Alabama basketball vs Kentucky: Prediction, picks, injury updates

Posted by author January 17, 2025 Basketball

Alabama basketball has some get-backs to give this weekend in Lexington.

Basking in the Top 5 while it still can, the Crimson Tide heads to No. 9 Kentucky looking to return to the win column after falling to No. 21 Ole Miss earlier in the week. Against the 14-3 Wildcats, Alabama coach Nate Oats and company also have a chance to avenge the largest margin of defeat it suffered on last year’s run to the Final Four.

Take a look below for predictions, picks, injury updates, as well as info for how to catch the game.

Alabama basketball vs Kentucky prediction, picks

Kentucky 91, Alabama 89: After losing its undefeated home streak in Coleman Coliseum to Ole Miss, Alabama (14-3) looks to snap the 11-0 record Kentucky has put together in Rupp Arena this season. The Crimson Tide will be hungry after falling 117-95 to the Wildcats last February, now tasked with a UK offense that new coach Mark Pope has modeled after that of Oats.

Should UA recover from its cold night against the Rebels, Saturday could be a shootout between the No. 1 and No. 3 offenses in the country. That being said, Kentucky’s perimeter defense is holding opponents to just 28.1%, ranking 10th in the country and fourth in the SEC behind Tennessee, Florida and Oklahoma. In the conference opener, UK limited Florida to 29% from 3-point range while Kentucky shot 44% beyond the arc in the first half, which gave the Cats the winning edge to outlast UF, 106-100, at home.

Kentucky’s forced turnover rate plays heaviest in Alabama’s favor. Ole Miss forced a season-high 21 turnovers on the Crimson Tide, which gets a much-needed break from a UK defense that’s forcing just about 11 to tie for 290th in the country. Still, UA is turning the ball over approximately 13 times per contest. When Kentucky faced Florida, there were 13 turnovers between both teams in the entire game.

ESPN’s matchup predictor lists Kentucky as a 52.4% favorite. For a win in the Bluegrass State, Alabama has to bring the gritty mentality it forgot after recording a season-low in Blue Collar points versus Ole Miss.

Injury updates for Alabama basketball vs Kentucky

The Crimson Tide is down three players in Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Achilles tendon), Houston Mallette (knees) and most recent IR addition Derrion Reid (undisclosed). Reid, who suffered a flare-up from an offseason ankle injury before South Dakota State, could have his status for Kentucky updated as soon as 12:30 p.m. Friday, when Oats meets with media members.

Kerr Kriisa (ankle) has been sidelined for the Wildcats since Dec. 7 against Gonzaga with no timetable of a return, although he’s due to start rehab soon.

How to watch Alabama basketball vs Kentucky: Time, TV channel, livestream

Alabama takes Rupp Arena for the third road trip of its conference schedule. The Crimson Tide will tip off in Wildcat territory at 11 a.m. CT tipoff. ESPN+ and Fubo will stream Saturday’s game, which will be broadcast on ESPN.

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Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.