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Octavious Oxendine disputes rivalry notion between UK programs: ‘We’re all-around kicking butt’
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Octavious Oxendine is looking to help lead Kentucky back to a bowl game in 2023 with another strong defensive effort. A season ago, Oxendine helped lead a unit that was 13th in the country while allowing 19.2 points per game.
Oxendine was among the attendees for the Wildcats at SEC Media Days in Nashville. During his turn with the media, Oxendine was asked about the public comments exchanged between Kentucky head coaches Mark Stoops and John Calipari a season ago.
Oxendine was asked if there is a friendly rivalry of sorts across programs, but he disputed the notion. He maintained there are a number of strong relationships between players of both teams:
I feel there’s no type of rivalry there at all just because we always keep with the basketball guys. I was telling a reporter earlier today, those are my guys. Shout-out to my guys. Canada earlier at Jake’s house. They had fantastic time playing basketball up there. And our recruiting class we just got in basketball, like they’re the guys.
We’re doing good on both sides right now. I feel like we’re an all-around good sports school. We’ve always been top 20 all around. Tennis, volleyball. Anything we do in sports at Kentucky, I feel like we’re the top of the line.
Kentucky a football school?
As a follow-up, Oxendine was asked if he considers Kentucky has become a football school. He did not agree with that idea, saying the Wildcats are “all-around kicking butt” with strong showings throughout the athletic department.
“I feel like all-around school, like I just said. We’re top 20. You guys can probably pull it up somewhere,” said Oxendine. “Our soccer team is always good. Volleyball just won the national championship a couple years ago. Basketball team just did the same, as well, the women’s. I mean, we’re all-around. We’re all-around kicking butt at UK.”
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
