Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs. Florida A&M: Thinks to Know After and Game MVP

Published

3 years ago

December 22, 2022

UK Athletics

Amid an intense level of fan frustration, the Kentucky Wildcats returned to action on Wednesday against Florida A&M in the Unity Challenge. With the Rattlers being one of the worst teams in the country, this was an opportunity for the Wildcats

Before the start of the game, it was announced that Chris Livingston and Lance Ware would be placed into the starting lineup. To start, the lineup change paid dividends as they pushed themselves out to an 18-2 lead by the under-16-minute media timeout.

All but two of these points were scored by Tshiebwe-Wallace-Wheeler in those opening five minutes. As the half went on, more Wildcats started to contribute, including CJ Fredrick who was 3-4 on threes. However, with such a large lead, Calipari started to experiment with lineups and Florida A&M started to generate some offense, as Kentucky entered the half with just a 42-32 lead.

Coming out of the half refocused, Kentucky pushed the lead back out to 21, in large part to Cason Wallace, who scored seven straight. Yet, FAMU responded, going a 14-2 run of their own to cut the lead to single digits with just over six minutes to go.

After a timeout to regroup, the Wildcats were on a mission to put the game away and did just that. Ending the game on an 11-2 run, Kentucky won the game by 20.

While Kentucky didn’t cover the 35-point spread, they used this game as a ‘practice’ to get better, as they should have. While there was some bad, there was a lot of learning.

Let’s take a closer look.

Regaining Confidence

The Kentucky offense has been struggling and the droughts of CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves have not helped. On Wednesday, the duo looked as if they had finally broken through their slump.

Combining for 22 points, including 6-13 from three, Wednesday was a performance to build on going forward for the two players. In what was an otherwise insignificant game, it was important for Fredrick and Reeves just to see the ball go through the basket.

In order for this Kentucky team to reach its potential, both players need to be the consistent shooting threats they were brought to Lexington to be.

Young Guys Shine

Given the nature of this game, it was expected that some of the younger players would be given some playing time and that did happen.

Cason Wallace played a team-high 31 minutes, but Livingston actually took a slight dip in minutes, playing just 15. This was primarily due to the play of CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves, but Livingston did score 8 points, including a three in that time.

Ugonna Onyenso and Adou Thiero are two players that also got some run in limited action. In just nine minutes Onyenso scored 4 points and added 5 rebounds, including four on the offensive end. As for Thiero, he played just three minutes but played hard, starting with a dive on the floor for a loose ball before adding a rebound, a steal, and nearly had a three before going in-ant-out.

Obviously, Wallace is a one-and-done, but the other three players could all come back next season and play big roles. It is good to see them contribute and continue to grow as players.

Better Offense, Defensive Troubles

Albeit against one of the worst teams in the country, the Kentucky offense looked better. Hitting a season-high 13 threes, the Wildcats were able to space the floor and were allowed to do a lot more.

Cason Wallance and Sahvir Wheeler were able to take advantage of driving lanes and take what the defense was giving them. In Wallace’s case, he was a dual threat, scoring 27 points and adding 9 assists.

With that said, Kentucky let Florida A&M shoot 52.0 percent from the field and 56.3 percent from three. In comparison, the Rattlers are in the bottom 15 in average field goal percentage (38%).

While it is something of note, I don’t believe this is too concerning. When the defense was attentive and locked in, the Rattlers had two scoring droughts that four minutes or longer.

Game MVP: Cason Wallace

On Wednesday, Cason Wallace could not be stopped. Scoring 27 points, including five threes, to go along with 9 assists and 4 steals, Wallace became just the second player in the Calipari era to record 25+ points and 9+ assists.

Playing 31 minutes, Wallace played the most on the team. Interestingly enough, in the second half, Wallace played 19 minutes in comparison to Sahvir Wheeler’s 6 minutes.

Wheeler is one of the best distributors in the country but with his size and poor shooting, defenses are able to sag off and help in the lane, anticipating a drive or pass inside. In the pick-and-roll offense, Wallace is more versatile and is a better option.

While both players bring their own skill sets and benefit the team in their own ways, the offense has performed better with Wallace running point. This could be something to watch going forward.

BB Recruiting

James Madison Transfer Justin McBride to Visit Kentucky on Tuesday

Published

17 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky will host James Madison transfer James McBride for a visit on Tuesday, after communicating with Mark Pope and the staff via Zoom video call.

James Madison Athletics

While much of the attention in the transfer portal goes to the top targets, you need to build a full roster. Still with starting spots to be claimed, Kentucky also looking at depth pieces. The most recent, James Madison transfer Justin McBride.

After talking to the staff this week via Zoom video call, McBride is scheduled to take a visit to Lexington on Tuesday.

A three-star transfer, ranked 201st overall according to 247Sports, McBride is being recruited by multiple power conference teams including Baylor and Cal, as well as SEC foes Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

Out of high school, McBride was a four-star recruit, ranked in the top 150 nationally.

“He is a versatile player who has that IT factor about him. You can tell by the passion he plays with that there is a huge chip on his shoulder,” 247Sports asked program director Vonzell Thomas said as he evaluated McBride out of high school. “What I like about his game is his will to win. He does whatever it takes to win and not every kid has that mentality.”

