Special Section: Big Blue Madness

kentuckykernel

Fall 2023 est. 1892 | Independent since 1971 www.kykernel.com @kykernel @kentuckykernel

BIG BLUE MADNESS SPECIAL SECTION

THE NEXT GENERATION OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL

Fall 2023

GET TO KNOW:

2023-24 Kentucky men’s basketball team

By Sarah Gibson and Jonathon Bruner sports@kykernel.com

MEET THE TEAM: 0 - Rob Dillingham Year: Freshman Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats (Overtime Elite [high school senior]): - 14.7 points-per-game (PPG) - 4.9 assists-per-game (APG) About: Dillingham is a 6-foot-2-inch guard known to create scoring chances for himself by using his quickness and shiftiness. Dillingham chose the Bluegrass over several other prominent schools such as UCLA, USC, Memphis, North Carolina and Louisville.

Fun Fact: Dillingham’s favorite basketball player is Kobe Bryant, and his favorite Wildcat player is Malik Monk.

1 - Justin Edwards Year: Freshman Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats (high school senior): - 17.9 PPG - 7.5 rebounds-per-game (RPG) About: Edwards enters the program with a lengthy list of awards, including being named a 2023 McDonald’s All-American, MaxPreps Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year and a member of the USA Men’s Nike Hoops Summit. The Wildcats will look to use Edward’s size and versatility to their advantage this season.

Fun Fact: Edwards and his mother

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As summer gives way to fall, it’s nearly time for another year of Kentucky men's basketball to take the court.

Coming off a 22-12 record that saw the Wildcats get eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, the Wildcats will send out a new look are both recipients of the Philadelphia Public League MVP award in their respective leagues, with a 23-year gap separating the two of them earning the honor.

2 - Aaron Bradshaw Year: Freshman Hometown: Roselle, New Jersey Position: Forward 2022-2023 Stats (high s c h o o l senior): - 12.1 PPG - 9.4 RPG About: Big Blue nation will have to wait a little bit to see Bradshaw on the floor as he is currently sidelined with a foot injury, but when he hits the court fans can expect to see plenty of shots blocked, as well as i m proved offensive skills from the 7-foot-2inch forward.

Fun Fact: Has a pre-game ritual during which he must tap his feet, shoulders and head before stepping on the court.

3 - Adou Thiero Year: Sophomore Hometown: Leetsdale, Pennsylvania Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - 2.3 PPG - 1.9 RPG - .697 free-throw-percentage About: Thiero is the first familiar face for

on the hardwood this season.

The Wildcats’ recruiting class is headlined by eight freshman scholarship players and the return of fifthyear guard Antonio Reeves as they seek their ninth national championship.

BBN as he saw action in 20 games last year for the Wildcats. Fans can expect to see Thiero use his increased physicality and athleticism from his offseason improvement, assuming his ankle tweak at UK Pro Day was just a minor hiccup.

Fun Fact: Thiero scored four points and hauled in five rebounds in his collegiate debut against Howard last season.

4 - Tre Mitchell Year: Graduate Student Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Position: Forward 2022-2023 Stats (West Virginia): - 11.7 PPG - 5.5 RPG - .47 field-goal percentage About: Mitchell comes to the Bluegrass as a transfer from West Virginia where he started 32/34 games and led the team with 142 rebounds. The forward not only brings collegiate experience to a mostly young team, but his rebounding ability will surely be a huge asset to the Wildcats.

Fun Fact: Mitchell is a traveled veteran as he began his career at the University of Massachusetts before transferring to Texas his junior year and then transferring to West Virginia for his senior year before arriving in the Bluegrass.

12 - Antonio Reeves Year: Fifth-Year Senior Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - 14.4 PPG - .783 free-throw percentage - 2.1 RPG About: Reeves returns for his fifth and final year and will look to pick up right where he left off. Reeves ranked second on the team in points-per-game and led the team with 80 3-pointers made throughout his 14 starts with action in all 32 games. Reeves provides a level of experience that will likely be very

helpful to the young core of players.

Fun Fact: Last season, Reeves scored 20 points off the bench four different times, which is the most in coach John Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky.

13 - Grant Darbyshire Year: Sophomore Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - zero PPG - zero RPG - zero APG About: Darbyshire returns to the Wildcats as a sophomore this season despite seeing no game action last year due to a leg injury. He was only allowed to be active for a handful of games, none of which ultimately saw him take the court.

Fun Fact: Darbyshire was named the FirstYear SEC Honor Roll his freshman year.

14 - Brennan Canada Year: Graduate Student Hometown: Mount Sterling, Kentucky Position: Forward 2022-2023 Stats: - 0.6 PPG - .333 three-point percentage - .571 field-goal percentage About: Canada returns to the Wildcats this year after seeing action in five games last season. Despite the limited playing time, he has earned the reputation of being a great teammate and going hard in practice in order to make his teammates better.

Fun Fact: He was put on scholarship in January.

15 - Reed Sheppard Year: Freshman Hometown: London, Kentucky Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats (high school): - 22.5 PPG - 8.4 RPG - 8.5 APG

Fall 2023 About: Coming off a 2023 Mr. Kentucky Basketball campaign, Sheppard was rated as high as the No. 22 recruit out of high school. Sheppard's been described as a sharpshooter with a humble play style who likes to distribute the ball. The McDonald's All-American with 3,726 career points helped lead his high school to the sweet sixteen his junior year.

Fun Fact: Sheppard wears No. 15 after his father, who is Kentucky basketball legend Jeff Sheppard.

20 - Joey Hart Year: Freshman Hometown: Linton, Indiana Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats (high school senior): - 23.6 PPG - 4.1 RPG - 2.7 APG About: Fresh off taking Linton-Stockton High School to the Indiana 2A state championship game, Hart chose Kentucky over Indiana, Rutgers and Central Florida. Hart has range and shot 40% from behind the 3-point line his senior year.

