Men's Basketball

KY Insider Preview: Kentucky vs. Ole Miss

Published

7 years ago

March 5, 2019

The Cats are coming off an absolute embarrassment to Tennessee as they lost 71-52 and recorded more turnovers (17) than field goals (14). Kentucky will head down to Oxford for a late Tuesday night game against a win desperate Ole Miss Rebel team.

Ole Miss has been the surprise of the SEC this season. In the preseason, the Rebels were picked to finish 13^th in the SEC. The Rebels were at one time ranked this season and are currently in a 5-team tie for 4^th place in the SEC. After two straight losses, Ole Miss is currently projected as 10 seed in the NCAA tournament and are in need of a quality win to secure their spot. Let’s take a look at what the Wildcats need to do to hold off the Rebels and redeem themselves after Saturday’s performance.

Energy

Following a 19-point loss and in a road environment, energy shouldn’t be an issue. I’m sure Cal has made sure that the Tennessee loss has lit a fire under this team heading into the last week of the regular season. One promising sign heading into Tuesday night, Kentucky has followed every loss this season with a double-digit win.

12-point win against Southern Illinois following Loss to Duke

27-point win against Utah following loss to Seton Hall

11-point win against Texas A&M after loss to Alabama

17-point win against Tennessee after loss to LSU

Kentucky seems to have learned a lesson. On Monday afternoon Immanuel Quickley said, “We learned we have to fight every game”. Quickley went on to mention at least four more times making it apparent that its been a point of emphasis for the team. Lets see the Cats put their talk into action and come out with the sense of urgency that wasn’t seen on Saturday.

Be Better Offensively

Kentucky is coming off their worst offensive game of the season and one of the worse in the Calipari era. Kentucky recorded season lows in field goals made (14), shooting percentage (31.8%), and their lowest mark in points since the 2013 NIT team (52). The Big Blue Nation had to endure nearly 16 minutes of scoreless Kentucky basketball.

I would expect that poor of performance could not be so easily replicated and the Cats will shoot much better on Tuesday night. The Cats will make more shots but PJ Washington, Keldon Johnson specifically need to bring more production on offense.

PJ and Keldon are almost certain to enter the NBA draft this summer and are the two most talented players on the roster. Last week, neither played great in either game.

Last Week Averages

Keldon: 10 points, 6.5 rebounds, 31% FG, 17% 3P

PJ: 11 points, 4.5 rebounds, 31% FG, 0% 3P

Losing Reid Travis has no doubt has forced more defensive attention to Keldon and PJ, but they simply have to be better and be the superstars they can be.

Terence Davis & Breein Tyree

The Kentucky Guards will have to be better than what they were Saturday as they gave up 27 points (11-15 FG) to Jordan Bone with little resistance. Ole Miss guards Terence Davis and Breein Tyree make up one of the best backcourt duos in the SEC, if not the country. Davis a senior, and Tyree a junior, have both played against the Cats before and last season they combined for half of their team’s point in their matchup at Rupp Arena.

Ole Miss @ Kentucky 2/28/18

Davis: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 44% FG, 33% 3P

Tyree: 13 points, 7 assists, 46% FG

In terms of defense, how do the Wildcat guards respond? Limiting the Ole Miss guards will be the the Cats’ primary defensive focus. We may see more Jemarl Baker and Immanuel Quickley if Ashton Hagans and Tyler Herro don’t respond, expect them to see a little more time on the bench than usual.

Guard the Perimeter

The Rebels are a good three-point shooting team, and one of the best in the SEC. While they shoot a balanced amount of shots from three, they make them. The Rebels play a guard heavy lineup with four guards shooting 35% from three and playing at least 24 minutes. Kentucky’s early season struggles with perimeter defense have now become a relative strength. Kentucky’s guards will need to be prepared to extend out on shooters.

Don’t Foul

While Ole Miss doesn’t get many free throw opportunities, they capitalize on them when they do. The Rebels have the best mark in the SEC and the 8^th best in the nation. Kentucky will need to stay out of foul trouble and play intelligent defense unlike Saturday against Tennessee. If the game is close enough to become a free throw shooting contest, the Cats could be in trouble.

Prediction

With a 9 p.m. ET tip-off, expect the environment in Oxford to be sold out and rowdy. Not to mention, bringing Kentucky to town will certainly bring more attention to the hate group protests by the Rebel basketball team. With what is on the line for Ole Miss, I expect this game to be a fight, especially in the first half. I believe this team will respond as they come out sharp and focused and make a statement on the road against a quality team.

Kentucky: 72

Ole Miss: 65

BB Recruiting

James Madison Transfer Justin McBride to Visit Kentucky on Tuesday

Published

6 days ago

April 17, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky will host James Madison transfer James McBride for a visit on Tuesday, after communicating with Mark Pope and the staff via Zoom video call.

James Madison Athletics

While much of the attention in the transfer portal goes to the top targets, you need to build a full roster. Still with starting spots to be claimed, Kentucky also looking at depth pieces. The most recent, James Madison transfer Justin McBride.

After talking to the staff this week via Zoom video call, McBride is scheduled to take a visit to Lexington on Tuesday.

A three-star transfer, ranked 201st overall according to 247Sports, McBride is being recruited by multiple power conference teams including Baylor and Cal, as well as SEC foes Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

Out of high school, McBride was a four-star recruit, ranked in the top 150 nationally.

