Kentucky Kernel: Nov. 5, 2019

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Tuesday, November 5, 2019

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Tuesday, November 5, 2019

KERNEL STAFF WINS PACEMAKER, OTHER NATIONAL AWARDS The Kentucky Kernel won a Pacemaker, one of the highest honors a college newspaper can earn, this past weekend in Washington, D.C. The Kernel picked up several other awards at the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association convention this weekend.

ACP announced 46 Pacemaker finalists in September, then announced 19 winners at the Nov. 2 awards ceremony. According to an ACP press release, 160 student newspapers entered the competition.

The award recognizes the work the Kernel did in the 2018-19 school year. The Kernel last won a Pacemaker in 2016.

“Hearing our name called as a Pacemaker winner was so exciting,” said Bailey Vandiver, who served as editor-in-chief for the 2018-19 school year. “While winning awards is not our primary goal as student journalists, it’s always great to get this kind of recognition because it means we’re doing the kind of really good journalism that we aim to do.”

The Pacemaker is awarded based on five print editions from last year. The Kernel’s submission included our 2018 back-toschool paper and our special edition about suicide on campus, among others.

“I think it goes to show what we’ve already known: That we have one of the best collegiate newsrooms in the country, and we continue to try to strive for excellence each and every day,” said Ryan Craig, UK’s student media adviser.

“Winning this Pacemaker further legitimizes the Kernel’s role as our campus watchdog and voice,” said current editor-in-chief Rick Childress. “We’re working hard to bring home another one next year.”

The Kernel won additional group and individual awards from ACP and CMA throughout the weekend. The full list of awards is below.

College Media Association Awards

Pinnacle

Honorable Mention in Best Editorial Illustration: Samuel Meyers Third Place in Best Magazine Entertainment Page/Spread: Jillian Jones, KRNL Spring 2019 Third Place in Best Newspaper Photo Page/Spread: Arden Barnes Second Place in Best Yearbook Division Page/Spread: Autumn Hassell, Year in Photos 2018-19 Honorable Mention in Best Multime-

dia Feature Story: Sarah Ladd and Arden Barnes Honorable Mention in Viral Video: Sarah Ladd Third Place in Best General News Photo: Arden Barnes First Place in Best Photo Package: Arden Barnes Third Place in Best Portrait: Michael Clubb Second Place in Best Sports News Photo: Jordan Prather Third Place in Best Online Sports Section Second Place in Best Arts and Entertainment Story: Bailey Vandiver Honorable Mention in Best Online Ad Second Place for Best Ad Supplement/ Special Supplement: Inside UK Honorable Mention in Four-Year Feature Magazine of the Year: KRNL Spring 2019

CONTACT Editor-in-chief

Rick Childress editor@kykernel.com

Managing editor Jacob Eads editor@kykernel.com News/features editor Sydney Momeyer news@kykernel.com Asst. news editors

Addison Lander Emily Laytham Natalie Parks Hailey Peters

Sports editor Erika Bonner sports@kykernel.com Asst. Sports editor

Mohammad Ahmad

Opinions editor Brianna Stanley opinions@kykernel.com Asst. Opinions editor

Associated Collegiate Press Awards Pacemaker Winner 2019 Third Place in In-Depth News Story: Rick Childress Honorable Mention in Feature Story: Jacob Eads First Place in Photo Slideshow: Michael Clubb Honorable Mention in Interactive Graphic: Arden Barnes Honorable Mention in Yearbook Cover: Autumn Hassell, Year in Photos 2018-19 Honorable Mention in Yearbook Page/ Spread: Autumn Hassell, Year in Photos 2018-19 Fourth Place in Sports Photo: Jordan Prather Fifth Place in Sports Photo: Michael Clubb Honorable Mention in Advertising Campaign: Rob Fischer Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show Awards

Kentucky Kernel staff and alumni hold their Associated Collegiate Press awards on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, at the National College Media Convention in Washington D.C. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ELLA BARTON

kentuckykernel

Eighth Place in Feature Magazine: KRNL Fall 2019 Sixth Place in Yearbook (1-299 Pages): Year in Photos 2018-19 Sixth Place in Newspaper Special Section Advertising: Inside UK Ninth Place in Newspaper (Four-year campus, weekly)

Sarah Michels

Photo editors

Jordan Prather Michael Clubb

Lead designer

Haley Robey

Social media editors

Lauren Campbell Sarah Simon-Patches

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

ON THE COVER

Kentucky freshman forward Keion Brooks Jr. dunks the ball during the exhibition game against Georgetown College on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 80-53.

