UK boosted by ‘great addition,’ 10-plus assist man, ‘relentless rebounder’

Jerry Tipton
·7 min read

Chris Dortch, editor and publisher of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, cited “great choices from the portal” as a reason Kentucky is No. 7 in the publication’s preseason top 25.

That’s a reference to transfers Kellan Grady (Davidson), Sahvir Wheeler (Georgia), Oscar Tshiebwe (West Virginia) and CJ Fredrick (Iowa).

“I’ve been able to see Kellan Grady play a lot because I admire the way Davidson plays under Coach Bob McKillop and watch Davidson games whenever I can,” Dortch wrote in an email. “So, I know he’s a great addition who will play a huge role.”

Of Wheeler, who led the Southeastern Conference in assists last season, Dortch wrote, “He could average double-figure assists this year, and it wouldn’t surprise me.”

Dortch judged Tshiebwe as “a relentless rebounder and rim protector.”

Fredrick and Grady will give Kentucky the three-point shooting threat that was missing last season, he wrote.

“Other than Texas, that’s as good a haul from the portal as anyone,” Dortch added. He saw this showing how Kentucky and Coach John Calipari could effectively adapt to the evolving nature of college basketball.

“I think it speaks to how the game has changed that Kentucky might start four players that began their careers at other schools,” Dortch wrote.

Double-digits

In making its case to name Gonzaga as No. 1 in its preseason poll, Blue Ribbon noted that the Jags won a record 27 straight games by a double-digit margin last season.

That streak ended in the Final Four when Gonzaga beat UCLA 93-90 in overtime in the national semifinals and then lost 86-70 to Baylor in the championship game.

This prompted a question: What is Kentucky’s longest streak of victories by double-digit margins?

Answer: UK won 20 straight games by 10 or more points in the 1948-49 season. The streak began on Jan. 15 and ended on March 14.

Kentucky’s second-longest such streak came in the unbeaten season (25-0) of 1953-54. UK won 16 straight games by 15 or more points. Led by Cliff Hagan, Frank Ramsey and Lou Tsioropoulos, the Cats had only two games in which they won by a single-digit margin: 77-71 over Xavier and 63-56 over LSU.

The longest streak in John Calipari’s time as UK coach has been 12 straight to start the 2014-15 season.

Ranked opponents

Kentucky will play 10 games against teams in Blue Ribbon’s top 25 in the 2021-22 regular season. That’s two each against No. 10 Tennessee and No. 15 Alabama, plus one each against No. 3 Kansas, No. 8 Duke, No. 13 Arkansas, No. 20 Ohio State, No. 22 Auburn and No. 24 Mississippi State.

Kansas returns four regulars from last season. Plus the Jayhawks added transfer Remy Martin, who led the Pac-12 in scoring for Arizona State last season.

Tennessee adds a top four freshman class, plus transfer (and Kentucky native) Justin Powell from Auburn. Productive “big” John Fulkerson returns.

Arkansas’ four returning regulars include SEC Sixth Man of the Year JD Notae.

If backcourt experience and steady guard play remain a must, Alabama (Jahvan Quinerly and Jaden Shackelford) and Mississippi State (Iverson Molinar and transfer Rocket Watts from Michigan State) are equipped to compete.

Cat crazy?

Lance Adams and his daughter, Cadence, were among the fans who attended the Kentucky players’ NIL event known as Fans First Fan Fest last weekend at Transylvania University.

Adams, 39, recalled being about his daughter’s age when he watched the UK team in a preseason event at Nelson County High School prior to the 1991-92 season. Seeing players including Richie Farmer, Sean Woods and John Pelphrey in the flesh made a lasting impression.

A Louisville graduate, Adams said he regularly wore UK attire on the U of L campus. The reaction from fellow Louisville students? “Plenty of nasty looks,” he said.

Adams, who lives in Mount Washington, seemed to suggest heredity and/or environment made him a rabid UK fan.

When Christian Laettner made the famous (infamous?) shot to beat Kentucky in the 1992 NCAA Tournament, “my mom threw the channel changer through the glass door,” Adams said. “I came from a crazy family.”

To ask Adams what he did for a living seemed to prompt a punch line. “Behavior analyst,” he said.

Basketball crazy

Mohammad Hmoud attended the Fans First Fan Fest with his girlfriend, Nicole. He is a native of Jordan, the Arab nation on the east bank of the Jordan River. He moved to New Jersey when he was 10.

In his first week in the United States, Hmoud watched a game in which Michael Jordan moved a basketball from one hand to the other to free himself for a dunk. Hmoud was hooked.

Basketball led him to Kentucky, where he is attending UK while working in Frankfort. An uncle had earlier moved to Kentucky and recommended Hmoud follow his example.

