Last year, Kentucky head coach John Calipari showed off two separate pairs of special edition Jordan shoes gifted by Grammy award-winning rapper and UK fan Drake.
The first pair – the “Kentucky” OVO X Air Jordan 14s – were valued at $25,000 on a third-party auction site, while the second – the “Kentucky Madness” OVO X Air Jordan 8s – were valued at a whopping $40,000.
If you don’t believe me, check out KSR’s post on the matter from last July here.
Today, Swaggy Cal was unleashed once again, as the UK head coach showed off yet another rare shoe gifted by yet another big-name celebrity.
On the various UK basketball social media pages, a video of Calipari unboxing the DJ Khaled special edition Air Jordan 3 Retro “Another One” was posted, including a close-up of the specialized Kentucky briefcase they came in.
“We the best,” Calipari said in the video.
Take a look:
.@UKCoachCalipari ? @djkhaled ?? AJ3 “Another One”#TGT #BBN #BBM19 pic.twitter.com/2rrlU4WgiA
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 14, 2019
Taking a look at third-party reseller Fight Club, the non-Kentucky edition of the shoes are currently valued at a “modest” $5,000.
Back at Big Blue Madness, Calipari actually wore the special edition sneakers, showing them off during his television interview with the SEC Network.
During the interview, he said that unlike his Drake sneakers, DJ Khaled didn’t sign this pair and he needed to catch up with the famous artist soon to make that happen. He also added that all of his rare shoes are under lock-and-key with an alarm system in the Kentucky facilities.
Calipari rocking blue DJ Khaled Jordan 3's ? pic.twitter.com/M3DaOdp8XU
— ??? ??? ?. ???? (@LilJoeBHall) October 12, 2019
ABC: Always Be ‘Crootin’
What, you thought that just because Jonny David graduated that ‘Jonny David: All-Access’ was over? With the former Cat back in town, UK brought the behind-the-scenes series back for Big Blue Madness.
Watch below as Jonny’s old teammates react to him being back in the locker room and give him the scoop on the new guys. Ashton Hagans even showed off his rapping skills (again) and teased a new chapter in the All-Access series.
Had to do one last Jonny David All-Access for madness!??? pic.twitter.com/yQ0MF5Eqvi
— Jonny David (@JonnyDavid) October 14, 2019
Ash Boogie All-Access, coming soon to a social media feed near you…
Congratulations to Ashton Hagans, who is one of 20 players on the preseason watch list for the Bob Cousy Award, presented annually to the best point guard in college basketball by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Last season, Hagans was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year after a freshman campaign that included 61 steals, which is tied with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the third most in program history, and 160 assists, the fifth-most by a UK freshman in school history. He’s also Kentucky’s leading returning scorer at 7.7 points per game.
Hagans is one of eleven underclassmen on the watch list and one of three players from the SEC, along with Florida’s Andrew Nembhard and Tennessee’s Lamonte’ Turner. The list will be trimmed to ten players in mid-February and the five finalists will be revealed in March with the winner being announced during the annual ESPN College Basketball Awards show on April 10. This year, fan voting will be a part of all three rounds of voting before a winner is announced. I think #BBN can help with that.
Are you already missing the excitement that is Big Blue Madness? Well you’re in luck, because KSR’s own Bradley McKee has put together the perfect recap video so the BBN can continue to relive the night.
If you want to see the scene from the blue carpet or the UK cheerleaders’ championship-winning performance, we’ve got you. If you’re more interested in Matthew Mitchell’s dance moves or the team’s individual introductions, we’ve got that too. Check it out!
Make sure you’re subscribing to the KSR Youtube page for all of our latest video content.
Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics
The California “pay-to-play” act has been a major talking point across the country for several weeks now. John Calipari’s women’s clinic was no exception.
During Sunday’s clinic, the women in attendance were given the chance to participate in a question-and-answer session with three of UK’s assistant basketball coaches – you can read my full recap from the clinic here. Tony Barbee, Kenny Payne and Joel Justus fielded questions from the ladies of the BBN, including one about a collegiate athlete’s chance to profit off his or her own likeness. Specifically, the woman who asked the question wanted to know the affect such a bill might have in the state of Kentucky.
“Anytime players can benefit from their likeness, obviously is a huge advantage for who? Us. Huge advantage when you talk about the guys and the autograph tours they’re able to do across the state once their eligibility is up, and then that’d be something they’d be able to profit off of while they’re here. That’s a huge advantage,” Barbee said.
I think they’re excited for @PJWashington. pic.twitter.com/0sbHFxEfke
— KSBar and Grille (@KSBarAndGrille) May 2, 2019
He’s right. Kentucky has one of the best markets for student athletes, especially for the men’s basketball team, to make a profit under a similar act. We’ve all seen the lines at KSBar in Lexington and in malls and sporting good stores across the state when former UK athletes go on their autograph tours. Throw in a few local commercials, a signature clothing line and a few Instagram advertisements, and the potential dollar signs should start popping up in your head. Coach Barbee is right when he says new NCAA guidelines would serve as a “huge advantage” for UK basketball recruiting.
