Kentucky Kernel: January 20, 2022

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

est. 1892 | Independent since 1971

‘COACH HALL IS BELOVED

BY EVERYONE’ | 8

Thursday, January 20, 2022

news

COVID-19: Two years later

By Morgan Luster news@kykernel.com

Over the past two years, the world has grappled to find its balance under the unpredictable conditions brought by COVID-19. This uninvited guest has left the world with devastating gifts that have altered life as we know it.

According to CNN, the first cases of the virus were reported as pneumonia in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. However, the first confirmed case on U.S. soil wasn’t until Jan. 21, 2020.

This virus eventually spread all over the world, forging a global pandemic. On March 11, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared that the virus was a pandemic, and UK issued a statement that classes were going online.

Whether a student or faculty member, no one is exempt from the changes of the pandemic, as adapting to these unforeseeable times reshaped social interactions and transformed everyday activities.

For freshman Elizabeth Dicken, online classes can be an overall stressful experience.

December 2019

First cases of the virus reported as pneumonia in Wuhan, China.

“I learn better face-to-face, like I have to sit in a classroom,” she said. “Trying to find the motivation to pay attention and learn on my own is really difficult.”

For others, such as freshman Paige Williams, online classes have caused mixed feelings because they can become tiring after a while.

“It felt good at first because it was like a little break,” Williams said. “But then it started to go on forever, so like you just want to get back in classes and in person.”

As a math instructor, calculus professor Jonathan Clark has experienced the difficulties of teaching in the midst of the pandemic, especially when students need to quarantine after being exposed to the virus.

“Things have gotten exponentially harder for students in particular,” Clark said. “There are a lot of classes, math in particular, where if you take that step out, the next step is now impossible to reach, creating an incredible risk for snowballing once students are behind.”

The pandemic forged more barriers between students and instructors, causing additional complications in the learning experience.

Due to the virus, many interactions have

March 11, 2020

Jan. 26, 2021

CDC declares the virus is a pandemic, and UK issues a statement that Worldwide case numbers reach 100 million. classes are going online.

Jan. 21, 2020

First confirmed case on U.S. soil.

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been virtual rather than in-person, which has changed the culture of communication between instructors and their students.

Although most classes at UK have gone back to in-person following the 2020 spring semester, there are still hybrid classes.

ISC professor Dr. Beth Barnes has seen how the pandemic has completely reworked her interactions with her students, as email has become the main form of contact.

“I used to get a fair amount of in-person visits to my office hours, but since the pandemic started, even once we went back to in-person classes, many students seem to prefer emailing instead,” Barnes said.

“I don’t mind, because I want people to be comfortable, but I think those interactions are less useful for both students and me than being able to talk in person.”

Meanwhile, other professors have found that in-person classes have helped them learn more about their students.

Marketing professor Holly Hapke has found ways to connect with her students virtually; however, she prefers to have them in person. In order to connect with students, Hapke has used platforms such as

Dec. 14, 2020

The first COVID-19 vaccine is administered outside of clinical trial in the U.S.

Zoom, GroupMe and Discord.

“In my opinion, students’ nonverbal facial cues during class help connect,” Hapke said. “I really miss seeing students’ smiles.”

While professors have had to modify their courses, students have had to adjust to these alterations of their classes. By moving classes to online or hybrid formats, students such as senior Lizzie Watkins have struggled with online learning and have had to teach themselves the material in a way they understand.

On top of that, socially interacting with classmates and establishing relationships with others has raised complications as well.

“It was really hard to socialize, especially at the beginning of the pandemic,” Watkins said. “Now it’s gotten a bit better, but one of the biggest aspects in college is making friends, and it was quite difficult when there were no in-person events to go to.”

Looking back at the past couple years, circumstances have been transfigured as the ongoing pandemic has redesigned social interactions and overall communication between others.

Nov. 26, 2021

The CDC announces that a new variant, known as omicron, has arrived in the U.S.

June 1, 2021

Delta variant becomes the dominant strain in the U.S.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Humans of UK:

kentuckykernel

James Croom hypes up UK

By Sarah Michels news@kykernel.com

This is Humans of UK, inspired by the Humans of New York Instagram series by photographer and author Brandon Stanton.

This series dives into the individuals of UK as well as their stories, strifes and passions.

James Croom’s been told he’s a funny guy.

Students may have seen him on television at the front of the student section, on TikTok sharing Kentucky sports content or at the Johnson Center, slinging half-court shots.

Croom is Kentucky’s self-proclaimed hype man.

He brings energy to every game, match or meet he attends — which is quite a few. Croom, a senior kinesiology major, said he’s lost count of how many UK sports events he’s been to over the past four years, but that it’s safely over 50, and probably closer to 100.

