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What was going on the last time Wake Forest made a Final Four

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I thought a lot of things would happen during this quarantine, but a rivalry starting between Kentucky and Wake Forest because of a basketball transfer was at the bottom of the list.

Let’s run this back to yesterday where Wake Forest attempted a cute “hype” video in introducing their new head coach, Steve Forbes.

Forbes then went on Josh Graham’s, “The Drive,” and decided to take a shot at Kentucky, “I think the most important thing is, why would you go to Wake Forest for three year, put in all that time for a prestigious degree, and end up getting your degree at a place like Kentucky?”

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The host, Josh Graham, took matters into his own hands today after Kentucky Sports Radio talked “trash” about the Wake Forest program. I listened to it earlier and it’s safe to say that Graham wasn’t too happy about what KSR said.

He chirped back, ripping Kentucky basketball, the city of Lexington, KSR, etc.

A Wake Forest sports radio host talking trash about Kentucky basketball? Oh boy.

Graham said, “You’re a blue blood, but you’re easily the fourth best blue blood.”

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Graham also said this later in the show: “Who’s the best Kentucky Wildcat to ever play in that program? I guarantee you won’t find a guy who’s in the top-20 or top-30 in the history of college basketball.”

He also made fun of Rupp Arena, saying “Rupp Arena is attached to a damn shopping mall.”

With these comments, you’d think Wake Forest basketball was a special program with a rich history. Well, I know it’s a surprise, but they aren’t.

They haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2017, but, they did go on a nice run where they made it five

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years in a row back in the early 2000’s. Since then, they’ve made it three times.

Wake Forest did make the second round back in 2010, but met the Wildcats and were sent home. They did make a run to the Elite Eight in 1996, courtesy of Tim Duncan, but were sent home again by the Wildcats, 83-63. Duncan had 14 points.

Wake Forest has made a Final Four in their history, all the way back in 1962.

Here’s what was happening back then.

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  • John Glenn became the first American to enter outer-space
  • The Cuban Missile Crisis
  • Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points
  • The Dodgers played their first game in Los Angeles
  • JFK was president
  • The first Wal-Mart opened in Rogers, Arkansas
  • Marilyn Monroe died
  • The Navy SEALS were activated
  • “Stranger on the Shore” by Acker Bilk was the most popular song
  • “Lawrence of Arabia” was the top-grossing movie
  • Average income was $5,556
  • Gas was 28 cents a gallon
  • SpiderMan made his first TV appearance
  • Wake Forest basketball was actually good

Wake Forest went 22-9 in 1962 and their best players were Len Chappell and Billy Packer. Yes, that Billy Packer.

Sadly, the Demon Deacons were eliminated by Ohio State, 84-68, at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

So to Josh Graham, Steve Forbes, and all of Demon Deacon Nation (if that’s actually a thing), when it comes to talking trash about Kentucky, especially Kentucky basketball, I would just sit in the corner and be quiet.

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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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