Kentucky Hosts Kentucky Wesleyan in First Exhibition
The Kentucky men’s basketball team has practiced and played against itself for months now. Finally, on Friday night, the Cats will get to face someone other than themselves.
Kentucky hosts Kentucky Wesleyan at 7 p.m. on Friday at Rupp Arena in the first of two exhibition games this season. After holding Big Blue Madness and the Blue-White game the last two weeks, the Cats are ready to see some new faces.
Freshman Bryce Hopkins is ready to compete against some new faces.
 |
||
| Kentucky vs. Kentucky Wesleyan | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Fri., Oct. 29 – 7 p.m. ET |
||
| Coverage | ||
|
TV: SEC Network |
“It’s going to be a great time,” Hopkins said. “We’ve been battling against each other in practice all year long, all summer, so it’s just going to be great to be out there against someone else and compete. It’s always harder playing against your teammates because they know all of your moves. So, it’s just going to be good to go out there and play against new competition.”
Transfer Kellan Grady agrees with Hopkins.
“We’re excited about it. Being in practice the last two months, playing against each other and the competitive spirit that has gone with that has been awesome for us,” Grady said. “I think we’ve grown a lot from it and it’s been productive for all of us but we’re excited to lace it up against another opponent and bring all of that together in a 40-minute game.”
In last week’s Blue-White Game, Kentucky got big efforts from several players. Oscar Tshiebwe had 25 points and 21 rebounds while TyTy Washington Jr. had 24 points and 10 assists in the game. Junior guard Sahvir Wheeler had a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists, and Lance Ware had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Daimion Collins had 22 points in the game, Keion Brooks Jr. had 20, Hopkins had 18 and Dontaie Allen and Grady each added 16.
On Friday, Kentucky will play its first exhibition game against another opponent in nearly two years. UK’s last exhibition game against someone else came on Nov. 1, 2019 when Immanuel Quickley scored 15 points as the Cats beat Kentucky State 83-51 at Rupp Arena. There were no exhibition games last season due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Kentucky Wesleyan is a program with a rich tradition. Like their counterparts in Lexington, the Panthers have won eight national championships in men’s basketball (at the Division II level). KWC last won a national championship in 2001.
In 2020-21, KWC saw it season cut short due to Covid. The Panthers finished with a 10-6 record last season.
As for the Wildcats, Hopkins likes how well-rounded the team has been in the preseason.
“Our team has a lot of depth,” Hopkins said. “We have a lot of shooting, we have guys who are tough who can get rebounds, we have a lot of good defensive players.”
They’ve tested themselves for months and they are ready to move forward against someone else. That chance finally comes for the Cats on Friday.
Prep now. Shine soon. pic.twitter.com/onxrcHgWWQ
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 28, 2021
