Wofford Coach and former cat Dwight Perry looking to get it done.

Never forget in Tubby's last win at Kentucky in the tournament, he was accidentally penciled in the starting lineup instead of his cousin Bobby.

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UK PLAYERS Q&A:

* Lamont Butler says his shoulder feels better, and he's ready to go out and compete.

* Team did a dinner at Jeff Ruby's and watched Remember the Titans before they left Lexington for the tournament, a little bonding moment for them.

* Butler thinks this team is hungry to compete in the tournament, to be remembered at UK. Six more games to show what they can do.

* On Coach Pope's message... Butler says it's to go out and have fun, play free.

* Andrew Carr on what he was doing this time last year and did he remember watching Kentucky play Oakland... He says they were on the wrong side of the bubble, didn't get to play, and he did watch the UK-Oakland game. Says he probably wouldn't be here unless that game went that way.

* Otega Oweh says he remembers being at home, watching these games last year and wishing he could be playing in the tournament.

* Koby Brea says that Oakland-UK game showed that you have to show up, that everyone comes to the NCAA Tourney ready to play and prove themselves.

* Brea says this season exceeded his expectations, the whole experience at UK. "But there's still a whole lot more to do." Oweh echoes those comments. "Blessed and thankful to be on this stage." Butler said it was a roller-coaster of a year, but that kind of brought us even closer together and has us ready to go win a championship.

* Carr says the team's emphasis on ball-screen coverage on the defensive end of the floor has really helped them late in the season. That commitment has helped them become a lot better defensively.

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UK HC MARK POPE Q&A:

* On offering to pay for fans' gas... Not the smartest thing I've done. (smiles)

* Approaching this game the same way they've approached all their games this season, the same intensity and focus.

* On Troy's coach saying the tougher team will win this game... Pope agrees. But sometimes the definition of toughness is different to different people. For Pope's team, it's about staying focused on the task at hand, where you are in the moment.

* On UK's health... We're exactly where we want to be.

* On what advice Ansley Almonor might have for a high seed playing a low seed... He's got that good perspective.

* On Troy -- Only team we played in this league that was better than them on the offensive glass was Texas A&M. They're kinda like Mizzou in how they approach things. Really disruptive on defense. Top guard has ridiculous steals numbers. They walk the ball up the court a lot after scores, but they score something like 18% in transition, which is like what an Alabama does. Shows you how those steals and turnovers turn into points for them

* Pope... We have to be what we were for the majority of the season: a great ball-protection team and a great defensive rebounding team.

They got 4 teams in but everyone knows UNC only made it as the last team in because their AD was the selection committee chair. And then 8-seed Louisville got dominated by 9-seed Creighton. And now 5-seed Clemson is getting thoroughly embarrassed by 12-seed McNeese. Only Duke belonged in the field from that trash conference.

In a convenient jpg file. Correct proportion (8 1/2 x 11) foe printing also.

Have to admit, these are a little better than I probably would have guessed.

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1. Auburn 3.88
2. Duke 3.67
3. Florida 3.04
4. Tennessee 2.90
5. Gonzaga 2.84
6. Houston 2.77
7. Arizona 2.67
8. Iowa St 2.63
9. Alabama 2.53
10. Texas Tech 2.48
11. Kentucky 2.24
12. Missouri 2.12
13. Maryland 2.10
14. UConn 2.09
15. BYU 2.081
16. Kansas 2.079
17. Pursue 2.05
18. Michigan St 2.007
19. St John’s 2.005
20. Mississippi St 1.91
21. UCLA 1.89
22. Clemson 1.84
23. Michigan 1.76
24. Marquette 1.65
25. Mississippi 1.62
26. Xavier 1.60
27. Oregon 1.59
28. Georgia 1.56
29. Arkansas 1.52
30. Louisville 1.51
31. Wisconsin 1.50
32. Vanderbilt 1.451
33. North Carolina 1.450
34. Baylor 1.38
36. Oklahoma 1.36
37. Texas A&M 1.35
38. Illinois 1.31
39. Utah St 1.28
44. VCU 1.25
45. St. Mary’s 1.18
46. Creighton 1.17
50. Colorado St 1.05
53. Memphis 0.96
55. UCSD 0.94
58. Drake 0.87
62. New Mexico 0.82
83. McNeese 0.50
88. Lipscomb 0.440
89. Liberty 0.4387
90. Yale 0.4385
91. Grand Canyon 0.432
98. Akron 0.382
99. Troy 0.379
116. UNC-Wilmington 0.254
117. High Point 0.251
134. Wofford 0.17
140. Robert Morris 0.15
147. Bryant 0.14
161. Montana 0.11
172. Omaha 0.10
204. MSM
235. Norfolk St 0.05
276. SIU -Edward 0.03
291. Alabama St 0.02

Last night was pretty special. Felt like an icon UK SEC Tournament moment.