JORDAN PRATHER | STAFF

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Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Mix of transfers and freshmen the will look to replace last year’s scoring prowess

By Eric Decker sports@kykernel.com

A new season of Kentucky basketball is almost upon us in the Bluegrass. Matthew Mitchell, now entering his 13th season as head coach of Kentucky’s women’s basketball, looks to improve on an impressive season that ultimately netted him SEC coach of the year in 2019. Last season the Wildcats finished the

year with a record of 25-8 and 11-5 within conference play, and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Kentucky’s season ultimately ended in a 72-57 loss to N.C. State in the round of 32 after defeating Princeton in the first round. The Wildcats finished the year ranked No. 21 in the postseason Coaches Poll.

“I think this is a team that has tremendous capability to have a special season,” Mitchell told re-

porters on media day. “We have some versatility, we have some depth, we have some great attitudes working right now. So, the key for us is to really come together as a team and stay focused on that throughout the entirety of the season.”

Mitchell looks to improve a career .692 overall winning percentage and a .632 conference winning percentage at Kentucky behind the play of returning

sophomore Rhyne Howard who earned the honors of espnW, WBCA, and USBWA National Freshman of the year in 2019.

The leading scorer (16.4 ppg) and rebounder (6.6 rpg) from last season, Howard has already earned herself another honor this year by being named to the First Team All-SEC in the media’s preseason poll. Mitchell plans to challenge her to improve on a stellar freshman campaign.

Kentucky redshirt senior guard Sabrina Haines drives to the basket during the exhibition game against Southern Indiana on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 80-44. JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF

4 | kentucky kernel

“So, it’s a mindset first of all that we’re talking to her about, and then really the thing that I wanted to work on in her game was I didn’t think she was able to finish around the basket at a high enough level that can really take her game to another level and she’s really worked on that this summer and she’s looked much better,” Mitchell said.

The Cats are going to have to find a way to replace the offensive production of two of their three double digit scorers from last year after losing Maci Morris (15.1 ppg) and Taylor Murray (12.4 ppg). Mitchell hopes to have this come from some now-eligible transfers and the incoming freshman.

“You add the transfers, Sabrina (Haines), Nae Nae (Cole) and Chasity (Patterson) who were on campus working hard and have a feel for the program,” Mitchell said. “And then a really intelligent, smart freshman in Emma King who is catching on quickly.”

Coach Mitchell expects a successful, however rigorous route through the SEC this year after being predicted to finish fourth in the preseason polls.

“Yeah, I think it’ll be a really tough and competitive league,” Mitchell said. “I stay so focused on our team throughout the summer and during the preseason that I can’t tell you as much as I will be able to tell you once we start looking at the tape and seeing how the teams are developing, but just knowing the coaches in the room and knowing some of the players that are coming back, it’ll be a big and great league.”

Kentucky kicks off its 20192020 campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Memorial Coliseum when they face off against Mount St. Mary’s at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

Last year’s national freshman of the year has bigger aspirations for this year

By Erika Bonner sports@kykernel.com

She was the 2018-2019 National Freshman of the Year, she had one of the best rookie seasons in program history and she was named 2019-2020 preseason All-SEC. She’s Rhyne Howard, a 6-foot-2 sophomore guard who has big goals for the new season. “(I want to be) a contender for player of the year, but even if I don’t, we just want to win an SEC Championship,” Howard told reporters at media day.

Last season, the former Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year totaled a team-best 16.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game and finished second on the team in made three-pointers with 74.

She can do just about everything, which poses a serious threat to opposing teams. Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell expects opponents to have to adjust to Howard’s play-making abilities.

“Great ball handler, big, strong, athletic,” Mitchell said.

“If you try to face guard her she’s athletic enough that we can find a way to get her the ball and then, she is just one of the best passers on the team, one of the best shooters on the team and then can really make an impact on the boards and defensively.”

Mitchell said the Cats will have to be mindful and adjust to how teams are changing their game plans around Howard, and says the challenges will be “substantial.”

“We’ve got a really tough schedule and some really smart coaches,” Mitchell said. “Rhyne just has to show up every day,

what we’ve stressed with her is showing up as the best Rhyne Howard she can be and everything else will take care of itself so she, I think has done a good job with that.”