But, for Barbee at least, it’s still not enough.
“We’re for it; it’s about time. But I don’t think it addresses the main issue of the student athletes being compensated for the amount of money they earn for all of these colleges and universities. Being able to profit off their own likeness and image, the money wouldn’t be coming from the money that comes in to the university. It’s kind of an in-around to the main problem, but it’s something. I guess it’s a start.”
It was another wonderful day in the land of Kentucky basketball, as I had the opportunity to spend my Sunday afternoon with the Caliparis, the 2019-20 men’s team and, most importantly, the ladies of BBN. For the first time in a couple of years, the John Calipari (soon to be renamed the Ellen Calipari) women’s basketball clinic returned to Rupp Arena, and from what I saw, it was a big hit. Previous clinics have been held inside Memorial Coliseum, but this year’s venue allowed the women to get a real inside look into basketball’s most-famous building.
The day started with pictures and autographs, which means Ashton Hagans had to jump on Instagram Live at least a few times, of course. The ladies loved it.
Ashton Hagans (the king of Instagram live!) had to take a few videos during the autograph line with the ladies: pic.twitter.com/db9G8tNalO
— Maggie Davis (@MaggieDavisKSR) October 13, 2019
Next, the players got to be re-introduced to the women, which was especially nice for those who weren’t able to attend Big Blue Madness. Don’t worry, Immanuel Quickley still stole the show:
Didn’t see enough dancing? Don’t worry, the women at the clinic didn’t either. One attendee requested a dance off, and what do you know, the Cats come through with a dance off.
Quickley is the easy pick for best moves, but I think EJ Montgomery and Keion Brooks are sleepers in this competition.
And yes, before you ask, Coach Calipari did call Nate Sestina “white Nick” when he asked if he can dance. I also really appreciated the amount of John Wall dances that were included. Who’s your pick for the team’s best dancer?
The dancing was fun, but my personal favorite part of the event each year comes during the assistant coaches’ question-and-answer session with the women. For nearly an hour, the ladies had the chance to put the assistants on the hot seat and, for the most part, the coaches were pretty transparent. Here are some of the best moments from the Q-and-A.
Joel Justus began by explaining the sport’s latest rule changes, including the deeper three-point line, the 20-second shot clock following an offensive rebound, the ability to review goal tending (with an LSU game joke, of course) and the way officials can call unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. That last one led to a conversation about flopping, which gave Coach Justus the perfect opportunity to get in a Louisville dig.
He discussed the team’s annual preparation before the rivalry game, saying they had to teach the freshmen each year how to react when opposing players would flop and try to draw a charge. He’s referencing this, right?
Either way, he says things should be different now: “There’s a new coach at Louisville though, so they’re not teaching that anymore.”
Coach Kenny Payne was asked about the most-improved returning player, and he gave the honor to Immanual Quickley.
“The way he’s mentally approaching it is very different. Last year, he was second-guessing everything he was doing,” Payne said. “The biggest growth is when you see guys not worried about what we’re thinking; it’s hard to please coaches.”
Coach Payne also weighed in on arguably his favorite player, his son. Zan Payne is still coming off an injury, and his dad said he’s not where he wants to be shooting-wise just yet, but that’s not all his father wants for him.
“Brad [Calipari] was an example to my son of how you earn respect from your teammates; it’s your work ethic and your discipline. If he can walk away from this and earn his own place, I’m proud.”
Speaking of Brad Calipari, Coach Payne says he still checks in with the youngest Cal. Apparently, the last text he received from Brad read: “I didn’t realize how much I would miss being at Kentucky.”
And speaking of family ties, Coach Justus also weighed in on the idea behind a basketball “family.” Despite the one-and-done era, Justus discussed Kentucky’s ability to hold people together in the long-term, not just while everyone is still wearing their UK uniform. It’s certainly not just for social media: “It’s a real family and not just a hashtag.”
Coach Payne took it a step further.
“We’ve had guys like Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight, then it went to Anthony [Davis] and Michael Kidd Gilchrist. You’re in their life and they still call you and tell you how they’re doing,” Payne said. “Sometimes, we as fans… say ‘this year’s team is going to be just as good.’ But it’s not just an input. Each person coming into this program has to earn that, and we take it for granted sometimes just how good the players were the year before. We’ve had a hell of a basketball [program] here.”
And finally, there was this quote on Nick Richards’ shooting, which was pretty impressive during Friday’s Big Blue Madness.
“If we have seven guys that are good three-point shooters, do we need eight? I would say I’m ok with him shooting threes once or twice, but this team is going to need post play very bad,” Payne said. “His behind better be giving us some post play, even though he can shoot.”
Finally, the women got the chance to interact with the team’s strength and conditioning staff, who challenged them to a plank-off. Ellen Calipari and LEX18’s Jennifer Palumbo went head-to-head, and both put up strong performances.
