Mark Pope has landed a new Cat this time it’s 2025 five star guard Jasper Johnson who is ranked as a consensus top 25 player in America for the 2025 recruiting class. Johnson is the son of former Kentucky football player Denis Johnson who later payed in the NFL for a couple of season before hanging it up. Jasper Johnson played for Link Academy in Missouri last season before ultimately deciding to take his talents to Overtime Elite in Atlanta, GA for his final High School season. Johnson makes everyone better when he hits the court with a great skill set and the ability to create tough and efficient shots for him and his teammates. Jasper joins Malachi Moreno who is also a top 30 player in America for the 2025 class as Mark Pope looks to put together his first full high school recruiting class in his tenure after being hired in early April. 

The 2024 Wildcats were suppose to take the field at 7:45 versus Southern Miss to open the 2024 campaign, but mother nature got in the way of things as fans were halted from entering the stadium from the concourse at Kroger Field, it wasn’t until 7:30 that fans were allowed to sit in their seats. The kickoff was push back multiple times due to lightning reported in the area. The game was still set to be played although the kickoff wouldn’t happen until 10:05, regardless the late start time the nearly full stadium of faithful Kentucky fans were able to watch Cats kickoff the season.

After the long wait Kentucky and quarterback Brock Vandagriff received the ball first. The first drive was smooth until Vandagriff threw a pass intercepted by Dylan Lawrence of Southern Miss, at the Southern Miss 15 yard line, but this didn’t stop the Cats defense as the second play for Southern Miss quarterback Tate Rodemaker threw the ball across the middle which lead to a tipped interception from Georgia transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson. This quick turn of events lead to Barion Brown getting a 12 yard touchdown for his first of the season finishing off a 10 play, 5 minute 54 second drive.

The game was smooth sailing the rest of the way some key plays included JQ Hardaway getting a interception in the endzone after it looked like Southern Miss would never get of the field after converting a 3rd in 18 in there own end of the field. After a shortened halftime the game was called in the 3rd quarter due to more lightning in the area at the 9:56 mark. The delay lasted 45 minuets until Kentucky, Southern Miss, and SEC officials decided to call the game off which lead to the SEC releasing this statement:

Kentucky starts the season 1-0, after the 31 point shutout, Kentucky’s Brock Vandagriff lead the way finishing 12 of 18 with 169 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, he also impressed with his legs finishing up with 5 rushes for 35 yards. Running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye finished up with 8 rushes for 59 yards and a touchdown in place of Ohio State transfer running back Chip Trayanum who’s out with a broken hand. The leading receiver of the night was North Texas transfer Ja’Mori Maclin who caught 2 balls for 66 yards, Barion Brown also pitched in 4 reception for 28 yards and 2 touchdown in the season opener. Brad White’s defense was stout for the night giving up only 5 rush yards, 126 passing yards, and ending up with two interceptions from Dumas-Johnson and Hardaway.

Kentucky takes host to South Carolina who is coming off a rough 23-19 win over Old Dominion in there opener in Columbia, The game will be on ABC at 3:30 PM, Saturday, September 7th, Kentucky opens as a 9.5 point favorite over the Gamecocks.

by: Lukas Witt

Kentucky is less than a week away from their opening game at Kroger Field scheduled for August 31st versus the Southern Miss Golden Eagles but many have questions about the Kentucky defensive and how Defensive Coordinator Brad White can help take the next step with what’s expected to be the best defense of the Stoops era and maybe even the best in schools history. Let’s take a look at how good they can really be.

Kentucky enters the 2024 season returning 9 defensive starters, which ranked 43rd in total defense in 2023 and lead the SEC in returning production on the defensive side of the ball. Kentucky’s defense also brings in a couple of big-time transfers including Jamon “Pop” Dumas-Johnson out of Georgia, who in 2022 was named First-Team All-American by Sporting News and ESPN, and landed on the Associated Press Second-Team All-American, as just a sophomore and helped lead the Bulldogs to a National Championship win over TCU, 65-7.

In the secondary we have Michigan transfer DJ Waller Jr. coming in as a projected starter to go along with Preseason First Team All-SEC Defensive Back, and SEC interceptions leader (5), Maxwell Hairston. DJ Waller Jr. was a true freshman last season on Michigan’s 2023 National Championship team. The former top 500 player totaled 11 tackles and 1 pass deflection for the Wolverines. Safety’s, Zion Childress and Jordan Lovett also return for the Wildcats bringing in a total of 89 tackles, 3 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions in the 2023 season.

