"kentucky"

Both teams are coming off impressive victories in their most recent outings. Louisville dominated Pepperdine with an 85-63 win, putting an end to their three-game losing streak. Kentucky, on the other hand, narrowly defeated North Carolina with an 87-83 victory in a top-25 neutral-site contest.

Leading the scoring for Kentucky this season is Antonio Reeves, averaging 17.1 points per game. Rob Dillingham follows closely behind with 14.4 points per game, while fellow freshmen Reed Sheppard and D.J. Wagner contribute 12.8 points per contest. Tre Mitchell has been a solid performer with 12.7 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game. Aaron Bradshaw has also been making an impact, averaging 10.7 points over the three games he has played.

Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White recognizes the talent and versatility of the Clemson offense. He acknowledges the skills of the team’s running backs, stating, “The two running backs are really, really talented players. Their ability to get downhill, their ability in the passing game.” White also commends the cohesion of Clemson’s offensive line and their ability to execute both horizontal and vertical plays effectively.

Shorts, who is 29 years old, joins the Wildcats after spending three seasons as the wide receivers coach for the Houston Cougars under Dana Holgorsen. He also served as the Director of Player Development for the Cougars for two years. Shorts expressed his excitement about joining the Big Blue Nation and the opportunity to work under Stoops and offensive coordinator Liam Coen. He acknowledged their accomplishments at Kentucky and in the Southeastern Conference and expressed his desire to contribute to their continued success.

Despite the potential challenges, UK’s offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, acknowledges that Clemson poses a significant threat. Coen describes Clemson as being built like an SEC program, with strong depth upfront and a talented front seven. He emphasizes that Clemson plays a lot of man coverage and applies pressure with a five-man rush, requiring Kentucky’s offense to be on top of their game.

Kentucky faced a formidable challenge this season, as they played a total of 16 matches against ranked teams. This impressive feat set a new program record for the most matches against ranked opponents. Their dedication and skill were evident in every game, as they competed against some of the toughest competition in the nation.

Both Tyler and Rowe thrived in their new roles, contributing to Kentucky’s dominant 75-45 victory at Rupp Arena. Tyler had a career-high 17 points, leading the team, while Rowe also had a career-high in points with seven and in rebounds with five. In addition, Rowe showcased her versatility with two assists, a blocked shot, and a steal.

Down the stretch, it was the talented freshmen from Kentucky who stepped up and handled the pressure with composure. This was evident in the game’s final moments, as Kentucky’s freshman players scored the team’s last eight points and a remarkable 18 of their final 20. Rob Dillingham, who came off the bench, led UK with 17 points, followed by fellow freshman D.J. Wagner with 14 points and Aaron Bradshaw with 12. Reed Sheppard contributed 11 points off the bench as well, while Justin Edwards added another eight points. Overall, the freshmen accounted for an impressive 62 of Kentucky’s 87 points.

The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+, with Jeff Piecoro and Christi Thomas providing commentary. Fans can also tune in to the play-by-play on UK Sports Network and 630 AM WLAP, with Darren Headrick serving as the voice of the Wildcats.

The competition will include events such as the 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard, platform, and the new team event format. Kentucky has already had a strong season, with five individuals earning eight NCAA zone cuts. Abby Devereaux leads the pack with qualifying scores on all three apparatuses, while Sam Duncan has cuts for both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards. Claire McDaniels, Devynn Bishop, and Kristy Pfaff have also achieved zone standard scores on their respective events.