Kentucky Wildcats News: Kansas Gameday and CFP Rankings Edition

Good morning, BBN!

We have our first marquee non-conference game tonight as the Kentucky Wildcats are in Chicago for a date with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Sitting at 2-0 on the season and No. 24 in the AP poll, Mark Pope and the Cats will be looking to make some noise tonight as they face off with the No. 15 Jayhawks. Will that happen? That is the major question we all have. Especially after a close contest against James Madison on Friday night.

The Jayhawks will be heading into this game a little short-handed, though, as Melvin Council Jr. will miss the next few months with a broken foot. That seemingly will put the ball in the hands of freshman point guard and Kentucky native, Tay Kinney. Add in elite freshman forward Tyran Stokes, and the Cats will have to use their experience to go and win this game.

That starts on the defensive end. Can the Cats slow down the Jayhawks enough to pull out the win? Can they win the rebounding battle? Those are the two major points of emphasis tonight as Kentucky looks to move to 3-0.

Before the game tonight, the Cats will also figure out where they fall in the updated College Football Playoff rankings after their loss to Tennessee on Saturday night. Will they stay inside the top 12 or will they fall out? Seems like 10 or 11 is about right, but now we have to wait and see.

The new rankings will come at the conclusion of Duke vs. Michigan State in the first Champions Classic game, around 9 PM ET on ESPN, so we’ll see where the football Cats are right before the basketball team takes on Kansas.

Should be a fun one (and a late one) in the Windy City. Go Cats!

Tweet of the Day

Time to get this win tonight.

Headlines

Mason Williams Collects First SEC Freshman of the Week Honors- UK Athletics

Williams has been awesome so far.

Lexington Ranks First in College Basketball Fandom Index from Nielsen- UK Athletics

As always, this sport means more here.

Mother Nature could give Kentucky an edge vs. Florida- KSR

It will be cold on Saturday night.

What Kentucky fans need to know about 24-team College Football Playoff- KSR

This is great news for Kentucky Football.

PFF grades and snap counts: Kentucky’s win streak ends at Tennessee- Cats Pause

Who do you think led the Cats?

Jaguars acquire Eagles DT Jordan Davis in blockbuster trade- ESPN

This is big deal for the AFC.

Sources: Cardinals’ Gardner Minshew has UCL injury; Michael Wilson out for year- ESPN

Arizona has no injury luck this year.

College basketball picks for loaded Top 25 schedule: Duke vs. Michigan State, Kentucky vs. Kansas predictions- CBS

Check out who they have in tonight’s game.