His obsession with Big Blue Nation began in sixth grade. Croom, who was born in Italy and raised in Nashville, became a fan like many others do — through Kentucky men’s basketball.

“It's just basketball. I mean, that's what everybody says. It's cliché, but it's true,” Croom said. “I was just watching and I was like, man, this is really cool.”

Croom played basket-

MARIA RAUH | STAFF James Croom poses for a portrait on Monday Jan. 17, 2022, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

ball himself in high school, but he didn’t take it seriously until junior year, he said. However, once he arrived on campus, he became part of the women’s basketball practice squad, where he spent much of his time his freshman and sophomore years helping out the team and perfecting his jump shot.

COVID ended Croom’s stint on the practice squad, but it’s still his favorite sport to watch. He said he likes analyzing basketball and the strategy behind plays. He also still spends a great deal of time working on his craft.

“I go to the [Johnson Center gym] for countless hours, just shooting from half court and the red

line,” Croom said. “I just chuck up shots. Whenever I make them, everybody's like, ‘What the crap is he doing?’ I mean, I'll pull these without hesitation and I'll make them most of the time, and people are just like, ‘What the crap?’”

After COVID sent everyone home in March 2020, Croom started a TikTok account out of boredom. He began posting about UK, reviewing food and doing a fair bit of trash talking. In addition to his kinesiology classes, his TikTok helped him stick it out at UK despite the monotony and loneliness of virtual learning.

Croom gained followers quickly with his humor — 74,000 followers

as of January 2022, to be exact. Upon the return to in-person learning, Croom joined the UK Athletics department as a marketing intern, where he now uses his knack for social media to propose ideas, post videos and work closely with teams to increase fan engagement. For example, during the Cat Walk at football games, Croom would be in the thick of the crowd getting footage to capture the energy.

“The picture I want to put out is, ‘What is the student section like from my perspective, from the students’ perspective?’ And show people that want to come to UK, or people that just like the vibe of just getting hype and college football games and stuff like that,” Croom said.

“We’re here for the fans.”

After he graduates, Croom thinks he’ll continue along the social media and sports marketing route. He’ll leave with fond memories, including the time he rushed the field against a ranked Florida team, his first game back in-person with a sold-out crowd and the dozens of other times he helped fuel the student section hype.

“It’s all in the heart,” Croom said. “Being here at UK is one thing, but you go into Kroger Field, you go into Rupp Arena, Memorial Coliseum, the Field House, you’re just like man, I love being here. That's just heart.”

CONTACT

Editor-in-chief:

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editor@kykernel.com Managing editor:

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editor@kykernel.com

News editor:

Hannah Stanley news@kykernel.com

Asst. news editors:

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Features editor:

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features@kykernel.com Sports editor:

Hunter Shelton

sports@kykernel.com

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Cole Parke

Opinions editor:

Brooklyn Kelley opinions@kykernel.com

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KENTUCKY KERNEL OFFICES 340 McVey Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506

On the front cover:

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Joe B. Hall looks up at his mural located in downtown Cynthiana, Kentucky, on Monday, March 11, 2019. Hall said he “couldn’t have asked for a better childhood” in Cynthiana. “The people are Cynthiana are extremely proud of him,” said Hall’s lifelong friend Mary Lu.

On the back cover:

Joe B. Hall greets his golden doodle, Penny, at the window of his home after attending UK's basketball game against Auburn on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky.

spring 2022 | 3

Thursday, January 20, 2022

news

First lady Jill Biden visits tornado victims

On Jan. 14, first lady Jill Biden visited Bowling Green, Kentucky. Joined by Gov. Andy Beshear, Biden surveyed recovery efforts following the tornadoes that left a trail of destruction in the area.

Additionally, Biden volunteered at the local FEMA State Disaster Recovery Center and highlighted the federal and local partnership to provide aid and relief to those needed. Photos by AP Photo/Michael Clubb.

First lady Jill Biden listens to a resident of the Creekwood neighborhood that was hit by a tornado.

On the top left: First lady Jill Biden delivers remarks at the FEMA State Disaster Recovery Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Friday, Jan. 14, 2022.

To the left: First lady Jill Biden listens to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, right, while surveying the damage of a tornado that hit the Creekwood neighborhood.

4 | kentucky kernel

First Lady Jill Biden (right) and Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie (left) sort children’s clothes at the FEMA State Disaster Recovery Center after a tornado.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Unvaccinated at UK

features

By Abbey Cutrer features@kykernel.com

COVID-19 on a college campus is a challenge, and students are reacting in different ways when it comes to vaccines and testing at UK. As of Jan. 17, 88.7% of the student population is vaccinated, leaving just over 11% unvaccinated.

