Martin County has been ravaged by flooding and heavy snowfall, causing widespread devastation throughout the area last week. A big thank you to first responders, the National Guard, emergency and rescue services, churches and those helping with cleanup.
The community has come together in a way that I have never seen before. Response has been quick and people are lending a helping hand to neighbors.
In what is sure to be a massive rebuild, I hope that the recovery is swift.
John Vincent Calipari made a large donation to Governor Andy Beshear’s flood relief fund. He received the boos at Rupp, but Coach Cal knows it is all in good fun. We will cheer and shed tears for his return one day just as we did Rick Pitino this year.
Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have raised over $200,000 and collected supplies at the game and in various places in Lexington.
Amari Williams said after the win over Vanderbilt, “Today, this game meant a lot for us, especially for the people out in Eastern Kentucky in the floods. Just coming out and playing for the state and those guys, that’s the reason why.”
It is great to see the sports community helping in our area.
Speaking of the Wildcats, the SEC is TOUGH this year. We are looking at sending 13 teams to the NCAA tournament.
No one in this conference is an easy win. Which makes what Coach Pope has done thus far this year nothing short of spectacular. We are sitting at ninth in the SEC right now. Just at face value, Cats fans would normally be losing their minds.
But this year is a different kind of beast. We are 18-9 overall in a complete rebuild year. The Cats have been battling injuries since the winter break and our three best guards are out right now.
And we still played right with No. 4 Alabama.
The one game that killed my soul this year was, you guessed it. Arkansas. I still believe if Lamont Butler was healthy, he would have shut Wagner down and that win would be ours.
But what possibly hurt worse is Reed Sheppard? Homegrown Kentucky boy wears an Arkansas shirt paired with UK shorts on game day. I understand supporting your coach and former teammates. But find a different way to do it.
This was the state that raised him. Jeff Sheppard is one of the most beloved players in UK history. He may have made a mistake that puts a stain on his legacy forever.
It is not just a T-shirt. This is Kentucky basketball we are talking about.
But moving on.
The Wildcats have No. 1 Auburn, 15 Missouri, and Oklahoma and LSU remaining.
I am not sure we finish better than 2-2. Normally that would disappoint me.
This season has already surpassed my expectations. The Cats are fun to watch again and the future is bright. Let’s stick with this team and with our coach.
Go Cats.
Brittni McCoy is the sports editor at the Mountain Citizen.