Big Blue Brew 4/16: Cats in the NBA Playoffs

Check out which former men's basketball players you can see in the NBA Playoffs.

Author

Big Blue Brew Crew
April 16, 2026

🔵The Official Daily Newsletter For Kentucky Athletics

Good Morning, Wildcats. After a successful WNBA Draft, the former men’s basketball Cats are in the spotlight in the NBA Playoffs.

What all do we have stirring in today’s Brew?

🎾 Men advance in SEC Tourney
🏀 Cats in NBA Playoffs
🔵 And much, much more!

2 Cats Nominated

Josh Kattus and Zoe Hammond have been nominated for the 2026 H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship by the University of Kentucky. The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship has been presented by the SEC since 1986 to the league’s top male and female scholar-athletes. The winner will be announced in May!

https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/04/14/josh-kattus-zoe-hammond-nominated-for-2026-h-boyd-mcwhorter-award/

Want More?

🔼 Advancing! The men’s tennis team won in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Championship on Wednesday. The Cats beat No. 14 seed Arkansas 4-2. The men will move on to play No. 12 Georgia (No. 6 seed) at 3pm ET today. Kentucky dropped the doubles point but came back to win four singles matches to take the victory.

🔼 Shutout. The softball team beat Northern Kentucky 6-0 on Wednesday. Reaghan Oney went 4-for-4 at the plate with three singles and a go-ahead two-run home run. McKenzie Oslanzi went the distance in a complete-game shutout, allowing no runs on only four hits with five strikeouts for her fourth win of the season in the circle.

Stat Check.

The baseball team is ##-## overall this season.

Got a guess? Check below for the answer!

🔵 ONE BIG THING

Don’t Miss It. The NBA Playoffs are here! After leading the NBA with the most players on opening-day rosters and the most to play in this year’s NBA All-Star Game, it should come as no surprise that the Kentucky men’s basketball program will also lead the way with 22 players participating in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Of the 20 teams comprising the playoff field, 16 feature former UK players. Six teams have multiple Wildcats.

Thursday, April 16

👟 Track & Field Wake Forest Invitational
🤸 Gymnastics NCAA Championships (Individuals)
🎾 Men’s Tennis SEC Championship vs. No. 12 Georgia (No. 6 seed) @ 3pm ET

Friday, April 17

⛳️ Women’s Golf SEC Championship
👟 Track & Field Tom Jones Memorial Invitational/Wake Forest Invitational
🥎 Softball at Alabama @ 6pm ET
🏐 Volleyball vs. Louisville @ 6pm ET | Exhibition | Tickets
⚾️ Baseball vs. Vanderbilt @ 6:30pm ET 

Saturday, April 18

👟 Track & Field Tom Jones Memorial Invitational
🏈 Football Spring Game @ 11am ET
⚾️ Baseball vs. Vanderbilt @ 2pm ET
🥎 Softball at Alabama @ 2:30pm ET 

Sunday, April 19

⚾️ Baseball vs. Vanderbilt @ 1pm ET
🥎 Softball at Alabama @ 2:30pm ET
⚽️ Women’s Soccer vs. Eastern Kentucky @ 7pm ET | Exhibition

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Answer: 25-10!

🔵 Have a great Thursday, y’all!