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Paul Finebaum Says Kentucky “Must” Make the Sweet 16, Talks What an Early Exit Would Mean for the Program

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© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Make no question about it, there is a lot of pressure on John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats heading into this postseason. After a 9-16 season in 2021 and a first-round upset last season, Wildcat fans are growing impatient with the lack of NCAA Tournament success and the national media can feel the unrest.

SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum spoke on this earlier this week, explaining that Kentucky needs to r. “I don’t think there’s a specific end date for Kentucky… this isn’t you have to get to the championship game, you have to get to the Final Four but you better look good in the tournament,” Finebaum said.

“You better not lose in the first or second round. You have to get out of that first weekend. For Kentucky Basketball the fact that I’m saying get to the Sweet 16 is the absolute must thing, it just shows you far this program has fallen, if they’re out of this thing by the end of the weekend, it’s a bad sign.”

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This season was considered a “revenge-like” season for the Wildcats, bringing back some key returnees and adding two five-star freshmen and some talented transfers. Given the mixture of talent and experience, Kentucky was ranked fourth in the preseason rankings. Just a few weeks in, it was clear that something was off, which led to the culmination of a loss to a very bad South Carolina team at home.

Since then, Kentucky regrouped and found something, battling their way to a 6 seed in the tournament, despite injuries. Yet, as we learned last season the tournament is the beacon for success at Kentucky making this one of the most important postseasons in UK basketball history and the John Calipari era.

“Looking good” is a reasonable request, but this team has been plagued with inconsistencies and it has been hard to get a true read on them. As John Calipari said after the SEC Tournament loss to Vanderbilt, “We’ve shown who we are. We can beat anybody. But I hate to tell you, we can get beat by anybody.”

One thing is for sure, Kentucky has shown they play better with their backs against the wall and they are taking that mantra into the NCAA Tournament. When Jacob Toppin was asked if he was “pissed off” about what happened last season, he provided a fiery response.

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“Yeah 100 percent, we have a chip on our shoulder. The guys that were here last year, we’ve engraved that into the newer guys. Everyone’s in a great mindset to show what we can do tomorrow.”

This is a very strong statement by Finebaum, someone who has been critical of Kentucky in the past. However, his quote may reveal some truth.

To say Kentucky has fallen off as a program is just not true, but to say we must get to a Sweet 16, there may be some truth in there. There’s a lot of pressure on Kentucky this weekend that’s for sure. They will have to come out loose and play like they have nothing to lose.

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Men's Basketball

Amari Williams Picked 46th by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft

Amari Williams is the second Kentucky player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, as Boston takes the big man with their second round pick.

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Amari Williams is drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Wesley Hale | Imagn Images

Fan-favorite big man (and official Weetabix sponsor) Amari Williams has officially made it to the big leagues, taken by the Boston Celtics with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, via a trade with the Orlando Magic.

The selection makes Williams the second Wildcat to be scooped up from this year’s pool, following Koby Brea being picked by the Phoenix Suns just five picks earlier at the 41st spot. From Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team, two transfer athletes (thus far) in their last year of eligibility have achieved next-level dreams by way of the blue and white.

Williams, who averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game during his lone season in Lexington, will look to aid Boston in filling their recently vacant five-spot, left by the recently traded Kristaps Porzingis.

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As Wildcat fans surely know, not only can Williams battle with the best of them in the paint, but he can run the floor as efficiently as just about any guard, too. His versatility and sizable frame ensure a high ceiling in the NBA and, despite not every draft board seeing him selected, the league champions two years removed made the call when it mattered.

Hailing overseas from Nottingham, England, and spending his first four years of college basketball at the University of Drexel, Williams’ success is a testament not only to Kentucky Basketball’s immaculate tradition, but to his own incredible work ethic and intangible ability.

Cats fans will be sure to follow and support their point-center to the next level, as they always do. Go be great, Amari – all of BBN has your back.

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Koby Brea Selected to the Phoenix Suns With the No. 41 Overall Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

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Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

Koby Brea arrived at Kentucky last season as one of the nation’s deadliest shooters, lived up to the billing, and reaped his rewards on Thursday night at the NBA Draft. The former Kentucky star is heading to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 41 overall pick

As a 6-foot-7 wing, Brea entered the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most experienced prospects after spending four years at Dayton and a fifth at Kentucky during Mark Pope’s successful first season as head coach, where he became one of the best three-point shooters in all of college basketball.

Last season at Kentucky, the Bronx native averaged 11.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts per game in 36 games, 16 of which were starts, showcasing his scoring ability in transition, off the catch, and via handoffs and screens.

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Not only did Brea achieve his own dreams of playing at the next level, but becomes a piece of history for Pope, becoming the first player drafted out of Kentucky during the Pope era.

Brea joins a rebuilding franchise with a notorious background for drafting Kentucky guards. Eric Bledsoe rings the bell, Tyler Ulis of course, and the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker obviously leads the pack.

Go be great Fuego!

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Men's Basketball

How a Call with Mark Pope Led Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky

After winning a national title at Florida, Denzel Aberdeen committed to Kentucky without ever visiting campus—thanks to a revealing three-hour call with head coach Mark Pope.

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Chet White | UK Athletics

As a junior, Denzel Aberdeen was a key part of Florida’s national title run. But a certain phone conversation convinced him to leave his home state and head north to Lexington in hopes of experiencing that feeling once again.

He had never set foot in Lexington before deciding to become a Kentucky Wildcat — and he didn’t need to. All it took was one phone call — three hours long, on Easter Sunday — with head coach Mark Pope to convince him that he belonged in blue and white.

“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest,” Aberdeen said, meeting with the media in Lexington for the first time earlier this week. “A lot of it was just getting to know me and getting to know the school, the university, getting to know him (Pope), how their style was, a lot of film. Once I saw that, I was like this looks like a great guy to play for.”

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The two went on to discuss Aberdeen’s role at Kentucky in more depth, including how Pope envisions him fitting into Kentucky’s new system — a system that, according to Aberdeen, is very similar, if not better than the one he just left.

“We had a lot of great players at Florida, especially the tall bigs. Bigs that love to run there, and we have just as much here; our bigs love to run, they play defense, and they play at a fast pace. So I think the things that we’ve got here are just as good, or even better,” Aberdeen said.

Averaging 7.7 points and nearly 20 minutes per game off the bench for the Gators last year, it’s clear to see what Aberdeen brings to the team: experience, versatility, calmness in the backcourt, and championship pedigree. Pope’s phone conversation with Aberdeen wasn’t just impactful on the court — it also speaks volumes to what he is doing off the court in pursuit of the goal he laid out in his introductory press conference: to hang banners.

This phone call wasn’t just about Denzel Aberdeen. It was a glimpse into Pope’s player-first, transparent coaching approach, which could define his era at Kentucky — and potentially make this season a special one, with Aberdeen playing another key role in a deep NCAA Tournament run.

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“I know the goal is to win No. 9,” he said. “I know the fans want that, we want that, all the staff and coaches want that. That pushes us. We know what we gotta do when we come here and put on that Kentucky jersey. Just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Being here is a blessing, and I can’t look back.”

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