LIVE BLOG: [6] Kentucky vs. [3] Alabama, SEC Tournament Quarterfinals
Kentucky won its first SEC Tournament game in Nashville since 2019 last night. Can the Cats keep the March Magic rolling? KSR’s LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Bridgestone Arena as the No. 6 seed Kentucky Wildcats take on the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals (9:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
The Cats have lost both games to the Crimson Tide this season, losing in Tuscaloosa by 13 without Lamont Butler or Jaxson Robinson. Tonight, Kentucky will likely be without Butler, who reinjured his shoulder in last night’s win over Oklahoma. Alabama will definitely be the fresher of the two teams and fighting to improve its chances of getting the final No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky hasn’t lost to the same team three times in one season since Florida in 2014; is third time the charm vs. the Crimson Tide?
Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game from Bridgestone Arena. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
Shoutout to tonight’s LIVE BLOG sponsor, Friends of Coal:
Friends of Coal is dedicated to informing and educating Kentucky citizens about the coal industry and its vital role in the state’s future. We provide a united voice for an industry that has been and remains a critical economic contributor to Kentucky. By working together, we can provide good jobs and benefits for future generations. Coal is RESILIENT, RELIABLE, and AFFORDABLE.
Friends of Coal is a volunteer organization. All are invited to be a part of our organization, which consists of proud Kentuckians as well as residents from beyond our borders. Head to friendsofcoalkentucky.org to learn more.
FINAL: Alabama 99, Kentucky 70
03/14/2025 11:04:50 PMIt’s finally over. Alabama took Kentucky to the woodshed tonight in Nashville, beating the Cats 99-70 to advance to play Florida in the SEC Tournament semifinals. Kentucky will head home to prepare for next week’s NCAA Tournament run.
It doesn’t feel like there’s much to say about this one. The Cats hung with the Crimson Tide for part of the first half and were within seven at halftime, but the wheels came off in the second half. Lamont Butler was missed, but fatigue clearly played a part. Kentucky shot just 37.5% from the field and 26.3% (5-19) from three. On the other end, Alabama shot 59% from the field in the second half, including NINE threes.
Burn the tape and let’s move on to the Big Dance.
Score Update: 3:45 2H – Alabama 90, Kentucky 65
03/14/2025 10:55:03 PMThe final media timeout is here and this one is all but over. Alabama leads by 25 and is primed to break an 11-year-old Kentucky streak. Coming into tonight, the last team to beat Kentucky three times in one season was Florida in 2014. Now, Nate Oats’ squad can claim that honor.
Time to rest and regroup for next week.
Score Update: 7:11 2H – Alabama 81, Kentucky 60
03/14/2025 10:44:27 PMFans are hitting the exits at the under-eight timeout, with the Cats trailing Alabama by 21. The lead was 23, but officials reversed the goaltending call on Andrew Carr, taking a bucket from the Crimson Tide. It’s gonna take more than that!
Andrew Carr’s trying
03/14/2025 10:41:17 PMAndrew Carr heard Pope’s challenge. He’s trying to pull the Cats back in this one, scoring their last two field goals. His block was also called a goaltend, which will hopefully be reversed upon review. Kentucky still trails by 20 with 9:30 to go.
9:30 2H – Alabama 79, Kentucky 59
Fiesty Pope in that timeout
03/14/2025 10:36:17 PMThose of you watching the SEC Network broadcast just heard Molly McGrath talk about Mark Pope’s demeanor in that timeout. Apparently, Pope lit into his players, telling them, “You are quitting on the defensive end… do it for your teammates.”
We’ll see if it lights a fire under the Cats.
Wheels are coming off
03/14/2025 10:29:37 PMThis one might get ugly from here. A dunk by Diobuate just pushed Bama’s lead to 17 with 12:30 to go. Mark Pope called a timeout. Does he have a “go nuclear” button we don’t know about? Fatigue is setting in for the Cats, who have made only 3-9 field goals this half to Alabama’s 9-13.
12:30 2H – Alabama 69, Kentucky 52
Another three for Bama
03/14/2025 10:24:48 PMAlabama has made its last five field goals. They’re now up to four threes this half, the most recent coming from Holloway, which pushed the lead to 14. Two free throws by Otega Oweh after a foul by Chris Youngblood narrowed the margin to 12.
