Big Blue Madness Set for November 20th (REMINDER: Big Blue Madness Tonight at 9:00)

[Joneslab]

Kentucky will (tentatively) open its season on November 25th at Rupp against Morehead State.

UK's pro day will be a week from today, November 12th.

[Joneslab]

Interestingly, Big Blue Madness will take place in Memorial Coliseum.

[Matt Dillon]

I believe it said, on Twitter, that it's going to be virtual?

[Joneslab]

I believe it said, on Twitter, that it's going to be virtual?

Virtual = no fans, I'm assuming.

[Joneslab]

Jon Rothstein says Kentucky will play Kansas in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis on December 1st.

[Catatonic]

Virtual = no fans, I'm assuming.

[Joneslab]

Strangely, Michigan St. vs. Duke will also happen in the Champions Classic on December 1st...but it won't be played in Indy. It'll be played in Cameron Indoor Stadium with no fans.

Per Matt Norlander, this is because of differing COVID protocols for different conferences.

[Joneslab]

Reminder: Kentucky basketball pro day will air tonight at 7:00 on the SEC Network.

[Joneslab]

And Pro Day is usually as boring as watching someone stare into the middle distance, but in these trying times I'd watch Keion Brooks shooting crip shots for two hours.

[Joneslab]

Couple thoughts on pro day:

* Kentucky is super, super long. It's crazy. Even guys like Cam'Ron Fletcher, who I took to be compact guards for some reason, had arms for days. This should be a team that becomes solid defensively as the year goes on.

* B.J. Boston is the stud. Unquestionably.

* Really impressed with Sarr. Great shooter. Looks poised and polished. Doesn't seem to play that back-to-basket style Cal wants a lot, but he can roam. They had him on the baseline, at the foul line, at the foul line extended several times. In the shooting drills he looked great.

* Dontaie Allen looks like he can compete for minutes on this team.

* Point guard battle looks to me like it's probably Mintz's to lose. Askew doesn't look like he can shoot, but he is definitely physical enough to play. I think he'll get time. Mintz looks like a better all-around player right now...but of course it's very early. Nobody should take any hard-and-fast lessons from something like Pro Day.

[Joneslab]

Also, the Isaiah Jackson hype seemed to be legit. He probably jumps out to you more than anyone on this team with how explosive he is. Crazy fast for a big guy. Not sure he's ready to play the bruising style you see at this level, particularly in the SEC, but he looked ready.

I was pretty impressed with Ware as well. Ware is physically more imposing than Jackson, but doesn't have that twitchy freakazoid athleticism Jackson has.

Think they could potentially both get minutes but Jackson looks like he has star potential.

[Lighthouse]

I missed it last night so I'm glad to hear about our players and I can sense Will's excitement about this team. Now we have to hope we have a season and be able to enjoy this team. GO CATS!!!

[Pobilly]

Toppin looks like he could spell a guy as well. Maybe get 5 to 7 minutes a game. I think we have serviceable guys in case of foul trouble. Fletcher hit a bunch of outside shots (surprised me) and Fletcher is not afraid to go in the lane and mix it up a bit. Not sure Fletcher will even sniff the floor but was good to see that. Many options.

[Joneslab]

There's some minutes for Fletcher behind Boston. One thing that jumps out with this team is that they're very forward-heavy. If Fletcher can shoot the basketball he'll play a little, I would imagine.

Just on the quick eye-test last night this looks like one of those prototypical Calipari teams that's super athletic, fast, long...but doesn't have many (or maybe any) great outside shooters. Mintz, Boston, and Sarr were the guys I saw who seemed to be shooting it consistently. Allen looked good shooting it during the scrimmage.

[Catsrock]

Couple thoughts no pro day:

* Kentucky is super, super long. It's crazy. Even guys like Cam'Ron Fletcher, who I took to be compact guards for some reason, had arms for days. This should be a team that becomes solid defensively as the year goes on.

* B.J. Boston is the stud. Unquestionably.

* Really impressed with Sarr. Great shooter. Looks poised and polished. Doesn't seem to play that back-to-basket style Cal wants a lot, but he can roam. They had him on the baseline, at the foul line, at the foul line extended several times. In the shooting drills he looked great.

* Dontaie Allen looks like he can compete for minutes on this team.

* Point guard battle looks to me like it's probably Mintz's to lose. Askew doesn't look like he can shoot, but he is definitely physical enough to play. I think he'll get time. Mintz looks like a better all-around player right now...but of course it's very early. Nobody should take any hard-and-fast lessons from something like Pro Day.

Thanks for the report. I didn't see your reminder and did forget about watching.

Easy to forget a kid who sat out the previous year but I'd so much love to see Allen bring some Kentucky pride to this group and do really well. Rooting for him!