KSR Today: Unpopular opinions, Chip Trayanum's hand, and UK Athletics Hall of Fame

Good morning, folks! Happy Hump Day. With the Olympics behind us, both basketball teams on a break from practice, and still two-plus weeks until the start of football, things are slowing down a bit here at KSR headquarters. The anticipation of what’s in store beginning August 31 is starting to turn into nervous energy. We need some “First Downnnnnn Kentuckyyyyy” calls in our life very soon.

If you need to exert some of that energy, might I suggest Unpopular Opinion Day on the KSR Radio Show? From 10-noon today, you can fire off all the ridiculous hot takes that constantly annoy your friends and family. I know I’ve got plenty. I can’t ensure that this will be a safe space without judgment, but I can ensure your thoughts will be heard. Tune into the radio show today for what is always a classic episode.

We’ve already been letting these takes fly over on KSBoard. You should join us. Now, let’s dive into the rest of today’s news and notes.

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Chip Trayanum broke his hand

The injury bug is rearing its ugly head at the worst possible time in the preseason for Mark Stoops‘ program. Yesterday morning, KSR’s Matt Jones broke the news that Kentucky running back Chip Trayanum, who was seen as a major win in the transfer portal after coming over from Ohio State, has suffered a broken hand and is likely to miss the first couple of games on the schedule.

Jones says that Trayanum is expected to sit for 3-4 weeks. Kentucky’s season-opener is a little over two weeks from today on August 31 against Southern Miss. The Wildcats then host South Carolina the following weekend and top-ranked Georgia after that. Let’s hope that Trayanum returns in time for a clash against the Bulldogs.

Summer MBB practice updates

Last night, KSR’s Jack Pilgrim included plenty of interesting practice notes about Mark Pope‘s team in his latest edition of 4-Point Play. He’s got updates on the staff’s idea with the 13th and final scholarship, what the starting lineup could look like, and much more.

You can read everything Jack had to say here.

UK Athletics 2024 Hall of Fame Class

A new group of Kentucky alums are being enshrined into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Six former Wildcats were announced as inductees for the upcoming Hall of Fame Weekend in September. It includes a couple of gold medalists (one of them considered the fastest woman of all time), multiple national champions, a legendary hoops player, and more.

The Class of 2024 is made up of… 

• Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (track and field)
• John Cropp (administrator/coach)
• Henrik Larsen (rifle)
• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (track and field)
• Jodie Meeks (men’s basketball)
• Corey Peters (football)

Pretty good company.

Malachi Moreno leaning towards Kentucky?

Pope has yet to land his first 2025 high school commit, but that could change in the very near future. He has the Wildcats trending as the top choice for a highly-ranked in-state prospect. 247Sports Basketball Analyst Travis Branham recently logged a pick in favor of Malachi Moreno choosing Kentucky as his landing spot.

Moreno is down to a top eight (Notre Dame, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, North Carolina, Iowa, and Louisville) with official visits on the horizon. He’ll make stops at North Carolina, Ohio State, Indiana, Arkansas, and Kentucky between now and October. Moreno is expected to officially visit UK during Big Blue Madness, the final visit on his list before going into decision-making mode.

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Moreno is ranked No. 25 overall in the class of 2025 and the top overall center.

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More ‘Cats on preseason Watch Lists

Four Wildcats are in the conversation for two of the most prestigious defense awards in all of college football.

Junior defensive back Maxwell Hairston and junior defensive tackle Deone Walker cracked the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, an honor that is ultimately handed out to the country’s top defensive player. Then we have seniors Jamon “Pop” Dumas-Johnson and D’Eryk Jackson, who both were named to the Butkus Award Watch List as the nation’s top linebacker.

That’s a pretty impressive quartet of Kentucky players all on one talented defensive roster. Brad White’s group has high expectations this season. The talent is clearly there.

Have you gotten the Will Levis mayo cologne yet?

I hope you did, considering it’s already sold out.

In what continues to be the oddest brand partnership in sports, Will Levis and Hellman’s Mayonnaise released Will Levis No. 08, Parfum de Mayonnaise, which is a cologne infused with mayo. The cologne’s description says it includes fragrance notes of tart lemon, mayonnaise accord (?), parsley, coffee undertones, musk, and creamy vanilla — you know, the usual things you want to walk around smelling like.

One bottle only runs you $8, so make sure to be first in line for the re-stock. Levis’ ad is the best part about this.