And the winner with a time of nearly two minutes … Mrs. Cal!!!#UKWomensClinic pic.twitter.com/PaMIq2RXpM
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 13, 2019
Put that on Instagram!
All in all, it was a fun day with the team and the women of the BBN. The annual event is just another great reminder of how special this program is, and how lucky we all are to be part of the BBN. For those in attendance, feel free to comment about your experience or tweet me, @MaggieDavisKSR. And for those of you who weren’t in attendance, we’ll see you next year!
Big Blue Madness brought it.
The action really got rolling when Rupp Arena dimmed the lights and used the floor as a projection screen for an incredible hype video.
The video was great, but it didn’t bring as much effort and enthusiasm as Bruce Buffer. The fight announcer brought down the house by introducing the players, who proceeded to bring down the house with some fantastic moves.
In what has become an annual tradition, Kentucky head coach John Calipari took the podium at Big Blue Madness 2019 on Friday night and gave his “State of the Program” address.
And as always, Calipari stole the show.
During his speech, the Kentucky head coach discussed his first ten years in Lexington and the numerous on-court accolades the program has racked up during that span.
“We’ve won a national championship … won more games than any other team … been to more Final Fours than any other program … won more NCAA Tournament games … appeared in more Elite Eights and more Sweet 16s than any other school … won five SEC regular-season championships … and six SEC Tournament titles,” Calipari said.
With elite prospects in the stands – most notably 2020 No. 2 prospect Cade Cunningham and 2021 top-three prospect Paolo Banchero – Calipari also addressed the massive financial success his former players have achieved in the NBA, adding that you can’t find that anywhere else in the country.
“38 players have been drafted from this program, including 29 first-round picks,” he said. “And we’ve graduated 20 players with four graduating in just three years. Seven others who left us early to chase their NBA dreams have returned to work on their degrees. In the last 10 years … 22 players in the NBA received max contracts, seven of the 22 are Kentucky Wildcats! Seven! That level of success is crazy. It’s a level of success only possible at one place… Kentucky.”
Check out KSR’s footage of the entire speech:
Here is the entire transcript of Calipari’s speech, via UK Athletics:
Hello Big Blue Nation!
What a night!
What a celebration of the last 10 years of Kentucky basketball and the start of the next 10 … our second tour!
Ten years ago, thousands gathered in Rupp Arena, while millions watched around the state, country and world. We celebrated the rebirth of this storied program … the greatest tradition in college basketball. We stood together under the lights, under the jerseys, under the banners that hang in this cathedral of college basketball. With one powerful voice, we proclaimed that we would achieve … as a family … seemingly unreachable heights for this program … for these players. And we did. We worked hard, together. We built trust, together. We became a family, together. We didn’t surrender to the pressure. We distinguished ourselves as we climbed atop the mountain of college basketball.
Ten years ago, we said we would be a players-first program defined by integrity and purpose. We built this program to serve our players … to help them reach their dreams. In the last 10 years … we’ve won a national championship … won more games than any other team … been to more Final Fours than any other program … won more NCAA Tournament games … appeared in more Elite Eights and more Sweet 16s than any other school … won five SEC regular-season championships … and six SEC Tournament titles. During that same time … 38 players have been drafted from this program, including 29 first-round picks. And we’ve graduated 20 players with four graduating in just three years. Seven others who left us early to chase their NBA dreams have returned to work on their degrees. In the last 10 years … 22 players in the NBA received max contracts, seven of the 22 are Kentucky Wildcats! Seven! That level of success is crazy. It’s a level of success only possible at one place… Kentucky… the greatest tradition in the history of college basketball.
My role … our staff’s role … is to serve the players. Inspire them to reach higher than they thought possible. To build exceptional men. My job is to make these guys uncomfortable. Their job is to be comfortable being uncomfortable. The discomfort and struggle will bend you, but it won’t break you … we won’t let it. It will make you a better player, a better teammate and a better person. That’s how we raise the bar. The Big Blue Nation is more than a fan base. You uplift this team, the commonwealth’s team. You’re the heartbeat of this team, Kentucky’s team.
You, the greatest fans in the world, make this the greatest stage in college basketball. The Carnegie Hall of college athletics. This is about integrity … pure intentions. We won’t embellish. Some may say their program will take care of you the rest of your life. Our mission is to prepare our young people to take care of themselves for the rest of their lives. We are upfront with them from the very start that this is going to be the hardest thing they will ever do. And we will be there every step of the way. What’s better than having an opportunity to chase your dreams on this stage? With a group of teammates who have the same aspirations and dreams. Willing to sacrifice for each other and a staff that chases your dreams with you. You will never feel alone.
When you come here, you play against the best. You have to want that challenge. You have to want to wake up every day with the desire to be stronger, faster, better. That’s why we say this is not for everybody. The greatest players make their mark here. Our best players … our best teams … are part of our great history because they learned to play together. They played as a family. They found strength in one another. Those teams were built in the trenches. Built through sweat. Built over time. Built so that under the lights we’re unbreakable. We do this together. For some that means being here for one year, for others it means more because everyone is on their own path. Some may finish at other schools but they are always welcome home. That is family. That is La Familia.
