Kentucky basketball

UK basketball's season came to an end Sunday at Greensboro Coliseum in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari's team finished 22-12.

( [The NCAA Tournament was canceled in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2020/03/12/kentucky-basketball-players-react-cancellation-ncaa-tournament/4994901002/).) The last time Kentucky appeared in the [Sweet 16](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2019/03/30/ncaa-tournament-kentucky-takes-down-houston/3287086002/) was 2019. [Oscar Tshiebwe](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/10/27/kentucky-basketball-oscar-tshiebwe-eager-for-epic-encore-in-year-2/69591549007/) and [Lance Ware](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/07/26/kentucky-basketball-lance-ware-development-key-to-ugonna-onyenso-recruitment/10056412002/) faced their lockers. [lost to Saint Peter’s in a 15-over-2 upset](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/03/17/ncaa-tournament-no-15-seed-saint-peters-upsets-no-2-seed-kentucky/7035300001/) in the first round. "I'm sorry to the BBN (Big Blue Nation) because I came here to do something great," Tshiebwe said. [Wildcats'](https://www.courier-journal.com/sports/kentucky/) 2022-23 campaign ended at the hands of No. [CJ Fredrick](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/07/15/kentucky-basketball-c-j-fredrick-could-be-caliparis-best-shooter/10027735002/) had tears in his eyes. Calipari said he doesn't expect any of the six seniors to return even though they all have one extra year of eligibility, granted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wallace, who had 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, in the second half showcased why he is a projected first-round NBA draft pick should he choose to declare. He scored 23 of those points in the second half. "I understand what this program is about," said Calipari, following the end of his 14th season on the job. During those seasons, Kentucky reached that round five times and made four Final Fours, two national championship game appearances and won a national title in 2012.

Observations from Kentucky's loss to Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday, March 19, 2023.

He was 9 of 11 from the foul line. He has the nation’s No. Afterward, he sat with his back to the media, staring at his locker, composing his thoughts, feeling the pain of the loss. Playing hurt, as he has for at least the last month of the season, Wallace could not have played any harder. Afterward, Toppin said he took the shots he normally takes. The inability to make that big shot or big play just as the opponent was making those very type of plays. 3 seed in the East Region and UK was the No. From there, the winners went 8-of-8 from the foul line to seal its Sweet 16 trip. Many of the same things that hurt the Cats all season, hurt them again when it mattered most. In the second half, however, the purple Wildcats made threes at key times. Never mind that K-State was the No. In the end, we should have expected this.

The chants of 'Go Big Blue' weren't enough to carry this Kentucky team, as Kansas State delivered the NCAA Tournament dagger.

But the underlying tone of this game was Kentucky failing to reach the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, again. There was a point in this game that I thought John Calipari would get his team over the hump, but only getting 2 points from Jacob Toppin and 5 points from Antonio Reeves wasn’t the recipe. There was a tense feeling in the arena after Kansas State kept fighting back, every time you thought Kentucky was about to go on a run. What does a team like Kentucky do when the offense is so one-dimensional? GREENSBORO- An arena full of Kentucky blue couldn’t will the Wildcats to a win on Sunday afternoon, with Kansas State sending them home on the first weekend, again. If you were a fan of college basketball, this game certainly delivered, with eight lead changes in the second half alone.

The third-seeded Kansas State Wildcats (24-9) encounter the sixth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats (22-11) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

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Updates and statistics from Greensboro as the Kentucky Wildcats play the Kansas State Wildcats in an NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game.

The Wildcats are the No. UK is the No. After a 61-53 win over Providence on Friday night, Kentucky basketball takes on Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at Greensboro Coliseum.

Predictions on who might go and who might stay on the Kentucky basketball team, including Oscar Tshiebwe, Jacob Toppin and Chris Livingston.

