Connect with us

Men's Basketball

Day After: Ranting After a Horrible Game

Published

on

I thought about writing last night, because I was pissed and ready to go off. I decided to wait until today so that way I would be calmer, well-rested, and clear-minded. The only bad thing is, other than well-rested, I’m not really any of those things.

Kentucky was only a seven point favorite yesterday, but on paper, they were lightyears better than Georgia Tech, a team that had just lost in OT to Georgia State and lost by ten to Mercer. They should’ve beat them, by at least twenty. Instead, they got ran off the court in embarrassing fashion.

I don’t remember the Billy years at all, thanks the Lord and my parents, but if this feels this bad, I can’t even imagine what those two horrible years felt like.

Advertisement

The Cats are 1-3 for the first time since I don’t know when because Wikipedia doesn’t go back farther than 2001. But the only time I could think of the Cats coming close to being 1-3 bad would be Pitino’s first year, which was 1990 or somewhere around there.

I need to address a few points, rant about them, and then I’ll be outta here so you can go about your day.

Cal cut his post-game press-conference short

I love John Calipari, but he isn’t above criticism. In fact, he deserves a ton of it. I don’t want to say he dodges the media, but he did last night, which you can’t do when you’re at Kentucky. He showed up to the press-conference, I rushed to my laptop to watch. He answered I think three questions before saying, “Alright guys, I gotta get outta here and catch the bus.”

*Deep breaths* What!? You can’t do that. Cal dodged the media, which is something that isn’t right for any coach to do after a loss of that magnitude. The fans, the media, everyone needs to hear from Cal in that situation. But no, he “had to catch the bus” and dipped out before the tough questions.

Advertisement

Davion Mintz was up next and gave some really honest answers. “We have to look ourselves in the mirror right now and realize we’re not really that good. I promise we’ll get it fixed though. We’ll be alright.”

Simply unacceptable.

Devin Askew cannot play

I can’t and will not put all the blame on a freshman that really should be a senior in high school. But, Devin Askew can’t run the point and play meaningful minutes right now. If Kentucky wants to win, he just can’t. In 27 minutes, he had three points and two turnovers.

Kentucky is getting nothing from their PG right now, which has to change. Who do you replace him with? I suggest either Davion Mintz, or really shake things up and put Terrence Clarke there right now.

Advertisement

I know Mintz isn’t as good and Clarke is a turnover machine, but Askew is essentially a ghost out there right now. In my opinion, both of those options are better than Askew. You at least have to try it.

This is rock-bottom

Starting a season 1-3 and getting blowout by Georgia Tech with this much talent is rock-bottom for this program. Yes, the 2013 team lost to Robert Morris in the NIT, but let’s be honest, that team wasn’t good and didn’t have Nerlens. This is far below that.

What now?

Well a good place to start would be just beating someone and the next chance Kentucky will have at that is Notre Dame this Saturday. The Cats play them, Detroit Mercy, UCLA, Louisville, and then start SEC play. You have to be 5-3 going into SEC play. If you aren’t, you have 4+ losses and are on extremely thin ice. If you stink up SEC play, you’re starring a 7-8 seed in the face with missing the tournament not far behind.

Just beat Notre Dame, please.

Advertisement

Men's Basketball

CBS Sports: Kentucky Has “ended pursuits” in Transfer Portal Following Aberdeen Commitment

In the wake of yet another addition to Kentucky’s incoming roster, CBS Sports reports that Coach Pope and staff may have closed the portal.

Published

on

Mark Pope and staff may have everything they need from the transfer portal.
Chet White | UK Athletics

Following another flurry of transfer portal additions in his second year at the helm, it appears that Mark Pope and staff are satisfied with their sophomore haul. The portal in Lexington may be officially closed for the 2025-26′ season.

Right after Kentucky received the surprising commitment of Denzel Aberdeen, Matt Norlander, an analyst for CBS Sports, posted the following on X (Twitter):

“Barring any portal defections, Kentucky has ended its pursuits of all other portal targets, sources told CBS Sports. Getting Aberdeen today [April 21] meant they’ve moved off Andrej Stojakovic, Rylan Griffen, etc. Otega Oweh going through pre-draft process-but I expect him back in Lex”.

