Men's Basketball

Day After: Ranting After a Horrible Game

Published

5 years ago

December 7, 2020

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.

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.

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.

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.

Related Topics:Davion Mintz Georgia Tech John Calipari

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball’s Practice Facility Sees Major Makeover

The Joe Craft Center, after years of casual criticism from Wildcats fans, has finally been given an upgrade.

Published

4 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Lane Mills

UK Athletics

Maybe the weirdest qualm of many that plagued John Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky were the consistent complaints about the team’s practice facility, the Joe Craft Center.

From exaggerated rumors about leaks in the ceiling to general observations made about the court and facilities, fans, especially towards the end of that era, pointed to the Craft Center’s age as one of many signs of the times. Even in spite of occasional, supposed changes now and again.

In only his second year, Mark Pope has seemingly already addressed that complaint — at least to an extent.

The official Kentucky men’s basketball account recently posted a video across all social media platforms of the team during summer practice, featuring and obviously removed Craft Center court.

The court itself has been redone, in addition to the graphics and banners on the wall. Alongside the hanging threads celebrating the program’s eight national championships, a ninth one has been tacked onto the end.

It simply reads: “#9 – The Assignment.” If fans weren’t already excited enough for Coach Pope’s sophomore season, a ninth title banner being fixed in the renovation’s spotlight should send folks through the roof.

It may seem like a small thing, but given the program’s track record in the last few years, it’s the small things that feel the biggest. Mark Pope not only understands the assignment, but he’s making sure his team does, too.

Men's Basketball

Jasper Johnson Makes Final U19 USA Roster Under Coach Mark Pope

Jasper Johnson has advanced in the U19 USA camp for the second time alongside the nation’s best recruits, and under Mark Pope’s wing.

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2025

Lane Mills

Instagram: @bruhjasperj (UK Athletics)

In a surprisingly relevant development smack dab in the middle of the offseason, Jasper Johnson has yet again advanced in the pool of players participating in the USA U19 camp.

The program, which could be a described as a sort of extension of the Team USA that just took home the gold in 2024, is comprised of some of the nation’s most anticipated talents set to take collegiate courts in the next couple of seasons.

Blue Gets In

Among them is Kentucky native and commit Johnson, and was also incoming Cat Malachi Moreno, before the latter was cut as a result of a mild injury he obtained throughout the camp’s course. Despite Moreno’s exit, his future teammate continues to impress.

Under the wing of Coach Mark Pope, who’s helmed the team in the camp up to this point, Johnson has now made the final cut after multiple roster slashes – he and only 11 other players remain in the minority that will go forward to actually compete for the team in the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup, which will take place June 28 through July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The pre-competition camp serves not only as a trial of play before these athletes disperse to their own respective rosters this fall and next, but for Johnson, as a preview of what it’s like to play under Coach Pope. If his current success is any indicator, Kentucky fans may be in for something special when the pair tackle opposing teams together for the blue and white.

In similar noteworthy news, also attending the event are Taylen Kinney and Tyran Stokes, two Kentucky-born athletes with ties to Kentucky that the program is heavily recruiting. Jasper’s strong performance, combined with Coach Pope’s presence, can only help the Wildcats’ chances on that front, too.

To say the least, Mark Pope has found a way to facilitate Kentucky’s influence far beyond the boundaries of Lexington. He and Johnson, for the time being, will continue to press turn heads on the national stage, and it’s very likely that fans aren’t the only ones paying attention.

Men's Basketball

Archie Goodwin and Kahlil Whitney Set to Join La Familia This Summer

La Familia continues to add more firepower to the 2025 roster.

Published

2 days ago

June 19, 2025

Kai McClelland

James Crisp (Left), Adam Hunger (Right) | Associated Press

As the start of the 2025 TBT Tournament inches closer, La Familia has been slowly but surely adding star Wildcats to the roster.

Usually, we see announcements for new additions to the squad roll out on social media in some form, whether it be a post from La Familia’s official accounts or in form of Ansley Almonor’s announcement, which took place on BBN Tonight.

However, this time, Archie Goodwin and Kahlil “The Dragon” Whitney were added to the roster on the TBT website without any announcement, surprising Big Blue Nation as the news leaked and began to circulate.

They were removed from the website afterwards, but as of Thursday, June 19, appear on the website as listed members of the roster.

Goodwin has been an active member for years, highlighted by his semifinals appearance last year where he averaged 13.8 points per game en route.

Whitney is a name that may cause some to shed a tear, with so much potential surrounding the former five-star leading up to his debut. Ultimately, he left the program after appearing in just 18 games for Kentucky.

La Familia is competitive as all get out, shown by chippy play with guys who have nothing to lose but everything to win for the place they call home. Goodwin and Whitney, now added to that list of guys, will look to redeem themselves with one goal in mind. Win.

The official La Familia roster as of June 19:

– Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)

– Doron Lamb (2010-12)

– DeAndre Liggins (2008-11)

– Aaron Harrison (2013-15)

– Andrew Harrison (2013-15)

– Ansley Almonor (2024-25)

– Archie Goodwin (2012-13)

– Kahlil Whitney (2019-20)