ESPN can't stop talking about Rupp Arena ice cream; KSR puts it to the test

If it feels like you’ve been hearing Jay Bilas talk about Rupp Arena ice cream for years, that’s because you have. During last night’s Kentucky vs. Ole Miss broadcast, Bilas once again sang the soft serve’s praises after being presented with a cone, now a tradition whenever he’s in town complete with a cheerleader escort and spotlight. While his broadcast partner Karl Ravech enjoyed his own Rupp Arena ice cream cone, Bilas shared the origin of the love affair, which began in December 2017.

“I was here to do a Kentucky game. I think they were playing Harvard and we were doing a graphic with one of these lower third things and we were showing the Harvard bench and there was a person behind the bench eating this great Rupp Arena ice cream and kind of doing what you’re doing, just babying it, and I said, ‘That is not the way you eat ice cream. You’ve got to go after it.’ Just like I did when I got mine.

“It’s not quite how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. It’s a little more than three but mine is gone quickly.”

Because of course we wrote about it, I found the post about Jay Bilas’ first Rupp Arena ice cream from that day over six years ago. At the time, Bilas’ love for the soft serve was downright charming.

There's nothing better than Rupp Arena Ice Cream. @MrsTylerKSR #KSR pic.twitter.com/509fEg3TzH

— David Scott (@Finna_Go_HAM) December 2, 2017

Bilas’ love for Rupp Arena ice cream is well known not only in the Big Blue Nation but throughout the Worldwide Leader. While calling North Carolina vs. Syracuse, Jimmy Dykes teased Kentucky vs. Ole Miss, next up on ESPN’s docket. He said that he received a text from Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard at halftime in which Beard called Rupp Arena ice cream overrated. Dykes said he didn’t disagree. Marty Smith, last night’s sideline reporter, made it clear he is #TeamIceCream today on social media.

Joy. pic.twitter.com/ThbZB9iMkH

— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) February 14, 2024

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KSR reviews Rupp Arena ice cream

Jay Bilas clearly loves Rupp Arena ice cream. Fans still dig it, lining the concourse at Rupp to get their cones at each game. But is it really that good? We asked two members of the KSR staff to give their honest opinions of Rupp Arena ice cream.

The first is Jacob Polacheck, who joined the crew almost a year ago as our KSR+ reporter. Unlike the rest of us, Jacob was not born and bred in BBN; he attended Kansas, so he provides a bit of an outsider’s perspective. Steven Peake waited with him in line at a recent game so he could share his review of his first cone.

The other taste tester is Nick Roush, a longtime Rupp Arena ice cream hater. As you’ll see, Roush’s second Rupp ice cream cone experience was much different than his first. Does that change his opinion of the tasty treat? Hit play below to find out (and then subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for more quality content).

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