Kentucky basketball: Mark Pope discusses defeating Vanderbilt
Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope chatted with the media after the Wildcats defeated Vanderbilt on Wednesday night at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky basketball lost Round 1 with Alabama in January at Rupp Arena, as the visitors surpassed the century mark in a 102-97 win.
The Wildcats aspire to even the score this evening in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where they collide with the Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum.
Just as it was the first time around, it’ll be a tussle between ranked teams: Alabama is No. 4 in the USA TODAY Coaches and AP Top 25 polls. UK is 17th in the AP rankings and 21st in the Coaches Poll.
The victory over the Wildcats was the beginning of a seven-game win streak for the Crimson Tide. But UA enters tonight’s matchup dropping back-to-back games, first to in-state nemesis Auburn and then Wednesday at Missouri.
Kentucky (18-8, 7-6 SEC) and coach Mark Pope won their most recent outing, stomping Vanderbilt in the second half to post an 82-61 home victory Wednesday. Alabama (21-5, 10-3) has split the past six meetings with UK. But the Wildcats own a commanding lead in the all-time series, 117-42.
Here’s what you need to know to follow today’s game from home:
UK and Alabama are slated to tip off at 6 p.m. today at Coleman Coliseum.
Betting odds: Kentucky is an 8 ½-point road underdog (-110) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 180 ½ points (-110). The money line odds are Kentucky +310, Alabama -395.
The contest between the Wildcats and Crimson Tide will air on ESPN. Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Jimmy Dykes (analyst) and Dick Vitale (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.
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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.
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