Tag: kentucky wildcats basketball

Iowa ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s NCAA Tournament pain index

ESPN ranked Iowa No. 4 in its NCAA Tournament pain index.

Unfortunately, Iowa has been no stranger to NCAA Tournament heartbreak. The latest edition came in the Hawkeyes’ first-round matchup in the Midwest region against the 12th-seeded Richmond Spiders in a 67-63 loss on March 17.

Richmond guard Jacob Gilyard knocked down 4-of-7 3-pointers and scored 24 points to lead the Spiders’ upset win. Richmond forwards Tyler Burton and Nathan Cayo added 18 and 15 points, respectively. Iowa entered March Madness having won the Big Ten tournament title over Purdue and the Hawkeyes were being talked about as one of the teams that could unseat No. 1 seed Kansas in the Midwest region.

Instead, Iowa sophomore forward Keegan Murray’s 21 points and nine rebounds weren’t enough to push the Hawkeyes past the Spiders. Iowa sophomore forward Patrick McCaffery connected on four 3-point tries and added 18 points, but the Hawkeyes didn’t have another double-figure scorer outside of those two.

As a result, Iowa’s dubious streak of having not reached a Sweet 16 since 1999 continued. Ahead of Monday night’s national championship game, ESPN put together its NCAA Tournament pain index and Iowa ranked No. 4 among teams who have been eliminated.

Iowa fans who haven’t seen a trip to the second weekend since 1999 never come in arrogant about the Hawkeyes’ chances in the NCAA tournament, but had to be a bit more hopeful than usual entering a first-round matchup with Richmond. After all, this team had been playing some of the best basketball in the country as the event began, including a thrilling run to the Big Ten tournament championship, with an All-American and future lottery pick in Keegan Murray leading the way. Maybe, just maybe …

But Richmond was another conference tourney champ looking to keep the good times rolling, and it rode Jacob Gilyard (24 points, 6 assists) and some uncharacteristically poor Hawkeyes offense (including 6-of-29 from 3) to a classic 12-over-5 upset. – ESPN.

Given how the Hawkeyes were playing entering the NCAA Tournament and the type of season that Keegan Murray had, there’s plenty of sting with this latest March Madness exit. The fact that it comes on the heels of Iowa having lost as a No. 2 seed with the national player of the year in Luka Garza to Oregon in the tournament’s second round last year only adds to the frustration.

If it’s any solace, Iowa actually wasn’t the Big Ten team ranked the highest on the pain index. That distinction was awarded to Purdue, who lost in the Sweet 16 to cinderella Saint Peter’s. Thanks to the Peacocks’ 67-64 win over Purdue in the Sweet 16, Saint Peter’s became the first No. 15 seed to ever advance to the Elite Eight. Then, Saint Peter’s was promptly routed by North Carolina, 69-49. That can’t make Boilermaker fans feel any better.

Another victim of Saint Peter’s, the Kentucky Wildcats, checked in at No. 2 on ESPN’s pain index. Duke took home the ultimate pain index crown, though. According to this ESPN list, nothing stings more than losing to an archrival in the Final Four. The fact that the Tar Heels ended legendary Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s career with a loss in his final home game and then sent he and his team packing in the Final Four created quite the cocktail of misery for Duke fans.

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ Keegan Murray named Wooden Award finalist

Iowa sophomore forward Keegan Murray was named a finalist for the Wooden Award.

The recognition keeps on rolling in for Iowa sophomore [autotag]Keegan Murray[/autotag]. The 6-foot-8, 225 pound forward was named one of five finalists for the John R. Wooden Award.

Murray joins Kansas junior guard Ochai Agbaji, Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis, Gonzaga forward Drew Timme and Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe as finalists. All five players have been invited to Los Angeles for the 46th annual presentation of the award.

With Murray announced as a Wooden Award finalist, it marks the third consecutive season that Iowa has had a finalist for the award. Murray joins Luka Garza (2020 and 2021) in that distinction.

