UK hoops adds Drake to stellar recruiting class

The UK women’s basketball team has signed Samantha Drake, a 6-foot-3 forward from Nelson County High School located in Bardstown, Ky., during the late signing period, UK head coach Matthew Mitchell announced on Wednesday.
According to ESPN HoopGurlz’s recruiting rankings, Drake is the 74th-best player and the eighth-best post player in the nation.
Drake averaged 22.9 points [...]

Gray is leaving UK hoops

On Wednesday, UK head coach Matthew Mitchell announced that sophomore guard Rebecca Gray has left the team and has decided to enroll at Union College in Barbourville, Ky.
This marks the second time Gray has transferred during her collegiate career. Following her freshman year at North Carolina in 2007-08, Gray, a former Miss Kentucky Basketball and [...]

Bar set high for UK Hoops’ future after historic season

Don’t expect the UK women’s basketball team to be picked 11th in the Southeastern Conference next season.
Then again, outsiders’ expectations didn’t do anything to prevent the Cats from rewriting the record books on their path to putting together the most successful season in program history.
Despite being picked to finish 11th out of 12 teams in [...]

Dunlap passes final cut, named State Farm Coaches’ All-American

On Saturday, UK junior forward Victoria Dunlap was selected as one of 10 members of the State Farm Coaches’ All-America team. Dunlap joins Valerie Still, who played from 1981-1983, as the only other Cat in school history to make the team.
Dunlap was one of 40 players under consideration by a selection committee. The announcement was made [...]

Sent home too soon(er): Oklahoma ends Cats’ run at Elite Eight

Hoops vs. Oklahoma – Images by Kentucky Kernel
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The most successful season in UK women’s basketball history is over.
The Cats (28-8) were denied their first trip to the Final Four in their second Elite Eight appearance after falling to the Oklahoma Sooners (27-10) 88-68 on Tuesday night at the Sprint Center.
In their 11th straight [...]

Cats really have surprised people…

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—I’ve noticed a few things about the UK women’s basketball team (28-7) while I’ve been in Kansas City covering the women’s NCAA Tournament.
Actually, I’ve noticed a few things about the perception of the UK hoops team, too.
Despite the magical ride UK hoops has taken in the most successful season in program history, I don’t [...]

Dunlap named to All-America team

KANSAS CITY, Mo.— On Tuesday, UK junior forward Victoria Dunlap was one of five players named to the All-America Third Team by the AP.
Dunlap has piled up accolades since the end of the regular season following a season in which she was the only player in the Southeastern Conference to rank in the top three [...]

Defense key in Cats’ Elite Eight game against Oklahoma

KANSAS CITY, Mo.–March is known for its madness, but the Kansas City Regional is starting to experience downright lunacy.
On Sunday night, second-seeded Notre Dame fell to third-seeded Oklahoma (26-7), and top-seeded Nebraska lost to fourth-seeded UK (28-7). The respective results set up an Elite Eight matchup between two teams that have become more accustomed to [...]

UK Hoops shocks Nebraska 76-67 to advance to Elite Eight

Hoops vs. Nebraska – Images by Kentucky Kernel
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —UK’s unlikely season continued on Sunday, this time in the form of a historic, and arguably, the biggest win in program history.
One dream season was going to come to an end following the end of the Sweet 16 matchup between UK and [...]

UK women’s hoops is the last hope for Big Blue Nation

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The dreary weather in Syracuse, N.Y., paralleled the collective somber feelings of the Big Blue Nation on Saturday when West Virginia ended the men’s hoops team chance for trip to Indianapolis for a shot at a national title.
 In fact, for many fans, the national title seemed like it was UK’s to lose, following [...]