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Today on KSR: Merry Christmas Eve, Big Blue Nation!

Jack PIlgrimby:Jack Pilgrim•12/24/21
Grinch, Rupp Arena, Christmas
Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as Christmas Eve is finally here. With Kentucky basketball on break and the football team preparing for its bowl game next week, this weekend will be a quiet one in the world of UK Athletics.

It’ll be quiet outside of Lexington, too, especially today. While things ramp back up on Christmas Day and beyond, today’s schedule is completely empty in the sports world. The lone bowl game the afternoon, the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl between Hawai’i and Memphis, has been canceled due to COVID-19. Now, there is no college football or basketball, the NBA is off and there is no NFL. Every major sport is taking a one-day break.

Where does that leave us? Well, KSR has no off days and we’re happy to get you through the day in the most ridiculous manner possible. Celebrate the holiday with your family and loved ones while scrolling through the site throughout the day.

We’ll help you count down the hours until Santa arrives.

Madi Skinner enters the transfer portal for UKVB

Kentucky volleyball has lost one of its top young standouts, as sophomore outside hitter Madi Skinner has decided to enter the transfer portal.

College Volleyball Transfers was the first to report the news, with Larry Vaught later confirming the report with UK Athletics.

Skinner led the team in kills with 389 and kills per set with 3.78 in 2021. She finished the year playing in 103 total sets across 29 matches, including 11 total starts. The 6-2 outside hitter also ended the season leading the team in points per set at 4.17.

Tough blow for Craig Skinner and the volleyball program.

Florida falls in the Gasparilla Bowl

Participating in one of just two bowl games on the night — Miami (OH) vs. North Texas in the Frisco Football Classic being the other — the Florida Gators were back in the national spotlight on Thursday, taking on in-state foe Central Florida in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl.

With the college football world watching, though, the Gators crumbled, falling to the Knights by a final score of 29-17. It was a loss that pushed Florida to a 6-7 final record, the team’s lowest win total since 2017 and just the second time since 2013 it’s finished below .500.

UCF outrushed UF 288-205 and finished with 60 more total yards (436-376) while winning the time of possession battle 34:30-25:30.

Better luck next time, Florida.

Brandin Echols named Rookie of the Week

Former Kentucky cornerback Brandin Echols earned his first major accolade as an NFL player following a standout Week 15 performance.

Echols, who played at Kentucky from 2019-20, earned Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week honors Thursday after finishing with four total tackles, three pass deflections and a pick-six on his first career interception.

The 6-foot-1, 202-pound defensive back led all NFL corners with a 93.3 coverage grade in Week 15 according to Pro Football Focus, and fifth overall with an 84.2 overall grade.

Echols ranks second on the team with seven pass deflections to go with 49 tackles and one tackle for loss. He’s started in all 11 games he’s played in, missing three with a quad injury. The former Wildcat still ranks eighth on the defense with 542 total snaps.

Catch up on some BBNBA stats and scores

  • Jazz def. Timberwolves 128-116
  • Suns def. Thunder 113-101
    • Devin Booker (Suns) – 30 points (12-23 FG, 4-7 3PT), seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, one block
    • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) – 29 points (10-20 FG, 7-7 FT), seven assiists, five rebounds, one block, five turnovers
  • Hornets def. Nuggets 115-107
    • PJ Washington (Hornets) – 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 3PT), nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks
    • Nick Richards (Hornets) – 0 points (0-1 FG), two rebounds, one assist
  • Bucks def. Mavericks 102-95
    • DeMarcus Cousins (Bucks) – 22 points (8-15 FG, 5-7 FT), eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block
    • Brandon Knight (Mavericks) – 2 points (1-4 FG), two rebounds
  • Wizards def. Knicks 124-117
    • Julius Randle (Knicks) – 23 points (10-22 FG), nine rebounds, two assists, one block, four turnovers
  • Heat def. Pistons 115-112
    • Tyler Herro (Heat) – 29 points (11-21 FG, 3-5 3PT), four rebounds, four assists, one steal
    • Trey Lyles (Pistons) – 28 points (7-13 FG, 3-7 3PT, 11-11 FT), eight rebounds, four blocks, two assists, one steal
    • Hamidou Diallo (Pistons) – 12 points (5-12 FG, 2-4 3PT), six rebounds, five assissts, two steals
  • Hawks def. 76ers 98-96
    • Tyrese Maxey (76ers) – 17 points (7-16 FG), three asssists, three steals, one rebound, one block
  • Pelicans def. Magic 110-104
  • Pacers def. Rockets 118-106
    • Isaiah Jackson (Pacers) – DNP (Coach’s Decision)
  • Spurs def. Lakers 138-110
    • Keldon Johnson (Spurs) – 16 points (4-14 FG, 2-7 3PT, 6-6 FT), ten rebounds, one steal
    • Rajon Rondo (Lakers) – 0 points, three rebounds, three assists
  • Warriors def. Grizzlies 113-104

And have some college basketball scores while you’re at it

  • Milwaukee def. St. Xavier 74-52
  • Wagner def. Fairfield 63-50
  • Stanford def. Liberty 79-76
  • Pepperdine def. Westmont 96-69
  • Fresno State def. Weber State 69-43
  • Wyoming def. Northern Iowa 71-69
  • Vanderbilt def. BYU 69-67
  • No. 15 Seton Hall vs. DePaul (postponed)
  • No. 25 Wisconsin vs. George Mason (canceled)

Enjoy Christmas Eve, Big Blue Nation!

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2025-04-18