The linebacking corps consisting of a couple returners in JJ Weaver, D’Eryk Jackson, and Alex Afari Jr., who were a solid group helping the Cats to finish 17th in rush defense in the 2023 season and combining for 70 starts. Finally, known as one of the best groups in the SEC, the defensive line, who is lead by pre-season First Team All-American, Preseason First Team All-SEC, and projected top 10 pick Deone Walker who has a career 8.5 sacks in his first two seasons, Tre’vonn Rybka a 5th year senior comes into 2024 with a career 6.5 TFL, and 2 sacks in his five years in Lexington, and former North Carolina lineman Keeshawn Silver comes in after a respectable sophmore season finishing with 17 tackles, and 2 sacks.

Brad White’s crew looks to bring a edge to themselves in the 2024 season but fans will finally get to see them in action on Caturday at Kroger Field with kickoff slated for 7:45pm and on the SEC Network for the first glimpse of the Cats.

Mark Pope and Kentucky gets their first big piece of the 2025 recruiting class with the addition of five star Big Malachi Moreno a top three center in his class and top 30 player overall per 247sports who brings an elite skill set with the ability to block shots and rebound the basketball, with a offensive skill set that is still raw with growth still to come at the college level Moreno has the ability to stretch the floor and shoot the three but has not proven it to be as consistent as it’s a work in progress. Mark Pope looks to bring in another fellow five star and in-state prospect Jasper Johnson, who first played his high school basketball at Woodford County and later transferred to Link Academy, in Missouri, who is focusing on a main three of Kentucky, North Carolina, and Alabama. The recruitment has gone back-and-forth in the last couple of days as Alabama was seen as the favorite, but now he’s starting to lean back to Kentucky as of late by many media members around the recruitment. This is a great start to Mark Pope‘s first recruiting class in the Pope era as he looks to bring a new style of recruiting that Kentucky fans have never seen before.

August 31st marks Kentucky Football’s home opener versus Southern Miss at 7:45 on SEC Network but media got to get some intel on how Mark Stoops is looking to have his best season yet. After last season finishing 7-6 and losing to Clemson in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, Mark Stoops had a tough decision to make, stay at Kentucky or take a powerhouse job at Texas A&M. The decision nearly landing him in College Station could’ve change the Kentucky Football program entirely. If not for public backlash in College Station we may have never seen the remaining legacy of Mark Stoops at Kentucky.

Now turning the page to the 2024 season Kentucky brings in new transfer quarterback Brock Vandagriff, transfer running back Chip Trayanum to name a few, and new Offensive Coordinator Bush Hamdan into the mix. Media Day gave us some great intel on Kentucky’s upcoming season, down below you can find Media Day Questions and Answers from all three coaches (HC Mark Stoops, OC Bush Hamdan, and DC Brad White)

HC Mark Stoops talking to the media

Q    Coach, what about leadership on this football team?

MARK STOOPS:    Yet to be ‑‑ we will see as we move forward.    There are certain some guys that been around a long time.    When you look at JJ Weaver, D’Eryk Jackson, Marques Cox, even though he’s a transfer, he has been around for awhile.    I feel really good about it.    That has always developed as the year goes on and through training camp.    Even yesterday was good.    The first day we go out there it was beautiful weather and overcast it was almost cool.    And then yesterday the sun broke out and there was some heat and humidity and as we go through practice, guys get tired and irritable, your true colors kind of shine when you get tired and hot and irritable so that’s gonna be a long camp.    So that is when we will need great leadership coming in.

Q    Transfers coming in?

MARK STOOPS:    Yes.    I like our team.    I like ‑‑ I do.    They’ve really helped our team.    I think we took a transfer at just about every position accept tight‑end so I just want to supplement our roster in that area.    I don’t have those numbers.    I had them right before we went to the media day, but I want to say maybe overall we are at, maybe, 35 or 36 and that’s a good mixture right there.    I still feel like the majority of our team is guys that we recruit out of high school and try to want to continue to follow that model.    Recruit and develop young men and then supplement them with the portal when we need to.

Q    Retention?    Install?    You said it’s going pretty well?

