KSR Today: Mark Pope, John Calipari take the stage at SEC Basketball Media Day
The college basketball season is just 20 days away. Today, talking season really heats up with SEC Basketball Media Day in Birmingham, our first such event featuring both Mark Pope and John Calipari.
All sixteen head coaches will be at the lovely Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook for the festivities. Pope, Lamont Butler, and Jaxson Robinson will take the main stage around lunch. Calipari, Jonas Aidoo, and Adou Thiero will represent the Arkansas Razorbacks later in the afternoon. With those storylines and a nation-leading nine SEC teams making the Preseason AP College Basketball Poll on Monday, there should be plenty to talk about. Jack Pilgrim and Zack Geoghegan made the trip south to cover it all, so check back early and often for their coverage.
The SEC Network will be live from the event all afternoon, with each coach’s press conference also streaming live on SEC Network+. Mark Pope’s will also be available on the KSR YouTube Channel shortly after it’s over, along with the interviews with Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, which will take place between 12:45 and 1:05 PM ET. We’ll have content from the other coaches and players (including John Calipari) on there as well.
| Time (ET) | Programming | Platform |
| 10 a.m. | South Carolina Coach Lamont Paris | SEC Network+ |
| 10:40 a.m. | Georgia Coach Mike White | SEC Network+ |
| 11 a.m. | Tennessee Coach Rick Barnes | SEC Network+ |
| 11 a.m. | SEC Now: SEC Tipoff Presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors | SEC Network |
| 11:40 a.m. | Mississippi State Coach Chris Jans | SEC Network+ |
| Noon | Kentucky Coach Mark Pope | SEC Network+ |
| 12:20 p.m. | LSU Coach Matt McMahon | SEC Network+ |
| 1:25 p.m. | Auburn Coach Bruce Pearl | SEC Network+ |
| 1:45 p.m. | Florida Coach Todd Golden | SEC Network+ |
| 2:45 p.m. | Texas A&M Coach Buzz Williams | SEC Network+ |
| 3 p.m. | The Paul Finebaum Show | SEC Network |
| 3:30 p.m. | Vanderbilt Coach Mark Byington | SEC Network+ |
| 3:50 p.m. | Alabama Coach Nate Oats | SEC Network+ |
| 4:15 p.m. | Oklahoma Coach Porter Moser | SEC Network+ |
| 4:35 p.m. | Arkansas Coach John Calipari | SEC Network+ |
| 5:15 p.m. | Missouri Coach Dennis Gates | SEC Network+ |
| 5:35 p.m. | Texas Coach Rodney Terry | SEC Network+ |
| 6:15 p.m. | Ole Miss Coach Chris Beard | SEC Network+ |
Pope, Butler, and Robinson will be on the SEC Network set between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m. to chat with Peter Burns, Daymeon Fishback, Pat Bradley, and Ron Slay. Calipari, Aidoo, and Adou will appear later on The Paul Finebaum Show between 3:30-3:45 p.m. If you missed it on Monday, Kentucky was picked to finish eighth in the SEC by the media, and Robinson was named All-SEC Third Team. Alabama was the media’s pick to win the SEC this year, followed by Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.
The women, who were also picked to finish eighth in the league, get their turn in Birmingham tomorrow. Kenny Brooks is taking Georgia Amoore, who was named All-SEC First Team, and Dazia Lawrence, who won the three-point contest at Big Blue Madness, with him. Jack and Zack are sticking around the Magic City to bring you highlights from that too.
Sources Say live at 8 p.m.
After they wrap up at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Jack and Zack will go live from somewhere in Birmingham for an SEC Tipoff edition of Sources Say at 8 p.m. ET on the KSR YouTube Channel. That’s appointment viewing any day, but on one in which the guys talked to Mark Pope and John Calipari? Set a reminder, BBN, or carve out some time to catch up on the replay and podcast.
Offense Day at Football Practice
On the football side, Monday was spent trying to figure out what the heck happened vs. Vanderbilt. Mark Stoops still seemed at a loss for words about his team’s error-ridden performance. Today, we’ll hear what Bush Hamdan has to say, along with members of the offense. Check the site this evening to hear how the team is regrouping before a very important trip to Florida.
Monday Quick-Hitters from Mark Stoops
As mentioned, Mark Stoops is still searching for answers for Kentucky’s performance vs. Vanderbilt. Here are the biggest headlines from his press conference and radio show on Monday:
Stoops challenges players in team meeting: Stoops always meets with his team on Mondays, but yesterday’s meeting was a little different. Stoops said he showed his players all the mistakes they made vs. Vanderbilt and challenged them to take accountability: “You’re grown. I don’t anticipate anybody in here being sensitive because I’m calling you out in front of the whole team.”
