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The Bat Cats: Power, Speed and Heart

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Kentucky baseball Patrick Herrera.
Caleb Bowlin | UK Athletics

Although Head Coach Nick Mingione and his staff had to completely restructure their lineup after the MLB Draft and the transfer portal did its rounds, the Wildcats have formed one of the most well-rounded rosters in the nation. 

The Cats’ have 16 home runs as a team in just 15 games. Five of the players, led by Cole Hage with eight stolen bases, have stolen five or more bags this season. Six players, led by Dylan Koontz with 18, have 10 or more RBIs thus far. As a team, they’re hitting .295 and have a combined .909 OPS. This team can truly do it all. 

First of all, we have to assess Hage’s season so far. The outfielder is hitting .458 (1.419 OPS) and is leading the teams in total hits, runs and home runs. At this rate, with double-digit games played, it’s clear who the best offensive weapon is. 

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Next, you can jump to star freshman shortstop with Bell. He’s hitting .333 on the season with, barely behind Hage in just about every stat. He ranks second on the team with both 17 RBIs and 18 total hits. 

These two’s amazing outings, along with the other team numbers mentioned above, indicate why they hold an impressive 13-2 record, averaging nearly nine runs a game. 

Last weekend, the Wildcats defeated the Wofford Terriers in two out of three games in a weekend series at Kentucky Proud Park. 

Mingione gave the team his flowers despite the Cats’ dominant 12-2 win in game one of the series. 

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“I reminded the guys yesterday how much I think of this Wofford team,” said Mingione. “That’s a really good team, they win a lot of baseball games, and this series ain’t over.” 

Mingione was right, because the Terriers would fight with Kentucky through eight innings in game two. The Wildcats had a nightmare ninth inning on the mound, giving up eight runs as a team and ultimately losing 12-5. 

However, with the biggest showing of heart, the Wildcats came out in game three and had a clinic on the mound, where LHP Ethan Walker threw the first five innings, striking out four batters and only giving up two hits and one unearned run against 17 batters. 

Senior RHP Scott Rouse then took over, striking out four batters and keeping the Terriers from scoring another run in the final four innings. The Wildcats went on to win 2-1. Rouse has struck out 19 batters in only 15 innings this season, and is now 3-0 with a 0.60 ERA. 

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After its first series win over a competing opponent, Kentucky faced Northern Illinois on Tuesday, March 11 where it only gave up four hits as a team. Freshman Nate Harris threw five innings and only gave up two hits against 19 batters, earning his third win of the season. 

Devin Burkes and Luke Lawrence, who both went 2-3 with two RBIs each led the way offensively, leading the Cats to a 9-2 win.

Now, Kentucky will go on the road and face the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs, its first series of conference play. 

However, when asked about how much rankings mattered to him, he shifted the focus to his player’s mentalities.

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“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, with all due respect, we respect every opponent and they’re a great team, make no mistake about it,” said Mingione. “Our focus needs to be on us, and what we do, and I feel confident that as long as our focus is on things we can control, then there’s a chance we can get the results we want.” 

Kentucky will be on the road in Athens, Georgia from Friday, March 14 from Sunday March 16, hoping to return home to Lexington with a series win. 

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Double Trouble: Harrison Twins Return To Join LaFamilia

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Chet White | UK Athletics

Two more former Kentucky stars are set to join La Familia, as twin brothers Andrew and Aaron Harrison have committed to return for the Wildcats alumni team in this year’s edition of The Basketball Tournament (TBT).

The Harrison twins, who helped lead Kentucky to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2014 and 2015, bring veteran experience and elite pedigree to an already talent-heavy roster filled with former NBA players.

In early April, Doron Lamb and DeAndre Liggins became the first players to commit to La Familia’s typically star-studded roster, which this season will also feature TBT’s 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, Willie Cauley-Stein.

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For those unfamiliar, TBT is a high-stakes, nationally televised, single-elimination tournament featuring a $1 million, winner-take-all prize. Alumni teams from schools such as Louisville, Kansas, Indiana and other major programs across the country compete each summer.

With TBT season on the horizon, the Harrison twins will look to tap into their former selves in hopes of helping the squad of former Cats claim a share of the $1 million prize.

