Skip to main content
KSRKSR Plus
KSBoard
Kentucky
Join KSR+

KSR Today: Adam Sandler gets the Cats ready for the Blue-White Game

Jack PIlgrimby: Jack Pilgrim10/17/25
Kentucky is joined by Adam Sandler at practice (Photo via UK Athletics)
Kentucky is joined by Adam Sandler at practice (Photo via UK Athletics)

The Kentucky Wildcats play an organized basketball game today. Are there any words strung together more beautifully? Personally, I think that’s as good as it gets for us diehards here in the Bluegrass. For those who eat, drink, sleep and breathe the blue and white, you will be well-nourished by the time your head hits your pillow this evening.

It’ll be Cats vs. Cats tonight at Historic Memorial Coliseum for Kentucky’s annual Blue-White Game. Kenny Brooks and the women’s basketball team will tip off their intrasquad scrimmage at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Mark Pope and the men immediately after, all live on SEC Network+ with Makayla Epps and Travis Ford joining Noah Frary on the call.

We were able to get a loose idea of the Cats at Pro Day and an even looser idea of them at Big Blue Madness, but this will be the closest thing we’ve seen to live action up to this point with officials, media timeouts, a shot clock and scoreboard before the real stuff begins next week — don’t forget, Kentucky hosts No. 1 Purdue on October 24.

Soak it all in, folks. The next five-plus months are going to be fun. Don’t take a moment of it for granted, continuing tonight with Blue-White.

Adam Sandler rocks Kentucky blue at Rupp Arena

Yes, you did hear incoherent noises coming from the Joe Craft Center on Thursday as the Wildcats were preparing for the Blue-White Game. The Sandman was in town for a show and stopped by the men’s and women’s basketball practices to say hello, with the program gifting him a customized Adam Sandler Kentucky jersey, rocking No. 25 in the blue and white.

He responded by giving the team free tickets to his show at Rupp Arena.

“You guys, tell Adam, there’s nothing like wearing this across your chest. True story,” Pope told the comedy and acting legend.

“It’s got some history, you’ve done alright,” Sandler responded. “… I can’t tell you thanks enough.”

Kentucky hosts Adam Sandler at practice (UK Athletics)
Adam Sandler holds up Kentucky jersey at practice (UK Athletics)
Kentucky hosts Adam Sandler at practice (UK Athletics)

After meeting the men in the Joe Craft Center, Sandler ran over to Historic Memorial Coliseum to do the same with the women, offering tickets and giving high-fives.

“You guys having a good practice? I’m interrupting,” he told the team. “You guys wanna come to the show tonight?”

The Wildcats also got to meet actors Kevin James and Kevin Nealon — two regulars in all of Sandler’s movies, who opened for him at Rupp — backstage. Brandon Garrison shared the photos on his IG story.

Wildcats meet with actors Kevin James and Kevin Nealon

Sandler tossed on his new Kentucky jersey during the show, looking right where he belongs on center stage at Rupp Arena rocking the blue and white.

I do have a bone to pick with Adam, though, who apparently made a joke about an Achilles tear at practice that had fans losing their minds on social media and message boards. That may play at other venues where basketball is an afterthought, but at Rupp Arena, it’s not something we play about.

Everything is fine, BBN. Just a joke, nothing to worry about.

Dominika Paurová re-tears ACL, out for the year

Part of why BBN is on guard about that stuff is because the women just saw a devastating season-ending injury, redshirt sophomore guard Dominika Paurová tore her ACL and is out indefinitely.

It marks her second consecutive season sidelined due to injury after coming over from Oregon State, averaging 5.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 37.2 percent from three for an Elite Eight team in 2024.

She was set to be a key contributor for the Wildcats this season, and now, the wait sadly continues for her debut.

Reed Sheppard dominates Atlanta starters

Yes, it’s just preseason, but when it comes against NBA starters, it’s worth mentioning: Reed Sheppard BALLED last night for the Houston Rockets. Set to take a major leap in role in year two, the former Wildcat went for 29 points, six rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks in 29 minutes while shooting 12/22 from the field with five threes.

There is a very real chance Sheppard is the starting point guard for the Rockets this season with Fred VanVleet out for the year due to injury. He looked the part last night.

Alabama sneaks by Florida State to open exhibition play

Two nights ago, Steven Pearl lost in his unofficial coaching debut at Auburn with the Tigers falling to Oklahoma State in overtime — an electric matchup from start to finish on the heels of SEC Tipoff ’26.

Last night, Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide almost got taken down by Florida State, but found a way to sneak away late with a 109-105 victory. Turning the ball over 15 times, they needed star guards Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway to combine for 48 points to pull off the win.

It doesn’t count, but it’s certainly a fun appetizer ahead of the entrees here in the next couple of weeks. Kentucky will get its own chance to do the same a week from today when No. 1 Purdue comes to town.

Hey, the Bengals won!

Old man’s still got it, eh? Joe Flacco led the Bengals to a 33-31 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers in a shootout for the ages — just as everyone expected.

Pittsburgh scored on a 68-yard touchdown pass to take a 31-30 lead, only for Cincinnati to go 52 yards in eight plays to set up the game-winning field goal in the final seconds. Flacco looked half his age, going for 342 yards and three touchdowns on 31/47 passing while Ja’Marr Chase went for 161 yards and a score and Tee Higgins went for 96 yards and a score.

Rodgers threw for four touchdowns with 249 yards, but it wasn’t enough as the Bengals move to 3-4 on the year while the Steelers drop to 4-2.

Joe Flacco = elite.

Also elite? Kentucky basketball in 2025-26. We’ll see you at Historic Memorial Coliseum tonight, BBN. Let’s tip this season off.

Discuss This Article

Comments have moved.

Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.

KSBoard

2025-10-19