Login to view embedded media First time I’ve ever seen general soreness as a reason for being out

… at least we ended U6’s delusion of making the playoffs.

But our schedule was weak-ass and if we didn’t front load it with cupcakes, we would not have been bowl eligible.

Conservative = Loss. That is all.

That’s the bottomline. I’ve never seen a team implode like we did second half. We should have won by 20 but we couldn’t finish plays. Turning it over 4 times and the the 3 and 18 debacle where our db just watched. Couple this performance with stoops trying to bail the day after the Louisville game. Next year will be a long season.

Visiting my mom, she has nothing but ESPN. Some sort of senior cable torture service.

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, Ky.
DEC. 29, 2023
ATTENDANCE: 20,659

Final Score: No. 8/10 Kentucky 96, Illinois State 70

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 10-2 on the season. Illinois State is 8-5.
• Kentucky leads the series 2-0 and is 31-15 all-time against teams comprising the Missouri Valley Conference.
• Next for Kentucky: UK returns to action Saturday, Jan. 6 with its Southeastern Conference opener at Florida. The game will tip at 12:30 p.m. and be televised on ESPN.

Team Notes

• UK scored 96 points tonight. The Wildcats entered the game fourth in the nation at 90.6 per game.
  • UK has scored at least 80 points in all but one game this season.
• Kentucky shot 57.1% from the field, 36 of 63. It is the sixth time this season that the Wildcats have made at least half their shots in a game.
• Kentucky made 11 of 25 3-point shots. The Wildcats entered the game 11th in the nation with 10.5 long balls made per game.
  • UK shot 44% on 3-pointers, entered the contest third nationally at 41.4%.
• UK dished out 23 assists, entered the game 11th in the country with 19.1 per game.
• Sparked by 16 points from Rob Dillingham and 11 from Reed Sheppard, UK won bench points 36-5.
• UK also held a 27-6 lead in fast-break points and a 15-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Kentucky blocked nine shots tonight, tying the season high set vs. North Carolina.
• Kentucky led by as many as 28 points. UK is 338-15 (95.7%) in the Calipari era when leading by at least 10 points at any time in the contest.

Player Notes

• Antonio Reeves scored a game-high 27 points after scoring 30 last time out at Louisville.
  • Reeves now has six games scoring 20-plus points this season and 37 for his career.
  • He extended his streak of 23 consecutive games with a 3-pointer, longest since Jamal Murray’s school-record 36-game streak in the 2015-16 season.
• Tre Mitchell had eight points, 11 boards and four assists.
  • He has had at least four boards in every game this season.
  • He led the team in plus/minus at plus-30.
  • Mitchell has back-to-back games with double-digit rebounds after not accomplishing the feat in the first 10 games of the season.
• D.J. Wagner poured in 14 points to go along with three assists.
  • It marked his sixth double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Reed Sheppard totaled 11 points, five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals.
  • Sheppard has scored in double figures in nine games.
  • He extended his streak of at least two steals in every game this season.
• Rob Dillingham went for 16 points, seven assists, three boards and a career-high three steals.
  • It marked his 11th double-figure scoring game in 12 contests.

Coach John Calipari

• Calipari has an 842-255 (76.7%) all-time on-court record, including 397-115 (77.5%) at Kentucky.
• Calipari is 326-65 (83.3%) at UK against unranked competition.
• Calipari is 2-0 vs. Illinois State.
• UK is 119-8 inside Rupp Arena against nonconference foes under Calipari.

In the First Half

• Kentucky started D.J. Wagner, Antonio Reeves, Justin Edwards, Tre Mitchell and Aaron Bradshaw for the third game in a row.
• Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard were UK’s first substitutions with 14:47 remaining.
• After a 3-point play gave Illinois State the early lead, Kentucky got on the board on a Reeves’ runner at the 18:32 mark, marking the first of four consecutive made shots for UK to start the game.
• With the game tied at 13, Sheppard connected on a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the 12:47 mark. The next time down the court, Reeves put back a missed free throw for a five-point Wildcat lead they would not relinquish.
• Kentucky extended its lead to as many as 15 twice in the opening half, including a 45-30 advantage heading into the break.
• UK shot 59.4% (19-for-32) and only turned the ball over once in the opening 20 minutes.
• Reeves led the Cats with 12 points at the half while Wagner added nine, Sheppard chipped in with eight and Edwards poured in seven.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starting lineup.
• The teams went back and forth to start the half, with UK holding a 55-40 lead with 15:47 remaining, but the Cats went on a 13-5 spurt over the next 3:21 to push their advantage to 68-45 with 12:21 left to play.
• The Wildcat lead swelled to a game-high 28 at 75-47 after a pair of Dillingham free throws with 10:38 remaining.
• Illinois State would pull back to within 19 twice the rest of the way but would get no closer.

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Baylor made it because Baylor is a great school, great program, a winning culture, they have a great resume and history behind it. They produce guys, great coaching staff over there. Everyone was welcoming so that is definitely why Baylor made the cut.”

