31 minute read
Early morning workouts at Alumni Gym
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 features At Alumni Gym, students are up and moving before the sun
By Emily Girard features@kykernel.com
Advertisement
Most days, the first items listed on UK’s daily Event Calendar website are early morning workouts at Alumni Gym and the Johnson Center. These workouts are varied, with the fitness centers offering sunrise yoga, cycling and weights training – all before 8 a.m.
But is anyone willing to start an already busy school or work day with a fitness class that takes place before sunrise? A twohour survey of Alumni Gym on Monday, Nov. 28, showed that though the schedules are not always accurate, many students are willing to start their days with early exercise.
Wildcat Weights was the first event listed on the UK calendar on Nov. 28. Though the website said it takes place in Alumni Gym Group Fitness B at 6:30 a.m., it was not listed on the printed group fitness schedules posted around the gym.
When 6:30 a.m. arrived, Group Fitness B had no occupants. The exception was Kaitlyn Hornsby, a marketing assistant for UK Athletics who used the empty group fitness room to work out.
Hornsby said the electronic schedule outside the room always says the weights class takes place there, despite the room always being empty.
“I don’t really know what that is. It says Wildcat Weights, but I don’t think there’s ever a class in here during that,” she said.
Hornsby’s early workouts can be attributed to the fact that her workday begins at 8:30 or 9 a.m.
“(I work out early) just to get it done, so that I can do more during the day,” she said.
Besides occasional students and staff, the main group at Alumni Gym at 6:30 a.m. was the UK Army ROTC. The ROTC has physical training, or PT, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:20 a.m.
“We do first probation, which is like accountability (and) attendance, and then we also have a final probation, which is for any outstanding announcements that we have,” senior computer science major Kenny Starks said. “My company always meets at Buell Armory for the morning and then (goes) to Alumni.”
Starks said that the ROTC does “release PT” on Mondays; in other words, after attendance is taken, members are free to go to Alumni and focus on whatever strength or skill they choose.
Starks also shared a similar sentiment to Hornsby, in that early workouts allow her to get her physical training out of the way for the day.
“It kind of blocks off time throughout the week where you can work out,” she said. “I probably wouldn’t work out as much if I didn’t have ROTC.”
Conversely, Alumni Gym’s 7:30 a.m. cycling class did have attendees. Reece Wilson, a junior majoring in neuroscience and minoring in pharmacology, led the class.
Wilson said her teaching style is “a little bit of everything,” and she tries to combine speed, resistance and different muscle exercises into the allotted 30-minute workout time.
“It’s super quick,” she said. “Everybody comes in, they get the work done in half an hour and they’re out of here. I think people like having it in the morning.”
Wilson said anywhere from two to 14 people attend her classes. The Johnson Center also has early cycling classes, which Wilson said get larger turnouts despite being an hour earlier.
“The morning classes are usually a little bit smaller, especially with this (Alumni Gym) being on the north side of campus,” she said. “The (Johnson Center) is usually a little bit busier … All the freshmen are over there since all the dorms are over there.”
Wilson said more people come to her class on Wednesdays than Mondays. However, there are some exceptions, such as freshman integrated strategic communication major Amelia Terry.
Terry’s class schedule conflicts with the 7:30 a.m. cycling class on every day except Monday.
“Mondays, I don’t have a class until 1, so my morning is pretty available,” she said. “(Cycling) helps me be productive for the rest of the day, because if I didn’t get up for this class, I probably wouldn’t get up until 10 or 11. It just helps me get up and start my day.”
MARIA RAUH | STAFF Students attend a morning cycling class at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, at Alumni Gym in Lexington, Kentucky.
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 opinions
The 2023 Grammy’s new spoken word category brings visibility, but is it enough?
By Karrington Garland opinions@kykernel.com
As an avid lover of spoken word and poetry, I am excited for but critical of the 2023 Grammy nominations for the Spoken word category for this upcoming awards show. Officially titled “Best Spoken Word Poetry Album,” this new category exclusively for poetry is packed full of Black pain, love and the retelling of narrative trauma Black men face. The albums up for nomination are “Black Men Are Precious” by Ethelbert Miller, “You Will Be Someone’s Ancestor. Act Accordingly.” by Amir Sulaiman, “Hiding in Plain View” by Malcom-Jamal Warner, “The Poet Who Sat By the Door” by J. Ivy and “Call Us What We Carry: Poems” by Amanda Gorman.