Onyenso came to Kentucky taking the long view of his development, and anything but a return to Lexington for year two would be a major surprise, based on his plans coming in. If he returns for a fifth year of college — all current seniors have an extra year of eligibility as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — and shows improvement on the defensive end, might he climb his way into draft consideration? If Tshiebwe is gone after this season — and UK doesn’t add a center in the transfer portal — there would likely be a bigger opening for the more physical Ware to play extended minutes among a frontcourt that would otherwise consist of longer, slighter rim-protector types. Expect the coach to remind the young player of his potential at Kentucky during their upcoming discussions. Chris Livingston: Getting the former McDonald’s All-American back for a second year would be a major victory for Calipari, who is likely to be leaning on several high-potential (but unproven) freshmen next season. Tshiebwe is still on some draft boards for 2023, but there’s a real possibility — perhaps a probability — that he isn’t selected at all in the June 22 draft. Those plans fell short, and Tshiebwe’s draft stock also took a hit in year two, with scouts knocking his defensive prowess and nitpicking other shortcomings in his game as it relates to the current playing style in the NBA. Jacob Toppin: The 2022-23 season didn’t go exactly as Toppin had planned, but he was still a key part of Kentucky’s team and showed growth on and off the court in his third year with the Wildcats’ program. Wheeler led the Southeastern Conference in assists in his final season at Georgia, his first season at Kentucky and was atop the league leaderboard in that stat again this season before the injury sidelined him and took him out of consideration for a three-peat. Instead, he opted to come back and give it another run with the Wildcats, with the program’s ninth national championship as his overriding goal. He has tested the NBA Draft waters in the past, but he’s not currently considered to be a prospect for the league and is likely to be playing in college again next season, just not at Kentucky. Here’s a look at every scholarship player on the Kentucky roster and predictions for what each of those Wildcats might do.

All of Kentucky's seniors have the option to return for one more year, but Coach Cal isn't banking on it.

They also have four of the top five players. However, the Cats have three of the top four players in the Class of 2023. He was 8-for-13 from the field.

Kentucky has the nation's No. 1 recruiting class coming in, but offseason changes won't end there. Here's what could be ahead for John Calipari & Co.

The group includes four five-star prospects — point guard [Robert Dillingham](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/recruiting/2022/06/24/robert-dillingham-recruiting-kentucky-basketball-commitment-2023-class/7683572001/), combo guard [DJ Wagner](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/recruiting/2022/11/14/dj-wagner-kentucky-basketball-recruiting-highlights-2023-class/7816322001/), wing [Justin Edwards](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/12/13/kentucky-basketbal-scouting-report-2023-signee-justin-edwards/69703324007/) and center [Aaron Bradshaw](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/recruiting/2022/10/14/aaron-bradshaw-kentucky-basketball-recruiting-2023-class-commitments/7816441001/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1679093392398470&usg=AOvVaw1moKHjA6Qk0pfLA6tEiR33) — and four-star North Laurel High School guard [Reed Sheppard](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2021/11/20/reed-sheppard-legacy-recruit-commits-uk-basketball-2023-class/8637544002/). [Oscar Tshiebwe](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/10/27/kentucky-basketball-oscar-tshiebwe-eager-for-epic-encore-in-year-2/69591549007/) and [Jacob Toppin](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/07/13/kentucky-basketball-jacob-toppin-turning-heads-summer-workouts/7808426001/), and guards [Brennan Canada](https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/player/brennan-canada/), [CJ Fredrick](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/07/15/kentucky-basketball-c-j-fredrick-could-be-caliparis-best-shooter/10027735002/), [Antonio Reeves](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/05/27/kentucky-basketball-antonio-reeves-will-face-adjustment-new-role/9703486002/) and [Sahvir Wheeler](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/07/29/kentucky-basketball-savhir-wheeler-big-year-ahead-chin-coleman-says/10056417002/). [Nicolas Timberlake](https://towsontigers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/nicolas-timberlake/19288). Guard [Denver Anglin](https://guhoyas.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/denver-anglin/13995) could be another option. [Chris Livingston](https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/player/chris-livingston-2/), who averaged 8.1 points and 6.5 rebounds since Feb. [Kentucky](https://www.courier-journal.com/sports/kentucky/)'s season is over. [Ugonna Onyenso](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/08/01/kentucky-basketball-recruiting-ugonna-kingsley-onyenso-2022-class-commitments/65385405007/), who reclassified to join the Wildcats a year early, was never expected to leave early. 1 recruiting class](https://247sports.com/Season/2023-Basketball/CompositeTeamRankings/). Coming in: Calipari needs to find a 3-point marksmen in the transfer portal to replace Fredrick, Reeves, Toppin and Wallace. 3-seed Kansas State](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2023/03/19/ncaa-tournament-results-march-madness-ends-for-kentucky-basketball/69999670007/) in the second round of the [NCAA Tournament](https://brackets.usatoday.com/). Theiro plays with boundless energy but only appeared in 18 games. [John Calipari](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/06/22/uk-basketball-mitch-barnhart-responds-john-calipari-facility-push/7533496001/) and the [Wildcats](https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/) face questions ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Antonio Reeves, averaging 22 points per contest over his last six games, finished with five points on 1-15 shooting and 1-10 from three. Jacob Toppin, one of ...

