wildcats

Key, a talented sophomore hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, had an impressive season. He led the Wildcats with 553 yards receiving and was second on the team with 38 receptions. Additionally, he scored five touchdowns.

The Wildcats will kick off their season with four consecutive home games at Kroger Field. They will face SEC opponents South Carolina and Georgia during this stretch. The schedule also features home games against Southern Miss, Ohio, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Murray State, and in-state rival Louisville.

UK currently holds the upper hand in the rivalry, leading UofL with a 34-24 record in their 59 previous meetings. However, Louisville has emerged victorious in their last six encounters. Kentucky will be looking to end this losing streak and get back in the win column after suffering a 76-57 defeat against Minnesota in their last game.

Junior Logan Coles made history for UK by setting a new school record in the weight throw, with a distance of 68’04.50”/20.84 meters. Coles surpassed the previous record set in 2017 by David Cline.

UK head coach John Calipari praised Sheppard for his hard work and dedication to improving his game. Calipari acknowledged that Sheppard was not always known for his shooting ability but has made significant strides by putting in the extra hours in the gym. Calipari drew comparisons to former Wildcat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and other players who built their own confidence through hard work.

Kentucky struggled against top-ranked teams this season, as they now hold a 0-2 record against Associated Press Top 10 teams. The Wildcats, currently in their 50th season, have an all-time record of 896-592 (.602), putting them just four wins away from reaching the milestone of 900 victories.

In their last appearance in 2018, Kentucky came out victorious by defeating South Florida, UCLA, and North Carolina. They went undefeated and were crowned champions. Former players Rhyne Howard and Taylor Murray were recognized for their outstanding performances and were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Howard also receiving the Most Valuable Player award.

During the SEC Career Tour, student-athletes will have the chance to connect with human resource recruiters, submit their resumes for entry-level jobs and internships, and gain valuable knowledge of professional branding. The group is scheduled to visit the headquarters of several corporations and organizations in the Atlanta area, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Jackson Spalding, Microsoft, Learfield, and Trilith Studios. They will also have the opportunity to meet with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and learn insights into building effective business relationships and best practices for job seekers.

Ajae Petty also had a notable game, contributing 15 points and an impressive 13 rebounds for the Wildcats. However, no other Wildcat player managed to score more than four points.

Kentucky initially trailed Akron by one point after the smallbore discipline, with the Zipps posting a score of 2338 compared to the Wildcats’ 2337. However, Kentucky quickly turned the tide in their favor in the air rifle event, registering an impressive score of 2384, while Akron managed 2374. Kentucky’s stellar performance in air rifle not only helped them secure the victory but also earned them the fifth-best air rifle team score nationwide this season.