KSR Today: Madness Before the Madness

The Kentucky football program and the fanbase needed some time away from each other before hitting reset and trying again next week after the second bye. Things look spooky now in the spirit of the Halloween season, but seven games have to be played one way or another. Get back to work and find a way to win four of ‘em and the offseason conversation shifts dramatically. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, though, because this week is about basketball with Media Day on Monday, Pro Day on Tuesday, and now, Big Blue Madness on Saturday. That leads us straight into SEC Media Days next Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the Blue-White Game on Friday before recalibrating with football when the Cats host Texas.

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, so maybe this is exactly what BBN needs before the slipping Longhorns come to town? Get that juice back and rally to an improbable win to make the crossover season worthwhile.

Until Madness (and Fan Fest leading up to the annual tipoff event), we’ve got plenty to cover as we get an early start on the weekend.

Mark Pope sits down with KSR at 10:30 AM

We loved the 40 minutes we got with Coach Pope at UK Media Day this week, but it’s always a sprint of questions and answers with reporters talking over each other desperate to be next — quite the stressful experience if you’re looking for a nice, calm back-and-forth with the second-year coach. That’s why he’s coming on KSR this morning for his final preseason chat to dig a little deeper.

What’s the big surprise for Big Blue Madness? Any other plans he’s ready to reveal at this point? Pope will join the show at 10:30 AM ET to talk about it all and more.

Kenny Brooks joins Memorial Memo

As the men’s coach sits down with KSR now, the women’s coach has already done so with KSR’s Phoenix Stevens and The Memorial Memo. That conversation aired Thursday evening, previewing Big Blue Madness, the Blue-White Game, the upcoming season and much more.

Can the Wildcats be even better in year two after a top-four finish in the SEC and a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament? Confidence is high, and Brooks isn’t afraid to talk about it. Check it out:

Is it commitment day for Tyran Stokes?

There’s a chance today could be a massive, massive day for Kentucky basketball — but no one can confirm it one way or another. There is very loud speculation a commitment is imminent for the No. 1 player in the country, Tyran Stokes, and the Wildcats are the heavy favorite coming down the home stretch.

Is it today? This weekend, when he’s set to celebrate his 18th birthday on Sunday? Will he postpone as others continue to make their final pitches? He announced he’s down to five final schools with Kentucky, Louisville, Oregon, Kansas and USC still in the mix — UK, Oregon and Kansas seen as the top contenders, led by the Cats.

247 shared a Crystal Ball pick for Stokes to land in Lexington while Rivals’ Joe Tipton said, “Kentucky is the school that comes up the most often — with a potential decision date looming in the very near future.”

Today is the first rumored day the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect could pop. Time will tell.

Cason Wallace is a magician

Stokes could be the next Kentucky standout to go on and become a big-time player at the next level, just like world champion Cason Wallace of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He went from five-star to lottery pick to championship to hitting maybe the craziest shot you’ll ever see.

During OKC’s preseason matchup on Thursday, Wallace caught an airball from behind the basket and tossed it back up with under a second left on the shot clock. The ball flew up and over the actual shot clock and dropped right in the hoop as the buzzer sounded.

“Somehow, a miraculous shot by Cason Wallace!” the commentator shouted in disbelief, the former Wildcat all smiles while jogging back down the floor. The only thing missing was a Michael Jordan shrug.

You have to see for yourself 😳 https://t.co/wfsGZm5h5a pic.twitter.com/IwKb1hVo6L

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 10, 2025

Wan’Dale Robinson helps Giants upset Eagles

It’s not all doom and gloom for football right now — a former star represented the Wildcats extremely well on Thursday Night Football, helping lead the New York Giants to an upset over the Philadelphia Eagles. Wan’Dale Robinson led the NYG with a team-high 84 yards on six catches with a touchdown in the 34-17 victory.

His biggest highlight came on this 36-yard scamper that saw him break a tackle and fight through defenders on the right sideline for the score.

JAXSON DART IMPROVISES. ROBINSON YACs. TOUCHDOWN GIANTS 🔥

PHIvsNYG on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/YnuvxJPlhb

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2025

“heard everything yall had to say…” Robinson said on social media after the win.

The former Cat is a dog.

RIP Sister Jean

When you think of the start of college basketball season, you think of some of the most magical March Madness moments in history to get you amped up. One of those included Loyola-Chicago’s run to the Final Four in 2018, led by none other than Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt — an icon of the sport as the beloved chaplain of the men’s basketball team and face of that Cinderella journey.

At 106 years young, the incredible spirit passed away on Thursday, the school confirmed.

“In many roles at Loyola over the course of more than 60 years, Sister Jean was an invaluable source of wisdom and grace for generations of students, faculty, and staff,” Loyola president Mark C. Reed said. “While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy. Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community, and her spirit abides in thousands of lives. In her honor, we can aspire to share with others the love and compassion Sister Jean shared with us.”

Long live Sister Jean.

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Let’s have a weekend, folks — one that hopefully includes a Tyran Stokes commitment to Kentucky alongside Big Blue Madness. That’d certainly be one for the history books.