Murray averaged 23.5 points per game this season, which ranked fourth nationally and was tops among power-five players. He finished second-best among Big Ten players, averaging 8.7 rebounds per game. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native also averaged 1.9 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In fact, Murray joined Kevin Durant as just the second Division I player in history to total more than 800 points, 60 blocks and 60 made 3-pointers in a single season.

Murray finished the 2021-22 season with 822 points, 303 rebounds, 68 blocks, 66 made 3-point field goals, 52 assists and 45 steals during the campaign. He also joined North Carolina’s Antawn Jamison as the first player since 1998 to shoot 55% or better while scoring more than 800 points and grabbing more than 300 rebounds.

Murray shot 55.4% from the field and 39.8% from 3-point range. He declared for the NBA draft earlier this week and he is considered a potential lottery pick. In addition the Wooden Award, Murray is also a finalist for the following national awards: the Naismith Trophy, the Lute Olson National Player of the Year, the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year and the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year.

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ Keegan Murray named Naismith Trophy finalist

After sophomore Keegan Murray averaged 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, the star forward was named a Naismith Trophy finalist.

Iowa sophomore forward Keegan Murray had a season for the ages. After averaging 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, Murray was named one of four finalists for the Naismith Trophy.

The 6-foot-8, 225 pound native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, joins Kansas senior guard Ochai Agbaji, Wisconsin sophomore guard Johnny Davis and Kentucky junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe. The award is presented annually to  recognize the nation’s most outstanding men’s college basketball player. With Murray’s inclusion among the finalists, it now marks three consecutive seasons that the Hawkeyes have had a Naismith Trophy finalist.

Luka Garza was also a finalist during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. Of course, Garza won the Naismith Trophy last season after 24.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. Garza shot 55.3 percent from the field and 44.0 percent from 3-point range last season with the Hawkeyes.

Murray’s 23.5 points per game ranked fourth nationally and was tops among power-five players. His 8.7 rebounds per game ranked second in the Big Ten behind only Illinois junior center Kofi Cockburn. Murray recorded 26 games where he eclipsed 20 points and 16 games where he surpassed 25 points.

He increased his points per game average from last season by more than 16 points per game. Illinois’ Rick Schmidt was the last Big Ten player to increase their points per game average by more than 16 points per game from one season to the next. Schmidt accomplished that feat back in the 1973-74 season. Murray also averaged 1.9 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game and shot 55.4 percent from the field and 39.8 percent on 3-point attempts.

Murray became Iowa’s fourth consensus first-team All-American, joining Murray Wier (1948), Charles Darling (1952) and Garza (2020 and 2021). Murray totaled a Big Ten Tournament record 103 points, averaging 25.8 points in the Hawkeyes’ four Big Ten Tournament games en route to the program’s third tournament title. The sophomore star earned Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player for his efforts in the tournament.

Murray also registered a program-best six Big Ten Player of the Week awards this season. That feat meant Murray joined Ohio State’s Evan Turner and Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan as the only players in league history to win the weekly award six or more times in a single season since the honor was introduced in the 1981-82 season.

Murray is also a Wooden Award semifinalist, was named to the Lute Olson National Player of the Year midseason list and is a Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year finalist.

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ Keegan Murray named USA TODAY Sports second team All-American

USA TODAY Sports released its 2021-22 All-America teams. Iowa’s Keegan Murray was selected as a second team All-American.

Iowa’s 2021-22 basketball season came to a close in its first round NCAA Tournament loss to 12th-seeded Richmond, 67-63. Sophomore standout forward Keegan Murray isn’t done collecting hardware, though.

USA TODAY Sports released its 2021-22 All-America teams and Murray earned second team recognition. Murray joined Duke freshman forward Paolo Banchero, Auburn freshman forward Jabari Smith, Arizona sophomore guard Bennedict Mathurin and Purdue sophomore guard Jaden Ivey on the second team.

