Kentucky vs Vanderbilt score today: UK basketball updates, highlights from SEC contest

Posted by author February 19, 2025 Basketball

LEXINGTON — Andrew Carr started to assess more blame to the Kentucky basketball frontcourt for turnover issues in last month’s loss at Vanderbilt.

Then, the fifth-year senior forward corrected himself.

“When you have 17 turnovers,” Carr said, referencing the Wildcats‘ total in the 74-69 defeat, “it’s really on everybody.”

The tally remains the most giveaways UK coach Mark Pope‘s team has had in a game this season. And it was uncharacteristic for a group that commits just 10.5 turnovers per outing, the fifth-best figure in the 16-team SEC.

“Like, our life depends on it,” Carr said. “‘Win every catch’ is what we talk about all the time. Every loose ball, every 50-50 ball, we’ve got to have it, this game specifically. And so it certainly is on (to protect the ball).”

Thinking back on the loss, and reviewing film, freshman guard Travis Perry said he believes there were “a couple stints” in which UK allowed Vandy to dictate play.

“I think just being more aggressive will kind of tone that out for us,” he said. “Just being aggressive to make plays for teammates is something we’ve really focused on. I think that is a great way we can cut down on turnovers.”

Kentucky, No. 21 in the USA TODAY Coaches and No. 17 in the AP Top 25 polls, enters off a loss at Texas last weekend. Vandy, which is unranked, has dropped two in a row and four of its past five outings.

Which team will come out on top between the Wildcats (17-8, 6-6 SEC) and Commodores (17-8, 5-7) tonight at Rupp Arena?

Follow along below with live updates from Lexington:

The contest between the Wildcats and Commodores will air on SEC Network. Roy Philpott (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) will have the call.

Authenticated subscribers can access SEC Network 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 4 ½-point home favorite (-115) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 161 ½ points (-105). The money line odds are Kentucky -218, Vanderbilt +180.

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) | SCORE: Alabama 102, Kentucky 97
Jan. 25: at Vanderbilt | SCORE: Vanderbilt 74, Kentucky 69
Jan. 28: at Tennessee | SCORE: Kentucky 78, Tennessee 73
Feb. 1: vs. Arkansas | SCORE: Arkansas 89, Kentucky 79
Feb. 4: at Ole Miss | SCORE: Ole Miss 98, Kentucky 84
Feb. 8: vs. South Carolina | SCORE: Kentucky 80, South Carolina 57
Feb. 11: vs. Tennessee | SCORE: Kentucky 75, Tennessee 64
Feb. 15: at Texas | SCORE: Texas 82, Kentucky 78
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 p.m., ABC
March 4: vs. LSU (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPN2
March 8: at Missouri, noon, ESPN

Record: 17-8 (6-6 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)

The Commodores are 17-8 this season, with a 5-7 mark in SEC play.

Though UK is 157-50 all time versus Vanderbilt, the teams have split the last six meetings, with each team notching three victories.

Click here to see the Commodores’ full 2024-25 schedule.

Want to learn the Commodores’ roster?

Click here for player bios and more.

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