Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky native Kenny Rice is a University of Kentucky graduate and a former TV sports anchor in Lexington who went on to work for ESPN and NBC-TV covering a variety of sports.
He has worked the Olympics but is probably best known for his work with thoroughbred horse racing, where he has become a fixture on NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage and will be part of the Derby crew again next week at Churchill Downs.
Rice, though, still follows UK sports and like most UK fans has his own take on freshman Travis Perry deciding to transfer after playing one season for coach Mark Pope.
Rice understood Perry could accept limited playing time at UK next year and, hopefully, parlay a UK career into job opportunities in the state after graduation or transfer, find the right fit to play more, and get a degree that could open other doors for him.
“Pope has to recruit the way he is because that is best for the program,” Rice said on WPBK-FM Thursday. “I don’t know how Travis fits into next year’s team. If he had hung around, maybe he could have had a Cameron Mills-type role, or maybe not.
“But to me, there has got to be some appreciation for a college player and not just players about NIL money or NBA futures. I hope he is thinking about a school that fits him, where he can have a nice three more years, get his degree, and then maybe go into business or whatever he wants. Who knows exactly what ideas he has for his life.”
Rice believes former UK coach John Calipari started the mentality of judging a player by his NBA potential/success.
“I had friends who had never watched the NBA, but Calipari got to Kentucky and they got excited about draft picks,” Rice said. “That has led to evaluating too many kids by whether they can play in the NBA and how much NIL money they are getting. Some kids still play for the love of the game, and I wish Travis well.”
Rice recently called the 2025 U.S. Open Polo Championship that will air on ESPN2 Saturday morning. He says he would rather be doing that than “be the main announcer for some obscure college basketball conference tournament.” He understands why Perry wants to go to a school where he can get more playing time.
“Here we are two or three years into NIL and Travis is considered an old-school player now for his attitude and love of the game,” Rice said. “I enjoyed watching him in the state tournament. He is a good shooter. I am happy to see somebody who plays for the love of the game.
“Not everybody has to play for Kentucky to enjoy their life. I think Travis made the right call and will get to play more where he goes than he would have at Kentucky next year, and I wish him the best.”
19 Responses
So far supposedly Ole Miss Alabama and Western Kentucky are his top 3. That’s the word on the street. With Arkansas Louisville Iowa and Purdue getting good luck as well in the Perry sweepstakes. To me Purdue Iowa and Western Kentucky seem like the best fits.
Noah could have done the same thing but he’s staying because he received more playing time than he thought he would his first year! Did Perry think he was going to start or play much more? He wasn’t ready and the more I read about this the more mad Inter that he thinks he’s entitled to playing time on a loaded roster. I remember some people were saying he was on Reed Shappards level which is hilarious. He couldn’t hold Reeds Water bottle. It doesn’t matter where he goes if its a power 5 conference it won’t take the coach to long to see he is a liability on defense and if he’s shooting 32% from 3 which I think he improves on he won’t play. He can’t play unless u want the other team to go after him every time?!
Little hard on the kid don’t ya think? I’d say transferring just about ripped his heart out of his chest bc it’s any Kentucky kids dream to play there. I wish him nothing but the best and hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to go, AS LONG AS IT ISN’T ARKANSAS OR TENNESSEE
Or Loserville
Easy Terry. I have never once heard Travis Perry or anyone connected with him saying he was entitled to playing time. Not sure where you read or heard that.
Superior point! Thanks, Larry. I had that thought, but did not address it.
As you may have noticed, if you saw any of my comments about the all-time leading scorer in the history of Kentucky HS BB – I get quite rankled when Perry is put down in any fashion.
Ford, Farmer, Lofton, Terry Mills (playing for Rupp, with Issel, Pratt, Casey!), Cameron Mills – so many guards who were fortunately given the opportunity to play for UK… except Lofton who made the people in Mason County so upset about not being given a scholarship to UK, one of the rare sports stores in town had a major display of TN gear which was a big hit among many avid Lofton fans, even though they were life-long UK fans as well as many alumni.
Don’t forget about Ronnie Lyons.
He’s the nicest young man that I’ve ever met. I can’t imagine him thinking that he was owed or entitled to anything.
Every negative word, opinion, description regarding Travis Perry is absolutely pathetic.
Travis Ford, Richie Farmer, Cameron Mills would not have gotten a chance to play for the fraud. And it sadly seems that Coach Pope would not given them any significant PT, so UK fans would never have known how great they were.
To those who have any negative comments about Travis Perry, it shows their lack of appreciating the players who play FOR UK and not FOR themselves. Having to transfer away from the school embedded in the heart of a Kentuckian, to get to play the game they love and have dedicated thousands of hours to play their best is a traumatic change for any freshmen.
I hope Perry goes where a coach knows how to run an offense with ALL players moving without the ball and screens are set for the players who are true shooter.
For anyone to Throw out the 32% stat from 3 is NOT reasonable or fair, when playing sporadic minutes instead of getting 15-20 minutes in early season blow outs to get adjusted to college ball.
To repeatedly comment about Perry making 500 of 600 threes and 100 straight FT’s and then not set up any plays to let him use his ability to shoot does not make any sense!
Keep your negative opinions to yourself bout Perry. Every player has shortages in part of their game. It does not mean they should be a bench rider.
VERY WELL SAID LITTLE BARON
Thank your VERY MUCH, Rodney!!!
I really appreciate the genuine UK fans who realize it encompasses the great KY HS players!
It didn’t take long for the Big Boohoo Nation to turn on Pope. It wouldn’t matter if Perry hit five three’s a game if the guy he’s guarding scores twenty five.
I just wonder with all the negative talk by some of our BBN fans had some impact on Perry decision to leave.
It would have had on me Cats79
The BBN has always been player bashers. There were many Cal players that were unfairly targeted. Now just because Perry is a Ky kid he should get special treatment? I don’t know what went on but it seems Perry was afraid of competition. Why didn’t he stay and fight for playing time? Did Pope tell him he was going to sit the bench? It seems to me that he won’t be guaranteed playing time at the schools that are supposedly after him unless they are desperate. Was he after more NIL money? I’m sure the guys brought in will make more than he would have. If he can’t take criticism, then he’s in for a hard road ahead. Kentucky don’t need players that are afraid to compete for playing time or has to be babied.
An excellent & ever so valid point, Cats79!! We know it sure didn’t help!
At some point, we have to learn to deal with criticism. I think the best thing these players could do is get off social media completely.
I think he is making the right move there ate still 3 sex schools that will pick him up and he will see more playing time with plays designed for a shooter Michigan alsi is interested in him and yes its a shame he can’t continue with the cats i just started back watching them this past season I hadn’t watched them since saul the dribbling ace was there and played for his daddy and turned the ball over 10 times a game Kentucky Basketball use to mean something
If I was younger, I would want all the playing time that I could get at a sex school. 🙂