Fun Fact: Hart recorded his first ever dunk in eighth grade.

21 - D.J. Wagner Year: Freshman Hometown: Camden, New Jersey Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats (high school junior): - 19.6 PPG - 4.3 RPG - 3.3 APG About: Wagner possesses elite ball handling skills and is quick to the basket, making him all but destined to have an immediate impact on the team. The No. 4 overall recruit who led his high school to the 2A state title game was recently named to the CBS Top Ten Projected Impact Freshman list.

Fun Fact: Wagner holds an annual D.J. Wagner community event in his hometown.

22 - Walker Horn Year: Sophomore Hometown: Austin, Texas Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - zero PPG - 0.25 RPG - 0.25 APG About: Horn played in four games last season as a walk-on freshman. He had dreams of playing for Kentucky as his father is head coach at Northern Kentucky just 82 miles away. Horn is unlikely to be a starter, but can still be expected to see the court throughout the year.

Fun Fact: Horn wears No. 21 after his father,

who wore it in college at Western Kentucky.

Durk and Lil Baby.

23 - Jordan Burks Year: Freshman Hometown: Decatur, Alabama Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats (Overtime Elite): - 27.1 PPG - 7.5 RPG - 2.9 APG About: Standing at 6 feet, 9 inches with a 7-foot wingspan, Burks has the potential to be a defensive nightmare for opponents. Burks played for three separate high school teams before joining Overtime Elite’s Hillcrest Prep. Burks made his presence known at Big Blue Madness, participating in the dunk contest and doing good things during the exhibition.

Fun Fact: Burks prefers flats over drumsticks when he eats wings

44 - Zvonimir Ivišić Year: Freshman Hometown: Vodice, Croatia Position: Forward 2022-2023 Stats (Adriatic League): - 5.2 PPG - 3.5 RPG - 0.3 APG About: Ivišić, also known as “Big Z,” was a last-minute addition to the Wildcats roster. The 7-foot-2-inch forward is not only good at the rim but also from range. He once hit 11 3-pointers in seven games, an impressive figure for a big man. Ivišić will add much-needed depth and size on Kentucky's roster, especially with the injuries to Onyenso and Bradshaw.

Fun Fact: Ivišić was described as a “unicorn” by Sports Illustrated.

25 - Kareem Watkins Year: Senior Hometown: Camden, New Jersey Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - zero PPG - zero RPG - 0.25 APG About: The incredibly athletic walk-on is not likely to see a ton of minutes this season but will play an important role on the practice court for the Wildcats. Kentucky head coach John Calipari has a history of using Watkins as a fill-in guard during team scrimmages.

Fun Fact: Watkins knows how to juggle.

33 - Ugonna Onyenso Year: Sophomore Hometown: Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria Position: Forward 2022-2023 Stats: - 2.5 PPG - 2.6 RPG - 0.06 APG About: Onyenso is a big 6-foot11-inch defensive presence that played in 16 games off the bench last season with 40 points and 16 blocks. He suffered a broken foot following the Globl Jam tournament in Toronto over the summer, but is still expected to be a mainstay for the 2022-23 season. Onyenso briefly entered the transfer portal following his freshman year but opened to return to Kentucky.

Fun Fact: Onyenso’s pregame music playlist includes rap artists like Lil

kentuckykernel

CONTACT Hannah Stanley, editor-in-chief editor@kykernel.com

Abbey Cutrer, managing & photo editor managinged@kykernel.com photo@kykernel.com Gray Greenwell, copy & features editor features@kykernel.com Alexis Baker, news editor news@kykernel.com Laurel Swanz, assistant news & features editor Cole Parke, sports editor sports@kykernel.com Samantha Money, assistant sports editor Ali Cetinok, assistant sports editor Akhila Nadimpalli, designer Travis Fannon, assistant photo editor Gracie Moore, digital editor gmoore@kykernel.com Savannah Kennedy, social media manager Nate Lucas, broadcast & podcast manager Bryce Towle, TikTok manager Kaci McCarthy, newsletter manager KENTUCKY KERNEL OFFICE 9 Blazer Dining University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506

On the front cover:

ABBEY CUTRER| STAFF Kentucky men’s basketball freshmen (left to right) D.J. Wagner, Justin Edwards, and Rob Dillingham pose for portraits on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at Joe Craft Center in Lexington, Kentucky. © OCT. 17, 2023 KERNEL PRESS, INC.

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Fall 2023

GET TO KNOW:

2023-24 Kentucky women’s basketball team

By Jenna Lifshen and Alexandra Gooch sports@kykernel.com

MEET THE TEAM: 0 - Brooklynn Miles Year: Junior Hometown: Frankfort, Kentucky Position: Guard 2021-2023 Stats: - 1.8 points-per-game (PPG) - 2.1 rebounds-per-game (RPG) - 1.5 assists-per-game (APG) About: Miles, a Tennessee transfer, played in 56 games in her two seasons with the Vols. As a freshman, she averaged 19.5 minutes and was a one-time SEC Freshman of the Week, finishing third for Tennessee in steals. In her sophomore year, Miles shot 46.7% from the field, playing in 23 games. With both high speed and intensity, she keeps pressure on opponents on both sides of the court. There is little hesitation for her to get in the play and make an impact and her tough defense style will likely be key for the Cats.

Fun Fact: Miles was named 2021 Miss Kentucky Basketball and 2021 Gatorade Player of the Year following her high school senior season.

2 - Saniah Tyler Year: Sophomore Hometown: Florissant, Missouri Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - 0.7 PPG - 0.2 RPG - zero APG About: Tyler’s competitive spirit and toughness has her expected to be a leader for the team as a returning sophomore. In high school, she led her team to an 85-4 record and two state titles.

