KSR Today: SEC Tournament Champs, Skyy Clark, and More
The floors of KSR HQ are still sticky from the champagne celebration Sunday afternoon. In the back, “Forgot About Dre” is still playing repeatedly from Zack’s portable speak. I think he slept in his cubicle last night.
The fun was all thanks to Dre’Una Edwards’s late-game heroics down in Nashville where Kentucky Women’s Basketball did the unthinkable at the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament. The team many had counted out for the season, won the whole thing.
Kentucky is the SEC Women’s Tournament Champion
Unless you’re just joining us from a coma, you should already know Kentucky Women’s Basketball won the SEC Tournament for the first time in 40 years and only the second time in school history. The tournament’s No. 7 seed, Kentucky ended its improbable, four-game run with an upset of South Carolina on Championship Sunday to snatch the trophy from the No. 1 team in the country. The loss was only the second all year for the Gamecocks.
Adding to the improbability, Kentucky erased a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit to win it in the final seconds. Down one with six seconds to go, Dre’Una Edwards called game with a 3-pointer, the final shot of an 11-0 run for Kentucky to end it. Edwards had 27 points, 19 of them in the second half. The win was Kentucky’s 10th in a row.
After the game, Edwards gave an electric interview to ESPN:
More from Kentucky’s SEC Tournament Championship:
RECAP: Kentucky WBB overthrows South Carolina 64-62 to win SEC Championship
Kentucky WBB’s fourth-quarter performance will go down in history
Dre’una Edwards’ unlikely path to becoming a Kentucky legend
WATCH: Highlights, interviews from Kentucky WBB’s SEC title victory
WATCH: Dre’Una Edwards hits go-ahead game-winning shot in SEC title
Rhyne Howard named Tournament MVP
Though Edwards was the hero in the championship game, Rhyne Howard was Kentucky’s star throughout its four-game run in Nashville. Howard was named 2022 SEC Tournament MVP for her 22 points-per-game average in the tournament while shooting over 50 percent from the field and on 3-point tries.
On Sunday, our Queen added 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals to Kentucky’s come-from-behind victory.
John Calipari lost his Rolex in the celebration
With Kentucky Men’s Basketball on a two-day break, John and Ellen Calipari made the trip to Nashville to cheer on the women in the title game. Calipari was shown on TV throughout the game and he looked a lot like the rest of us crazies in Big Blue Nation:
However, Calipari’s enthusiasm almost cost him a Rolex because his “lucky watch” flew from his wrist into the crowd several rows behind him when Edwards hit the game-winner.
Luckily, the watch was returned through Kyra Elzy last night.
Calipari did, however, lose a signee on Sunday…
Skyy Clark’s Decommitment, What It Means For Kentucky
Sometimes it’s what’s best for both parties. Skyy Clark’s decision to de-commit from the University of Kentucky is one of those times.
The inevitable became official on Sunday when Clark publicly reopened his recruitment and pulled his name from Kentucky’s Class of 2022. The five-star point guard spoke exclusively to KSR about his decision to pursue other opportunities for his college basketball career, citing roster concerns and his own personal struggles as reasons behind the change in direction. “I haven’t really seen a fit for myself,” Clark told KSR’s Jack Pilgrim.
Clark also revealed a new broken hand he suffered weeks ago upon returning from a torn ACL last summer. The injuries have held Clark back both physically and mentally. “I haven’t really been feeling the most confident in myself,” he admitted. “I really just wanted to step back and make sure I was doing the right thing.”
Read the entire interview, if you will, to get a clearer understanding of Clark’s decision to part with his dream school and what’s next for his basketball career. Just you and me talking, look toward Arizona State as the favorite due to Clark’s connection to Joel Justus, who recruited him to Kentucky. Clark even confirmed Arizona State is in consideration, although, the professional route is in play too.
As for what it means for Kentucky, respectfully, this was a welcomed move for several reasons: (a) Clark has missed a lot of basketball and will need patience in his recovery, which he admitted; (b) Kentucky expects to return Sahvir Wheeler and his 30 minutes per game at point guard; (c) Cason Wallace, the other guard in Kentucky’s class, appears to be further ahead at this stage; (d) there will likely be a backcourt addition from the transfer portal; and, respectfully, (e) the Joel Justus connection.
In Clark’s best interests, he can develop and find his inner “Hibachi” at his own pace without the Kentucky magnifying glass over him–and we hope he does. This decision was very difficult on him and he was very gracious and humble throughout the parting of ways. He even admitted his release was best for Kentucky Basketball too.
Who knows, maybe there’s a path for him to give Lexington another shot one day. Until then, good luck to him.
It’s SEC Tournament Week in Tampa
Coming up later this week, Kentucky Men’s Basketball will tip off its postseason run in Friday’s SEC Tournament quarterfinal. The Cats will get Alabama, Vanderbilt, or Georgia in the final game of the day with a start time tentatively set for 8:30 p.m.
The entire bracket looks like this:
A reminder, KSR’s March Madness coverage is sponsored by our friends at Justice Dental. We’ll get started on the SEC and NCAA Tournament previews today.
Bring on the Madness! Follow along with the KSR crew throughout the postseason as we bring you behind the scenes coverage in the most ridiculous manner possible. Get ready for Justice Dental March Game Day Central!
Bracketology: Kentucky with Kansas in the East
Kentucky is the No. 2 seed in the East Region in Joe Lunardi’s Monday morning Bracketology update. Lunardi has Kentucky playing Longwood and then the Notre Dame/USC winner in Indianapolis in the first weekend.
Kansas is Kentucky’s No. 1 seed in this scenario, Villanova is the 3.
DanceBlue raised $1,430,497.39 for the kids
In its 16th year, DanceBlue raised another million-plus for Kentucky Children’s Hospital. The 24-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance party welcomed over 550 UK students to its first in-person marathon since 2020. Together, they raised $1,430,497.39 for the kids.
Y’all have a good Monday.
We have plenty more to come here on Kentucky-Sports-Radio-dot-com.
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