Murray had a remarkable second season in Iowa City. The 6-foot-8, 225 pound forward ranked fourth nationally, averaging 23.5 points per game. That mark was tops in the country among power-five players. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native also ranked second in the Big Ten in rebounds per game with 8.7 per contest. That figure trailed only Illinois center Kofi Cockburn’s 10.6 rebounds per game.

Murray shot 55.4 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from 3-point range this season. He also blocked 1.9 shots and collected 1.3 steals per game. Now, he has a decision to make on his future. A pair of writers recently forecasted Murray as a 2022 NBA Draft lottery pick. SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell had Murray landing with the San Antonio Spurs as the No. 7 overall pick, while CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone projected Murray to be drafted No. 11 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans.

Following the Hawkeyes’ upset loss to Richmond, Murray didn’t sound like a player that had completely closed the door on returning to Iowa.

“I think for us it’s really just on to next year. Go through the offseason again, get better. We put our stamp on this program I feel like positively, so just go into the offseason and work,” Murray said.

Iowa finished its season 26-10 overall and won the program’s third Big Ten Tournament championship and first since the 2006 season. If it was his final game with Iowa, Murray was proud of what he and his teammates accomplished with the Hawkeyes.

“I think these two, especially our team last year kind of laid the framework just for what the expectations are now at Iowa and just what you’ve got to do to win here, and these last two seasons, I feel like kind of put the stamp on our program from what it was. These two were part of it, them two, and I feel like they’re a really big part of our program and will forever be a big part of our program,” Murray said of teammates Jordan Bohannon and Connor McCaffery.

The USA TODAY Sports selection for national player of the year went to Kentucky junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe. The rest of USA TODAY Sports’ first team All-Americans included Gonzaga junior forward Drew Timme, Illinois junior center Kofi Cockburn, Wisconsin sophomore guard Johnny Davis and Kansas senior guard Ochai Agbaji.

USA TODAY Sports’ third team All-Americans were comprised of Gonzaga freshman center Chet Holmgren, North Carolina junior forward Armando Bacot, Baylor senior guard James Akinjo, UCLA junior guard Johnny Juzang and Villanova senior guard Collin Gillespie. The national coach of the year was Duke’s Mike Krzyewski.

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5 bold predictions for Alabama vs. Kentucky

5 bold predictions for Alabama vs. Kentucky

Nate Oats and the Alabama men’s basketball team will look to get back in the win column tonight against the Kentucky Wildcats. Last Saturday, Alabama was able to take down one of the best teams in the country in Baylor, and tonight they will have to opportunity to take down another highly ranked team.

Kentucky sits with an 18-4 overall record and is 7-2 in SEC play which is good enough for second in the conference. Alabama is in desperate need of a win in conference play to avoid falling two games under .500.

Before tip-off, let’s take a look at my five bold predictions for tonight’s contest.

Georgia basketball’s Sahvir Wheeler announces transfer destination

Georgia Bulldogs point guard Sahvir Wheeler is staying in the SEC East and is transferring to the Kentucky Wildcats basketball program.

Former Georgia Bulldog point guard Sahvir Wheeler is staying in the SEC East. Wheeler, a former four-star recruit, is transferring to the Kentucky Wildcats basketball program.

Georgia basketball will have a lot of new faces on the team for the 2021-2022 college basketball season. Georgia finished the 2020-2021 season with a 14-12 record. The Dawgs went 7-11 in SEC play.

Wheeler will give John Calipari and Kentucky the point guard they’ve been looking for. The Wildcats struggled last season and finished with a 9-16 record.

Georgia’s loss will be Kentucky’s gain. The Bulldogs will likely face Wheeler and the Wildcats twice next season.

Wheeler averaged 14.0 points and 7.4 assists per game for Georgia last season.

He will be immediately eligible for Kentucky.

He just finished his sophomore season at Georgia, but technically has three years of eligibility remaining because the 2020-2021 season did not count against his or any college basketball player’s eligibility.