We’ve helped mold young men into NBA professionals. Professionals who have collectively earned more than $2 billion in contracts. We’ve helped young men walk across the stage with their diploma in hand. That’s a commitment we make to each player who wears Kentucky blue, a lifetime scholarship. Whether in four years or at the end of your professional career, this is your home. Forever.
I have a few questions for all of us. What will we do next? What will we do in the next 10 years? How do we grow? How do we keep getting better? What will the Big Blue Nation achieve, together, as we start this second tour?
Our potential is limitless. The competition will be fierce, the road will be difficult. We need an entire nation … a Big Blue Nation … behind us as we start a new decade and continue to showcase why Kentucky will forever be the greatest tradition in college basketball.
It’s on!
As the big screen comes down and the popcorn gets swept up here in Rupp Arena, the KSR staff sits alone on press row, ready to reflect on all the fun that just transpired at Big Blue Madness.
For the most part, it was more of the same we see every year at the greatest tradition in the history of college basketball practice; although, this year we were introduced to seven new members of John Calipari’s basketball team. We also saw the return of the 3-point and dunk contests of a year ago, as well as Coach Matthew Mitchell, the mayor of Big Blue Madness, taking everyone to the Old Town Road.
I’m sure you have your favorite moments from the evening; below you will find all of ours (“ours” being me, Jack Pilgrim and Zack Geoghegan):
Coach Mitchell’s best dance routine yet
Finally, someone appreciates real country music. Old Town Road was Matthew Mitchell’s secret weapon for his ninth consecutive BBM intro-dance. Shoutout to Mitchell for pulling out the song of the century and killing every second of it. I will now dress as country Matthew Mitchell for Halloween.
— Zack Geoghegan
Kentucky’s slew of elite recruits had a great time
After staying in the back through the first few segments of Big Blue Madness, Kentucky’s ten high-profile recruiting targets made their way across the Rupp Arena floor seconds before the UK men’s basketball team was introduced. Sitting immediately behind the Kentucky bench, Cade Cunningham, Terrence Clarke, Paolo Banchero, and Lance Ware received quite a bit of screen time, most notably when John Calipari was interviewed (2012 National Championship ring exposed for the world to see).
Clarke jumped behind the television camera yelling, “I’m next! I’m next!”
Calipari casually flaunting that national championship ring in front of Terrence Clarke, Paolo Banchero, and Lance Ware, who seem amused. pic.twitter.com/PlYOpWMVpI
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) October 12, 2019
After the event came to a close, Ware wrapped his arm around Cunningham, with Clarke joking right alongside. Cunningham then stuck around and took pictures with fans for the next 20 minutes until a member of the Kentucky basketball staff ushered him to the back.
Kentucky has landed four prospects in the class of 2020 – top-five prospect Terrence Clarke, top-ten prospect BJ Boston, four-star forward Lance Ware, and four-star wing Cam’Ron Fletcher – and there are rumblings that the UK coaching staff is prepared to add at least two more by the time the fall signing period begins in November.
Will Cunningham be one of those additions?
— Jack Pilgrim
Calipari’s State of the Program address was directed at Cade Cunningham
Speaking of Cunningham, the No. 2 prospect in the class of 2020 got an earful from Calipari during his annual State of the Program Address. Every year, the Kentucky head coach has a “theme” in his speech, and this one was without a doubt intended for the 6-foot-7 point guard out of Arlington, TX.
In an interview with Corey Evans of Rivals.com earlier this month, Cunningham said a major factor in where he ultimately decides to commit is which coach can develop him into a max contract-level player in the NBA.
“I have just been very transparent with all of the coaches recruiting me and I don’t want to just make it to the league but rather, I want to be an all-star and a max contract guy,” he said. “I feel if you just shoot to make it in the league, that is how you sell yourself short, so just telling him that I want to be a max contract guy, that is a good goal to set.
On Friday evening, Calipari came out swinging during his speech, bringing up the seven former Kentucky players who have earned max deals and the $2-billion-plus all 38 of his drafted Wildcats have made as a collective unit.
Calipari wants the nation’s top guard to lead his team next season, and he sure said all the right things to make it happen.
— Jack
Bruce Buffer announced the player intros because why not
Bruce Buffer announcing the players and coaches was so unnecessary that it was actually brilliant. Who better to yell and scream at 20,000 fans than him?
— Zack
Junior Nick Richards, a long lost Splash Brother?
Drew here, big Nick Richards fan, as you know. I’m expecting big things for Richards in the rare junior season for a McDonald’s All-American, and tonight he showed off a new outside shot that has Naismith Player of the Year voters salivating.