MARK STOOPS:    Yes, if you look at our team, defensively we have returned a lot of guys that have played a lot of football for us and I think that is important, our defensive staff in the continuity that we have there, and the players that have gained experiences is invaluable.    Then you have a guy like Pop who has played a lot a ball at Georgia, so there is pretty good experience there.    Offensively, there are some guys who played a lot, I think we supplemented in some areas in areas that we needed to.    Certainly, in the quarterback position, we have gone to the portal for several years, now.    We feel really good about the high school guy we took in Cutter.    He is going to be a special player, but we want to give him time to mature and grow.    But Brock has done a very good job and we are excited about him.    And then, also Gavin, and what he brings to the table and he’s got some snaps under his belt in the Big Ten.    He is a big strong guy and he can throw it and he can run.    And it was also very good to bring Beau back.    You have seen what can happen in years past when you’re not deep in that position.    Some funny things can happen, so we do think that we have some quality depth in that position.

Q    Mark you’ve always had a stable of your offensive line in your early years, especially being a strong suit year?    You had some bumps in the road a few years ago.    You picked it back up again.    What are your expectations?    I know it’s early in camp, but how is that developing?

MARK STOOPS:    I want to continue to grow.    I think there is no mystery there.    I’ve said it since day one.    It’s very important.    We have Eric Wolford back.    I think Coach Wolford does a phenomenal job, not only coaching and at practice, but the way he recruits, and I feel like we are going to continue to progress in there, and then we are going to continue that depth and get better so I feel much better about that position.

Q    We are a few years into that era of college football where bringing in 30 plus guys isn’t really an odd thing anymore.    That continuity that you were talking about before, how have you had to adjust and how has this year maybe been easier in some ways?

MARK STOOPS:    We have great leadership.    I feel like that the transfers that we brought in fit in well here.    I believe that that is an important piece to make sure that transfers are coming for the right reason and they fit our system.    And then with us, we just try to ask expediate that process and have at them more in tune to our culture earlier than normal and try to, you know, continue to feed them that message and sometimes it is like drinking with a fire hose, but we want to do the best that we can to educate them and to see the culture that we want

Q    You are saying that you have been wanting to snap the ball more frequently and play at a higher tempo this year, how you working with the tempo with the offense and how are you going to be moving forward and making sure?

MARK STOOPS:    I want everybody to understand this.    I’ve said it 20 times.    Yes, I do, but I am not trying to be a tempo offense.    We are not trying to be Old Miss and Tennessee and some of those teams that do it exceptionally well.    And just snap it with 30 seconds on the play clock.    That is a different style and it’s very difficult to defend and they do it very well.    That’s just ‑‑ we can’t be that overnight and I just don’t want to staff it with two and three and four seconds on the play clock as well.    I like to see more snaps.    There needs to be a balance there.    We are not trying to be in a complete hurry.    We are just trying to be more efficient, get in a rhythm, and get some more plays.   So, you know, any of these offensive coordinators have that ability to go superfast to go medium to go at the line, I think, just trying to get in a rhythm and, you know, hopefully get some more snaps, that also comes from getting first downs.    If we get first downs, guys are going to get more touches.    So you have to make sure that you’re still putting them in a position to be successful.    And again, just as I touched on earlier, defense getting off the field.    Special‑teams putting us in good position.    You do that, and we’re not going to sit here after games and say why did so‑and‑so only get so many of this and so many of that, because we only have 55 plays, you know, 60 plays.    That sometimes is frustrating because I feel like we do have some playmakers, but we have to get first downs and then we will get more touches.

OC Bush Hamdan talking to the media

Q    What do you see emphasizing with Brock in the fall after the spring and summer?

BUSH HAMDAN:    We have discussed it before.    I think so much of it is a leadership part.    You are a new guy coming into a new program.    New office coordinator.    So much is about scheme and plays, but don’t lose sight about what that looks like when you are in a locker room building those relationships with the guys as the true signal caller.    Certainly from a play style standpoint it always comes down to accuracy, decision‑making, toughness, but we really don’t want to lose sight of that leadership part.

Q    Is he adjusting pretty well?

BUSH HAMDAN:    He is doing a great job.    He really is.   

Q    Smart guy.

BUSH HAMDAN:    Smart player, tough, can run, all those things.    Again, I think we’ve had success with the last 3 to 5 years, a guy like Brady Cook at Missouri, you see what his skill set looks like what Taylen Green did last year at Boise, Maddox Madsen, we think he is right in the mold of a guy we like for the system.   

Q    What is the biggest trait that you have liked from him so far at the quarterback position?

