KSR Today: Kentucky's Big Weekend, BBNBA Playoffs, Derby Recovery and More
Good morning, friends.
I hope you got plenty of rest and electrolytes for your Sunday Kentucky Derby hangover, maybe a little extra afternoon couch time for the passengers in the back of the struggle bus. If not, you may be in for a long Monday at the office. That seventh Mint Julep was a bad idea in hindsight, huh?
Here at KSR HQ, we have empty pockets from betting on the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. However, we (minus Nick Roush, our resident Derby enthusiast) were responsible adults otherwise throughout a fun weekend in the Bluegrass. So, we are ready to attack a new week of hourly internet content for Big Blue Nation, although we are without Mrs. Tyler Thompson as she is taking a much-earned vacation this week. The rest of us will pick up the slack in her absence.
But enough about us and your throbbing headache. It was a big weekend for sports beyond Mage winning the garland of roses.
Devin Booker, Kevin Durant dropped 36 each to even the series with Jamal Murray’s Nuggets
We’ll begin with the freshest news this morning, a recap of Devin Booker’s performance in the game that kept us up past bedtime last night. Booker’s Suns hosted the Nuggets in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinals series, where the former Kentucky Wildcat scored 36 points, including a perfect third quarter from the field, to help tie the series at two games apiece going back to Denver. Kevin Durant matched Booker’s 36 as Phoenix’s superstars made a combined 25-of-37 shots, plus 17 of 19 free throws, to tie the series back up.
The other Wildcat in the game, Jamal Murray, scored 28 points on 25 shots in the losing effort. His Denver teammate, Nikola Jokic, set a franchise playoff record with 53 points and 11 assists, in addition to a technical foul for his courtside altercation with the Suns’ new owner.
(For what it’s worth, I side with Jokic here. Give him the ball.)
Jokic also got upset with his teammates for their inability to guard Booker or Durant. Of course, the Suns’ scoring duo is impossible to defend, but Jokic can complain when he had fifty of his own.
Game 5 is tomorrow night in Denver, hopefully with Jokic available and not serving a one-game suspension for crowd interaction.
Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers all tied with Boston
In the other Sunday NBA game, former Kentucky star Tyrese Maxey played a crucial role in Philly’s overtime win over Boston in the City of Brotherly Love. Maxey struggled with his shot but still scored 14 points with eight rebounds, a couple of steals, and an assist in 45 minutes next to James Harden in the Sixers’ backcourt. Harden had 42. Joel Embiid, 34.
In the end, Boston’s Marcus Smart hit a three-pointer that would’ve won the game had it counted. Unfortunately for Boston fans, Smart was a split-second late in getting the shot off before the final buzzer sounded. Philadelphia escaped extra time to win Game 4, 116-115.
Game 5 is tomorrow night.
More former Wildcats in tonight’s NBA Playoffs action
For more in the Association, turn to TNT tonight for a doubleheader beginning at 7:30 p.m. with one of the 90s’ favorite rivalries, the Heat versus the Knicks. Game 4 is tonight in Miami, with Bam Adebayo hoping to help the Heat go up 3-1 on Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley’s Knicks. Unfortunately, the fourth Wildcat in the matchup, Tyler Herro, is still out with a hand injury.
Then in the nightcap, LeBron James has three former Kentucky Basketball players by his side for Game 4 against Golden State. Anthony Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Wenyen Gabriel are ready to help the King push the Lakers to a 3-1 series lead before it returns to Oakland on Wednesday.
Monday’s NBA Schedule
- Miami Heat (-4.5) vs. New York Knicks, Game 4 (MIA leads 2-1) … 7:30 p.m. … TNT
- Los Angeles Lakers (-3) vs. Golden State Warriors, Game 4 (LAL leads 2-1) … 10 p.m. … TNT
Kentucky Softball in the SEC Tournament
In the wide world of collegiate sports, it is SEC Tournament week for Kentucky Softball as the Wildcats head to lovely Fayetteville, Arkansas, for postseason play. The league’s conference tournament begins tomorrow at Bogle Park, home of the defending champ Razorbacks, where Kentucky will play its first game in the final Wednesday night slot. The No. 9 seed, Kentucky plays Florida, the No. 8 seed, at 8 p.m. in the first round.
All Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday games can be seen on SEC Network.
As for the draw, Kentucky can’t complain about its matchup because the Wildcats wrapped up the regular season this past weekend with a series win over… Florida.
Kentucky won two of three games against the 16th-ranked Gators in Lexington, including a 7-6 win on Senior Day and yesterday’s 1-0 win in the 2023 home finale. It was Kentucky’s first series win against Florida since 2011.
#BeatTheGators again on Wednesday.
Kentucky Tennis still alive in the NCAA Tournament
It looked like the end of the road for Kentucky Tennis in Saturday’s second-round match against Northwestern in Lexington until the late rally. The home team Wildcats fell to the visiting Wildcats, losing all six first sets in singles competition, only to rally in three of them to win three singles points and the doubles point to advance, 4-3. Josh Lapadat, Liam Draxl, and Taha Baadi each earned come-from-behind wins, with Baadi finishing the job with a thrilling 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory to put Kentucky into the third round.
The No. 4 seed, Kentucky will host unseeded Stanford in the Sweet 16 this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. for a spot in the Elite Eight.
See the entire NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament bracket.
Kentucky Baseball bounced back with a series win
Shame on you for giving up on Kentucky Baseball because the ‘Cats ain’t dead yet. This past weekend, Kentucky returned home to Kentucky Proud Park, having lost 10 of 13 games and four straight series, only to win three in a row against South Carolina, the third-ranked team in the country. Kentucky completed the sweep of the Gamecocks with a 9-2 win on Sunday, arguably the best weekend of the season as the season winds down.
UK hosts Tennessee Tech tomorrow night in Lexington before a weekend series at Tennessee.
Kentucky Women’s Basketball signed a new post player
There was even more great news for UK Athletics this past weekend as Kentucky Women’s Basketball signed a nice piece to its roster from the graduating high school class. On Sunday, Janae Walker, a 6-foot-4 forward out of Georgia, announced her commitment to the University of Kentucky. Once a Gardner-Webb commit, Walker reopened her recruitment a month ago, and Kentucky seized the opportunity to land the 20-point scorer over other finalists in USC, Wisconsin, and Syracuse.
“The Big Blue Nation is going to love Janae,” Coach Elzy said in UK’s press release. “She is an ambitious, focused and talented player who is ready to get right to work. She is a competitor and plays with a chip on her shoulder, which will fit the personality of this team. Janae has great size, athleticism and versatility, which will help make us more dynamic in the post. The coaching staff and I are thrilled to have Janae in Lexington this summer!”
But wait, there’s more!
Kentucky Football added an offensive lineman
Walker wasn’t the weekend’s only commitment to Kentucky. Also on Sunday, Kentucky Football added a brick to its Big Blue Wall in the form of Ben Christman, an offensive guard out of the transfer portal. A former Ohio State Buckeye, Christman was the No. 132 prospect in the 2021 On3 Industry Ranking. The four-star recruit from Akron committed to the Buckeyes before his senior high school season and has since played only nine snaps in two years in Columbus. He took a redshirt in 2021.
Christman will likely back up Kenneth Horsey and Eli Cox in his redshirt sophomore year at Kentucky.
Under four weeks until Railbird Festival in Lexington
I’ve noticed on social media that bracelets were shipped for Railbird Festival, Lexington’s premier summer music festival coming up the first weekend of June. Seeing those social media posts made me realize I forgot to buy my own Railbird Festival bracelets, so this is a shameless request for any opportunities out there to purchase two for my wife and me. I don’t need a hookup, only an opportunity to buy two.
My trouble aside, it will be a fun weekend at Railbird’s new location with Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers as daily headliners.
Happy Birthday to Jacob Toppin, Adou Thiero, Jarrod Polson, J.P. Blevins, and Heshimu Evans
Adou Thiero probably wished for new clothes because the now 19-year-old is still growing.
He’ll need a double batch of brownies, Mrs. Ellen.
Lots more KSR to come…
At 10 a.m., the entire crew will be on KSR’s morning radio program to further discuss everything you and I just discussed on the internet. There will be a whole lot more ahead on the internet, too.
Go Cats.
And be sure to drink plenty of water today.
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