If UK takes care of business….moving on up; moving on up.

UK has been in discussions internally on what improvements they are going to take to the BOT meeting coming up this month.

1. Nutter Fieldhouse - Nutter is the top priority for approval and new updates. They have put an initial proposal and cost analysis together but not finalized dollar amounts. The initial number is a little under $7 million but they are actually wanting to get under that dollar amount and considering changing a few things. As things stand right now it will remove the existing track, all new turf for a full football field, new overhead doors, new windows, new paint and graphics, new netting for cross functional use & FG practice, and pitching/hitting tunnels for baseball use. It will also include new fan system for better ventilation and airflow. The current timeline to get this approved, bids confirmed, and completion is sometime in the summer of 2023 if things go as planned. Cliff Hagan stadium will need to be demolished and cleared to open up that area for a new indoor track facility. The new indoor track project will also need to be approved and be ongoing during the same time period to allow for the completion of that to open up Nutter for it’s worked to be completed.
2. Kroger Field - A) the first project they are hoping to get completed before before the start of the 2022 season is all new turf for the field. The current turf is about past it’s life span and they have been reviewing new types of turf that are most desirable for their new turf. Apparently the turf down at the Citrus Bowl stadium is very favorable for the players and staff. They hope to get bids on new turf this spring and have it installed before the season if everything works out on their desired timeline. B) Next new video boards. They are actively looking at replacing the current video boards with a new, updated technology for the boards. They will use the current metal structures but will replace the internal video boards and be able to add additional video board space with more video square footage to some of the unused space in the current design. They would like to get this completed before the seasons starts but they are not confident with supply chain issues that the components needed for the video board will all be available in time to get it completed.

Lots of good things in the works for our football program. Glad to see Mitch, the athletic department, and our administration are putting more resources to our thriving football program. Also Kudos to Stoops for continuing to demand more improvements and a bigger, better football program! Lots to be excited about.

Anybody seen Baylor? Haven't seen them this year.

Also tonight.

Uconn @ The Hall
UNC @ Oklahoma
Bama @ Zona

Some other interesting tidbits on this:

• Reed is at 2.9 steals per game. If he had just one, maybe two more steals on the season, he'd move up to 5th, as the 4 guys ahead of him are all at 3.0 steals per game.
• Only two guys ahead of him play less minutes (The 3rd place guy, Damani McEntire only plays 20mpg!). The other 5 play more minutes, some of them 5 or 8 minutes more, allowing for more steal opportunities.
• Only 3 guys ahead of him play at Power conference schools, Iowa St, Kansas St. and Arizona St.
• Reed is the only freshman of the 8 players. 4 are seniors, 1 is a junior and 2 are sophomores.
• Reed is the only one averaging over 50% in fg percentage and 3pt fg percentage.
• Only 2 other players have less TO per game.
• Reed has the most blocks per game at 0.9.
• Reed has the highest ft % at 93% of the 7 players ahead of him.

Some of the last few stats are obviously not related to defense, and I'm not sure I have any sort of overall point here, other than stating that Reed is a baller who is still figuring things out and will only get better.

Most interested in seeing how UNC does against a good undefeated OU after their loss to us.








Jeff Goodman
https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops
@GoodmanHoops

GAMES TO WATCH:* Odds provided by
@BetMGM
UConn (-8.5) at Seton Hall, 7 (CBSSN)
Baylor vs. Duke (-3.5) at MSG, 7 (ESPN)
Xavier at St. John's (-6.5), 7 (FS1)
UNC (-2.5) vs. Oklahoma in Charlotte, 9 (ESPN)
Villanova at Creighton (-8.5), 9 (FS1)
Alabama vs. Arizona (-6.5) in Phoenix, 11 (ESPN)

Played for LCA and was being looked at as a DE-LB I think.

Man Jay Williams is really hard to listen to. 🤦‍♂️

Was wondering what the spread was when UK went to Louisville in 12-13 season (Archie Goodwin/Wiltjer/NIT team).

It had to be pretty big. And I believe UK only lost by 5 or so.

Tomorrow might not be the blowout we think it will.

Just curious, thanks.

How happy are you?

What 2-3 positions/more players would you like

(Not counting players in their final year of eligibility or players who really don't or probably won't play much.)

My guesses are below. I'm not saying what I think they SHOULD do but what they WOULD do if they had to decide today.

Gone:

1. Bradshaw
2. Wagner
3. Dillingham
4. Edwards

Return:

1. Thiero
2. Ugo
3. Burks

On the fence:

1. Sheppard - this is a tough one because I think it would depend on his draft position. If he would go first round, I'd say he's gone, but if he would fall to the 2nd round, I think he'd stay.
2. Zvon - not sure he'll ever play a minute but if he does, like Sheppard, I think it would depend on his draft position.

