Connect with us

Men's Basketball

RECAP: Three Takeaways from Kentucky’s 105-96 win over Georgia

Published

on

Kentucky Wildcats center Zvonimir Ivisic celebrates with Kentucky fans at Rupp Arena after his impressive debut.
UK Athletics

What a game that was.

The Kentucky Wildcats (14-3 overall, 4-1 SEC) took down the Georgia Bulldogs (13-5 overall, 3-2 SEC) 105-96 in Rupp Arena to secure their eighth win in their last nine games. To the surprise of many, Kentucky was a big favorite heading into the game. The expectation was that Georgia would come in and be competitive, but that lasted for (maybe) five minutes.

BIG Z IS FREE (but the officials tried to lock him up, again)

After John Calipari said it was time to get “aggressive” with Big Z’s eligibility case, Zvonimir Ivisic was declared eligible by the NCAA on Saturday morning, meaning he was able to make his Kentucky debut against Georgia. And what a debut it was.

Advertisement

Ivisic pulled absolutely every trick he had up his sleeves, making three after three, hitting people with no-look passes, and dunking on people’s heads. He would finish with 13 points on 5-7 (3-4 3PT) shooting while grabbing five rebounds and recording three blocks and two steals. All in just 16 minutes of play. It was a fun night for the #BBN.

However, it must have not been fun for the referees as they would charge Big Z with a flagrant one foul when he had a bit of a shoving match with a Georgia player and then a technical foul whenever he did a chin-up on the rim following a dunk. You may be able to take away the momentum Z had built, but you can’t away this highlight play.

Veteran leadership from Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves

Even though Ivisic was the talk of the night, he wasn’t the only player in blue and white to have a stellar outing. Fifth-year seniors Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves led the way for the ‘Cats on the floor and in the scoring column.

Mitchell scored a team-high 23 points, shooting a remarkable 8-10 from the field. He was also one of four players to grab five rebounds as well. Night after night, Mitchell continues to a solid piece that John Calipari can lean on for productivity. Additionally, with Z’s debut, Mitchell only played 28 minutes on Saturday. That could go a long way in keeping him healthy for the remainder of the season.

Advertisement

Then, Antonio Reeves did what Antonio Reeves does. Like it was nothing, he put up yet another 20+ point outing, his ninth such game this year and third in a row. Reeves shot solidly from the field, making seven of his twelve shots and two of his four three balls. He also contributed with five rebounds and four assists.

DJ Wagner shines as Rupp Arena was rockin’

Lastly, DJ Wagner may have just had the best performance ever that absolutely no one will remember down the line. Wagner recorded his first double-double as a Kentucky Wildcat, scoring 18 points and recording a career-high 10 assists as well. He too was efficient from the floor, as he shot 8-12 (2-3 3PT) on the night.

Mainly because of the debut of Big Z, there was a ton of anticipation leading up to the game. There was a buzz in Rupp Arena that hadn’t been felt since the Miami game. Even then, this far exceeded the hype for the Miami game. This was a special night. A night that everyone in Rupp Arena will remember for the rest of their lives.

Whether it was an awesome highlight play or an egregious call, Rupp Arena was absolutely rocking. When Z hit his fourth and final three, there were probably some readings of an earthquake in Lexington. What an awesome, awesome night of basketball.

Advertisement

Next up, the ‘Cats take on the South Carolina Gamecocks (15-3 overall, 3-2 SEC) in Columbia on Tuesday night at 7:00 ET on the SEC Network.

Let’s see what other Globetrotter-esque things Big Z has in store for us.

Advertisement

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

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

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

on

Jasper Johnson advances at U19 camp.
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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

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

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

The official La Familia roster as of June 19:

– Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)

– Doron Lamb (2010-12)

– DeAndre Liggins (2008-11)

Advertisement

– Aaron Harrison (2013-15)

– Andrew Harrison (2013-15)

– Ansley Almonor (2024-25)

– Archie Goodwin (2012-13)

Advertisement

– Kahlil Whitney (2019-20)

Continue Reading

Trending