KSR Today: New Year's Eve (Eve) for Kentucky football, basketball

The holiday season rolls forward in the world of UK Athletics, with the Kentucky football and basketball teams bringing in the new year with two massive matchups to close out 2022 on December 31.

Kicking and tipping off at the exact same time at noon ET, the football team will take on Iowa in the Music City Bowl down in Nashville, while the basketball team is set to face off against in-state rival Louisville in Lexington.

It’s a crucial game for both programs, with football searching for its eighth win of the season and fifth straight victory in bowl matchups. As for basketball, the Wildcats are desperate for a win after getting run out of the gym to open SEC play this week at Missouri. Factor in the Kenny Payne connection and the bitter rivalry the two programs share, and it’s clear the stakes are high.

Friday is the final day of game prep for both teams. How are the football and basketball squads preparing?

Football gets ready for Iowa in Nashville

It’s been a busy week of festivities for the Wildcats down at the bowl site, with Thursday being a day of work and fun. It started with practice, where Kentucky is preparing for several unknowns on Iowa’s side, specifically at quarterback. Third-string QB Joe Labas is expected to get the start for the Hawkeyes, meaning film is limited and the Wildcats will have to think big-picture when it comes to game prep.

“Base-wise, the majority of what they do is the same, but you’ve always got to be mindful — it’s a bowl game. There are going to be twists and wrinkles. We’ve got to be prepared,” Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White said Thursday. “With the (Iowa) quarterback situation, there’s some unknown there, so we’ve got to be ready. It comes down to who they are, and they win in the trenches. That’s where it starts.”

Like Kentucky, Iowa plays a physical brand on the other side of the football, and the Hawkeyes are well-coached under head coach Kirk Ferentz.

“Iowa’s good in a lot of ways,” Mark Stoops said Wednesday. “They very much understand themselves. They understand each call. What the strength is, what the weakness is, and where they maybe getting attacked in that particular defense. Their football IQ is extremely high which as a defensive guy — a defensive coordinator for a long time — I have a great respect for that. What they do and how hard they play. They play extremely hard. Very physical, very well-coached, and I like that. I love the way they play.”

It’s not all business in Nashville, with the Wildcats also having fun with the Hawkeyes in the Music City, as well. In a city known for its hot chicken, why not have a wing-eating contest?

Kentucky got the best of Iowa in the head-to-head battle off the field before things get heated on it on Saturday. The Wildcats ate 50 wings compared to 49 for the Hawkeyes, led by Grant Bingham with 13 wings total.

And then there’s the water park inside the hotel, with the Wildcats taking advantage of the fun during their downtime.

Gotta have some fun off the field too at the @MusicCityBowl.#BowlSeason @e_jakobi @deonewalker0 @TaxAct pic.twitter.com/to0WkLxyEt

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 28, 2022

What’s on the schedule today for the football team? Mark Stoops and Kirk Ferentz, along with both teams’ offensive and defensive coordinators are set to participate in a news conference starting at 12:15 p.m. ET. Then at 7 p.m. ET, the teams will participate in a Battle of the Bands on Broadway.

That will bring us to Saturday, with kickoff scheduled at Nissan Stadium at noon ET, live on ABC.

Men’s basketball prepares for Louisville

It’s not all fun and games for the men’s basketball program as it prepares for its weekend matchup. Coming off an embarrassing performance in Columbia on Wednesday, the team’s resume is atrocious and fans have grown to be apathetic not even halfway through the season. Kentucky has no offensive identity, defensive effort was horrendous at Mizzou, team chemistry is down and even body language is poor.

There isn’t an immediate fix to the team’s woes, and it doesn’t help that Kentucky’s next opponent is terrible.

Kenny Payne and the Louisville Cardinals are set to travel to Lexington on Saturday, bringing one of the worst teams in college basketball to Rupp Arena. UofL sits at 2-11 on the season, with the team’s lone victories coming vs. Western Kentucky and Florida A&M. Losses include Bellarmine, Wright State, Appalachian State and Lipscomb, among others.

A feel-good opportunity for Kentucky — on paper, at least — against its biggest rivalry, the game will tip off at noon ET on CBS.

John Calipari will speak to the media today at 1:45 p.m. ET. to preview the matchup and hopefully provide answers to the long list of questions fans have regarding his program.

KSR will have all of the coverage you need right here on the website throughout the afternoon.

Cards to debut retro uniforms vs. Cats

ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Louisville a 1.6% chance to pull off the upset at Rupp Arena. The official line hasn’t been set quite yet, but it’s expected to heavily favor the Wildcats.

Looking to make some magic, the Cardinals are rolling out a retro uniform, a classic red look as the team enters a sea of blue.

Admittedly, it’s a solid uniform.

Throwin’ It Back#GoCards pic.twitter.com/U0N6JsBAQd

— Louisville Men's Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) December 30, 2022

Will it help? That remains to be seen. They’re trying, at least.

Kentucky WBB drops SEC opener at Mizzou

First it was the men’s basketball team dropping its conference opener at Missouri on Wednesday. Just a day later, it was the women doing the same, falling to the Tigers in Columbia to open SEC play.

Unlike Calipari’s group — blown out from start to finish — Kyra Elzy’s squad fell in a nailbiter by a final score of 74-71. That’s after outscoring Mizzou in three of four quarters, led by Robyn Benton with a team-high 22 points on 5-14 shooting and 10-11 from the line. She has scored in double figures every game this season and leads the Wildcats with 16.5 points per contest.

As a team, Kentucky knocked down just 24 of its 60 shot attempts and 10 of 26 looks from deep. The Wildcats forced 25 turnovers and turned those into 36 points the other direction, but execution to close out the first and second halves killed the team’s chances for a statement victory in Columbia.

With the loss, UK has now fallen in four of their last five games to move to a disappointing 8-5 on the season.