Kentucky is bringing in the No. 6 ranked recruiting class of 2021 in the country. The Wildcats should improve and will be very talented once again. Kentucky has signed the No. 3 point guard in the class of 2021 in TyTy Washington.

Jan 20, 2021; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs guard Sahvir Wheeler (2) dribbles past Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Askew (2) during the first half at Stegeman Coliseum. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

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BetMGM has Auburn as slight underdogs to Kentucky

Auburn looks to win at Rupp Arena against Kentucky for the first time since 1988 when the two teams meet up on Saturday.

Auburn hasn’t won in Rupp Arena since 1988 but this might be the Tigers best chance to break that streak.

Kentucky has struggled this season, currently sitting at 5-13 as the Wildcats just can’t get things going offensively. That doesn’t mean the talent isn’t there, though, as a slew of 5-star players fill the lineup for John Calipari.

The good people at BetMGM expect it to be a tight game as the oddsmakers have Auburn as 2.5-point underdogs to the host Wildcats. Auburn won the previous meeting this season with a 66-59 win in Auburn Arena.

Here are other odds for the rest of SEC action on Saturday:

Odds courtesy of BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi State (-7.5)

Tennessee (-2.5) at LSU

Georgia at Alabama (-12.5)

Arkansas at Missouri (-3.5)

Ole Miss (-1.5) at South Carolina

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Texas Longhorns Basketball: Big 12/SEC challenge matchup vs Kentucky canceled

COVID-19 has taken out another basketball game for Texas. The Longhorns were scheduled to take on Kentucky in the Big 12/SEC challenge.

COVID-19 has taken out another basketball game for Texas. Continue reading “Texas Longhorns Basketball: Big 12/SEC challenge matchup vs Kentucky canceled”

Georgia basketball hits buzzer beater to defeat Kentucky

The Georgia Bulldogs hit a game-winning lay up to defeat the Kentucky Wildcats 63-62.

The Georgia Bulldogs hit a game-winning lay up to defeat the Kentucky Wildcats 63-62. Georgia Bulldogs guard P.J. Horne hit the big shot to win with under two seconds left.

Entering the contest Georgia had lost 14 consecutive games against the Wildcats. Here’s a look at P.J. Horne’s game-winner for UGA:

P.J. Horne transferred to Georgia to be closer to home. The Virginia Tech transfer made Georgia basketball history with his shot to defeat Kentucky.

Georgia basketball is now 9-4 on the season, but is only 2-4 in SEC play. John Calipari and Kentucky are 4-9 in their worst start to a season in quite some time. The Wildcats are 3-3 in conference action.

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Mar 7, 2020; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Tom Crean talks to the players on a time out against LSU Tigers during the second half at Maravich Assembly Center.  Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Basketball: Kentucky trying to lure assistant per report

Shaka Smart may be losing an assistant, as UK is looking to steal Jai Lucas. KSR is reporting that Calipari wants Lucas to join his staff.

Head coach Shaka Smart may be losing one of the assistants on his coaching staff, as Kentucky could be looking to steal Jai Lucas away. Kentucky Sports Radio is reporting that John Calipari could want Lucas to join his staff.

“Would be a big get if we could pull that off,” a source close to the Kentucky basketball program told KSR Tuesday morning.

“Jai Lucas is a specialist, knows everyone in the country. Limitless resources,” another source familiar with the situation told KSR on Monday evening. “Could be an assistant like he is now but more of a connections guy. Fits like a glove [at Kentucky].”

He would be replacing Kenny Payne, who recently joined the New York Knicks’ coaching staff.

Lucas joined the Texas staff in 2013 and began as the Texas director of basketball operations. Smart then gave him a promotion, making him an assistant coach beginning in 2016.

He is responsible for the great 2017 recruiting class that included Mo Bamba, Matt Coleman, and Jericho Sims.

Before coaching, Lucas was a player at Texas for two seasons after transferring from Florida. He averaged just under three points a game with 2.9 and 1.2 assists per game during his time in Austin.

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