KSR Today: Mark Pope previews Bucknell and Kentucky WBB hosts NKU

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Mark Pope coaching up Lamont Butler - Mont Dawson, Kentucky Sports Radio

Good morning, folks! Who’s ready for more Kentucky basketball?

After a terrific season-opener for Kenny Brooks and the women’s team, they’ll return to action tonight for another home game at Memorial Coliseum, this time against Northern Kentucky. We’ll talk about that matchup more in just a moment. Also on the basketball front, we’ll hear from Mark Pope later today as he previews the men’s team’s second regular season game. The ‘Cats host Bucknell on Saturday before heading to Atlanta on Tuesday to face No. 7 Duke.

As always, we’ll have Pope’s press conference uploaded to the KSR YouTube channel as soon as possible.

But we’ll get today’s morning post rolling by recapping a busy Wednesday for Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops. With his Wildcats on a bye this week, he stacked all of his media opportunities together. We heard from Stoops three different times yesterday. I’ll include all of the links below (including a fresh episode of 11 Personnel) so you can catch up on everything he had to say. It was an interesting day for the man in charge…

But there was at least some good news on the football front. Stoops revealed that All-SEC cornerback Maxwell Hairston is on track to make his return when Kentucky comes off the bye next Saturday to host Murray State. Hairston has missed five straight games, having last played on Sept. 21 against Ohio. The timing couldn’t be better either, considering UK was down to just two healthy CBs in the loss to Tennessee.

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Kentucky WBB hosts NKU

Kenny Brooks’ first team in Lexington sure looked exciting during Monday’s season-opener. The No. 22-ranked Wildcats smacked USC Upstate 98-43 in front of a great crowd at the renovated Memorial Coliseum. Kentucky shot over 52 percent from the floor behind 22 points from sophomore Clara Strack along with 14 points and six blocks from freshman Clara Silva. Georgia Amoore dropped a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists as five ‘Cats reached double-figures.

Tonight’s game against Northern Kentucky is set for 6:00 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on the SEC Network+. UK is 11-4 all-time against NKU, having last played in 2014. It’s also Space Jam Night (although I’m not entirely sure what that means) at Memorial and there will be a halftime scrimmage between UK’s two mascots, Team Wildcat and Team Scratch.

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KSR’s Phoenix Stevens and Katie Hutchison will be live on the scene once again to bring you regular updates on the ladies and plenty of postgame coverage. We’ll have a full preview of the matchup on the website later this morning. In the meantime, check out the latest episode of Memorial Memo so you can be smarter than everyone else when it comes to Kentucky WBB.

BBNFL player updates

A couple of notes on former Wildcats playing in the NFL…

Mike Edwards has been scooped up by the Tennessee Titans (to the excitement of Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson) after requesting a release from the Buffalo Bills. The talented defensive back is coming off a great season with the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs but wasn’t playing in Buffalo. Pending a physical, he’ll join the Titans, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He’ll team up alongside another former ‘Cat in quarterback Will Levis.
24-year-old defensive lineman Josh Paschal hadn’t been playing for the Detroit Lions the last few weeks and there was good reason why. He announced Wednesday he had to have a mass removed from his shoulder a couple of weeks back. The good news? It wasn’t cancerous, though it did force him into an unexpected rehab period recovering from surgery. Paschal has since been cleared and is expected to return to action on Sunday. As many of you might remember, Paschal was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma in 2018 while at Kentucky, but he managed to beat that too.

While we’re talking about the NFL, tonight’s Thursday Night Football matchup will be one to watch as the Baltimore Ravens (6-3) host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-5) at 8:15 p.m. EST on Prime Video.

Join KSR Plus! With a KSR Plus membership, you get access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

John Calipari’s postgame press conference is hilarious

I know, I know. I’m bringing up John Calipari, but you have to see the one-minute video that was put together from his first official postgame press conference as the head coach at Arkansas. After the Razorbacks beat Lipscomb 76-60 at home last night, Calipari was in full character during his talks with the media.

The best part? When Calipari asks “So you have no questions? Now that I’ve–“

“Just waiting for you to stop talking,” longtime Arkansas reporter Bob Holt responded.

One minute of the best moments from John Calipari's first post-game press conference.

There was a lot going on here… pic.twitter.com/HdzmakcwrL
— Cory Stewart (@Stewhog) November 7, 2024

Rupp Arena’s cool new feature

Tired of waiting in long checkout lines while you miss Jaxson Robinson hitting another three-pointer? Rupp Arena is helping solve that problem with the opening of a new store, “Wildcat Walk Thru”. Fueled by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, the system is as simple as tapping your credit/debit card at the entrance, loading up your preferred snacks and (alcoholic) drinks, and then walking straight out. The technology tracks what you grab and then charges your card once you leave the area.

Wildcat Walk Thru is located on the upper concourse on Level 2 near Section 13.