Tonight's blowout was an ugly end to the event. Alabama is a really bad matchup for Kentucky especially without Lamont Butler. They just can't slow down the ball well enough and Bama has the length and athleticism to get to loose balls that have often gone the other way. Kentucky doesn't match up well with Auburn or Alabama, that seems obvious, but they can still win some games in the tournament depending on the matchups. Watching the game play out, it was just clear in real time that Bama really is kind of a better version of Kentucky. Have to tip your cap to them.

Kentucky missed a lot of midrange and in shots that could have made the game closer. I don't think the officiating helped them but that isn't an excuse for the loss because Alabama is clearly better. Not sure how much different Kentucky can do defensively against them given the personnel issues and matchup problems.

Brutal night for Oweh, who was called for a foul on a play where he ended up bloodied. That's not the first time he's struggled like that against Alabama. Just not as easy finishing against them. Carr played well and put up good numbers but a bad foul call in the first half led to him missing minutes and when he left the court the game started moving in Alabama's direction.

Alabama dominated fast break points, 19-3. They totally dominated points off turnovers, 29-6 (see: fast break points). UK gave it away too much. They dominated points in the paint. Kentucky didn't have the lead once. They needed to hit a lot more three pointers than that to have a chance in this one. Again, tough matchup and ugly outcome. Definitely not the team you want to see UK seeded anywhere close to in the tournament.

Screen keeps flickering and freezing up Ugh…

Starts today. Practice #1

Doesn't this give UNC an extra day of rest, making it unfair?

Only playing a play-in game on Tuesday and then a first-round game on Thursday makes sense.

Mine

Mich State
Saint John
Duke
Kentucky

St. John over Duke for the ship

Pitino Swan song

This kid can play. He would be a great fit in our program.

Indiana forward Malik Reneau will enter the transfer portal, according to Joe Tipton.

An All-Big Ten honorable mention selection last season, the 6-foot-9 Reneau averaged 13.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists in 23.2 minutes per game.
https://www.insidethehall.com/2025/03/18/report-indianas-malik-reneau-to-enter-the-transfer-portal/

Dang! If that dude could play every game at Rupp, he'd be all-world!

Who was the mind trick guy with Ernie and the guys? I didn't catch the beginning of it, but he was really, really great.

I've seen this debate in the comment sections online after Sacred Heart won their fifth straight state championship in girls basketball.

In terms of boys basketball, a private school has only won it six times since 1962 with four of those six being from 2012-2019. The girls, however, have had a private school win it 15 times since 1999.

But some other sports are crazy. There has NEVER been a public school that has won a girls volleyball state championship. Swimming and diving is crazy too. St. X has won every single boys swimming and diving state title since 1988. The girls have had Sacred Heart win it every year since 2013. In boys tennis, a public school has only won it three times since 1982. Girls private schools dominate that too but to a lesser extent.

I NEVER want the boys basketball tournament to go away from one champ as it makes the tournament special. But it appears to be a real issue with some of the other sports.

@kybobcat You have an all timer out there waiting for you bring it here. Scream masks and all.

I was talking to a buddy last night whose son is tight with Caleb Wilson. And the rumor he told was that UNC gave CW a $4mil NIL deal and that was also gonna include the taxes paid in that as well.

Side note from the same conversation is that if/when UNC moves on from Davis that the next Coach is UC’s current coach. Which is great news cuz he’s been terrible at UC already! 😂😂

TIFWIW I have no inside information just passing in what I heard. It is not my information. But if that number is correct then this NIL thing is way outta control!!

I think he definitely can reach the level of Haugh and Condon in Florida soon

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I’m pretty sure all the rims, etc, are the same in the tournament. They look tight as hell. Watch when a shot hits the rim. Not very shooter friendly.