Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs Michigan in London Game Recap; Things to Know and Game MVP

Published

3 years ago

December 5, 2022

UK Athletics

On Sunday, the Kentucky Wildcats and Michigan Wolverines traveled across the pond to play in London for the first of a three-game series between the two teams.

Coming in, both teams needed a statement win and both teams played like it.

To start the game, both teams had good starts with Kentucky holding a 11-8 head at the under-16 media timeout. Michigan responded with a 9-0 run, to take a 17-11 lead, which they carried for much of the first half. However, thanks to a 7-0 run from Antonio Reeves and Oscar Tshiebwe Kentucky entered the half up 37-36.

Kentucky retained that lead for all but 1 minute for the rest of the game as they briefly fell behind 50-49, but they could never quite push the lead out of reach. With five minutes to go, Kentucky held a 66-58 lead, but it quickly evaporated to just two with less than two minutes to go.

That is when Cason Wallace answered the bell, hitting a three late in the shot clock to make it a two possession game. This gave Kentucky some breathing room through to the end as they got their best win thus far in this young season, 73-69.

In a game that featured some good and bad, let’s take a closer look.

Reeves Stepped up on the Big Stage, Fredrick Did Not

Antonio Reeves came into Sunday’s game as Kentucky’s leading scorer with 14.9 points per game, while shooting 47 percent from three. Yet, his biggest criticism has been in his performance in big games and for good reason.

Against Michigan State and Gonzaga, Reeves averaged just 7.5 points on 25 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from three. He finally started to reverse that narrative against Michigan, scoring 11 points on 3-4 shooting from three.

With that said, CJ Fredrick, who averaged 9 points and shot over 47 percent from three at Iowa, continued his struggles in big games, scoring just three points. Coming in touted as one of the best shooters in the country, Fredrick is averaging just 3.7 points per game against top 50 KenPom teams.

For Kentucky to have a successful season, both Reeves and Fredrick have to be threats.

Balanced Offense

Looking at the box score, it was a balanced scoring effort as Kentucky had five players score in double figures. This is just the second time this has occurred this season, and the first since South Carolina State.

What is even more encouraging is that 17 of the 27 made field goals came off assists (63% assist percentage). This means the offense was generating opportunities and players were making the right passes.

The biggest criticism for the Wildcats’ offense on Sunday was their poor free throw shooting, going 10-20 (50%). If they had shot a better percentage, the margin of victory might have been greater than 4.

Despite that, the performance was promising for an offense that has struggled early this season.

Rebounding Dominance

A staple of a good John Calipari team is good rebounding, as he has had a top 50 rebounding team in all but one season at Kentucky (2019-20). Despite some early season concerns, this season’s Kentucky team is no different, currently ranked 10th in the country in rebounding.

Against Michigan, the Wildcats asserted their dominance on the boards , winning the rebounding battle 46-33. Of course, Oscar Tshiebwe – a generational rebounder – had a team-high 14 rebounds, but it was good to see the rest of the team step up as well. That includes Cason Wallace who had 4 offensive rebounds, more than Tshiebwe (2).

Game MVP: Cason Wallace

Cason Wallace may be the most talented freshman Kentucky has had since Tyrese Maxey and he put that on display on both ends of the court against Michigan.

Finishing with an impressive stat line: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal; Wallace was the most impactful player of the game and he stepped up with it mattered. In fact much of his production came in the second half alone:

11 points
4-4 FG (3-3 3P)
4 rebounds
2 assists
1 block

Not to mention, this clutch three pointer to all but seal the game.

Cason Wallace CLUTCH! pic.twitter.com/gfNu37XAMT— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 4, 2022

Related Topics:Antonio Reeves Cason Wallace CJ Fredrick Oscar Tshiebwe

Men's Basketball

Three Wildcats Heading to NBA Draft Combine

Published

3 hours ago

May 1, 2026

KYI News Desk

Jayden Quaintance, Otega Oweh, and Malachi Moreno are all heading to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Here's what's at stake for each Kentucky Wildcat — and what Big Blue Nation should be watching for.

IMAGN

Kentucky Basketball is sending a trio to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine.

The NBA officially announced 73 participants for the 2026 Combine, with Jayden Quaintance, Malachi Moreno, and Otega Oweh all representing Kentucky.

Interestingly, the pool to select combine participants is growing smaller. Just 71 college players entered their name in the NBA Draft this year, down from 106 last year and a peak of 363 in 2021. That’s the lowest early-entrant total since 2003.

For Kentucky, Quaintance is still the headliner. Once viewed as a lottery lock before playing just four games for Kentucky last season due to lingering issues from an ACL tear, his stock has fallen and currently ranges from mid-late first round, 18th in ESPN‘s latest projections.

Still, NBA teams draft on potential, and a big man with his footwork, passing ability, and rim protection at just 18 is a unicorn. The medicals at the Combine will be crucial, and Chicago is where that process begins in earnest.

