Coach Mark Pope and the Kentucky basketball team are back in action on Tuesday night. Last time out, they dominated in a matchup with Jackson State. Tonight, they’ll face off with an in-state foe: the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Western Kentucky started the season slow, losing their first two games to Wichita State and then Grand Canyon. Since then, however, they have won three straight, two of which came against Jackson St and Lipscomb, who the Wildcats also played this year.
Related: SEC basketball power rankings for week four
Kentucky is currently 5 – 0 on the season, and has moved into the top ten in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, at number eight. They’re also number eight in the AP Top 25.
The Hilltoppers offense has been good so far, averaging 81 points per game. Defensively, they’ve struggled at times, though. They rank 215th in the nation in scoring defense, so the Wildcats will look to put up a big point total once again.
It should be a fun game against an in-state rival for Kentucky. Here’s how to watch the game, including channel, time, and streaming information.
Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
TV Channel: ESPNU
Start Time: 6:30 PM ET
Kentucky vs. Western KY will broadcast nationally on ESPNU in Week four of the 2024-25 college basketball season. Roy Philpot and Pat Bradley will call the game.
Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Kentucky 89 – Western KY 77
Western Kentucky defends the three point shot very well, and will look to make the Wildcats score in other ways. If they can do that, they can keep Kentucky close. The talent gap still favors the Cats, but it could be closer than fans would like.
Odds: Kentucky -22.5
O/U: 165.5
All college basketball odds via BetMGM.
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
- Nov 4: vs Wright St (W, 103-62)
- Nov 9: vs Bucknell (W, 100-72)
- Nov 12: vs Duke (W, 77-72)
- Nov 19: vs Lipscomb (W, 97-68)
- Nov 22: vs Jackson St (W, 108-59)
- Nov 26: vs Western KY
- Nov 29: vs Georgia St
Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
- Nov 4: vs Wichita St (L, 91-84)
- Nov 9: at Grand Canyon (L, 74-72)
- Nov 12: vs Campbellsville (W, 104-76)
- Nov 17: vs Lipscomb (W, 66-61)
- Nov 20: vs Jackson St (W, 79-62)
- Nov 26: at Kentucky
- Nov 30: vs Marshall
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