To say it’s been a turbulent offseason for coach John Calipari and the fortunes of the Kentucky basketball program is like saying it’s sizzling within the summertime within the Ohio Valley.
Cal missed on a number of big-time prospects within the switch portal. The first concept that has been floating round is that these gamers have been scared off due to the extremely touted incoming group of freshmen. Unsure that’s the primary purpose, however it needed to play an element.
Nevertheless, in the previous couple of weeks, Cal and his employees have introduced in two extra freshmen in 6-foot-9 Jordan Burks and 6-5 capturing guard Joey Hart for added depth, and welcomed again Antonio Reeves, which was the perfect information UK has gotten for the reason that offseason started.
Reeves has tons of faculty expertise, and regardless of his abysmal capturing night time vs. Kansas State within the NCAA match final 12 months, his penchant for scoring is required for such a younger squad. He averaged 14.4 factors per sport and made 39.8 p.c of his 3-point makes an attempt a 12 months in the past.
Kentucky added one other key participant just a few days in the past as effectively, when 6-9 energy ahead Tre Mitchell introduced he’s coming to Lexington. Mitchell averaged 11.7 ppg and 5.5 rebounds at West Virginia final season.
Having a pair of skilled veterans on the roster can solely be useful for the 5 heralded freshmen—Aaron Bradshaw, Robert Dillingham, Justin Edwards, Reed Sheppard and DJ Wagner—who arrive because the top-ranked class within the nation.
In any other case, Cal was going to go to battle with an especially younger group with little depth.
There are rumblings that Kentucky isn’t fairly achieved including gamers to this 12 months’s staff, and there was extra constructive information on Tuesday, when the primary 2024 recruit introduced he will probably be a Wildcat.
Somto Cyril, a 6-10, 240-lb. man little one from Nigeria, has been nicknamed “Child Shaq” and in the event you’ve seen any of his highlights on the Web, it’s simple to see why. He blocks pictures with authority and assaults the rim with ferocity. Not actual certain in regards to the Shaquille O’Neal comparability, however he does seem to play equally to former Wildcat and present Miami Warmth middle Bam Adebayo.
Cyril plans to play one other season within the Additional time Elite League, which is the place Burks and Dillingham performed final 12 months, earlier than becoming a member of the Cats subsequent season.
The loyal UK fanbase needs to be pleased with the current developments, however Calipari and employees nonetheless have lots of work to do by way of staff chemistry and the way the seven freshmen will mesh with holdovers Adou Thiero and Ugonna Onyenso.
The Cats will get a bounce on doing simply that when Kentucky represents Group USA in Toronto July 12 to play within the 2023 Globl Jam, an Beneath 23 worldwide match.
The occasion will function a three-game round-robin schedule main as much as a possible Gold Medal matchup on Sunday, July 16 at 8 p.m.
If the Cats fail to make the Gold Medal sport, there will even be a Bronze Medal sport on Sunday.
Group USA already has three video games scheduled main as much as championship day:
USA vs. Germany, Wed., July 12 at 1:30 p.m.
USA vs. Canada, Thurs., July 13 at 8 p.m.
USA vs. Group Africa, Sat., July 15 at 1:30 p.m.
*****
UK FOOTBALL ADDING TALENT TOO—The Kentucky soccer program has inked a number of highly-ranked recruits for the 2024 class in current weeks, and reportedly extra are on the best way.
Some of the touted signees is quarterback Cutter Boley, who’s coming into his senior 12 months at Lexington Christian Academy. The 6-foot-5 Boley is rated the tenth finest QB within the nation and has already been understanding at summer time camps on the UK campus, and doing his finest to usher in extra recruits.
Despite the fact that recruiting rankings must be taken with a grain or two of salt, the incoming freshmen class is within the prime 30.
The significance of the switch portal can’t be overestimated, and Kentucky has the 14th most spectacular group of transfers, with 12 transfers heading to Lexington.
Essentially the most intriguing gamers are quarterback Devin Leary from North Carolina State and operating again Ray Davis, who’s coming in from Vanderbilt. Each are anticipated to make important rapid contributions.
UK additionally welcomes again offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who had a return to the NFL with the Rams final 12 months. Coen is likely one of the most revered offensive minds within the sport and his presence additionally attracts a ton of curiosity from attainable recruits.
There’s definitely no lack of expertise in the case of the Kentucky soccer program, thanks largely to go coach
Mark Stoops, recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow, and the remainder of the employees. A few of the admittedly method too early polls have the Cats within the prime 25, however within the at all times highly effective Southeastern Convention, they’re ranked sixth amongst SEC groups.
There’s nonetheless professional purpose for hope, and expectations are being raised to unprecedented ranges for this system.
*****
REDS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS—The Cincinnati Reds wrapped up one other collection win with a wild and wooly 11-7 win in 10 innings in soggy Baltimore on Wednesday night time.
The victory over one other younger and up-and-coming staff additionally accomplished the official first half of the season. The Rallyin’ Reds stand at 43-38 heading right into a three-game collection vs. underachieving San Diego, which has misplaced 5 in a row and eight of their final 10.
The Cincinnati report is much more spectacular contemplating their atrocious begin to the season. In the event that they compile the identical mark within the subsequent 81 video games, they are going to be 86-76, which can be ok to win the Nationwide League Central Division.
If the Reds may get to 92 wins, that might possible both win the division or earn them a Wild Card spot.
All that’s standing in the best way of that occurring is their lower than spectacular pitching employees, notably the starters.
Common Supervisor Nick Krall wants to seek out pitching assist or this staff will battle because the temperatures rise. Krall will possible should deal a stable prospect or two, however pitching is a big want.
Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo aren’t anticipated to return till someday in August, and Graham Ashcraft and Luke Weaver have been terrible, to place it mildly. Brandon Williamson is
inconsistent and until the Reds can get constructive innings from former Cub Alec Mills and/or present Louisville starter Connor Phillips, issues are trying lower than best.
The present ace of the employees is rookie lefty Andrew Abbott, and nearly as good as he’s been thus far, he can’t do it alone.
Similar goes for the bullpen, which has been overused because of the weak begins. Krall could possibly purchase a lefthanded reliever from Colorado, which has a pair of them in veteran Brad Hand and Cincinnati native Brent Suter.
The Reds lead the bigs with 29 comeback wins, however the lineup can’t be anticipated to bang out seven or extra runs in each sport to beat the dearth of pitching.
*****
LSU WINS ANOTHER TITLE—The Males’s School World Collection featured an all-SEC remaining, and it was one of many strangest three-game collection within the historical past of the occasion.
After Louisiana State received an exciting 4-3 in 11 innings opener, Florida turned the tables on the Tigers with a record-breaking 24-4 win in Recreation 2, establishing a winner-take-all sport.
The Bayou Bengals flexed their muscle groups, blasting the Gators 18-4 to win their seventh nationwide championship, second solely to Southern California’s 12 titles.
The LSU win marked the fourth consecutive baseball nationwide championship for the SEC. Vanderbilt received all of it in 2019, the occasion was canceled in 2020 as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, Mississippi State was the 2021 champs, and Ole Miss received it final 12 months.
*****
HAPPY FOURTH!—Right here’s wishing all a contented and secure 4th of July, and hope y’all keep cool too!
*****
“What will get us into bother is just not what we don’t know. It’s what we all know for certain that simply ain’t so.’’—Mark Twain
*****
“We didn’t deal with effectively at this time however we made up for it by not blocking.”—former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach John McKay, in the course of the staff’s 0-14 season
My private favourite quote from McKay, when requested about his staff’s execution—“I’m in favor of it.”