“He is a versatile player who has that IT factor about him. You can tell by the passion he plays with that there is a huge chip on his shoulder,” 247Sports asked program director Vonzell Thomas said as he evaluated McBride out of high school. “What I like about his game is his will to win. He does whatever it takes to win and not every kid has that mentality.”

From Texas, McBride committed to Oklahoma State over the likes of Kansas and Arkansas, where he played alongside former Wildcat Bandon Garrison. There, he appeared in just 24 games, averaging just over five minutes per game.

Seeking a larger role, McBride entered the transfer portal and dropped to the mid-major level, committing to Nevada. With the Wolfpack he nearly tripled both his minutes and production, averaging 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per game. His most recent stop, James Madison this past season, McBride had a breakout year, averaging 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds on 40 percent shooting from deep.

Entering his senior season, the 6-7, 240 pound McBride is eyeing a jump back to the power conference level, prioritizing fit at his next stop.

Will that be Kentucky?

McBride has good size and athleticism, and has an inside-out style of game. Meaning he can work his away around the paint, but can also space the floor with his shooting, grading fairly well as a catch and shoot guy. Overall, he ranks in the 97th percentile in scoring volume. That said, there is come consistency to be lacked on the defensive side.

BB Recruiting

Multiple Transfers Meet With Kentucky on Wednesday

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2026

Tristan Pharis

The transfer portal is active, and Zoom stock is going up as college coaches are video chatting around the clock to build their rosters, including Kentucky.

On Wednesday, Mark Pope and the Kentucky staff added three more names to the Zoom list.

Alex Wilkins (Guard, Furman), 4⭐️, 46th-ranked transfer

Class: Sophomore
Physicals: 6-5, 175 lbs
Last season averages: 17.8 PPG, 4.7 APG, 46% FG, 32.8% 3P

An underrated prospect coming out of high school, Wilkins splashed on the scene this year at Furman. As a freshman, he led his team to the NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.8 points and 4.7 assists and earning second team All-SoCon honors.

There were few players as critical to their team’s success as Wilkins, leading the SoCon in possession usage (34.4%) and shot usage (31.7%). That does lend some explanation to his poor shooting splits and turnover concerns (3.8 turnovers per game).

A quick, wirey guard, Wilkins is a capable scorer at all three levels, and can create for his teammates. However, he needs to add some muscle for power conference competition, and needs to have more consistent effort on the defensive end.

A freshman, those are both correctable things.

Isaac Celiscar (Forward, Yale), 4⭐️, 84th-ranked transfer

Class: Junior
Physicals: 6-6, 210 lbs
Last season averages: 13.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 57.3% FG, 40.7% 3P

Isaac Celiscar is one of the most efficient, versatile players in the transfer portal.

The first takeaway, averaging 13.2 point per game with 57.3 percent shooting, he is extremely efficient on limited opportunities. Shooting nearly 41 percent from deep, he is a threat from deep as well. That efficiency carries over to his passing, as he averages more than three assists per game, on just 1.3 turnovers per game.

Celiscar grades out as a glue-guy with great offensive skills and good feel for the game, but he does have limitations in terms of his athleticism and shot creation.

Jalen Cox (Guard, Colgate), 3⭐️ , 149th-ranked transfer

Class: Senior
Physicals: 6-3, 180 lbs
Last season averages: 17.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, 5.0 RPG, 52.1% FG, 36.5% 3P

Jalen Cox is the lowest ranked player Kentucky has reached out to, but the Wildcats need depth and Cox is a experienced guard with proven production.

Averaging 17.9 points and 5.3 assists (2.0+ assist-to-turnover ratio) per game on 52 percent shooting from the field, Cox is a versatile and efficient offensive player. He has also multiple conference All-Defense selections too, making him a two way player.

The biggest concern with Cox is his athletic ceiling and how that translates to power conference competition. However an experienced two way player is a great rotation piece.

BB Recruiting

Top Five Transfer Paulius Murauskas Moves Up Call, Talks With Kentucky on Wednesday

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky met with Saint Mary's transfer Paulius Muruaskas, one of the top forwards in the transfer portal, on Wednesday and is looking to schedule a visit for him to come to Lexington.

Saint Mary's Athletics

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are as busy as anyone in the transfer portal. On Wednesday, they met with their biggest fish of this transfer portal cycle so far, Paulius Murauskas.

Originally scheduled for Thursday, the Wildcats met with Murauskas via Zoom video call on Wednesday, per source.

Currently ranked 4th overall in 247Sports transfer rankings, the top-ranked forward, Murauskas is the prototypical modern basketball player. Good size at 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, with the ability to create for himself and others, has a good handle, and overall good feel for the game.

Murauskas started his collegiate career at Arizona after some professional experience in Lithuania. Playing just five minutes per game with the Wildcats as a freshman, Murauskas transferred to Saint Mary’s, where he has flourished and earned All-Conference honors the last two seasons.

This past season, Murauskas averaged 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from deep. As for his weaknesses, he is not super athletic, and he does need to be more consistent with his shot.

Originally thought to follow former Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett to Arizona State, Murauskas is exploring all options. Following the Zoom, Kentucky is trying to get him on campus for a visit in the near future.