Richards hit not one, but two long balls in the brief scrimmage to conclude Big Blue Madness. Previous Big Blue Madnesses taught us to never overreact to what we see on this night, but I am overreacting and naming Richards a real weapon from the perimeter this upcoming season. Remember Jimmer Fredette at BYU in like 2011? Imagine that shot but from a big man who can protect the rim and finish lobs.
I’m kidding. (Kind of.)
— Drew
Kahlil Whitney’s outfit on the Blue Carpet
Brad Calipari will find comfort in knowing the team’s drip is in good hands without him.
— Drew
The real dunk contest happened during the scrimmage
While the actual dunk contest had its impressive moments – Kahlil Whitney jumping over three humans – and not-so-impressive moments – Ashton Hagans on just about all of his attempts (bless his heart) – the most fun dunks came during the scrimmage.
Whitney and Keion Brooks traded dunks on opposite ends of the floor, ranging from lob throwdowns, self-alley-oops, and windmill jams. Nick Richards and Nate Sestina each threw down several powerful reverses and windmills. Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley shined on breakaway dunk attempts.
There was little-to-no organized basketball during the actual “scrimmage,” but the dunks were entertaining.
— Jack
Rupp Arena debuts its “cafes”
Rupp Arena debuted its new catalogue of food options at Big Blue Madness, with the concession stands around the venue now officially being called “cafes.”
Some of the food – like the “Hunk A Pizza” from Hunt’s Pizza – remained the same, while other options such as the “Full Court Press,” “Kentucky Melt,” and “Hot Brown Nachos” made their debuts.
Drew described his Full Court Press selection – which included braised short rib, cheese, and toasted bread – as “a big piece of s**t between two slices of bread,” while my Hot Brown Nachos were incredibly delicious. Order with caution next weekend during the Blue-White Scrimmage. Eat the Hot Brown Nachos, avoid the Rupp Arena McRib.
— Jack
Lob City in Memorial Coliseum?
Jaida Roper not only has the highest arching shot of any Wildcat, but she can also toss a pretty nice lob. Her floating pass to Rhyne Howard had Rupp Arena holding its collective breath for a slight second as shades of Candance Parker dunking shined onto the court. The 6-foot-2 Howard didn’t go up for the slam, but slipped in a slick reverse layup off the beauty from Roper.
— Zack
Blair Green went all 606
Gotta love that mountain pride!
— Drew
We got shooters on deck
Everyone knows that it’s more fun to shoot from as deep as possible, especially if it goes in. Nate Sestina drilled two threes from NBA range while Johnny Juzang also pulled one from Steph Curry’s land. If preseason scrimmages with zero signs of defense tell us anything, it’s that those shots will absolutely translate once November hits. We got some shooters.
— Zack
The Kentucky cheerleaders are not human
The 24-time national champions make my muscles, brain, and organs hurt. How they manage to pull off some of the flips while being tossed directly towards the jumbotron is something I will never understand. I think I did a cartwheel once during my senior year of high school. The cheerleaders probably cartwheel out of bed every morning.
— Zack
This team is going to be a lot of fun
I feel like we say this every year (because we do) and we are saying it once again: this is a fun group with great personalities. The new class on this team is especially fun, easily the best collection of personalities among true freshmen. They’re so outgoing and loving every single second of everything that is going on around them as they approach their first season at Kentucky. Tyrese Maxey hasn’t stopped smiling since he got to Lexington, Kahlil Whitney is living his best life at all times, and Johnny Juzang and Nate Sestina are right up there with them in personality. We still don’t know how this team will do on the basketball court, but it’s clear the fan base won’t need long to fall in love with this group off of it.
— Drew
Go Cats.
Cancel the blue carpet at Big Blue Madness because it now belongs to Kahlil Whitney and no one is worthy of ever setting foot on it again.
Whitney, one of the freshmen on Coach Cal’s new roster, completely hijacked the night when he stepped onto the blue carpet for his grand entrance into his first Big Blue Madness as a member of the Kentucky Wildcats. He wore colorful, mirrored sunglasses straight out of the 80s, an old school Ice Cube t-shirt and a jacket I don’t really know how to describe, plus a portable speaker wrapped around his torso. I’m not going to say it is the greatest moment in the storied history of UK basketball, but for me, it’s up there. It deserves its own banner up in the rafters with the eight national championships.
(@MrsTylerKSR)
#BBN takes over Las Vegas this December when Kentucky basketball hits Sin City. The action tips with the Kentucky vs. Utah presented by UK HealthCare and benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at T-Mobile Arena.
BBN will have the opportunity to hit the links at the world-renowned Shadow Creek Golf Course on Friday, Dec. 20 as part of Golf Blue benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer. The Cats then play in the CBS Sports Classic on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Visit BBNVegas.com or follow on social media at @BBNLasVegas for full information, game tickets and hotel accommodations on the Las Vegas Strip.
You saw it as it happened, now look back on Big Blue Madness 2019 with this photo gallery from the lens of Dr. Mike.
