UK Sports Network Announces Changes to the 2026-27 Edition of ‘Countdown to Tipoff’

Now broadcasting live from Spectrum Studio on gamedays, the show will feature returning Kentucky basketball legends and National Champions Jack “Goose” Givens and Cameron Mills alongside broadcaster Andrew Kappes, with UK Sports Network Sideline Host and Reporter Michelle Knezovic and UK Men’s Basketball Beat Reporter Ben Roberts joining the line-up this season.

Building on its legacy as a radio staple, Countdown to Tipoff Driven by Jack Burford Chevrolet is evolving into a simulcast across radio and streaming platforms, giving Big Blue Nation more ways to tune in on their preferred platforms. Spectrum Studio’s state-of-the-art facilities – including multiple stage set-ups and interactive LED videoboards – will also enable new programming elements for fans, from special guests like UK Basketball legend Dan Issel to the potential for a live studio audience.

“The excitement around Kentucky Basketball is special, and we are bringing more of that energy to gameday,” UK Athletics Director and Champions Blue CEO J Batt said. “Our state-of-the-art Spectrum Studio gives the UK Sports Network a home right in the heart of the action at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. It is a great showcase for Kentucky Basketball, UK Sports Network, Rupp Arena, and Spectrum Studio, and another way we are bringing Big Blue Nation closer to Kentucky Basketball.”

This season’s show will also introduce a new collaboration with the UK College of Communication and Information, as a dedicated “Countdown to Tipoff” class debuts this semester. Now, students can gain hands-on experience supporting the show’s programming and production while developing skills for careers in sports media. The collaboration further strengthens the connection between UK Athletics and the UK College of Communication and Information to create new opportunities for students to apply their coursework in a live sports broadcasting environment at home in Lexington.

HOW TO WATCH

Countdown to Tipoff Driven by Jack Burford Chevrolet airs live 90 minutes before every game to preview the opposing team, break down key matchups and storylines, and feature analysis from two former Wildcat National Champions and the reporters who cover the program daily:

Season Debut: Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 5:30PM ET (Prior to UK v. Manhattan at 7PM ET)
Cadence: 90 minutes before every UK Men’s Basketball tipoff
Live Broadcast: NewsRadio 630 WLAP, UKSN All-Access (uksn.ukathletics.com), and the ESPN app
Social Media: UK Sports Network (X and Facebook)
MEET THE LINEUP
Michelle Knezovic | Co-Host (New)
Michelle Knezovic joins Countdown to Tipoff Driven by Jack Burford Chevrolet as a Co-Host this season, adding to her roster of UK Athletics coverage that also includes The Kentucky Basketball Podcast and additional sideline reporting, bringing fans one-on-one conversations with the players, coaches, and people core to Cats programs. Knezovic has been with the UK Sports Network as a Digital Producer, Reporter, and Host for two and a half years. Prior to that, she was a daily sports talk radio host in Nashville, TN, and worked as a freelance reporter for ESPN+. Knezovic holds a bachelor’s degree from UK’s College of Communication and Information and a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University.

Andrew Kappes | Co-Host
A Kentucky native, Andrew Kappes is a play-by-play broadcaster with experience across professional baseball and college athletics. He has served as a TV and radio broadcaster for the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, after serving as lead broadcaster for the Bowling Green Hot Rods. He has also called Division I college basketball and soccer in Kentucky on ESPN platforms. Kappes returns to Countdown to Tipoff Driven by Jack Burford Chevrolet after helping lead the show last season.

Ben Roberts | Reporter (New)
Ben Roberts, who recently launched the independent website InsideKentuckyBasketball.com after spending more than 20 years at the Lexington Herald-Leader, joins the show as a reporter after years covering UK Men’s Basketball. At both outlets, he played a crucial role in covering Cats Basketball with the latest in program news, recruiting developments, roster management, and additional men’s basketball-centric storylines. He is a graduate of the UK College of Communication and Information and will bring his expertise as a longtime journalist on the Kentucky basketball beat to Countdown to Tipoff Driven by Jack Burford Chevrolet coverage.

Jack “Goose” Givens | Analyst
One of the most celebrated players in Kentucky history, Jack “Goose” Givens grew up in Lexington and was named Kentucky’s “Mr. Basketball” at Bryan Station High School before committing to UK in 1974. He led Kentucky to the 1978 National Championship, scoring 41 points in the 94-88 title-game win over Duke, the third-highest total ever in an NCAA championship game. After playing for the Atlanta Hawks, Givens worked as a college and NBA television expert analyst. He is now the radio expert analyst for the UK Sports Network alongside Tom Leach. His memoir, They Call Me Goose: My Life in Kentucky Basketball and Beyond, was published by the University Press of Kentucky in 2024.

Cameron Mills | Analyst
A Lexington native and the son of former Wildcat Terry Mills, Cameron Mills starred at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and turned down a scholarship offer from Georgia to walk on at Kentucky. He won National Championships with the Wildcats in 1996 and 1998 and was part of the 1997 national runner-up team. His three-pointer against Duke in the 1998 Elite Eight gave Kentucky its first lead in one of the greatest comebacks in program history. Mills has hosted his own radio show, ran WKYT’s “Cameron’s Keys” pregame segment, and co-produced Kentucky basketball documentaries with Dick Gabriel. He joined the UK Sports Network’s pregame coverage in 2022.

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ABOUT UK ATHLETICS
UK Athletics is a leader in college sports, sponsoring 23 varsity sports teams (12 women’s teams, 10 men’s teams, plus the coed rifle team) and hundreds of student-athletes, competing for championships, ensuring their education and well-being, and providing opportunities for the present and future.

With the leadership of Athletics Director/CEO J Batt, UK Athletics operates as Champions Blue, LLC. The non-profit holding company, a first of its kind in college athletics, is designed to provide the department with the flexibility to unlock new revenue streams through public-private partnerships and potentially other transactions, such as real estate.

ABOUT THE UK SPORTS NETWORK
The UK Sports Network is the official multimedia rights holder of the University of Kentucky Athletics, delivering radio, television, digital and social coverage of the Wildcats. Fans can get exclusive shows, interviews and behind-the-scenes content on UKSN All-Access, presented by UK Credit Union, at uksn.ukathletics.com.

ABOUT JMI SPORTS
JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company that provides management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and project management expertise for the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company serves to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies.

JMI Sports’ signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships include the University of Kentucky, UCLA, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, Columbia University, San Diego State University, University of California at San Diego, University of San Diego, and joint-venture properties at the University of Georgia (with Learfield), University of Notre Dame (with Legends), and Northwestern University (with Legends). JMI Sports also represents multimedia rights for several conferences, including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League, and the Atlantic 10, and serves as third-party sales representation for premier sports properties, venues, and events including Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, the Rose Bowl, the Penn Relays, and USA Volleyball.