Willie Cauley-Stein is the diamond in the rough. He’s the precious stone you stumble upon while searching for your tee shot — uncut, unpolished, but unquestionably a fabulous find. He is a jewel who has lately improved Kentucky’s chances at chasing another crown. The 7-foot freshman has replaced injured Nerlens Noel in UK’s starting lineup,…
Boxscore and Game Notes: Kentucky vs. Mississippi State
Go here for boxscore. Kentucky won its third game in a row and is 20-8 overall, 11-4 in the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State is 7-20 overall, 2-13 in the league Kentucky leads the series 89-20 and has won the last five meetings. UK leads the series 45-5 in games played in Lexington. Kentucky honored the…
Kentucky runs away from Mississippi State, 85-55
Ryan Harrow’s 19 points led five Kentucky players in double figures and the Wildcats dominated outmanned Mississippi State for an 85-55 victory Wednesday night, the Wildcats’ third in a row. Alex Poythress added 16 points, Willie Cauley-Stein 12 and Julius Mays and Archie Goodwin 11 each as Kentucky (20-8, 11-4 Southeastern Conference) pulled within a…
Future Cat Derek Willis named finalist for Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball award
Bullitt East High School teammates Derek Willis and Rusty Troutman and Trinity’s Darryl Hicks were among the five finalists named Wednesday for Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball award. Willis, Troutman and Hicks join Madison Central’s Dominique Hawkins and Montgomery County’s Omar Prewitt as finalists for the award sponsored by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation. Christian Academy’s China…
In one-and-done world, Julius Mays showing value of experience
If you like your sports splashed with a dash of irony, one need look no farther than what fifth-year senior Julius Mays did in Rupp Arena last week for the one college basketball program in the country most closely identified with one-and-done players. In two games in which defeat would have likely doomed Kentucky’s flickering…
Getting championship rings ‘just like winning’ again for ’96 greats
Members of Kentucky’s 1995-96 national championship team never waste an opportunity to get back together. When they do, there’s a familiar script. They first catch up on each other’s lives and families, but it’s not long before they start reminiscing. There are too many memorable moments to count, but there seem to be two they…
Willie Cauley-Stein named SEC Freshman of the Week
Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein, a 7-foot, 244-pound freshman forward from Olathe, Kan., was named SEC Freshman of the Week after averaging 13.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and five blocks in wins over Vanderbilt and Missouri. Cauley-Stein began the week by pouring in a career-high 20 points to couple with a team-high seven rebounds and three blocks. He made 8-of-10…
Cats show grit in battling past Missouri
There were spectacular plays by both teams, the kind of standout, shout-out-loud plays that make highlight reels and lasting memories. But the one John Calipari wanted to talk about first after his Kentucky team battled past Missouri 90-83 in a Rupp Arena overtime thriller late Saturday night was of the quiet variety. “There was a play where…
Boxscore and Game Notes: Kentucky vs. Missouri
Go here for boxscore. Kentucky is 19-8 overall, 10-4 in the Southeastern Conference. Missouri is 19-8 overall, 8-6 in the league Kentucky leads the series 5-0, including 3-0 in games played in Lexington. Kentucky is 2-0 in overtime games this season Kentucky completes its three-game homestand Wednesday as the Wildcats host Mississippi State at 8…
Kentucky scores big overtime win against Missouri, 90-83
Julius Mays’ eight points in overtime, including four clinching free throws in the final 33 seconds, helped Kentucky get the important victory it needed to bolster its NCAA tournament chances, beating Missouri 90-83 Saturday night. Mays made six free throws in overtime and scored 21 of his 24 points after halftime for the Wildcats (19-8,…