Duke is Duke. It’s a great school, coach Scheyer is a great coach and they have a great staff over there. They’re bought in. They got great players

Kentucky made the cut, even though they were late, because coach Calipari has been going hard. He gave me his reason why he started recruiting me a little later which was very understandable. He produces a lot of guards.”

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KENTUCKY HC JOHN CALIPARI:

* Rebounding is No. 1 concern right now. Got beat to too many balls tonight. Gave up 24 offensive rebounds. "WHAT???" Cannot recall one of his teams doing that in the past, Cal later adds. You could tell the difference without Adou tonight. Needed more toughness. Keeping it real with guys. If you're not gonna rebound, I'm not gonna play you.

* How 'bout Ugo blocking shots tonight, Cal says. Did some good stuff.

* Individual work day tomorrow, then an off day, then a bunch of 2-a-days to get ready for SEC play. Florida's good.

* This is a great lesson for the team: you don't fight, this is what happens (on the glass). This is what will happen in league play if you don't get on the glass.

* Antonio Reeves has been great. Says he was in the gym getting up 1,400 shots yesterday, 400 after dinner. Their machine tracks all that. Told the other guys, who made the shots? There's no secret to this. Were you playing video games or getting up shots? Reeves did a good job getting to the rim, too. And guarded their best player. Last year, we would put him on their worst player. He's been our best perimeter defender this year.

* Unbelievable where Justin Edwards is going with his preparation. He's working hard, figuring it out. It's hard here at Kentucky, just needs more time. Same for Jordan Burks.

* Likes the balance, 6 or 7 guys around double figures. "Not too many teams can say that."

* A good game. Doing some good things. In a couple of days, "We're on it," suggesting hard practices coming up for SEC play.

*****

CALIPARI UK RADIO NETWORK POSTGAME COMMENTS:

* Says he doesn't think his bad teams ever gave up 24 offensive rebounds to an opponent. Thinks SEC opponents are going to be telling their players to just get it up on the rim and go rebound it until the Cats prove otherwise.

* Liked the assists, the shooting, the way the guards didn't settle for jumpers and attacked the rim.

* If we rebound the ball, it's going to be hard to beat us. If we don't rebound the ball, it's going to be hard to win.

* The best teams I've coached here at UK never had bad practices. This team has not had a bad practice. They just want to compete and play against each other every day. It's a good sign.

* Praised Reed Sheppard for getting SEC Freshman of the Week. Admitted he hadn't praised him enough for his play against Louisville until he saw the tape. Had to call him and tell him how good it was.

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*****

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It absolutely blows my mind how many teams lose due to using it and we were one of those losses today.

I get using a prevent defense if theres like 5 seconds or less left in the game and the other team is gonna heave a hail mary...but other than that it should never be used.

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Precautionary? Not been anything mentioned with him and an injury

Still sick over that bowl game.

Adou out with general soreness whatever the hell that means

Just beat the hell out of them and score 85+

If anyone has 2 tickets they would be willing to sell please reply or message me.

Thanks in advance. Y’all are the best.

56/63 shots tonight were 3s or in the paint. 11/25 (44%) from 3 and, if my math is correct, 22/31 (71%) from inside the paint. They shot 3/7 on all other shots (43%). Right around average shot distribution for the season.

Ohio st just showed why Florida st should not be in the playoffs playing with a third string Qb.

KENTUCKY FOOTBALL POSTGAME NOTES

KENTUCKY vs. CLEMSON

TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL

BILL GAY GROUNDS AT EVERBANK STADIUM | JACKSONVILLE, FLA.

DEC. 29, 2023



FINAL SCORE: No. 22 Clemson 38, Kentucky 35



Team Records and Series Information

• Kentucky ends the season with a 7-6 record in 2023, as Clemson went 9-4.
• Despite the loss, Kentucky remains the leader in the all-time series, 8-6.
  • However, Clemson remains the leader in bowl games, 3-1.

Kentucky in Bowl Games

• Kentucky extended its school-record streak of eight straight bowl appearances with its appearance in the 2023 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
  • It is the ninth-longest active streak in college football.
• Kentucky has a 12-11 all-time record in bowl games.
  • UK has a 1-2 all-time record in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
• Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops moved to 4-4 in bowl games.

Team Notes

• Kentucky scored five touchdowns today, tying the school record for most TDs in a bowl game.
• The Kentucky defense had 13 tackles for loss, including eight quarterback sacks, season highs in both categories.

