Tag: Kentucky Wildcats

Florida baseball falls short against Kentucky in Game 1

UF opened its weekend series on a disappointing note, falling 7-5 on the road against the Wildcats in Game 1.

Fresh off a series win over the No. 2 team in the country in Vanderbilt, Florida couldn’t keep that momentum going in the first game of their weekend series against Kentucky on Thursday night. The Gators overcame a 5-0 deficit to tie the game, but UK pulled out a 7-5 win over No. 10 UF. Now, Florida will have to win on Friday and Saturday to pull out a series victory.

The Gators (31-14, 13-9 SEC) and the Wildcats (27-15, 11-11 SEC) combined for 22 runs and 12 hits, but the game was a pitching duel through the first three innings.

It was a good start to the game on the mound for Florida’s Franco Alemán, who allowed just two hits in the first three innings and no runs. But Kentucky’s Cole Stupp was even better. He gave up just one hit in the first four innings of the game, and with the Wildcats lineup coming up to the plate at the bottom of the fourth, Alemán started to lose control.

He forced a groundout against the leadoff hitter, but after three straight singles loaded the bases, Cam Hill singled to right field to put two runs across. After a passed ball from catcher Nate Hickey, a third run scored.

UF hoped it could limit the damage at that, and it almost did as Alemán forced a strikeout for out three, but it came on a wild pitch. The runner managed to reach first and a run scored, though a second run was thrown out at home to end the frame, but not before UK took a 4-0 lead. In the fifth, the Wildcats got another run on the board with an RBI single.

Florida’s offense finally awoke in the sixth, though. Josh Rivera led off with a double, and a sacrifice fly from Jacob Young brought him home. In the seventh, Jud Fabian and Kris Armstrong led off with base hits to put runners at the corners. A single from Kirby McMullen put a run across, but Strupp looked poised to avert grave danger, forcing two outs.

But he walked Rivera to load the bases, and another walk against Colby Halter brought a run home. That ended Strupp’s night, but his replacement, Alex Degen, gave up a single to Young that scored two more runs and tied the game at five. A strong drive from Hickey to right field on the next at-bat threatened to bring the tying run across, but it was caught for out No. 3.

Trey Van Der Weide entered for Alemán (who allowed 10 hits and five runs in six innings) at the bottom of the seventh, and though one runner reached base against him on a fielding error, he didn’t allow any hits.

The Gators had their best chance to take the lead in the eighth when they loaded the bases with one out. But a pair of strikeouts from Jordan Butler and Rivera ended the threat, and the Wildcats made UF pay for failing to seize the opportunity.

Hill led off the bottom of the inning with a single on a bunt, and a wild pitch moved him to second. After another single, Van Der Weide was pulled for Jack Leftwich, who allowed a single but followed it up with a strikeout. Florida almost escaped without allowing the run, but John Rhodes cracked a two-out single to left field that broke the tie and gave Kentucky a two-run lead.

With UF’s last chance coming at the top of the ninth, Halter and Young struck out. Hickey stepped to the plate as the Gators’ last hope, but he popped up in foul territory for the game’s final out.

The loss is a big-time setback in an SEC series Florida can’t afford to lose. They’ll have to bounce back in Game 2, which starts on Friday at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

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Series Preview: No. 10 Florida heads to Kentucky for three-game tilt

Here is a look below at the starting pitchers lined up for this weekend’s series along with the projected starting lineup for UF at UK.

The No. 10 Florida Gators (31-13, 13-8 SEC) head up to Lexington on Thursday for a three-game weekend series against the Kentucky Wildcats (26-15, 10-11 SEC) riding high on a three-game winning streak. UF took two out of a three-game set last weekend at home against the then-No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores while sneaking away with a midweek win against the Stetson Hatters on Tuesday.

The Wildcats, on the other hand, enter the weekend having dropped their previous series at the Tennessee Volunteers, losing two of three including their last game on Saturday in which they were pummeled 11-2. Otherwise, Kentucky has had a perfectly mediocre season in the nation’s best baseball conference, though they stumbled with a four-game losing streak before winning three in a row heading into the Vols series.

