Cats Illustrated's daily Newsstand is here to help you start your Friday right.
We've got practice coverage galore with coaches and players sharing important nuggets after yesterday's work.
FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Kentucky's linebackers are having the type of preseason that suggests they'd like to be known as more than just the guys who play alongside All-SEC standout Jordan Jones.
The unit received more praise from UK defensive coordinator Matt House and outside linebackers coach Dean Hood following Thursday afternoon's practice at the Joe Craft Football Training Center.
LINK: Cats building impressive depth across all linebacker positions
BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Yesterday the SEC announced finalized conference basketball schedules. Kentucky draws home and home series against Florida, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Missouri. The Cats also get Alabama, a league contender, in Rupp Arena.
These young Cats will be tested with an SEC slate that's front-loaded with road games.
BIG TAKEAWAYS
Cats Illustrated takes a closer look at Kentucky's 2017-18 basketball schedule following the SEC's release of the league slate on Thursday.
What stands out? What are the biggest challenges? Potential traps?
LINK: The big takeaways from Kentucky's 2017-18 basketball schedule
YEAR OF CHANGE
Changing high schools going into your senior season is never ideal, but Kentucky center commit Quintin Wilson felt like it was the right move given his circumstances.
Brian Lainhart coached Cincinnati (Ohio) Walnut Hills last year, but he was forced out of his position amid allegations that he was recruiting players to transfer to the school. Walnut Hills was subsequently put on probation for two years by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for those violations under Lainhart, and Walnut Hills subsequently hired Gerry Beauchamp to fill the head coaching vacancy.
Wilson, a senior during the 2017-18 school year, has decided to transfer to Turpin High School in Cincinnati.
LINK: UK commit Quintin Wilson getting used to new position, new school
THREE & OUT
In a new Cats Illustrated feature set to go live each week, publisher Justin Rowland takes a look at three big topics in Kentucky football recruiting.
We're running down a list of Kentucky's top remaining recruiting targets, breaking down Jarren Williams' 300-yard, 3-touchdown performance in a dramatic win over South Gwinnett to start his season, and looking at what positions are priorities for the Cats between now and Signing Day.
SEC EAST PREDICTIONS
Every year conference predictions become an en vogue topic of conversation. Here the Cats Illustrated staff discusses how the East will shake out.
T.J. Walker, Jeff Drummond and Justin Rowland all pick a different East champion. Who will finish on top of the league and where will the Cats land?
BREAKOUT PLAYER
You already know who Kentucky's main stars are going into the 2017 season. But who will be the Cats' top breakout player in 2017?
That's what the Cats Illustrated staff discusses in this edition of the Round Table.
Hint: None of us agree, but all of us agree it will be a wide receiver.
LINK: Round Table discussion of Kentucky's breakout player in 2017
KENTUCKY OR DUKE?
Arizona currently sits atop the 2018 team rankings and the Wildcats figure to keep building onto their already strong class. However, which programs will make the biggest moves between now and Signing Day in November? As usual, National Basketball Analysts Eric Bossi and Corey Evans have Rival views.
One picks Duke, the other Kentucky. Here's why.
LINK: Will Kentucky or Duke make the most basketball recruiting noise between now and November?
10 THINGS LEARNED
If you're on information overload from the start of camp until now, when the Cats are preparing for Southern Miss, you can be forgiven.
Here's a recap with ten things we've learned about Kentucky's football team to date.
LINK: 10 things we've learned about Kentucky football with USM prep here
QUADE GREEN PREVIEW
John Calipari is preparing to put his youngest team yet on the floor — and that is saying something — for the 2017-18 season. Among the 11 scholarship players on the roster, eight are freshmen, three are sophomores and … that’s it. There is enough talent for a deep postseason run but also enough inexperience for Big Blue Nation to be concerned. So in our Final Fourcast series, we’ll be breaking down each of the Wildcats and what role they might play in pursuit of a fifth Final Four in nine seasons under Calipari. Today, it’s freshman point guard Quade Green.
LINK: How Quade Green can help Kentucky basketball make a run
