Expectations, offseason quotes not that different at UK and Duke

R.J. Barrett, and other Duke players, face the same pressure UK players do. (Wade Upchurch Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

What’s it like for a college basketball program where winning a national championship, or at least making the Final Four, is an annual expectation no matter how much the roster might change?

“Is that our expectation? Are you putting expectations on us? No, we want — our program has been one of the best ones, and it’s not the only one, but it’s one of them, and I think if you’re going to have an outstanding program you have to have high expectations. When you don’t do it, then there will be big disappointments. But you’re dealing at that level. Each year we have a different team,” the coach said.  Read more... (464 words, 1 image, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)

“Combination of things” have hurt UK’s third-down conversion tries

All-SEC guard Logan Stenberg and the Cats have had trouble converting third-down plays this year. (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

Kentucky’s offensive and defensive lines were expected to be team strengths this year — something that has not gone quite the way everyone hoped through five games.

“I think it’s been a lot like our team and been inconsistent. At times they have done some really good things. We have higher expectations on both groups and want more consistency out of them,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said looking ahead to Saturday night’s game against Arkansas when UK hopes to end a three-game Southeastern Conference losing skid.  Read more... (331 words, 1 image, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

Is Arkansas a make-or-break game for UK?

Sawyer Smith and his UK teammates may need to learn how to be winners. (Vicky Graff Photo)

By KEITH PEEL, Contributing Writer

In sports, if you want to win games you have to be a winner. I know that seems obvious but hear me out for a minute. Let’s take the University of Kentucky Football team.

Most fans expected this year’s team to have a season that was close in performance to last year’s team. Sure UK lost some very talented players but they had a lot of very talented players just waiting for an opportunity to perform. Make no mistake Benny Snell, Josh Allen, Bunchy Stallings, Lonnie Johnson, Mike Edwards and several other players were all very talented. But they also knew how to win.  Read more... (836 words, 1 image, estimated 3:21 mins reading time)

PINK® Jeep Tours offers new routes in the Great Smoky Mountains to highlight fall beauty

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019) — For the first time this Fall, visitors drawn to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by the spectacular leaf colors will see PINK.  PINK® Jeep® Tours is celebrating its inaugural autumn in the Smoky Mountains by expanding its tour line-up.

Leaf-peepers can now experience the season’s breathtaking beauty during six different relaxing, guided tours in open-air, iconic PINK® Jeeps. The two new routes promise some of the most magnificent autumn vistas in the country, including exclusive opportunities to view the United States’ most popular national park and surrounding mountains like never before.  Read more... (530 words, 2 images, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

Here’s what Louisville basketball coach Chris Mack said at the ACC Operation Basketball Tuesday

Chris Mack

Q. Coach, just what can you say about what you took away from last season at Louisville, coming in, just what you saw from the program walking into it and now what you see moving forward as you progress?
CHRIS MACK: Sure. I couldn’t be any more grateful and thankful for the guys that we have and had in our locker room a year ago. I think to be able to add Akoy Agau, Cristen Cunningham, and Khwan Fore, three guys that had been through the wars, so to speak, of college basketball and wanted to be at a second home, and then the guys that, you know, didn’t get recruited by me. I said in the very beginning, hey, this was never going to be “Wait until Coach Mack gets his guys in,” and they were all in.  Read more... (1408 words, 1 image, estimated 5:38 mins reading time)

A.J. Rose: “Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion.”

A.J. Rose (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

For almost two weeks Kentucky football players have read and heard plenty of criticism about their play during a three-game Southeastern Conference losing skid.

That’s not what fans expected from a team that went 10-3 last year even if it did lose running back Benny Snell, linebacker Josh Allen and five defensive backs from last year and then had starting quarterback Terry Wilson go down with a season-ending knee injury in week two.  Read more... (383 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Tyrese Maxey going after his piece of the bone

Tyrese Maxey has some big goals for this season. (Vicky Graff Photo)

By KEITH TAYLOR, Kentucky Today

LEXINGTON —Tyrese Maxey is always smiling but don’t let that grin fool you.

Although an upbeat and personable player, the freshman guard hasn’t backed down from anyone on the team, especially veteran sidekick Ashton Hagans.

“It’s like two dogs and one bone,” he said. “Two pit bulls going at it … that’s how I describe it. We’re both very competitive and we don’t want to lose. It’s great and I love it. I think it makes us as a team better.”  Read more... (674 words, 1 image, estimated 2:42 mins reading time)

John Calipari really struck a nerve with former basketball officials, but will it have an impact on this season

John Calipari (Vicky Graff Photo)

By KEITH PEEL, Contributing Writer

There are a lot of interesting comments coming out of John Calipari’s preseason press conferences these days. One of his more interesting ones is how he believes that game officials are biased against the University of Kentucky and in certain instances his team is, well, I’ll let him say it.

“There are times we’ve got to beat eight,” Calipari said, “You know what? Let’s beat eight.” His implication is that there’s at least some bias on the part of officials that call UK games.  Read more... (694 words, 1 image, estimated 2:47 mins reading time)

UK players Sawyer Smith, Luke Fortner, Matt Ruffalo visit Children’s Hospital

By LARRY VAUGHT

Kentucky football players Sawyer Smith, Luke Fortner and Matt Ruffalo all visited Kentucky Children’s Hospital Tuesday along with coach Mark Stoops and the UK cheerleader as part of a program started by former UK tight end C.J. Conrad and now called “Tuesdays with the Wildcats.”

Different UK players visit with patients each Tuesday to help brighten their day. Photographer Vicky Graff was there to provide these photos for you.  Read more... (110 words, 17 images, estimated 26 secs reading time)

Kentucky basketball posters to be given out this weekend

LEXINGTON, Ky. – With a new season fast approaching, official posters for the 2019-20 Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball teams will soon arrive. They will be distributed at Big Blue Madness presented by Papa John’s on Friday and beginning Saturday morning at Kroger locations throughout the state.

Designs for both teams’ posters will not be unveiled until distribution, with fans in attendance at Big Blue Madness at 7 p.m. on Friday the first to receive them. Each fan will receive one men’s poster and one women’s poster upon exiting Rupp Arena on Friday evening.  Read more... (215 words, estimated 52 secs reading time)