KSR Today: Ls Down after La Familia's big win, More interviews with current Cats
It’s July 2024 but it sure feels like March 2014. Last night, a Harrison three ended Louisville’s run in The Basketball Tournament, sparking memories of that really great story from a decade ago.
Don’t let Louisville fans try to tell you TBT doesn’t mean anything this morning. Chinanu Onuaku was so upset that The Ville lost to La Familia 70-61 that he spat in Nate Sestina’s face, sparking a fight that nearly turned into a full-on brawl. Even Drew Franklin took a punch from an upset member of Cards Nation, proof of just how much La Familia’s win stings. TBT was Louisville’s “thing,” and in its first year, Kentucky’s alumni team came to Freedom Hall and beat them in front of a record crowd of 13,506 to earn a spot in the semifinals in Philadelphia.
Before we talk about that, let’s give the game its due because it was a great one. Both teams started cold but La Familia found its groove and the trash-talking began. Andrew Harrison and Chris Jones got into a scuffle near the end of the first quarter, leading to a double technical that sparked a 15-5 La Familia run. The former Cats took a 30-27 lead into the half, and when Nate Sestina came out of the locker room for the third quarter, he was absolutely on fire.
Sestina hit FIVE threes in the third quarter to help La Familia build an 18-point lead, 56-38, headed into the fourth. The Ville cut that lead to nine points, 62-53, when the Elam Ending began with a target score of 70. It took an eternity, but a putback and-one from Willie Cauley-Stein pulled the Cats within a bucket of the target score. Andrew Harrison reached it with a three that was a mirror image of his brother’s from the 2014 NCAA Tournament. This is the point where he always hits it!
ANDREW HARRISON HITS THE ELAM ENDER!!!!!!
— TBT (@thetournament) July 30, 2024
The @KentuckyMBB Alumni knock off their rival and win the biggest game in TBT HISTORY!
ON TO THE SEMIFINALS THEY GO! pic.twitter.com/FSIApeiMUO
That’s when chaos ensued. After finishing with a team-high 22 points, Nate Sestina threw Ls Down as one does when they beat Louisville. When Chinanu Onuaku, he of the granny free throws, told him to stop. Sestina told him, “Ls Down always” and patted him on the back. Instead of moving on, Onuaku chased after him and spat in his face. From there, the fight was on.
We nearly had a full-on brawl on the Freedom Hall floor. pic.twitter.com/snMvcVRVqp
— Zack Geoghegan (@ZGeogheganKSR) July 30, 2024
Nate Sestina and Willie Cauley-Stein explained the altercation in the postgame press conference, with Sestina trying to take the high road and Willie, as Willie does, calling it as he sees it.
“Bad things happen to bad people. We’ll leave it at that,” Sestina said as he sat down.
“He’s a ****ing bum,” Willie Cauley-Stein said of Onuaku.
We’ll be talking about this one all day. While The Ville licks its wounds and Card Nation dreams of the day they will beat Kentucky again, La Familia is headed to Philly. On Friday night at 9 p.m. ET, they’ll face Carmen’s Crew, the Ohio State alumni team, for a spot in the finals. The other side of the bracket will be determined tonight.
You’ve read my words. Now watch the awesome coverage from our team on the ground.
Rapid Reaction
Highlights
Sestina, WCS recap the win
Photo Gallery
Here’s what else is on our docket today.
Three more Cats meet the media
Kentucky Basketball’s summer interviews continue today with three more Cats. After lunch, Koby Brea, Trent Noah, and Jaxson Robinson will sit down with reporters to talk about their first month on campus, including how summer workouts are going. KSR will have a small army in attendance, so check the site and YouTube Channel this afternoon for a rundown.
The team was at Freedom Hall for the game last night, so we’ll ask for their thoughts on that too.
Four Cats in action at the Olympics
It’s a big basketball day in Paris as four former Cats participate in group/pool play. As we speak, Canada leads Australia in the fourth quarter of Men’s 5×5 Basketball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 16 points on 8-9 from the floor so far, and Jamal Murray and Trey Lyles have three points each. Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, and Team USA play Wenyen Gabriel and South Sudan tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock).
Top 10
- 1
Big 12 title game set
Arizona State to face Iowa State
- 2
SEC Title Game Odds
Texas opens as favorite over Georgia
- 3
Maurice Clarett on Ryan Day
OSU legend changes tune on coach
- 4
Bama trolls Auburn LB
Demarcus Riddick comments resurfaced
- 5
SEC Championship Game
Texas-Georgia rematch for SEC title
Later this morning, Rhyne Howard makes her debut on the United States Women’s 3×3 team. Team USA faces Germany at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. If you missed it Monday, former Kentucky Volleyball great Avery Skinner had an impressive debut with the US Women’s National Team, coming off the bench to help force a tiebreaker vs. China, but the comeback came up just short in the fifth set.
The marquee events today at the Olympics are the Women’s Team Final in Gymnastics, the Women’s 100m Backstroke final, the Men’s 800m Freestyle final, the Men’s 200m Freestyle Relay final, Men’s and Women’s Surfing finals, and the Men’s Triathlon final. You can see the complete Olympics schedule here.
Women’s Rugby Sevens also wraps up today, with USA taking on New Zealand in the semifinals starting at 9:30 a.m. CT. I can’t wait to watch Ilona Maher again.
Need a football fix?
11 Personnel went up on a Monday to recap Mark Stoops’ buzzy NIL fundraising comments from last week, a big recruiting weekend, and what Stoops, Bush Hamdan, and Brad White said at Monday’s kickoff luncheon. If you’re in need of a football fix, hit play and enjoy below.
KSR the show is at the Lexington Challenger Tennis Championships
There’s plenty of tennis happening in Paris today too, but closer to home, the Lexington Challenger Tennis Championships are underway at Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center on UK’s campus. That’s where today’s show is, so if you’re in the area, come on out to enjoy the fun. Only four shows left until Matt Jones returns from his vacation.
- Tuesday, July 30 – Lexington Challenger Tennis Championships
- Wednesday, July 31 – Tom Hart’s final show of the summer
- Thursday, August 1 – Woodford County Day, the last of the counties
- Friday, August 2 – UK Football Media Day
In case you missed it, yesterday was our final Merry Monday with Myron Medcalf. Myron’s been an excellent guest host this summer, and we should all take his closing words to heart and make it a Terrific Tuesday.
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