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Last Night Really, Really, REALLY Sucked

As I sit here and try to type out words that go together and make sense, I cannot believe what just happened.  Let’s be honest, can any of us?

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As I sit here and try to type out words that go together and make sense, I cannot believe what just happened.  Let’s be honest, can any of us?

Now, I will be honest, I thought this team was good, but didn’t think they were worthy of the #1 ranking and maybe even the preseason ranking of #2.  They just beat the #1 team in the country and stomped EKU. Both good wins, but this loss undoes both of those wins.

I did not watch the first half. In fact, I forgot the game was even being played, but it’s Evansville. EVANSVILLE.

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I came back to my dorm room, opened up the ESPN app and saw that we were down by four, I think. I thought, well damn, looks like the Cats have slept through the game so far.

I watched the game and looked at Twitter simultaneously (something I do a lot) and it never dawned on me that Kentucky could actually lose the game.  I thought this is Kentucky, they’re better, the game is at Rupp, things will naturally shift and Kentucky will comeback and win the game.

Well, that never happened.

Kentucky lost to Evans – wait.  Why am I repeating it? WE GOT IT! WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!

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(Sorry I’m doing my best)

I’m young enough to not remember much of the Billy Clyde era, so forgive me if these kinds of terrible losses at home are new to me.

Kentucky got thoroughly outplayed tonight by a team that simply wanted it more and was ready when the ball was tipped.

Kentucky shot 23 percent from three, 37 percent from the field, got out-rebounded 38 to 35, and had 13 turnovers. Not going to win a lot of games playing like that no matter who you play.

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This is a historically bad loss in college basketball history and Kentucky basketball history. The best program historically in the sport had a historically bad night.

Calipari said after the game that this team did nothing it did in the first two games, on both offense and defense. I watched the MSU game and EKU game in their entirety and can tell you the team that walked out onto the court in those games and the team that walked onto the court tonight are not the same. Not even close.

This loss hurts. It will hurt NCAA seeding. It will hurt Kentucky’s top-25 ranking.

It’s also funny that the one guy not to vote for Kentucky in the AP Poll this week, Dan Borges, who I have never heard of until tonight, is gloating over the Cats’ loss tonight, saying that AP voters are scared of the “BBN morons” and just vote for who they think they should vote for.  He writes for the New Haven register, which is something once again I had never heard of until tonight.

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What now you ask?

Well, the Cats play Utah Valley next Monday in the first game of the BBN Showcase at 7 p.m. EST.  I expect them to come out poised and to win big.  This loss should do nothing but help them moving forward as they now know they cannot overlook anyone.

They don’t face a ranked opponent until December 21, when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the CBS Sports Classic in Vegas.

That’s enough from me tonight. Goodnight and go Cats.

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Men's Basketball

CBS Sports: Kentucky Has “ended pursuits” in Transfer Portal Following Aberdeen Commitment

In the wake of yet another addition to Kentucky’s incoming roster, CBS Sports reports that Coach Pope and staff may have closed the portal.

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Mark Pope and staff may have everything they need from the transfer portal.
Chet White | UK Athletics

Following another flurry of transfer portal additions in his second year at the helm, it appears that Mark Pope and staff are satisfied with their sophomore haul. The portal in Lexington may be officially closed for the 2025-26′ season.

Right after Kentucky received the surprising commitment of Denzel Aberdeen, Matt Norlander, an analyst for CBS Sports, posted the following on X (Twitter):

“Barring any portal defections, Kentucky has ended its pursuits of all other portal targets, sources told CBS Sports. Getting Aberdeen today [April 21] meant they’ve moved off Andrej Stojakovic, Rylan Griffen, etc. Otega Oweh going through pre-draft process-but I expect him back in Lex”.

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With the addition of Aberdeen, the Wildcats’ roster ballooned to near-max capacity for next season. Seeing two of the team’s walk-on players, Grant Darbyshire and Walker Horn, enter the transfer portal seemed to all but confirm this suspicion, too.

Losing One of Our Own

That is, until last night. With less than two hours remaining for players to do so, Travis Perry shocked much of the Big Blue Nation by throwing his name into the hat. This came just weeks after a string of comments from the Kentucky-native point guard seemed to confirm his return for a sophomore season.

Though all the same, given Kentucky’s bulk of back-court additions this offseason, his departure makes sense for the sake of playing time alone. The Lyon King will be sorely missed.

So while the Kentucky staff may still be very much content with their current roster, with hundreds of players remaining in the portal and an unexpected spot on the roster coming open, another grab is far from out of the question.

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Who Coach Pope and company would go after is entirely unclear, as that potential player would likely have to accept a minimized role off the bench for a stretch of his time in Lexington. If anything, the logical replacement would be a direct fill-in at the PG2/PG3 spot in Perry’s absence.

Either way, the ‘Cats are set to come into next season as one of the most exciting teams in college basketball with a ceiling far out of view. Mark Pope continues to prove his prowess in the transfer market, too, easing the worries of Wildcats fans and closing the door on many supposed “insiders” who’ve spent the last month suggesting otherwise.

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Men's Basketball

REPORT: Travis Perry Enters Transfer Portal

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Kentucky basketball Travis Perry talks about growing more comfortable on the court.
Jordan Prather | IMAGN

The transfer portal has been kind to Kentucky in the Mark Pope era. Last season, the staff was able to build a Sweet Sixteen roster almost exclusively from the portal, and this offseason have put together a top-five portal class.

While the portal giveth, it also taketh. Just hours before the deadline to enter, Kentucky native and fan favorite Travis Perry has entered the transfer portal, per multiple reports.

Coming to Kentucky as the state’s all-time high-school scoring record holder, fans were excited to see how his career would unfold in Lexington.

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Not expecting to play much freshman, he was called upon due to injuries and played some key minutes for the Wildcats into the postseason. He averaged 2.7 PPG and .6 APG on 32% shooting from three.

Looking at the depth chart, it was difficult to see where Perry would get much playing time next season, leading to his decision to enter the portal.

Perry has yet to release an official statement, but all the best to him in his future.

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Men's Basketball

Top Transfer Guard Denzel Aberdeen Commits to Kentucky

Former Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky, likely closing the transfer portal for next year’s roster.

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Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky.
UF Athletics

Another day, another “boom.” Denzel Aberdeen has officially committed to Kentucky for the 2025-26’ season.

A soon-to-be senior guard fresh off his championship win with Florida, Aberdeen spent his first three years of eligibility in Gainesville. Now, following an apparent conflict in the Gators’ rotation, he’s swapped teams in the southeast.

At 6 ‘5”, 190, Aberdeen spent much of this past season beating defenders off the dribble and making them pay at the rim. His speed and size made him a nightmare off the bench for opposing teams, and for the short stretch of play that he started during the year, Florida didn’t miss a beat. 

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In 19 minutes, Aberdeen averaged 8 points, two rebounds and one assist per game. His consistent contribution to the Gators’ title run made him one of the most coveted transfers in the cycle this season, and given his big blue commitment just days after entering the portal, Mark Pope clearly wasted no time in Kentucky’s pursuit.

Aberdeen slots in as yet another addition to what was already one of the strongest portal classes going into next season. His SEC experience and combo-guard intangibles make Aberdeen one of the most exciting portal players to come through Lexington in a long while, reinforcing Kentucky’s back court to what may be the final degree.

Whether or not Mark Pope is officially done for next season, nobody is sure, but this commitment only further cements the fact that he knows exactly what he’s doing. Just like the  fanbase behind him, Coach Pope seems to never sleep.

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