BUSH HAMDAN:    He is a consummate pro.    I’ve said that multiple times.    This is a big time football league.    We get done with practices at 6:30, he wants to be up in the facility.    He’s always watching games on opponents.    We know at this position it comes down to kind of locking yourself in that room, if you will.    Taking a side with the naysayers have to say and just working and keep getting better every day and I think that he is a guy that understand that.

Q    How do you go about establishing the run, be more physical upfront, what are your thoughts going into the season, about the offensive line?    It seems like has the most experience line when you talk about starts.    How much can that help accomplish that goal?

BUSH HAMDAN:    We’ve got good depth.    I think you mentioned it right there.    Certainly there is the comfort feelings about Eli Cox at center and the amount of games that he has played in.    Certainly feel good about those guys.    We have a long way to go.    As you know, most folks are going to say that, just three practices in, but certainly needs to be a really solid group for us with the amount of starts these guys have made.

Q    We brought in an NFL schematic last year and started to challenge Devin Leary’s ability to get plays on.    Is it your expectation that using the new helmet system is going to make your ability to do complex plays easier?

BUSH HAMDAN:    I think so.    I think the starting point is still trying to keep it as simple as possible for guys to go play fast.    I think the more critical thing is the challenge on me of what information to give them.    As you guys know, we are all maybe parents, sometimes our kids don’t want to hear a lot, but they just have to hear enough, and I think of that.    When we get that play call in, how can we be clear, concise, competitive, and give them just the things he needs to be successful in that play. 

Q    Coach, you guys have a lot of folks in that wide receiver, but Barion and Dane have been here for three years, three offensive coordinators, three quarterbacks, how do you feel like some of these guys who have been in the room for awhile are adjusting to your system, this quarterback, as they have been through so much already?

BUSH HAMDAN:    They’ve got a level of experience again they have played for some great coaches, some great systems, so a lot of it just comes down to ‑‑ we used to call this scheme and now we are calling it that scheme.    Guys like that, what they never lose is the technique and the fundamentals and the experience.    That always stays with you even with the change in the coordinator.    So excited about those guys, there is a level of maturity in this league; right?    From one week to the next just staying the course, we are going to rely on their experience in that position.    Certainly with some of these younger guys who are extremely talented who we think and get going.

Q    Bush, you just spoke a little bit about the tempo and finding a balance.    And what does that looks like?

BUSH HAMDAN:    We are going to run 100 games per game and be the fastest offense in the country. (Laughter.) I think I lose sleep over the tempo question and you guys coming in here and asking me.    I think the biggest thing is with tempo and the systems that we had.    Again, if you go back to the tape, right, I think about last year at Memphis.    We get down.    We’ve got the ability.    I think we put 17 points up in seven minutes, because we have the ability to play extremely fast.    We always want to be somewhere in the middle.    And what that means is, have the flexibility depending on how the game is going to do whatever it takes to win the football game.    And I think that’s important for all of us to know.    I think the checklist in fall camp is, we have periods where it is fast as anyone in the country.    One‑word plays, getting up there, snapping the ball within seven seconds, we also have that focus where we can huddle, operate, execute, take time off the clock.   I know everybody wants to play fast.    It always comes back to execution with us.    So I think the thing that you we want you guys to know is we are going to have the ability to play fast and keep people on their feet.

DC Brad White talking to the media

Q    Brad, what are some things that you were not happy about last year that you really want to focus on with your guys this year.

BRAD WHITE:    Yeah, when you look back and you self‑scout yourself, look at what you need to do better obviously, there third‑down defense and specifically, with the backend of the season, third and long situations, especially extra long, was an area that, historically, if you look we have been really good, and we were not.    Not anywhere close to the standard that we need to be at and it cost us.    When you give up third‑downs, you extend drives and extended drives leads to points, it leads to less opportunities for the offense.    So obviously, that is going to be a primary focus.    Again, the year before ’22, was, sort of, our best year ever in third‑down defense, and there is a correlation to how well we played as a defense.    We need to get back there. 

Q    There were times last year, the secondaries were doing their job, but the front, not getting enough pressure on the quarterback, sack numbers were low at time, so with the unit that’s probably going to be as good as anyone the SEC with pass coverage, how important is it that if you get more pressure on the quarterback, you could bring your defense to another level?