Historically, Florida holds a massive edge in the all-time series with a 142-69-1 record since the first meeting in 1953. The Gators have been dominant from the get-go, winning the first eight games between the two schools, while registering a series-best 17-game winning streak from 1964 to 1971 while losing no more than four in a row at any point. The last time UF and UK tangled on the baseball diamond was in 2019, when Florida took two of three at home.

Here is a look below at the starting pitchers lined up for this weekend’s series along with the projected starting lineup. Scroll down further for interesting excerpts from the media guide.

Texas Volleyball: Longhorns lose to Kentucky in the national championship

The Texas volleyball team lost to the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2020-21 national championship on Saturday.

The Texas volleyball team reached their eighth national championship in program history and were looking to win their fourth title.

On the other hand, it was Kentucky’s first appearance. It was an electric atmosphere on Saturday night when these two teams faced off against each other.

Despite Texas winning the first set, Kentucky went on to win the next three sets in a row to beat the Longhorns 3-1 in a best-of-five and claim the program’s first national championship.

After Texas won the first set, Kentucky took early control of the second, never losing the lead to tie the match at 1-1.

In sets three and four, both teams kept it close, with the leads shuffling back and forth. Kentucky was able to maintain the momentum as they inched their way to the 25 points needed.

Texas finishes the 2020-21 season 27-2 overall and Big 12 champions which included no losses in conference play.

The team had two first-team All-Americans in Brionne Butler and Logan Eggleston, as well as third-team All-American Jhenna Gabriel. All of these players will return for next season in an attempt to win their first championship since 2012.

Terrence Clarke, who tragically died in car crash, should be honorary NBA draftee

Terrence Clarke, a freshman for Kentucky this past season, died Thursday following a car accident in Los Angeles. He was 19 years old.

Terrence Clarke, a freshman for Kentucky this past season, died Thursday following a car accident in Los Angeles. He was 19 years old.

On Wednesday, just one day before the fatal crash, Clarke and his Kentucky teammate Brandon Boston Jr. were among the six NBA prospects to officially sign with Klutch Sports and agent Rich Paul for representation.

Last month, when Clarke announced that he had declared early entry for the 2021 NBA draft, he said that he hoped to make his fans proud as he pursued his dreams.

Clarke was just about three months shy of realizing his lifelong goal of playing professional basketball before that opportunity was taken away from him.

His family, however, should still get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear his name called during this year’s draft.

Baylor center Isaiah Austin waves to the crowd after being granted ceremonial first round pick during the 2014 NBA draft, Thursday, June 26, 2014, in New York. Austin, who was projected to be a first round selection was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome just four days before the draft.
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

The league afforded a similar honor to former Baylor big man Isaiah Austin back in 2014. Austin was unable to play in the NBA after learning four days before the draft that he had Marfan syndrome, which would put his health at extraordinary risk.

Between the 15th and 16th pick in the 2014 NBA draft, commissioner Adam Silver made Austin a ceremonial pick. He received a standing ovation as he walked across the stage.

Just last year, the WNBA also extended such an honor to Gianna Bryant and her teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester after they were killed in a helicopter crash that claimed their lives as well as six others, including Kobe Bryant.

While these gestures won’t take the pain away or make the tragic loss any easier, you can see how much it meant for Gianna’s mother Vanessa. Clarke’s mother, who was reportedly by Terrence’s side when he passed, should get to experience that moment as well.

Clarke, who was a standout prep player in New England, developed a close relationship with several players on the Boston Celtics.

He was particularly close with NBA All-Star wing Jaylen Brown, who last night tweeted that the league should make Clarke an honorary draft pick in 2021.

Brown was not alone in this assertion, as many others had similar posts and calls for action following the tragedy:

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Four-star offensive tackle picks Kentucky over Ohio State, others

Late last week, four-star offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin announced his commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats over Ohio State.

