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Kenny Brooks Talks about NBA Legend Kobe Bryant and Preparation For South Carolina

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Kentucky women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks walking the sideline.
Morgan Simmons | UK Athletics

On Thursday, Feb. 27, Kentucky women’s basketball pulled off a historic night against its rival Tennessee Volunteers. 

Not only did four different Wildcats have double-digit points, but the Cats secured a new program record with 182 team blocks this season and shot 51.5% from the field, scoring over 80 or more points for the 12th time this season. 

Clara Strack broke the single-season block record, dethroning a 15-year record set by Victoria Dunlap in the 2009-10 season. She finished the game with 23 points (11-11 FG), 15 rebounds, three blocks and jogged off of the court with her 13th double-double of the season and a little bit of history for the Wildcats. 

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With emotions high after a dominating 82-58 win after previously losing to No. 7 LSU on Feb. 23, Head Coach Kenny Brooks was asked one final question that instantly changed the vibe of the after-game press conference. 

A reporter asked, “Coach Brooks, after every loss this season, like clockwork you’ve answered back with big wins. With one final giant in South Carolina, how do you keep the team humble but also confident at the same time?”

“Man, you tryna kill my vibe, I was excited to go get a steak tonight,” said Brooks as the whole room laughed. “Telling me I got Dawn Staley and them.” 

Brooks admitted that he knew what he and his team were getting into with South Carolina, alluding to something he learned from an NBA legend.

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”I taught this particular group, I taught the group before that, one of things that I learned was from Kobe Bryant,” said Brooks. “Kobe said that you have to watch the bad games, you know, just like you watch the good games. You can’t just bring popcorn to try to get better because you played well, you learn more from what you do when you don’t do well.”

Brooks went out of his way to reference the phrasing from the question, admitting how focused his team is.

”Like clockwork, win or lose, both of them (Clara Strack and Georgia Amoore) have texted me after the game what time do you want to watch film tomorrow,” said Brooks. “Regardless of whether they play good or bad, they want to try and get better. That’s how you turn the page regardless of what happens, and you get ready for the next opponent, because this league is too good to let anything linger to bring that into the next game.” 

Now, back in the win column, Brooks and his team will face their last regular season opponent, the No. 6 South Carolina Gamecocks. The game is set to take place inside of the Colonial Life Arena on March 2. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will air live on ESPN. 

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Kenny Brooks Lands Class of 2026 Five-Star Recruit Savvy Swords

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UK Athletics

Kenny Brooks secured another five-star recruit from the class of 2026 after landing a commitment from On3’s No. 9 player, Savvy Swords.

Swords, a rising senior at Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, New York, is a 6-foot-1 versatile wing who can score from all three levels of the floor.

In addition to her knack for scoring, Swords is a relentless defender who consistently creates havoc with her length and quick-twitch reactions in the passing lanes.

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She is ranked as the No. 3 wing in the nation by On3 and is widely considered one of the most complete two-way players in her class.

The commitment marks the second five-star pickup from the class of 2026, as Swords will join Maddyn Greenway — Brooks’ first commit from the class in November 2024 — on the court at historic Memorial Coliseum.

Brooks helped bring Swords to Lexington over women’s basketball powerhouses such as Notre Dame, South Carolina, UCLA and Michigan, and through his excellent track record with player development, she is already set up for success.

Together, Swords and Greenway are on track to elevate the potential of an already stacked Wildcats squad when they arrive in Lexington.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reaching Closer To Coveted Finals MVP

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Alonzo Adams | Imagn Images

After trading wins through the first four games of the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City broke the series tie to command a 3-2 lead with back-to-back wins.

The Thunder dominated in their return to Paycom Center as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams combined for 71 points en route to a 120-109 victory. Indiana took a narrow 12-11 lead with 9:03 left in the first quarter and never reclaimed it. 

Oklahoma City’s defense stirred havoc on the Pacers all game. 

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Game one hero Tyrese Haliburton was battling a lower leg injury and was held to only four points. Haliburton went 0-6 from the field, only scoring from the free-throw line.