According to university policy, unvaccinated UK students are required to get tested once a week. As a result, a queue of students waiting to be tested is a common sight at the COVID-19 clinic in the Gatton Student Center.

As students make the choice to get vaccinated, boosted and tested, there are many factors that go into the decision-making process. Some individuals, for varying reasons, have decided to not receive a vaccine; they must make the weekly pilgrimage to a testing site or face repercussions from not complying with UK policies.

After the first instance of non-compliance, the student receives a hold on their account, which prevents them from registering for classes.

The second time, the student will be prevented from entering athletic events in the future.

The third and fourth levels of noncompliance include a conduct meeting with additional disciplinary holds and can result in suspension. More information is found on the UK noncompliance page.

Freshman Addie Tennill is part of the unvaccinated student body, but she said that might change soon.

“I hate COVID. I’m not vaccinated, but I’m probably going to

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Holly Fessel, a UK nursing student, administers a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at UK’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

get vaccinated soon. My mom is literally nuts, and she would get mad at me if I did,” she said.

Tennill said she recently recovered from the virus, but some symptoms have stuck around.

“I literally just had COVID; I’m fine now, but it was pretty bad,” she said. “I don’t have my taste or smell right now.”

Freshman Elizabeth Bruggensmith, aware of the contagiousness and severity of COVID, is also unvaccinated but for different reasons.

“I’m not vaccinated, but I plan

on it once the science gets to a point where it’s not constantly changing,” Bruggensmith said.

Shee also shared her feelings on the university’s communication about COVID. “They make us get tested every week, so we get a lot of emails and text message spams as reminders,” she said. “We get fined if we don’t get tested weekly since we aren’t vaccinated.”

UK administrators send an email to every student on campus at the end of every week to give updates on the pandemic and

how it is affecting UK’s campus.

Sophomore Jennifer Bryant expanded on the communication from the university.

“They’re communicating very well; even my family is like, ‘Other schools aren’t doing as much as they’re doing. They give out masks and take a lot of precautions,’” Bryant said.

UK has also implemented an incentive program for students who have been vaccinated. The incentives include thousands of dollars in scholarships, gift cards, tickets and experiences.

These incentives encourage vaccines, and the weekly email updates provide information about vaccine appointments as well as testing details.

The university has five different vaccine clinics on campus, and the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are all offered at the Gatton Student Center. Despite UK’s efforts, the booster percentages on campus are still uncertain, and although the majority of the campus community is vaccinated, there are still students who are not.

spring 2022 | 5

Thursday, January 20, 2022

features

UK Eventing team looks forward to new season

By Lindsey Davis features@kykernel.com

After a successful 2021 season, the University of Kentucky Club Eventing team is now focusing on training, its accomplishments and what’s to come in 2022.

Eventing is an equestrian sport in which a horse and a rider team up to compete in the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country and show jumping. The team does not have any requirements to join. Students can join as a social member if they do not have their own horse, but they must have one to join as a competitor.

“Jump right in,” UK graduate and former team president Jackie LeMastus said. “There are no tryouts or cuts, and the different membership types that the team has really means that there is a place for everyone on the UK eventing team.”

Team faculty advisor Dr. Jill Stowe agreed, saying that the team’s accessibility has led to diversity in its membership.

“One of the many things I love about this team is how many outof-state students are involved,” Stowe said. “When we last looked at the membership, if I recall correctly, I think 50% of the members were from states other than Kentucky.”

Despite the accessibility of the team, members still encounter difficulties, such as managing the stress of both competing and being full-time students. Team president Hannah Warner, a junior business major, said the two obligations can be hard to bal-

6 | kentucky kernel

ance, but her team members are supportive.

“We all make study groups and stuff and make time for each other,” Warner said. “We’re all so close and everyone is so willing to lend a hand.”

The university allows members excused absences to compete, which helps them balance school and eventing.

The 2022 eventing season has already begun in Florida, but it will not start in Kentucky until April. However, Stowe said that students can travel to Florida for the winter season if they want to get a head start on their training and competition.

“This team is different from most – it is very decentralized,” Stowe said. “There is no team coach or team facility. Members ride and train with whomever they want and wherever they want.”

All of the event riders at UK train at different barns, but they come together to compete as a team.

“That’s the coolest thing for me, when we all come together,” Warner said. “Everyone is so dedicated to the team, even when nobody's watching.”

On average, the competitive riders train four to six days a week, but there are some who ride every single day because they have multiple horses. They also engage in strength training while the horses receive treatment such as massages and acupuncture therapy.

“The horses work just as hard as the riders,” Warner said.

UK’s eventing team won the

2021 United States Equine Association Intercollegiate Championship. Warner described the championship team as “the perfect combination of riders.”

“We planned the team so strategically, and we kind of set ourselves up for success,” she said.