Largely dominated by Black men, this category is almost an ode to a universally succinct need among the Black community to reclaim the stereotypical archetypes perpetuated throughout the years. Many entries deal with absentee fathers, drug addiction and the overall violent and dangerous persona imposed on Black men from their inception.
Ethelbert Miller’s album “Black Men Are Precious” takes us back in time to a jazzy rendition of his childhood and his interactions with his father and the other Black men in his life with the poems “Black Men Are Precious,” “Jazz and Sex Education” and “Ken Griffey Sr.,” which contrasts with poems “Crossing the Line,” “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Divine Love,” in the album. These last three poems call into question the role of Black women in his life and the unfair circumstances many of them go through at the hands of their male counterparts and the longing and admiration he feels for their strength and endurance.
Many of the poems in the album sound from another decade, a 70s feel reminiscent of the Black diaspora and fight for freedom. Yet, the subtle and soft way in which Miller regards his Black counterparts is contrary to the belief some bear when thinking about how Black men communicate with their loved ones. I enjoyed the quietness of his voice and it greatly contrasted from “Hiding in Plain View” by Malcom-Jamal Warner.
“Hiding in Plain View” by Malcom-Jamal Warner felt like a tribute to Gil Scott Heron and the legacy of his album “Pieces of Man.” The use of archival audio used in context with his poems sets up an unapologetic narrative of redefining his life as a Black man and the way he takes hold of the negative stereotypes settled onto him and gives them a new meaning. The second poem on his album “Dope” does this perfectly. He compares himself to the drug in a way to remix the power of not becoming susceptible to it.
Throughout the album, Warner details blunt slam poems about vulnerability, selflove, violence and the act of running back in time to save all his Black heroes. And much like Miller’s album, it sounds reminiscent of another decade, trapped in the need to honor past traumas collectively felt in the Black community.
“You Will Be Someone’s Ancestor. Act Accordingly.” by Amir Sulaiman, is a more modern approach to the spoken word poetry album. More of an insight into his own poetry and the cadence of his opinions on the prison system set on the backdrop of biblical allusions paints a ceremonial and gospel-like approach to poetry. While listening I felt his need to call into question and reflection of a higher power and the belief in his relationship with Allah.
His earnest questioning causes the listener to reflect on their own beliefs and reveals to us he too struggles with his faith. I think out of all the nominations in this category, Sulaiman’s is my favorite.
With only six poems, it is concise and calls into action the duty Black men and women face to honor their ancestors and make them proud. Whether through prayer or action in life he urges his listeners to hold their heritage close and to not fear destiny when they are cheering from the sidelines.
In J. Ivy’s album, “The Poet Who Sat By the Door,” all of the poems were set in more of a musical sense then the other poets in this category. The musicality of it was nice and flowed well. It is an album that urges poets to really cement the goal of their art and the job he believes they hold to heal but also spark insight and change in others – especially among those in the Black community, where poetry has routinely operated as a tool for healing and retribution.
The only woman nominated in this category is Amanda Gorman, former inauguration poet for Joe Biden’s presidential swearing in. Gorman’s poetry book, “Call Us What We Carry: Poems,” is brought to life in the audio version. Sans music, the album forces you to hear the poet with no interruptions or distractions.
ILLUSTRATION BY ALLIE HALL
Continued from page 10
Gorman’s cadence as she reads is soothing, her inflections throughout leave the reader with lasting thoughts of the points she is making.
Her poems are more of a universal experience we all feel in the wake of shootings, COVID-19 and the perils of the last three years.
Not solely focused on the Black experience, her album calls us all into a collective conscious of understanding. I think because this album is so different from the tracks of Miller, Warner, Sulaiman and Ivy, critics will face the challenge of discounting it at the get go due to the lack of musicality and creativity it holds in comparison to its competitors.
Or critics will see the power in her poetry and honor poetry without the flash of jazz, or drums, or steely tracks reminiscent of the 70s. And although, “You Will Be Someone’s Ancestor. Act Accordingly.” by Amir Sulaiman, is my favorite nomination in the category, I of course hope that Gorman, as the only female, brings home a Grammy win this upcoming year.
