When Kenny Brooks left Virginia Tech for Kentucky last March, Wildcat fans were optimistic about the program’s future—and for good reason. His success in Blacksburg suggested he could bring similar results to Lexington, and he certainly made an impact in his first season.
Brooks benefited from having Georgia Amoore and Clara Strack follow him from Virginia Tech while also making key additions through the transfer portal, a common strategy among coaches. As a result, Kentucky hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament last weekend. However, their season came to an end in overtime against Kansas State on Sunday.
This week, several Kentucky players entered the transfer portal, including freshman Clara Silva, who originally committed to Virginia Tech in 2023 while Brooks was still there. On Saturday, Cassidy Rowe, who had committed under former coach Matthew Mitchell and was determined to stay at Kentucky, announced she would not be returning for her final year of eligibility. The reported reason for her departure has sparked frustration among the Wildcat fanbase.
Kenny Brooks upsets Kentucky fanbase with decision on Cassidy Rowe’s future
Rowe, a point guard, announced on Instagram that she would forgo her final year of eligibility to pursue a career in physical therapy. According to Phoenix Stevens of On3, Rowe was asked to transfer, but her deep loyalty to Kentucky meant she would never consider playing elsewhere. As a result, her college basketball career has come to an early end with a year still remaining. This news did not sit well with Kentucky fans.
https://x.com/ukbear03/status/1906100918698807327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1906100918698807327%7Ctwgr%5E02d50ad57dd11a7b11f0342c9b54bd9752eadadd%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffightinggobbler.com%2Fformer-virginia-tech-coach-kenny-brooks-infuriates-kentucky-fanbase-with-tone-deaf-decision
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During his preseason media session, Brooks spoke about Rowe, saying, “Some players were already in the portal. And when Cassidy talked about her experiences here, I could have sworn she was shedding blue tears… I asked her why, and she hesitated, stumbling over her words. That was enough for me.”
https://x.com/BleedBlueCasey/status/1906148515387953257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1906148515387953257%7Ctwgr%5E02d50ad57dd11a7b11f0342c9b54bd9752eadadd%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffightinggobbler.com%2Fformer-virginia-tech-coach-kenny-brooks-infuriates-kentucky-fanbase-with-tone-deaf-decision
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This would leave Kentucky’s roster with few, if any, players from the previous coaching staff’s tenure. However, the way this transition unfolded was not what Wildcats fans had anticipated. The roster-building process for the 2025-26 season will certainly be intriguing in Lexington. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech fans may not be shocked by how things played out.