Making her college debut against Morehead State, she played a career-high of

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With basketball season on the horizon in the Bluegrass, Kentucky women’s basketball hopes to make a statement in its upcoming season.

This year, the team looks to improve from its 12-19 record that saw it make the Quarterfinals in the SEC Tournament before falling short of the Women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats lost three graduate students in the off-seasix minutes, sinking her first 3-pointer as a Cat. Tyler will likely play a crucial role in helping the team develop with her knowledge of the floor and ability to balance the game both independently and as a piece of a larger team.

Fun Fact: In the state quarterfinals, she scored 21 points and led a comeback victory over Columbia Rock Bridge to punch her Incarnate Word Academy Red Knights’ ticket back to the Final Four.

3 - Jordy Griggs Year: Freshman Hometown: Moreno Valley, California Position: Guard 2021-2022 Stats (High School Junior): - 21.0 PPG - 9.6 RPG - 2.3 APG About: Standing at 6 feet, 2 inches tall, Griggs is expected to make an immediate impact in the program because of her size, length and versatility. She has extreme athleticism and runs with high energy, demonstrating an ability to perform on both sides of the ball. Offensively, she creates scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates, and she can rebound well as a defender, with her relentlessness adding to her success. The four-star prospect was a state champion her senior year, named 2022 She Got Game Classic MVP and, in 2021, was invited to the USA U16 Trials, WOOTTEN Top 150 Camp and the Steph Curry Underrated Camp. With a 91 scouting grade, according to ESPN, it is easy to say that Griggs could make her presence known early.

Fun Fact: In her four years of highschool, she played at different schools in every year.

son but had plenty of success within the transfer portal, giving them lots of new talent to work with.

The Cats also picked up a four-star out of California, who they hope will make big moves in her freshman season.

With plenty of fresh players and senior veterans, the Wildcats will hope to make the first NCAA Tournament run postRhyne Howard.

4 - Eniya Russell Year: Senior Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - 3.7 PPG - 1.5 RPG - 1.0 APG About: A transfer from South Carolina, Russell looks to continue her success for her second year with the Wildcats. In her first year in Lexington, she played in 23 games, combining for nine steals and six blocks and demonstrated athleticism on the court.

Russell went 2-2 in the SEC Tournament second round against Alabama, with her offensive talent helping UK to defeat the challenging Crimson Tide.

Against Ohio, she was able to score a season-high of 14 points, adding

just four more rebounds and three assists to her record. Russell will be more than likely to be both an offensive and defensive weapon for the Wildcats, being someone to watch out for in the upcoming season.

Fun Fact: Russell was ranked as the No. 43 overall recruit in the class of 2020

by ESPN. 5 - Cassidy Rowe Year: Sophomore Hometown: Virgie, Kentucky Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - 0.5 PPG - 0.2 RPG - 0.3 APG About: The Kentucky native played in 13 games her freshman season, where she averaged around 4.1 minutes per game. As a fan favorite, she has proven herself multiple times during her first year and will be nothing shy of being a team leader for the Cats. She possesses a strong work ethic on the court and can be expected to be a player that others can look up to throughout this year's season.

Fall 2023 Rowe brings depth to the guard position, which will be crucial for the Cats this season. She will likely be key on defense thanks to her willingness to take charges and be a team player. Her toughness is a big piece of what makes her special to the team, and that’s something it surely plans to use to its advantage in the upcoming season.

Fun Fact: Rowe verbally committed to Kentucky during her freshman year of high school.

13 - Ajae Petty Year: Senior Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland Position: Forward 2022-2023 Stats: - 5.7 PPG - 4.7 RPG - 0.6 RPG About: Petty will be expected to have big numbers for her senior year after being a key addition to the Wildcat’s roster in the 20222023 season from LSU. She is skillful around the basket, tallying up 166 points in 29 games with Kentucky and scoring in double digits for six straight games. She shows athleticism up and down the floor, holding the second highest number of rebounds on the team this past season, leading the Cats with seven rebounds against No. 1 South Carolina. With Petty’s experience, she is likely to have a key leadership role for the program and play a big part in the success of the Cats this season.

Fun Fact: She was No. 1 post player and No. 16 overall player in the Next Sports Phenom Class of 2020 Top 100 ranking.

20 - Amiya Jenkins Year: Sophomore Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - 3.2 PPG - 1.3 RPG - 0.3 APG About: In high school, Jenkins led her team to an impressive 30-5 record during her senior season. As a junior, she was named the 2021 MaxPreps Kentucky Player of the Year. Jenkins also received the title of Miss Kentucky Basketball in 2022. As a rookie, she played in 26 games, recording five rebounds and tying for a career-high three assists during a game against Florida in the first round of the 2023 SEC Tournament. ESPN named her a four-star pros-

pect, which ranks her 31st out of 94th in her position.

Fun Fact: Like many current college students, Jenkins’ playing career was impacted by COVID-19 when she helped her Anderson County Bearcats to the KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16 as a sophomore before the tournament was canceled because of the pandemic. At Big Blue Madness Jenkins showed out, dropping nine points from beyond the arch, leading her team to a 20-6 exhibition victory.

21 - Nyah Leveretter Year: Senior Hometown: Blythewood, South Carolina Position: Forward 2022-2023 Stats: - 2.5 PPG - 3.9 RPG - 0.2 APG About: Leveretter led Kentucky in blocks during seven games last season.

She has also set multiple career highs for herself, including 11 rebounds against Auburn, eight points against Missouri and three assists against Georgia. She played in 26 games during the 20222023 season prior to sustaining a torn ACL. Leveretter has also been appointed to the 2023-2024 NCAA Division-I Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group.

Fun Fact: Leveretter was born on Fort Campbell Military Base on the Kent u c k y - Te n nessee border.

