New Orleans Online
Mardi Gras means different things to different people. For some, it means eating cautiously eating doughy deliciousness until one finds a tiny plastic baby. For others, it means drinking until all of the alcohol in the world has been consumed. For me, it means I will gorge myself with donuts until I swear them off for 40 days and nights (I’ll gladly trade that for five weeks of Fish Fries). For Kentucky basketball fans, tonight’s Mardi Gras celebration will be all about UK’s three seniors.
However, you can’t utter “Mardi Gras” and “basketball” in the same sentence without going back to Kentucky’s 1994 “Mardi Gras Miracle” victory over LSU. Trailing 68-37 with just under 16 minutes to play, it’s difficult to understand how they came back unless you watch it all unfold. (On a semi-unrelated note, the Brad Nessler/Larry Conley combo is my favorite college basketball broadcasting duo.)
All Three Seniors Will Start
John Calipari’s talented senior trio has been terrific in the final stages of their careers. Statistically speaking, they’re the best group of seniors since Calipari came to Kentucky, averaging a combined 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this season. Tonight they will be in the starting lineup alongside Isaiah Briscoe and Bam Adebayo. There will be much, much more on each senior throughout the day here on Kentucky Sports Radio.
De’Aaron Fox’s Status is still Unclear
We know the three seniors will keep De’Aaron Fox out of the starting lineup, but we do not yet know if he will play. On last night’s call-in show, Calipari said Fox practiced and he “did good,” but was still not forthcoming with Fox’s disposition. Once again, we’ll see a pregame “game-time decision” circus at Rupp Arena.
The Last Time the Cats Played the Commodores
In the Cats’ third true road game of the season they gutted out a six-point win in Nashville. Vanderbilt’s Jeff Roberson cut the lead to two with just 17.9 seconds to play, but Malik Monk was too much for Vandy to handle, scoring six points in the final 32 seconds to seal the victory. Monk had 18 points, De’Aaron Fox had 22 points and Isaiah Briscoe led all scorers with 23 points.
UK/Vandy By the Numbers
Joe Tessitore, Sean Farnham and Kaylee Hartung will have the call for ESPN starting tonight
at
after 9:00. I’d share the spread but Vegas surprisingly still hasn’t released it.
Bam Adebayo is your SEC Freshman of the Week
I don’t know how it took almost an entire season to happen, but Bam Adebayo finally has his first SEC weekly award. The award could’ve gone to nobody else after Adebayo had 40 points and 30 rebounds in two games last week.
In the polls, Kentucky jumped back into the Top 10, up two spots to No. 9.
Lunardi Needs to Chill
There’s 12 days until Selection Sunday. That means we get to see Joe Lunardi approximately 3453984570234875 times a day on the four-letter network.
I used to be fine with Joey Brackets. It was fun to hear him talk about teams on the bubble, sparking the “Won’s In? Who’s out?” debate. Now he’s taken it too far. Without an assertive group of teams at the top, Lunardi’s changing his one seeds by the hour. After North Carolina lost to Virginia, he said UK and UofL are still in contention for a No. 1 seed. Sorry, not happening. Meanwhile, the third-ranked team in the country keeps looking better and better, yet UCLA still sits as a three-seed. I’ll still post a few of his updates, but I’m not buying a damn word he’s saying until the bracket is revealed.
I’m not the only one questioning his decision-making. Check out Drew’s post from last night.
Poor P-Patt
WHAP pic.twitter.com/uVEggxSje4
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 28, 2017
Don’t feel too sorry for Patterson. While sliding down the floor on his back, he threw his hands up and stole the ball. That’s much better than Carlton Bragg’s failed fast break.
Carlton Bragg’s career summed up in one highlight. pic.twitter.com/e6mCvNgf0b
— Jayhawk Nation (@KU_Owns_You) February 28, 2017
2018’s No. 1 Point Guard had a ‘Nice Time’ at UK
Evan Daniels’ first-ranked point guard in the 2018 class, Javonte Smart of Baton Rouge, visited Kentucky’s campus for the first time this weekend. During his unofficial, Smart posed with Calipari and a pair of his former point guards.
“Nice time at the university of Kentucky.. blessed” -@JavonteSmart
You’ll Hear from UK’s Two New Football Assistants
Dean Hood, the new special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach, and Derrick LeBlanc, the new man in charge of the defensive line, will meet with the media for the first time this morning at 10:00 a.m. We’ll have a Live Stream and coverage to follow.
Congrats to the Tuckers
Kyle Tucker and his wife Jenny welcomed beautiful twins into the world last night. It’s time to stoke the cigars and thank the Lord above for a happy, healthy family.
WOW, this feeling. Like nothing you ever did before now mattered. Meet Stroud and Elliot. pic.twitter.com/i7c5YvE7g3
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_AJC) February 28, 2017
A new edition of KSR starts in one hour.