Immanuel Quickley defended his Big Blue Madness 3-Point Championship crown, knocking out Tyrese Maxey in the final round. Quickley’s final round score of 24 was the highest single round score among all players, this year and last. He won it with an 18 in the championship round to defeat Tyler Herro in last year’s competition, the first of its kind at Big Blue Madness.
Maxey did not go home empty handed, though. The freshman out of Texas pulled off an upset in the Dunk Contest with a surprise victory over Kahlil Whitney and Keion Brooks, the two heavy favorites, as well Ashton Hagans.
Somehow Whitney did not win with this dunk:
And he wasn’t even the winner ?#BBM19 pic.twitter.com/klCI0B1u5v
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 12, 2019
Go Cats.
#BBN takes over Las Vegas this December when Kentucky basketball hits Sin City. The action tips with the Kentucky vs. Utah presented by UK HealthCare and benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at T-Mobile Arena.
BBN will have the opportunity to hit the links at the world-renowned Shadow Creek Golf Course on Friday, Dec. 20 as part of Golf Blue benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer. The Cats then play in the CBS Sports Classic on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Visit BBNVegas.com or follow on social media at @BBNLasVegas for full information, game tickets and hotel accommodations on the Las Vegas Strip.
Big Blue Madness is still over an hour away; until then, have a glimpse at the new-look Rupp Arena as it awaits the 20,000 fans that will soon fill the place for the first basketball of the new season. There is no big stage or anything special set up (as far as I can tell), but the new blue seats look great in the upper level.
We’ve still got some time before Big Blue Madness tips off, but the action on the blue carpet is about to begin.
The men’s team, women’s team, former players, and VIP guests will soon make their entrances on the Don Franklin Auto Blue Carpet on the first level of the Lexington Center. UK Sports Network will televise the action on their “Before the Madness” special on the following stations:
| Market | Station |
| Ashland Ky./Huntington, W.Va. | WQCW (CW) |
| Bowling Green, Ky. | WKBO (ABC) |
| Evansville, Ind. | WFIE (NBC) |
| Hazard, Ky. | WYMT (CBS) |
| Lexington, Ky. | WKYT (CBS)/CW |
| Louisville, Ky. | WHAS (ABC) |
| Paducah, Ky. | WPSD (NBC) |
| Regional | Fox Sports South |
Don’t get any of those? Don’t worry. Dr. Mike and Bradley McKee are in position to bring you all the sites and sounds, which we’ll share on the website as soon as possible.
After making its debut at last year’s Big Blue Madness, UK’s new 3-Point Contest is back for another year and another Big Blue Madness tonight. Last year’s winner, Immanuel Quickley, headlines the field as any defending champ would, but there are some newcomers who are expected to challenge Quickley for his title Friday night.
So who will win? I don’t know, but it will come out of this group of contenders:
Immanuel Quickley – As I just said in the paragraph you just finished reading, Quickley won last year’s Big Blue Madness 3-Point Contest, edging out Tyler Herro by one point in the finals. Quickley scored a 19 in the first round and an 18 in the championship round to win the inaugural event. He also won the McDonald’s High School All-American Game’s 3-Point Contest in April of last year, so another victory will make for a 3-Peat in 3-Point Contests. In real game action, Quickley hit 30 of 87 tries in his freshman year for a 34.5 percent clip from outside.
Johnny Juzang – The early word is Juzang is the shooter on this year’s roster. At UK Basketball Media Day, John Calipari said, “When he shoots it, you think the ball’s going in.” We got a small glimpse at Juzang’s stroke at UK’s Pro Day and his shot certainly passes the looks test. Tonight we’ll see if he is a shooter or a maker, as Calipari loves to say. It is the freshman’s first time in Rupp Arena and his first time playing in front of Big Blue Nation, so I worry the atmosphere may rattle him.
Nate Sestina – Sestina was the talk of the Kentucky fan base last weekend when cameras caught him hitting 20 of 24 three-pointers during a shooting drill at UK’s Pro Day. Almost all of the 20 makes were nothing but net, and now fans expect him to do it when it matters, whether that is fair or not. Tonight we will get to see Sestina taking wide open three-pointers again; if he makes a bunch, the preseason hype around his outside shot may get out of hand.
Ashton Hagans – Shooting is not what Hagans does best — he shot 27.5 percent from outside on over 50 attempts as a freshman — but it has been a key point of focus between his freshman and sophomore seasons in Lexington. Kentucky’s offense needs opponents to respect Hagans’ shooting ability this year, no more sagging off, and in a few hours we’ll get a look at how his shot looks heading into Year 2.
Tyrese Maxey – If we are picking who will lead UK in scoring next year, Maxey might be the favorite of the bunch. He is a very versatile scorer who can play on or off the ball, similar to Jamal Murray, who Calipari compared Maxey to in a preseason conversation back in September. If Maxey can shoot the three anything like Murray did, he’ll be in the mix to win the 3-Point Contest. (And Kentucky will be very dangerous offensively.)
