KSR Today: College football transfer portal returns

Hope you are ready for some more college football free agency because another transfer portal window officially opened today.

While many across the Bluegrass are enjoying a nice weekend on tax day, the Kentucky football staff will be hard at work at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility as another portal window has opened up. Expect some two-way transactions to occur throughout the next two weeks (April 15-April 30).

Kentucky will likely lose some players, but they’ll also be active shoppers in the portal. KSR will be here to provide coverage every step of the way. We’re already off and running as the player movement season has arrived.

• Mark Stoops and Kentucky will poke around in the transfer portal
• Four positions emerge as needs for Kentucky in transfer portal (KSR+)
• Jackson State transfer Jurriente Davis is very intriguing (KSR+)

Over at KSR+, a live transfer portal thread is up and running that will be updated constantly if players leave or become targets for the Wildcats. We will also keep the posts rolling on the main site with any developments. On3’s transfer portal wire is a great way to follow all of the news on a national scale.

Stay tuned as the latest roster building period for the 2023 season is underway.

Kentucky is heading to GLOBL JAM

July is often a time for the talking season in college football and high school recruiting in college basketball. But for the second year in a row, we will be treated to some Kentucky basketball in exhibition settings.

On Friday, KSR reported that John Calipari and his 2023-24 Kentucky basketball team will be headed to Toronto to compete in GLOBL Jam from July 12-16. That sounds like the perfect appetizer before SEC Media Days takes center stage in Nashville the following week.

The Wildcats will participate in at least three games during their stay in Canada and tickets are now available for the event. Kentucky basketball in July should be a yearly tradition.

Rubber match in Baton Rouge

Kentucky baseball took it on the chin on Thursday night against LSU. The Bat Cats returned the favor on Friday to setup a rubber match on the road against the No. 1 team in college baseball.

Despite falling in a 6-1 hole early, Nick Mingione’s ballclub just kept grinding away and ended the night with 13 runs on 14 hits with designated hitter Chase Stanke leading the way.

Put the Stanke on that pitch. @ChaseStanke pic.twitter.com/qHBTghtJw2

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 15, 2023

The Minnesota transfer went 3-for-4 on his birthday with one home run and four RBI. In a new look lineup, Jackson Gray, Ryan Waldschmidt, and Emilien Pitre combined to collect eight hits in 15 at-bats at the top of the order. The Bats Cats played some effecticve small ball with only two extra-base hits in the game.

There were some rough moments again for the pitching staff against a powerful LSU offense, but Ryder Giles entered the game late to record his first save after two innings on one-hit baseball. A much-needed clutch performance from the East Carolina transfer.

The Cats are now 28-6 (10-4) on the season and are building an impressive NCAA Tournament resume. Game 3 in this series is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET. Last night’s highlight video package is glorious.

We were right for the fight. pic.twitter.com/nCVLFY3NP8

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 15, 2023

NBA Playoffs begin tonight after the play-in round finished on Friday

Congratulations to the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves. Both teams held serve in the final play-in games on Friday night to advance into the field of 16. The field is officially set for the 2023 NBA playoffs.

The bracket is set.

PLAYOFF HOOPS BEGIN IN 12 HOURS 🍿

Nets-Sixers | Game 1 | 1pm/et on ESPN#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/bsFcixAXF2

— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2023

The first round action begins today with four games running for 10-plus hours to provide some playoff basketball in April. The NBA’s two month marathon to crown a champion with provide some high-leverage games every night. The Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Philadelphia 76ers feel like the favorites entering the dance. But we should never sleep on the Golden State Warriors.

On paper, there are some intriguing first-round series. The Los Angeles Lakers will be a trendy upset pick as a No. 7 seed facing a Grizzlies team without its top two centers. The Sacramento Kings ended their long playoff drought only to draw the defending champs. Just an hour and change separates the two arenas in this matchup. Expect some wild crowds. Kawhi Leonard, Rusell Westbrook, and Paul George vs. Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul is an entertaining first-round matchup. After the Knicks did not make a trade for Donovan Mitchell in the offseason, they’ll have to face him and the defense-first Cavs to open the playoffs.

Buckle in for a wild ride as we get ready for today’s loaded television lineup.

• Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers (1:00, ESPN)
• Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics (3:30, ESPN)
• New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers (6:00, ESPN)
• Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings (8:30, ABC)