The list of accolades for Howard’s rookie season goes on and on, and she said she exceeded expectations she had for herself going into her freshman year.

“I think I did better (last year) than I thought I would,” Howard said. “I had Freshman of the Year as a goal, but I didn’t think I would just kill it like that.”

Howard did, in fact, “kill it,” and just like any returning player, she says that having her first season of SEC basketball under her belt should give her an extra edge. The SEC is no easy league, but knowing what to expect is half the battle.

“We know that teams are going to be tough, we know they’re going to be well-prepared for us and we have to be well-prepared for them,” Howard said. “We just have to stay focused on what we’re trying to do and just execute what we want.”

Mitchell pointed out that he’s challenged Howard over the offseason that a player like her isn’t going to just fly under the radar, and she has to learn to handle the responsibility that may lie on her shoulders.

“Now we just talked about her understanding that when you are the kind of player that she is, some people are looking at you and there’s some responsibility there to carry yourself in the right way,” Mitchell said.” And she has no trouble carrying herself with great class and kindness to her teammates.”

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Freshman guard Rhyne Howard dribbles the ball down the court after stealing the ball. No. 11 UK women’s basketball team lost to No. 19 Texas A&M 62-55 at Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky. MICHAEL CLUBB I STAFF

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Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Haines’ two year journey back to the court ‘I know this year is definitely going to be a special one.’

By Mohammad Ahmad sports@kykernel.com

UK women’s basketball guard Sabrina Haines is shooting around and practicing in the Joe Craft Center practice gym.

She’s going through her different workout routines. One minute she’s doing planks, lunges and throwing exercise balls. The next minute she’s transitioning to shooting and passing drills with her coaches.

Haines is calm, collected and focused. She listens earnestly to head coach Matthew Mitchell and his assistants. There’s a noticeable drive on her face. As soon as she goes down, she gets right back up. When the drills stop, though, she dances around and laughs with her fellow teammates. The juxtaposition perfectly describes Haines: Fierce and bustling on the court, yet cheery and lax off the court.

Haines knows what lies ahead.

She’s just days away from something that she’s been wanting for almost two years. It’s so close, yet so far.

She wants to play basketball again.

“Oh man, words cannot explain,” Haines said.

This long, grueling journey to get back on the court began back on Dec. 3, 2017. Haines, then a member of the Arizona State Sun Devils’ women’s team, was playing in a game against the UC Riverside Highlanders. A quick pop in her knee came out of the blue.

After being helped off the court, her official diagnosis was an ACL knee injury. Haines was averaging 10.2 points-per-game before her potential-filled season ended after just nine games.

“It was just so early in the season. I was like, ‘How could this happen?’ Just, the typical kind of questions where everything is running, running, running.

I’m already an overthinker, so I

6 | kentucky kernel

UK redshirt senior Sabrina Haines cheers on her teammate during UK’s Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. MICHAEL CLUBB I STAFF

was overthinking times 1,000,” Haines said.

Things got rougher for Haines.

While recuperating from her injury, she still had to bear the weight that student-athletes deal with on a day-to-day basis. Aside from her regular basketball duties, she had to go to class like everyone else. The clouds of five-page papers, all-nighters, early morning workouts and balancing a social life hung over Haines’ head.

It can be easy to forget that, as glamorous as being a college athlete might be, it can also be more difficult than the average student’s workload. Thus, her stress manifested into something worse.

“It all just kind of hits you like a cannonball, you know, like the Indiana Jones thing where it’s all tumbling down,” Haines said. “I do think I suffered from some type of depression, like, of course

anxiety and everything, but my biggest regret is that I never went to see an actual mental health professional,” Haines said.

Challenge accepted.

Haines said that she shifted her perspective. Rather than seeing her injury as a challenge, she saw it as a growth opportunity. Admitting that she’s “not the most patient person,” she says she practiced patience and perseverance. Whether that came through cheerleading for her teammates or giving them a shoulder to lean on, Haines was right there on the bench.

When the 2017-18 season came to a close though, Haines reflected. She wasn’t sure if she should return to ASU. The combination of wanting to start over and move on from her recent hardships pushed her to make a big decision. Wanting a “fresh

start” and a change of scenery, she decided to transfer.

