WBN 4PM Headlines: Beat UT Edition

Football Cats Hurting

QB Max Smith did not practice today due to a sprained throwing shoulder. Morgan Newton practiced with the first-team in his place. Despite the injury, there is no QB controversy, as Joker Phillips said Smith is still the starter as long as he can go Saturday. Also, starting safety Martavius Neloms is being listed as doubtful with a lingering ankle injury. LB Ridge Wilson missed practice today due to a family illness, and is dealing with a shoulder injury, and is expected to miss Saturday’s game against Tennessee.

Lady Cats Climbing Rankings

The UK women’s basketball team has rose to #11 in the latest coaches poll. Its worth noting they’re one spot ahead of UL, one spot behind SEC foe Georgia, and four spots behind Tennessee, who UK has finished runner up to in the past two seasons. If Matthew Mitchel’s Cats can keep improving, maybe this will be they year they break through and win the SEC. The Lady Cats will host Nebraska Omaha at 4:00pm tomorrow. The ranking makes Kentucky just one of just five schools to have both the men’s and women’s basketball programs in top 15 of both AP polls. For all the heat Mitch Barnhart has taken for letting football slip into mediocrity, he has done a masterful job of making all UK sports competitive, when it used to be just about men’s basketball at UK. Speaking of which…

Volleyball looking to Win SEC

The #16 UK volleyball team travels to #15 Tennessee with a chance to win a share of the SEC championship in the regular season finale for both teams on Wednesday night. With a victory, UK would earn the SEC’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Vols have already won a share of the SEC title with a 26-3 overall record and an 18-1 SEC record, though their only loss of the season was in Lexington against the Cats in October. With a 17-2 SEC record, a sweep against UT would give UK the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Here’s to hoping for a clean sweep of Tennessee in all sports this week.

Stokes not Likely this Year

It was reported yesterday that Jarnell Stokes, a 2012 5* PF was denied a hardship waiver that would have allowed him to play his senior year of high school basketball due to transfer issues. He is now considering enrolling in college this January according to his father, and UK is a school he’s very much interested in. UK only recently started recruiting him heavily, but he might not be able to enroll into a college early. According to scout.com writer, Evan Daniels, he’s been told by several sources that Jarnell Stokes did not take all the necessary courses to graduate HS early, which will make it difficult to make it to a college by January. John Calipari is still trying to get one more big man for next year’s team, but he may be forced to look at other options if Stokes can’t get his eligibility issues in order.

And now for our daily inspirational quote, courtesy of Winston Guy:

Sounds like Guy wants to end his college career with a victory over the Vols. BEAT UT!!!