been spectacular for the U.S. to get to the semifinal round. The first-time Olympian scored back-to-back set winners in the quarterfinal round against Poland, finishing with 12 points on 12 kills, the second-best mark on the squad. Skinner has 42 points on 38 kills, 39 receptions, two aces, and two blocks through three matches in Paris.

Tune in on Thursday morning to see her and the U.S. Women’s National Team play for a chance at gold.

Team USA Basketball plays Serbia in the semifinals

More semifinal fun in Paris today: our nation’s men’s basketball team plays Serbia at 3 p.m. in Paris. Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, and the guys are a 16-point favorite over the Serbians in the semifinal round, playing for a spot in the gold medal game. Today’s game is the third meeting between the countries this Olympic cycle after playing an exhibition in the lead-up to Paris, then meeting in the opening game of group play. Team USA defeated Serbia, 110-84, in their Group C meeting on July 28 before both sides advanced to the knockout stage of the competition.

Booker, one of the three former Wildcats, led the Americans with 18 points in their quarterfinal win over Brazil, hitting five of seven 3-pointers. Davis joined him in double figures with 13 points.

Today, they run into Nikola Jokic, whose near triple-double (21 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, four steals and two blocks) led Serbia’s thrilling comeback win against Australia. He scored the go-ahead bucket with a little over a minute to go.

Go Syd Go in the women’s 400m hurdles

Shortly after the basketball game tips off, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will run in the final of the women’s 400m hurdles. Femke Bol from the Netherlands is her toughest competition. Still, the best to ever do it is a heavy favorite (-700) to win gold in her signature event.

She made the semifinal look like a breeze:

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s PR WITH hurdles is faster than her competitors’ PRs WITHOUT hurdles.

Yes, you read that right. #ParisOlympics

📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/VqoiYSpG7T

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2024

Another race to watch on Thursday: American Noah Lyles will run for gold in the 200m after winning gold in an unforgettable 100m earlier this week. Watch Noah at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.

Other Wildcats in Paris

— Julia Vincent (South Africa) posted the sixth-best score in this morning’s women’s 3m springboard semifinal. Her 297.3 points on five semifinal dives secured her a spot in tomorrow’s final.

— Tapiwanashe Makarawu (Zimbabwe) will try to upset Noah Lyles in the men’s 200m at 2:30 p.m.

— Daniel Roberts (USA) is in the men’s 110m hurdles final at 3:45 p.m., his first Olympic final.

We’ll hear from Brad White and UK’s defense in Lexington

Beyond the Olympics, Kentucky‘s preseason football training camp continues in Lexington today. After practice, defensive coordinator Brad White and several players from that side of the ball will take questions about the first week of fall practices. KSR will be there to relay their comments back to you, the reader, as we all count down the days to that first kickoff on Saturday, August 31. 23 days away, my friends.

We expect to hear more about the team’s physicality, playing with pads, and updates on specific position groups when White shares his thoughts on the defense. Check back here around noon for that conversation.

Happy National Pickleball Day

Today, August 8, is National Pickleball Day in America. I think we need to hear from Pickleball Paul on today’s show to wish Matt Jones a happy holiday.

Today is also International Cat Day, so, Go Cats.

KSR heads to Hopkinsville

Kentucky Sports Radio will broadcast today’s show from KSBar and Grille in Lexington. Then, it’s off to Hopkinsville for a Thursday night in Christian County before Friday’s remote show. You can find KSR on Friday at the new Avizion Glass in Hopkinsville for Matt Jones’ first remote of the summer. That address is 333 Sequoya Drive in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.