After Haines entered the transfer portal, a familiar face recognized her: Mitchell’s assistant coach Niya Butts. Butts, who was the head coach of the Arizona Wildcats during Haines’ freshman season, had already coached against Haines. Haines said she believes that Butts’ recognition of her led Mitchell to take a chance.

“Luckily Kentucky saw something and decided to bring me in. I don’t know, I’m just super lucky that they brought me here and took a chance on me,” Haines said.

But the new Wildcat still had to sit out for 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Frustrating? Yes, she said. Completely distraught? Nope.

“It’s weird being in my fourth year at the time and thinking, “Oh

my gosh, I have to relearn this all again.’ And so, it was a challenge.

But it was a fun challenge,” Haines said.

Another challenge accepted.

Aside from cheering on her teammates and letting her knee heal, she still kept her eye on the prize. She worked with Mitchell and others to get back into her prime form. One new teammate she struck a bond with was center Nae Nae Cole. Cole transferred over from North Carolina State University and is also looking for a fresh start. Haines says she started seeing stronger confidence and body language from herself.

“Last year [Haines] practiced with the practice guys. But she was here early. She stays late. I think she’s ready. I’m not worried about her,” UK forward KeKe McKinney said.

She’s not the only one that’s seen that.

“Offensively, she’s a great shooter and has one of the most beautiful shots on our team, it just looks great leaving her hands.

She makes a bunch of shots,” Mitchell said of Haines. “She is very hungry. That hunger and that competitive drive really moves her toward a positive place.”

When the Cats star their season on Tuesday, Nov. 5 against the Mount St. Mary’s (Md.) Mountaineers in Memorial Coliseum, Haines will get to touch foot on the promised land. All of her training, learning and patience will finally come to a head.

Her journey to get back onto the court isn’t one she chose. But she’s grateful for the journey and everything she’s learned along the way.

“I’ve learned a lot about both myself about how I want to treat people and how I want to be in society,” Haines said. “I know this year is definitely going to be a special one.”

Game on.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Meet Emma King and Blair Green: WBB Kentucky natives

By Mohammad Ahmad sports@kykernel.com

Kentucky Women’s basketball guards Blair Green and Emma King were separated by 212 miles before they were teammates, but common ground brought them together.

The two stalwarts each hail from Kentucky yet come from different cities. Entering her first year at UK, King is from Stanford. It’s a small town just onehour south of Lexington down U.S. Highway 27. UK was almost part of her backyard. Then you have the sophomore Green, who hails from Harlan – a town nestled deep in Eastern Kentucky’s mountains.

Green is no stranger to having a fellow Kentucky native by her side though. Last year, she and former Wildcat Maci Morris together represented the 606. Morris, a native of Pineville, which is roughly a half-hour west of Harlan, even knew Green before

with her cousins at her grandparents’ farm in the heart of Stanford.

She added that her favorite thing about being from Kentucky is enjoying the basketball culture.

That love for basketball helped pushed King to lead the Lincoln County Patriots to a 24-7 finish and to the 45th district title during her senior season last year. Her team-high 18.5 points-per-game and 47 three-pointers helped lead

the way.

However, King said she knows she can still get better.

“I’ve always focused on my three-point shot,” King said. “But when I committed to UK, all the coaches told me I need to work on mid-range. That’s something I’ve been trying to implement, and it’s become a lot more natural.”

Meanwhile, Green had a different setup in the mountains.

Harlan has its own restaurant

scene just like Stanford. If you ask Green, her favorite food in Harlan is Mexican food. She said there’s multiple Mexican restaurants that dominate Harlan’s food scene.

Green’s favorite thing about Kentucky, she said, is the scenery it has to offer. From the rolling mountains to the gushing rivers, Green and King both seem to enjoy mother nature.

With a long season on the way, the two now have some sto-

ries they can share on the bench to help kill some time. Maybe one day Green might be tempted to try the “Bluebird Omelet” or check out Stanford’s farmland.

Perhaps King could return the favor by sampling out Harlan’s Mexican food or taking a hike in the mountains. Either way, their worlds collide on and off the court.

“We’re definitely learning a lot from each other. It’s very important,” Green said.

“

ME AND EMMA, WE’RE BESTIES NOW. BLAIR GREEN

”

either of the two started playing for the Cats. But Green now has a new compadre underneath her wing.

“Me and Emma [King], we’re besties now,” Green said.