Oweh tested the draft waters in 2025, returned to Lexington, and made the most of it. The senior guard was Kentucky’s leading scorer in back-to-back seasons, averaging 18.2 points per game this past year. He currently sits at No. 76 (ESPN) in draft rankings, on the bubble, but the Combine is exactly where a player like Oweh can make a leap.

Then there’s Moreno, the wildcard. ESPN‘s latest mock draft projects Moreno at No. 44 to the Brooklyn Nets in the second round, though he’s still widely expected to return to Lexington for his sophomore season and a be a centerpiece for the Wildcats after an All-SEC freshman season. Moreno has first round potential.

The Combine is set to take place at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago from May 10th-17th, and will be televised on ESPN2 and NBA TV.

Football

UK Moves Forward with Plans for Entertainment District Near Kroger Field

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2026

Tristan Pharis

The University of Kentucky is moving forward with a new entertainment district near Kroger Field, selecting the “Cooper Connector” proposal ahead of construction.

UK Athletics

Last year, Champions Blue LLC, the LLC created for UK Athletics, announced the plan to build an entertainment district near Kroger Field to create a new revenue stream. Earlier this week, the school made the next step before the district’s construction, choosing one of four proposals.

On Tuesday, Kevin Locke, UK’s Associate Vice President of planning, design and construction, informed the Champions Blue Board of Governors that the school is moving forward with the “Cooper Connector” plan. This proposal is based on similar districts created near arenas for Ohio State University, Arizona State University, the Green Bay Packers, and the Atlanta Braves.

As an effect of this plan, Bluegrass Community and Technical College will vacate from the school’s original home on Cooper Drive by the end of 2026, a spokesperson told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Despite BCTC still holding classes, Kentucky originally took control over the property with an agreement in 2008, after BCTC built a new campus at the former site of Eastern State Hospital, which moved to land owned by UK on the Coldstream Research campus.

The “Cooper Connector” plan includes retail and a hotel conference center, but dining will serve as the anchor, as Locke explained to the board on Tuesday.

“Food and beverage, that would serve as the anchor use for this scheme,” Locke said. “This location needs genuine energy, with multiple retail spots creating critical mass, rather than an isolated, one-off destination. And with the right mix of food, entertainment, and access, this corridor will come alive and attract private investors as well as become an asset for the university, staff, and surrounding community.”

With the plan, there are still some final decisions to be made over the coming weeks, including the precise location for the hotel conference center.

Perhaps the biggest decision will be whether to include a multi-use facility that would include a new basketball practice facility into the Kroger Field entertainment district or as part of a district to be built near Historic Memorial Coliseum that will include retail, housing, and parking. A conversation study is needed, set to be complete this summer.

Also posted on A Sea of Blue.

BB Recruiting

Mark Pope Flying to Israel to Visit “Up and Coming” Brazilian Basketball Player Marcio Santos, in “Advanced Talks”

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky basketball is targeting Brazilian prospect Marcio Santos as Mark Pope expands recruiting globally. Latest updates on UK’s pursuit and fit.

EuroLeague

Mark Pope is on an international search to help fill Kentucky’s roster. Already singing Senegalese prospect Ousmane N’Diaye last week, a new target has emerged.

On Tuesday night, following a visit with the top ranked prospect prospect in the 2027 class, CJ Rosser, Pope caught a flight to JFK airport in New York City, and from there to Tel Aviv, Israel to visit 23-year-old Brazilian prospect Marcio Santos. Note, he would be 24 years old at the start of next season.

Santos currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club, a club that plays in the Israeli Premier League and internationally in the EuroLeague. Having won six EuroLeague titles, and sending a number of players to the NBA Draft, including Deni Avdija and Omri Casspi, the club is considered to be one of the best in all of Europe.

In his first season with the club, Santos is averaging 6.9 points, 1.6 boards and 0.6 steals on 40% shooting from deep.

Prior to playing with Maccabi, Santos spent a season with German club Ratiopharm Ulm, averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 boards and 0.8 steals in the German League, helping them reach to the playoff finals.

Santos started his career with Franca in his native Brazil, helping secure three straight Brazilian League crowns. In 2022-23 was part of the side that won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and BCL Americas titles.

With a 6-8, 250-pound frame, Santos plays currently as a four or a five, being undersized for the latter with taller matchups, leading to rebounding and interior defense struggles. That said, his coach, Oded Katash, loves his versatility.

“He can finish plays near the rim and step outside to shoot,” Katash said. “He plays with passion and enthusiasm, and knows how to show toughness and defensive aggressiveness. He’s a smart physical player who helps the team in many areas of the game. He’s a solid playmaking big man with sharp passing instincts.”

Pope flying to visit Santos shows very real interest, and according to sources, Kentucky has made an offer and are in “advanced talks” with Santos. Signed to a three year deal with Maccabi, earning $600k annually, part of the NIL agreement would be a buyout of his current contract.