What is a good and free walking app that would track miles walked? I have an Iphone. I have the Iphone healh app but don't see where it would do that. I am probably not understanding it but I'm looking for something that's easy to use where I can just hit start at the beginning of the walk and stop and the end and get miles walkied. Calories would be a bonus. TIA

Not sure why DeCarlos Nicholson has not been announced. Still waiting on that. Have expected it to go through but it has been quiet since early on.


** UK ranks top-25 in high school recruiting and transfer recruiting. That is a balanced approach. I think that does speak to strategy on an important level. Some programs are going all-in on the portal, emphasizing immediate payoff and believing the sport is just a build it up, tear it down thing year over year. NIL allocation is going to be reflected in portal and HS recruiting

** Jerod Smith has been recruited as a field end who can move around with an expectation he will end up in the 270-280 range

** Jacob Smith is just more generally regarded as an EDGE rusher and will be in Brad White's room

** The real question is how Brian Robinson develops. He has been recruited as an EDGE. In terms of how he plays, that's the question. He's not a twitch guy compared to a lot of highly-ranked edge defenders but he's really big and works hard. Could see him eventually playing on the defensive line maybe similar to a Tre'Vonn Rybka

** Universal belief around program seems to be that DB Quaysheed Scott is one of the best players in the class. Ranking does not match but the tape is very impressive

** If Rico Scott does ultimately transfer from Alabama then Kentucky will have an excellent chance. Seems like they managed that relationship very well and remember, Stone Saunders arrives at UK next year

** Kentucky knocked it out of the park with Jonathan Daniels' visit over the summer. When it started to look like he might not sign with Florida State on Wednesday it was only natural for UK to put on the full court press. They were a legit top three choice along with UGA and could have used an elite tackle prospect of course.

** Jamon Dumas-Johnson makes Kentucky extremely strong up the middle next year. Very tough to run between the tackles on. Deone Walker with D'Eryk Jackson and JDJ right behind him. Not just three good players, but three big-time playmakers. JDJ doesn't remember what losing feels like

** Cam Dooley really fell in love with Mizzou and their coaching staff when he visited over the summer. It helped a lot that their DC is also their safeties coach. Not inconceivable that Dooley could grow into the kind of hybrid who plays closer to the LOS. Will be interesting to see how his body develops in the program. Cameron Keys, a corner, actually took the same OV schedule as Dooley so they overlapped a ton. Kentucky liked him but didn't love him

** Dooley was not someone Mizzou wanted to lose. They offered Trajen Greco after Dooley picked Kentucky so they needed someone to fill that spot

** Jiquavious Marshall was believed to be a heavy FSU lean but when that became apparent Kentucky ramped up their recruitment of him and he pulled the surprises. NC State and Georgia Tech were two of the other schools in hottest pursuit

** Eric Wolford had been pursuing Jalen Farmer, but I think some blame fell on him for that not materializing. Whatever happened in the past, he's a big addition. Really high upside

** One of the things that deterred Jason Patterson from UK the first time around when he picked Cincinnati was he was under the assumption the Cats would bring in a great running back from the portal. But the more he thought about it he realized he would have competition everywhere he goes. So he is okay with Kentucky bringing in Chip Trayanum

Tonight I've been sitting in front of the computer looking at vintage postcards on eBay and having a good cry. Growing up in the 1970s and 80s my family annually would go to Gatlinburg and Myrtle Beach. I miss how those places used to look. They look nothing like them now. My husband and I made the trip this past June, and while we had an okay time in Gatlinburg and a pretty good time in Myrtle Beach (the time flew!), it just wasn't the same. So, I'm wondering if folks here are like me and become wet sponges in front of stuff that is vintage. Tonight I ordered some vintage Christmas books for kids off eBay. Please, no suggestions to "move on". We're all different, and I really enjoy spending my time looking back on memories. Any of you all have your favorite places you attended as children, that you think about a lot or maybe at certain times of the year when something triggers those memories? Maybe you have a longing for a time before you visited a place as a child?

Put my money where my mouth is. I am giving $100 a month to the collective because I care about this team going places. As I can, I will increase, but as of now, that's what I got!!

I just talked to Big Z himself. Asked him about the report a certain somebody said about him going back to Europe. He said this is not true,and the only reason he'll be going back to Europe is for Christmas. He said he'll be gone a week,but is not going to leave the program. He's staying this year at least. Just thought I'd share what I know from the man himself.

Jack Pilgrim said on the show today that there were strong rumors that if Hunter would have picked Kentucky that Aaron Bradshaw would have asked out of his commitment to go to USC with Bronny James.

Still waiting for the NCAA excuses which there are none. Tell me if we were Duke this travesty would be going on still.