Both girls bring and share different Kentucky experiences. As homey as Lexington might feel to King, she’s still takes pride in some aspects of Stanford. Her favorite restaurant to eat at is The Bluebird Café back home. She said she also enjoys camping out

Kentucky freshman guard Emma King takes a shot during the exhibition game against Southern Indiana on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 80-44.

JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF

Freshman Blair Green shoots in warm-ups during Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF

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Tuesday, November 5, 2019

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER 2019-20 1 Sabrina Haines Guard 3 Keke Mckinney

Forward 5 Blaire Green

Guard 10 Rhyne Howard Guard 11 Deasia Merrill Forward 12 Amanda Paschal Guard 14 Tatyana Wyatt Forward 15 Chasity Patterson Guard 21 Ogechi Anyagaligbo Forward 23 Kameron Roach Guard 32 Jaida Roper

Guard 34 Emma King

Guard 44 Nae Nae Cole Center 44 Dre’una Edward Forward

5’10” 6’1” 6’0” 6’2” 6’1” 5’7” 6’2” 5’5” 6’1” 5’6” 5’6” 5’10” 6’3” 6’2”

“I think this is has tremendo to have a spe

-Matthew

Tale Relo

“One of the goa in was to win a pionship and th goals this

-Nick R 8 | kentucky kernel

s a team that ous capability ecial season.”

w Mitchell

ent oad

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER 2019-20 0 Ashton Hagans Guard 1 Nate Sestina

Forward 2 Kahlil Whitney Forward 3 Tyrese Maxey Guard 4 Nick Richards Forward 5 Immanuel Quickley Guard 10 Johnny Juzang Guard 11 Dontaie Allen Guard 12 Keion Brooks Jr. Forward 13 Riley Welch Guard 14 Brennan Canada Forward 21 Zan Payne

Guard/Forward 23 EJ Montgomery Forward 33 Ben Jordan Forward

6’3” 6’9” 6’6” 6’3” 6’11” 6’3” 6’6” 6’6” 6’7” 6’0” 6’6” 6’4” 6’10” 6’9”

als when I came national chamhat’s one of my s season.”

Richards fall 2019 | 9

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

After another offseason talent reload, Calipari’s Cats will once again look to be championship contenders

By Braden Ramsey sports@kykernel.com

As the Kentucky Wildcats exited the Sprint Center floor following the overtime loss to Auburn in the Elite Eight in Kansas City, the feeling fans had was one of deja-vu.

Two years straight, Kentucky has squandered a golden opportunity to raise championship banner number nine, allowing less-talented teams to advance in their stead. Alongside a number of other returnees, junior Nick Richards has his eyes on that prize, which most Big Blue Nation members value more than any other.

“One of the goals when I came in was to win a national championship,” Richards said at media day. “And that’s one of my goals this season.”

Getting his band of top talents to mesh on the court has always been the biggest challenge for coach John Calipari, who enters his 11th season manning the bench for UK. That is no different this year, with Tyrese Maxey and Kahlil Whitney at the forefront of the nation’s second-best recruiting class. Paired with Bucknell transfer Nate Sestina, the reloading effort, on paper, was a successful one.

Will it be so on the court?

History says yes, in time. Coach Cal’s technique is arduous, but he knows that through the growing pains, fruit will bear.

“It’s a process, and you got to stay in the moment and got to continue,” Calipari told reporters at media day. “We’re trying to help them develop individual habits, yet put a team together. That’s why this team doesn’t become what they become until January, February.”

Every team has its warts, and Calipari pointed out some he senses the talented cast could struggle with early on.

10 | kentucky kernel

“Are we going to be physical enough?... if you get roughed up, can you still play, can you still perform?” Calipari said. “Do we have the physical, mental toughness?... how do we rebound and how tough are we physically?”

That question is already being put to the test after the Georgetown exhibition, where Kentucky was outrebounded by the NAIA National Champions and Rich-

ards suffered an ankle injury. It is not expected to be a long-term issue, but it did have his status for the season opener in doubt.

Already facing a lack of depth with just nine healthy scholarship players heading into game one – Dontaie Allen is still recovering from ACL and shoulder injuries – the pressure is on the other veterans to get the freshmen up to speed.

That is something Ashton Hagans and others are trying their best to lead, through both actions and words.

“Being vocal, showing guys the right way,” Hagans said at media day. “You have to show [Calipari] that you’re out here fighting.”