“All of the people who weren’t competing went out to watch them ride and be supportive. It was so fun to watch everyone come together. It was definitely a whole team effort.”

LeMastus said the victory was “incredible.”

“We had been so close to winning before, placing second and third in 2019, that it was so special to finally have a championship win for UK,” she said. “I was so thankful that we were able to take home the championship during my senior year and my last semester as president of the team, it really made the win that much more special.”

In 2020, the team was the highest-ranking USEA intercollegiate team, despite its season being cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think not having a team for those semesters has helped people enjoy it and appreciate it more and want to be more involved,” Warner said. “I always tell people that you’re going to get out of it what you put into it. If you make the effort to meet people, you’re going to make friends. It’s been so fun to watch people come back to it.”

The team doesn’t receive any funding from the university, so the best way to support them is by going to and donating to their

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GRACE VALVANO Hannah Warner, president of the UK Eventing team, rides a horse on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021.

fundraisers.

“In the past, the team has done many different fundraisers, including jumper shows for local riders to come compete in and practice before major events in the area,” LeMastus said.

The team has also put on a 5K race, bake sales and restaurant nights.

“While it can be difficult having to fundraise all the money that the team makes, the fundraisers the team puts on act as such great team building events for the members, that I think it’s a great experience for the team,” LeMastus said.

The team also produces merchandise. Warner explained that she wanted people to wear team

merchandise, but in a way that represents them well and in a respectful manner.

“The more people we have wearing the merch, the better,” Warner said.

When it comes to the team’s general success, Warner credits the team's officers for brightening up the team and helping people to enjoy eventing more.

“They’ve been a God-send,” she said.

Stowe agreed, citing the club’s strong leadership as a contributor to its success.

“Having officers with vision and willingness to put boots on the ground has made the team what it is today,” Stowe said.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

features

Students celebrate first snow of the semester

PHOTOS BY JACK WEAVER | STAFF UK students sled down “The Bowl” at William T. Young Library during the first snowfall of the semester on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

spring 2022 | 7

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Former Kentucky basketball coach dies at 93 Colleagues and players alike express kind sentiments in honor of Joe B. Hall

Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com Joe B. Hall, former Kentucky mens basketball head coach who led the Wildcats to one NCAA national championship, died at the age of 93, the school announced on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Hall was the successor to legendary head coach Adolph Rupp, taking over in 1972 after being an assistant on Rupp’s staff for six seasons.

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of the great Joe B. Hall,” the Kentucky mens basketball team tweeted.“Our hearts are with the Hall family. We love you, Joe B.” A native of Cynthiana, Kentucky, Hall is one of only three men to both play on and coach an NCAA championship team (1949, ‘78) and is the only one to do so for the same school.

“Coach Joe B. Hall, my friend, my mentor, and an icon in our state and in our profession – passed away this morning,” UK head coach John Calipari tweeted.

“Joe B. Hall took over a program and carried on the winning tradition and legacy of excellence of Kentucky basketball.”

In 13 years under the helm at Kentucky,

8 | kentucky kernel

Hall led the Wildcats to 297 victories. Under Hall, Kentucky made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances including a national championship in 1978.

Hall resigned as head coach of the Wildcats in 1985 but continued to surround the program with his presence following his departure.

“Coach Hall is beloved by everyone.

What makes me happy on this extremely somber day is that before he left this earth, he knew how much all of us appreciated and loved him,” Calipari said. “I would ask that everyone keep him and his family in your prayers. I love you, coach.”

Calipari would honor Hall during Kentucky’s game against Tennessee, just hours after the announcement of Hall’s passing.

One of the many things that Hall was known for during his coaching tenure was his 1-3-1 defense. Calipari would honor Hall by having UK play the 1-3-1 on the first possession of the game against Tennessee.

Even though he was not able to prepare his team for it, Calipari felt it was necessary.

“I was like, ‘Geez, I should have prepared.’ But do you prepare the 1-3-1 before something happens? I don't like that karma,” Calipari said. “So, I waited. It

Coach Hall is beloved by everyone.

What makes me happy on this extremely somber day is that before he left this earth, he knew how much all of us appreciated and loved him. I would ask that everyone keep him and his family in your prayers. I love you, coach.

- John Calipari

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Joe B. Hall cracks a smile after hearing a joke during his weekly gathering with the "Lunch Bunch" at Immanuel Baptist Church's ROC Cafe on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky.

was after the shootaround that we had this morning, but I was going to do it, knowing [Tennessee] would probably score a basket, but so what.”

