The Mark Pope era got started on a high note last week with Kentucky basketball defeating Kentucky Wesleyan by a final score of 123-52 in the program’s first exhibition matchup of 2024-25. Up next? The second and final exhibition game vs. Minnesota State, a solid test for the Wildcats taking on the reigning NCAA Division II national champions with many familiar faces back for the Mavericks as the preseason No. 1 team in DII.

What do you need to know about the matchup? And how can Big Blue Nation keep up with the game — it’s another ‘computer’ game on SEC Network+, in case you didn’t know.

KSR’s got you covered as we wrap up the games that don’t count before the season opener on Monday.

How To Watch

No. 23 Kentucky vs. Minnesota State Mankato
7 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Oct. 29 | Rupp Arena

• Streaming: SEC Network+ (Darren Headrick, Cameron Mills)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

You can also follow the game via our new LIVE FEED on the website, which will begin 30-45 minutes before tipoff, or join the conversation on KSBoard.

Kentucky Potential Starters

#1 – Lamont Butler
6-2 – 208 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
9.3 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 SPG*

#00 – Otega Oweh
6-4 – 215 – GUARD – JUNIOR
11.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG*

#2 – Jaxson Robinson
6-6 – 192 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
14.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.3 APG*

#7 – Andrew Carr
6-11 – 235 – FORWARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
13.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.5 BPG*

#22 – Amari Williams
7-0 – 262 – CENTER – GRADUATE STUDENT
12.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.8 BPG*

Minnesota State Potential Starters

Kyreese Willingham
6-5 – 210 – GUARD – SENIOR
14.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG*

Justin Eagins
6-3 – 195 – GUARD – SENIOR
12.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.8 APG*

Harrison Braudis
6-2 – 175 – GUARD – SENIOR
5.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG*

Tyrell Stuttley
6-5 – 210 – FORWARD – SENIOR
6.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG*

Malcolm Jones
6-8 – 245 – FORWARD – JUNIOR
6.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG*

Stats via 2023-24 season*

Pregame Storylines

MINNESOTA STATE IS COMING OFF A NATIONAL TITLE

Led by head coach Matt Margenthaler, the Mavericks won the 2023-24 NSIC regular season championship, then the NSIC Tournament title, followed by the NCAA DII Championship — the first in program history. The team finished the year with a 35-2 overall record that included a 17-0 run at home. Mark Pope said he wanted to use these exhibition matchups to take on battle-tested schools with championship experience, and you won’t find one that fits that criteria better than Minnesota State.

RETURNING KYREESE WILLINGHAM AND JUSTIN EAGINS

The Mavericks are returning a handful of pieces from their championship run, namely Kyreese Willingham and Justin Eagins — the former drilling the game-winning three at the buzzer to claim the trophy. Willingham is widely considered one of the best DII players in the country coming off an All-NSIC First Team campaign averaging 14.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest. As for Eagins, he’s an All-NSIC Second Team member, averaging 12.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game a season ago.

NO. 1 IN THE PRESEASON POWER 10

What happens when you bring back the DII March Madness hero, among other crucial pieces in Minnesota State’s title run — including the head coach with 488 career wins and eight conference championships? You’re expected to run it back, the Mavericks entering 2024-25 as the favorite to win the NCAA DII Championship once again. They’re ranked No. 1 in the country by NCAA.com going into the season for those reasons, and they’re opening the year with quite the challenge inside Rupp Arena.

WILL KERR KRIISA PLAY TONIGHT?

Kerr Kriisa was held out of the Blue-White scrimmage with a tweaked hamstring, then missed Kentucky’s first exhibition game vs. KWC. Mark Pope confirmed the injury is minor — “it’s not even a strain,” he said — before the West Virginia transfer went through a full warmup at Rupp Arena with no setbacks. KSR has heard Kriisa will be ready to roll vs. Wright State in the season opener on Monday, but will the Wildcats hold him out in the second exhibition matchup out of precaution? We’ll find out in a couple of hours.

Join The Discussion on KSBoard

Want to interact with the KSR crew during tonight’s game? Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard, where we’ll be sharing live updates as your eyes and ears inside Rupp Arena while also answering questions and providing real-time analysis (and probably complaining about the officiating).

New members can get KSR+ for seven days for just $1 and 50% off the annual price.

Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel

Miss the game? KSR’s got you covered with a Rapid Reaction live from Rupp Arena on the KSR YouTube Channel. We’ll also have wall-to-wall postgame coverage on the website, including highlights, comments from Mark Pope and the players, stats, and takeaways.

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