KSR Today: Kentucky basketball hits the road to face Notre Dame

Believe it or not, Christmas is just two weeks away. Hope you have started to collect some presents. However, Dec. 11 will be filled with action as the college basketball season begins to heat up.

KSR Today is here to start the weekend as Wildcats get set to travel to Notre Dame for its first game against power conference competition in a month. However, our minds and hearts are with the people in Western Kentucky after some deadly storms hit the Bluegrass last night.

Cats take on Irish

At 5:15 p.m., Kentucky will hit the hardwood at the Joyce Center to take on Notre Dame. Mike Brey is in his 22nd season as the head coach at Notre Dame, and the Irish have gotten off to a rough start to begin the year.

Notre Dame enters the contest at 3-4 with three consecutive losses to Texas A&M, Illinois, and Boston College. The Irish are 114th in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency rankings and are only shooting 29.6 percent from three this season.

The Irish have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2017, and Brey appears to have another team that will struggle in ACC play. Notre Dame came into Rupp Arena to defeat Kentucky last season, and the Wildcats will look to return the favor today.

Kentucky is currently a five-point favorite as the Wildcats look to collect a road win against an ACC opponent.

Citrus Bowl practice is off and running

Signing day will be here on Wednesday, but Mark Stoops and the Kentucky football program had their first bowl practice on Friday as the Citrus Bowl is quickly approaching.

For the first time since announcing a contract extension with the school, Stoops addressed the media. The ninth-year head coach is hard at work with recruiting, dealing with the transfer portal, and beginning the early stages of renovating the indoor facility.

However, Stoops has plans for the future and does not sound like a coach who is looking for a way out.

“For me to leave, it’s just not in our blood. I say our blood, in Stoops blood,” said Stoops. “To run from a fight, to think there’s an easier road. Things are hard no matter where you’re at. It’s a daily fight, it’s a grind, but loyalty’s important.

Things will remain hard for Kentucky in the SEC, but the football program now has alignment like never before. Players, coaching staff, administration, and fans are all moving in the same direction.

There is a real buzz surrounding the program as Kentucky appears set to sign its best-ever recruiting class on Wednesday. Meanwhile, opt-outs are everywhere, and Iowa just lost one of its top players.

Auburn basketball receives punishment

Bruce Pearl’s program was one of a handful that got caught up in the arrests made by the Southern District of New York thanks to the federal investigation completed that ended in six arrests.

Auburn assistant coach Chuck Person was one of those arrested as he was caught by an undercover agent as he took bribes to help steer players to certain agents. Four years later, the NCAA is dishing out penalties.

On Friday, the Tigers were hit with four years probation, and the 2020-21 self-imposed postseason ban was considered time served. Bruce Pearl must serve a two-game suspension this season.

Overall, the Tigers got out with a limited punishment, and most self-imposed penalties were considered enough action by the NCAA. Pearl and his program can now move forward.

Louisville could be receiving punishment for their involvement soon.

Thoughts, prayers with Western Kentucky

On Friday night, the state of Kentucky was hit with multiple tornadoes and other severe storms. The damage has been catastrophic.

Our thoughts and prayers at KSR are with all of those who have been affected by the storms. Currently, over 50,000 people are without power in the state, and the death toll is currently between 70-100.

Our own Tyler Thompson has the latest update as we are all thinking about those who had their lives changed overnight.

Loaded slate

The college football regular season is not over yet. Army and Navy will meet for their yearly clash this afternoon at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and the Heisman Trophy presentation will occur this evening to go along with a ton of college basketball.

The television schedule is jam-packed with hoops and football.

• 11:30 am: Nebraska vs. No. 18 Auburn (ESPN2)
• Noon: No. 22 Wisconsin @ No. 21 Ohio State (Big Ten Network)
• Noon: Syracuse @ Georgetown (FOX)
• Noon: No. 24 BYU @ Creighton (FS1)
• 1:30: No. 12 Arkansas vs. Oklahoma (ESPN2)
• 2:00: Penn State @ No. 19 Michigan State (Big Ten Network)
• 2:30: No. 4 UCLA @ Marquette (FOX)
• 3:00: Army vs. Navy (CBS)
• 3:15: Missouri @ No. 8 Kansas (ESPN)
• 5:00: No. 11 Arizona @ Illinois (FOX)
• 5:15: No. 10 Kentucky @ Notre Dame (ESPN)
• 6:00: No. 25 LSU vs. Georgia Tech (ESPN2)
• 6:30: TCU vs. Texas A&M (SEC Network)
• 6:30: Minnesota @ Michigan (Big Ten Network)
• 8:30: WKU @ Ole Miss (SEC Network)
• 8:30: Cincinnati @ Xavier (FS1)
• 10:00: No. 14 Houston @ No. 9 Alabama (ESPN2)