Kentucky is bracing for a big winter storm, much like a large portion of the country right now. You can tell the panic has set in because finding water, bread, eggs, and milk is like finding a needle in a haystack in certain areas. We hope you are well prepared, reading this. Stay safe and remember to check on your neighbors.
And as we know, the weather affects everything, including sports, and it has forced a change to this weekend's slate of games, including the one played at Rupp Arena.
Because of the impending weather that is supposed to hit Saturday, the game originally tabbed to tip off at 12:00 PM EST has been moved back an hour to 11:00 AM EST.
The University confirmed that all original tickets will be honored, and the TV channel (ESPN) remains the same; nothing changes there. It’s just going to be a very early morning in Rupp Arena. BBN may want to fill up on coffee instead of Rupp's ice cream.
Travis Perry's homecoming is coming sooner than we thought
Beyond the weather, the headline of this game is the return of a homegrown talent. Travis Perry, the Lyon County legend who originally committed to Kentucky under Cal and stayed for a year under Mark Pope, left Lexington to head to Oxford and Ole Miss.
When he announced he was leaving for an SEC rival, everyone circled this date on the calendar. We knew he would be back to play his home state Cats eventually; the weather just forced that reunion to happen an hour earlier.
Perry has found a slightly larger role in Oxford than he had in Lexington. He is currently averaging around 6 points per game in roughly 15 minutes of playing time a night for the Rebels. That is a step up from his freshman campaign at UK, where he averaged 2 points in about 9 minutes of action.
While the stats aren't jumping off the page, the narrative is heavy. There is always a different kind of energy when a Kentucky native returns to Rupp wearing the wrong colors. It will be interesting to see how the crowd receives him, whether it’s a polite applause for a former Cat or if he gets some boos like we saw when Cal returned last year. And then there is always that former team revenge factor. Will he have a great game, or perhaps press too hard?
The stakes: Cats on a roll
Distractions aside, there is a game to be played, and someone is going to win, and someone is going to lose. Kentucky is looking to stay hot and make it five straight wins, building serious momentum as we head deeper into conference play.
On the other side, Ole Miss is trying to claw its way back over .500 in the SEC. They are a desperate team coming into a hostile environment, and with the weather keeping some fans at home after the game, BBN may be really lively despite the early start time.
Get the coffee brewing. It’s going to be an early one.