Another way that Calipari would hon-

or Hall on Saturday was opening the game with a rolled-up program scrunched in his hand, mimicking the coaching stance that Hall was often seen in. That same stance is immortalized in a bronze statue outside

Thursday, January 20, 2022

To the right: MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Joe B. Hall looks at his dog Penny, a golden doodle, in the living room of his home in Lexington, Kentucky on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. Penny likes to watch National Geographic and jump at the television screen when something excites her.

of the Wildcat Coal Lodge, where the Kentucky mens basketball players live.

“This was a celebration for coach Hall, as was the rolled-up program which I will bring out to every game this year to finish it out,” Calipari said.

Before tip-off against Tennessee inside Rupp Arena, a video package documenting Hall’s time as Kentucky head coach played before a packed crowd, which was followed by a moment of silence.

“I loved the video,” Calipari said. “The greatest thing in all this was he knew what people thought and how much he was appreciated and beloved before he passed.

He knew. Our fans have been so great to him.”

Calipari was just one of a flurry of former colleagues and players that shared their love for the late, great coach Hall.

“BBN, nobody gave their heart and soul to [Kentucky basketball] like coach Hall,” Roger Harden, former Kentucky point guard who played under Hall from 198285, tweeted. “He loved the BBN and was a proud Kentuckian. An honor to play for him and will miss my life long friend. He was the only friend I ever needed.”

Joe Hall, in my opinion, was one of the strongest guardians of Kentucky basketball.

He will forever be in all of our hearts; he loved Kentucky with a passion like no other.

- Leonard Hamilton

Former Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith released a statement on Jan. 17. “[Hall] was a special guy, he was always supportive and always encouraging me and every coach that came after him,” Smith said. “He won a National Championship, he coached some of the greatest players to ever wear a Wildcat uniform. He will be missed by many but he left a true legacy. Coach Hall always had my back and I could always count on him.”

Leonard Hamilton is the head coach of Florida State and was former assistant at Kentucky under Hall. Hall’s hiring of Hamilton marked one of the first instances of a Division I head coach bringing a black assistant coach on staff. Hamilton was previously denied a head coaching position at Austin Peay, as the school’s president did not want to hire a black man to run the school’s basketball program.

Hamilton spoke to Hall’s legacy at UK and the world of Kentucky basketball.

“Joe Hall, in my opinion, was one of the strongest guardians of Kentucky basketball,” Hamilton said. “He will forever be in all of our hearts; he loved Kentucky with a passion like no other.”

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Joe B. Hall shakes hands with UK's mascot, Scratch, during UK's basketball game against Auburn in Rupp Arena on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky.

spring 2022 | 9

Thursday, January 20, 2022

opinions

A major identity crisis

By Morgan Luster news@kykernel.com

As college students, picking a major may seem like selecting a destiny; however, one’s major is only a part of their identity.

The college experience is a time in which passions are discovered and paths are laid out. Nevertheless, an individual’s major and identity are not synonymous; passions, abilities and opportunities change throughout time.

Oftentimes, a student’s major and identity are intertwined, creating the illusion that they are equivalent. However, a major can also be used as a guiding tool in exploring one’s interests.

An identity is the sum of someone’s parts, including their race, belief systems, political views, experiences and much more.

Meanwhile, a major is a career path that shifts according to the variables of one’s identity.

According to ABC News, a National Center for Education Statistics report found that “at least 80% of college students change their majors at least once.”

Going into my freshman year, I had already declared as a journalism major due to a distorted perception that it was imperative to have already chosen a career path.

After only a month in a journalism class, I switched my major to public relations.

Before, I had placed my whole identity in my major and what I thought my career would be. However, with three semesters of college under my belt, I have realized that my major is not all-consuming.

As I continue my journey throughout college, I realize the importance of finding myself outside of my career.

As someone who is developing their identity, I understand that it cannot be formed through my talents because a ca-

10 | kentucky kernel

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF A student studies in the William T. Young Library during the first day of classes for the fall 2020 semester on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

reer is not everlasting. I am a writer, but is that all I am? How else would people identify me? If I weren’t a writer, would I still have an identity?

All my life, my identity was established in what I could do for others instead of what I do for myself.

For instance, I have loved baking since I was a child, as it has always been a source of relaxation for me. Although I do not re-

ceive any financial gain from baking, this basic hobby is something that I do for myself because I use it as a mechanism to detach from the world.

In a capitalist society, we are programmed to tie an identity to what makes the most profit. However, paths change with opportunities and passions. This is why it is imperative to discover oneself outside of their job.

An identity is not to be placed in only a position or a platform, but in what makes a person whole. In college, it is easy to be consumed in a major and claim it as an identity as students are finding who they are.

Nonetheless, college is merely a step, rather than a final destination, in self-searching and uncovering one’s destiny.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

sports

Kentucky mens and womens tennis swing into action

By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com

The spring season is underway for both the Kentucky mens and womens tennis teams in Lexington.

