SEC Football Media Days is an oasis in the summer desert of college athletics. Even though October is a very busy time around the SEC, the roundball is taking up more oxygen. This week’s festivities in Birmingham had plenty of juice thanks to John Calipari‘s move from Kentucky to Arkansas.
For the first time, the former Kentucky head coach was at the same venue as the current Kentucky head coach, Mark Pope. Each was asked about one another and they played nice behind the podium.
“You’ll never hear me say a negative word about Coach Cal, because there’s not a lot to say… We’ll be cheering for him every day like crazy, except for February 1,” said Pope.
Calipari echoed that sentiment. “I think they hired the perfect guy for that job… I’ll be rooting for ’em. I want Kentucky (to do well). Come on, man. 15 years. I gave them my heart and soul. You think I want — I want them to do well. Except on what date? (February 1.) OK, that date,” he joked.
Those cordial comments were just a taste of what Jack Pilgrim and Zack Geoghegan heard at SEC Basketball Media Days on Tuesday.
Robinson Ain’t Got Time for Musselman
One of the funnier interactions of the day was between Bob Holt, a veteran Arkansas reporter, and Jaxson Robinson. Before he became a star for Pope at BYU, the Oklahoma native started his career at Texas A&M, then transferred to Arkansas. Holt asked Robinson what he learned during his days in Fayetteville. The Kentucky Wildcat didn’t have anything for him, which is quite the contrast from the comments we heard between Pope and Calipari.
Sources Say Sets the Surreal Scene with Myron Medcalf
KSR’s Takeaways from SEC Basketball Media Days
Pope eager to see opponents expose Kentucky’s weaknesses
Mark Pope says Rick Pitino ovation was really special
Lamont Butler and Mark Pope on the SEC Network Stage
Who told Butler to debut his rap song at Madness
Jaxson Robinson made a last-minute decision to pull out of NBA Draft
Mark Pope’s SEC Basketball Media Days Press Conference
The men’s coaches got to take the first swing at things. Today the women’s basketball coaches will step into the spotlight. After combining to win 24 games over the last two years, the Wildcats are ranked No. 22 in the preseason AP Poll. Kenny Brooks clearly has made a drastic turnaround without ever playing in a game. He’ll preview the season at 11:30 EST.
First Kentucky vs. Florida Injury Report
There’s been a lot of scuttlebutt around Chip Trayanum and his possible return this Saturday. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye hinted at it a day after Mark Stoops and tonight we’ll see where he shows up on the injury report at approximately 8:15 pm EST.
Before the injury report is revealed, Brad White and the Kentucky defense will speak to reporters. We’ll also hear from Billy Napier and Mark Stoops on the SEC Coaches Teleconference. Catch up on what you missed from the offense at last night’s practice.
Pivotal Game 3 of the NLCS
The Yankees took a commanding 2-0 lead in the ALCS by taking down the Guardians 6-3 in the Bronx. They’ll get the night off to travel back to Cleveland. Tonight the Mets are hosting the Dodgers for game 3 of a 1-1 NLCS. New York’s Luis Severino will be on the mound against Lexington native Walker Buehler, who’s struggled as of late. We’ll see if he can turn things around when the first pitch is dealt on Fox at 8:08 pm.
You can watch all of the action at KSBar and Grille on Wingsday where wings are just $1 and boneless are .70. We’ll also have a healthy dose of trivia coming your way, beginning at 7 pm EST.
Reed Sheppard Shined in the NBA Preseason
The box score doesn’t blow you away. Reed Sheppard had 9 points and 3 assists in 22 minutes. The former Kentucky Wildcat still found a way to impress Jeff Green and a host of others in the Rockets’ preseason game.
The CFB Fan of the Week
How much would you pay to run out onto the away team’s field while wearing your team’s gear? For one Penn State fan, that answer was about $1,500. He paid a good chunk of change to run out with the Trojans before his team handed USC a shocking loss in overtime.