Dontaie Allen – Sleeper pick! Dontaie Allen still hasn’t practiced with his team as he recovers from an ACL injury he suffered midway through his senior year of high school, but he may be cleared to participate in the 3-Point Contest tonight. Allen has spent several hours working on his jumper while rehabbing his knee, and his teammates bragged on what they’ve seen from Allen’s shot while talking about him at UK Media Day. He shot 40 percent from outside at Pendleton County before his injury.
Nick Richards – Just kidding. (But not really. Go Nick.)
A couple of 3-Point Contest-related notes:
— The gold “money” balls will be replaced by blue balls this year. True Blue Customs did the paint job again.
— Remember, the 3-point line moved back to the international line at 22 feet, 1¾ inches. The new distance was set this past offseason, so this will be the debut of the new line in Rupp Arena.
— The dunk contest is also back.
Photo: Getty Images
Kentucky basketball’s top visitors for Big Blue Madness have arrived in Lexington.
Starting late last night, Kentucky’s long list of recruits began announcing their arrivals in the Bluegrass State, headlined by 2020 No. 2 overall prospect Cade Cunningham.
The 6-foot-7 guard out of Arlington, TX posted on his Instagram story that he was in his hotel room in Lexington on Thursday evening.
Cunningham was the first domino to fall in terms of uncommitted prospects, as 2021 top-three recruit Paolo Banchero posted a picture from his Lexington hotel room on his story not long after.
Unlike Cunningham, though, Banchero was sure to show off the treasure chest of snacks and drinks the hotel staff laid out for him upon arrival.
As for committed prospects, 2020 top-five prospect Terrence Clarke showed off the Kentucky-themed cookie cake that was waiting for him when he got to his hotel in Lexington.
As for 2020 four-star forward Lance Ware, he couldn’t even wait to get to his hotel before announcing his arrival on campus.
Here is the entire list of confirmed visitors for Big Blue Madness this evening:
- 2020 No. 4 prospect and five-star commitment Terrence Clarke (official)
- 2020 No. 2 prospect and five-star guard Cade Cunningham (official)
- 2020 four-star forward and Bardstown, KY product JJ Traynor (unofficial)
- 2020 four-star forward and UK commit, Lance Ware (unofficial)
- 2021 top-five prospect and five-star forward Paolo Banchero (official)
- 2021 top-ten prospect and five-star forward Moussa Cisse (unofficial)
- 2021 top-30 prospect and four-star forward Trey Kaufman (unofficial)
- 2022 top-15 prospect and five-star forward Brandon Miller (unofficial)
- 2022 Top-35 prospect and four-star point guard Paul McMillan IV (unofficial)
- 2022 unranked forward and Louisville, KY product James Jewell (unofficial)
Time to roll out the blue carpet.
A public service announcement for those of you headed to Big Blue Madness tomorrow: Kentucky has moved the Blue Carpet inside this year. The men’s and women’s teams and VIP guests will now arrive at the northeast entrance of the first level of the Lexington Center shops. Fans are invited to watch from the first- and second-level balconies starting at 5:30 p.m.
If you can’t make it to Rupp, you can watch UK Sports Network’s “Before the Madness” special, which will be televised live from 5:30-7 p.m. on select UK Sports Network affiliates (click here for a list). Madness will air live on the SEC Network and the WatchESPN app starting at 7 p.m. Tom Hart will be on hand to make the call alongside analysts Sean Farnham and Debbie Antonelli.
Our own Bradley McKee and Dr. Mike will also be on the blue carpet to bring you the sights and sounds of Madness in the most ridiculous manner possible. If you see them, please say hello.
You made it to the middle of the work week, which means we’re now just days away from a huge weekend for UK Athletics. There’s a lot going on, so here’s a quick recap of the coming weekend’s biggest activities in and around campus in Lexington:
Friday – Big Blue Madness
The fun begins Friday evening. Big Blue Madness is essentially the launch party for another season of Kentucky Basketball, and this year will be no exception. The action is slated to start at 7 p.m. inside Rupp Arena.
If you didn’t score tickets to the event itself, you can tune in on the SEC Network, where our friend Tom Hart will be commentating (listen up for any KSR references!). You can also come to the “Blue Carpet” event at 5:30 inside the Lexington Center to watch the team and special guests enter the Rupp Arena.
It's #BBM19 week pic.twitter.com/7B3f174bXp
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 7, 2019
Both the men’s and women’s teams will be introduced before participating in their first open practice of the season. Who will come out with the best dance moves? My money is on Immanuel Quickley (or maybe Matthew Mitchell).
Saturday – Kentucky vs. Arkansas football game
Sandwiched between two fun days of basketball comes an important game for the UK football team. The Wildcats are set to take on Arkansas at 7:30 on the SEC Network. The game is the official Jared Lorenzen tribute game, as well as UK’s annual Homecoming game.
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for the football team, and this Saturday is the Wildcats’ chance to get back on the right track. Mark Stoops is determined his guys play “a hell of a game” for Lorenzen.