There aren’t too many football prospects that decide to play for the Kentucky Wildcats over what Ohio State and other big boys have going on right now, but that’s exactly what happened late last week when four-star offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin committed to Kentucky over the likes of Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson.

At 6-foot, 7-inches, and 300-pounds, Goodwin was ranked as the No. 7 offensive tackle and 54th overall prospect in the 2022 class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. It would have been a nice addition for the Buckeyes, but the writing seemed to be on the wall as of late that he was leaning towards the Wildcats.

But all is not lost. According to at least one report out there by Eleven Warriors, the OSU coaching staff still believes they have a shot to flip Goodwin back to considering Ohio State and will continue to recruit him. He is still planning on taking all of his official visits, and we’ve seen more than a few recruits change their minds when getting on campuses and suddenly falling in love with things they never saw coming.

Ohio State has pulled off more than its fair share of flips in that department as well, so stay tuned. For now, though, Goodwin is headed to the Bluegrass State.

Ohio State football 2022 recruiting commitment tracker

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

Four-star offensive tackle picks Kentucky over Ohio State, others

Late last week, four-star offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin announced his commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats over Ohio State.

There aren’t too many football prospects that decide to play for the Kentucky Wildcats over what Ohio State and other big boys have going on right now, but that’s what happened late last week when four-star offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin committed to Kentucky over Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson.

At 6 feet, 7 inches and 300 pounds, Goodwin was ranked the No. 7 offensive tackle and 54th overall prospect in the 2022 class, according to the 247Sports composite. It would have been a nice addition for the Buckeyes, but the writing seemed to be on the wall that he was leaning toward the Wildcats.

But all is not lost. According to a report by Eleven Warriors, the OSU coaching staff still believes it has a shot at flipping Goodwin back and will continue to recruit him. He is planning to take all of his official visits, and we’ve seen more than a few recruits change their minds when getting on campuses and suddenly falling in love with things they never saw coming.

Ohio State has pulled off more than its fair share of flips in that department as well, so stay tuned. For now, though, Goodwin is headed to the Bluegrass State.

Ohio State football 2022 recruiting commitment tracker

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

Chuma Okeke starring for Orlando Magic, surprising no one

Chuma Okeke is getting his chance and now shining for the Orlando Magic after sitting out all of last season with an injury.

Things were going quite well for Chuma Okeke and the Auburn Tigers in spring 2019.

The Tigers defeated Tennessee 84-64 to win their first SEC Tournament championship in 34 years thanks in large part to 18 points, 3 steals, and 13 rebounds from Okeke. His NBA draft stock was surging and all signs indicated that he would be Auburn’s next lottery pick.

Auburn entered the 2019 NCAA Tournament as the No.5 seed in the Midwest region. After the Tigers narrowly escaped defeat at the hands of New Mexico State it appeared to many that their road to the Final Four would be near impossible with 4-seed Kansas, 1-seed North Carolina, and 2-seed Kentucky standing in their way.

The morning that Auburn faced off against Kansas in the second round of the tournament there were three perfect brackets remaining. Unfortunately for one of those brackets, the Tigers couldn’t miss and Kansas fell 89-75 thus ruining that individual’s perfect bracket.

The Jayhawks season came to an abrupt end at the hands of Bryce Brown, Jared Harper, and Okeke. Kansas head coach Bill Self struggled to scheme around the Tigers’ sharpshooting point guard duo in Brown and Harper who combined for 43 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists against the Jayhawks. It was a futile effort on Self’s part as Auburn’s offensive firepower surged through Okeke who was averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 steals, and 5 rebounds per game.

As the Tigers headed into the Sweet Sixteen to take on North Carolina there was one perfect bracket remaining. The bracket belonged to 40-year-old neuropsychologist Gregg Nigl who had managed to correctly pick 49 games in a row. His bracket would have been busted by Auburn’s victory over North Carolina, but it was the Purdue Boilermakers thrilling overtime win over Tennessee that occurred first.