22 - Maddie Scherr Year: Senior Hometown: Florence, Kentucky Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats - 11.6 PPG - 5.1 RPG - 4.3 APG About: Scherr was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and was named Miss Kentucky Basketball in 2020. As a senior, she was ranked No. 19 in the nation and was named the Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year in both her junior and senior years. She played her first two years of college basketball at Oregon, where she played in 53 games and averaged 3.7 points per game, 2.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds. She transferred to Kentucky for her 20222023 junior season and has brought leadership ability and veteran experience to the team.

Fun Fact: Scherr graduated from Ryle High School as the Raiders’ all-time scoring leader while also leading the school to a state championship.

24 - Zennia Thomas Year: Sophomore Hometown: Lyndhurst, Ohio Position: Forward 2022-2023 Stats:

- 0.9 PPG - 0.7 RPG - 0.1 APG About: Thomas was named Ohio Division-III First-Team All-Ohio after averaging 30.6 points and 14.5 rebounds per game in high school. Her impressive skills helped her lead Warrensville High School to its first regional final in the school’s history. Thomas made her collegiate career debut against Morehead State. In her freshman year, she played 10 games where she averaged 4.4 minutes per game.

Fun Fact: Thomas picked UK over Purdue. She recorded her first rebound in UK’s game against Coastal Carolina.

34 - Emma King Year: Graduate Student Hometown: Stanford, Kentucky Position: Guard 2022-2023 Stats: - 1.3 PPG - 0.5 RPG - 0.58 APG About: Emma King played in 24 games and started in two last season as a senior. She scored three points against Missouri and made a noticeable impact in numerous other games. She scored two points against Arkansas and had two blocks, a rebound and a steal. Her defensive skills have a significant impact on the team and she seems to continue to improve every season.

Fun Fact: King grew up as a Kentucky fan, with playing for the Wildcats having been a lifelong dream of hers.

44 - Janae Walker Year: Freshman Hometown: Tyrone, Georgia Position: Forward 2022-2023 Stats (high school): - 20.3 PPG - 14.8 RPG - 1.2 APG About: Walker was a star player at Sandy Creek High School and a powerful addition to the team this season. She is best known for her rebounding and shot blocking but is also talented down the court. In high school, she had 1,000 career points, finishing second in the state in scoring. She led her high school to win a Georgia High School Association Region Five Championship and was named GHSA Class 3A Best Rebounder.

Fun Fact: Walker chose to attend the University of Kentucky over other notable schools like Syracuse, Wisconsin and Southern California.

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Fall 2023

Kernel sports editors’ predictions for 2023-24 college basketball seasons

It’s officially basketball season in the Commonwealth and all eyes have begun to turn toward one venue: Rupp Arena.

In Kentucky, basketball is on the same level as gospel, and fans all over are eager to see the Cats tip off a new season of college hoops.

With both the Kentucky men’s and women’s teams looking to take significant steps

WOMEN'S TEAM How successful will Kentucky be in improving upon last year’s performance?

PARKE: I would say it will be successful in improving upon last year’s performance. Simply put, last year’s Cats just weren’t very good. The team struggled all year to even get a conference win, finishing 2-14 in conference play. The squad also, unsurprisingly, went on to miss the NCAA Tournament. It was a massive step down from winning the first SEC title in 40 years the season prior with one of the most prolific scorers in all of Kentucky basketball’s, men and women, history. I don’t know that this year’s Cats are going to be a serious threat come March, but I have the utmost faith in both Kyra Elzy and the players to be far better than last season.

CETINOK: Fortunately for the Cats, it will not be too hard to improve on last year’s performance given just how poor last season was for Elzy’s squad. I don’t expect Kentucky to be a force within a tough SEC, but I do expect them to be something that they weren’t last year: a competitive squad. This team has a lot of new faces with Jada Walker, Robyn Benton and Blair Green all gone. It will be interesting to see how a younger Wildcat team might perform this sea-

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By Cole Parke, Samantha Money and Ali Cetinok sports@kykernel.com

up from the season’s prior, speculation and predictions are running rampant all over the country. Everyone has thoughts, but very few have answers.

As for the passionate sports fans that operate the Kernel Sports desk, Cole Parke, Ali Cetinok and Samantha Money, they certainly don’t have the answers either, but they do have the platform to share their thoughts.

What does Kentucky need to do in order to be successful this year?

for fans, I think it’ll have little issue doing that. Watch out for the women’s team this year, they may really shock some people.

CETINOK: Simply put, this is Scherr’s team.

Elzy spoke nothing but praise for the Kentucky native at media day, stating that this team will need to run through her offensively. What does that mean exactly? It means Scherr can’t take any days off. Last year, we would see Scherr be the best player on the court at times and other days you wouldn’t even notice her out there. This will need to change, but it is not all on Scherr to find a way to win. Veterans Ajae Petty, who was named offseason MVP by Elzy, Emma King, who was named most improved by Elzy at media day, Tennessee transfer Brooklyn Miles, Eni-

PARKE: It needs to craft a stronger identity. Last season, the hole left by Rhyne Howard, who went No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft, was very apparent.

Maddie Scherr and Jada Walker did their best to be leaders on the team, but they just couldn’t seem to put it together. Well, Walker left the program, meaning Scherr should be the player that the offense flows through, something that I think can work very well in its favor with some strong athletes and ballers around her.

Now, two years removed from the Rhyne era, Kentucky needs to create a strong core identity with the players it has now and, luckily

TRAVIS FANNON | STAFF Kentucky forward Ajae Petty dribbles during the Kentucky womens basketball open practice on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at the Joe Craft Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

son and potentially win some games that it wouldn’t have won last year.

