Connect with us

Men's Basketball

Kentucky/Arkansas preview and some other things

Published

on

After the second half collapse on Wednesday night against South Carolina, the Kentucky Wildcats travel to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Today’s game is a must win, I know I am stating the obvious there, but it really is. Kentucky has four losses, drop this one, and you have five losses with three of them being terrible, with your best wins being Michigan State and Louisville. We all know the committee isn’t nice to Kentucky, so if the Cats walk into March Madness with 8-9 losses, you can expect a rough road to get to Atlanta.

Here is what needs to happen for Kentucky to win.

Advertisement

Get to 71 first

If ya know ya know.

South Carolina’s first lead Wednesday night just happened to be a three-pointer that also won them the race to 71.

The bigs have to play well

Rebounding, blocking shots, scoring in the post. That’s what Nick Richards, EJ Montgomery, Nate Sestina, and Keion Brooks need to do. Well, they need to do that every game, but even more so today.

The reason is Arkansas plays a ton of guards. Sometimes even five guards at once. Adrio Bailey is the only “big man” that averages over 20 minutes per game and he’s 6-foot-6.

Advertisement

Kentucky’s bigs should dominate today. If they do, Kentucky wins easily.

Limit their guards

This one will be difficult. Arkansa’s four guards all average over 10 points a game. The two most lethal being Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe, who both average about 18 points per game.

But, the most lethal of the two is Isaiah Joe. He has already hit 63 three-pointers this year, and while he’s only shooting 35% from behind-the-arc, he will be jacking them up from all over. If he gets hot, the Cats are in trouble.

If this game is close down-the-stretch, you better make sure he has a guy on him at all times.

Advertisement

In other news…..

North Carolina lost…….again

Roy Williams called his squad this years squad “the least gifted he’s ever coached” and boy was he right.

The Tar Heels dropped their second game in a row to Pitt and their fourth game in their last five.

Yikes.

Advertisement

College basketball isn’t great this year and the Tar Heels are even worse.

How about that Astro’s scandal?

When I first heard the news about the Houston Astro’s stealing signs in the 2017 World Series I kind of laughed and didn’t give it much thought. Well, the whole thing really has sparked in the past week and really is crazy.

I went down a worm hole myself today and there is plenty of evidence to say that they did.

Here’s a video in case you’re interested:

Advertisement

South Carolina won today

After the Gamecocks lost their minds, scoring 56 points in the second half Wednesday night, I wasn’t going to be surprised if they lost today by about 30.

Well, I was shocked to see that they beat Texas A&M, 81-67, and didn’t really play that bad. In fact, they scored 81 points again.

A&M is terrible, by the way.

Alright, enough of that.

Advertisement

I’m an LSU fan now

Go Cats.

Men's Basketball

Amari Williams Picked 46th by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft

Amari Williams is the second Kentucky player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, as Boston takes the big man with their second round pick.

Published

on

Amari Williams is drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Wesley Hale | Imagn Images

Fan-favorite big man (and official Weetabix sponsor) Amari Williams has officially made it to the big leagues, taken by the Boston Celtics with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, via a trade with the Orlando Magic.

The selection makes Williams the second Wildcat to be scooped up from this year’s pool, following Koby Brea being picked by the Phoenix Suns just five picks earlier at the 41st spot. From Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team, two transfer athletes (thus far) in their last year of eligibility have achieved next-level dreams by way of the blue and white.

Williams, who averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game during his lone season in Lexington, will look to aid Boston in filling their recently vacant five-spot, left by the recently traded Kristaps Porzingis.

Advertisement

As Wildcat fans surely know, not only can Williams battle with the best of them in the paint, but he can run the floor as efficiently as just about any guard, too. His versatility and sizable frame ensure a high ceiling in the NBA and, despite not every draft board seeing him selected, the league champions two years removed made the call when it mattered.

Hailing overseas from Nottingham, England, and spending his first four years of college basketball at the University of Drexel, Williams’ success is a testament not only to Kentucky Basketball’s immaculate tradition, but to his own incredible work ethic and intangible ability.

Cats fans will be sure to follow and support their point-center to the next level, as they always do. Go be great, Amari – all of BBN has your back.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

Koby Brea Selected to the Phoenix Suns With the No. 41 Overall Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

Published

on

Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

Koby Brea arrived at Kentucky last season as one of the nation’s deadliest shooters, lived up to the billing, and reaped his rewards on Thursday night at the NBA Draft. The former Kentucky star is heading to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 41 overall pick

As a 6-foot-7 wing, Brea entered the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most experienced prospects after spending four years at Dayton and a fifth at Kentucky during Mark Pope’s successful first season as head coach, where he became one of the best three-point shooters in all of college basketball.

Last season at Kentucky, the Bronx native averaged 11.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts per game in 36 games, 16 of which were starts, showcasing his scoring ability in transition, off the catch, and via handoffs and screens.

Advertisement

Not only did Brea achieve his own dreams of playing at the next level, but becomes a piece of history for Pope, becoming the first player drafted out of Kentucky during the Pope era.

Brea joins a rebuilding franchise with a notorious background for drafting Kentucky guards. Eric Bledsoe rings the bell, Tyler Ulis of course, and the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker obviously leads the pack.

Go be great Fuego!

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

How a Call with Mark Pope Led Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky

After winning a national title at Florida, Denzel Aberdeen committed to Kentucky without ever visiting campus—thanks to a revealing three-hour call with head coach Mark Pope.

Published

on

Chet White | UK Athletics

As a junior, Denzel Aberdeen was a key part of Florida’s national title run. But a certain phone conversation convinced him to leave his home state and head north to Lexington in hopes of experiencing that feeling once again.

He had never set foot in Lexington before deciding to become a Kentucky Wildcat — and he didn’t need to. All it took was one phone call — three hours long, on Easter Sunday — with head coach Mark Pope to convince him that he belonged in blue and white.

“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest,” Aberdeen said, meeting with the media in Lexington for the first time earlier this week. “A lot of it was just getting to know me and getting to know the school, the university, getting to know him (Pope), how their style was, a lot of film. Once I saw that, I was like this looks like a great guy to play for.”

Advertisement

The two went on to discuss Aberdeen’s role at Kentucky in more depth, including how Pope envisions him fitting into Kentucky’s new system — a system that, according to Aberdeen, is very similar, if not better than the one he just left.

“We had a lot of great players at Florida, especially the tall bigs. Bigs that love to run there, and we have just as much here; our bigs love to run, they play defense, and they play at a fast pace. So I think the things that we’ve got here are just as good, or even better,” Aberdeen said.

Averaging 7.7 points and nearly 20 minutes per game off the bench for the Gators last year, it’s clear to see what Aberdeen brings to the team: experience, versatility, calmness in the backcourt, and championship pedigree. Pope’s phone conversation with Aberdeen wasn’t just impactful on the court — it also speaks volumes to what he is doing off the court in pursuit of the goal he laid out in his introductory press conference: to hang banners.

This phone call wasn’t just about Denzel Aberdeen. It was a glimpse into Pope’s player-first, transparent coaching approach, which could define his era at Kentucky — and potentially make this season a special one, with Aberdeen playing another key role in a deep NCAA Tournament run.

Advertisement

“I know the goal is to win No. 9,” he said. “I know the fans want that, we want that, all the staff and coaches want that. That pushes us. We know what we gotta do when we come here and put on that Kentucky jersey. Just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Being here is a blessing, and I can’t look back.”

Continue Reading

Trending