KSR Today: Memorial Day, NCAA Baseball Selection Show, Game 4 and More

Happy Memorial Day, Big Blue Nation. Before we discuss the latest insignificant events related to our sports and entertainment interests, let us remember the brave men and women who gave all for our country. Today and every last Monday in May, we celebrate Memorial Day as a reminder of their sacrifices. Without the price the fallen soldiers paid and all of our armed forces, we cannot live with the freedoms we enjoy today. So, as you take today off to welcome the unofficial start of summer, also take a moment to appreciate the meaning of Memorial Day and the military personnel behind it.

Now, the other matters…

Selection Monday for the NCAA Baseball Tournament

Around noon today, Kentucky will learn its place in the 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament. The Selection Show will reveal the 2024 bracket beginning at 12 p.m. on ESPN2. Somewhere in the field, the Wildcats will be one of the tournament’s highest overall seeds with hosting privileges for the Regional and likely the Super Regional rounds. D1Baseball.com predicts the No. 2 overall seed for Kentucky, welcoming Nebraska, Evansville, and Northern Kentucky to Lexington. The Tennessee Vols earn the top seed in that projection, following their SEC Tournament victory.

On Sunday, the NCAA named UK one of the tournament’s 16 hosts:

• Georgia (Athens Regional)
• Texas A&M (Bryan-College Station Regional)
• North Carolina (Chapel Hill Regional)
• Virginia (Charlottesville Regional)
• Clemson (Clemson Regional)
• Oregon State (Corvallis Regional)
• Arkansas (Fayetteville Regional)
• East Carolina (Greenville Regional)
• Tennessee (Knoxville Regional)
• Kentucky (Lexington Regional)
• Oklahoma (Norman Regional)
• NC State (Raleigh Regional)
• UC-Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Regional)
• Oklahoma State (Stillwater Regional)
• Florida State (Tallahassee Regional)
• Arizona (Tucson Regional)

The official bracket goes live later today. Once the field is unannounced, come back to KentuckySportsRadio.com for a breakdown and more on Kentucky’s place in the field. Exciting times are ahead for the Cats and Kentucky Proud Park.

Nick Mingione and his players will discuss the draw

Shortly after the Selection Show, Nick Mingione and some of Kentucky’s players will hold a press conference on campus to preview the tournament. KSR will share the entire press conference on YouTube, plus stories with their comments as the Wildcats prepare to host NCAA baseball in Lexington. Stay tuned.

[Hager: Kentucky Baseball shifting into NCAA Tournament mode]

Dallas Mavs one win closer to the NBA Finals

In the Association, PJ Washington‘s Dallas Mavericks and Karl Anthony-Towns‘ Minnesota Timberwolves are the two remaining teams in the West. Last night, Dallas extended its lead to 3-0 in that series, winning a narrow Game 3 at home. The final score read 116-107, but the game was much closer throughout. In fact, Washington’s 3-pointer with 3:38 to go in the game broke the 104 tie and pushed the Mavs to victory. Washington scored 16 points with eight rebounds.

For Minnesota, KAT was cold from outside, missing all eight of his 3-point attempts in the game when everyone else on the court seemed to be hitting daggers in the fourth quarter. Tuesday night could mark the end of the road for Towns and Minnesota as they face elimination in Game 4.

Boston can sweep Indiana tonight in the ECF

The Eastern Conference champion may be decided tonight as Boston and Indiana play Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at 8:00 p.m. in Indianapolis. Down 3-0, the Pacers’ backs are against the Gainbridge Fieldhouse wall as the Celtics look to close out the sweep and reach The Finals for a 23rd time.

Isaiah Jackson is the only former Kentucky Wildcat in the game. However, Oscar Tshiebwe has been spotted as a non-participant on the Pacers’ bench in street clothes. Summer vacation may be waiting tomorrow for both unless the Pacers punch back in Game 4.

NCAA withdrawal deadline approaching

NBA hopefuls like Jaxson Robinson have only a few more days to remove themselves from the draft process if they intend to return to college. The NCAA withdrawal deadline is Wednesday, May 29th, at 11:59 p.m., meaning the wait for Robinson’s decision is almost over, BBN.

By Thursday, the available targets for Mark Pope‘s last couple of roster spots will be much clearer. Kentucky still has a couple of prospects in mind to round out the roster, headlined by Robinson, Pope’s former BYU star who is still considering his basketball future.

DJ Wagner heading to Arkansas

DJ Wagner can’t quit John Calipari. On Sunday, news spread that Wagner will follow Calipari to Arkansas for his sophomore year of college basketball. The former Wildcat also considered the NBA or a transfer to USC, but he will instead move to Fayetteville for another year with Calipari. He joins familiar faces Adou Thiero, Zvonimir Ivisic, Chin Coleman, Chuck Martin, Kenny Payne, Bruiser Flint, and Brad Calipari, as well as former UK commits Boogie Fland, Billy Richmond, and Karter Knox.

Good luck to DJ in Year 2. I believe he’s due for a giant leap forward.

This week’s KSR schedule (and beyond that)

Matt Jones’ 10-week summer vacation from KSR begins this week. The show has today off for Memorial Day, and then the rest of the week will fall on Ryan Lemond and me at KSBar and Grille, with Shannon The Dude joining the conversations via the Louisville studio. A week from today, the weekly schedule falls into place with ESPN’s Myron Medcalf hosting on Mondays with the regular crew, followed by Tom Hart on Wednesdays throughout the summer. Other notable guest hosts will rotate on Fridays, leaving Tuesdays and Thursdays to the KSR crew at various locations around Central Kentucky. Got all that? I’ll keep you updated throughout the summer. This week, we’ll look ahead to the Lexington Regional from KSBar and Grille. Today, we grill and observe the holiday.