KSR Today: SEC Tournament, Sweet 16, and Kenny Payne

ZGeogheganKSR

ksr-today-sec-tournament-sweet-16-kenny-payne — Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

Good morning, folks! The 2024 SEC Tournament officially gets underway tonight down in Nashville. Kentucky is still a couple of days away from taking the stage, but the bottom four seeds in the conference will duke it out this evening with the hopes of somehow making it to Sunday’s championship.

Check out what’s on tap for tonight:

7:00 (SECN) | No. 13 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 Arkansas
9:30 (SECN) | No. 14 Missouri vs. No. 11 Georgia

As we continue to prep for the Wildcats’ opening round SECT game against the winner of Texas A&M/Ole Miss on Friday night, we’ll first get the opportunity to speak with a coach and a handful of players before the team heads down to Nashville. Associate to the head coach Bruiser Flint along with sophomores Ugonna Onyenso and Adou Thiero will also talk with reporters this morning.

As always, stay tuned to the KSR YouTube channel and this here website so you don’t miss a second of the coverage. It’s about to be a fun few days… Now let’s dive into the rest of today’s news and notes.

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Girls’ Sweet 16 begins today

Beginning this morning, the Kentucky high school girls’ basketball Sweet 16 tournament will get underway at Rupp Arena. The three-time defending state champion Sacred Heart Valkyries look to become the first-ever school to win four straight championships but face a tough opening challenge in the first round against George Rogers Clark.

That game is set for Thursday though. There’s plenty more in store before and after then. Here is what’s on the table for the next two days. KSR will be at Rupp Arena to provide up-to-date coverage. You can check out our full preview here.

Girls’ Sweet 16 | Day One (Wednesday, March 13)

11:00 AM | Bowling Green (23-10) vs. Owsley County (26-9)
1:30 PM | McCracken County (29-5) vs. Russell (28-6)
6:00 PM | Butler (26-8) vs. Anderson County (32-2)
8:30 PM | Franklin County (29-6) vs. North Laurel (29-5)

Girls’ Sweet 16 | Day Two (Thursday, March 14)

11:00 AM | Bethlehem (26-8) vs. Pikeville (27-5)
1:30 PM | Owensboro (21-11) vs. Henderson County (25-7)
6:00 PM | George Rogers Clark (30-4) vs. Sacred Heart (27-7)
8:30 PM | Cooper (29-4) vs. Danville Christian (29-2)

Boys’ Sweet 16 bracket set (check out these buzzer beaters)

After a handful of wild finishes across the Bluegrass last night, the Kentucky high school boys’ basketball Sweet 16 tournament bracket has been set. Ten schools locked up bids last night, which featured two game-winning buzzer beaters — one from Great Crossing’s Vince Dawson in the 11th Region and the other from Campbell County’s Garyn Jackson in the 10th Region.

GREAT CROSSING WINS IT AT THE BUZZER. WARHAWKS HEADED TO THE SWEET 16.

It was a CRAZY final 45 seconds with two massive shots by Vince Dawson. pic.twitter.com/IMImY3cW6z
— Zack Geoghegan (@ZGeogheganKSR) March 13, 2024

FINAL: Boys Basketball
Campbell County 64
Harrison County 63

Garyn Jackson with a three at the buzzer to win the 10th Region Championship! pic.twitter.com/7Qmmv2C9Rl
— 10thRegion.com (@tenthregion) March 13, 2024

Along with a full recap of No. 1 Great Crossing’s huge win over No. 2 Lexington Catholic, we also have recaps of title games from the 3rd Region and the 4th Region.

With all of the regional tournaments now officially finished, we know now what next week’s Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena will look like. Below is the full bracket.

Kenny Payne has been canned

The inevitable finally happened. Louisville head coach Kenny Payne is heading out the door, according to multiple reports. The news is expected to be officially announced by UL sometime today.

“Louisville officials expect to inform Kenny Payne within the next 24 hours that he will not return as men’s basketball coach,” ESPN wrote late Tuesday evening.

Payne’s tenure at Louisville comes to an end after the Cardinals lost its opening round game of the ACC Tournament yesterday against NC State. UL finished the 2023-24 season with an 8-24 record and a 3-17 mark in league play. Payne will leave his alma mater with an overall record of just 12-52.

Bat ‘Cats make incredible comeback

Despite trailing by six runs early on against Murray State on Tuesday, the Kentucky baseball team rallied by scoring 10 unanswered runs to take down the Racers at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington. The comeback was the second-largest of the Nick Mingione era, which goes back eight years now. Graduate senior Nick Lopez recorded five hits, the first UK player to do so since 2022 and just the third ever since Mingione took over.

Kentucky (13-3) now turns its attention to Southeastern Conference play. Up first is a lively Georgia offense that has the Bulldogs ranked No. 25. The series begins Friday at Kentucky Proud Park with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. EST on the SEC Network+.

Check out Daniel Hager’s full recap of last night’s win here.

Antonio Reeves needs to clear his trophy case

It’s only Wednesday and yet the Kentucky senior guard has already loaded up on postseason awards this week. On Tuesday alone, Antonio Reeves was tabbed as a Third Team All-American by The Sporting News, made the AP’s All-SEC First Team, and was named the AP National Player of the Week. Additionally, UK freshman guard Reed Sheppard cracked the AP’s All-SEC Second Team.

Below is a list of the other accomplishments Reeves has received so far this season.