Big Blue Madness gave Kentucky fans their first real look at this year’s team on Friday, and the night delivered the usual mix of showmanship, fresh faces and a few early clues about what the Wildcats might be capable of.
The biggest buzz in Rupp Arena came before the basketball even started. Kentucky welcomed back NBA champion and former Wildcat Karl-Anthony Towns, a reunion that had Big Blue Nation fired up from the jump. Once the introductions and entertainment rolled through, the event shifted into the on-court portion, which featured three-point and dunk contests along with a light 5-on-5 scrimmage.
There wasn’t a ton of live basketball to dissect, but the night still offered a few clear takeaways. One of the most eye-catching performances came from Alex Wilkins, who answered questions about his shooting in a big way.
As a shot-creating playmaker moving into a two-guard role in Lexington, Wilkins showed off the kind of range that can change the conversation quickly. He hit nearly seven straight shots during the three-point contest and poured in 34 points in the opening round.
Milan Momcilovic was next closest with 22. Wilkins then backed it up with 21 points to win the contest outright.
If anyone was wondering whether he could be a real threat from deep, Friday made the case loud and clear. He finished well ahead of everyone else, and he did it in style.
The other standout was N’Diaye, who kept showing why his skill set has people talking. Even with limited live action, he flashed the kind of mobility that jumps out immediately for a 6-10 player.
He moved smoothly, stretched the floor and looked comfortable doing both. In the dunk contest, he took off from right inside the free throw line for a slam.
Later, he posted the third-highest score in the three-point contest, adding another layer to what he brings. He’s clearly more than just a finisher at the rim, and there’s real potential for him to become a legitimate outside threat as well.
That’s part of why he’s been compared to Kevin Durant before, and why Malachi Moreno’s comment that N’Diaye could be an All-American didn’t sound so far-fetched on Friday.
Kentucky will get another chance to show more of this group at its annual Pro Day on Tuesday, before the Wildcats open exhibition play in two weeks against Little Rock.
In Other News...
Trent Noah Faces A Make Or Break Stretch At Kentucky
Trent Noah flashed what he could bring in a memorable showing against Arkansas last season, but the shot that helped get him noticed did not stay with him afterward. For Kentucky, that makes this next stretch interesting in a very practical way: Noah is trying to turn one good night into a more reliable role, and he has made it clear he wants to do more entering the upcoming season. The Wildcats also know the backdrop matters here, since offseason hamstring injuries interrupted his work and slowed the kind of rhythm shooters usually lean on.
Now the path back looks a little clearer. Kentuckys roster additions should create better spacing, which can open cleaner looks and give Noah more room to rediscover the form that made him worth watching in the first place. For a player trying to carve out a bigger place in the rotation, this is the kind of opportunity that can change how a season feels, especially if the shots start falling early and the confidence follows. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Fans May Not All Agree With Will Stein On This
Will Stein is already looking at the game through a bigger lens, and on his weekly radio show he made it clear he believes college football is drifting closer to the NFL. The Kentucky coach said the sport is functioning more and more as a developmental system for the pros and suggested the two levels ought to use the same rules, from field markings to kickoff regulations.
Stein also pointed to kickoffs as a place where he would like to see more alignment, saying he wants more returns in college games. In his view, the current version has lost some of the excitement while still carrying danger, a combination that keeps the rule set in an awkward middle ground for anyone trying to balance safety with entertainment. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Suddenly Has A Defensive Depth Issue Fans Need To See
The latest wrinkle in Kentuckys depth chart comes off the field and straight from the courtroom, where a ruling from the Kentucky Court of Appeals has put a group of class of 2022 athletes back into limbo. Among those affected is Alex Afari, whose availability had been tied to a temporary legal order that had kept him on the field this season while the broader eligibility fight played out.
Now the Tigers are dealing with the reality that several players involved in the Jefferson County case are currently ineligible, including Missouris Mark Mitchell and Louisvilles Seth Trimble and LJ Wells. There is still a path for the athletes to seek more relief in trial court, but for the moment Kentucky is left watching a defensive depth situation get shakier at a time when every available piece matters. [Read more 🡒]