……..beat the brakes off Lil’ Penny and the Memphuss Marauders tonight!!!!

They’re due a bigtime azz whippin!

Also wouldn’t hurt my feelings to see Arizona get smashed again too!

No disrespect to Mike Stoops, but Matt House appears to be available as a new coach. Mike is around 62/63 years old and, in my view, has been average both as a coach and recruiter. On the other hand, Matt House is around 44/45 years old, has a great former experience at UK as a ILB coach and a reasonably good recruiter.

Now, I have no idea whether or not Matt would be interested at all in returning to UK but I believe both UK Football and Coach Mark Stoops would be enhanced by his addition.

Your thoughts?

You think he regrets picking UCLA over us? His team is 6-8 and playing in a half empty gym. Who else, that didn't choose us, do you think is regretting their decision?

Miami is about to beat Clemson. They look like they may be back to form and improve the impact of our win over them.

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Was just playing around with EvanMiya's best 5 man lineups which popularized the Benny's last year, and lo and behold, the top 5 man lineup again this year is a Kentucky one (although in a v small sample size). The team defensive efficiency looks like a total outlier so I wouldn't put too much weight in it but it's fun nonetheless.

I personally love all our lineups that feature Reed, Dilly, Mitchell, either Reeves or DJ which is also backed up by his stats with both of those 4-man units being in the top 15 nationally. Feels like the key is keeping Thiero/Edwards away from the 3 position as much as possible. Maybe the question isn't so much should Reed/Dilly start over Dj/Reeves, but should one of them be starting over Edwards or Bradshaw?

I know we are all big fans of Reed, but it seems like the Illinois State coach is as well.

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NM

This is crazy.....well shit wrong link ignore

Lexington’s Malachi Moreno has really started to put it together and he’s arguably the best true big man prospect in 2025. Right in UK’s back yard with an offer. He’s a top 25-30 prospect in my eyes as of today.

Legit 7-footer with very solid hands. Has had multiple games of around 20 rebounds in recent games in and out of the state. Really developing as a passer out of the post and mid-range. Good footwork around the basket. Still needs to get stronger and play through contact better, but he’s made strides. A solid athlete, but not an Aaron Bradshaw type of runner and leaper yet. Still young.

75. Ray Davis

“RB, Kentucky, Senior
Notable 2023 stats: 199 car, 1,452 total yards, 21 total TD
Preseason ranking: NR

The Vanderbilt transfer made one of the season's biggest early statements, rushing for 280 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-14 blowout of Florida in September, and he finished his year in Lexington with 1,452 total yards (1,129 receiving) and 21 touchdowns (14 receiving).“

98. Maxwell Hairston

CB, Kentucky, Sophomore
Notable 2023 stats: 53 solo tackles, 1 FF, 5 INT
Preseason ranking: NR

A sure tackler and a ball hawk, Hairston picked off five passes, broke up six more and nearly scored as many touchdowns (two from pick-sixes) as he allowed (3). His 89% tackle success rate is about as good as you'll see from a cornerback in space, too.


I guess this gives Deone Walker something to strive for next year!!

#4 - Katz's Power 36
#6 - AP Poll
#6 - Coaches Poll
#10 - CBS
#18 - Kenpom
#20 - Massey
#20 - Tarvik
#22 - NET
#33- RPI

Can he get NIL money ? He can't play but he practices with the team, travels with the team, lives with the team etc.
You read how some players share money from NIL deals with teammates, can they share with him ?

BJ Mayes from UAB. Will have more on him soon. Offer just went out today.

6'1, 185-pound junior from Houston, TX.

Makes you wonder about a possible relationship with Shorts since he was there at Houston and recruiting the area.

72.9 PFF grade on 597 snaps.

Tonight the 2nd time I’ve watched Stanford, other was vs ASU. They have a FR guard Carlyle, playing just his 4th game, and his game is a lot like Dillingham.

I'm certainly not denying the defense has been an issue. Giving up 70 points, 45 rebounds, including 24 offensive rebounds to Illinois State is a problem. However, I think part of our issue is just human nature due to how good we are offensively. We gave up 70 but we scored 96. When you're winning by 20+ most of the game, it's easy to become satisfied just trading baskets. In most of our games, we haven't had to play shut down defense or focus on boxing out for rebounds. I think that's what happened with the IL State game.

Now, having said this, at Florida is next, followed by Missouri, and then at Texas A&M. Those teams are all better than both Louisville and IL State. I'm glad Calipari isn't letting this slide. If this team can learn to play defense and learn to rebound at a similar level to the way they score, this team really could be a legit national title contender.

I know I have a reputation around here as an optimist, because that's what I choose to be. I noticed years ago that I like optimists and dislike pessimists, so I choose to be what I like in others. But I also think I am a realist, and it seems to me that optimism for the basketball team is a little overblown at this point, so I offer this post as a counterpoint.

This team is FUN! We all like the fast-paced STYLE, and it seems that some mistake the style for greatness. So a look at the numbers: We are currently #7 in the NCAA offensive efficiency rankings, and # 90 in the defensive efficiency rankings. Last year we were 36 and 103. in 2022, the last year we were contenders, we were 10 and 35. My conclusion? We are a really good offensive team, but have some serious work to do on defense to be a bona-fide Final Four contender. I haven't looked at national stats on rebounding, but my eye-test says that needs some real improvement also.

EDIT -- I just looked up the current stats on rebounding margin, and UK is #177 -- behind even U6 (#135). Not sure how much that means, but it seems to generally confirm my eye-test.

Now, the reason for optimism -- the talent is there, and Cal's best teams usually start strong on offense, then add the defense after "Camp Cal," or even later. If that happens this year, we are looking at a very fun March! But it needs to happen -- we are not there yet. I suspect it will happen -- we just got the bigs back -- but not all at once, and there will be some losses along the way. I will be one who doesn't give up or panic when that happens. JMO.

Just curious.

I could easily be wrong but it seems like I'm seeing more games with both teams in the 80s /90s.

Does anyone have the numbers?

If so what effect has the new block / charge rule had on scoring, if any?

Are more drives to the basket opening up more 3s when defenses collapse to help ?

Are more 3s being taken?

What are your thoughts on the style of play across the country? Same, different, better, worse, etc?

Who do you think ends up being the most exciting contributor ultimately from this freshman class? The hope is Boley right, but who else? Heck each class! Who pops off next year?

I don't get how Washington was punished for a player getting hurt. They should have been able to run the clock down to around 15 seconds before they had to kick it.
They ended up kicking it at 45 seconds. Anyone know why there is a rule to punish a team for an injury?