As a team, though, the Wildcats fell short of expectations from start to finish, this one being the biggest letdown. The opportunity to look ahead to next season, turning our attention to the next crop of blue-chip recruits? It’s tough to see the pain in the eyes of a group that truly believed redemption was on the horizon, a run to make up for the endless speed bumps they faced throughout the season, especially those returning after the end-of-year disaster last March. He stuck to his script of fighting and trusting God and knowing everything happens for a reason, but the reigning national player of the year who poured everything he had into this game — 25 points and 18 rebounds — and yet another NCAA Tournament — 21.0 points and 19.7 rebounds in three total March Madness outings — had nothing to show for it. And then on the other end, you have a trio of clutch 3-pointers to turn a four-point lead for Kentucky into a five-point lead for Kansas State. Shoot, even a stop after a made basket to capture some momentum — what was with all of the easy runout scores? Jacob Toppin, one of the team’s most consistent threats in the back half of the season, had two points on 1-7 shooting and 0-2 from deep. The NCAA Tournament is a single-elimination monster that gives and takes, and unfortunately, it’s taken a hell of a lot from the Wildcats in recent years. [Oscar Tshiebwe](https://www.on3.com/db/oscar-tshiebwe-94665/), the man who has never failed to have the answers during his two-year career in Lexington. A different bounce here or there could have changed the entire trajectory of the game, extended the season. The expectations going into the season as a top-five team with title dreams, hitting rock bottom and clawing back, only to have inconsistent play keep the plane from taking off the runway and soaring to the final destination as planned? [Kentucky basketball](https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/)‘s run of postseason woes, the lack of Final Fours and heartbreaking losses.

Complete statistics from Sunday's Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball game against the Kansas State Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament at Greensboro, N.C..

Sunday likely ended Oscar Tshiebwe's memorable career in Lexington. Here's why Oscar was so special ... and why he deserved better in March.

And when he does, will he do it with a smile? In a January game with Georgia, he gave what might have been his best single-game performance with 37 points and 24 rebounds. At the end of the day, Kentucky fans — temperamental and cranky as they can be — expect excellence. And again, Kentucky fell flat in March. But Kentucky — a year after a 9-16 season — had again become a punch-line. But what he did well — play old-fashioned, bang and bump post basketball — hadn’t been seen even at Kentucky in many, many years. Yes, he had limitations — in shooting range and foot speed, most notably. The book on Tshiebwe was that he was talented but offensively challenged. The only thing bigger than his rebounding game was his smile. In his first game in Lexington, he had 17 points and 20 rebounds (Kentucky lost to Duke). He and Huggins never saw eye-to-eye. In 2 seasons of record-breaking college basketball, Oscar Tshiebwe ended up never reaching the Sweet 16, much less the Final Four.

Kentucky basketball, John Calipari 'irrelevant' after NCAA Tournament loss, Paul Finebaum says · Edit · Slot to 247Sports Home · Slot to 247Sports Newsletter · Slot ...

…this isn’t you have to get to the championship game, you have to get to the Final Four but you better look good in the tournament. [Finebaum said before the start of the tournament. To the elite college basketball world, getting knocked out in the Round of 32 is a failure.” Kentucky finishes the season 22-12 failed to reach the second weekend of March Madness for the second-straight year after missing the dance in 2020-21. ["McElroy and Cubelic In the Morning” radio show](https://www.joxfm.com/mcelroy-cubelic-in-the-morning/). [ fair share of media criticisms](https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/NCAA-Tournament-2023-John-Calipari-Kentucky-catch-media-criticism-after-Kansas-State-loss-ends-March-Madness-206912476/) following the Wildcats' NCAA Tournament loss to Kansas State.

Regional candidates and season statistical leaders were honored at the annual Mr & Miss Kentucky Awards Ceremony.

On the boys’ side, Reed Sheppard earned 13th Region Player of the Year. Kentucky Basketball but Reed is just Reed to us and we’re proud of him no matter what,” said Stacey Sheppard, Reed’s mom and a member of the 1991 Laurel County State Championship team. On the girls’ side, Southwestern’s Ayden Smiddy earned 12th Region co-Player of the Year, North Laurel’s Emily Sizemore earned 13th Region Player of the Year, Leslie County’s Courtney Hoskins and Hazard’s Abby Maggard both earned 14th Region Player of the Year and Lawrence County’s Kensley Feltner earned 15th Region Player of the Year. “You know, growing up in Kentucky everybody wants to be a part of Mr. McCreary Central’s Kyle Stephens earned 12th Region Player of the Year, Wolfe County’s Sawyer Thompson earned 14th Region Player of the Year and Pikeville’s Rylee Samons earned 15th Region Player of the Year. Kensley Feltner was recognized as the state’s leading female scorer.