Advertisement

With the addition of Aberdeen, the Wildcats’ roster ballooned to near-max capacity for next season. Seeing two of the team’s walk-on players, Grant Darbyshire and Walker Horn, enter the transfer portal seemed to all but confirm this suspicion, too.

Losing One of Our Own

That is, until last night. With less than two hours remaining for players to do so, Travis Perry shocked much of the Big Blue Nation by throwing his name into the hat. This came just weeks after a string of comments from the Kentucky-native point guard seemed to confirm his return for a sophomore season.

Though all the same, given Kentucky’s bulk of back-court additions this offseason, his departure makes sense for the sake of playing time alone. The Lyon King will be sorely missed.

So while the Kentucky staff may still be very much content with their current roster, with hundreds of players remaining in the portal and an unexpected spot on the roster coming open, another grab is far from out of the question.

Advertisement

Who Coach Pope and company would go after is entirely unclear, as that potential player would likely have to accept a minimized role off the bench for a stretch of his time in Lexington. If anything, the logical replacement would be a direct fill-in at the PG2/PG3 spot in Perry’s absence.

Either way, the ‘Cats are set to come into next season as one of the most exciting teams in college basketball with a ceiling far out of view. Mark Pope continues to prove his prowess in the transfer market, too, easing the worries of Wildcats fans and closing the door on many supposed “insiders” who’ve spent the last month suggesting otherwise.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

REPORT: Travis Perry Enters Transfer Portal

Published

on

Kentucky basketball Travis Perry talks about growing more comfortable on the court.
Jordan Prather | IMAGN

The transfer portal has been kind to Kentucky in the Mark Pope era. Last season, the staff was able to build a Sweet Sixteen roster almost exclusively from the portal, and this offseason have put together a top-five portal class.

While the portal giveth, it also taketh. Just hours before the deadline to enter, Kentucky native and fan favorite Travis Perry has entered the transfer portal, per multiple reports.

Coming to Kentucky as the state’s all-time high-school scoring record holder, fans were excited to see how his career would unfold in Lexington.

Advertisement

Not expecting to play much freshman, he was called upon due to injuries and played some key minutes for the Wildcats into the postseason. He averaged 2.7 PPG and .6 APG on 32% shooting from three.

Looking at the depth chart, it was difficult to see where Perry would get much playing time next season, leading to his decision to enter the portal.

Perry has yet to release an official statement, but all the best to him in his future.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

Top Transfer Guard Denzel Aberdeen Commits to Kentucky

Former Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky, likely closing the transfer portal for next year’s roster.

Published

on

Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky.
UF Athletics

Another day, another “boom.” Denzel Aberdeen has officially committed to Kentucky for the 2025-26’ season.

A soon-to-be senior guard fresh off his championship win with Florida, Aberdeen spent his first three years of eligibility in Gainesville. Now, following an apparent conflict in the Gators’ rotation, he’s swapped teams in the southeast.

At 6 ‘5”, 190, Aberdeen spent much of this past season beating defenders off the dribble and making them pay at the rim. His speed and size made him a nightmare off the bench for opposing teams, and for the short stretch of play that he started during the year, Florida didn’t miss a beat. 

Advertisement

In 19 minutes, Aberdeen averaged 8 points, two rebounds and one assist per game. His consistent contribution to the Gators’ title run made him one of the most coveted transfers in the cycle this season, and given his big blue commitment just days after entering the portal, Mark Pope clearly wasted no time in Kentucky’s pursuit.

Aberdeen slots in as yet another addition to what was already one of the strongest portal classes going into next season. His SEC experience and combo-guard intangibles make Aberdeen one of the most exciting portal players to come through Lexington in a long while, reinforcing Kentucky’s back court to what may be the final degree.

Whether or not Mark Pope is officially done for next season, nobody is sure, but this commitment only further cements the fact that he knows exactly what he’s doing. Just like the  fanbase behind him, Coach Pope seems to never sleep.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending