Men's Basketball

Kentucky Avoids Major Upset; Beats Vandy 71-62

Published

5 years ago

January 29, 2020

I can’t say I’m surprised by how that game went. Classic trap game. Kentucky plays No. 17 Auburn on the road Saturday, but they had 8-11, haven’t won an SEC game since I was four, Vanderbilt tonight. I was worried for awhile, but Nick Richards Abdul-Jabbar and Tyrese Maxey saved the day for Kentucky.

The Cats started out slow, as you could expect. They never really got any offense going and looked very sluggish. Nick Richards going out with two fouls early didn’t help at all, either. Kentucky had one of their worst halves of basketball of the year and found themselves down 35-28 at halftime.

Second half was a different story. Nick Richards and Tyrese Maxey balled. Vanderbilt got nervous, tired, dare I say the Rupp crowd kicked in? Kentucky played alert and had the “oh crap, we could lose” mentality in the second half. They avoided an Evansville and won 71-62.

Let’s talk a little about the game.

Nick Richards and Tyrese Maxey

Both of these guys played well tonight. But, Nick Richards was a big reason Kentucky won this game. The Jamaican stud had 15 points (all in the second half) and grabbed 11 boards. That’s like his ninth double-double this season, right?

But we can’t forget about Tyrese Maxey now. He had 17 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two three’s.

If Kentucky wants to make a deep tournament run, these two will be a huge key.

Cal played a zone

Something happened tonight we very, very rarely see. John Calipari played a zone. Mostly because the Cats couldn’t guard Saban Lee. A Vandy player hit a three and I’m pretty sure he got them out of it immediately after.

But, did Coach Cal learn something from the Arkansas game? We didn’t quite get the same result since Kentucky didn’t shut Vandy down like they did Arkansas, but we’re definitely making progress.

Jerry Stackhouse doesn’t un-cross his arms. Ever.

John Calipari and Jerry Stackhouse are polar opposites when it comes to coaching. Cal runs up and down the sideline, screaming at his players and the officials, while Stackhouse barely moves, never says a word, and doesn’t ever uno-cross his arms. Scratch that, he did un-cross his arms to raise his hands on a no-call, then crossed them again.

His coaching antics are about as boring as Vanderbilt athletics is.

Scottie Pippen’s son, Scottie Pippen Jr., plays for Vandy

I found this really cool and kind of sad at the same time.

But, I guess Scottie went to Arkansas State, so his son is already ahead of him.

Kentucky faced their largest halftime-deficit tonight

Kentucky was down seven at the half tonight, which is their largest halftime deficit of the season. This stat really surprised me.

Kentucky was down by as much as ten in the second half and found a way to comeback and win. I don’t care who you’re playing, coming back from a ten point deficit, especially with how good Vandy played, is really impressive.

The difference between tonight and Evansville

I couldn’t help but think of the Evansville nightmare while watching tonight. For most of the game, Kentucky played a lot like they did that night.

Here is why Kentucky avoided the upset:

Nick Richards is a stud

Tyrese Maxey is now the player we thought he would be
Kentucky’s defense was a lot better tonight

Kentucky won the rebounding contest

What’s next?

Other than a banked in three at the buzzer loss to South Carolina, Kentucky is unbeaten in SEC play. That and a huge win on the road against Texas Tech. Kentucky is one of the hottest teams in the country.

The Cats have a showdown Saturday against No. 17 Auburn, which is set to tip-off at 6 p.m. EST on ESPN. Kentucky is everyone’s Super Bowl and that will be truer than ever Saturday. Win it and you’re likely a top ten team again and are looking at maybe a 2-3 seed in the tournament.

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

7 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)