It feels like someone sucked the life out of Bridgestone Arena.
14:29 2H – Alabama 64, Kentucky 52
Score Update: 16:20 2H – Alabama 57, Kentucky 44
03/14/2025 10:12:53 PMMake it three three-pointers for the Crimson Tide so far. Dioubate’s latest pushed Alabama’s lead to 13 and prompted Mark Pope to call a timeout. Kentucky has only scored six points since halftime. Andrew Carr broke the Cats’ two-and-a-half-minute scoring drought with a jumper, but Kentucky can’t trade twos for threes if they want to close the gap.
Alabama’s lead hits double digits
03/14/2025 10:10:21 PMIt’s tough sledding for the Cats so far this half. A three by Labaron Philon just pushed Alabama’s lead to ten, 52-42. The Crimson Tide have already hit two threes this half, equaling their total from the first half. The last thing Kentucky needs is Alabama getting hot from beyond the arc.
HALF: Alabama 45, Kentucky 38
03/14/2025 09:50:43 PMThe wheels came off a little bit for Kentucky in the final few minutes of the half. The Cats cut the lead to six with 1:24 to go and could have gotten it to three, but Koby Brea’s three missed the mark. Kentucky trailed 47-38 at half before officials announced that the goaltending call on Amari Williams was reversed upon review and Mark Sears’ layup doesn’t count. Cats down seven.
Kentucky is shooting only 12-31 (39%) from the floor and 3-9 (33%) from three. On the flip side, Alabama only has two threes on 13 attempts and still leads by seven. Kentucky needs points in the second half.
This stat speaks volumes
03/14/2025 09:41:34 PMKudos to my coworker Adam Luckett, whose brilliant sports mind sees things most don’t. Right after he sent this tweet, Ansley Almonor missed a bunny inside. We thought threes might be the difference in this but it’s the two-pointers so far.
Score Update: 3:49 1H – Alabama 36, Kentucky 32
03/14/2025 09:36:35 PMAt the under-four timeout, Kentucky trails by four. Mark Sears just turned the ball over after some impressive defense by Collin Chandler, who checked in for Travis Perry (who received a big ovation). Kudos to the Cats for fighting hard despite a frustrating whistle.
Otega Oweh checks back in
03/14/2025 09:31:51 PMOtega Oweh just got a standing ovation after checking back in, with a hearty round of Oweh-Oweh-Oweh-Oweh chants. Travis Perry was fouled on a three-point attempt and made two of three free throws to pull Kentucky within three with just over five minutes to go…
5:17 1H – Alabama 33, Kentucky 30
Travis Perry and-one cuts the lead to five, Oweh returns to the bench
03/14/2025 09:29:56 PMBBN just got two reasons to cheer. Travis Perry just completed an and-one to pull the Cats within five and Otega Oweh returned to the bench.
6:29 1H – Alabama 31, Kentucky 26
Andrew Carr picks up his third foul
03/14/2025 09:26:44 PMFouls, fouls, fouls. Andrew Carr just picked his third up with 7:19 to go in the first half. Not good.
Mark Pope sums up the officiating so far
03/14/2025 09:25:53 PMDon’t think there’s any spinning that one to anything other than “THAT’S BS.”
Score Update: 7:47 1H – Alabama 27, Kentucky 21
03/14/2025 09:21:41 PMKentucky’s fighting, with Koby Brea leading a 7-0 run to cut Alabama’s lead to four, but the Crimson Tide have scored four straight to keep the margin at six and prompt Mark Pope to call a timeout. The Cats aren’t getting a very good whistle and can’t seem to stop the Crimson Tide in the lane. They need Otega Oweh back. He’s still in the locker room after taking that elbow to the face.
8-0 Alabama run (and a bloody Otega Oweh)
03/14/2025 09:15:18 PMAlabama’s riding an 8-0 run over the last 1:49 to take a 22-14 lead at the 11:24 mark. Otega Oweh was called for a foul but took a shot to the face during the contact and came up with blood all over his face. He’s headed to the locker room to get cleaned up. The Cats have turned it over four times in the last 2:21.
