Today On KSR: Howard's Sunday, UKFB updates and Bruiser speaks

It was a very special weekend for the Big Blue Nation as the Cats went 2-0 in Saturday’s doubleheader, first with a close win in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl down in Jacksonville followed by the basketball team’s double-overtime win in Starkville, its first victory since November 25. The fun didn’t stop there because on Sunday the women’s team picked up a big win over No. 12 Mississippi State, also in overtime in Starkville, for huge wins in Humphrey Coliseum on consecutive days.

More on that game and other things you missed from Sunday because you were worn out from Saturday’s celebration…

 

Rhyne Howard is very good at basketball.

If you only caught the fourth quarter and overtime of the UK women’s big win over a ranked SEC opponent, you might think Rhyne Howard is the best basketball player on the planet. (You might think that anyway.) The Cats’ National Player of the Year candidate went off down the stretch, scoring 25 of her game-high 33 points in the final 15 minutes of basketball to lead Kentucky past the 12th-ranked team in America. Howard hit four of six 3-point tries and made all but one of her free throws in the game.

 

We’ll hear from Bruiser Flint today.

After leading Kentucky to a comeback win in Starkville, new UK assistant Bruiser Flint will fill in for John Calipari during Monday’s pre-Vanderbilt press conference. It will be our first time hearing from Coach Flint since he coached UK to its second win of the season and the first in SEC play, so it will be interesting to hear his explanation of what happened once Cal got tossed at Mississippi State.

Devin Askew will also speak as the player representative. It’s all coming up in about an hour.

 

The NCAA Tournament is going to Indianapolis.

A local Indianapolis TV station, WISH-TV, is reporting the entire 2021 NCAA Tournament will be held in Indianapolis this spring. Dates and venues will be named in an official announcement expected as early as today, but WISH-TV believes there will be a bubble format for the entire field.

 

UK Football has a new running backs coach.

While you were recovering from Saturday’s fun, you might’ve missed the Sunday morning news that UK Football hired Jemal Singleton to be its new running backs coach. Taking over the position coach spot once held by Eddie Gran, Singleton comes to Lexington from just up I-75 in Cincinnati where he served as the Bengals’ running backs coach for the past two seasons.

Wanna know more on Singleton? Get to know him right here.

 

Several UK Football players to return for 2021.

It didn’t take long for many of Mark Stoops’ players to announce they’ll be back next fall for another run with the Wildcats. Star defensive end Josh Paschal announced his return Sunday morning, headlining a list that also includes wide receiver Josh Ali, tight end Justin Rigg, linebacker DeAndre Square and safety Davonte Robinson, among others.

“Last one, best one,” Paschal tweeted of his final season ahead.

Last one, best one! #BBN pic.twitter.com/WOBPaLus8Z

— Joshua Paschal (@JPaschalx) January 3, 2021

 

Could Darian Kinnard follow?

Kinnard has an 11 am press conference scheduled to discuss his future. An All-American offensive lineman, will he stay or will he go?

Speaking of returns…

 

KSR radio returns from the holiday.

Kentucky Sports Radio is back on the airwaves at 10 a.m. with Matt Jones and Ryan Lemond giving their thoughts on all that happened since they last spoke to you on Wednesday before the new year. With no football postgame show after the bowl win and plenty of hot takes from basketball, there will be no shortage of things to say on this morning’s show.

 

Stick around Kentucky Sports Radio dot com for a fun-filled day here on the KSR website, too.

Go Cats.