SMONEY: The roster is smaller this year, and Coach Elzy pointed out that it's going to be easier to handle than last year so, hopefully for her squad, the chemistry the Wildcats seem to have been missing out on can be present this season. I think there will definitely be improvement, but losing Robyn Benton and Jada Walker is tough and could be reflected on the scoreboard this year. A fresh start and a fresh season with positive attitudes is what Kentucky needs to improve.

ya Russell and others will all need to step up as well after being very inconsistent last year.

SMONEY: Scherr is the bucket-maker for this team. She has the talent and the leadership skills to aid the Cats on the court but, most importantly, she has the work-hard mindset to do it. As Scherr developed last season, she became one of the most consistent players during SEC play, and I have high hopes she can keep that consistency this season. It’s an awkward subject to address the elephant in the room that this program had several transfers at the conclusion of last season, but this smaller roster with experienced athletes is a new beginning for the team to recreate who Kentucky women’s basketball is and show that on the court.

MEN'S TEAM How successful will Kentucky be in improving upon last year’s performance?

PARKE: I said it last year and I’ll say it again, anything short of a national championship this year will feel like a disappointment. On paper, this UK team should be one of, if not the best the school has seen since the 2015 team that nearly completed a perfect season. I tend to be one who scoffs at the often extremely reactionary “Fire Cal!” takes, but if this team can’t improve upon last season’s No. 6 seed and Round of 32 exit, it may really be time to consider a change in leadership. With that said, I do tend to have more faith in Calipari than most, so I say the Cats will be very successful in getting past the second round come March.

CETINOK: It is nine or bust this year for Coach Cal and his team. In the last few years, UK has been reliant on the transfer portal, which hasn’t gotten the Cats where they should be: competing for a national championship.

This upcoming season sees a more true Calipari roster. With the sheer amount of talent that will be showcased at Rupp Arena this year, there are no excuses for Calipari. Everything is pointing to the Cats at least making the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2019, but for BBN, that might not be enough to silence the critics that are coming for Calipari’s head. I do believe that the Cats will lose around six or seven games in the regular season just given the difficulty of the schedule this year, but that doesn’t mean it will be time to press the panic button. Let this team get going and let's see where they stack up come March, as I believe they will

have a successful season. The question is, will it be enough for BBN to roll with Calipari for another season?

SMONEY: In terms of improving from last year, this year should be nothing less of a night-and-day difference. Fans have had such high expectations for the past couple of years whenever March Madness rolls around, but Kentucky has consistently come unglued under the pressure of the SEC and NCAA Tournaments. While there’s some truth to pointing the finger at Coach Cal, I also point the finger at leadership. I was never a fan of Sahvir Wheeler leading on the court considering his play-making abilities were always declining, so I think the key to improving this year is better leadership on the court. The return of Antonio Reeves is game-changing for this roster, and with this loaded recruiting class, there’s no way improvement won’t be seen in March.

What does Kentucky need to do in order to be successful this year?

PARKE: Based on all we’ve seen? Stay healthy. The Cats have been plagued by injuries to key players for years now and, unfortunately, it seems for this lineup it’s begun before the season has. Highly touted five-star freshman Aaron Bradshaw will miss time early and so will returning sensation Ugonna Onyenso. Reports out of pro day also indicate that returner Adou Thiero may have tweaked his ankle as well.

That’s a worrying sign. This Kentucky team has a solid amount of depth, but if it wants to be in the national conversation, it desperately needs to stay healthy going into the big dance.

CETINOK: Consistency. Last season, Kentucky would look like two different teams within the same week. Losing to South Carolina at home just to go knock off a top Tennessee team a few days later and then losing in Athens to a lower-level Georgia team will not be enough this year. We saw flashes of what last year’s team could be, but we didn’t see it night in and night out. That will need to change this year if Kentucky wishes to grab its ever-elusive ninth national championship.

Fall 2023

SMONEY: Kentucky has the new talent and it has the veterans. It needs balance, and it has it. The question is, will Calipari find that balance and consistency with the team before SEC play starts? The recruiting class is a weapon, but those freshmen won’t come out of the gates perfect and will need time to develop. Finding a balance between them, Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell will be crucial in finding success this year. It has pieces, now it needs to put them together. Getting Aaron Bradshaw healthy again is also key.

TIPOFF TRIVIA Professional Pipeline

Ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season, Kentucky men’s basketball is set to have 26 players on an active NBA roster with several more throughout the G-League on two-way contracts.

Alternatively, Rhyne Howard, one of the all-time leading scorers across both programs, is set to return to action in the WNBA. Howard was named Rookie of the Year in 2022.

Rivalry Renewed

Kentucky men’s basketball recently announced that, beginning in 2025, it would be renewing its rivalry with Indiana, inking a four-year contract.

Please Drink Responsibly

The 2023-24 seasons will be the first for both the women’s and men’s teams to feature the sale of alcoholic beverages during games. Kentucky made the move after initially launching a pilot program last spring at baseball and softball games.

Happy Anniversary!

Kentucky women’s basketball will be celebrating 50 years of action during the 2023-24 season.

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Fall 2023

TRAVIS FANNON | STAFF Kentucky forward Tre Mitchell controls the ball during Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

TRAVIS FANNON | STAFF Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham dunks the ball during Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 at Rupp Arena.

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TRAVIS FANNON | STAFF Kentucky forward Janae Walker shoots the ball on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 at Big Blue Madness.

Fall 2023

ABBEY CUTRER| STAFF Kentucky men’s basketball freshmen Justin Edwards and D.J. Wagner pose for portraits on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at Joe Craft Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

TRAVIS FANNON | STAFF Kentucky guard Maddie Scherr shoots the ball during Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

TRAVIS FANNON | STAFF Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard celebrates during Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.

