Friday Quickies: Embrace the Spotlight Edition

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UK signee Tyrese Maxey “loves the spotlight” like he’ll find at Kentucky Lake Showcase – Vaughts Views
Maxey is averaging 22 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game in 16 games this season. He’s shooting 83 percent at the foul line, 28 percent from 3-point range and 45 percent overall from the field. UK fans have a chance to watch the future Wildcat play three times this weekend at the Kentucky Lake Showcase in Marshall County.

Reid Travis getting comfortable at Kentucky - 247
The biggest difference from last season to this is that his shooting percentages are up across the board. Compared to last season at Stanford, Travis is 3.8 percentage points better from the floor overall, 12.2 percent better from three-point range and up 4.7 percentage points from the free throw line.

Like Josh Allen, Kentucky’s PJ Washington was right to return | Lexington Herald Leader
Kentucky football’s Josh Allen and basketball’s PJ Washington are friends. Both decided to postpone the pros and return to UK for another season. Allen’s decision has paid off greatly. Now Washington is showing he has upped his game.

Benny Snell’s top 10 career rushing performances - 247
Snell, who declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 14, sits just 107 yards shy of surpassing Sonny Collins as UK’s all-time leading rusher. His 3,729 rushing yards rank 15th all-time in the SEC and only Herschel Walker (49) and Tim Tebow (57) have scored more rushing touchdowns in league history.

UK football: ‘I absolutely love him.’ Kentucky tight end has left massive mark on program. | Lexington Herald Leader
Kentucky’s coaches know that C.J. Conrad’s lasting legacy will be about way more than catches and touchdowns, although he’s had plenty of those. The idea of putting on the UK jersey for the last time in the Citrus Bowl against Penn State on Jan. 1 already has him sighing.

Benny Snell, Josh Allen’s place in Kentucky football history - LCJ
As Benny Snell and Josh Allen prepare for their final college game, its time to consider how they stack up against UK’s best players ever.

Kentucky vs. Louisville matchups preview | Lexington Herald Leader
How the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats and the Louisville Cardinals match up at each position for their men’s college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, at 2 p.m. EST, at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Ky.

Louisville basketball vs. Kentucky: How the Cards can win - LCJ
The Cards will face their third top-25 opponent when the Wildcats visit the KFC Yum Center on Saturday. Last year, of course, was a 29-point blowout loss at Rupp Arena. While the Wildcats hold an all-time 35-16 edge in the series, the Cards are 12-9 when the game is played in Louisville.

Top 5 2019 Recruiting Stories, Featuring Stewart, North Carolina & Memphis - FloHoops
Some of the biggest recruiting dominoes have already fallen, but there’s plenty left to make 2019 intriguing on the recruiting landscape. Some of them involve Kentucky, though it sounds like only one of these storylines is worth following for Wildcat fans.

UK’s pass rush dramatically better this year. One coach has the bruises to prove it. | Lexington Herald Leader
Why do players miss sacks? It was something Brad White studied while coaching in the NFL and now he’s helping Kentucky players improve. “He’s a tough one,” Allen said of White, a former inside linebacker at Wake Forest. “He got hit a couple times on some, you know. He’s a tough one, I’ll tell you that.”

Frontrunner to replace Trace McSorley at QB for Penn State undergoes surgery, unavailable for bowl game – CollegeFootballTalk
Tommy Steven is expected to be ready when Penn State kicks off spring practice next year, but ht won’t be seeing the field against Kentucky is Trace McSorley leaves the game.

Chuck Pagano Reportedly Interviews for Packers’ Head Coaching Job
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday that the Packers have interviewed Chuck Pagano for their head coaching vacancy. Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk reported Green Bay spoke to Jim Caldwell about the position, too.

Marcus Mariota: I’ll ‘Do Everything in My Power’ to Play vs. Colts with Injury
Injured Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota says he’s trying to return for Sunday’s crucial matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday with a postseason berth on the line.

How our housing choices make adult friendships more difficult - Vox
We can refuse to accept the status quo of default isolation.

There’s Controversy With This Year’s Orange Bowl Trophy
A controversy is brewing on social media surrounding the Orange Bowl trophy, as a box of California oranges was spotted next to it.

Bird Box review: Sandra Bullock is the best part of the Netflix thriller - Vox
Bullock leads an all-star cast in a meandering post-apocalyptic movie with an intriguing premise.