Happy Saturday, BBN.
The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off of one of their best halves of basketball all season at Vanderbilt. After a less than impressive first half, the Cats came out clicking on all cylinders as they putn away the Commodores by double-digits.
While the Ole Miss Rebels may not be tournament bound, they are plenty dangerous. Breein Tyree scored a career high 40 points as Ole Miss upset Mississippi State 83-58 on Tuesday. Hopefully Tyree got it all out of his system. The Cats will definitely have their work cut out for them on the defensive side of the ball.
Tweets of the Day
#YTOWN pic.twitter.com/sLf1MHQmMQ
— Mark Stoops (@UKCoachStoops) February 15, 2020
Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow hit the town to celebrate what will be a BIG contract extension for the Big Dog.
Going all-in for our first Saturday at home in a month.
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 15, 2020
-@Rupp_Arena (sold out)
- 2 p.m. ET
-@ESPN: https://t.co/FRuiL1RKvX
-@UKSportsNetwork: https://t.co/63uwlFaryT
-https://t.co/T8b1Lr6tTB
-https://t.co/9QeKYFaROI
Verified resale -https://t.co/Y26gQSKrsF pic.twitter.com/OSqSbb2oey
It’s been a while but it’s nice to be back home on a Saturday.
Quickies
Vince Marrow turns down fullcourt press from Michigan State | Michigan Live- The Spartans offered Marrow once, then upped the offer when UK countered. But in the end, Mitch Barnhart ponied up and kept the second most important member of the coaching staff.
Nick Richards is keeping it real at Kentucky | Lexington Hearld Leader- Cal and Richards reflect on how he got to be one of the best big men in the country. It was not an easy road and it’s still not over.
Four future Cats named to Jordan Brand Classic | Cats Pause- BJ Boston, Terrence Clarke, Devin Askew, and Isaiah Jackson were all named to play in the Jordan Brand Classic. A big haul after being shut out of the Nike Hoops Summit.
Cats drop season opener 5-1 | UK Athletics- UK opened the baseball season with TCU and they went down after allowing too many walks. The Cats need a bounce back season after last year’s disappointing outing.
Cats favored by (almost) double digits at home | CBS- UK is -9.5 at home against the visiting Rebels. All but one of the experts expect them to win AND cover the number. I just want the W.
Kermit Davis’ team enters the game fresh off a startling 25-point thumping of rival Mississippi State that extended the team’s current streak to three straight wins and four wins in the last six games with the only losses coming to Auburn and LSU. But I wouldn’t trust that mojo to continue on the road at Rupp Arena against a Kentucky team that has found its edge on the defensive end in SEC play. If you’re picking Ole Miss to cover you do so hoping for the right bounces on free throws and a backdoor cover. Kentucky is the best team in the SEC and I think that shows in a 10+ point win on Saturday. Pick: Kentucky -9.5 (Chip Patterson)
Can anyone touch the number one seeds? | ESPN- Baylor and Kansas will lose at some point but neither Gonzaga or San Diego State will lose the rest of the way.
South Carolina the latest team to receive NCAA NOA | SI- The Gamecocks are the latest team in the crosshairs of the NCAA because of the college basketball recruiting scandal. It’s a level one violation connected with former player PJ Dozier.
Michael Avenatti guilty | CNBC- Avenatti, the disgraced lawyer, was found guilty of trying to extort Nike. Avenatti alleged bombshell evidence against Kentucky and other big time programs. Outside of some non-incriminating texts from Kenny Payne, nothing ever came of the scuttle.