Kentucky vs Alabama score today: UK basketball highlights from SEC game at Rupp Arena

Posted by Admin January 18, 2025 Basketball

LEXINGTON — Fresh off what inarguably was the greatest season in school history, capped by Alabama‘s first Final Four appearance, Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope lavished praise on his counterpart. Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats, Pope said, “has been incredible” in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and has the program “in a great position,” both this season and those to come.

The Wildcats and Crimson Tide, both ranked among the top 10 in the two major polls (the USA TODAY Coaches and the Associated Press) square off today at Rupp Arena. They double as the two highest-scoring teams in the SEC: Alabama is tied for first nationally (alongside Iowa) at 89.5 points per game, with UK next in line at 88.7.

The Wildcats and Crimson Tide like to push the pace, space the floor and drain 3s.

“They’ve always been so potent, demanding that you guard space,” Pope said. “Their pace is elite. … When you break down their possession usage in the first six seconds and the second six seconds of the shot clock, after makes, that’s actually when they’re the most (dangerous).”

Their similar philosophies offensively is a gift and a curse, Pope believes.

“They’re really, really effective at the rim, and their volume from the 3-point line is intense, right?” said Pope, referring to Alabama’s 31.2 3-point attempts per game, tops in the conference. “They haven’t shot it great, but their volume is always scary. Like on the night when they’re making shots, it’s a long night for their opponent, for sure.”

Follow along below with live updates from Rupp Arena:

The contest between the Wildcats and Crimson Tide will air on ESPN. Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) will have the call.

Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.

You also can stream ESPN on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.

You can also listen online via UKAthletics.com.

Betting odds: Kentucky is a 2-point home favorite (-110) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 179 ½ points (-110). The money line odds are Kentucky -135, Alabama +114.

Oct. 23: exhibition vs. Kentucky Wesleyan ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 123, Kentucky Wesleyan 52
Oct. 29: exhibition vs. Minnesota State Mankato ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 98, Minnesota State Mankato 67
Nov. 4: vs. Wright State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 103, Wright State 62
Nov. 9: vs. Bucknell (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 100, Bucknell 72
Nov. 12: vs. Duke (Champions Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 77, Duke 72
Nov. 19: vs. Lipscomb, (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 97, Lipscomb 68
Nov. 22: vs. Jackson State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 108, Jackson State 59
Nov. 26: vs. Western Kentucky (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 87, Western Kentucky 68
Nov. 29: vs. Georgia State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 105, Georgia State 76
Dec. 3: at Clemson (ACC/SEC Challenge) ∣ SCORE: Clemson 70, Kentucky 66
Dec. 7: vs. Gonzaga (Climate Pledge Arena; Seattle) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 90, Gonzaga 89 (OT)
Dec. 11: vs. Colgate (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 78, Colgate 67
Dec. 14: vs. Louisville (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 93, Louisville 85
Dec. 21: vs. Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York) | SCORE: Ohio State 85, Kentucky 65
Dec. 31: vs. Brown (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 88, Brown 54
Jan. 4: vs. Florida (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 106, Florida 100
Jan. 7: at Georgia | SCORE: Georgia 82, Kentucky 69
Jan. 11: at Mississippi State | SCORE: Kentucky 95, Mississippi State 90
Jan. 14: vs. Texas A&M (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 81, Texas A&M 69
Jan. 18: vs. Alabama (Rupp Arena), noon, ESPN
Jan. 25: at Vanderbilt, 2:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
Jan. 28: at Tennessee, 7 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 1: vs. Arkansas (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 4: at Ole Miss, 7 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 8: vs. South Carolina (Rupp Arena), noon, ESPN/ESPN2
Feb. 11: vs. Tennessee (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 15: at Texas, 8 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 19: vs. Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network
Feb. 22: at Alabama, 6 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 26: at Oklahoma, 9 p.m., SEC Network
March 1: vs. Auburn (Rupp Arena), 1/4 p.m., ABC/ESPN
March 4: vs. LSU (Rupp Arena), 7/9 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
March 8: at Missouri, noon, ESPN/SEC Network

Record: 14-3 (3-1 SEC)

Ansley Almonor (forward, senior)
Koby Brea (guard, graduate)
Lamont Butler (guard, graduate)
Andrew Carr (forward, graduate)
Collin Chandler (guard, freshman)
Grant Darbyshire (guard, junior)
Brandon Garrison (forward, sophomore)
Walker Horn (guard, junior)
Kerr Kriisa (guard, senior)
Trent Noah (forward, freshman)
Otega Oweh (guard, junior)
Travis Perry (guard, freshman)
Jaxson Robinson (guard, graduate)
Amari Williams (center, graduate)

Alabama went 25-12 overall last season, posting a 13-5 mark in SEC play. It reached the Final Four for the first time in program history. Its season ended in an 86-72 loss to eventual national champion UConn in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

The Crimson Tide is 14-3 this season. It had numerous notable wins in nonconference play: Illinois, Houston, Rutgers, North Carolina and Creighton, while dropping games to Purdue and Oregon. Alabama is 3-1 in conference competition, beating Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas A&M but falling to Ole Miss, at home, in its most recent outing.

Though UK is 117-41 all time versus Alabama, the Crimson Tide has earned a split in the last six meetings, with each team notching three victories.

Click here to see the Crimson Tide’s full 2024-25 schedule.

Want to learn the Crimson Tide’s roster?

Click here for player bios and more.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.