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Fall 2023

Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball hosts 2023 Big Blue Madness

By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com

Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball hosted the 2023 edition of Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena on Friday.

The event kicked off with the women’s side of things, seeing the players have their entrances to the songs of their choosing after some early fan contests.

UK then played a video package celebrating 50 years of the women’s basketball program, which was then highlighted as prior coaches, Sue Feamster, Sharon Fanning, Bernadette Maddox, Mickie DeMoss and Matthew Mitchell, ceremoniously passed a torch to current head coach Kyra Elzy.

The women were then split into two teams with the BLUE team being represented by Amiya Jenkins, Zennia Thomas, Janae Walker, Saniah Tyler and Maddie Scherr while the WHITE team was represented

by Brooklynn Miles, Cassidy Rowe, Emma King, Jordy Griggs and Eniyah Russell.

Ajae Petty was present in a WHITE jersey and Nyah Leveretter was in a BLUE jersey, despite neither participating in the competitions.

The WHITE team won a shooting competition to warm up for the 3-point contest.

Scherr was the eventual winner of the women’s 3-point contest, scoring 18 points in the first round, leading to a final against King, who notched 17 in the first

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TRAVIS FANNON | STAFF Kentucky guard Saniah Tyler shoots the ball during Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

round. Rowe and Tyler were eliminated in the first round with 15 and five respectively.

In the finals Scherr scored 15 points, which was enough to defeat King’s 13 for the victory.

The actual exhibition would be a lopsided affair with the BLUE team earning a 20-6 victory on the back of nine points, all from beyond the arc, from Jenkins. Thomas also recorded a highlight of her own, notching a block to go along with her four points.

In the intermission between the men’s and women’s events both the UK dance and cheer teams performed routines on the court.

With seats filling up for the men’s portion, UK highlighted

players from Kentucky history all in attendance including Tyler Ulis, Marquis Teague, Dominique Hawkins, Jeff Sheppard and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

UK then debuted a video package, the tune of “Dream On” by Aerosmith, before the men’s players made their entrances on stage.

With all the players out on the court, DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins made his entrance before introducing head coach John Calipari as the “GOAT” and telling fans to “put some respect on his name.”

With all the players and Calipari on the court, another video package, this time featuring former Wildcats currently in the NBA who were unable

to attend the event, played. It featured the likes of Tyrese Maxey, Malik Monk, Karl Anthony-Towns, Anthony Davis, John Wall, Tyler Herro, Keldon Johnson, PJ Washington and Oscar Tshiebwe, the last of which promised UK fans that “No. 9 is ahead of us.”

Up next was the men’s 3-point contest, which was won by Antonio Reeves, making him the second Wildcat in UK history to win back-toback 3-point contests.

Reeves won round one with 26 points, being met by Reed Sheppard in the final, who notched 21 in round one.

Tre Mitchell, D.J. Wagner and Justin Edwards were all eliminated in round one with 20, 17

and 15 respectively.

In the finals Reeves reigned supreme with 20 points, beating out Sheppard’s 18.

Kicking off the dunk contest, Jordan Burks and Joey Hart were set to face off before Edwards threw his hat in the ring as well.

Hart was picked as the winner by the fans in attendance, making him the third unique trophy winner of the night.

Finally, it was time for the men’s exhibition contest between the BLUE (Mitchell, Hart, Robert Dillingham, Brennan Canada and Sheppard) and WHITE (Reeves, Wagner, Burks, Edwards and Walker Horn) teams. Zvonimir Ivišić, Grant Darbyshire, Kareem Watkins, Ugonna Onyenso, Adou Thiero and Aaron Bradshaw all did not compete.

In the end, after the score was not kept for half the exhibition, the WHITE team was successful 29-24.

The event was then concluded with a fan vote deciding the men’s and women’s MVPs with Reeves and Scherr winning their respective awards.

Calipari thanked the fans in attendance for making the trip before attempting to sell them on the Blue-White game at Northern Kentucky next Saturday, promising the debut of “Big Z.” The Blue-White game will tip off at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 21, from Truist Arena on the campus of NKU.

Fall 2023

Tre Mitchell speaks on tumultuous journey ahead of 2023-24 season

By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com

Beyond the basketball court, Tre Mitchell was aware of the fact that his well-traveled nature may turn him off to some fans who value team loyalty, but he emphasized that he believes his journey has been integral for his growth.

“I would say that a lot of people will see it as a negative because I’m bouncing around a lot,” he said. “I see it as a blessing because I’ve been to so many places. I’ve met so many different types of people. I’ve been able to see how people from all over the world think the same in certain areas and you’re able to relate to more people as time goes on. I start to realize the types of people I’m meeting and how to relate to them and understand them to become a better leader. I’m able to be a translator for them when they might not understand something and I can be someone for them to lean on.”

Being able to connect with different characters and types of people was a big thing for Mitchell, especially when coming to an international brand like Kentucky. The Kentucky family unites has the power to reach so many people across the Commonwealth and even have a lasting effect towards the rest of the country.

Fittingly enough, Mitchell’s favorite movie, per his UK Athletics page, is “Remember the Titans.”

“I guess that’s kind of where it started,” Mitchell said. “You see that division become a unity and a oneness and seeing that, like, why wouldn’t you want to see that everywhere? People are so involved in little things when in reality we all

battle the same things we just look a little different on the outside. On the inside we’re all under God, we’re all one people and I feel like we were put on this Earth to love and help one another.”

Beyond just his favorite movie, Mitchell said that his mom acts as his biggest inspiration. He spoke about growing up for a significant part of his life with just his mom and his older sister, crediting his mom for raising the two almost entirely by herself.

“She sacrificed so many things in order to provide for us,” he said.

“She worked multiple jobs and she endured things I never found out about until I was like 20 years old.