Through five matches combined, the two teams are a perfect 5-0, with the womens team earning three victories via a doubleheader sweep of East Tennessee State and a win over Miami Ohio, while the men’s team powered past Dayton in a doubleheader.

The womens team kicked off the action on Friday, sweeping ETSU in a doubleheader at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. Kentucky would win both matches by a score of 4-3.

Behind doubles wins by the teams of Ellie Eades and Carla Girbau, as well as Florenica Urrutia and Fiona Arrese, Kentucky led early in round one against the Buccaneers.

Singles wins by Girbau, Urrutia and Arrese would pace Kentucky towards its first victory of the day. All three points needed just two sets each to get the job done. The two teams would finish the final two singles matches, which saw ETSU turn the final score from 4-1 to 4-3.

Match two against the Buccaneers would come down the wire. After winning the doubles point, ETSU’s Kaylo Bakhodirova would defeat No. 100 Carlota Molina for the second time, putting UK at an early 2-0 deficit.

Urrutia and Arrese would both win their second singles matches of the day, pulling the Cats back all square.

The two teams would trade points, leaving the fate of the second match down to court five, which pitted Eades against Mayya Gorbunova.

After a lengthy third set tiebreaker, Eades outlasted Gorbunova, winning the point 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(9) and completing the sweep for Kentucky.

The womens team would return to the

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky senior Liam Draxl hits the ball during the UK vs. Dayton mens tennis match on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

Boone on Sunday to host the Miami Ohio Redhawks.

After winning the doubles point, the Cats quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to the top tandem of Urrutia and Arrese, who both won their third singles matches of the weekend in quick succession.

Eades and Lidia Gonzales would both claim wins on court five and six, pushing UK past the Redhawks 5-2, improving the Wildcats’ record to 3-0 on the young regular season.

The No. 12 mens team would open their

2022 campaign on Saturday, welcoming Dayton to the Boone for a doubleheader.

Kentucky did not drop a point in either match against the Flyers, cruising to a 5-0 and 4-0 victory.

Match one saw the return of Liam Draxl, the reigning Intercollegiate Tennis Association Player of the Year. In doubles, Draxl and Millen Hurrion dropped just a single set in a 6-1 win, while Draxl defeated Dayton’s Connor Bruce 6-1, 6-3 on court one.

No. 122 Yasha Zemel would claim vic-

tory first in both matches, needing just two sets in each match. No Flyer would win more than four games in a set all day on Saturday, with five different Wildcats winning a singles match as Kentucky began its season at 2-0.

The womens team will hit the road for its next match, traveling to South Bend, Indiana, for a match against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. For the men, they will stay home to welcome rival Louisville to the Boone. Both matches will take place on Friday, Jan. 21.

spring 2022 |11

Thursday, January 20, 2022

sports

Kentucky heads down to the Plains for date with No. 2 Auburn

By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com

On Saturday, Jan. 22, the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats will look to re-insert their name at the top of the conference they once ruled.

Awaiting the Cats will be the No. 2 Auburn Tigers. Led by head coach Bruce Pearl, the Tigers boast an impressive 17-1 record and stand undefeated in SEC play at 6-0.

Pearl, who is in his eighth season under the helm at Auburn, has crafted a powerhouse down south that has the possibility to rival the 2018-19 Tigers team that reached the NCAA Final Four.

Led by future NBA Draft lottery pick Jabari Smith and a mix of transfers and returnees, Auburn has outshot, outrebounded and outhustled its opponents en route to its stellar record.

Part of Auburn’s success comes from the Tigers’ depth.

Pearl’s bench runs deep, as 11 different players average at least 10 minutes played a game, while no one averages more than 28 minutes on the court per night.

In comparison, Kentucky has just eight players who average double-digit minutes per game, while four of UK’s five starters average over 29 minutes a contest.

Smith leads the way for the Tigers, averaging 16.1 points a night to go along with 6.2 rebounds, a pair of assists, a steal and a block a game. The 6-foot-10 freshman out of Fayetteville, Georgia, is the highest-ranked recruit in school history.

While the five-star forward has

12 | kentucky kernel

stolen the show in the Heart of Dixie, a trio of transfers provide quite the supporting cast.

The starting backcourt for the Tigers consists of a pair of transfers in Wendell Green Jr and KD Johnson.

Green, a sophomore, made the jump from Eastern Kentucky after earning First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a freshman. Since joining Auburn, Green hasn’t skipped a beat, averaging 13.2 points per game and a team-best 4.7 assists.

Johnson, like Kentucky point guard Sahvir Wheeler, jumped ship from Georgia following his freshman season in Athens. Averaging 12.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and a team-best 2.3 steals, Johnson plays the role of sparkplug and Swiss Army knife for the Tigers.

