KSR Today: Onyenso enters transfer portal; The Masters tee off

Good morning, folks! The offseason of roster turnover for Kentucky men’s basketball continues to roll right along. Another piece from last season’s team is off in search of greener pastures. We’re still waiting on decisions from the likes of Oscar Tshiebwe, Chris Livingston, and CJ Fredrick, which could come out at any moment. Kentucky is also beginning to ramp up its efforts in the transfer portal, identifying top targets and setting up meetings with potential prospects.

But before we dive into all that, today is the beginning of the 87th edition of The Masters, the first of the men’s four major golf championships this year. As someone who doesn’t exactly keep up with everything in the world of golf outside of whatever LIV is doing (I can’t get them off my TV), I’ll cede my thoughts on this to someone who does. KSR’s Adam Luckett has a deep-dive preview of the entire tournament that you’ll want to check out.

Now let’s get back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Ugonna Onyenso heads into the portal

The news that we feared was coming finally broke on Wednesday. Freshman center Ugonna Onyenso officially put his name in the transfer portal. Following a limited role with Kentucky in 2022-23, the 6-foot-11 big man will now look elsewhere. Onyenso averaged 2.5 points 2.6 rebounds per outing across 16 appearances for the ‘Cats, with most of his playing time coming against lower competition.

A former four-star recruit out of Nigeria, Onyenso previously announced he would be returning for his sophomore campaign as a Wildcat. Head coach John Calipari openly discussed the possibility of playing Onyenso and blue-chip signee Aaron Bradshaw together in a twin-towers lineup — “We may be able to play two seven-footers at one time because they’re both skilled” — and in the same breath said the freshman center was “going to end up being special.” Calipari even stated that he believed Onyenso would be one of the best big men in the country next season.

While that could still be the case, it just won’t be in Lexington.

The Sources Say crew broke down what Onyenso’s departure means for Kentucky moving forward, and where Calipari goes from here. Watch that below. You can also get up to speed on all of the Wildcats’ offseason moves with KSR’s one-stop-shop roster tracker by clicking here. Also of note, the recruiting dead period ends today at noon, meaning coaches and recruits can now conduct in-person meetings.

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Is Hunter Dickinson a potential replacement?

Almost immediately after news broke of Onyenso’s departure, it was reported by the Stadium’s Jeff Goodman that Kentucky was scheduled to meet with Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson through a Zoom meeting sometime on Wednesday.

The three-time All-Big Ten performer entered his name in the transfer portal last Friday. Dickinson averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game as a junior at Michigan in 2022-23, shooting 56 percent from the field.

With Kentucky losing Onyenso and the expectation that two-time All-American Oscar Tshiebwe will also depart the program, head coach John Calipari is going to be searching for more size in the portal to pair alongside Bradshaw in the frontcourt. During his high school days as a four-star recruit out of Maryland, Dickinson took an unofficial visit to check out UK. Georgetown, Maryland, and Syracuse are also expected to be heavily involved for the 7-foot-1 center.

Dickinson has become a polarizing portal option for the Big Blue Nation. We’ll have to wait and see just how serious the connection is between both sides.

Kentucky baseball has a mid-season All-American

Kentucky Baseball junior RHP Ryan Hagenow was named a Third Team Midseason All-American by Perfect Game on Wednesday. Hagenow was one of nine SEC pitchers that made one of the three All-American teams.

Hagenow has been the anchor of the Wildcat bullpen, allowing just four hits and no runs in 15.1 innings pitched this season. He has really improved on a solid sophomore season, becoming one of the most efficient relievers in the entire Southeastern Conference.

The Knoxville, TN native is 2-0 on the season with one save across his 11 appearances on the mound. Hagenow has given up just four hits all season long, striking out 23 batters, walking only five, and holding opposing hitters to a mere .078 batting average.

Ryan Hagenow Named Midseason All-America – UK Athletics https://t.co/f1s6kxovm5 pic.twitter.com/83BEIQmIru

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 5, 2023

The No. 10 ranked Bat ‘Cats (26-3) are coming off a 13-6 midweek win over Dayton on Tuesday and now head down to Athens, GA this weekend for a three-game tilt against the Georgia Bulldogs starting on Friday night. Kentucky will go into that series as a projected top 16-seed in the NCAA Tournament too, which means they’d host the opening two rounds at Kentucky Proud Park.

What a start for the fighting Nick Mingiones.

College Baseball Bracketology Projections

I hope we get answers in the next 8 weeks because this was torture.

(Edited) pic.twitter.com/Prr11v2gcY

— Ben Upton (@Ben_Upton5) April 5, 2023

Mark Stoops is Mic’d Up

Who doesn’t love a good Mic’d Up segment?

Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops was the latest to get hooked up with a microphone — coffee gripped tightly in hand — as he takes us through his mind during a recent spring practice for the Wildcats. It was certainly a more joke-y version of Coach Stoops out there (him calling Brenden Bates’ red jersey “cute” made me laugh out loud), but we do get a first-hand look at what he’s like when he’s in his environment.

“We’ve got to have a great week,” Stoops told his team. “Submit this week, you got me? Let’s take a big jump.”

Check it out.

Volleyball back in action

In what will be the third of four spring matches for Kentucky volleyball, the ‘Cats will take on the Purdue Boilermakers tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST, which take place at Columbus East High School in Indiana. The game won’t be broadcast on TV or online, but KSR’s Ian Alvano will have a full-game recap on the site shortly after the conclusion. Purdue finished the 2022 season ranked No. 20 in the country.

Kentucky has dropped both of its spring practices so far, falling to in-state rival Louisville 3-2 in the first match before taking on a professional team, Athletes Unlimited, a week later in what was another loss. These spring matches are more about learning where the team is at right now though and provide perfect opportunities to prepare for what will be another tough regular-season schedule this fall. After going up against Purdue, Kentucky will close out the spring session next Sunday against Pittsburgh at Olentangy Berlin High School in Ohio.