The brackets are set, and UK’s first-round opponent is the Horizon League champs, the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland University. Let’s be clear right away, Oakland is absolutely a formidable first-round opponent for UK. They have veteran players, a proven coach, absolute 3-point snipers, and a post (yes, he’s undersized) who is a double-double machine. Also of importance, they play a very unique defensive style that UK has not seen at all this season. Here’s everything BBN needs to know about the Golden Grizzlies
Oakland’s Offense
Oakland is a really solid offensive team. They have a couple of “lights out” 3-point shooters, they have a double-double post scorer, and some role players who execute the offensive scheme. But it all starts with senior 3-pt specialist Jack Gohlke. On the season, Gohlke is shooting 37% from 3-point territory, but he’s taken an INSANE amount of 3’s. Gohlke has attempted 327 3-point shots on the season, making 121 of them. His 121 made-3’s leads the nation. On the entire season, he has attempted 8 TOTAL shots INSIDE of the 3-pt line. His single-game high for 3-point shots attempted on the season is TWENTY against Northern Kentucky. Quick release, no conscience, great coming off screens, and honestly, you won’t see him take more than two dribbles.
The most important player is definitely Trey Townsend. His stat line from the Horizon Tournament championship was bonkers: Townsend had 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. He’s a really good overall basketball player. He’s undersized at 6’6, but don’t let that fool you. He has textbook footwork in the post, and he’s used to being undersized, so nothing new to him vs UK. He pivots, re-pivots, great shot-fake, has a complete turn-around/fade-away game, and gets to the FT-line (14-18 in tourney championship). I think good comparisons for him are Grant Williams from Tennessee and former Cat Trey Lyles. Townsend is NOT a threat from 3-pt land though.
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The other player that’s definitely being discussed on UK’s scouting report for Oakland is senior guard Blake Lampman. This 6’3 guard averages 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists on the season. And yes, he’s another sniper from 3-point territory. Lampman and Gohlke combine for an average of 18 3-point attempts per game, combining to make 37% of those. By the numbers, the combo of Gohlke and Lampman actually combine for more 3-point attempts than Reeves, Rob, Reed, and DJ combined. Lampman is an elite FT shooter (95%), which hopefully won’t come in handy late in the game. He’s more of a driver and PG than Gohlke, but has a quick release from 3, and the confidence to go along with it.
Oakland on the Defensive End
Oakland’s unique defense could give the Cats trouble, at least early on. The “bread and butter” defense for Oakland right now is their 1-3-1 zone. The 1-3-1 is much rarer than a 2-3 zone or a 1-2-2 zone, you just don’t see it often. But Oakland’s 1-3-1 zone has matchup principles to it – it’s a unique zone and impossible to replicate in UK’s practice. There’s NOT a great deal of size to it – the biggest player is only 6’9 – but that’s why they use the matchup principles. One of the most underrated aspects of this zone: controlling the pace of the game. Oakland does NOT want a track meet, and their zone will help guarantee that. Opponents have to move the ball, have to shift the zone, and that takes time.
Based on the Oakland games I’ve studied, their zone doesn’t give up as many open looks as a 2-3 zone. UK WILL get some open looks, I’m not worried about that. But Oakland closes out hard to the 3-point line, which SHOULD create some shot-fake drives for the Cats. Ohio St, Milwaukee, and Fort Wayne all had success with lobs for dunks. If UK’s guards can penetrate the zone, it’ll collapse and leave Ugo/BigZ/Mitchell/Bradshaw open for dunks. I’m not a Vegas guru, but I’ll set the over/under on UK alley-oops at 4.5. The Cats can NOT settle for 3-point shots. They have to attack the zone. Look for ball movement, driving gaps, and finding open shooters or open 7-footers for dunks.
Final thoughts: This is a game Kentucky SHOULD win. The Cats have the size advantage, dynamic guards that can create and shoot, and enough weapons to score in bunches. Coach Cal may or may not use a press, but look for him to find ways to speed up the pace. I guarantee Oakland is going to try to limit possessions and slow down the game. But for a Kentucky team that really struggles to guard, there is most definitely reason for concern going up against the likes of Gohlke, Lampman and Townsend. Look for Reeves to chase Gohlke everywhere, Adou to matchup with Townsend and be a physical presence to limit him, and for the Cats to really push the pace in transition. GO CATS!