The team will once again be led by former Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis, who returns as head coach following La Familia’s Final Four run last season.

La Familia will host the tournament’s opening rounds for the Lexington Regional at Memorial Coliseum from July 18–22.

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Lexington is also set to host the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game—if La Familia advances and secures home-court advantage. That advantage is awarded to the team whose fans purchase the most pre-sale tickets, giving Big Blue Nation a direct role in bringing the final rounds home.

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Cats In The Combine: A Potential Next Chapter For Kentucky’s Stars

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Otega Oweh and Koby Brea
Chet White | UK Athletics

The Kentucky Wildcats will have a plethora of stars from last year’s team representing the blue and white in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine.

Otega Oweh and Koby Brea have both been officially invited to Chicago, from May 11-18, to perform in front of NBA coaches, general managers and scouts, looking to prove that they have what it takes to make it to the next level.

Amari Williams, alongside one of Mark Pope’s offseason acquisitions with Jaland Lowe, will both compete in the 2025 G League Elite Combine, taking place in Chicago from May 9-11.

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Notable names such as Jaxson Robinson, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr and Ansley Almonor, all playing major roles in Pope’s introductory season at Kentucky, did not receive invitations.

Same Story, Different Path

Out of all of these names, Brea is the outlier that’s been mentioned in numerous mock drafts, especially in the latter half of the second round. Williams will likely go undrafted and may receive a deal after the event has concluded.

Although Brea and Williams have ended their collegiate chapters, Oweh and Lowe have made it public that they are just testing the draft process and have maintained their NCAA eligibility, which arises a crucial discussion.

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While Oweh’s return to Kentucky is not set in stone, Big Blue Nation can assume that without a stellar performance in the combine that they wont hear his name called on draft night. Currently, he is ranking just outside the top 90 mark on the list of prospects according to several publications’ lists.

A key note to make is that Robinson went through this same exact process coming out of BYU, eventually spending his senior year at Kentucky.

Lowe’s father, in an interview with KSR, reassured that his son’s goal is to still to play for the Wildcats, quoted saying “The expectation and goals are for him to be a part of Kentucky basketball and for him to win the No. 9 championship.”

During his interview with CBS’ Jon Rothstein, Pope spoke on Lowe and his ability to step in be the leader for next year’s team, sounding hopeful Lowe will be a Wildcat.

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“I’m excited to get him here and hyper-speed his game,” Pope said. “I think he’s going to be an elite level leader. He’s got a huge future in this game, and he’s going to come do it in a Kentucky jersey, and join this legacy of incredible point guards that have played here.”

Regardless of what may happen, BBN will be patiently awaiting for Oweh to add to his legacy as a Wildcat and for Lowe to write a new chapter, hoping they can do it on the same court.

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Jamal Murray Drops 43 Points In Massive Game Five Victory

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Jamal Murray
NBA | Denver Nuggets

Three things are certain in life. Death, taxes and Jamal Murray dropping random 40-point explosions in the NBA Playoffs.

The former Kentucky star, who averaged 20.0 points per game for the Wildcats in the 2015-16 season, took over last night and had a historic performance against the No. 5 seeded Los Angeles Clippers.

This series, between the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets and the Clippers, serves as one of the only first round matchups that remains competitive, with both teams winning two games a piece before the tip on April 29.

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Murray, who had only scored 13 points in game four, went to on to record his sixth career 40-point postseason game, sinking eight threes and shooting 65.4% from the field, helping the Nuggets regain the series advantage.

In his 70 postseason matchups, Murray has the same amount of 40-point performances as he does in 536 regular season games, proof that the former Cat is one to fear when it matters most. He has also surpassed legends such as Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, Tracy McGrady, Karl Malone and even his own teammate Nikola Jokic in 40-point playoff games.

The former champion is due for these type of performances every now and then and is capable of performing on the big stage, recording a 34-point triple double in the 2023 NBA Finals.

The Canada native and the Nuggets now hold a 3-2 lead, looking to send Kawhi Leonard and James Harden packing on May 1 and begin the road back to the NBA Finals.

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