LEXINGTON, Ky. — College football is starting, but here are five basketball notes worth mentioning for 2022-23:
1. Western Kentucky is positioning itself for a strong season
Rick Stansbury’s Western Kentucky Hilltoppers picked up a significant transfer this week when Emmanuel Akot decommitted from Memphis and enrolled at WKU.
Akot averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists for Boise State last season. The Broncos finished 27-8 with a 64-53 loss to Memphis in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
He joins a Western team that returns point guard Dayvion McKnight, who averaged 16.2 points and 5.5 assists last season. The Toppers also have 7-foot-4 shot blocker Jamarion Sharp, as well as Jairus Hamilton (12.7 points per game last year) and Luke Frampton (8.8). And after a 19-13 record last season, WKU also added UK transfer Dontaie Allen, as well as Indiana transfer Khristian Lander.
2. Johni Broome an impact guy at Auburn
Kentucky wasn’t the only SEC team to take an exhibition tour this summer. Besides the Wildcats’ trip to the Bahamas, Arkansas visited Italy and Auburn played a series of games in Israel.
As for Auburn, former Morehead State star Johni Broome showed he will be a major factor for Bruce Pearl’s Tigers. The 6-10 forward scored 17 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots in Auburn’s opening game, a 117-56 romp over Israel’s U-20 National Team. He followed that with 18 points on 9-for-13 shooting in Auburn’s second game. He finished the trip with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the Tigers’ 95-86 loss to the Israel National Team.
3. Keyontae Johnson cleared to play
Keyontae Johnson has finally been cleared to play in a basketball game after collapsing on the court during Florida’s game against Florida State on Dec. 12, 2020. But Johnson won’t be playing for the Gators.
The 6-5 guard from Norfolk, Va., has transferred to Kansas State, where he will play for first-year coach Jerome Tang, the former Baylor assistant. Johnson averaged 14.0 points and 7.1 assists in 2019-20 and was named the SEC’s preseason player of the year for 2020-21. He was part of the Florida team last season but played in only one game, a brief ceremonial appearance on the Gators’ Senior Day.
Johnson reportedly will forfeit a $5 million insurance policy if he plays in 10 games this season.
By the way, Kansas State plays host to Florida in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 28, 2023.
4. More streaming coming to college basketball
The Big Ten’s new television rights megadeal worth $7 billion includes a strong streaming component. In fact, Illinois Athletics Director Josh Whitman recently said that 20% of Big Ten basketball games will be streamed on NBC’s Peacock streaming network. “It’s a growing platform. It’s one we’re excited to work with,” Whitman said.
As many as 47 regular-season Big Ten men’s basketball games will be shown on Peacock. As well, 30 women’s Big Ten basketball games may be shown on Peacock. All for a subscription cost, of course.
Kentucky’s football opener Sept. 3 against Miami (Ohio) will be shown exclusively on ESPN streaming network ESPN+. And look for more SEC basketball games to be shown on ESPN+ as well. And the World Wide Leader just raised the price of ESPN+ from $69.99 annually to $99.99.
5. North Carolina will be your preseason No. 1
Despite Kentucky’s blowout wins in the Bahamas, North Carolina remains No. 1 in ESPN’s Top 25 for the 2022-23 season. And with good reason.
The Tar Heels return four starters from last year’s national runner-up team. Plus, Coach Hubert Davis has added Pete Nance, a 6-10 forward who averaged 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season at Northwestern. Nance was 42 of 93 from 3-point range for 45.2% while shooting 49.7 overall from the floor.
Add his presence to a lineup that includes Armando Bacot (16.3 points per game last season), Caleb Love (15.9), R.J. Davis (13.5) and Leaky Black (4.9). The Heels also signed three four-star prospects in Seth Trimble, Tyler Nickel and Jalen Washington.
