KSR Today: Preparing for Auburn, recapping Bush Hamdan

Good morning, folks. Happy Friday and pre-weekend — just a few more hours to go until we can all celebrate together. I’m currently riding down to Auburn alongside KSR video extraordinaire Steven Peake ahead of one of the most anticipated matchups of the SEC schedule, a win Kentucky could really use to build its resume ahead of March.

You already know the importance. The Cats are 17-7 after a recent three-game home losing skid, a stretch that saw this group lose four of six. They haven’t won a Quad 1 matchup since January 6, the late nailbiter at Florida. And they’re taking on an Auburn team that is a perfect 13-0 at home and coming off a 101-61 beatdown vs. South Carolina — a team that beat Kentucky by 17.

The Tigers are No. 6 in the NET and No. 4 in the KenPom ratings with the No. 9 adjusted offense and No. 4 defense. They’re a problem, no doubt about it. But it’s a problem the Cats will have to solve on Saturday, tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner preview the matchup

How are the Cats preparing for the matchup? They’ll be answering that question and more ahead of their trip to the Plains, as Edwards and Wagner are set to speak to the media on Friday at noon ET.

I’ll be about halfway to Auburn by then, but KSR will still have boots on the ground inside the Joe Craft Center with coverage to follow throughout the afternoon.

Welcome to the show, Bush Hamdan

Hey, Kentucky has a new offensive coordinator! Goodbye Liam Coen and hello Bush Hamdan, former OC and QB coach at Boise State. The 38-year-old was introduced Thursday after arriving in Lexington early in the week, reaching an agreement for the job this past weekend.

“Probably the most difficult of my career,” he said of his decision to leave his alma mater for UK. “That place will always hold a special place in my heart. … Coming to Kroger Field (as a coach at Florida and Missouri), knowing what this place is about, knowing what the fanbase is about. A mixture of those three things just made this a job I couldn’t pass up on.”

What can you expect from Hamdan and his offensive identity in year one roaming the sidelines in Lexington?

“This offense, we’re going to be on the attack. That’s all we’ve ever known,” Hamdan said. “… Certainly I know the history of Kentucky: what the fronts look like, the physicality. I just saw those guys yesterday upfront, their size, really feel they can be an extremely competitive group in the SEC. But I’m really optimistic about some of these skill players. … Watching wide receivers, in my opinion, that are elite-type and NFL-type players. And certainly excited about the quarterback room.

11 Personnel breaks down the first impression

How did Bush do in his first face-to-face sitdown with the media on Thursday? Nick Roush and Adam Luckett flipped on their cameras and microphones shortly after the presser to break it all down.

Spoiler: there’s a lot to like.

College Football 25 is coming and it’s beautiful

After 11 long, sad and lonely years, EA Sports is bringing happiness back to our lives. Gone are the days of rebuilding rosters from the old NCAA Football 2014 game with Denard Robinson on the cover. A new College Football 25 video game is coming this summer, officially announced Thursday with a teaser trailer so good it’ll make a grown man or woman cry.

“Yeah, it’s really happening! Coming this summer. Full reveal in May,” EA Sports announced.

Yeah, It’s really happening! Coming this summer. Full reveal in May #CFB25 pic.twitter.com/yMMXz7OeR8

— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) February 15, 2024

What can you expect from Kentucky in the new-and-improved video game series? Self-proclaimed detective “EverythingEACollegeFootball” (@EACOLLEGEFOOT) has the scoop.

These are the sights and sounds you’ll see inside Kroger Field:

• Pregame Part 1 & 2 – After team leaves the field before the team returns to start the game
• Air Raid Siren – immediately after UK touchdowns
• On On UK – Played after scores and after air raid siren
• 3rd Down Coal Whistle – on third downs
• Law & Order SFX – on opposing team penalties
• Wildcat Growl – any UK first down or big play on offense/defense
• Random Band Songs
  • Hey Song
  • Trombone Cheer
  • Trumpet Cheer
  • War
• Postgame – My Old KY Home (alma mater)

Anything missing from the list? Can we get Carl Nathe’s “FIRST DOWN KENTUCKY!” call included?

Happy Opening Day!

Nick Mingione and the BatCats take on USC Upstate in the season opener down in Spartanburg. It’s 35 weeks following the team’s run to the Baton Rouge Super Regional and expectations are high that Kentucky can make back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history.

UK was picked to finish fifth in the SEC East, one spot ahead of where they were projected last season and one spot behind where the Cats finished, tying for fourth with Tennessee.

The three-game series begins Friday at 3 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+.

Kyra Elzy is now 9-16 and 2-9 in SEC play

Six straight losses for the Kentucky women’s basketball program, taking another at Auburn on Thursday — a 78-50 beatdown that saw the Cats trail 22-4 to open the game and 40-18 at halftime.

Ajae Petty led the team with 13 points and 13 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season, but added seven turnovers. Elsewhere, Maddie Scherr rounded out double-figure scorers with 11 points to go with seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. As a team, Kentucky shot an embarrassing 32.8% from the field, 11.1% from three and 52.4% at the line.

The Cats will face Florida at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday for the program’s 50th Anniversary Celebration and Alumni Day. Maybe they’ll get that one. Hopefully. Possibly?

All-Star Weekend begins

We can’t end the morning on a sour note, so how about some good news? NBA All-Star Weekend begins in Indianapolis on Friday and runs through Sunday. At least one former Cat will participate in every single event from start to finish.

A record-breaking seven have been selected for Sunday’s All-Star Game, highlighted by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starting for the Western Conference and joined by Anthony Davis, Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns. They will take on the Eastern Conference, which features UK stars Bam Adebayo, Tyrese Maxey and Julius Randle. That matchup tips off Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.

Before that, Cason Wallace and Oscar Tshiebwe will get things rolling in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.

And then All-Star Saturday will feature Towns among the competitors in the 3-point shooting contest and Maxey in the Skills Challenge. Jacob Toppin will compete in the dunk contest. That all begins at 8 p.m. ET, also airing on TNT.

Three days of past Cats with Kentucky at Auburn anchoring the weekend. Not too shabby, BBN.