It’s not too late to grab tickets for Saturday’s game. Seats are still available HERE, and you can use the promo code ‘TWENTYTWO” to receive $22 off the price of your tickets.
Sunday – John Calipari women’s basketball clinic
Then, we’re back to basketball. After a day to recover from the spectacle of Big Blue Madness, John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena to host this year’s women’s clinic.
The ladies in attendance will be invited to take a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the program, including a self-guided tour of Rupp Arena and the locker rooms. There will be staff members stationed throughout the facility for directions and questions.
Each participant will also be guaranteed a small group picture with the entire team and the opportunity to take a picture with John Calipari and his wife, Ellen (because she’s the major draw here, right? Don’t you want the chance to make it on her Instagram?!). You can read more about the clinic HERE.
Registration is open now. The past eight clinics have completely sold out, so grab your spot before it’s too late. Ladies, I’ll be there for KSR – come say hi!
Oh right… Don’t forget Keeneland will also be open all weekend. Have fun out there, Wildcats.
During his interview on KSR this morning, John Calipari did more than talk about his longtime support for players’ likeness rights. He also gave us some updates on his squad ahead of Big Blue Madness. You can listen to the full interview at the bottom of this post, but here are six highlights.
1. He’s still worried about toughness
Echoing his remarks from Media Day, Calipari said his number one concern about his team right now is toughness, which could lead to some guys being pushed around early in the season.
“I think we should be terrific defensively but I worry about the toughness because I think people will just try to beat us up. And it’s not as though you’re not going to know it. You’re going to have to be physical, have some toughness to you and have all that stuff. Expect it, and not have it affect your game. That’s going to take some time for us.”
2. He loves their potential on defense
Cal is a defensive-minded coach, so for him to dole out this much praise for his team’s defense this early on is pretty major.
“We have the returning [SEC] Defensive Player of the Year in Ashton [Hagans] and a player that guards almost as good, maybe not as physical, but almost as good is Tyrese [Maxey]. Immanuel [Quickley] has gotten way better and has a better idea of team defense, off the ball. You’ve got shot blocking behind it and the guy that stood out in the Pro Day was Keion Brooks. He stood out. He blocked shots, he rebounded balls, he mixed it up. You’re talking 6’8” and long, really long. Kahlil [Whitney] has the physical strength to do it.”
3. “When [Johnny Juzang] shoots it, you’re surprised if he misses it”
How good of a shooter is Johnny Juzang? I love how Calipari phrased it.
“We recruited guys here to make shots and they were shooters, they just weren’t makers. So, this guy, so people are understanding what I said, when he shoots it, you’re surprised if he misses it. Thank goodness. You’ve got a guy that’s going to stretch the court and has the green light to let it go from NBA range if he’s open.”
4. The team impressed scouts with their communication
With another week of practice under them, the team continues to follow Nate Sestina’s lead when it comes to communication, so much so that the NBA scouts at Pro Day complimented Calipari on it afterwards.
“The reality of it is, at Pro Day, we talked and it was one of the comments the NBA personnel said to me, ‘Man, this group talks.’ And they know in the NBA, that the teams that chatter, that really have that on the court while they’re playing are the best teams. The other teams are – basically, each individual is worried about their own game and how do I get to that next contract and this that and the other, and they’re not very good teams because they don’t talk.
“So, what I said to my guys after, if you will talk like this everyday – you did it because we talked about it prior to the guys walking in the gym, the NBA people – and if you go as hard as you went in this setting, we’re going to be fine.”
5. Yesterday’s practice started off badly, but ended well
Coming off an impressive showing at Pro Day — “Everyone helped themselves. It was a big deal. It went better than I thought it would” — the team reverted a little bit in practice yesterday, which Calipari said is natural, but he was pleased with how they regrouped.
“What they ended up doing — I had to point it out, I had to stop practice — most cases, players have to conquer themselves before they can worry about conquering somebody else. The moment you feel your worst, if you can end up having a great practice or great game, you just conquered yourself. And yesterday we had a great practice by the end of practice. Early on, it scared me. But it was good. It was a good practice. And they learned something and I learned something about individuals there.”
6. He’s forcing Nick and EJ to compete with each other
With PJ Washington in the pros, Reid Travis overseas, and no N’Faly Dante or Kerry Blackshear on the roster, the post is clear for Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery; however, Calipari still wants them to feel a sense of urgency.
“There was competition. Now, there isn’t and I’m telling you, that fight, you’re going to have to bring it out of yourself and force yourself to understand and not be delusional. This isn’t just about giving me more minutes. This is being a more effective basketball player.”
“Those two, I’m putting them against each other a lot because I want them to compete with each other. But again, yesterday I put Nate and EJ on the same team and Nick is way better. Way more confident. Way more conditioned. The biggest thing with both of those guys has been that strength and conditioning more than the basketball. So, they’re getting better. I’m really proud of both of them.”