KSR Today: Nerves hit ahead of a crucial football weekend

The basketball high we all felt coming out of Kentucky’s first exhibition win — a 71-point beatdown vs. Kentucky Wesleyan — is slowly transitioning into football nerves as we enter the weekend. It’s no secret what’s on the line with the Auburn Tigers coming to town, the Wildcats looking to avoid an 11th SEC home loss in their last 13 matchups at Kroger Field.

On the surface, Auburn is just 2-5 on the year, good for 15th in the SEC. The Tigers have only won the turnover battle once on the year — coming in a loss, ironically — with no conference victories. Their resume stinks, but they’ve been competitive in league play with a pair of one-score losses and the widest margin of defeat being 31-13 to No. 2 Georgia. They’re better than their record says they are with an explosive offense that just can’t get out of its own way, unfortunately.

Kentucky is the favorite — albeit at -2, making it a toss-up when factoring in home-field advantage. It’s a game that can swing either direction and ruin the season for both teams. And that’s a tough spot to be in for the Cats considering the lack of momentum on the program’s side at this stage.

A tough injury report for the Cats

To make matters worse, the Wildcats got a not-so-friendly update on Thursday’s availability report that will undoubtedly hurt their chances against the Tigers. Kentucky announced it will be without leading rusher Demie Sumo-Karngbaye for the first time this season, downgraded to out after popping up as questionable on Wednesday. Ohio State transfer Chip Trayanum is also out once again after making his short-lived debut against Florida last week. He’s dealing with an ankle issue after missing the start of the season with a broken hand.

Those are two of 15 total names on the report for Kentucky going into the weekend, Deone Walker and D’Eryk Jackson also banged up, but probable.

• Jayvant Brown | LB | Out
• Maxwell Hairston | DB | Out
• Jantzen Dunn | DB | Out
• Darrion Henry-Young | DL | Out
• Gerald Mincey | OL | Out
• Josaih Hayes | DL | Out
• Tavion Gadson | DL | Out
• Chip Trayanum | RB | Out
• Demie Sumo-Karngbaye | RB | Out
• Keeshawn Silver | DL | Questionable
• Quay’sheed Scott | DB | Probable
• Deone Walker | DT | Probable
• DJ Waller Jr. | DB | Probable
• D’Eryk Jackson | LB | Probable
• Tre’vonn Rybka | DL | Probable

Five players out for the Tigers

How are things looking for Auburn ahead of its trip to Lexington? Only five players are on the report, though all five have been declared out. Defensive back Champ Anthony is the most prominent name on the list, racking up 12 tackles and three pass deflections on the season.

• Jamonta Waller | OLB | Out
• Tyler Scott | DB | Out
• Champ Anthony | DB | Out
• Brandon Frazier | TE | Out
• Caleb Burton III | WR | Out

Health certainly favors the Tigers in this one.

Mark Stoops previews Auburn

How does the head ball coach feel about where things are trending going into a wildly important home game to potentially salvage a broken season? Stoops is confident his team is in a good spot following a successful week of practice.

“It’s been a solid week. There were a lot of things we needed to improve on, and we just have to stay to it,” he said. “We have to put our head down and work, get better. These games have all been close. We anticipate another one this week, it could come down to another one-possession game. We have to make sure we’re doing the little things and preparing the right way. I feel like our team is in a pretty good spot.”

Not one, but TWO basketball podcasts

Need something to distract you at work to get to the weekend? Still wanting to celebrate that 123-point performance for the Cats in Mark Pope’s exhibition debut? It’s OK, we are too.

That’s why the Sources Say crew recapped the win over Kentucky Wesleyan on Thursday, digging into what worked inside Rupp Arena and just how sustainable that offensive production is.

Check it out:

But wait, there’s more! The Memorial Memo is back, as well, Phoenix Stevens and Katie Hutchison previewing the women’s basketball season under first-year coach Kenny Brooks and recapping the Blue-White Game.

With excitement at an all-time high with that program, now is the perfect time to soak up all of the coverage you can get — and there is plenty of it to come all season long.

Start here:

A must-watch edition of KSR Explains by Steven Peake

Do you remember where you were when Mark Pope emerged as a top candidate to land the Kentucky job? Or better yet, when he actually landed it? What a wild time for Big Blue Nation, an all-time swing of emotions after setting our sights on Dan Hurley, Scott Drew and/or Billy Donovan.

Then came something the college basketball world has never seen before, a sold-out press conference to welcome Pope back home with a complete buy-in following initial concern. It was a day we’ll never forget.

KSR’s Steven Peake went back to those strange couple of days that put us on the path we’re on now, one with a unanimous approval rating — at least until the games officially start.

It’s a video you’re certain to enjoy.

Go Cats. Please, for all that is good in the world, beat Auburn.