It was an excellent first Saturday in 2021 for the Big Blue Nation. First, Mark Stoops and his Wildcats won their third consecutive bowl game over No. 23 NC State. The football Wildcats ended their 2020 season on a high note with a win over South Carolina and a bowl win was a bitter sweet moment as the program watched several members of the team play their last snap in Kentucky blue.

Then later Saturday afternoon, an in-state hero appears to have saved the Wildcats basketball season just eight games into the season. Dontaie Allen erupted for 20 of his 23 points in the second half and both overtimes as John Calipari’s Wildcats edged out Mississippi State in their first game of SEC play.

The last 367 days haven’t offered up many Saturdays where both Kentucky’s basketball and football teams came out on top. It appears 2021 has gotten off to a great start for the Big Blue Nation.

Tweet of the Day

Where does Allen’s performance rank in the history of regular season Kentucky basketball?

Quickies

Calipari on getting ejected, the postgame locker room - KSR

What a sensational game from start to finish.

Cats run past NC State to win Gator Bowl - Cats Illustrated

Stoops ends another year with another win.

Wide receiver Josh Ali will return for 2021 Kentucky football season - Cats Pause

Very good news for the Wildcats offense.

Paul Westphal, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, dies at age 70 - ESPN

Rest in peace to an absolute legend.

Kentucky couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2021 - KSR

It was a great day indeed.

DeAndre Square, Davonte Robinson pledge return to Kentucky - Cats Pause

Big news for the Cats’ defense.

Tony Romo to miss Sunday’s Cardinals-Rams due to COVID-19 protocols - USA Today

Insert Boomer Esiason on the call.

Saints lose additional running backs for Week 17 as close contacts to Alvin Kamara - ESPN

Could this linger into the postseason?

Ole Miss throttles Indiana’s comeback bid, wins Outback Bowl, 26-20 - USA Today

The SEC shows up big once again for bowl season.

Texas Longhorns hire Alabama Crimson Tide OC Steve Sarkisian as new head coach - ESPN

Another coach plucked from the Saban coaching tree.