“Talking through everything you do, even if you’re on the sidelines,” Nate Sestina added

at media day. “Help the other guys… showing the difference between communicating and not communicating.”

The Cats were close the past two seasons in their pursuit of a national championship, but could not get over the hump. If they are able to put it together this time, fans can believe the third time is indeed a charm while a title banner is raised to cloud nine.

Kentucky freshman guard Tyrese Maxey puts up a shot during the exhibition game against Georgetown College on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 80-53. JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

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fall 2019 | 11

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Another year, another stabilizing grad transfer.

‘It’s nice having a veteran that talks. I mean he overtalks, he tries to get the guys to talk.’

the 2015-2016 season. Whether or not the Kentucky basketball program will continue to consistently recruit grad transfers is up in the air, says assistant coach Joel Justus, but they’ll take as a year-by-year basis and see what the needs of each team will be. W

By Erika Bonner sports@kykernel.com

For the second year in a row, the Kentucky men’s basketball team has added a player to its roster that we aren’t used to seeing in the blue and white. Last year, that player came in the form of Stanford graduate transfer Reid Travis, but this year, it’s Bucknell transfer Nate Sestina.

Every year the UK basketball program has to get used to playing with essentially a brand-new roster, which is why we’re used to hearing head coach John Calipari talk about his teams not fully coming together until the end of the season. However, older, experienced guys like Sestina and Travis bring an edge that a consistently young Kentucky team needs.

Sestina, a 6-foot-9 forward from Emporium, Pa., brings communication to the floor, which is important for a young team.

“He can help us. But there are times that I’ll say, Nate, don’t say one word. And then it’s crickets,” Calipari said. “Because he is so dominating with his voice, sometimes they get to where, we’ll all play off of him.

You can’t do that. Not in these loud arenas. Everybody. But it’s one of the things young kids have to learn. But it’s nice to have him starting us.”

Sestina averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game his senior season at Bucknell and was named to the Second Team All-Patriot League. Calipari told reporters that good communication on the

“

HE CAN HELP US. BUT THERE ARE TIMES THAT I’LL SAY, NATE, DON’T SAY ONE WORD. AND THEN IT’S CRICKETS JOHN CALIPARI

”

Kentucky graduate student forward Nate Sestina returns to the bench during the exhibition game against Georgetown College on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 80-53. JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF

floor stems from maturity and experience, and his vocal skills are infectious.

“To be honest he’s like a stretch 4, he shoots it, good with the ball. It’s nice having a veteran that talks. I mean he overtalks, he tries to get the guys to talk,” Calipari said. “He can play some 5, but if you play him at 5 you’re going to stretch the

court with him as a 5 and probably post somebody else. But he’s good in the post.

Reid was just a physical -- Nate lost 25 pounds. So he’s at 235 right now and physically in great shape and running and he’s really been a great addition to this group.”

Travis was the first incoming transfer UK had added since Mychal Mulder in

“I think it goes back to finding the right guys. I think whether they’re in high school, whether they’re five-star, four-star, whatever it is, you’ve got to have the right people,” Justus said. “You can’t really tell what that group (graduate transfers) is going to look like until a later date. Whereas if you’re looking at high school players, you’re kind of seeing who they’re going to be…. I think it’s worked out really well with Reid, we’re really happy with where Nate is right now. I think it all goes back to, ‘do they want this?’”

Former Kentucky Mr. Basketball overcomes adversity, nears childhood dream

By Mohammad Ahmad sports@kykernel.com

In the small town of Falmouth, Kentucky, just 40 miles south of Cincinnati, a shy, quiet kid has dreamed of playing basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats since he was 8 years old. That young man’s wish is now coming true.

His name is Dontaie Allen.

A 6-foot-6, 185-pound guard out of Pendelton County High

12 | kentucky kernel

School, Allen is the Cats’ first instate signee since Mount Washington, Kentucky, native Derek Willis in 2013. He joins the likes of Willis, Dominique Hawkins, Jack “Goose” Givens and Dirk Minniefield among many others.

Despite only playing 13 games in his senior season last year, he still averaged a monster 42.9 points-per-game and 14.2 boardsper-game. He finished his high school career with 3,255 points

– the 11th highest total ever by a high school boys basketball player in Kentucky history.