The lack of female diversity in the category is unfortunate – I do not know if there is a lack of spoken word albums by Black females or by other non-minority poets, who did not enter their work into this new category. And although spoken word is adopted into an integral part of the Black community in reference to healing, I hope in the future we will see more women and non-minorities in this category.
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 opinions The suffocation of a chaotic kitchen:
By Quézia Arruda Cunha opinions@kykernel.com
Injured people in the same room. Yelling and fire. Tension and fear of the unknown. The new series released on FX, “The Bear,” exhibits for me one of the most faithful representations of grieving.
The plot is based on the life of Carmen – a young, talented chef who spent most of his life in the world of haute cuisine. His world, once clean and calculated – each seasoning in its proper amount and meticulously well-chosen dishes, everything transparent.
However, this apparently balanced life starts to plunge into complete chaos after the death of his brother Michael, who until then managed a tiny diner in Chicago. The eight-episode series, directed by the brilliant mind of Christopher Storer, illustrates for the viewer a scenario of suffocation.
After Michael’s death, the scenes are limited to the tiny diner kitchen where Carmen starts to work.
To represent the grieving mind, the scene changes from clean to dirty. From meticulously calculated, to complete chaos. All the cooks at that diner grieve the loss of Michael. Everyone is suffocated by their own pain, and the tightness and discomfort that the kitchen represents is another sign of this agony.
This series is for those who want to board a sinking ship. On a boat where all passengers no longer look at the sea with affection, but with fear and terror. A boat adrift – this is perhaps the best description of the soul and mind of all those in mourning.
Mourning: that word came into my head from the beginning to the end of “The Bear.” The series made me understand that being in mourning is not limited to the moment we lose a loved one. Grief manifests itself in the banalest type of daily change.
The simple insertion of a new figure (Chef Carmen) within the dynamic and irregular kitchen of the diner is a symbol of mourning. They mourn because all the old systematization of the kitchen has been annihilated, forgotten and removed.
This artistic production doesn’t depend on well-structured dialogue to bring the series to life. With the disorderly and chaotic performance of the camera movements, it is possible to interpret a moment of extreme tension, as well as the panic attacks of the boss and everyone around him, without expressing a single word.
If you’re going through a time of conflict or anxiety, take a deep breath before watching. Know that the world you are about to face is a world of extreme vulnerability among those after successive moments of loss and changes in reality.
While “The Bear” can be a great trigger for those experiencing anxiety, it can also serve as an excellent human identification when it comes to the constant financial pressures of the naturally wild and competitive world we live in.
The series shows the gray scenario the chef goes through when he notices that debts only increase and there is no immediate solution to this problem. In the seventh episode, Carmen freaks out. He gets out of control. Everything seems to be in an ugly, disorderly dance. That tiny kitchen seems to squeeze him out because of the vivid pressure around him.
Mourning. Pressure. Screams. Those are the words that run through my mind when I try to describe one of the most humanistic series of this year, “The Bear.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF FX NETWORKS Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeremy Allen White in “The Bear” (2022).
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 opinions
Column: The 2022 season was disastrous hiccup for Kentucky football
By Cole Parke opinions@kykernel.com
Before the season even began I published a column titled: “This season may be do or die for Kentucky football.”
If that’s true, well, it died.
In that column I touched on a number of facts, including that, for the first time in his tenure, Mark Stoops’s prolonged success at Kentucky was finally being recognized, with the Wildcats earning a preseason AP Poll ranking for the first time in 44 years.
The team finished the season without a record beside its name, and I would be stunned if the preseason AP voters throw anything Kentucky’s way next season.
While it’s understandable the team lost certain games this season and had some struggles, doing so in the first year where the team properly has a national spotlight on it from the start is not.
While revisionist historians may say things like, “It all went wrong after Ole Miss,” this is simply not the case. The signs were always there.
The Cats started the 2022 campaign with a lopsided win over Miami Ohio, but it’s important to remember that the win wasn’t met with enthusiasm, but disappointment.
Starting quarterback Will Levis said postgame that he’d “never been more disappointed in 300 yards.”
Now former offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello agreed with the sentiment, saying, “I think there were some good plays and some easy layups that I think he would’ve been able to make in his sleep, and for whatever reason (he didn’t).”
Also in that game, Miami Ohio’s starting quarterback Brett Gabbert was injured, which ultimately ended his season, and the RedHawks left Lexington to go on to finish the season 6-6.
