Blue-White Game: Preview, How to Watch, More

The countdown to the 2023-24 Kentucky Basketball season continues tonight with the Blue-White Game. This year’s intrasquad scrimmage takes place in Northern Kentucky, the second year in a row John Calipari has taken the game on the road. Between the GLOBL Jam, UK Pro Day, and last week’s Big Blue Madness, we’ve already seen this team in action several times, but you can never get too much Kentucky Basketball, especially in October.

Here’s what you need to know about tonight’s game, starting with something pretty essential.

How To Watch

6 p.m. ET | October 21 | Truist Arena | Highland Heights, Ky.

Streaming (7:00 p.m. EST): SEC Network+ / ESPN+ | Live Stats

The Blue-White Game is only available on SEC Network+/ESPN+, aka “the computer.” If you’re new to this, SEC Network+ and ESPN+ are only accessible through the ESPN app. That means you won’t be able to watch the game on traditional TV; you’ll only be able to see it on smartphones, tablets, TV-connected devices (Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, SmartTV, etc.), or via espn.com/watch. The game will be on tape delay and will not air until 7:00 p.m. EST.

This is the first of four Kentucky Basketball games on SEC Network+ this season. Get ready to repeat this exercise for the Kentucky State exhibition on Nov. 2, the Texas A&M-Commerce game on Nov. 10, and the game vs. Stonehill on Nov. 17.

Join The Discussion (R.I.P. KSR Live Blog)

For the first time in over a decade, KSR will be without its in-game live blogs, a longtime tradition here on the blog. Unfortunately, the company that hosted the KSR live blogs no longer exists, so we are without the machine that made it all possible.

If you still want to interact with the KSR crew tonight, consider joining the conversation on KSBoard. KSR+ is only $1 for one month for new members.

Join the KSR Club! With a KSR membership, you get access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

Blue-White Game Storylines

No Big Z

This was supposed to be Zvonimir Ivisic‘s on-court debut, with John Calipari telling fans at Big Blue Madness that the Croatian seven-footer would suit up for the first time at the Blue-White Game; however, earlier today, Calipari said he’s holding Big Z out as a precaution. Ivisic, who arrived in Lexington last weekend, only started going full-contact in practice on Wednesday.

“Z will be with us but the bad news is, since he has only practiced for three days and still is in his ramp-up period, he will be held out as a precaution.”

Good afternoon, #BBN! Good news is we’re on our way to the Children’s Advocacy Center to do a clinic and spend some time with the kids in northern Kentucky. Then we’ll be on our way to NKU for the Blue-White Game…we haven’t decided on teams yet but will probably change groups as…

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) October 21, 2023

Four-on-four?

Ivisic sitting out makes a thin roster even thinner. Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso will be out for the foreseeable future as they recover from foot injuries, leaving Tre Mitchell as the only available player 6’9″ or taller tonight. Adou Thiero also tweaked his ankle at Kentucky’s Pro Day on October 11. Without Ivisic and Thiero, Kentucky will have nine scholarship players (counting Brennan Canada) tonight, so brace yourselves for four-on-four.

Giving back to Eastern and Western Kentucky

Once again, the Kentucky Basketball team is using the Blue-White Game to give back to the state. All ticket revenue from tonight’s scrimmage will benefit the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund and the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund. If you’re at home and would like to donate, simply click the links below.

• Donate to Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund
• Donate to Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund

Cats arrive at Truist Arena

Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel

Can’t watch live? KSR’s got you covered. Zack Geoghegan, Jacob Polacheck, and Daniel Hager made the trek to Northern Kentucky to cover the game and once it wraps, will share their Rapid Reactions on the KSR YouTube Channel. We’ll also have wall-to-wall postgame coverage on the website, including highlights, interviews, and takeaways.

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