Calipari made the reference to Nowell when discussing pivotal three-point shots that Kansas State hit down the stretch. It secured their second March Madness ...

Kansas State is one of just two Big 12 programs remaining in the NCAA Tournament, joined by Texas, after Baylor, TCU and defending national champion Kansas were eliminated in the Round of 32. Calipari, who coached Kentucky to the national title in 2012, saw the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight in 2019, but it's been a struggle in Lexington since. Nowell scored 27 points for Kansas State in the victory as the Wildcats advanced to the Sweet Sixteen under first-year head coach [Jerome Tang](//247sports.com/Coach/Jerome-Tang-1310). "My team is not like that; neither is our program," Calipari told reporters after the 2018 game when informed about the claims. [@UKCoachCalipari]U done this for a long time and one of the best on the mic. It secured their second March Madness victory over Kentucky within a span of five NCAA Tournaments, the other in the 2018 Sweet Sixteen.

Reed Sheppard named Kentucky Mr. Basketball · Edit · Slot to 247Sports Home · Slot to Kentucky Wildcats Newsletter · Slot to Kentucky Links.

He's the first to finish his high school career in-state since University Heights' [Scotty Hopson](https://247sports.com/Player/Scotty-Hopson-8355) in 2008. [D'Angelo Russell](https://247sports.com/Player/DAngelo-Russell-13930) in 2014. I love his work ethic and the fact that he wants to be pushed on the biggest of stages to reach his full potential." "He has terrific fundamentals and is the kind of player who can excel on or off the ball. After a subpar showing in his first Sweet 16 appearance last season, Sheppard recorded 23 points, seven assists and four rebounds in the loss. North Laurel fell to defending state champion George Rogers Clark 62-54 in the first round on Thursday.

Kansas State men's basketball assistant Jareem Dowling took exception with Kentucky head coach John Calipari after Calipari referred to Markquis Nowell as a ...

Kansas State is one of just two Big 12 programs remaining in the NCAA Tournament, joined by Texas, after Baylor, TCU and defending national champion Kansas were eliminated in the Round of 32. Calipari, who coached Kentucky to the national title in 2012, saw the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight in 2019, but it's been a struggle in Lexington since. Nowell scored 27 points for Kansas State in the victory as the Wildcats advanced to the Sweet Sixteen under first-year head coach [Jerome Tang](//247sports.com/Coach/Jerome-Tang-1310). "My team is not like that; neither is our program," Calipari told reporters after the 2018 game when informed about the claims. [@UKCoachCalipari]U done this for a long time and one of the best on the mic. It secured their second March Madness victory over Kentucky within a span of five NCAA Tournaments, the other in the 2018 Sweet Sixteen.

Kentucky Wildcats basketball recruiting links from the Next Cats blog Trentyn Flowers, Travis Perry, DJ Wagner, Skyy Clark, Flory Bidunga.

Turner as head coach [Steve Lutz named](https://wkusports.com/news/2023/3/18/steve-lutz-named-western-kentucky-head-mens-basketball-coach) Western Kentucky men’s basketball head coach [enters transfer portal](https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Ole-Miss-Amaree-Abram-transfer-portal--206138381/ ) [enters transfer portal](https://www.on3.com/college/florida-gators/news/florida-guard-kowacie-reeves-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal/) [now heading to Louisville](https://247sports.com/college/louisville/Article/Kenny-Payne-Former-five-star-guard-Skyy-Clark-commits-to-Louisville-206675724/ ) [Gatorade Indiana Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year](https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2023/03/15/indiana-basketball-flory-bidunga-wins-gatorade-player-of-year-2023-kokomo-high-school/70011629007/ ) [A first look at the potential 2023-24 Kentucky men’s basketball roster](https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article273286430.html) ](https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-recruiting) [Kansas State tops Kentucky in Greensboro, ending UK basketball season](https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article273342890.html) [Go inside the Kentucky locker room following NCAA Tournament defeat](https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article273342895.html) [Warren Central wins Kentucky boys’ basketball state championship](https://www.kentucky.com/sports/high-school/article273275915.html) [A look back at UK recruit Travis Perry’s historic junior season](https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-recruiting/article272655653.html) [A look back at UK signee Reed Sheppard’s senior season](https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-recruiting/article272655700.html)