In the frontcourt, North Carolina transfer Walker Kessler has been a force down low. 10 points and 7.5 rebounds a night doesn’t hold a candle to Kessler’s 4.1 blocks per game, good enough for second-best in the nation.

The talent doesn’t stop there for the Tigers, as fellow projected first-round pick Allen Flanigan headlines the returnees from last season. After returning from injury in late December, Flanigan has brought over seven points and three rebounds a game to the table in his limited availability.

While Auburn presents size, efficiency and depth, the Wildcats will have the tools to match on Saturday.

TyTy Washington Jr and Wheeler will cause their fair share of problems in the backcourt on

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Jacob Toppin (0) and guard TyTy Washington Jr. (3) talk to forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

Saturday.

Wheeler’s 7.3 assists per game lands him at third in the nation in dimes, while Washington is top two on the team in every major statistic. Washington has been on a tear as of late, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors four weeks in a row.

The dominance of Oscar Tshiebwe is nearly unrivaled.

The West Virginia transfer leads the nation in rebounds per game, hauling in 14.9 boards per game, while his 16.5 points per game leads all Wildcats.

Alongside Kellan Grady’s top15 3-point shooting percentage, Keion Brooks Jr’s 10.6 points a

night and the increasing bench production from Davion Mintz, Kentucky has whittled its rotation down to produce an efficient group that averages the sixth-most points per game in the nation.

Saturday’s game will host a bulk of intriguing matchups. Can Auburn withstand the firepower of Kentucky’s offense? Will Kentucky be able to contain Jabari Smith? Can Tshiebwe record his usual monster stat line against Kessler? Which backcourt will reign supreme?

The task that awaits the Wildcats is a daunting one, traveling to the home gym of the hottest team in the country.

Dating back to the 2017-18 season, no team in the SEC has won more games than Auburn.

While Kentucky has dominated Auburn in the all-time series, winning 96 out of 118 games, the teams have split the last 10 meetings.

Kentucky’s longtime dominance of the SEC has taken a hit due to the arrival of teams such as Auburn. If the Wildcats wish to wear the SEC crown once again, they will need a statement victory down on the Plains.

The Wildcats and Tigers are set to square off inside Auburn Arena on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 1 p.m. E.S.T.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

sports

Cats or Cards? Kentucky faces Louisville five times in one week

By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com

In the world of college athletics there are few rivalries more passionate than those that occur instate. Of those in-state rivalries, very few are as contentious as Kentucky against Louisville.

The teams are just around an hour-and-a-half apart in the two largest metro areas in the Bluegrass. Over the years, the teams have changed conferences, changed coaches and even added new varsity teams to their athletic departments, but one thing has remained a constant: with few exceptions, the schools always find a way to duke it out against one another.

Both teams concluded their regular 2021 seasons in football aagainst each other, this time in Louisville, with the Wildcats having the upper hand, routing the Cardinals 52-21. The game carried some extra spice after both teams were unable to play in the season prior due to being stuck in conference-only schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first time the teams hadn’t squared off in football in over 25 years.

With the pandemic still in effect, the duo’s mens

basketball matchup was also postponed in December 2021 and appears unlikely to be rescheduled, due to positive COVID cases within the Louisville program. The pair did face off in womens basketball, with the Cardinals coming out on top, beating Kentucky 64-58 in the ESPN Jimmy V Classic.

One thing that makes the UK-UofL rivalry so special for fans is its transcendence across more than just the most popular college sports, and regardless of the competition, fanbases for both teams show out when they play their rival.

By the end of this week, Kentucky and Louisville will have faced off five times across four different sports on three different days.

The action kicked off on Tuesday, Jan. 18, when UK womens golf traveled down to Naples, Florida, for the Battle of the Bluegrass. The contest ended in a 4-4 tie, allowing Louisville to retain the cup. The Cards started out with a lead when Mairead Martin defeated Marissa Wenzler on a 3-and-2. Kentucky would go on to take a 4-2 lead, but the Cardinals fought back winning the last two matchups for the tie.

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis makes the “L’s down” signal after scoring a touchdown during the UK vs. Louisville Governor’s Cup football game on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.

The pair will take a short break ahead of Friday, which features two games. First, at 4 p.m., UK mens tennis hosts Louisville in the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex. The Wildcats have gotten off to a strong 2-0 start, winning their doubleheader against Dayton. Louisville played its first game on Tuesday, also against Dayton, where they won 6-1 to start 1-0.

The rivalry continues

well into the night with Kentucky hockey hosting UofL in the Lexington Ice Center for the first of a two game home-and-home series. Like all UK hockey home games, the puck is scheduled to drop at midnight.