All was forgotten in week two, though, as Kentucky marched into the treacherous swamp and defeated then No. 12 Florida in Gainesville for what some thought could be a season-defining win.
Well, it wasn’t.
The Gators finished 2022 6-6 as well, finishing 3-5 in the SEC with a loss to Vanderbilt, but don’t worry, we’ll get to the Commodores.
The Wildcats then went on to defeat Northern Illinois, who entered the season after a MAC Championship-winning season, and FCS Youngstown State to make it to 4-0 and become ranked No. 7 overall.
Northern Illinois finished 3-9 and Youngstown finished 7-4 in the FCS, though the Penguins did manage to sack Levis four times during their matchup with Kentucky.
Then came the Ole Miss game. The matchup in which the Cats traveled to Oxford, Mississippi, and shot themselves in the foot again and again, culminating in a self-inflicted cannonball shot that negated a game-winning touchdown and saw UK lose its first game of the season.
But it’s okay, Ole Miss was really good right? Better than most, but UK fans may find it nicer to ignore the three-game losing streak the Rebels ended their season on.
Let’s also not forget that the Ole Miss matchup is what led to Levis’s foot injury that even further hampered his rushing game and held him out of the next matchup against South Carolina.
Now how did that South Carolina matchup go? UK lost 24-14, marking the 45th consecutive season in which the Cats have lost back-toback games.
Kentucky managed to bounce back from the performance with a win over then No. 16 Mississippi State, who ended its regular season ranked, before traveling to Knoxville to face Tennessee, where UK was absolutely throttled 44-6.
While this may have been easier to swallow when Tennessee had the No. 1 beside its name, the Volunteers stood no chance against Georgia and, after losing Heisman contender Hendon Hooker to injury, lost to South Carolina by four touchdowns, ending any chance the Vols had at even making the playoffs.
Kentucky then recorded an ugly win in Columbia over Mizzou, which also finished 6-6, before coming home and losing to Vanderbilt.
Not even looking at the fact that the Commodores did go on to beat Florida, the win marked the first time in 26 consecutive chances that Vandy defeated any SEC team at all and the first time in 10 years that it beat Kentucky.
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver DeMarcus Harris (4) attempts to block a camera as offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello walks off the field after the No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Ole Miss football game on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. Scangarello has since been fired.
Continued from page 12
To make matters worse, UK had No. 1 Georgia next and, while the defense put up a fight, the Bulldogs were simply the better team and won 16-6.
The Cats finished their 2022 season with a win over Louisville which, while fun for fans, was essentially meaningless in the grand scheme of things. The only difference it truly made was ensuring Kentucky finished 7-5 instead of 6-6.
Stoops was aware the season was unacceptable, firing both Scangarello and Co-Special Teams Coordinator John Settle just days after the end of the season with the potential for more heads to roll in the coming days.
That said, I fear the damage has been done on the national scale.
Kentucky can earn its way back to getting ranked next season and maybe even garnering a preseason ranking in a few years, but with Levis off to the NFL Draft and program-leading rusher Chris Rodriguez Jr. following him, there’s no certainty as to what UK’s team will even look like next year.
All in all, Kentucky’s 2022 season was nothing short of a disaster after the hype the team entered the season with and, when it comes to rival fans or internet trolls, disasters are not so easily forgotten. This year is one that will stick with Kentucky for at least a few seasons to come – and that’s if it’s lucky, because the alternative is being ignored by the general public instead.
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 opinions Column: Kentucky womens basketball is on the right track
By Samantha Money opinions@kykernel.com
Almost a month into regular season play, Kentucky womens basketball is on a slow but steady track to becoming a top-level SEC team.
Before the Cats’ trip to the Bahamas, the team was holding a four-game win streak but knew its first matchup against a ranked opponent would be no easy battle.
Kentucky ultimately went 1-1 in the Bahamas, losing its first game 82-74 to No. 11 Virginia Tech and winning its second 70-44 over Dayton.
While the Virginia Tech game proved that the Cats are not quite ready for higher level matchups yet, there is still something to be seen in how the team played during that matchup.
The first quarter was weaker on Kentucky’s end. The Wildcats found difficulty against the Hokies’ defense and struggled to communicate offensively with each other.
Regardless of why it happened, it was far from the best start for the Cats thus far in the season and they were outscored 29-8 in the first 10 minutes.