Looking back on it, the way she was able to carry herself throughout everything she’s been through, it’s second to none. To me it’s so inspirational because now I’m in a position where I’m able to provide for her and I’m not even a pro yet. She’s that figure for me in my life that tells me no matter how hard things get you gotta keep pushing forward and find a way to make it through.”

His mom didn’t just serve as an inspiration for him, though, as she, a former Charleston Cougar women’s basketball player herself, introduced him to the sport that fills such a key part of his life now.

“The story is that I was able to dribble a ball before I could walk,” Mitchell said. “She told that to me all the time. I always grew up around the game, I always had a love for the game and she taught me things with my game as well. She knew the physical side of basketball too.”

Mitchell expanded upon his upbringing and journey by highlighting

the importance of the recent changes toward positive stories surrounding mental health in sports. He particularly mentioned the massive brand Kentucky has and the level of impact it has on so many people.

“I had some mental health issues myself during my time at Texas,” he said.

“I’ve been through it.

I’ve seen how emotions can waver and how your thought patterns can change and things like that. I tried to keep a brave face but at the end of the day you never know what someone is going through in their internal world. If you can be a light to somebody, even if it’s just for a couple of seconds, that has the potential to change someone’s mind about something they might think of doing to themselves. At the end of the day, whether it be through sports, your job or wherever, we’re all here for a reason. Our connection with others is what helps get a lot of people through their day-to-day life.”

With all his life experience leading him to the Bluegrass, Mitchell will look to officially make his regular season Kentucky debut on Monday, Nov. 6, inside Rupp Arena against New Mexico State. The team has several exhibitions remaining on the schedule after Big Blue Madness where fans can catch a sneak peak of what Mitchel will have to offer for the year.

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Fall 2023

COLUMN: Is Calipari on the hot seat going into 2023-2024?

By Ali Cetinok sports@kykernel.com

At some point every year, Kentucky fans will hear the words, "This job is not for everyone" come out of John Calipari's mouth.

The question in recent years has become whether or not he is actually the one for this job himself.

Calipari and the Wildcats had a tough year last season with many ups and downs, failing to make it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament after falling to Kansas State in March.

The expectations for Kentucky, however, have never changed: national championship or bust.

That doesn't change this year, either.

With an incoming team that has been coined a "true" Calipari team, expectations are at an all-time high to bring in number nine.

Unfortunately for Calipari, the expectation for number nine has been the same for every year since 2012 whether he likes it or not.

Kentucky basketball is a different animal when it comes to expecta-

tions, 11 years since the last title simply isn't good enough. Five years without winning the SEC tournament also isn't enough.

Failure to make the final four in eight years is definitely not enough.

So, what does this all mean for Calipari? It's simple: produce results now.

Simply put, Big Blue Nation is tired of waiting for success.

With an incoming class having the amount of talent that this one possesses, the feel around the commonwealth is that it is now or never for Calipari.

Calipari will probably again tell the college basketball world just how difficult his job at Kentucky is numerous times this season, but really this is him telling everyone that he feels he is always on the hot seat in Lexington.

He wouldn't be wrong in thinking that at all.

Simply put, Calipari (or

whoever is at the helm of Kentucky basketball, for that matter) will always find themselves on the hot seat regardless of what they have achieved in the past.

Beyond that, though, in this season the seat might be hotter than it has ever been. Last season was far from pretty for Wildcat fans, but there was always a sense of "next year is our year" from BBN. Well, next year is here.

The SEC is arguably one of the best conferences in college basketball right now, but the fact remains that Calipari has only won one SEC title since 2018, which, for Kentucky's standards, is inexcusable.

In recent years, there have been multiple cases where the Wildcats have been upset by lower-level SEC opponents.

In the 2022-23 season, Kentucky lost to a Georgia team that placed dead last in the SEC and only won

one conference game in the year prior.

In fact, not only did it lose to a horrendous Georgia team, but it lost to Vanderbilt twice, including a game inside Rupp Arena.

The Commodores also finished the 2021-22 season in the bottom four of the SEC. In the past, Kentucky has moved on from its head coaches after consecutive seasons with fewer than 25 wins. Well, in three of the last four seasons, Calipari and Kentucky have failed to surpass this 25-win mark yet still holds position.

The pressure is at an alltime high for Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats in 2023 with all considered.

Calipari brings in the top-ranked recruiting class for yet another year, and this one is more important than ever if he wishes to call himself the Kentucky men’s basketball head coach for another season.

TIPOFF TRIVIA Power Six Power Houses

For the first time since he left Louisville in 2017, former Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino and John Calipari will both be coaching “power six” programs with postseason ambitions.

Pitino left Iona in the offseason to join St. John’s in the Big East. He is regarded by many UK fans as their favorite coach to come through Lexington and led the Cats to win the 1996 national championship.

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Fall 2023

Kentucky students generally optimistic about the upcoming basketball season

By Parker Scott sports@kykernel.com

Kentucky basketball is set to begin its 2023-24 season in October, with many fans having expectations that are higher than ever after recent years.

With one of the top recruiting classes in the country and some returning players that could come back better than ever, many see this as a very good chance for the Wildcats to make a deep tournament run.

Students especially are hungry for a great season and think that it is very much possible for Kentucky to perform well in the NCAA Tournament and perhaps even win a national championship.

Even with a roster that consists of many freshmen that have yet to prove themselves, students like freshman Daniel Manwill think that the potential handicap will make things exciting.

“It will definitely make me want to go to games more because the coaches are going to be trying out different stuff, different roster rotations to see which one works, and it’s going to be exciting to see what is the best chemistry out of all players,” Manwill said.

Manwill went on to explain that, while it may be tough for the team in the

TRAVIS FANNON | STAFF Fans cheer during Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

beginning because of how young the roster is, because of the high level of potential, he believes it will eventually become a top-tier squad.