“I always loved basketball in general,” Hmoud said. “My uncle told me, ‘You’ll love it here. They’re crazy about basketball.’”

Hmoud, 41, said he considered himself 80-percent American, “but I still like my culture and people. I still speak fluent Arabic.”

In Kentucky, Hmoud is bilingual in more ways than one. “We all talk basketball,” he said.

Good to be king

During an appearance on a Truss Levelz podcast this summer, Alabama football coach Nick Saban acknowledged having been an all-state high school player in basketball and baseball as well as football in West Virginia.

His lofty status as a championship football coach ensures a starring basketball role that endures to this day.

“We still play noon-time basketball …,” Saban said. “I pick elite players to be on my team. And then I pick the guy to guard me on the other team. And then I call all the fouls.

“So, we’re pretty successful.”

As Mel Brooks said in the movie “History of the World, Part 1,” it’s good to be king.

Congratulations

To former UK All-American Anthony Davis. He and his wife, Marlen P, were married last weekend.

A social media posting showed Davis singing “Never Make a Promise” by Dru Hill to Marlen.

The website Essence posted that guests included fellow ex-Cat and former NBA teammate DeMarcus Cousins. Other guests included Adele, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Jared Dudley and Quinn Cook.

Davis became at least the third NBA player to marry this month. Earlier in September, six-time all-star Damian Lillard married college sweetheart Kay’La Hanson. And Josh Hart married high school sweetheart Shannon Phillips.

Congratulations II

To former UK player Tyler Herro. He became a father on Sept. 14 with the birth of daughter Zya Elise Herro.

The baby’s middle name was inspired by her mother’s name: model Katya Elise Henry.

Belated happy birthday

To former LSU coach John Brady. He turned 67 on Sept. 17. … To former NBA player and coach Phil Jackson. He turned 76 on Sept. 17. … To Dickey Beal. He turned 59 on Sept. 18. … To former UK coach Rick Pitino. He turned 69 on Sept. 18. … To Derrick Hord. He turned 61 on Sept. 19. … To Adam Williams. He turned 36 on Sept. 19. … Jared Carter. He turned 35 on Sept. 20. … To Jack Givens. He turned 65 on Sept. 21. … To former Vandy coach Bryce Drew. He turned 47 on Sept. 21. … To Hall of Famer Sidney Moncrief. He turned 64 on Sept. 21. … To Dakari Johnson. He turned 26 on Sept. 22.

Happy birthday

To Missouri Coach Cuonzo Martin. He turned 50 on Thursday. … To Rodrick Rhodes. He turned 48 on Friday. … To Matt Heissenbuttel. He turned 40 on Friday. … To Cliff Berger. He turned 75 on Saturday. … To Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen. He turned 56 on Saturday. … To Cade Cunningham. The first overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft turned 20 on Saturday. … To Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He turns 28 on Sunday (today). … To Riley Welch. He turns 24 on Sunday (today). … To Jeff Sheppard. He turns 47 on Wednesday.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Lululemon to shutter Washington distribution center, lay off 128 employees

    The Vancouver-based firm will shutter the Sumner distribution center as part of its business optimization effort and cut 128 jobs beginning June 21, according to a WARN notice filed with the state's Employment Security Department. The move comes at a time when Lululemon is seeing slowing demand for its premium athleisure in North America, where excessive inventory levels at sporting retailers has resulted in lower orders for sportswear and apparel firms. The lease for the company's 150,000-square-foot Sumner distribution center will end on July 2025, a regulatory filing showed.

  • Corrections and clarifications

    Ryan Giggs | Ned Benson/Cate Shortland | Iditarod dog sled race

  • Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rundown: 8 key updates

    There has been some noteworthy movements in the fantasy baseball reliever landscape. Dalton Del Don breaks down the most important.

  • Met Police apologise for earlier apology about ‘openly Jewish’ comment

    Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, was wearing a kippah skull cap when he was stopped from crossing the road.

  • Biden administration restricts oil and gas leasing in 13 million acres of Alaska's petroleum reserve

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Biden administration said Friday it will restrict new oil and gas leasing on 13 million acres (5.3 million hectares) of a federal petroleum reserve in Alaska to help protect wildlife such as caribou and polar bears as the Arctic continues to warm. The decision — part of a yearslong fight over whether and how to develop the vast oil resources in the state — finalizes protections first proposed last year as the Democratic administration prepared to approve the contentious

  • The best Amazon deals to shop this weekend: Save up to 90% on home appliances, gardening essentials and more

    A few of our faves? A Shark stick vac for just $100 and a vertical garden on sale for $34, plus sweet gift ideas for Mom.

  • People are forking out record $2,800 a month on average just to cover their mortgage payments

    The median monthly mortgage payment jumped 11% in the past year due to surging interest rates and soaring home prices.

