Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs Eastern Kentucky: TV/Streaming Info, Keys to the Game, and Predictions

Published

8 months ago

September 8, 2023

Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Dane Key (6) and tight end Jordan Dingle (85) celebrate after Key scores a touchdown during the third quarter at Kroger Field.

When you open the season with a 30-point victory, covering the spread, you would anticipate the winning team being happy. That was not the case for the Kentucky Wildcats after beating Ball State 44-14.

“I don’t think I’ve ever won a game by that score and been so disappointed with some of our play,” Stoops said. That sentiment was shared by the rest of the staff and the players following the game. While always appreciative of the win, they made sure to note that is far from their best football.

Stoops also added that a team improves the most in-season between week one and week two, citing that the Wildcats“need to improve this week.

“We need to improve this week. We need to coach harder in more detail. We need to execute better in critical moments,” said Stoops.

What team stands in their way? That Eastern Kentucky Colonels. Let’s take a look at the matchup.

Focus on the Details and Execute

After a long talking season, it was clear players were eager to get on the field and play against a real opponent. Combine that with the game being several player’s first at Kentucky, especially on offense. This resulted in some uncharacteristic football at times from the Wildcats. That lack of attention to detail was the biggest complaint of the Kentucky staff.

“I tried like heck to constantly preach that in Game 1, because in Game 1, they have been training for so long and putting in all that hard work. They want everything to happen immediately. Instead of doing their job and doing it fundamentally sound, doing all of the things they’ve been coached to do,” said Stoops.

The theme of practice this week has been “details, details, details” as Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen put it on Wednesday. Through practice this week, Stoops and Coen have been “impressed” and seem optimistic about how this team will respond come Saturday.

That starts with playing sound and clean football.

See More of the Offense

Looking at the Wildcats’ stats from their season opener, the offense racked up 357 total yards and 30 offensive points on just 51 plays, averaging out to 7 yards per play. In comparison, only one team in the FBS averaged more than 7 yards per play last season, the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs.

However, if you used the eye test, it would likely tell a different story. Your eyes would say the Kentucky offense did not do that great, nor that bad, it was solid. That would be true.

“I thought there was some really good things and some not-so-good things. It was just kind of the theme of the day,” Coen said of the game after practice on Tuesday. Getting a chance to look at the tape, Coen says the offense is “hungry” after seeing their missed opportunities.

With a renewed hunger and hopefully more plays, the offense will look to provide a more consistent showing against Eastern Kentucky.

Honoring a Legend and UK Connections

While preparing for this weekend’s contest, the Eastern Kentucky football family received the unfortunate news that legendary EKU Football coach Roy Kidd has been moved into hospice care. Serving as EKU’s head coach for more than three decades, Kidd led the team to more than 300 victories, 16 Ohio Valley Conference titles, and two national championships. He remains the sixth all-time winningest coach in NCAA history.

On a more positive note, Saturday’s contest will return two former Wildcats, CJ Conrad and Maxwell Smith, but this time they will be on the EKU sideline, where they both serve as assistant coaches.

“We’re all going to be trying to beat each other’s brains in on Saturday,” Stoops said. “After that, heck, they know where my house is and where my basement bar is. The door’s always open for those guys.”

Kentucky Wildcats (1-0) vs. Eastern Kentucky Colonels (0-1)

Time/Date: 3:00 pm ET on Saturday, September 9th, 2023

Location: Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

TV Channel: SEC Network+ and ESPN+ (go here for more info)

Online Stream: WatchESPN, ESPN+, SEC Network+, or the ESPN app.

Radio: Tom Leach and Jeff Piecoro have the UK radio network call on the UK Sports Radio Network.

Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).

Rosters: UK | EKU

Odds: ESPN’s matchup predictor has an overwhelming amount of confidence in the Cats, giving them a 99.0% chance to win. Check back at DraftKings Sportsbook later this week for an official game spread.

Predictions: Kentucky runs away with this one and scores a 48-13 win, improving to 2-0 heading into next week’s clash with Akron.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

BB Recruiting

Top 25 Transfer Otega Oweh Commits to Kentucky

Published

19 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Oklahoma Sooners transfer Otega Oweh has comitted to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Following Lamont Butler’s commitment to Kentucky on Friday, the Wildcats have received another commitment less than 24 hours later. This time Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh, he announced on his social media.

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This comes after Oweh visited Lexington earlier this week, with reports coming out that his recruitment could be wrapped up quickly after.

Oweh is a top 25 transfer according to 247Sports, 38th by EvanMiya, and 55th by ESPN. Listed at 6-5, 210 pounds, Oweh is a strong and physical guard. His strength and athleticism have been a strength dating back to high school, which allows him to impact the game defensively, and also to get to the rim and thrive in transition opportunities.

In two years at Oklahoma, the area that Oweh has significantly improved in has been his shooting. As a freshman, he shot just 25 percent from three, on just four attempts for the season, to 37.7 percent as a sophomore, making 20 of his 53 attempts. Most of that success comes from catch-and-shoot opportunities, where he rates in the 87th percentile. His ability to shoot off the dribble is the polar opposite, rating in just the 4th percentile.