That said, the bounce back that was to come was what was most notable for Kentucky.
From the second quarter through the rest of the game the Wildcats accumulated 51 points and shot 55.9% percent from the field, outscoring Virginia Tech 66-53 after Kentucky’s unfavorable first quarter.
The resilience the Cats demonstrated is no doubt a powerful tool that will prove beneficial if the team continues to work on its offensive game.
In light of this, it’s worth mentioning that the dynamics of this season’s team are much different compared to last season.
Rhyne Howard was the star of the team last year, leading the Cats in points, assists, steals and rebounds.
Her leadership on and off the court was like the glue that held the team together and, with her absence after being drafted No. 1 overall into the WNBA, it would have been no shock to fans if Kentucky struggled this season to find their groove again, something that was apparent in Kentucky’s opening matchup against Radford.
That said, with the right amount of new faces on the team, the Cats have proven their potential to triumph without having that one star player that dominates the court.
Instead, they have built a team full of leaders early in the season with senior Robyn Benton leading in points average, Oregon transfer Maddie Scherr leading in rebounds and assists and sophomore Jada Walker racking up the most steals per game.
This year brings a much more well-rounded team and, while Kentucky has yet to receive a ranking this season, that should not take away from the incessant effort from these players.
With some better looks outside the paint and more Walker-level aggression on defense by the team, Kentucky seemed primed to enter conference play as a team that SEC opponents dare not take lightly.
JACKSON DUNAVANT | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats guard Jada Walker (11) attempts to steal the ball during the Kentucky vs. Bellarmine womens basketball game on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at Memorial Collusium in Lexington, Kentucky.
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 sports
Late wonder goal stuns Cats, ends Kentucky’s undefeated season
By Luke Fetzer sports@kykernel.com
Kentucky mens soccer (15-1-5) was defeated by Pittsburgh (11-4-5) 2-1 on Sunday, ending the Cats’ unbeaten season and championship hopes in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
The rain and the wind set the stage for a tightly contested showdown between the No. 1 overall seeded Kentucky Wildcats and the unseeded but hot Pittsburgh Panthers.
From the opening kickoff, the Cats looked off their game with errand passes, sloppy losses of possession and continuous pressure from the Panthers that all served to let Kentucky know that the match wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.
Head Coach Johan Cedergren was overall pleased with his team’s performance, but wished his players had more fight going forward.
“We’ve got some really good chances, we just weren’t able to then deliver that final pass, or maybe take a touch and then shoot or we don’t have time to just take the first time shot instead,” Cedergren said. “I think it’s just one of those where it happens in games sometimes and again. I would be even more disappointed if we didn’t play well or if we played 10 men, or if we didn’t play up to our potential, but I felt that we played really well.”
The first half left both teams scoreless, possibly because of the poor conditions, but midfielder Clay Holstad thought otherwise.
“Once the rain came down it was just a slick night,” Holstad said. “I really think it wasn’t that bad. I think at first it was kind of dry and we had to get used to over the top balls skipping through and overplaying passes, but honestly, especially this time of year wasn’t too bad.”
In terms of shots, both teams had their chances with the Cats ending the first half with five shots and the Panthers with four. Despite this, the Cats failed to register as many shots on target, with many of their chances missing high and wide.
The start of the second half made up for the lack of action in the first as the Cats took the lead just five minutes after the restart courtesy of sophomore midfielder Casper Grening from an assist by assist leader Nick Gutmann, giving Grening his 11th goal of the season. The total saw Grening overtake Eythor Bjorgolfsson as UK’s leading goalscorer.
Just two minutes later the Panthers surged forward and earned themselves a corner. With the ball hanging in the air, UK goalkeeper Casper Mols came out to catch it, but the wet ball slipped out of his grasp and onto the feet of midfielder Valentin Noel, who slotted home the equalizer.
After the equalizer, it was a battle of wits and who could convert their chances but in the 78’ catastrophe struck both sides.
ISABEL MCSWAIN | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats midfielder Brennan Creek (19) processes the loss after the No. 1 Kentucky vs. Pitt soccer match in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. UK lost 2-1.
ISABEL MCSWAIN | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats midfielder Casper Grening (10) runs the ball down the field during the No. 1 Kentucky vs. Pitt soccer match in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament.