Saturday sees the final two contests of the week, with mens swimming and diving first taking the trip to Louisville. The event is scheduled to begin at

1 p.m. from the Ralph Wright Natatorium. It is one of the last three meets Kentucky will take part in prior to the SEC Championships.

Finally, the hockey team travels to Louisville for the Cardinals’ home game in the series. The puck is set to drop at 6:30 p.m. After what will undoubtedly be a physical and passionate showdown in Lexington the day prior,

traveling Wildcat and Cardinal fans alike will be in for a barn burner.

While some may assume that once basketball enters conference play and the football season ends, the Louisville-Kentucky rivalry goes into hibernation, this is not the case.

The feud is alive and well midway through January, and the schools are set to add five chapters over the coming days.

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

sports

By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com

The “Across the (By)Line” series will give Kentucky basketball fans an in-depth look at their opponent for this week — from the mind of the opposing school’s sports editor.

This week: Henry Zimmer, The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University.

Auburn’s Walker Kessler vs.

UK’s Oscar Tshiebwe is likely the most important matchup in the game on Saturday.

What do you see happening between those two down low?

Zimmer: We’re trying to figure out if Walker Kessler is good at basketball, or if he’s just 7-foot3, which is a big distinction. Kessler is 7-foot-3, but he’s learning to play basketball at a high level.

He’s able to get you a triple-double, but he’s still a sophomore and I think he’s really a freshman mentally. He takes a lot of things with a laugh, whereas a lot of the other guys on the team are very stoic, very serious, I'm not sure that Kessler is there yet. If he gets pushed around, he’s done, you’re owning him. If guards can bully him down low, he’s definitely susceptible to getting bullied by guys like Tshiebwe. If Kentucky employs the strategy to just attack Kessler immediately, then it’s Kentucky’s game to lose.

Auburn basketball has turned a corner. A National Championship seems within reach,

14 | kentucky kernel

Across the (By)Line: Auburn Tigers

do you think that that is the limit for this team? Have the fans bought into this team?

Zimmer: Football is an afterthought in Auburn nowadays.

It is all basketball, it's what has taken over the city and the fan base. When the 2018 team got to the Final Four, that’s the line. You can beat Kansas, you can beat Kentucky, you can beat the blue blood teams you aren’t supposed to beat. Bruce Pearl is building something here. Say what you will about Bruce morally, or if you like him on the sideline, but he is building a program that kids want to play for, for exposure, and he’s putting kids in the NBA year after year. The students gravitate towards that, they want to go to games and see someone like Jabari Smith. I think basketball is a serious, legitimate sport at Auburn.

Is containing Jabari Smith an option for Kentucky on Saturday? Or do the Wildcats need to try and handle the supporting cast surrounding him?

Zimmer: Smith is going to get his buckets. Alabama tried to contain him, and that only makes it worse. When you try and put your best defender on him, it doesn’t matter, he’s bigger than you, he’s got a smoother shot than you.

He’s getting his [points]. Limit Wendell Green Jr, limit Walker Kessler, and then you kind of nullify Smith. It’s more, I think, about limiting other people, than it is about limiting him, because he’s the No. 1 overall pick in our eyes around here.

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) chases after a rebound during the UK vs. Central Michigan men’s basketball game on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

Auburn’s depth chart runs 11 players deep. Outside of Kessler versus Tshiebwe, what do you think is going to be the most important matchup or statistic for Saturday's game?

Zimmer: Pearl has said that he will always play 11 kids. The players he is going to play a majority of the game, Green, Zep Jasper, Smith, those type of guys, can you force them into turnovers that create points for Kentucky?

I think that’s the big thing. They are very sound in keeping the ball with their team and not turning it over. If Kentucky’s guards can force just a couple of turnovers,

because again, Smith is going to get his points, but where else can you steal points? I think that is through steals and turnovers, because Auburn, they’ll throw the ball around, they’re not scared.

Sahvir Wheeler, if he can get four turnovers by himself, he can add that turnover to his assists, and there’s just a ton of points you’ve created right there, that you wouldn’t have normally.

What gameplan do you see Bruce Pearl running on Saturday, and what is your score prediction?

Zimmer: What do I think Bruce Pearl is going to do? I

have no idea, to be quite honest with you, because I'm not sure that Bruce Pearl has any idea. I think you have to limit Tshiebwe in whatever way you can do it.

Whether it’s double teaming him and just living with somebody else scoring, because right now he’s averaging 16.5 and 14.9, that’s nuts. So if you can limit one of those stats, I think you live with that. I think this game is going to be won down low.

What big man can outperform the other big man and generate more points. Both teams score right at 80 [points] so it’s going to be a high-scoring game, maybe into the 90’s. I think this game will be close. 89-84 Auburn.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

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