KSR Gameday: Kentucky takes on UCLA at Madison Square Garden

Good morning, folks! It’s gameday in the Big Apple. The No. 13 Kentucky Wildcats (7-2) are in New York City preparing for a nationally televised showdown against the No. 16 UCLA Bruins (9-2) as part of the CBS Sports Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. EST and will be available live on CBS.

Kentucky is still in search of its first win over a ranked opponent this season while UCLA will look to keep the good vibes rolling after taking down a ranked Maryland squad by 27 on the road just a few days ago. UK hasn’t played since Sunday while UCLA is about to embark on its third game in seven days.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the afternoon tilt.

Kentucky vs. UCLA: Radio, TV, Vegas

Kentucky travels to New York City as a 1.5-point underdog (as of Saturday morning) with the over/under set at 141.5. ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives the Wildcats a 48.5 percent chance to win while KenPom gives UK a 45 percent chance to win. Kentucky is 4-5 against the spread this season while UCLA is 6-5. Through eight appearances in CBS Sports Classic, the ‘Cats are 4-4.

Brad Nessler and Bill Raftery will be on the call for CBS Sports with Jenny Dell handling sideline reporting duties. You can also listen to Tom Leach and Goose Givens on the UK Sports Network.

• AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
• FM: 98.1 WBUL
• Satellite: Sirius 111 or 191, SXM App: 962
• Online: iHeart Radio

The KSR Pregame Show will begin at 2:45 p.m. EST on 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP, and iHeart Radio.

Tale of the Tape

Calipari, Antigua preview UCLA

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Kentucky WBB falls to Murray State for first time ever

Murray State came to Lexington on Friday night with an 0-15 all-time record against Kentucky women’s basketball. Today, they head back to Murray, KY with the program’s first win over the ‘Cats.

The Racers stunned Kentucky in Memorial Coliseum, winning by a low final score of 51-44. UK scored the first points of the game to take a 2-0 lead, but that was the last time they would go in front all night long. Kentucky was outrebounded 42-35, shot 2-17 from beyond the arc, and attempted just four free throws throughout the evening.

Slow starts have continued to plague head coach Kyra Elzy’s group this season. There just hasn’t been the fight in these ‘Cats that you’d hope for at this stage in the season. Kentucky will hit the hardwood again on Sunday when the ‘Cats host Florida Gulf Coast at 1:00 p.m. EST on the SEC Network+.

Devin Leary visiting Auburn

NC State transfer Devin Leary arrived on the University of Kentucky campus on Tuesday and spent a couple of days on an official visit with the Wildcats. As Friday rolled around, the Cats were feeling very confident in this recruitment.

However, this battle is not over yet.

Auburn Live’s Jeremy Lee is reporting that the Sicklerville (N.J.) Timber Creek product will take another trip to Auburn this weekend to check out the SEC West program where Hugh Freeze just took over.

Former NC State QB Devin Leary plans to visit Auburn this weekend, per @JLeeAULive.

He currently ranks as the No. 1 QB and No. 3 overall player in the transfer portal.

Read MORE: https://t.co/1fD5QDcWpS pic.twitter.com/qTsOrQ7ZCq

— On3 (@On3sports) December 17, 2022

It will be important to monitor how the visit at Auburn goes with Leary over the next couple of days. A dead period begins on Dec. 19 and programs will not be able to host prospects for visits again until January. This is vital when dealing with mid-year transfers who are trying to get enrolled before the spring semester begins.

A Kentucky and Auburn battle could be brewing the No. 1 quarterback in the transfer portal.

Tre Johnson schedules OV with Kentucky

The top-ranked high school junior in the country, Tre Johnson, will take an official visit to check out Kentucky men’s basketball, reports On3’s Joe Tipton. Johnson will come to Lexington the weekend of Jan. 28 and will watch the Wildcats take on Kansas at Rupp Arena that Saturday night.

“I’m just excited to see the atmosphere,” Johnson told On3. “Just their fans and everything and I want to see what the campus is like. Coach (Calipari) and Coach KT (Turner) have been the ones recruiting me. They’ve just been saying that they want me and that they could see me playing in their type of system and being a one-and-done. (Kentucky) is built on winning and that’s something I’m really about. I want to be a part of a place that’s going to win.”

Johnson is considered one of Kentucky’s top three targets from the 2024 class. He’s already received an offer from the ‘Cats and was visited by members of the UK coaching staff back in September. The 6-foot-5 five-star shooting guard has taken previous visits to Baylor and Texas, and told On3 he would like to visit Arkansas, Duke, North Carolina, and LSU, as well.

Hear from Kentucky’s new RB/ST coach

Mark Stoops celebrated graduation day at the University of Kentucky on Friday by bringing his team out to the Joe Craft Football Training Facility for the Wildcats’ first Music City Bowl practice. Accompanying him for the post-practice interviews were QB Will Levis, who spoke on his decision to not play in the upcoming bowl game, along with new running backs/special teams coach Jay Boulware (who the Big Blue Nation is going to love).

You can hear everything they had to say below.

Kiyaunta Goodwin hits the transfer portal

Welp, this one sure does sting, but it’s not exactly a surprise. The highest-ranked signee in Kentucky football history could be on the move before ever recording a start for the Wildcats

Rumors began to swirl on Friday morning that class of 2022 five-star offensive lineman Kiyaunta Goodwin was putting his name in the transfer portal. It only took a couple of hours for that scuttlebutt to turn into concrete news though, with Mark Stoops confirming Goodwin’s decision during his Friday press conference.

Goodwin was a high school All-American that appeared in every game in 2022 for Kentucky, but he only played sparingly in a reserve role and on special teams. Arguably the most high-profile football recruitment in school history will, unfortunately, end with a whimper.

Stay up to date with all the happenings in the constantly-moving transfer portal with KSR’s 2022 Transfer Tracker.