Continued from page 14
A loose ball made its way towards the middle of the pitch, with UK’s Martin Soereide looking like he would recover it first.
Charging forward to challenge was Pitt midfielder Henrique Gallina who slid in, and caught Soereide with his studs up.
Getting to his feet after spending a couple minutes on the ground, Gallina was shown a straight red card, dropping the Panthers to ten men, but Kentucky and Soereide weren’t so lucky.
Writhing in pain, the medical staff was told to bring the gurney to assist Soereide off the field and bring the Norwegian to the hospital with his lower body covered on the way out.
To the relief of the crowd, Soereide clapped and gave the thumbs up as he was stretchered away.
“He’s in the hospital right now and we won’t know anything more until tomorrow morning,” Cedergren said. “It was a very brave tackle of Marty (Soereide) and he played great.”
Now up a man with ten minutes remaining, the Cats had the numerical advantage and threw men forward hoping to capitalize on it. They even had a handful of chances with the clock winding down, but none were able to be converted.
A foul in the 86’ saw the Panthers take a quick free kick over the top of the UK back line, leaving forward Josh Luchini ample time to find his teammate Bertin Jacquesson, who took on a 26-yard shot that he buried into the side netting, leaving Kentucky stunned.
The goal left Holstad and his team disappointed, knowing that the curse of the Sweet 16 appeared to still be alive and active.
“We’re pressing forward and we’re dying chasing the game and we let up for five seconds and it goes in so it’s not exactly the ideal way to lose,” Holstad said.
The Cats had two great opportunities in the dying minutes but it was the Panthers who stood strong and saw the game out, advancing to the Elite Eight for a matchup against Portland.
“Lessons were learned and we got this far and hope that, you know, with a quality team like Kentucky is just another lesson of what we have to do against Portland this next weekend,” Pittsburgh head coach Jay Vidovich said.
Despite the loss, Cedergren believed that the season put Kentucky soccer in the upper echelons of collegiate soccer not just in the Bluegrass, but in the nation.
“I feel like we’ve definitely put the program on the map, and there’s lots of successful programs and sports here at the University of Kentucky, but mens soccer is definitely one of them,” Cedergren said. “So we’re really thankful for the big blue nation and we can’t wait to host them in August.”
With the loss Kentucky’s 2022 campaign officially came to an end, bowing out as the No. 1 overall seed and final remaining undefeated Division-1 team.
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 sports
Wildcats hope to sink competition across the pond
By Ali Cetinok sports@kykernel.com
After a shaky game against Bellarmine on Wednesday that didn’t see John Calipari’s squad pull away until deep into the second half, Kentucky now looks ahead to London where it is set to take on Michigan.
The game across the pond marks the first of a three-game series between the two teams, with the Wildcats hosting Michigan in Rupp Arena next season and traveling to Ann Arbor in the 2024-2025 season.
Michigan currently sits at 4-2 with a narrow 70-68 loss to No. 3 Virginia on Wednesday, proving that the Wolverines squad led by Juwan Howard is capable of giving the Cats all they can handle when the pair meets up in England.
The Wolverines currently average 76 points per game with an average margin of victory of six points, with Michigan also currently shooting 45% from the field as well as 32% from beyond the arc.
Hunter Dickinson is the Wolverines’ current leading scorer, shooting 58% from the field, while Jett Howard has also proven to be a threat, averaging 31 points a game as well as shooting 43% from beyond the arc.
Kobe Bufkin is a very capable scorer for the Wolverines, averaging 30.9 points per game.
The game in London is intended to be a learning experience according to Calipari, but after the Bellarmine game, UK’s head coach is adamant that there’s plenty of work still to be done. “It will be a great experience for these kids, (a) really hard game. We better not play how we started this game,” Calipari said after the final whistle against Bellarmine. “They’re (Michigan) well coached and they’re a good team, so it will be a hard game.”
This game is part of Kentucky’s plan to schedule high-level competition during the regular season, a trend that can be seen with teams such as Kansas, UCLA, Michigan State and Gonzaga on the 20222023 non-conference schedule. It also serves as good practice for an eventual NCAA Tournament appearance.
“You’re trying to get matchups that we could have at home,” Calipari said. “Next year Gonzaga and Michigan are coming here. Juwan, I’ve known him for a long time, (I) really like him. I said, you know, if you want to do something (then we can), and then the Hall of Fame called us about playing in London for the Hall of Fame. I said, ‘maybe that will be the third game.’”