Andrew Carr picks up his second foul
03/14/2025 09:07:41 PMThis feels familiar. Andrew Carr just picked up his second foul with 13:13 to go. He’s headed to the bench. Jarin Stevenson completed the three-point play to put the Crimson Tide back on top.
Score Update: 13:20 1H – Kentucky 14, Alabama 14
03/14/2025 09:03:38 PMWe’ve got a tie-ball game at the first media timeout. Otega Oweh scored the Cats’ first field goal of the night, a dunk, which Koby Brea followed up with a three. A layup by Andrew Carr, a three by Travis Perry, and another layup by Carr and Kentucky has closed the gap with Bama to make it 14 all with 13:20 until half.
Kentucky gets on the board
03/14/2025 08:57:48 PMThe Cats are on the board thanks to a pair of free throws by Amari Williams after a foul on Grant Nelson. The Cats have missed their first four field goals.
Alabama starts with a dunk
03/14/2025 08:55:27 PMIt’s 4-0 Alabama early on, with Clifford Omoruyi getting a dunk to start things off and Grant Nelson hitting a pair of free throws after a foul on Andrew Carr. The crowd did not like that call one bit.
18:35 1H – Alabama 4, Kentucky 0
Another home crowd for Kentucky
03/14/2025 08:52:50 PMAlabama has some fans here, but Kentucky definitely has the homecourt advantage. BBN is ready for another special night in Nashville (except maybe not one quite so late).
Kentucky’s Starting Lineup
03/14/2025 08:40:14 PMAs Mark Pope said earlier, Travis Perry will start at point guard tonight for Kentucky with Lamont Butler out. Perry started the matchup in Tuscaloosa last month. He’ll be joined by the rest of the usual starting five.
11 Travis Perry
00 Otega Oweh
04 Koby Brea
07 Andrew Carr
22 Amari Williams
Tonight’s officials…
03/14/2025 08:38:46 PM… are: Joe Lindsay, Doug Shows, and K.B. Burdett, Jr. Kentucky is 2-3 in games called by Shows this season (Ohio State, Brown, at Ole Miss, at Texas, at Oklahoma), 2-2 with Lindsay (Duke, Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn), and 2-2 with Burdett (Georgia State, Texas A&M, at Vanderbilt, Auburn).
The Cats look ready
03/14/2025 08:35:59 PMUnder 13 minutes until tipoff. The Cats are on the court now warming up, but look pretty focused coming out of the tunnel.
Kentucky vs. Alabama will tip off at 9:50 p.m. ET
03/14/2025 08:31:18 PMIt’s official: Florida is moving on to the SEC Tournament semifinals. The No. 2 seed Gators just beat the No. 7 seed Missouri Tigers 95-81. Kentucky vs. Alabama will tip off around 8:50 p.m. CT/9:50 p.m. ET.
Florida/Missouri is wrapping up
03/14/2025 08:18:09 PMNot too much longer, BBN. Florida is pulling away from Missouri, now up 16 points with 1:37 to go. Kentucky vs. Alabama will tip off 25 minutes after that’s over.
Kentucky doesn’t dominate the crowd quite like last night. A surprising amount of Missouri fans made the trip, and of course, there is a lot of Tennessee orange. Regardless, BBN will make its presence known soon.
Alabama is up to an 8.5-point favorite
03/14/2025 08:15:48 PMAlabama opened up as a 5.5-point favorite last night. That’s moved to 8.5, likely due to the news Lamont Butler is out. The point total is 179.5, with Kentucky’s team total set at 85.5. If you believe in the Cats to pull off the upset, you can get them at +290 on the moneyline.
HUGE news on Lamont Butler
03/14/2025 07:55:33 PMLamont Butler will not play tonight, but based on Mark Pope’s comments during his conversation with Tom Leach, Butler will be available for the NCAA Tournament. It may even open the possibility of Butler playing another game this weekend should Kentucky beat Alabama to advance. HUGE news. He also said Travis Perry will start tonight vs. Alabama.
“We got the best possible news about Lamont. He’s gonna be in good shape, but we’re going to sit him tonight just to make sure. It would probably be a stretch to play him tonight because he’s got some soreness, but it was really good news this morning. We look forward to having him as we move forward.”
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard