KSR Today: Travel day for the Cats, Chin Coleman previews the next game, and lots more

Good morning, Big Blue Nation. You are glowing today, still shining from Saturday’s fun at Rupp Arena, where Kentucky smoked Alabama by 22 points, scoring 117 on 63 percent shooting from the field and 54 percent from 3. It was the Justin Edwards game with a side of Big Z and another incredible performance by Antonio Reeves as the Cats looked special against the league’s first-place team. Let’s watch Reed Sheppard‘s dunk and Edwards’ four-point play again to close the book on the weekend and lead off a new week.

I’m going to find time to watch the whole replay of the CBS broadcast at some point today. First, we have a busy week ahead as Kentucky Basketball looks to stay hot.

Travel day for the Cats

Later today, Kentucky is headed to Starkville, Mississippi, where the Wildcats play their second-to-last true road game of the year at Mississippi State tomorrow night. ESPN will broadcast the 7 p.m. Super Tuesday game, a rematch of Kentucky’s 13-point home win over the Bulldogs in mid-January.

Entering tomorrow’s rematch, Mississippi State won five consecutive games, playing the five worst teams in the conference, while Kentucky looks to build momentum from its statement win over first-place Alabama. We’ll get a point spread on the game later this afternoon.

Chin Coleman’s Monday press conference

Before the team’s flight to wherever one lands to get to Starkville, assistant coach Chin Coleman will preview Kentucky’s game against Mississippi State with a press conference in Lexington. Coleman will take questions about Kentucky’s win over Alabama and what’s next against the Bulldogs. KSR will attend the Q&A, so check back later this afternoon for that conversation. Even better, subscribe to KSR on YouTube.

John Calipari’s radio show delayed

Due to the travel, John Calipari‘s weekly call-in radio show is postponed until Wednesday night. Calipari will sit down for a radio chat with Tom Leach and a phone call from Bob In Jamestown when Kentucky is home from its trip to Mississippi, hopefully with another win.

A new Top 25

Around noon today, we will learn what the AP voters thought of Kentucky’s down-then-up week. The new AP poll will reflect UK’s loss at LSU and victory over No. 13 Alabama compared to the rest of college basketball. The Wildcats are ranked No. 17 in the AP and USA Today Coaches Top 25s before today’s update.

No. 1 South Carolina spoiled Senior Day for Kentucky Women’s Basketball

Kentucky Women’s Basketball hosted No. 1 South Carolina on Senior Day in Lexington on Sunday, only to lose by nearly 50 in Rupp Arena. The Gamecocks led 28-7 after the first quarter and 103-55 at the end of the game, led by a balanced attack of seven players with nine or more points. Carolina’s Bree Hall was the game’s high scorer with 18 on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Ajae Petty led Kentucky with 16 points as the Wildcats shot 33 percent from the field, 28 percent from 3, and a horrendous 39 percent from the line.

Kentucky said farewell to graduate student Emma King and seniors Nyah Leveretter and Eniya Russell before the game. 

With the loss, the Wildcats dropped to 11-17 (4-10) and 12th place in the SEC. They will play one more game against Ole Miss in Rupp Arena on Thursday, then take a trip to LSU before the SEC Tournament. Read more about Sunday’s game here.

Kentucky Baseball spent the weekend in Texas

Over the weekend, Kentucky Baseball played three games in Round Rock, Texas, part of the four-team Karbach Round Rock Classic. On Friday, Washington State handed the Cats their first loss of the season; however, Kentucky wouldn’t lose in Round Rock again, beating Texas State on Saturday and then finishing off Kansas yesterday. Against the Jayhawks, Kentucky did most of its damage in the fourth inning, scoring six of the eight runs in the 8-5 finish. Mason Moore started for the Cats and pitched four innings, striking out six. Reliever Evan Byers earned his first win. Kentucky is back home at Kentucky Proud Park on Tuesday to host Western Kentucky.

This week’s UK Athletics schedule

MONDAY

TUESDAY
Baseball vs. Western Kentucky | 4:00 p.m. | SEC Network+
Men’s Basketball at Mississippi State | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY
Women’s Basketball vs. Ole Miss | 7:00 p.m. | SEC Network+

FRIDAY
Swimming & Diving at Tennessee | All Day
Men’s Tennis at Vanderbilt | 2:00 p.m.
Softball vs. Fordham (Charlotte, NC) | 3:00 p.m.
Baseball vs. Lipscomb | 4:00 p.m. | SEC Network+
Women’s Tennis at Auburn | 4:00 p.m.
Softball at Charlotte | 6:00 p.m.

SATURDAY
Men’s Basketball vs. Arkansas | 1:30 p.m. | CBS
Swimming & Diving at Tennessee | All Day
Softball vs. Minnesota (Charlotte, NC) | 12:30 p.m.
Baseball vs. Lipscomb | 1:00 p.m. | SEC Network+
Softball at Charlotte | 3:00 p.m.
Men’s Soccer at Lexington SC | 6:00 p.m.

SUNDAY
Softball vs. Fordham (Charlotte, NC) | 10:00 a.m.
Baseball vs. Lipscomb | 1:00 p.m. | SEC Network+
Men’s Tennis vs. Alabama | 1:00 p.m.
Women’s Basketball at LSU | 2:00 p.m. | SEC Network
Women’s Gymnastics vs. Florida | 2:00 p.m.
Men’s Tennis vs. Alabama | 2:00 p.m.

The Road to Rupp around Kentucky

In Kentucky high school basketball, district tournaments are being played around the Bluegrass as the boys and girls begin postseason play with a spot in Rupp Arena as the prize. The 2024 Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16 will start on March 13; the boys will play in the 2024 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16 a week later, beginning on March 20. By my count, there are 109 district tournament games on tonight’s KHSAA schedule. 

Metcalfe County already got into the Madness with a thrilling win over Monroe County:

HORNETS WIN! HORNETS WIN! HORNETS WIN!

With just 3 seconds on the clock, Maddux Garrett sinks the three to beat Monroe County 68-66!

Metcalfe County heads to the semifinals of the 16th District Tournament against Russell County on Tuesday.

Congratulations, Hornets! pic.twitter.com/KT3oR9zusV

— Metcalfe County Schools (@MetcalfeSchools) February 26, 2024

NFL Combine starts on Thursday

Andru Phillips, Ray Davis, Tayvion Robinson, Devin Leary, Jeremy Flax, and Trevin Wallace are Kentucky‘s listed participants at this week’s NFL Combine, which is set to start on Thursday in Indianapolis. KSR will have boots on the ground to track the former Wildcats as they chase their NFL dreams with 300+ other draft prospects in front of NFL personnel.

Ryan’s walk to Clark’s Pump-N-Shop

Tomorrow, Ryan Lemond will walk from KSBar and Grille to the new Clark’s Pump-N-Shop location on Lucille Drive, part of a side quest for KSR’s morning radio show. If Ryan makes it to the finish line, the first 50 listeners who meet him there can celebrate his journey with a free coffee or soft drink. Listen to today’s show for more information about the walk, which came about because Ryan insisted there isn’t a new Clark’s Pump-N-Shop on Lucille Drive. He was wrong, so he walks.

Tune in for today’s show at 10 a.m.

Go Cats.