“When you’re born in Kentucky and you grow up around BBN [Big Blue Nation], you just learn to love them [UK fans]. I love them,” Allen said.

While his overall journey to UK began over 10 years ago, his most recent journey began last year on Dec. 22. In a home game against the Cooper High School

Jaguars, Allen injured himself after landing hard on a fall during the play and left the game. Two weeks later, things went from bad to worse when he was officially diagnosed with a torn ACL. Allen’s senior season was over.

But his problems were just getting started.

About three months later, Allen was driving down Russell Cave Road in Harrison County, which sits between Falmouth and

Lexington, early on the morning of April 3rd. According to a Kentucky State Police report, he was heading to Lexington for physical therapy on his ACL when he struck a tree. The only passenger in the vehicle, Allen broke his collarbone in the process. He had surgery thereafter.

Now rehabbing both a broken collarbone and a torn ACL, Allen

See ALLEN on page 14

The Kernel’s sports editor predictions for the men’s season

By Erika Bonner & Mohammad Ahmad sports@kykernel.com

What will UK’s record be at the end of the regular season?

Erika: This is always a hard question for me to predict. While I don’t doubt the Cats will be one of the top four or five best teams in the country the whole season, Kentucky’s schedule this year is really tough--seven of their opponents are ranked in AP Preseason Top 25.

But, with that said, I’m going to say 27-4.

Mohammad: Well, this is tough. Kentucky never gets a break with schedule strength. You saw Erika mention the AP Top 25 opponents. Don’t forget that the Cats face Texas Tech, the defending national runners-up, in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

I’m gonna go with 25-6.

UK and Louisville are both ranked in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll. Who wins that matchup on Dec. 28?

Erika: Kentucky. But with both UK and Louisville ranked in the top-5, it’s bound to be a heck of a rivalry game. Rupp will be rocking.

Mohammad: Gotta go with the Cats. Rupp Arena is a hard place to play in if you’re Louisville.

The Cards have lost their last five games at Rupp.

Go figure.

Who will be season MVP for the Cats?

Erika: I’m going with Ashton Hagans. After the stellar defensive year he put up last year, I expect him to be that and then some this year. I know he wasn’t satisfied with how last year’s season ended and from what little we’ve seen of him so far, he’s bringing back that fire and aggressiveness he had. He can score, he can dish it out, he’s a defensive terror and he’ll be huge for Kentucky this year.

Mohammad: Ashton Hagans. So far he hasn’t given me a reason to doubt him. Not only has he picked up where he left off last season, but he’s shown more potential.

You can tell by his body language that he looks and feels like an unquestioned leader. Aside from Nate Sestina, he’s the most versatile veteran on the team.

If you need a do-it-all guy, call 1-800-AHAGANS.

Which player will lead the team in points/rebounds/assists?

Erika: I expect Tyrese Maxey to lead in scoring.

The five-star point guard averaged 22.2 points per game his senior season and can score from just about anywhere. Nate Sestina averaged 8.5 rebounds per game his senior season at Bucknell (led his team and the Patriot League), so I’ll say he’ll do the same for Kentucky this year. Ashton Hagans will lead in assists.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Mohammad: I might sound crazy, but I have Immanuel Quickley leading in scoring. The kid says he feels more confident and there’s so much truth to that so far. Nate leading in rebounds is a no-brainer, especially if Nick Richards’ body doesn’t hold up. And good ol’ Ashton will dish the ball around more than anyone (and swipe it whenever he feels like it).

What’s your early prediction (emphasis on early) for how far the Cats will get in the NCAA Tournament?

Erika: I’m going to say Final Four. Last year’s team was great, and I think they have even more talent and potential this year. With the handful of returners they have, who have had some time to polish their game, and a veteran leader in forward Nate Sestina, I think they have what it takes to make it to Atlanta.

Mohammad: Elite Eight at best. I think a Final Four is a stretch. Last year’s team had more versatility and talent, in my opinion, and they barely beat Houston in the Sweet 16 before choking against an Auburn team that they had already beaten twice (including a blowout) in the regular season.

There’s veteran depth like Erika added, but I see the young guys letting the big time pressure get to them. That’s been the Cats’ Achilles heel in big NCAA Tournament games.

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Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Junior season presents possible fresh start for Nick Richards

By Mohammad Ahmad sports@kykernel.com

The Nick Richards we see today might not be the Nick Richards we saw last season.