Oweh is a two-way player with two years of eligibility remaining, while he will bring experience, there is still room for development with NBA upside. While he may not be a primary option, he’s certainly a player that can impact the game.

Oweh is now Kentucky’s third addition from the transfer portal and sixth player overall. A handful of top transfers are visiting, or currently visiting, Kentucky this weekend. The staff is hopeful a few join the roster.

BB Recruiting

REPORT: San Diego State Transfer Lamont Butler Commits to Kentucky

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Tristan Pharis

San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler has committed to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Amidst anxiety from many of the Big Blue Nation, the Kentucky basketball program has added another player to the roster. On Friday Lamont Butler, a consensus top-60 transfer from San Diego State, committed to Kentucky, reported by On3.

Kentucky has been in contact with Butler since he entered the portal earlier this week. On Friday morning, four members of the Kentucky staff took a visit to Las Vegas, which we know now was to see Butler. It was enough to secure his commitment.

Coming out of a high school as a three-star prospect, Butler has been a true case of development. In four seasons with San Diego State, he improved his numbers year after year. As a three-year starter for the Aztecs, Butler averaged 7.7 points (41.2% FG), 2.6 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. He also received Mountain West All-Defense honors three straight seasons, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award this past year.

Butler was a star for the San Diego State team that made it to the National Championship game in 2023, even hitting the buzzer-beater to send them to the title game. He will provide Kentucky with proven experience and the knowledge of what it takes to win.

As his defensive accolades show, Butler makes his biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball. However, he plays well within a system and is a really good passer for a guard who plays primarily off the ball, with a 21 percent assist rate. He also grades fairly well analytically on spot-up shots and in pick-and-roll situations as the ball handler.

With Butler on the roster, there are still many spots to fill, especially some spots for “dudes”. Fortunately, many big names are expected to be in Lexington this weekend for the visit.

BB Recruiting

Kentucky to Host Multiple Top Transfers This Weekend

Published

3 days ago

April 25, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are hosting multiple top transfers this weekend for visits, looking to add to their roster.

With the deadline for players to enter the portal coming up on May 1st, Kentucky nearly has all their options on the table. Now two weeks since taking the job, Mark Pope has expressed interest in nearly two dozen names and has been keying in on some top names in the portal.

As of writing this article, top 25 transfer Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), is currently on a visit to Lexington, with three more players set to visit this weekend. There’s a good chance that some of those visits turn into commitments.

Let’s take a look at those names.

Deivon Smith – Guard, Utah

Physicals: 6’0, 173 lbs
Stats: 13.3 PPG, 7.1 APG, 6.3 RPG, 46.% FG, 40.8% 3P
Ranking: 10th (Evan Miya), 38rd (247Sports)

Kentucky has had just three players record a triple-double in program history. Deivon Smith recorded five triple-doubles this past season alone, the second-most all-time for a single season in NCAA history.

While undersized, he is one of the best all-around guards in the country, as his numbers show. It’s still early, but Kentucky getting the first visit is significant. St. John’s and Texas Tech have also been mentioned here.

Andrej Stojaković – Guard, Stanford

Physicals: 6’7, 190 lbs
Stats: 7.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 40.9% FG, 32.7% 3P
Ranking: 183rd (Evan Miya), 51st (247Sports)

Stojakovic is the son of former NBA All-Star, Peja Stojakovic. A familiar name for Kentucky fans from his high school recruitment. Stojakovic is a terrific shooter, and a top-25 recruit in the 2023 class.

On Thursday, Stojakovic cut his list to just three schools: California, UNC, and Kentucky. As a West Coast product, California was a school that showed interest when he was in high school, and so did Mark Pope when he was at BYU. Pope has made Stojakovic a priority, he could seal the deal this weekend.

Aidan Mahaney – Guard, Saint Mary’s

Physicals: 6-3, 180 lbs
Stats: 13.9 PPG, 2.6 APG, 38.6% FG, 35.5% 3P
Ranking: 96th (Evan Miya), 14th (247Sports)

One of the best guards in the portal. As a lead guard for Saint Mary’s, he displayed a good sense of playing under control, setting himself up and others. That said, his numbers were rather inefficient as the primary scoring option for the Gaels and shooting more than half of his shots from three. There are concerns about his playing against bigger guards.

Mahaney visited UConn Thursday and it looks to be a race between Creighton, Virginia, UConn, and Kentucky.

Andrew Carr – Forward, Wake Forest

Physicals: 6-11, 230 lbs
Stats: 13.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 52.6% FG, 37.1% 3P
Ranking: 33rd (Evan Miya), Not Listed (247Sports)

A near 7-footer who is efficient and can stretch the floor, shooting over 37 percent from three, is a player that Mark Pope would love to add to his roster. That describes Andrew Carr who has played two years at each Delaware and Wake Forest and is looking to go elsewhere for his last season of eligibility.

Carr is coming off a visit to Texas Tech and will visit Villanova after he visits Lexington this weekend.