Connect with us

Men's Basketball

Recap and Takeaway’s From Kentucky’s Blowout Win at Vanderbilt

Published

on

©Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

On Tuesday night, Kentucky rolled to a 109-77 win in Nashville against Vanderbilt. Needing a bounce-back game, there was no shortage of offense in this one for the Cats. Six players ended up scoring double figures. Antonio Reeves and Rob Dillingham led the way, and the Cats got a feel-good win.

Let’s take a look at how Kentucky blew out Vandy to get back on track.

Kentucky Had No Shortage of Offense

The offense was clicking from the opening tip for the Cats. With six players scoring double-figures, Kentucky was scoring in bunches. Antonio Reeves led the way with 24 points on 6-9 from deep. Rob Dillingham was cooking, adding in 20 points. Justin Edwards had arguably his best game of the season. Edwards put up 17 points. Jordan Burks got more minutes tonight, finishing with 13 points.

Advertisement

The scoring didn’t stop there, as Aaron Bradshaw poured in 12 points, and Zvonimir Ivisic with 11. Reed Sheppard only had 6 points and didn’t have his best offensive night, but his defense was impressive. Adou Thiero added 4 points, and Ugonna Onyenso had 2. Kentucky shot 55.4% overall, and 57.7% from deep. Scoring 109 in an SEC game is nothing to complain about.

Defense Shows Signs of Improvement

Besides the offense clicking on all cylinders, Kentucky’s defense looked better, too. The Cats held Vandy to 35.5% overall and 32.4% from deep. Reed Sheppard was impressive on defense with 5 steals and a block to go along with his 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Kentucky had a team total 10 steals.

It was also the rebounding that showed a lot of improvement. Kentucky won the rebounding battle 50-28, after really struggling in that area all season. Regardless of this, it’s clear there’s still a lot more improvements needed in areas, and Calipari said that’s the focus moving forward: “The emphasis for the rest of the year…. 70% of it will be defense.”

Justin Edwards Bursts In His Coming Out Game

Even though it was Antonio Reeves and Rob Dillingham leading the way, Justin Edwards had his best game of the season. Edwards had a season-high 17 points to go with 3 assists and 2 steals.

Advertisement

He was all smiles after the game, and you can’t help but be happy for him after how his season has been. Jordan Burks also had his best game of the season, where he had an efficient 13 points and 5 rebounds, shooting a perfect 6-6 from the field. You can’t help but be happy to see these kinds of performances.

Kentucky will look to stay on track when they welcome Gonzaga to Rupp Arena on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET, and will be televised on CBS. You can check out the box score and highlights from Tuesday’s win against Vandy below.

Box Score

Highlights

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