GARY B. GRAVES
Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky speaks as he is introduced as The Associated Press men's basketball player of the year, in New Orleans, Friday, April 1, 2022. The 6-foot-9, 255-pound junior received 46 of 60 votes from a national media panel. Wisconsin's Johnny Davis was second with 10 votes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Kentucky's Tshiebwe looks to expand his game next season

By Gary B. Graves Apr. 22, 2022 03:08 PM EDT
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Oscar Tshiebwe quickly learned achieving his dream of being an

Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe, right, drives to the basket ahead of Saint Peter's forward Fousseyni Drame (10) during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe to return for senior season

By Gary B. Graves Apr. 20, 2022 01:56 PM EDT
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe will return for his senior year

Louisville names ex-Duke assistant Smith to Cardinals staff

By Gary B. Graves Apr. 11, 2022 03:34 PM EDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville coach Kenny Payne has named former Duke staffer

Saint Peter's Hassan Drame (14) dunks during the second half of a college basketball game against Murray State in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Saint Peter's is 3rd 15 seed in Sweet 16, beats Murray State

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 19, 2022 11:10 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Undersized in every way, Saint Peter's became the latest NCAA

Colorado State forward James Moors (10) drives past Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tennessee, Michigan square off with Sweet 16 berth at stake

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 18, 2022 06:08 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tennessee has already gone farther in the NCAA Tournament than

Kenny Payne, new head coach of the Louisville NCAA men's college basketball team, speaks during an introductory press conference at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., Friday, March 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Kenny Payne ready for many challenges as Louisville coach

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 18, 2022 12:34 PM EDT
Kenny Payne made clear he will need help as he begins a huge mission with his first

San Francisco forward Patrick Tape, right, tries to steal the ball from Murray State forward KJ Williams (0) during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Murray State edges San Francisco 92-87 in overtime

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 18, 2022 01:18 AM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Games like this require veteran leadership, which KJ Williams and

St. Peter's guard Daryl Banks III (5) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of a college basketball game against Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Saint Peter's shocks No. 2 seed Kentucky 85-79 in OT

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 17, 2022 10:01 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Saint Peter's acted like it had been there before.

AP source: Louisville to hire Kenny Payne as men's coach

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 16, 2022 04:37 PM EDT
Louisville and Kenny Payne have agreed on a deal for the former Cardinals player and

Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) celebrates after an NCAA college basketball game against Florida, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
Engaging Tshiebwe thriving on, off the court with Kentucky

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 14, 2022 01:50 PM EDT
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — An engaging Oscar Tshiebwe has won over Kentucky basketball

Kentucky's Kellan Grady (31) shoots while defended by Mississippi's Luis Rodriguez during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
No. 7 Kentucky uses hot shooting to top Mississippi 83-72

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 01, 2022 09:17 PM EST
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Back at full strength offensively, No. 7 Kentucky showed how

Kentucky's Jacob Toppin (0) shoots while defended by LSU's Xavier Pinson, middle, and Tari Eason, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Hopkins helps No. 6 Kentucky rally, then survive LSU 71-66

By Gary B. Graves Feb. 23, 2022 11:41 PM EST
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Having seen his fellow Kentucky reserves shine when given the

Kentucky head coach John Calipari reacts to a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. Kentucky won 90-81. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Grady's 25 spark No. 4 Kentucky's rally past No. 25 Alabama

By Gary B. Graves Feb. 19, 2022 03:32 PM EST
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Knowing his team would have to do more with less meant Kellan

LSU forward Tari Eason (13) drives past Georgia's Jaxon Etter (11) during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)
No. 16 Tennessee, No. 23 Arkansas two of SEC's hottest teams

By Gary B. Graves Feb. 18, 2022 03:22 AM EST
A look at weekend action around the Southeastern Conference: Two of the

Murray State guard KJ Willams (0) drives down court on a steal from Morehead State forward LJ Bryan, Jr (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morehead, Ky., Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/John Flavell)
Brown, Williams rally No. 23 Murray St past Morehead St

By Gary B. Graves Feb. 12, 2022 06:58 PM EST
MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — KJ Williams didn't worry about fouling out. Nor did No. 23

Vanderbilt's Scotty Pippen Jr. (2) drives while defended by Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe (34) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Kentucky won 77-70. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Mintz has 21 points, No. 5 Kentucky beats Vanderbilt 77-70

By Gary B. Graves Feb. 02, 2022 09:38 PM EST
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky had to fight for everything it got against Vanderbilt,

Louisville interim head coach Mike Pegues instructs his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. Duke won 74-65. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Griffin's 22 points lift No. 9 Duke past Louisville 74-65

By Gary B. Graves Jan. 29, 2022 02:22 PM EST
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — AJ Griffin didn't hesitate as he twice got the ball in his

FILE - Louisville interim coach Mike Pegues reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Detroit Mercy in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 20, 2021. Pegues fared well in his debut as Louisville’s interim coach, starting this season with a pair of Power 5 victories and a tournament title while Chris Mack was suspended. Pegues’ mission is more critical the second time around as he must salvage the remainder of the Cardinals’ disappointing season. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
Louisville's Pegues set for challenge, 'not my first rodeo'

By Gary B. Graves Jan. 28, 2022 05:34 PM EST
A relaxed-looking Mike Pegues said he is ready for the challenge ahead as Louisville

Louisville men's basketball coach Chris Mack speaks to reporters outside the team's practice facility in Louisville, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Louisville’s Board of Trustees and the school's Athletic Association have scheduled a joint meeting for Wednesday amid a report that coach Chris Mack will soon be out. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Mack out as Louisville hoops coach, Pegues named interim

By Gary B. Graves Jan. 26, 2022 06:10 PM EST
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Chris Mack is out as Louisville men’s basketball coach.

Former Louisville player Russ Smith watches as his jersey is hung in the rafters at the KFC Yum! Center during his number retirement ceremony at the NCAA college basketball game between Notre Dame and Louisville in Louisville, Ky. Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (Pat McDonogh/Courier Journal via AP)
Russ Smith all smiles as Louisville retires his No. 2 jersey

By Gary B. Graves Jan. 22, 2022 05:57 PM EST
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Worried that he might become emotional, Russ Smith simply