I watched the Auburn vs North Carolina game with my father. With 8:08 remaining in the second half we knew Auburn was up big, but had somehow lost at the same time. Okeke collided with UNC’s Cameron Johnson beneath the basket before falling hard to the floor. I don’t remember the fall, I just remember Okeke screaming while grabbing his knee before he was escorted to the locker room and taken for x-rays.

Okeke exited the game with 20 points, 2 steals, and 11 rebounds. I knew then that was the last time we’d see Okeke play in an Auburn uniform.

The Tigers went on to defeat Kentucky in the Elite Eight to advance to the first Final Four in program history. I vividly remember shots of Anfernee McLemore shooting free throws against Virginia and mouthing to himself, “do it for Chuma.” The Tigers fell to Virginia in Minneapolis, but the benchmark for success within Auburn basketball was officially set and Chuma Okeke was an integral part of it.

As the dust of the NCAA Tournament had settled and the NBA Draft drew closer, it was apparent that Okeke’s torn ACL would hurt his chances at being a lottery pick. The Orlando Magic knew exactly what type of player they would get in Okeke and took him 16th overall in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft.

ESPN analyst Mike Schmitz announced that it was, “the steal of the draft.”

And boy was he right. After a one year stint with Orlando’s G-league affiliate in Lakeland, the Orlando Magic announced that they had officially signed Okeke. In the last five games Okeke has recorded a total of 79 points (22-point career high vs Portland), 6 steals, and 29 rebounds (10-rebound career high vs New Orleans). The Magic have gone 3-2 in those five games proving Okeke as a catalyst for success at the professional level.

He’s back to where he was before that tragic fall in the second half against North Carolina. For Okeke the road to where he is now has consisted of two years of rehab, perseverance, and patience. The opportunity that Chuma Okeke has worked and prayed for is now.

Welcome back big Chum!

Defensive prospects for the Lions shine at Kentucky’s pro day

The limited tape on both is a legit concern, but they should be considerations for the Lions with the No. 41 overall pick.

Kentucky Wildcats football isn’t typically a marquee destination for NFL scouts, but the program’s pro day on Wednesday attracted reps from nearly every NFL team to Lexington. Two prospects in particular stood out as potential fits for the Detroit Lions, who were confirmed to have at least one scout in attendance for the workout.

Linebacker Jamin Davis put on a freakshow of a workout. Davis measured in at 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, and his workout numbers are astonishing for a player at his position at that size.

Davis ran the 40-yard dash at 4.37, with a 42-inch vertical and a broad jump over 11 feet. Those reinforce the game tape from 2020, which showed an impact backer with easy range, ball skills and excellent tackling power. For comparison, here’s how he stacks up against Penn State’s Micah Parsons,

Davis was a late bloomer for the Wildcats. He only emerged as a starter late in 2019 but his game tape from 2020 is outstanding. In watching five Wildcats games, his breadth of ability at least equaled what Parsons put on display in 2019 at Penn State outside of rushing the passer, which is not something Kentucky had Davis do often.

Cornerback Kelvin Joseph also showed he has the athleticism to step right into the NFL and keep up the very impressive game tape he posted at Kentucky. The LSU transfer played only nine games in 2020 after sitting out 2019 as a result of his exit from the Tigers, but he showed excellent instincts and ball skills. At 6-foot-1, he’s got desirable length. He ran stride-for-stride with Alabama WR Devonta Smith during their matchup. And the speed is legit:

https://twitter.com/TonyPauline/status/1377300858791153666?s=20

Both Davis and Joseph are most likely second-round picks, though there will be projections for each in the first. The limited tape on both is a legit concern, but they should be considerations for the Lions with the No. 41 overall pick.

Why Wisconsin football needs to hit a home run on its impending RB coach hire

If you haven’t heard already, Wisconsin running backs coach John Settle has left the program to take the same position with Kentucky.

If you haven’t heard already, Wisconsin running backs coach John Settle has left the program to take the same position with the Kentucky Wildcats.

It’s been an offseason of coaching turnover for the Badger football program, with defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield leaving for Vanderbilt, quarterbacks coach Jon Budmayr leaving for Colorado State, Wisconsin hiring Hank Poteat being as cornerbacks coach and Paul Chryst taking back play-calling duties.