On Tuesday, the Louisville Sports Commission announced that Kentucky Wildcat legends Randall Cobb and Tayshaun Prince were elected to the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame class of 2025.
The KSHOF recognizes individuals that have made significant impacts in sports for the state of Kentucky. Other members of the class of 2025 include Louisville native, former University of Louisville gymnast, gymnastics coach, and longtime international gymnastics judge Carole Liedtke and highly accomplished female trap shooter Nora Martin Ross from Paris.
A selection committee made up of 15 sports media professionals from around Kentucky voted on the 2025 class. The KSHOF Selection Committee votes were independently tabulated by regional accounting firm Dean Dorton, one of Kentucky’s largest accounting and advisory firms, with offices in Louisville, Lexington and Raleigh, N.C.
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Cobb, Prince and the remaining 2025 KSHOF class members and their families will be honored on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Freedom Hall in Louisville.
Randall Cobb
Coming out of high school in 2008, Cobb was a three-star quarterback recruit from Alcoa, Tennessee, just south of Knoxville. Cobb was only given three offers out of high school; he chose Kentucky over nearby schools Tennessee and Middle Tennessee.
In Lexington, Cobb became the ultimate utility player due to his extreme athleticism. He is remembered as one of the most versatile athletes to ever come through Kentucky.
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As a Wildcat, Cobb played wide receiver, quarterback, punt returner and kick returner during his three years at Kentucky, which allowed him to excel in the Wildcat formation. In 2011, the multipurpose star was named first-team All-America.
Additionally, Cobb was named first-team All-SEC as a sophomore and junior. In 2010, Cobb had an SEC record-setting season where he gained 2,396 all-purpose yards.
Cobb claimed the all-time Kentucky leader honor for career touchdowns with 37 until Benny Snell Jr. broke the record at the end of the decade.
The Green Bay Packers selected Cobb with the 64th pick of the second round in the 2011 NFL Draft to play wide receiver and special teams.
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As a member of the Packers, Cobb would have a successful career in Green Bay, forming a tight bond on and off the field with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In his first career game against the New Orleans Saints, Cobb caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers and returned a kickoff for a 108-yard touchdown.
Cobb spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career in Green Bay, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2014, after achieving career highs with 91 receptions, 1,287 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.
In 2019, the former Wildcat joined the Dallas Cowboys to catch passes from Dak Prescott for one season. A year later, Cobb inked a deal with the Houston Texans as a target for Deshaun Watson, where he played a lone season there.
Prior to the 2021 season, Rodgers requested for the Packers to reunite the Cobb-Rodgers duo. So, Green Bay traded for Cobb ahead of the season.
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After two reasons back in the green and gold, Cobb followed Rodgers in leaving Green Bay for the New York Jets. The 2023 season would be the last of Cobb’s career, as Rodgers missed the entire season with a torn achilles, he caught one touchdown that season against his former squad, the Houston Texans.
Cobb joined the SEC Network as a studio analyst in the summer of 2024, covering football around the SEC.
Tayshaun Prince
Hailing from Compton, California, Prince played four seasons at Kentucky from 1998 to 2001.
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During his four-year tenure in blue, Prince averaged 13.2 points and 5.7 rebounds, as the Wildcats advanced to the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite 8 once in the NCAA Tournament each year under head coach Tubby Smith. Prince’s junior season earned him the 2000-2001 SEC Player of the Year with 16.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
In 2001, Prince led the Wildcats to an SEC Championship, beating the Ole Miss Rebels 77-55 to win the championship. Prince was awarded SEC Tournament MVP after putting up 26 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game.
Earlier in that season Prince had one of the most memorable moments in Kentucky history by nailing five consecutive 3-pointers to begin a game against North Carolina. The Wildcats went on to win 79-59 in front of Rupp Arena thanks to a 31-point, 11-rebound performance from Prince.
In his final two seasons at Kentucky, Prince was elected to First-Team All-SEC honors. Previously, Prince was named to the Second-Team All-SEC his sophomore year.
