on the weekend of January 20. Cats host Georgia that weekend. I just spoke with his dad. He says the decision is still probably 60 days away or so. They basically want to see who comes back and who stays. I’ll have the interview ready later today.

Check out the guy in the background...hilarious!!! Excellent timing!!! You couldnt have photoshopped it any better!!! LOL

Keep moving on up:

...is basically unusable. An annoying ad on every article you click. Many of them with no obvious way of bypassing. I'm no fan of Jones or KSR, but I like to take a look now and then to see if anything is going on. But man, the ads are just too much.

Welcome to the Official Kentucky vs Illinois State OOC Prediction Contest!

Follow the rules below and make your prediction. I'll publish the results after the game. You can put any comment you would like below your score prediction (put '***' after your prediction to make it easier to separate the comments) but try not to put anything above as my scripts may not be able to find your prediction. This is the 1st of three prediction contests this season: the OOC Contest, the SEC Regular Season contest, and the Postseason Contest.

Whoever predicts the score closest to the actual score wins. I take the absolute value of the difference of your guess of the Kentucky score and the actual plus the absolute value of the difference of your guess of the opponent score and the actual. There is a penalty for picking the wrong winner. That penalty is the worst score among those who predicted the correct winner. In case of a tie, the tiebreaker is used. In case of a tie in the tiebreaker, we have more than one winner.

I will be awarding points for the first 10 places, including a 3 point bonus for a perfect prediction. I will track cumulative point totals and the number of games you make the top 10. This contest ends with the Gonzaga game in the middle of the SEC Regular Season.

Your post should look something really close to the example below. Remember the ":"s and the word "Tiebreaker:"! Do not!! use a "-" as a separator because some of our tiebreakers will be negative.

This game's tiebreaker is Illinois State Fouls.

Kentucky vs Illinois State game:

-------------------------
Kentucky: 89
Illinois State: 53

Tiebreaker: 18
--------------------------

Just cut and paste everything between the lines above into your reply and then modify the scores and tiebreaker as you see fit. If you don't know how to do that, type very carefully. Remember to type in the word "Tiebreaker:" so that I can find it. Anything my scripts can't figure out will not count.

Don't edit your post or try to post a score after the game has started.

BTW I really would prefer exact names for the teams, but will try to be accommodating as long as it doesn't create too much work for me. If we are playing Louisville, just about anything not obscene will be OK.

--------------------------


Postseason Basketball Prediction Scores - Kentucky @ Louisville (tiebreaker was 14 Louisville Assists):