Gilgeous-Alexander recorded four blocks and two steals in addition to his 31-point performance. The Thunder outnumbered Indiana in blocks 12 to four and steals 15 to nine.

In the fourth, the Thunder shook off a rally by the Pacers that closed their 18-point lead to only two points. 

A behind-the-back pass from Gilgeous-Alexander led to a Williams deep ball. Followed by a scoop-and-score by fellow ex-Wildcat Cason Wallace, the OKC lead extended to seven.

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Indiana continued to be outmatched by the Thunder defense.

Gilgeous-Alexander persistently split through the Pacers’ double teams and found open teammates, fueling an 18-to-2-point run to close out the win. Claiming the first back-to-back victory for either team this series.

The Kentucky alum finished with a double-double with 31 points and 10 assists, his first of the series. 

Game five marked Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth 30-point performance of the NBA Finals. Currently, he is averaging 32.4 points, 5.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 2.4 steals per game.

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A Finals victory almost looks certain for the Thunder. Given Halliburton’s injury and the palpable momentum swinging in Oklahoma City’s favor with consecutive wins.

Gilgeous-Alexander is one win away from claiming the first Finals MVP for any Kentucky player in NBA history. Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander would join an exclusive club of legends to earn Finals MVP and league MVP in the same season.

He would become the first double-crowned MVP since LeBron James in 2013.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Avenges Thunder With Game Two Dominance

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NBAE via product of Getty Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the ball at the top of the key with the Thunder up 110-109, he spun for a fadeaway with 12 seconds left on the clock.

He missed.

Indiana scrapped for the rebound, eventually handing the ball off to their star, Tyrese Haliburton, with six seconds remaining. Haliburton rose over the Thunder’s Cason Wallace for an off-balanced deep two.

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Haliburton sank it.

The Indiana bench leaped and celebrated in excitement as Haliburton gave the Pacers the go-ahead 111-110 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on the road. As the Thunder forfeited a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander walked off the court at the Paycom Center in front of a shell-shocked home crowd without a win despite dropping a game-best 38 points to pair with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Game two started with Indiana and the Thunder going back and forth in what looked like a close game in the making again. Oklahoma City took a 26-20 lead after the first quarter.

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The former Wildcat ended the first quarter with six points, only shooting 2-5 from the field with a miss and a make on his two free throw attempts. 

Although the scoring wasn’t coming immediately, Gilgeous-Alexander had three assists by finding open teammates. It fueled Thunder big man Chet Holmgren to leap to nine quick points.

In the second quarter, the Pacers’ offense was sputtering.

The Thunder capitalized. Gilgeous-Alexander led his team with nine points in the quarter without a 3-point attempt, rather scoring in the midrange and getting to the basket multiple times, including a hard-fought-and-one bucket. Oklahoma City rushed out to a 19-2 run.

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On defense, the league MVP picked two steals from Indiana’s clutches and met Aaron Nesmith at the rim as he swatted Nesmith’s layup away. 

Oklahoma City took a commanding 59-41 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Gilgeous-Alexander continued to score proficiently by attacking the rim, nailing off-balanced midrange shots and getting to the free-throw line. Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander shook off the Pacers’ double teams to find open teammates for open looks.

The Thunder kept their foot on the gas and routed Indiana 123-107 to split the series 1-1, a pivotal win for Oklahoma City as the series heads to Indianapolis for the next two games.

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Gilgeous-Alexander dominated with 34 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. On defense, he had four steals and a block. 

Through the first two games, the 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 36.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.5 steals per game. 

Currently, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Finals in points and steals.

As he continues to prove he’s the best player in the series. Gilgeous-Alexander is making a strong case for Finals MVP, which would be a historic feat, making him the first Thunder and Kentucky player to win the award.

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But first, Oklahoma City has to beat the Pacers to claim any trophies despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s standout performances.

Next, the Thunder will travel to Indianapolis to take on the Pacers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC.

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