@CoachRyanKY
(LEXINGTON) — Big Blue Nation needed a pick-me-up after enduring a marathon featuring some of the most miserable football human eyes have ever seen. A sold-out, historic Memorial Coliseum offered just that as the #20 Kentucky Women’s Basketball team played host to the #18 Louisville Cardinals in Kenny Brooks’ fourth game roaming the sidelines for the blue and white. The energy was palpable, the excitement extraordinary, and the basketball excellent. For many, this proved that the recent hire of Brooks was more than just a “promising” move — but a masterstroke by Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart.
In a weekend that saw Kentucky land two major recruits, Kaelyn Carroll and Maddyn Greenway, Brooks capped it off with an exhilarating 71-61 overtime victory, showing that Kentucky is here now and will be a force to be reckoned with in the foreseeable future.
When Mitch Barnhart announced that he had hired Kenny Brooks as the new head coach last spring, the decision sent shockwaves across the women’s college basketball landscape. Brooks, coming off a successful stint at Virginia Tech that included a Final Four appearance in 2023, made it clear from day one that he felt Kentucky was a “sleeping giant that needed to be awakened.” After last night’s events, it is safe to say the giant has begun to rustle awake.
Brooks’ fingerprints were all over the game and could be seen in Kentucky’s relentless defensive effort, unselfish play, and poise in an overtime period that saw the Cardinals score zero points.
The foundation blocks are set. This victory was more than just a win—it was a statement. The college basketball world was put on notice that Kentucky has quickly put the Kyra Elzy disaster in the rearview mirror, with all eyes forward on going somewhere the program has never been before: a Final Four.
I personally think Kenny Brooks is the man to do it.
Notable Performances
• Teonni Key: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks
• Clara Strack: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
• Georgia Amoore: 19 points, 9 assists, 2 steals
• Dazia Lawrence: 14 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds
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