Alabama has had moderate success in Rupp Arena against ranked Kentucky teams

by:Adam Luckett•about 9 hours•

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The scene at Rupp Arena before tipoff of a Kentucky Basketball game - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

Nate Oats has made Alabama a true contender. The former Buffalo head coach led the Crimson Tide to the program’s first Final Four appearance in 2024 to go along with two SEC championships and two SEC Tournament championship. Bama is now a legitimate threat on the hardwood.

This is a program that has won four SEC titles, seven SEC Tournament titles, and made nine Sweet 16 appearances over the last 40 years. Bama is one of the conference’s best programs and that has led to some success at Rupp Arena.

Kentucky’s historic venue opened for the 1976-77 season. In that time, Alabama has beaten Kentucky seven times. Many of these victories have occurred against ranked UK teams.

Date	Result
01/12/1980	Alabama 78, No. 4 Kentucky 64
01/17/1987	Alabama 69, No. 9 Kentucky 55
02/18/1989	Alabama 76, Kentucky 64
01/17/1990	No. 25 Alabama 82, Kentucky 65
01/26/2002	No. 14 Alabama 64, No. 8 Kentucky 61
01/14/2006	Alabama 68, Kentucky 64
01/12/2021	Alabama 85, Kentucky 65

Kentucky is 28-6 all-time against Bama but there have been some big wins for the Crimson Tide beating top-10 Kentucky teams in 1980, 1987, and 2002. Each of those games occurred in January. The only win for Oats in Lexington came during the COVID-19 season with attendance limitation.

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Since that loss, Kentucky has beaten Bama in consecutive games at Rupp Arena. Saturday will begin a new chapter in this SEC series that the Cats lead 117-41. Oats will be looking to become one of the few current SEC coaches with multiple wins in Rupp Arena. Pope will be looking to get his first win over one of the SEC’s new age powers.

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