Author: successsport360
Durham, North Carolina, has always been a hotbed for basketball greatness, but this week it felt like the center of the college hoops universe. Why? Because Cooper Flagg, the nation’s No. 1 recruit and Duke’s biggest signee in years, was spotted in the gym with the Blue Devils — and fans can’t stop talking about it. Social media lit up the moment Duke Men’s Basketball dropped the photos. Flagg, rocking his laid-back style, was all smiles, dapping up teammates, and laughing like he’s already been part of the Brotherhood for years. The images showed him embracing “Man Man,” sharing jokes…
Tennessee fans, get ready to see Rick Barnes patrolling the sidelines for as long as he wants. The longtime Volunteers head coach has signed a new deal that’s essentially a lifetime contract in Knoxville — a rolling extension that ensures his tenure continues indefinitely. The deal, officially announced Thursday, tacks on an automatic year every April so that Barnes’ contract will always carry a three-year term. With a salary of $6 million per season, it cements his spot as one of the SEC’s most stable — and highest-paid — leaders. A Rival’s Perspective As a Kentucky writer, this one stings…
Few jersey numbers in Kentucky basketball history carry as much legacy as No. 12. From championship legends of the 1940s to modern NBA stars, the number has been worn by some of the Wildcats’ most important players. Let’s break down the best of the best to ever put on that jersey. 1. Ralph Beard (1945–49) When you talk about Kentucky’s greats, Ralph Beard belongs at the top. A three-time consensus first-team All-American, Beard led the Wildcats to two national championships (1948, 1949) and was a key part of the famous “Fabulous Five”. To top it off, he won an Olympic…
When it comes to building a championship program, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope knows talent isn’t enough — it takes players who bring something different to the floor. One of those players is freshman guard Jaland Lowe, whose unique skillset is already catching the attention of his coaches and teammates in Lexington. A Natural Feel for the Game Lowe may not be the loudest voice in the room, but his presence on the court is undeniable. What makes him stand out isn’t just his shooting ability, speed, or defense — it’s his natural feel for the game. Coaches often describe…
When Toledo takes the field against Kentucky this Saturday, don’t expect Rockets head coach Jason Candle to deliver a viral pregame speech. That’s just not his style. Instead, Candle leans on the same steady message he’s preached since winter workouts — one rooted in consistency and culture. That approach has worked. Toledo has become one of the most dependable Group of Five programs in college football, racking up 72 wins since 2016, the most of any MAC team. With one more victory, Candle will pass Gary Pinkel to become the winningest coach in program history. Now, he’s preparing his team…
When Mark Pope took over as Kentucky’s head coach in April 2024, he inherited one of the most unusual situations in program history: a roster with zero returning scholarship players. Forced to start from scratch, Pope and his staff brought in 12 newcomers and pieced together a team that not only competed but exceeded expectations. The Wildcats went 24-12, notched a school-record eight wins over AP Top-15 opponents, and returned to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. Heading into his second season, Pope doesn’t face the same wholesale rebuild. Kentucky brings back four key contributors…
The Duke–North Carolina rivalry has long been the gold standard of college basketball, but in recent years, it hasn’t felt quite the same. The matchups still draw huge audiences, but the intensity hasn’t burned as brightly—especially with the Tar Heels flirting with a possible move to the SEC in the near future. But 2025 promises to change everything. Thanks to two elite freshmen—Duke’s Cameron Boozer and UNC’s Caleb Wilson—this rivalry could return to the must-see spectacle it has always been. Boozer vs. Wilson: Freshmen Firepower Duke and North Carolina both boast top-five recruits for the upcoming season. Boozer enters as…
The 2025-26 college basketball season is nearly here, and all eyes in Lexington are locked on one player: Otega Oweh. Kentucky’s junior guard isn’t just returning as one of the Wildcats’ most experienced players—he’s also stepping into the national spotlight as one of the country’s most dangerous scorers. According to the respected analytics site Bart Torvik, Oweh is projected to finish the season as the No. 11 scorer in all of college basketball, averaging an impressive 18 points per game. For a Kentucky team searching for an offensive leader, that’s exactly the kind of production Big Blue Nation has been…
When ESPN’s Jay Bilas looks at Otega Oweh heading into his senior season at Kentucky, one name surprisingly comes to mind: Tim Duncan. Yes, that Tim Duncan—the Wake Forest legend, Hall of Famer, and five-time NBA champion who built one of the greatest résumés in basketball history. Before Duncan became “The Big Fundamental,” he didn’t rely on massive statistical jumps year to year. Instead, he mastered efficiency, defense, and maturity on the court—skills that ultimately made him the No. 1 pick and a cornerstone for winning teams. Bilas thinks Oweh could be walking that same path in Lexington. “I always…
Mark Pope’s second season at Kentucky just got even more interesting. After months of speculation, transfers, and roster juggling, the Wildcats have officially locked in their 2025-26 roster—and it comes with a surprise twist that fans are going to love. Two familiar faces, senior guard Walker Horn and senior forward Zach Tow, are officially back in blue and white. With their return, Kentucky now has six players running it back from last year’s Sweet 16 squad, a luxury Pope didn’t have during his whirlwind first season in Lexington. Why This Matters for Kentucky Roster turnover has become the new normal…