BRAD WHITE:    Yeah.    We have talked about it since I’ve been here.    They all tie together.    It’s funny ‑‑ there were times last year when we would get plenty of pressure, we would miss a sack ‑‑ the South Carolina game jumps to mind.    We had two opportunities on the very first drive to get off the field on the first down.    One we lost leveraging and coverage, something that we shouldn’t have done.    It should have been off the field.    We were walking into a sack.    And then number two, we had a missed sack which, led to a third down conversion.    There were breakdowns on all sides last year at times, and that’s why it’s so important that they work together.    Obviously, really excited about the front that we return because, like anything else, I think people’s interceptions, turnovers, sacks, a lot of times they come in bunches.    It’s not always super consistent.    But from purely statistics, and that is what it is, this was the defensive line and what they did last year was the second most sacks since I’ve been here, only behind the Josh Allen year, so they were disruptive upfront.    Obviously, when you return those guys this year we need to keep that production going up front, and then you mix in being able to play sticky and stick year and coverage at times and being able to make some plays on the back end and then when you have a chance to be at the quarterback, you’ve got to be able to finish. 

Q    You’ve got two kids that are Silver and Walker?

BRAD WHITE:    Yes, we got Silver, we got Walker, we got Oxendine we’ve got Rybka.    I think, obviously, everybody in this room understands the impact that Deone has on a football game.    I think people don’t necessarily realize how well guys like Keeshawn Silver or Tre Rybka played last year.    How well Ox played.    The jump from two years ago for Ox to last year, and this year his weight is back up to where it was when he was ‑‑ before the injury and is as powerful as ever.    You know we have Khalil Saunders who makes big plays for us and he is big and athletic.    This is as good as a cumulative front as we have had, and then you throw in young guys, and a guy like Jerod Smith in there, and Kendrick Gilbert coming back off of injury from last year, where he was ‑‑ he was a freshman coming off of a shoulder, he was stronger, he already made some flashes in some of these early practices.    So you have depth there, and you can roll these guys, and keep them fresh, so that is exciting, and then, obviously, the position we haven’t talked about is that outside linebacker position, and to be able to return JJ who ‑‑ there are times that he can just dominate a game and take over.    He understands that this is the year that he needs to do that consistently.    It can’t just be one or two games.    We need that consistent force, presence, from him and then we will see who can rush opposite him.

In a clash of two of the most prestigious programs in the history of college basketball saw La Familia (Kentucky) versus The Ville (Louisville) in a jammed packed incredibly loud Freedom Hall in the heart of Louisville. The University of Louisville played its home games here from 1956 to 2010 before moving into its modern arena in downtown Louisville The KFC YUM! Center. Freedom Hall set a TBT record with 13,509 people in the iconic rivalry game featuring Louisville greats like Russ Smith and Peyton Siva, two NCAA National Champions from Louisville’s 2013 title team that had the title vacated in the Rick Pitino scandal by the NCAA. With La Familia featuring the Harrison twins (Aaron and Andrew) and Willie Cauley-Stein, all three played on one of the greatest teams in college basketball history that finished 38 and 1 and lost in the Final Four in 2015.

The game started at a frantic pace for La Familia in the opening minutes jumping out to a 16 to 10 lead at the end of the first quarter but that wasn’t the only thing that happened in the opening 9 minutes of play, Andrew Harrison of La Familia and Chris Jones of The Ville entered a head butting match that lead with a double technical foul.

The second quarter was lead by The Ville 17 to 14 that saw big man Montrezl Harrell working around the basket to help cut the lead going into halftime 30 to 27. La Familia only up three was lead by Willie Cauley-Stein, 9 points on 3 of 3 from behind the arc, which seemed to be the gameplan for The Ville to allow Cauley-Stein to shoot from deep, said Russ Smith following the game.

After the break La Familia started to get hot, led by Nate Sestina who hit 5 of 7 three’s and Cauley-Stein going 3-3 from the field adding 6 points to give La Familia a 26 to 11 advantage going into the third quarter.

The fourth quarter saw a scoring drought, play was sloppy and somewhat stagnant. Heading into the Elam Ending the score was 62 to 53 with the target score being set at 70. The drought continued with teams shooting a combined 4 of 21 from the field (19%). As the points wound down everyone knew a Harrison was going for the dagger. Andrew Harrison from the right wing caught it a splashed home a three to give La Familia the win over The Ville.