  • Even tech stocks like Nvidia need to take a break: Analyst

    The broader market has been in flux with the tech-heavy S&P 500 (^GSPC) down for the last trading week. Recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East haven't been the sole detractor from 2024's market momentum. One of the leaders in the S&P is chip-making powerhouse Nvidia (NVDA) which is down 15% over the past month. Is the rally for Big Tech players over or just on a pause? F/m Investments President and Chief Investment Officer Alex Morris joins Market Domination to discuss the chip sector and Nvidia's recent dip in share price. Morris weighs in on the current market landscape and how Nvidia has performed recently: "It's surprising to see it today. There's no great catalyst for it. Nvidia didn't come out and say 'we're out of the game, AI is over.' But we have to remember Nvidia, Microsoft (MSFT), Big Tech names, they're momentum names and momentum names occasionally need to take a breather... The geopolitical events aren't the catalyst but they are a good opportunity for folks to reevaluate where their money is and sometimes you take your profits." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Market Domination. This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • Nvidia Stock Plummets In Broad Market Sell-Off

    Nvidia stock plunged Friday falling sharply below its 50-day average as the broader market retreated in a major sell-off.

  • Olympic torch makes Acropolis overnight stop a week before handover to Paris organizers

    ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The flame that will burn at the Olympics is spending the night at the ancient Acropolis in Athens, a week before its handover to Paris 2024 organizers. During a lull in heavy rain late Friday, a torchbearer lit a cauldron in front of the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple, on the citadel that dominates the Athens skyline and is Greece’s top tourist draw. The flame will stay there until Saturday morning, when the champagne-colored torch travels to Delphi, an important ancient G

  • Stock market today: Tech stocks smoked, Nvidia tumbles 10% to cap worst week of the year

    A measure of calm was returning after Israel's retaliatory strike on Iran spooked the market and spurred a rush to safe havens such as gold.

  • As inflation cools, Macklem says different countries will cut rates at own pace

    OTTAWA — Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem says central banks will make monetary policy decisions geared toward their own economies, which means some countries may begin cutting interest rates before others. Macklem made the comments while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington, D.C. Friday. "We've all been resolute in our commitment to restore price stability, and we've matched those words with action that has helped us all bring inflatio

  • Debt, fiscal challenges facing low-income countries worry IMF

    Shareholders of the International Monetary Fund agreed this week on the importance of addressing challenges faced by low-income countries, many of which are facing unsustainable debt burdens, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday. Multiple reports from the IMF and the World Bank this week sounded the alarm about economic developments and prospects in low-income developing countries, which are still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and other shocks. The IMF lowered its 2024 growth forecast for low-income countries as a group to 4.7% from an estimate of 4.9% in January.

  • Liberal and NDP MPs lament departure of longtime Tory MP as status of women chair

    OTTAWA — Liberal and NDP MPs are lamenting the loss of the longtime Conservative chair of the parliamentary committee on the status of women. Government members say they were disappointed to learn this week that Karen Vecchio would no longer be at the helm, after having first served as chair in 2017. The House of Commons' website shows Vecchio's role as committee chair ended this week, and on Thursday the Conservatives on the committee voted in fellow Tory MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman as her replaceme

  • Rebel Moon Part 2 review: A slow-mo sci-fi slog

    Rebel Moon: Part 2 - The Scargiver is an empty feast, a relentless onslaught of explosions, sci-fi tropes and meaningless exposition that amounts to nothing.

  • Friday’s White House briefing was unexpected in multiple ways

    From Israel and Iran to the man who set himself on fire outside the Trump trial, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had little to say

  • Trump's hush money trial, as seen through courtroom sketches

    Since it’s not being televised — and news photographers are only permitted in for 45 seconds at the start of each day — the only other images from inside the courtroom are portraits being done by sketch artists.

  • John Tortorella says he failed to get Flyers to 'close the deal' in wake of late-season collapse

    VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) — Put those playoff plans on hold, Flyers fans. And not just this season. Philadelphia is stuck on the outside of the postseason for the fourth straight year after its fate was decided in Game 82. The Flyers’ acceleration from expected painful rebuild to the cusp of the playoffs was faster than expected — especially among those whose opinions matter most, coach John Tortorella and general manager Danny Briere — which made the late-season freefall all the more puzzling and gut

  • Martha Stewart uses this fan-favorite Mario Badescu collagen mask to firm and tighten skin — and it's down to $14

    Reviewers love the mask, too: 'My skin is soft, even dewy ... it's really unbelievable!'

  • Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial identified as ‘researcher’ who posted conspiracy-laden manifesto moments earlier

    The NYPD identified the man as Maxwell Azzarello, 37, who is now in critical condition in Cornell burns unit. He has a long history of posting conspiracy theories and railing against the rich and powerful