Jamarion Wilcox needs to tie his shoes: Kentucky’s offense needs explosive plays to get off the ground. Jamarion Wilcox is capable of those. When asked why the running back only had three carries vs. Vanderbilt, Mark Stoops called Wilcox out for not having his shoes tied during the game, the latest example of Stoops trying to challenge the talented redshirt freshman.
Florida starting QB Graham Mertz out for the season: If you’re looking for some good news heading into this weekend’s game at Florida, the Gators will be without veteran starting quarterback Graham Mertz. On Monday, Florida announced that Mertz is out for the season with a knee injury he suffered in the overtime loss to Tennessee; five-star true freshman DJ Lagway will start in his place. Lagway has flashed at times this season; here’s hoping Kentucky’s defense can pressure him into some bad decisions Saturday night.
Chip Trayanum may return this week: Ohio State transfer running back Chip Trayanum has yet to play this season as he works his way back from a broken hand. Last night, Stoops said Trayanum was close to playing vs. Vanderbilt and may play this week vs. Florida. The same goes with offensive lineman Courtland Ford.
Hear all of Stoops’ comments from his press conference below, along with the latest episode of the KSR Football Podcast, the audio of which is crystal clear.
Top 10
- 1
Lanning ends argument
Oregon HC confirms intentional 12-man penalty
- 2Hot
Jerry Jones loses it
Cowboys owner unhinged radio appearance
- 3
Sankey on Smart shove
SEC commish: Georgia HC should've been flagged
- 4
Kelly addresses lawsuit
Brian Kelly comments on Greg Brooks Jr. lawsuit
- 5Trending
8th year Cam Rising?
Utah QB could take medical redshirt for 8th season
ICYMI, we got a Football Commitment
Mark Stoops teased an incoming commitment on his radio show and less than an hour later, it went public. Three-star safety Dyllon Williams committed to Kentucky during a phone call with Stoops on Monday, flipping from the Missouri Tigers to the Wildcats. He is the 19th pledge in Kentucky’s 2025 class, which ranks No. 23 nationally.
Williams told Jacob Polacheck he plans to enroll in January and his relationship with Frank Buffano was key to the flip, along with his official visit for the South Carolina game on Sept. 7.
“Being around the players, the coaching staff, and the atmosphere at the game, I felt like it was the right place for me,” he said.
Another big Monday Night Football for Ray Davis
Three weeks ago, Ray Davis scored his first NFL touchdown in the Bills’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football. Last night, he shined under the MNF spotlight once again, carrying the ball 20 times for 97 yards and catching three of Josh Allen’s passes for 55 yards to help push the Bills to the 23-20 win over the New York Jets. Fresh off a trip to Lexington for the Vanderbilt game, Davis was stellar, becoming the first rookie since 1986 to lead the Bills in rushing and receiving yards in the same game.
Afterward, he got to talk to Scott Van Pelt about it, while wearing a cowboy hat. Congrats, Ray. We miss you.
Men’s Soccer hosts Bradley
It was a big weekend for the Kentucky Men’s Soccer team, which beat conference rival Old Dominion 1-0 Friday night. Tonight, the Cats (3-3-4, 2-0-2 Sun Belt) will close out non-conference play against Bradley (4-6-1, 1-3 MVC) at The Bell. The match begins at 7 p.m. ET. If you can’t make it in person, you can stream online at ESPN+.
Tickets to Kentucky’s first 9 home games are on sale
Want to see Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team in action? Yesterday evening, tickets to the first nine home games, including the exhibitions, went on sale on Ticketmaster. Most of them went very quickly, but you can still find some in the upper level, or via verified resale.
- Oct. 23: Kentucky Wesleyan (Exh.)
- Oct. 29: Minnesota State (Exh.)
- Nov. 4: Wright State
- Nov. 9: Bucknell
- Nov. 19: Lipscomb
- Nov. 22: Jackson State
- Nov. 26: Western Kentucky
- Nov. 29: Georgia State
- Dec. 11: Colgate
Tickets for the final 11 home games, including Louisville (Dec. 14), Brown (Dec. 31), and all the SEC games, will go on sale at a later date to be determined, based on availability.
There are also tickets still available for Friday’s Blue/White Game at Memorial Coliseum. The event will not be televised (although you can hear the radio broadcast live on the UK Sports Network), so if you want to see the Cats in action, join Club Blue. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to Kentucky Men’s and Women’s Basketball NIL.
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