Good morning Big Blue Nation! While the kickoff to the 2017 football season is officially one week away, I wanted to start the Quickies off with some basketball.
The 2017/2018 basketball team is mostly a mystery to us due to the youth of the team, so any news that comes out about them perks up our ears. Especially when one of the best players in the world is talking about them.
On the Bill Simmons Podcast, Kevin Durant dished about some of the incoming freshman. Here is what he had to say:
It was two freshmen from Kentucky. I forget their names. Diallo and Richards.They were- whew. Bouncy. They played hard too. They were ballin’, man.
Nick Richards and Hamidou Diallo were both in New York City, their hometown, playing pick up with Durant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Enes Kanter, and other NBA players. Talk about a great experience.
Durant talked about how Kevin Knox was a player that gets compared to him often. In my opinion, Knox doesn’t get mentioned enough with Michael Porter, Jr., and Marvin Bagley III as one of the best players in the 2017 class.
It’s always encouraging when elite professional basketball players speak glowingly about your incoming freshmen.
Tweet(s) of the Day
New Cats Jarred Vanderbilt and Kevin Knox move courtside to check out the game... pic.twitter.com/wrxq4IeAPx
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) August 26, 2017
.@KarlTowns unveils custom kicks for tonight's @KentuckyMBB alumni game. pic.twitter.com/vlmUihOKNM
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) August 26, 2017
Family photo. pic.twitter.com/rYNxdWknp4
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_SEC) August 26, 2017
Nothing but love and family at last night’s alumni games. And they raised $1 million for charity. There is nothing like Kentucky Wildcats Basketball. Absolutely nothing.
Bonus Tweet of the Day
@YahooForde If you have an issue with my reporting, my DM’s are open. Then again, I’m 36. Might be too old for you.
— Steven Godfrey (@38Godfrey) August 25, 2017
This may be the greatest tweet in the history of twitter.
Quickies
Kentucky QB commit Jarren Williams dominates | SEC Country- The four star blue chipper scored all five his his team’s touchdowns- 3 passing for 330 yards and 2 rushing- last night for his high school team. According to him that’s a normal performance.
UK legends raise funds for hurricane relief, lower expectations of high-flying highlights | Lexington Herald Leader
Kentucky basketball raised more than $1 million for charity. UK Coach John Calipari said $150,000 would go to the Red Cross to be used for hurricane relief in Texas. Funds were raised through ticket sales for games featuring former UK players Friday night, plus entry fees for Calipari’s Fantasy Camp.
WATCH: Montage of former UK stars prior to Alumni Game - 247
Former Kentucky stars are back in Lexington tonight.
Kentucky football: Heated battles with dad helped shape Clevan Thomas | Lexington Herald Leader
“If I can go against my dad, I can do it against somebody my own age,” University Kentucky football wideout Clevan Thomas Jr. recalled of his back-and-forth battles with his father.
Kentucky announces 2017-18 SEC schedule - CoachCal.com
Kentucky’s final two home games come against Missouri (Feb. 24) and Ole Miss (Feb. 28). The Wildcats will conclude the 2017-18 regular season with a road game at Florida (March 3).
Can UK beat out Ohio State for top recruit ‘Blue’ Smith? | Lexington Herald Leader
Nationally ranked wide receiver L’Christian “Blue” Smith will announce his college decision Sunday on ESPN. It’ll be Kentucky or Ohio State.
#15 UK volleyball defeats #23 Utah | UK Athletics- The ‘Cats started out 2-0 but the Utes made a 2-0 run of their own. Kentucky showed grit and won the game 3-2. Almost every sports team on campus was ranked in the top 25 at one point last season and it looks like the fall is off to a great start.
Soccer wins in overtime | UK Athletics- The soccer team was also victorious last night with a 1-0 win over Murray State. Andrew McKelvey scored the winning goal. The team is 1-0-0.
High School football scores from across the state | Courier-Journal- Check out and see how your alma mater did on the gridiron last night. My Holy Cross (Louisville) Cougars demolished Valley 38-6. I need to make it out to some games this season.
RJ Barrett is the best athlete in any sport in the 2018 class | USA Today- The Canadian player that put up 38 points on the American U19 team and led his team to a gold medal is reclassifying to 2018 and he may be one of the best prospects in the last decade. Calipari has him dead in his sights.
Karl-Anthony condemns President in call for unity - 247
The former Kentucky big man is using his platform in the NBA.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels football season preview 2017 | Lexington Herald Leader
Five good questions that could determine whether Mark Elder, Tim Boyle, Ethan Thomas and the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels football team can produce a winning season in 2017
Bobby Beathard named contributor finalist for HOF - NFL.com
Bobby Beathard, former Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers general manager, has been named a contributor finalist for the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
23 new college football uniforms: Simple is the 2017 trend - SBNation.com
After years of flashy, the new thing might be clean designs.
Miguel Cabrera suspended 7 games, Gary Sanchez gets four games for roles in brawl - ESPN
Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera has been suspended seven games for inciting the first benches-clearing incident and fighting during Thursday's game. Yankees All-Star catcher Gary Sanchez was suspended four games for fighting.
2017’s projected 130-team college football rankings, with a new No. 2 team - SBNation.com
The S&P+ numbers are now updated to account for offseason roster developments.
Can Floyd Mayweather knock out Conor McGregor? - SBNation.com
Floyd Mayweather should beat Conor McGregor, but can he score a knockout?
Game of Thrones season finale images | Forbes- Season 7 has been a mixed bag. There have been a lot of “WOW!” moments as well as a lot of head scratching plot points and bad decision making by the characters. Nevertheless HBO’s fantasy epic is setting records and the season finale is Sunday. After that, we all have to wait 18 (!) months for the final season.
This week’s strangest science news | Live Science- Geckos, amazing shrinking fish, and the eclipse.