Player Notes

• Quarterback Devin Leary completed 16 of his 28 passing attempts for 306 yards and two touchdowns.
  • It marked his third game this season and the 11th game of his career with 300+ yards passing.
  • It marked his eighth game this season and the 25th game of his career recording at least two touchdowns passing.
  • He finished the season completing 209 of 371 passes (56.3 percent) for 2,746 yards and 25 touchdowns.
    • His 25 touchdown passes are one short of the top five in program history (Dusty Bonner had 26 in 1999, which is ranked fifth in program history).
  • He finishes his college career with 9,553 yards passing and 86 touchdowns passing.
• Running back Ray Davis carried the ball 13 times for 63 yards and one touchdown rushing.
  • With his one touchdown this afternoon, he has 21 total touchdowns on the season, extending his single-season school record.
  • He also extended his single-season school record for points scored with 126.
  • He had 1,129 yards rushing in his lone season at Kentucky, finishing 11th on the UK’s single-season list.
  • He finished his career with 3,626 yards rushing.
    • He is believed to be the only player to total at least 1,000 career rushing yards at three Division I FBS schools (also Temple and Vanderbilt).
  • He also finished the season by catching 33 passes for 323 yards and seven touchdowns, a school record for most touchdown catches in a season by a running back.
• Wide receiver Barion Brown had three receptions for 100 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown reception. He added two carries for 26 yards and a 22-yard touchdown rushing. He also added a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the first play of the second half, his third TD return of the season and the fourth of his career.
  • • Brown’s kickoff return for a TD, which was credited as 102 yards according to the Bowl’s stat crew, is the longest in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl history, a record previously held by Andre Debose of Florida (99 yards) against Ohio State on Jan. 2, 2012.
      • Brown’s kickoff return for a TD is the second for a Kentucky player in a bowl game. The other was by David Jones against East Carolina (99 yards, also at the beginning of the second half) in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2, 2009.
    • Brown’s three kickoff returns for TDs this season is more than any player in the FBS in 2023.
      • Prior to the start of the game, Brown was one of five players who had two kickoff returns for TD in 2023.
    • Three kickoff returns for TDs in one season is a Kentucky record (former record two by Derek Abney in 2002).
    • Three kickoff returns for TD in one season ties the SEC record (Willie Gault, Tennessee 1980; Brandon Boykin, Georgia 2009; Warren Norman, Vanderbilt 2009; Evan Berry, Tennessee 2015).
    • Four kickoff returns for TD in a career is a program record (former record three by Craig Yeast, 1995-98).
    • Four kickoff returns for TD in a career ties the SEC record shared with seven other players.
  • His touchdown rushing marked the first of his career.
  • He became the second player in school history to have a rushing, receiving and kickoff return for a touchdown in the same game.
    • The other player to do so was Don “Dopey” Phelps vs. Michigan State in 1946.
    • It also marked the first game of his career that he had a touchdown both receiving and rushing.
  • He improved his streak of 26 straight games with a reception, which is every game of his college career.
  • He has 1,167 career yards receiving, moving up to 28th in school history.
• Wide receiver Dane Key had four catches for 83 yards and a five-yard touchdown reception.
  • His first catch of the game was a career-long, 58-yard reception, which set him up for a five-yard touchdown reception on the very next play to help Kentucky take a four-point lead over Clemson in the second quarter.
  • Key has 1,155 career receiving yards, moving up to 29th in school history.
• Tight end Jordan Dingle had a career-long 72-yard reception, which set Kentucky up for a touchdown to regain a lead in the fourth quarter.
• Wide receiver Tayvion Robinson had four catches for 45 yards.
  • He has 1,049 receiving yards at Kentucky, moving up to 33rd in school history.
  • He finished his collegiate career with 194 receptions for 2,604 yards and 15 touchdowns.
• Linebacker Trevin Wallace led the team with 11 total tackles, including six solo stops.
  • He had one tackle for loss (-2 yards), which was a quarterback sack.
  • It marked the fourth game this season and the fifth game of his career that he had double-digit tackles.
• Defensive back Jordan Lovett had UK’s lone interception of the game, which he caught in the Kentucky endzone for a timely stop early in the fourth quarter.
  • It marked his third this season and fifth of his career.
    • His three interceptions this season are the most in a season for him and the second most on any player on the team in 2023.
  • He added four total tackles, including three solo stops.
• Linebacker J.J. Weaver led the team with two tackles for loss (-12 yards), both of which were sacks.
  • He had five total tackles, including two solo stops.
• Game captains: defensive back Zion Childress, quarterback Devin Leary, defensive lineman Deone Walker, linebacker Trevin Wallace

84-74 final

I agree about the rebounds but they shot 33% and 23% respectively. The cats had nine blocks and 7 steals. yes they can get better but acting like they had a teally poor defensive effort is not accurate.

That is all!

Back up punter to whoever that dude is that was AWFUL all year long .. yes the coaches might have screwed him over bye changing his style but how bad a punter do you have to be to NOT get a chance to kick for this years Cats ??????? Why didnt Stoops give this young man a chance ? He injured ? I'm just going by the roster listed here .

Shot much better from 3 tonight. Some weeks back Cal wanted him to put more arc on the shot and it seems to have worked. Let's hope he continues to shoot this good in SEC play.

Welcome to the last 60 years of UK football. Total frustration. I just don’t get the Stoops fascination.