The most significant move of them all is Settle’s. In his two stints with the Wisconsin football program, he developed running backs P.J. Hill, John Clay, Montee Ball, James White, Corey Clement, Dare Ogunbowale and, most notably, Jonathan Taylor.

Why is this significant? Because it’s Wisconsin football, a program and brand of play that relies heavily on stars at the running back position.

But it’s also about the 2020 season, a campaign that made it clear Jalen Berger has the potential to become yet another star at the running back position for a program that has a long history of stars at the position.

With Settle there to develop the freshman, there would’ve been no reason to doubt Berger’s trajectory. It would’ve been about how long it would take before the New Jersey native becomes a nationwide household name.

But moving into 2021 without their longtime running backs coach, who again did a nearly perfect job in his 11 years at Wisconsin, there are undoubtedly more unknowns about where the program stands at the position.

Now, I’m saying all of this with an understanding of Berger’s talent in mind. He already is at the stage where his talent, production and potential are undeniable. But the departure of his coach needs to be considered, especially with nobody hired as of today to fill the role.

That coach, whether promoted internally or hired from elsewhere, will be following in some pretty large footsteps.

Leading rushers during Settle’s first stint as Wisconsin RB coach:

  • 2006: P.J. Hill—311 carries, 1569 yards, 15 touchdowns, 18 catches, 197 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
  • 2007: P.J. Hill—233 carries, 1212 yards, 14 touchdowns, 14 catches, 89 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
  • 2008: P.J. Hill—226 carries, 1161 yards, 13 touchdowns, 7 catches, 72 receiving yards
  • 2009: John Clay—287 carries, 1517 yards, 18 touchdowns
  • 2010: John Clay + James White + Montee Ball: 506 carries, 3060 yards, 46 touchdowns

Leading rushers during Settle’s second stint as Wisconsin RB coach:

  • 2015: Dare Ogunbowale—194 carries, 819 yards, 7 touchdowns, 36 catches, 299 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
  • 2016: Corey Clement—314 carries, 1374 yards, 15 touchdowns, 12 catches, 132 receiving yards
  • 2017-2019: Jonathan Taylor—926 carries, 6174 yards, 50 touchdowns
  • 2020: Garrett Groshek + Jalen Berger—127 carries, 601 yards, 4 touchdowns

Now there are obviously some big names on the list, players who probably would’ve had success regardless. But if you consider the role of a college coach, especially a position coach, and then see them have that many big-time players come to the program, succeed and go on to play in the NFL, it’s an impressive feat.

Even during his four years away from the program—2011-2014—the backs we saw carry the team (James White and Montee Ball) were guys he helped to develop and even helped bring to the program.

If you needed any more proof about the job Settle did while at Wisconsin, here is an excerpt from Madison.com’s piece on him taking the RB coach job at Kentucky:

“‘I think coach Settle does a great job of kind of knowing what each guy needs and maybe where their strength is, kind of how they’re spending their time they want to devote to football,’ Chryst said of Settle in November.

 

‘Even learning how to study film and learning how to self-evaluate. And that takes a coach, and that’s where I think coach Settle does a great job of truly assisting our guys and that’s as much of coaching as what to do on a play or what technique to use in different situations.’

 

Speaking of the running backs group this season, assistant head coach and run-game coordinator Joe Rudolph said Settle established the tone of the room.

 

‘There’s such great leadership in the room, starting with coach Settle, helping those guys to develop,’ he said.

Montee Ball also weighed in on the now-former Badger coach.

Whoever comes next will have decades of momentum on his side. But when you consider what a Wisconsin football team needs to do well in order to win games, whoever the program hires will have a lot of pressure to keep the run going.

From 2006-2010 and 2015-2020, the Badgers had a perfect fit in coach Settle. Now, with Berger set to explode onto the national scene and the program upping its recruiting game, the hiring decision for his replacement becomes one of the most important storylines heading into the 2021 football season.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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