This wouldn’t be the last activity of the night, Nate Sestina who lead La Familia in points with 22 on 6 of 14 shots from three, put the iconic L’s down in front of The Ville big man Chinanu Onuaku who retaliated by spitting in Sestina’s face, players began jawing and pushing and shoving ensued with La Familia big Daniel Orton coming the rescue in defense of his teammates. Once the dust settled, La Familia was gifted the plaque which sends them to the next round of TBT play in Philadelphia, PA.

The semi-final game in Philadelphia, PA will be on August the 2nd as they take on Carmen’s Crew (Ohio State) at 9 PM on FS1 to try to punch there ticket to the championship game for the grand prize of 1 million dollars.

La Familia took down Herd That (Marshall) inside Rupp Arena 95 to 66 in a game that was never really close. Herd That featured guys like DeAndre Kane (Iowa State and Marshall), and JaCorey Williams (Arkansas and Middle Tennessee State). Kane and Williams finished with a combined 23 points in there loss to La Familia.

La Familia had a solid start to the game, but Eric Bledsoe started cooking and ended up with 24 points on 8 of 16 shooting for 50%. Another dominating game for big man Karem Kanter as he ended with 20 points and 8 rebounds, Kanter is averaging 22.3 points per game in 3 games and is 10th in all of TBT in that statistic.

La Familia later ran away with it in the second half heading into the Elam Ending in which former Kentucky player James Young sealed the deal with a right wing fall away three to give La Familia the 95 to 66 win.

The time and date have not been set for La Familia’s Quarterfinal matchup which could see them taking on Team DRC or The Ville. If The Ville wins versus Team DRC they will host the matchup at Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY but a Team DRC win would make Rupp Arena the site for the Quarterfinal. All games are featured on the Fox network make sure you stay tuned to all scheduling updates and times.

Game two was an exciting thriller as team La Familia took down The Nawf 81 to 64 inside Rupp Arena in round two of TBT play and moves one step closer to one million dollars. The Nawf lead by Derek St. Hilaire (University of New Orleans & Jacksonville State), and Roberto Gallinat (Pacific) who combined for a total of 21 points as The Nawf’s leading scores.

The former Cats got off to a slow start and were down as many as 8 points with 7 minutes left in the second quarter but quickly pulled away to a large lead with the bigs leading the way. Kerem Kanter (Xavier) brother of Enes Kanter now know as Enes Freedom, leading the way with a whopping 26 points and 9 rebounds as a unstoppable force down low all game long. Former 2015 National Defensive Player of the Year and First team All-American Willie Cauley-Stein was in his old days finishing with 7 blocks to go along with 8 points and 7 rebounds. La Familia led the rest of the way on cruise control to win 81 to 64 on a 3 pointer by Kanter who also takes home $1,000 while making the game winner wearing Puma sneakers during the Elam Ending.

La Familia will head back to Rupp Arena on Tuesday taking on Herd That (Marshall) at 9 PM on FS1 looking to clinch a Elite Eight bid. Everyone needs to show up at Rupp and be loud, the attendance totals could be important and the tie breaker for hosting purposes of the next game site if Louisvie advances out of their region.

The first round of the Lexington TBT Region was a major win for the Cats. La Familia is lead by former Kentucky players with the likes of Willie Cauley-Stein, Eric Bledsoe, Kellan Grady, and several others. La Familia matched up against the 305 Ballers a Miami, Florida based team with former college players like Isaiah Reese (Canisius), CJ Bryce (NC State), and others.

The former Cats got off to a fast start in front of a large lower bowl crowd at Rupp Arena, with a 44-30 lead going into half time where former Kentucky guard, and NBA draft pick Eric Bledsoe stole the show with a solid 10 points and 3 assists which lead the Cats in both categories entering the break. The second half saw much of the same as you would expect a high-powered Kentucky team. Nate Sestina got hot in the second half from three to expand La Familia’s already large lead to get the C-A-T-S cheer going. Not long after Willie Cauley-Stein brought the house down with not one but two blocks and a defensive stop.    

Who says Kentucky’s most recent player, Brennan Canada a former walk-on helped close out the game in the Elam Ending with a game winning free throw. The Elam Ending rules the clock stops at the first dead ball under 4 minutes in the 4^th quarter with 8 points being added to the higher scoring team and that becomes the target score, first one to the target wins, no clock just basketball.

La Familia will be back in action Sunday at 2 o’clock inside Rupp Arena taking on The Nawf you can catch the game on Fox if you can’t be there in person. The Cats are one step closer for a chance at 1 million dollars.