Sophomore Jed Burris, on the other hand, is not certain that the team will go far in the NCAA Tournament but is still optimistic because of the improved lineup from last year.

“We never know with Cal coaching,” he said.

“But I think that with our lineup we’ve got right now, it’s looking really good.”

A major difference between the 2023-24 team and the last year’s team is the addition of seven-foot centers that have great ball handling skills, including freshman Aaron Bradshaw, which is something Burris said he thinks will be a key piece of the team’s identity.

Some of the main fresh-

man recruits, including Bradshaw, DJ Wagner, Rob Dillingham and Justin Edwards, stand out to people like Manwill as possible playmakers for the Cats.

“Rob has the best handles in college, DJ is reasonably smart, Justin is a good scorer and Aaron Bradshaw is a unicorn, so it’s going to be interesting to see all of them work together,” Manwill said.

Even though a lot of people have their doubts about the team, some are certain that the team will be successful, including sophomore Audrey Maxwell.

“I did not pay attention at all last year, but I have grown up in Lexington, so I believe that we are a basketball school through and through,” Maxwell said.

“That is something that Calipari cannot erase.”

Kentucky is slated to play many tough opponents in the new year, including Kansas, Gonzaga, North Carolina and Miami, along with their annual conference games.

There will be many opportunities for big victories that students will be able to celebrate and Maxwell is confident that the Wildcats can come out on top of big games and overall be successful in the future.

“I feel that it is our time soon that we burn the couches again on State Street,” she said. “We will win a national championship in the next five years.”

Following Big Blue Madness, Kentucky will begin play on Friday, Oct. 27, in a preseason exhibition against Georgetown College. The Cats will first see regular season action against New Mexico State on Monday, Nov. 6, starting at 8 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena.

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WHAT’S NEW FOR THE CATS IN BLUE Construction at Memorial Coliseum

By Samantha Money sports@kykernel.com

The $82 million renovations at Memorial Coliseum are underway and will feature an updated lobby, seating, air condition, lighting and sound systems.

The construction is scheduled to be completed by fall of 2024 but, until then, UK women’s basketball, along with volleyball, STUNT and gymnastics will be competing in Rupp Arena for the season, with Transylvania’s Clive M. Beck Cen-

ter and Georgetown College’s Davis-Reid Alumni Gym as additional locations due to scheduling conflicts.

Construction at Memorial Coliseum also meant that the annual Big Blue Madness Campout for tickets was not held. The event, usually held in the field outside the Singletary Center for the Arts, historically saw players and coaches alike greet waiting fans and award tickets. But with the Coliseum completely under construction, the university made the decision to cancel the event.

Kentucky men’s basketball back on top

By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com

Kansas and head coach Bill Self were handed their Independent Accountability Resolution Process violations by the NCAA after alleged recruiting violations.

While the Jayhawks suffered no kind of postseason ban, they were forced to vacate 15 wins in which the team played Silvio De Sousa, the player with the violations attached to him. While some Kentucky fans may feel the decision was too lenient, the vacated wins saw Kentucky retake the lead as the all-time winningest program in college basketball with 2,377 confirmed wins.

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The 15 vacated wins dropped Kansas’ total from 2,385 down to 2,370, seven behind the Cats.

Out with the old and in with the new

By Samantha Money sports@kykernel.com

Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball lost some regular faces after the conclusion of last season while gaining some new faces at the same time.

Here’s a breakdown: WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Joining the Team • Brooklyn Miles: junior guard, incoming transfer from Tennessee • Jordy Griggs: freshman guard commit from Moreno Valley, California • Janae Walker: freshman forward commit from Tyrone, Georgia Leaving the Team • Robyn Benton: graduated, signed with Celta Baloncesto Femenino in Spain • Adebola Adeyeye: graduated, signed with Team Nigeria • Blair Green: graduated • Jada Walker: outgoing transfer to the Baylor Bears •Kennedy Cambridge: outgoing transfer to Ohio State • Tionna Herron: outgoing transfer the to Texas Longhorns MEN’S BASKETBALL Joining the Team • Rob Dilingham: freshman guard commit from North Carolina, top 15 recruit

• Justin Edwards: freshman guard commit from Philadelphia, top 10 recruit • Aaron Bradshaw: freshman forward commit from New Jersey, top 10 recruit • Tre Mitchell: incoming graduate transfer from West Virginia • Reed Sheppard: freshman guard commit from Kentucky, top 25 recruit • DJ Wagner: freshman guard commit from New Jersey, top 10 recruit • Joey Hart: three-star freshman guard commit from Linton, Indiana • Jordan Burks: three-star freshman guard commit from Decatur, Alabama • Zvonimir Ivišić: freshman forward commit from Vodice, Croatia Leaving the Team • Jacob Toppin: signed with the New York Knicks • CJ Fredrick: an outgoing transfer to the Cincinnati Bearcats • Sahvir Wheeler: an outgoing transfer to Washington • Daimion Collins: an outgoing transfer to LSU • Cason Wallace: drafted No. 10 in NBA Draft by Oklahoma City Thunder • Chris Livingston: drafted No. 58 in NBA Draft by Milwaukee Bucks • Oscar Tshiebwe: signed two-way contract with Indiana Pacers • Lance Ware: an outgoing transfer to the Villanova Wildcats

Mamba school

By Samantha Money sports@kykernel.com

The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball teams were selected as the first “Mamba Program'' by Vanessa Bryant to carry on the legacy of the late basketball star Kobe Bryant.

The teams will sport apparel fea-

turing the Mamba logo in partnership with Nike.

“The Mamba & Mambacity Sports Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating positive impact for underserved athletes and boys and girls in sports found through the vision and loving memory of Kobe and Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant,” according to the program’s website.

AD

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