Despite a modest season last year, the Kentucky Men’s Basketball center had his fair share of turbulent moments. While the big man delivered critical plays down low, his shortcomings sometimes got the best of him. He got sent to the bench early in several games, perpetuating a cycle of self-doubt and low confidence.

If you’re Richards though, the past is the past.

“I’m more excited just to start the season. One of goals coming into college was to win a national championship. And that’s one of my goals this season,” Richards said.

Richards played in all 36 of the Cats’ games last year but only started three of them. Two of those three games were November matchups against non-conference opponents. He wouldn’t start again until the Cats faced the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville on Mar. 7. Aside from scoring a season-high 14 points against Vanderbilt between November and March, Richards didn’t fully see the light of day. Some games he didn’t even score and, if he did, it would be as little as two to five points.

All in all, he finished the season averaging 4.0 points-per-game, 3.3 rebounds-per-game and 47 total blocks. Richards spent

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Kentucky junior forward Nick Richards puts up a shot during the exhibition game against Georgetown College on Oct. 27, 2019, at Rupp Arena. JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF

some time this past summer re-watching film from last season. He’s seen the good, the bad and the ugly.

“I see a very big man guarding multiple positions who can score the basketball on the low post and score the basketball every day. I see what I struggle with and try to figure out my mistakes,” Richards said. “I know I can rebound. I know I can block shots and make a turnaround jumper. I guard pick-and-roll pretty good.”

He carried over that sense of confidence and knowl-

edge during his workout and routines over the sum-

“

HE’S ALWAYS IN THE WEIGHT ROOM , TAKING CARE OF HIS BODY, AND I THINK THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO THE WHOLE TEAM.

”

NATE SESTINA mer. Whether it was working with assistant coach

Kenny Payne or his fellow teammates, Richards’ close friend and roommate E.J. Montgomery says he saw that drive. Montgomery said the two never talked about Richards’ struggles from last year but that he could tell what Richards had.

“I see his work. Every time we come into practice, we’re both trying to finish first and sprint and things like that,” Montgomery said.

Another big man who has seen Richards’ grind is graduate transfer Nate Sestina. While Sestina has played the game slightly longer than Richards, he admits he’s still learning from a guy like him. Sestina added that he’s noticed that Richards “always wants to get better” just from seeing the drive in his eyes.

“He’s not working on stuff he’s good at. He’s working on stuff that [Kenny Payne] has told him, ‘Hey, if you wanna take this to the next level, you gotta work on these things.’”

Sestina said. “He’s always in the weight room, taking care of his body, and I think that trickles down to the whole team.”

Richards is questionable to start the season against the Michigan State Spartans in the State Farm Championships Classic on Tuesday night, Nov. 5 after rolling his ankle during an exhibition against Georgetown College. Should Richards spend most of the year healthy though, it might be the start of a new chapter in his young career.

Kentucky freshman guard Dontaie Allen poses for a photo during men’s basketball photo day on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at the Joe Craft Center in Lexington, Kentucky. JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF

ALLEN

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was down but not out. He continued attending physical therapy while healing from the car wreck. Once he got onto campus, he pushed the gas pedal and hasn’t slowed down ever since then.

“Everybody motivated me to keep pushing and to keep going, telling me that this wasn’t my last go and to pretty much just, keep going,” Allen said.

You can ask Ashton Hagans about that too. A veteran guard who is one of the Cats’ unquestioned leaders, he said he’s taken Allen under his wing. Yet the learner has had the master’s head turning.

“If I’m hurt, the only thing I’d be doing is recovery.

Dontaie though, you’ll see him coming in at six o’clock, five o’clock in the morning running up and down the floor, getting up shots with a brace on,” Hagans said.

“Like, dang, he’s already ready to work. He’s a special player.”

As hard as Allen works, he does so in silence. Allen already gave many short answers to reporters during UK media day. He’s no different with strangers. But, according to his teammates, the trick is to get on his good side.

“Once you get close to him, he’ll open up to you.

He’ll start talking more,” UK guard Zan Payne said.

UK head coach John Calipari told reporters on Media Day back on Oct. 1 that he “guesses Allen will be back within a month.” There have been no official reports of his injury status since then. Allen’s outlook seems positive though as he told reporters that “weekly and monthly, I can feel myself getting back to where I was.”

Once Allen gets closer to full recovery though, his childhood dreams will finally come full circle.

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