After Halloween treat and trick, what is next for Kentucky Wildcats Basketball?

Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

A lot has been made of the news this week that Reese Phillips may be in competition for the backup QB spot, but expect Mark Stoops to play Whitlow as much as possible. Stoops wants a complete game from Whitlow (barring a total blowout) and expects him to play through the pain.

"At the top of the depth chart again, Whitlow said trainers told him his shoulder will be “sore all year, pretty much,” and his ankle could continue to cause the mobile quarterback pain. He said pre-game treatment and adrenaline will help him deal with it as he tries to guide Kentucky to its second win. “I try not to let (the injuries) hinder me at all,” Whitlow said. “I feel it here and there. But I try to play through it. Try not to let it hold me back.” If something does end up holding Whitlow back — or out of a game — the options behind him are still in flux. Sophomore Maxwell Smith and freshman Reese Phillips have split backup reps in practice this week, Brown said. Stoops said Smith is still the No. 2 quarterback but that there is “a chance” Phillips would play if Whiltow is unavailable. If true freshman Phillips does end up in a game, Stoops is encouraged by his practice performance. “He’s good and comfortable,” Stoops said. “Seems like he’s got one of those personalities where he doesn’t get too worked up about anything. Of course, that’s easier said than done on the practice field, right? With quarterbacks, you never really know until you get them out there in game situations and see how it goes and all that.” Although they’re figuring out the backup quarterback situation, the staff would prefer they don’t have to make those decisions. “It would be really nice to have (Whitlow) start a game and finish a game,” Stoops said, “unless we decide to take him out — for good reasons.”"

Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

One of the big differences between Mark Stoops and Joker Phillips’s recruiting styles is that Stoops is not afraid to go after top targets in enemy ground. Early. He is quick to offer talent even before the home state SEC schools do and that makes an impact on a recruit. Alabama’s Richard McBryde is an example of that.

"Troy (Ala.) Henderson linebacker Richard McBryde has the ranking. Now he’s looking for the offers to follow. Already a four-star prospect, McBryde’s only offers to this point are from Kentucky and Southern Miss. But with interest from BCS programs across the Southeast he’s not worried about that and believes it’s just a matter of time. Of course, the in-state schools are involved with the 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect, and anytime Alabama and Auburn are recruiting someone local they carry a lot of clout. McBryde has grown up more partial to the Crimson Tide but is open to both. He camped at both Alabama and Auburn this summer and attended Kentucky’s spring game earlier this year as he previously told Cats Illustrated. The fan showing at Mark Stoops’ first Blue-White game left a lasting impression that McBryde still hasn’t forgotten. “There were a lot of people. It was a great atmosphere,” McBryde recalled. “I love the coaches and the technology they have for the players there. They’ve got technology that’s going to help them out when they perform on game day and help them to stay healthy.”"