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Good morning.
There may not be a more important seventh-leading scorer for a college team than Wenyen Gabriel this season. While few of his box scores are ever going to scream ‘wow,’ his impact this season for a young UK team cannot be overstated.
A big part of that is Gabriel grabbing so many key offensive rebounds in seemingly every close game this season. Against Virginia Tech, is was a pair of offensive putbacks late to help the Cats escape.
Against Georgia, it was a late three-pointer by Gabriel that effectively sealed the win. Then against LSU, a late offensive board led to a Shai Alexander layup by three, a lead UK would not relinquish.
Seeing the number of critical plays, Gabriel has made this season, you’d never think he was UK’s seventh-leading scorer, but he deserves recognition all the same. Without him, there’s no doubt in my mind UK has at least two more losses on its resume going into Saturday’s challenge in Knoxville.
Tweet of the Day:
The Journey took us to Baton Rouge last night for our first true road game of the season. We got out of there with some lessons AND a win. #EmbraceTheJourney pic.twitter.com/ew3L6JZNYl
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 4, 2018
Your Quickies
Kentucky's Kenny Payne to Louisville? There’s a push and some pushback | Lexington Herald Leader
Talk about who should be the next coach of the Louisville men’s basketball program has turned to Kenny Payne, Kentucky Coach John Calipari’s longtime assistant and a former standout player for the Cardinals.
Kentucky Basketball: 'Veterans' Gabriel, Killeya-Jones deliver clutch plays at LSU - SEC Country
To be clear, Kentucky sophomores Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones didn't play great at LSU. But they came up big in some critical moments.
Mark Stoops' and UK's star-crossed 2014 recruiting class | Lexington Herald Leader
With the announcement this week that quarterback Drew Barker will use his final season of eligibility at a school other than Kentucky, 14 of the 25 high school players who signed with Coach Mark Stoops in the 2014 recruiting class that Rivals.com ranked No. 17 in the country will have left UK before their eligibility expired.
UK football: Drew Barker transfer not due to Terry Wilson, says father - LCJ
The father of former UK quarterback Drew Barker explained his son's decision to transfer in an interview with Courier Journal.
Kentucky gymnastics prepares for Rupp Arena Excite Night| Lexington Herald Leader
University of Kentucky gymnastics head coach Tim Garrison along with gymnasts Mollie Korth, Alex Hyland, and Ella Warren talk about preparing for Excite Night at Rupp Arena, and welcome in freshman Ella Warren to the team.
P.J. Washington steps up in second half at LSU - 247
Kentucky freshman forward P.J. Washington scored 14 of his team-high 18 points in the second half of the Wildcats' 74-71 win at LSU.
What are UK’s chances with top basketball recruits for 2019? | Lexington Herald Leader
James Wiseman, D.J. Jeffries, Tyrese Maxey, Matthew Hurt and Scottie Lewis are just a few of the top 2019 prospects that Kentucky is pursuing.
Prediction: Jarred Vanderbilt is Hamidou Diallo all over again | Kentucky Sports Radio
Will Jarred Vanderbilt play for Kentucky this season? KSR says no, but that may pave the way for him to return next season.
Former University of Kentucky football player to join Lexington high school staff | Lexington Herald Leader
Former University of Kentucky football player Alex Montgomery will coach at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington beginning in 2018.
Crystal Ball: Clemson most likely pick for Zion Williamson | Lexington Herald Leader
Several top basketball recruiting analysts are now saying that elite Kentucky basketball target Zion Williamson will pick Clemson, not UK.
WATCH: Incredible buzzer-beater by Jackson County | Kentucky Sports Radio
Everyone loves a good buzzer beater. Today's comes to us from Jackson County, where Drew Akemon hit this miracle three with one second left to force overtime.
Ex-Cat Reese Phillips to seek sixth year of eligibility after gruesome injury | Lexington Herald Leader
Reese Phillips, the former Kentucky backup quarterback whose quest to become a starter took him to Montana only to see him suffer a gruesome leg injury in his third start, has announced he will seek a sixth year of eligibility.
Roundtable: What's the scuttlebutt on five-star forward Zion Williamson? - 247
Zion Williamson, arguably the nation's most talked about recruit, is announcing his college choice later this month. What's the latest on the elite prospect?
Starting Five: Steph Curry comparisons for two of nation's top guards - SEC Country
Each week, SEC Country's Kyle Tucker picks his Starting Five — the week's top players — and it's topped by a pair of big-time guards this week.
Game of Thrones returns in 2019, HBO confirms for first time | EW.com
It's now official, Game of Thrones fans. And here's what it means. As for the final season’s content, so far the GoT team has managed to keep a lid on spoilers with unprecedented behind-the-scenes security.
Alvin Kamara, the Saints and New Orleans: a perfect fit | SI.com
The Saints’ record-breaking Saints rookie embracing life the in the Big Easy, and everything good that comes with fame in a great, eccentric American city
Does the N.F.L. Have a Usain Bolt? Here Are the League’s Fastest Players - The New York Times
It has been proven time and again that football is, as Vince Lombardi said, a game of inches. Teams win or lose based on the smallest of distances. A deep pass glances off a receiver’s fingertips. One or two links of a chain force a team to punt instead of keeping the ball. But football is also a game of speed. And the measurement of that speed can help us understand why that deep pass wasn’t caught. Or why that running back was tackled two chain links short of the first down.