KSR Today: Wheels up to Atlanta

NMS-236480 — Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

I write this from the passenger’s seat with my wife driving and our infant kinda-sorta nodding off in the back (please sleep, kid). We’re on our way down to Atlanta for Kentucky‘s anticipated matchup vs. North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic, a handful of hours to go. The goal is to get down there in time for the game at Overtime Elite tonight at 7 ET sharp featuring future Cat Somto Cyril and potential future Cat Karter Knox.

It’s gonna be a heck of a weekend in the home of Ludacris and Steve Harvey, let’s just put it that way. Hopefully that includes a big victory for the Cats over the Heels — did you know that every Kentucky team that has won in Atlanta under John Calipari has gone on to a Final Four? (You would if you had read Tyler Thompson’s breakdown of UK’s history in Catlanta.)

Let’s dig in and run through some other morning notes as you sip your coffee (and I pick my fast-food breakfast spot).

Ugonna Onyenso is back

North Carolina’s got some size and physicality in the form of 6-11, 240-pound big fella Armando Bacot. He’s averaging 16 and 12 this season, one of the most dominant frontcourt players in the country. And the Cats have a new defensive-minded center to throw at him in Atlanta.

“He’s been good this week, we’re looking forward to getting him out there,” Bruiser Flint said of Ugonna Onyenso, who is set to return from a broken foot suffered back in July. I think he brings a different presence in terms of physicality and defense. That’s the thing he does is defensive rebounding. We’re looking forward to it just as much as you guys are. He’s done well in practice.”

A new floor to replace the new floor

As the Cats look to take care of business at State Farm Arena, Rupp Arena officials are in the process of bringing in a new floor to replace the new floor. In turn, the old floor will be temporarily replacing the newer floor while they get the newest floor ready.

I think I got that right.

So, long story short, the new floor didn’t fit well together and had some dead spots that Kentucky and the court-maker did not like. Was it the sole reason the Cats lost to UNC Wilmington in the floor’s debut? Yeah, you could probably say that.

Now, it’s time to throw it in the dumpster and try again.

“Robbins (Inc.) is expediting a floor replacement and looks forward to delivering a new floor to Rupp Arena as soon as possible,” the company said in a statement.

“We look forward to the final installation,” Kentucky added.

The stickers are back like the McRib. Enjoy them while you can.

Kenny Payne watch continues

Does Coach Cal add KP to the Kentucky bench by Thursday? That’d be hilariously awesome, but only possible if Louisville AD Josh Heird decides to part ways with Payne in the not-too-distant future. But conversations have begun.

Following back-to-back double-digit losses to DePaul and Arkansas State, KP’s seat is blistering hot with the Cardinals. And according to BBN’s favorite national talking head Jeff Goodman, Heird could make a move with Payne “fairly soon” after meeting with “multiple Louisville players” on Thursday.

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Louisville AD Josh Heird met with multiple Louisville players today to get their thoughts on Kenny Payne and entire situation with the program before making decision, sources told @TheMessenger.

Source said Heird leaning towards making a move with Payne “fairly soon.”
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) December 15, 2023

Payne is 8-34 (2-19) through his first 42 games at his alma mater. The Cards are currently No. 203 in the KenPom rankings and are projected to finish the season 9-22 (4-16). That ain’t good.

The inside job is nearly complete. Time to come home, KP. We love you here in Lexington.

Floppy Action is back!

I’m not one to tell you what to do, but if you haven’t tuned into KSR’s new show Floppy Action, what are you doing with your life? Zack Geoghegan and Brandon Ramsey dig into the Xs and Os of Kentucky basketball, peeling back the curtain of John Calipari’s offense.

This time, it’s a breakdown of the UNCW loss, the win over Penn and a preview of the North Carolina matchup. Specifically, they dig into the Spain action and how it continues to be effective for the Cats this season.

I promise you it’s worth your time. Tune in.

Vince Marrow looks to shut down Willie Rodriguez’s recruitment

The dirty Vols are trying to steal Kentucky’s prized tight end commit, Willie Rodriguez. The Big Dawg is here to tell them to kick rocks.

Tennessee reportedly convinced the 6-4 pass-catcher to take an official visit ahead of National Signing Day. That comes alongside reports former Cat Jordan Dingle is expected to do the same out of the portal.

Vince Marrow can’t control the latter, but he can do his best to shut down the former. What does that look like? An in-home visit with Rodriguez in Northern Kentucky almost immediately after those reports came out.