Kentucky and Michigan are set to tip off on Sunday, Dec. 4, with the game scheduled to start at 1 p.m. EST and air live on ABC.
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) reacts to a foul called against him during the Kentucky vs. Michigan State Champions Classic mens basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 sports
Kentucky volleyball officially begins hunt for second national title
By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com
Kentucky volleyball earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament during Sunday’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show, officially kicking off the hunt for UK’s second national title.
The Wildcats finished the 2022 campaign 20-7, tying with Florida for a share of the SEC Championship, marking the sixth consecutive conference title for UK.
Unfortunately for Kentucky, the tiebreaker for the automatic bid to the Big Dance favored Florida, meaning the Wildcats would have to get into the tournament with an at-large bid.
The team did just that the next day, earning the No. 3 seed in the bottom left corner of the bracket, first matching up with Loyola Chicago.
The Ramblers finished their 2022 campaign 258, claiming the Atlantic-10’s auto-bid into the NCAA Tournament with a win over Dayton in the A10 Championship.
While the two did not face off this season, Loyola Chicago and Kentucky have a number of common opponents that include Dayton, Tennessee and Marquette.
The Wildcats faced Dayton in an exhibition on Aug. 20, winning 3-1 in Ohio, while the Ramblers faced the Flyers a total of three times, finishing with a 2-1 record.
Dayton won its first matchup against Loyola Chicago 3-2 before dropping the second match 3-1, with the A10 Championship being the final meeting.
Both teams also faced Tennessee, with Loyola Chicago losing 3-2 on Aug. 26, while the Wildcats beat the Vols 3-1 on Nov. 16.
Finally, both teams suffered defeats at the hands of Marquette, with Kentucky losing its season opener 3-2 on Aug. 26 and Loyola Chicago losing 3-1 on Sep. 6.
If common opponents is all there is to go off of then the first round matchup may be closer than many expect, though the Wildcats will certainly be favored.
Kentucky boasts a talented roster that includes SEC Player of the Year Emma Grome as well as three other All-SEC Team members in Azhani Tealer, Reagan Rutherford and Adanna Rollins.
Assuming Kentucky is successful against the Ramblers, the Cats would advance to the round of 32, where their tournament run was cut short last season, to face the winner of No. 6 Western Kentucky and Bowling Green.
A win in the quadrant would either see Kentucky travel to No. 2 San Diego in the Sweet 16 or host any of No. 7 Washington State, UNLV or Northern Colorado if the Toreross are upset.
Looking more broadly around the bracket, Kentucky faced off with a whopping 13 NCAA Tournament teams over the course of the regular season, amassing an overall record of 11-6 against tournament-level opponents.
Kentucky lost its season opener to Marquette as previously mentioned, with the Golden Eagles going on to earn a No. 4 seed, before sweeping the Bluejay Invitational against three NCAA Tournament teams.
With the Bluejay Invitational being held in Omaha, Kentucky first swept Northern Iowa before beating the hosts, eventual No. 4 seeded Creighton, 3-1 and finished the job with a sweep against eventual No. 6 seeded USC.
Following that event, Kentucky returned to Lexington, where it was swept by eventual No. 1 seeded Wisconsin and No. 2 seeded Nebraska. In between those matches Kentucky also lost a 3-2 battle against another eventual No. 1 seed: Louisville.
Moving into SEC play, Kentucky split its series with LSU before it eventually traveled to Fayetteville, where it recorded back-to-back wins over eventual No. 6 Arkansas.
The Wildcats also recorded back-to-back sweeps over Auburn before also sweeping Georgia in Athens and defeating Tennessee.
The final tournament caliber opponent the Wildcats faced was the other co-SEC champions, Florida, with both teams sweeping the other on consecutive nights in Gainesville. The Gators, much like the Cats, went on to earn a No. 3 seed.
Whether or not Kentucky will return to the promised land as it did in early 2021 is yet to be seen, but one thing is for certain: when it comes to experience against NCAA Tournament teams, this season’s Kentucky squad ranks near the top.
ISABEL MCSWAIN | STAFF Kentucky players celebrate during the No. 10 Kentucky vs. Tennessee volleyball match on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.