10 1 . wfm101981 : 3 points, tiebreaker=10
9 2 . docholiday51 : 6 points, tiebreaker=12
8 3 . North Carolina Blue Wildcat: 7 points, tiebreaker=6
7 4 . M4CAT : 8 points, tiebreaker=11
7 4 . $Z71$ : 8 points, tiebreaker=11
7 4 . blubo : 8 points, tiebreaker=11
4 7 . *CatinIL* : 8 points, tiebreaker=8
3 8 . Jazzycat : 9 points, tiebreaker=14
2 9 . onearmedjesus : 9 points, tiebreaker=11
1 10 . SWVA WildcatFan : 9 points, tiebreaker=7
.. 11 . rivercatinfl : 10 points, tiebreaker=10
.. 12 . cat888 : 10 points, tiebreaker=7
.. 13 . Wildcat_In_Florida: 11 points, tiebreaker=9
.. 14 . kybloo92 : 12 points, tiebreaker=10
.. 14 . UKCatWoman : 12 points, tiebreaker=10
.. 16 . LogicalCat : 12 points, tiebreaker=9
.. 16 . GoBIG BLUE : 12 points, tiebreaker=9
.. 18 . drew_ukfan : 14 points, tiebreaker=13
.. 19 . Hargyt13 : 14 points, tiebreaker=12
.. 19 . lyngz : 14 points, tiebreaker=12
.. 21 . AFSTALLION13 : 14 points, tiebreaker=9
.. 22 . howercat : 14 points, tiebreaker=6
.. 23 . kyhunter88 : 15 points, tiebreaker=10
.. 24 . kennyskywalker34 : 15 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 25 . kywildcat41086 : 15 points, tiebreaker=5
.. 26 . Corbin_Creeper : 16 points, tiebreaker=13
.. 27 . UK96GOAT : 16 points, tiebreaker=10
.. 28 . kywildcatsfannumber1: 16 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 29 . pappy52 : 16 points, tiebreaker=6
.. 29 . UK Widget : 16 points, tiebreaker=6
.. 31 . ukypug : 17 points, tiebreaker=11
.. 32 . Chad Rock : 17 points, tiebreaker=9
.. 33 . Abney2House : 18 points, tiebreaker=11
.. 34 . Hang_Time_2 : 18 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 34 . Kycatspaws : 18 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 36 . TOMCATS1990 : 19 points, tiebreaker=12
.. 37 . Jamal Mercer : 19 points, tiebreaker=10
.. 37 . YardCat : 19 points, tiebreaker=10
.. 39 . BigBlueFanGA : 19 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 39 . BlobUK : 19 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 41 . Rideordiewildcat : 19 points, tiebreaker=6
.. 42 . Bigblueincincy : 20 points, tiebreaker=9
.. 43 . ORCAT : 20 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 43 . warrior-cat : 20 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 45 . kyfanrob : 20 points, tiebreaker=6
.. 46 . ThreeHogNight : 21 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 47 . Roe07 : 23 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 48 . BigKari : 25 points, tiebreaker=9
.. 48 . WalterTheHippo : 25 points, tiebreaker=9
.. 50 . ArtLaibsGhost : 25 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 51 . the nail at the foul line: 25 points, tiebreaker=6
.. 52 . MidseasonTweak : 26 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 52 . ukfan041 : 26 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 54 . GoB!gBlue : 27 points, tiebreaker=10
.. 55 . Blueisbest : 27 points, tiebreaker=9
.. 56 . cat tat2 : 28 points, tiebreaker=8
.. 57 . Old_Red : 30 points, tiebreaker=7
.. 58 . yes_takeaside : 31 points, tiebreaker=7
.. 58 . UKFan32065 : 31 points, tiebreaker=7
.. 60 . TNCatfanforever : 124 points, tiebreaker=9

Those who picked the wrong winner: TNCatfanforever

Postseason Basketball Prediction Contest Leader Board:

31 : blubo
31 : Jazzycat
23 : Bigblueincincy
23 : RMorris33
22 : rivercatinfl
20 : ukfan041
17 : Jamal Mercer
17 : TNCatfanforever
16 : Hargyt13
16 : maysvilleky
15 : cat tat2
15 : warrior-cat
15 : wfm101981
14 : *CatinIL*
14 : Blue_belly
14 : lyngz
13 : howercat
13 : kybloo92
12 : M4CAT
12 : the nail at the foul line
12 : thedahc
11 : AFSTALLION13
11 : kennyskywalker34
11 : North Carolina Blue Wildcat
10 : $Z71$
10 : cat888
10 : docholiday51
10 : kywildcat41086
10 : Lovebaskelball
10 : pappy52
10 : SWVA WildcatFan
10 : _Rooster
9 : LogicalCat
9 : Roe07
9 : TOMCATS1990
9 : Wildcat_In_Florida
8 : Blueisbest
8 : Creed Bratton
8 : MidseasonTweak
7 : CatFanAj
7 : drew_ukfan
7 : Green River
7 : Kycatspaws
7 : ORCAT
7 : TheBlueCat
6 : Hang_Time_2
6 : ukypug
5 : BlobUK
5 : Old_Red
5 : ThreeHogNight
5 : UK Cats1
4 : Corbin_Creeper
2 : GoBIG BLUE
2 : kyfanrob
2 : onearmedjesus


Players Who've Made the Top Ten at Least Once:

5 : blubo
5 : Jazzycat
4 : *CatinIL*
4 : ukfan041
3 : Bigblueincincy
3 : Blue_belly
3 : Hargyt13
3 : lyngz
3 : maysvilleky
3 : North Carolina Blue Wildcat
3 : rivercatinfl
3 : RMorris33
3 : warrior-cat
3 : Wildcat_In_Florida
2 : $Z71$
2 : AFSTALLION13
2 : cat tat2
2 : cat888
2 : docholiday51
2 : drew_ukfan
2 : Hang_Time_2
2 : howercat
2 : Jamal Mercer
2 : kennyskywalker34
2 : kywildcat41086
2 : Lovebaskelball
2 : M4CAT
2 : MidseasonTweak
2 : SWVA WildcatFan
2 : the nail at the foul line
2 : thedahc
2 : ThreeHogNight
2 : TNCatfanforever
2 : TOMCATS1990
2 : UK Cats1
2 : ukypug
2 : wfm101981
1 : BlobUK
1 : Blueisbest
1 : CatFanAj
1 : Corbin_Creeper
1 : Creed Bratton
1 : GoBIG BLUE
1 : Green River
1 : kybloo92
1 : Kycatspaws
1 : kyfanrob
1 : LogicalCat
1 : Old_Red
1 : onearmedjesus
1 : ORCAT
1 : pappy52
1 : Roe07
1 : TheBlueCat
1 : _Rooster


Total Players:
Kentucky vs New Mexico State : 59
Kentucky vs Texas A&M-Commerce : 61
Kentucky @ Kansas : 71
Kentucky vs Stonehill : 51
Kentucky vs Saint Josephs : 60
Kentucky vs Marshall : 56
Kentucky vs Miami FL : 67
Kentucky vs UNC Wilmington : 60
Kentucky @ Penn : 57
Kentucky @ North Carolina : 63
Kentucky @ Louisville : 60

Season Average for Players: 60.5


Postseason Basketball Prediction Champs:
Kentucky vs New Mexico State : Bigblueincincy: 13
Kentucky vs Texas A&M-Commerce : pappy52: 7
Kentucky @ Kansas : Jazzycat: 6
Kentucky vs Stonehill : Jazzycat: 5
Kentucky vs Saint Josephs : Blue_belly: 16
Kentucky vs Marshall : TNCatfanforever: 30
Kentucky vs Miami FL : _Rooster: 2
Kentucky vs UNC Wilmington : thedahc: 21
Kentucky @ Penn : ukfan041: 2
Kentucky @ North Carolina : kybloo92: 0
Kentucky @ Louisville : wfm101981: 3


@Deeeefense

whether the tweet supposedly by his dad aside, why didn’t he play against Clemson???

We'll make the trip to Florida but it is not qualified yet.

Hope everyone had a great New Years Eve and the morning's going well. I was getting puked on until 3:30 a.m. so it made for an interesting night, but on we press.

Things will get interesting again here pretty quickly with more players at Kentucky and everywhere else making decisions.

** Believe Kentucky will still look to add help at two spots: the secondary, and offensive tackle.

** Could still add edge help but I think they're in pretty good shape there at least for next year. Fearbry looks like somebody who could be a real player for the next year and both Weaver and Afari are back.

** The hope is that Jamon Dumas-Johnson can be an upgrade over Trevin Wallace at MLB. Like Leary and Vandagriff they are just very different kinds of player. JDJ will not play sideline to sideline, shoot into the backfield as fast, etc., but will be a very high IQ player and more physical. At times Wallace wasn't all that physical but he's still a great talent. Eyes and seeing things develop was also an issue for Trevin at times that probably will not hurt JDJ as much.

** Have heard that Mississippi State OT Percy Lewis is someone to watch. Have not heard that anything is imminent, more of a "see how things go" kind of thing but did get the sense that is a situation to definitely be aware of. Someone they could try to pursue.

** Think Kentucky is hopeful that Courtland Ford can be a good player next year. He was hurt for most of this year, a wrist I think. The hope is he can fix it and be good to go next year. He will definitely be battling for that spot.

** It's going to be a big spring for Malachi Wood. This is the year he really needs to take the step forward. Good goal would be to be a rotation tackle, 200+ snaps next year. Not a bust if it doesn't happen but this is when you are looking for him to elevate. Kentucky's got to be a developmental OL program, a couple of years getting guys ready and then rolling them out.

** Have said for a while it's possible UK could look at another portal QB after the spring but right now have not heard anything about that happening. My guess would be they could definitely roll into next year with a top three of Vandagriff, Boley, and Allen. They may choose to pursue another high school quarterback from the '25 class which also has been something mentioned as a possibility for a while. Think Gahanna, Ohio quarterback Brennen Ward would be someone very interesting there but I'm sure there are others.

