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Olympic Medalist and Two-Time Rifle National Champion Is Transferring from Kentucky and Releases Odd Announcement

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UK Athletics

While Kentucky is well known for its basketball program, over the last decade or so the university has been building a dynasty in another sport, rifle.

With a total of four national championships – 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2022 – Kentucky has the third most titles in NCAA history. After winning three of the last four titles, the program has achieved as much as any other sport/program in the country and hopes to keep that momentum going forward. However, there may be some trouble in paradise.

Earlier today, one of the program’s heralded shooters, Mary Tucker, announced she would be transferring from Kentucky.

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Within that statement, Tucker says, “For reasons I will never know, it’s in my best interest to enter the transfer portal”.

Typically an athlete decides to transfer of their own will, but that does not seem to be the case here. While this article is not for rumors or speculation, there is something odd about Tucker’s announcement.

Tucker, a junior from Sarasota, Florida, is a very talented sharpshooter. She qualified for three events in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, winning silver in the mixed team air rifle event. In NCAA competition, she led UK to two straight NCAA rifle team championships, winning overall high performer both years as well.

Whatever the case may be, we wish the best for Mary Tucker and her future.

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Kentucky Baseball Wins Back-To-Back SEC Series For First Time This Season

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Luke Lawrence
Aran Steele | UK Athletics

For the first time this season, Kentucky baseball has won back-to-back conference series, beating the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in consecutive weekends.

After they dropped the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, Kentucky put up 11 runs on Sunday, April 27, where eight different Wildcats recorded a hit and six different Cats recorded an RBI.

This season has been painfully unfortunate for Kentucky, playing in countless extra-inning games and losing 10 matchups by two runs or less.

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However, the Wildcats hold a 6-2 record in their last eight games, where they’ve averaged over seven runs a game and have continued their “by any means possible” offense, sitting just one game under .500 in SEC play.

The vibes, with a turning point in the season, have been great. The Cats are having fun.

As the regular season continues to wither away, the Wildcats still have several proving grounds awaiting them on their schedule.

On Tuesday, April 29, the Wildcats will travel to Nick Denes Field to face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, a team who isn’t a blow over. Although the Hilltoppers were just swept on the road by FIU, the team holds a 34-10 record and have only lost one game at home.

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Nationally, this would be seen as a very quality win for the Bat Cats.

This upcoming weekend, the Wildcats were gearing up for a scrappy series against a bubble-sitting Mississippi State team, but after Head Coach Chris Lemonis has been relieved of his duties, we’re now in for an even more interesting outcome.

Regardless, Kentucky will be looking to continue its hot streak.

The Wildcats remaining schedule consists of:

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April 29 @ Western Kentucky (34-10)

May 2-4 @ Mississippi State (25-19, 7-14 SEC)

May 9-11 vs. No. 21 Oklahoma (30-13, 11-10 SEC)

May 13 vs. Northern Kentucky (24-18)

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May 15-17 @ No. 14 Vanderbilt (31-13, 12-9 SEC)


All rankings are provided from Baseball America.

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Underdogs To Undeniable: Kentucky Baseball Is Winning At The Right Time

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Cole Hage Celebrates
Caleb Bowlin | UK Athletics

Before the Tennessee series, the Bat Cats sat at a 20-14 (6-9 SEC) record, one that indicated that the back half of the season would need to look a little different for Kentucky to keep climbing the ladder and host a third consecutive Regional.

Kentucky spent the first half of SEC play competing in nothing but close series and often came up short, resulting in its RPI to take a fall.

Now, winning a series in Knoxville for the first time since 2016 and shredding the rival Louisville Cardinals in a midweek game, the Wildcats have won three straight ranked matchups and have jumped up nearly 11 spots.

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This scrappy Kentucky team is currently projected as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and will host the South Carolina Gamecocks this weekend.

For a team that is 3-9 on the road and barely sitting on the bubble for the big dance, it’s safe to say this is Kentucky’s series and the Cats should dominate at Kentucky Proud Park.

Not only is the Kentucky offense coming off of a run-rule win where it scored 17 runs, the starting rotation has established itself as one of the best in the conference.

Nic McCay, the SEC Pitcher of the Week, has the best opponent batting average in the SEC (.177) and Ben Cleaver has been dealing lately with one of the best ERAs in the conference.

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It’ll be fun to see the Wildcats potentially play in another rainy series in Lexington, looking to stay red hot and sweep an underwhelming Gamecocks team.

Make sure to follow our Twitter (X) (@KyInsider) for all weather updates this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight and will air live on SEC Network+.

The Wildcats remaining confrence schedule consists of:

April 25-27 vs. South Carolina 

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May 2-4 @ Mississippi State 

May 9-11 vs. No. 11 Oklahoma 

May 15-17 @ No. 8 Vanderbilt 


All rankings are provided from Baseball America.

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A Pair of Kentucky Alumni Look to Continue Hot Streaks in NBA Play-In

Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo led the Miami Heat to a win in the first round of the NBA play-in, and they aren’t done yet.

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Tyler Herro during his time at Kentucky.
UK Athletics

Despite playing during different eras in their time wearing the blue and white, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo have come together on the next level to create a powerful duo for the Miami Heat. Their performance in the first round of this year’s play-in is further proof of their effectiveness together.

The nine-seeded Heat traveled to Chicago to fight for a spot in the playoffs, and from the jump, the aforementioned pair of Kentucky alumni took control in what became a complete blowout.

Throughout the convincing 109-90 road win, Herro, now in his fifth year in the NBA, led the offensive charge. He finished the night with a stat-stuffing 38 points, five rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes of game time. Chicago simply didn’t have an answer for Miami’s flame-throwing shooter out of Lexington.

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In the paint, Bam Adebayo held things down and led the team in rebounds, nabbing 12 boards, and tallying 15 points to boot in just one less minute than Herro. Together, the duo buried the Bulls on their own floor and kept the Heat’s head above water going forward.

While both players came up ultimately short during their time with Kentucky, albeit after two incredibly memorable seasons and Elite Eight runs, their ongoing success in the NBA is both a testament to their talent and the program’s legacy. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.

The Kentucky Heat (Miami Wildcats?) will be back in action tonight against the Atlanta Hawks to determine their seeding fate in the NBA Playoffs. Tune in at 7:00 p.m. on TNT, truTV, or Max to cheer on some seriously special former ‘Cats.

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