WATCH: Kentucky honors six seniors on Senior Night before home finale

Before Kentucky Basketball hosted Vanderbilt in Rupp Arena’s 2022-23 season finale, the program honored its six seniors with a pregame Senior Night ceremony, a longstanding tradition in Lexington each season. This year, Oscar Tshiebwe, Sahvir Wheeler, Jacob Toppin, CJ Fredrick, Antonio Reeves, and Brennan Canada were recognized; although, Wheeler sent Ellen Calipari as representation as he recovers from a Wednesday morning medical procedure.

A fun fact, the six seniors were the most players celebrated since the 1975 season when Kevin Grevey, Jimmy Dan Conner, Mike Flynn, Bob Guyette, G.J. Smith, and Jerry Hale were celebrated before their last home game.

For Oscar Tshiebwe, he is also celebrating being the first member of his family to graduate from college. Tshiebwe said before his Senior Night, “I never had a dream I’d graduate from college. This will be probably a little bit emotional. I don’t know.”

Tshiebwe held back his tears Wednesday night before playing Vanderbilt despite a loud pop from the hometown crowd as their fan-favorite waved goodbye.

“I still cannot believe how fast these four years flew by,” Tshiebwe said Tuesday. “Seems like it was yesterday I was a freshman, but we just gonna be locked into the game and just try to finish out.”

Toppin added, “Yeah it’s my last game at Rupp Arena, but that’s definitely crazy to imagine. At the end of the day, we have to worry about the game. It’s a sport we love to play and hopefully we can play it for a long time. I’m just worried about winning (on Wednesday).”

To see the sights and sounds from Kentucky’s pregame Senior Night celebration, watch KSR’s highlights below.

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