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After a successful four-year collegiate career where Prince scored over 1,700 points, the Compton native entered the 2002 NBA Draft.
The Detroit Pistons selected the Kentucky guard with the 23rd pick of the first round.
Prince would spend the bulk of his career in Detroit on a competitive Pistons squad, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in his rookie season.
In Prince’s sophomore season, the Pistons advanced to the NBA Finals with the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers. As the Lakers boasted four future Hall of Famers.
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The 2004 NBA Finals is widely recognized as one of the most challenging and improbable underdog championships in sports history, and the Pistons defeated Los Angeles in six games.
Prince was the primary defender on Bryant throughout the series, even holding Bryant to 11 points in Game 3. The Kentucky product earned the first and only NBA Championship of his career, averaging 10 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game during the Finals.
Additionally, Prince won an Olympic gold medal representing America on the “Redeem Team” at the 2008 Beijing Games.
From 2005 to 2008, Prince was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.
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After spending his first 12 seasons with the Pistons, Prince played for the Memphis Grizzlies and had brief stints with the Boston Celtics and the Pistons again until retiring as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Since 2017, Prince has been a member of the Memphis Grizzlies front office. Currently, he serves as Vice President of Basketball Affairs.
After a lull in NBA news regarding freshly former Wildcats, Jaxson Robinson has rounded off last year’s class by officially landing an exhibit 10 contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The deal is fixated on a non-guaranteed one year period during which Robinson will have a chance to secure a spot on the permanent roster.
Robinson, who was originally projected by many as a second round draft pick before he sustained an injury to his wrist late last season, is the final Cat to find his place in the league. First, two were drafted (Brea, Williams,) then the next two were signed (Butler, Carr,) leaving Robinson as the odd-man out for a short period of time while he worked to earn an opportunity.
When healthy, the fan-favorite forward averaged 13 points, four rebounds and two assists for the blue and white throughout the 2024-25 season, showing flashes of elite shooting and surprising defensive prowess. His lengthy, 6’6 frame is built for the next level – given a streak of good health and the opportunity to play, Robinson could prove just that.
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And now, with the Cavs, he’ll have his first shot. Cleveland, reeling from a second-round exit in the NBA Playoffs and having just lost arguably their most proficient bench scorer in Ty Jerome, will certainly be looking for scoring options for their second unit. With the summer league ahead and plenty of time to make a splash, Robinson, despite his somewhat delayed signing, is bound to see the court sooner rather than later.
Big Blue Nation will be behind #2 going forward, either way. Wherever Robinson ends up, it’ll be on his feet.
When Kentucky added Reece Potter in the later stages of the portal season, many within Big Blue Nation assumed the 7-foot-1 Lexington native would be a valuable practice player. Now, the plan appears to be for him to contribute meaningfully to Mark Pope’s squad this season.
A junior transfer from Miami (Ohio), Potter stands out as the tallest player on Kentucky’s roster this season. With his size, he’s an obvious fit at the five, especially on nights the Wildcats need extra length. But he believes he can be much more than that in Mark Pope’s system, similar to other Kentucky big men who have thrived in this offense.
“I feel like I shoot the ball at a high level and I’m able to pass. Those are the things (Pope) really liked,” Potter said Monday. “He was able to use Amari Williams and BG (Brandon Garrison) in more of a point center type of way.”
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Now at Kentucky, Potter believes that being surrounded by so much talent, he will surely flourish with the help of those around him.
“I got some great players in front of me that do a great job of it,” Potter said. “I’m gonna be able to learn from them and keep growing my game in practice every single day.”
In two seasons with the RedHawks, Potter averaged 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in just over 15 minutes per contest, shooting at a 45.4% clip from the field, 39.85% from deep. Potter made 11 starts during his freshman season in 2023-24, appearing in 30 games in 2024 off the bench for a Miami team that went 25-9 overall and 14-4 in conference play, reaching the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game.
In high school with Lexington Catholic, Potter made a name for himself, being named the 11th Region’s Player of the Year as a senior. He averaged 17.9 points and 8.7 rebounds for the District 43 champs.