Author: successsport360

Trent Noah faked a shot, sent his defender flying, and calmly drained a three-pointer before flashing a confident grin toward the opposing bench. It might have been just the Blue-White Game, but for Kentucky fans watching, that one play said it all. This is what Kentucky expects from Noah as a sophomore — less thinking, more producing. Now entering his second year in Lexington, the Harlan County native has transformed from a raw in-state freshman into a player ready to make real noise in Mark Pope’s deep rotation. And his growth hasn’t gone unnoticed. > “He’s just a vet that…

The Duke Blue Devils kicked off their 2025–26 campaign in style with a 96–71 victory over UCF in a charity exhibition, but they did it without two of their most important players — senior forward Maliq Brown and freshman standout Dame Sarr. Both are considered Duke’s defensive anchors, and their absence was felt early as the Blue Devils struggled to find their rhythm on that end of the floor. Miscommunication and missed switches led to a tighter first half than expected. But once Duke settled in, the defense looked sharper — outscoring UCF 56–32 in the second half to close…

One moment. That’s all it took for a quiet name on Duke’s roster to make a loud statement. During practice, a single play turned heads, silenced doubts, and proved this under-the-radar player might be the real deal. Let’s break it down. When Duke fans packed into Cameron Indoor Stadium for the Blue Devils’ 96–71 exhibition win over UCF, most eyes were locked on Cameron Boozer — and for good reason. The freshman forward looked every bit like the next Duke star, bulldozing his way to 33 points and 12 rebounds. But as the game unfolded, another freshman began carving out…

Last year, all the buzz around Mark Pope’s debut season at Kentucky centered on his offense. Fans were thrilled by his fast-paced, 3-point-heavy system and couldn’t wait to see it unleashed inside Rupp Arena. And for a while, the Wildcats delivered exactly what was promised — fireworks on one end and fun basketball every night. But that same excitement came with a cost. Kentucky’s offense ranked among the best in the country, but defensively, the Cats were far from elite. By midseason, they had slipped outside the top 100 in defensive efficiency, finishing at No. 51 — solid, but not…

Every preseason practice has its highlights — but what happened inside Duke’s gym this week wasn’t just a highlight. It was a statement. One play, one moment, and suddenly, everyone inside Cameron Indoor knew it: Cameron Boozer had officially arrived. The Blue Devils were deep into a full-speed scrimmage when Boozer made the kind of sequence that separates stars from prospects. After ripping down a rebound over Patrick Ngongba II, he pushed the ball coast to coast, froze a defender with a hesitation, and finished through contact — all in one motion. The gym erupted. Even Jon Scheyer cracked a…

When Cooper Flagg left Duke, fans wondered how Jon Scheyer could possibly follow that act. But on Tuesday night inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, the answer arrived — and it didn’t take long to see it. In his very first college appearance, Duke’s newest 5-star freshman made the kind of debut that turns heads nationwide. Against a tough UCF squad, he looked every bit like the next superstar to carry the Blue Devils’ banner. From the opening tip, he played with poise and polish far beyond his age. The stat line told one story — 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 4…

Every year, it feels like half the NBA has a connection to Lexington — and this season is no different. From All-Stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to rising names like Reed Sheppard, Kentucky’s NBA pipeline is still overflowing with talent. But there are also a few surprising names not on rosters this year — and that might shock Big Blue Nation. Let’s dive in and see who made the list and who’s missing. Former Kentucky Players Still Making Their Mark in the NBA for the 2025-26 Season Kentucky basketball’s NBA pipeline is still as strong as ever. As the 2025-26 NBA…

Anyone still questioning how good this Duke basketball team could be might want to check the film from this week’s practice — because what happened inside Cameron’s gym left coaches, players, and even longtime staff members buzzing. The level of competition, energy, and execution hit a new high. It wasn’t just a good day — it was the kind of practice that makes you realize something special is starting to form. The Guards Took Over the Day If you’ve been wondering whether Dame Sarr was ready to take command of Duke’s backcourt, he answered that question loud and clear. The…

The Duke Blue Devils have done it again — pulling off one of the biggest recruiting steals of the year. In a move that has the entire college basketball world talking, Duke has landed five-star wing Bryson Howard, the son of former NBA All-Star Josh Howard, beating out their fiercest rivals — North Carolina and Kentucky — to do it. Howard, a 6-foot-5 left-handed scorer, has exploded onto the national scene after a monster summer on the Nike EYBL circuit, where he averaged 19.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and an elite 46.2% from three-point range. His combination of size, skill, and…

The countdown is officially on. Kentucky basketball tips off the 2025-26 season on November 4 against Nicholls at Rupp Arena. But before the games start to count, the Wildcats will get two major tests in preseason exhibitions — hosting Purdue on October 24 and Georgetown on October 30. After a year of rebuilding from scratch, Mark Pope finally has a foundation in place. Four familiar faces are back, but once again, there’s no shortage of new blood in Lexington. Here’s the complete scouting report on who’s returning, who’s new, and what to expect from this year’s Kentucky squad. Who’s Back…