From Texas, McBride committed to Oklahoma State over the likes of Kansas and Arkansas, where he played alongside former Wildcat Bandon Garrison. There, he appeared in just 24 games, averaging just over five minutes per game.

Seeking a larger role, McBride entered the transfer portal and dropped to the mid-major level, committing to Nevada. With the Wolfpack he nearly tripled both his minutes and production, averaging 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per game. His most recent stop, James Madison this past season, McBride had a breakout year, averaging 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds on 40 percent shooting from deep.

Entering his senior season, the 6-7, 240 pound McBride is eyeing a jump back to the power conference level, prioritizing fit at his next stop.

Will that be Kentucky?

McBride has good size and athleticism, and has an inside-out style of game. Meaning he can work his away around the paint, but can also space the floor with his shooting, grading fairly well as a catch and shoot guy. Overall, he ranks in the 97th percentile in scoring volume. That said, there is come consistency to be lacked on the defensive side.

BB Recruiting

Multiple Transfers Meet With Kentucky on Wednesday

Published

1 week ago

April 8, 2026

Tristan Pharis

The transfer portal is active, and Zoom stock is going up as college coaches are video chatting around the clock to build their rosters, including Kentucky.

On Wednesday, Mark Pope and the Kentucky staff added three more names to the Zoom list.

Alex Wilkins (Guard, Furman), 4⭐️, 46th-ranked transfer

Class: Sophomore
Physicals: 6-5, 175 lbs
Last season averages: 17.8 PPG, 4.7 APG, 46% FG, 32.8% 3P

An underrated prospect coming out of high school, Wilkins splashed on the scene this year at Furman. As a freshman, he led his team to the NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.8 points and 4.7 assists and earning second team All-SoCon honors.

There were few players as critical to their team’s success as Wilkins, leading the SoCon in possession usage (34.4%) and shot usage (31.7%). That does lend some explanation to his poor shooting splits and turnover concerns (3.8 turnovers per game).

A quick, wirey guard, Wilkins is a capable scorer at all three levels, and can create for his teammates. However, he needs to add some muscle for power conference competition, and needs to have more consistent effort on the defensive end.

A freshman, those are both correctable things.

Isaac Celiscar (Forward, Yale), 4⭐️, 84th-ranked transfer

Class: Junior
Physicals: 6-6, 210 lbs
Last season averages: 13.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 57.3% FG, 40.7% 3P

Isaac Celiscar is one of the most efficient, versatile players in the transfer portal.

The first takeaway, averaging 13.2 point per game with 57.3 percent shooting, he is extremely efficient on limited opportunities. Shooting nearly 41 percent from deep, he is a threat from deep as well. That efficiency carries over to his passing, as he averages more than three assists per game, on just 1.3 turnovers per game.

Celiscar grades out as a glue-guy with great offensive skills and good feel for the game, but he does have limitations in terms of his athleticism and shot creation.

Jalen Cox (Guard, Colgate), 3⭐️ , 149th-ranked transfer

Class: Senior
Physicals: 6-3, 180 lbs
Last season averages: 17.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, 5.0 RPG, 52.1% FG, 36.5% 3P

Jalen Cox is the lowest ranked player Kentucky has reached out to, but the Wildcats need depth and Cox is a experienced guard with proven production.

Averaging 17.9 points and 5.3 assists (2.0+ assist-to-turnover ratio) per game on 52 percent shooting from the field, Cox is a versatile and efficient offensive player. He has also multiple conference All-Defense selections too, making him a two way player.

The biggest concern with Cox is his athletic ceiling and how that translates to power conference competition. However an experienced two way player is a great rotation piece.

BB Recruiting

Top Five Transfer Paulius Murauskas Moves Up Call, Talks With Kentucky on Wednesday

Published

1 week ago

April 8, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky met with Saint Mary's transfer Paulius Muruaskas, one of the top forwards in the transfer portal, on Wednesday and is looking to schedule a visit for him to come to Lexington.

Saint Mary's Athletics

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are as busy as anyone in the transfer portal. On Wednesday, they met with their biggest fish of this transfer portal cycle so far, Paulius Murauskas.

Originally scheduled for Thursday, the Wildcats met with Murauskas via Zoom video call on Wednesday, per source.

Currently ranked 4th overall in 247Sports transfer rankings, the top-ranked forward, Murauskas is the prototypical modern basketball player. Good size at 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, with the ability to create for himself and others, has a good handle, and overall good feel for the game.

Murauskas started his collegiate career at Arizona after some professional experience in Lithuania. Playing just five minutes per game with the Wildcats as a freshman, Murauskas transferred to Saint Mary’s, where he has flourished and earned All-Conference honors the last two seasons.

This past season, Murauskas averaged 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from deep. As for his weaknesses, he is not super athletic, and he does need to be more consistent with his shot.

Originally thought to follow former Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett to Arizona State, Murauskas is exploring all options. Following the Zoom, Kentucky is trying to get him on campus for a visit in the near future.