** Andru Phillips had some good moments at the end of the year. Would be nice to bring him back. The issue is his stock is never going to be higher than it is right now. He's going to be in the top handful of nickels available in the draft. We will see where it lands him but I really do think it's a question of how much he could improve that stock based on what he wants to do in the future.

17 points off of 3 straight turnovers won/lost the game. The players were put in a position to easily win and coughed it up.

I guess trolls, drunks and bettors take over during losses,

Then there's the posters who hate Stoops and this was their chance to dance around and say "see, told you so!". Saw alot of things yesterday that would make a fan excited for next year with a better QB.

Just editorializing here for a moment. In my opinion, this is what Kentucky is going to need from the portal. Not in order of importance, just a list:

1) A starting quarterback - Leary's eligibility is up after this year. Boley is a true frosh. Maybe he comes in and sets the world on fire but you go get a portal QB without question. These guys command a lot of money so a sizeable portion of your NIL pot is coming from here.

2) A starting running back if Ray Davis doesn't return - Absolutely no offense intended to the guys still projected to be on the roster but K3entucky needs a guy who can carry the load next year if Ray Davis doesn't return. Ray has been really good for them this year. They'll need someone on that level next season.

3) Wide Receiver depth - I don't know that they have to go get starter(s) from the portal but I would anticipate they bring in someone to offset the loss of T Robinson. Of course the WRs have not been a strength this year. They've been up and down at best. I think you can bank on some improvement for sure and there will be more depth because of guys getting older and the guys committed but watch the Tenn/Mizzou game today.

4) At least one interior OL - If Marques Cox doesn't return they probably need to bring in another tackle who can at least compete for a spot but they definitely need an iOL in my view with Horsey leaving. Doesn't have to be someone you pencil in as a starter automatically but some depth at least.

5) OLB - With Weaver leaving and the obvious question about Keaten with the Wade mom making some comments online, and the lack of a pass rush this year, you have to imagine this is a top priority. They have to have some pass rushers. I could see them bringing in a couple of guys in that effort. Just based on sheer numbers maybe one or two of the frosh 'backers could contribute but I think OLB is one of the biggest priorities of the whole offseason. The lack of an edge rush threat affects every other part of the defense for ill.

6) Safety - Going to need at least one safety who is capable of coming in and competing for a starting job.

7) Punter - Hasn't been good enough the last several weeks and has had a real impact on the overall operation re: field position.

Could also see them targeting some defensive line help, but I think those are the areas where you just have to plan on searching for portal upgrades. It will be interesting to see if they have the NIL to do all that and also make sure the guys on the roster who they want to return are taken care of (NIL).

Next year the schedule is a bear and they will probably be favored in two of eight SEC games.

Not meant to be a negative post, just getting to the end of the season and taking a big picture, realistic view going into maybe the most significant offseason of the Stoops era.

You know it just burns me up knowing that the NCAA is playing around with this kid’s college career. He should already be cleared especially knowing that HIGH SCHOOL kids are making tons of money, and it’s OK for them to go to college. But when it comes to Big Z, he still is cleared academically but still in waiting status to play? What else has to happen? Not a damn thing. Totally intentional on the NCAA’s part.

Even if he wasn’t playing for UK, I still think this is a flat out travesty. The NCAA should be sued and torn down. They do no favors for these kids.

Sorry to beat a dead horse. But this has to stop. Unfreaking ridiculous.

What is up with this kid? He was the number one kicker in America when he came to UK. He has never seen the field and I’ve heard that Stoops is looking for a punter in the portal. Is he a bust?

Got dayum that boy smooth and skilled.

Yall need to update yall shit. No way that boy 6’4” no more.

No ****in way.

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...into the portal...go gettum Coach Stoops

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Saw this tweet and was interested. Seems like us and Washington have almost the exact same talent level. Gives me hope for our future but angry at the same time with the past few years.

Players who burned redshirts:

Ty Bryant, Nasir Addison, Khamari Anderson, Jayvant Brown, Anthony Brown-Stephens....

Obviously there is still a lot of work to be done in the portal but is the 2024 high school recruiting class done? @JRowland - is there anyone you could see the UK coaches making a run at before the February signing day other than Amaree Williams?

NM

Coming up at 7 PM CT

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UK was his first offer and he has visited Kentucky more than any other school recruiting him.