Kentucky vs. Alabama: Preview, Odds, How to Watch

The ups and downs continue for Kentucky in head-scratching fashion. The Cats put forth their most impressive all-around performance of the season at Auburn, leaving the Plains with a double-digit win. Just four days later, they traveled to Baton Rouge and left with a loss at the buzzer against a 14-12 LSU team that had lost six of its last eight.

It’s been the story of the season for Kentucky, struggling to find consistency, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. And now, Coach Cal and company are set to host the top-scoring team in college basketball in No. 13 Alabama.

Do the Wildcats have another statement victory up their sleeves for a second straight weekend? Let’s preview the matchup.

How To Watch

No. 17 Kentucky (18-8) vs. No. 13 Alabama (19-7)
4 p.m. ET | Saturday, Feb. 24 | Rupp Arena

• TV: CBS (Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery)
• Streaming: CBS Sports Network
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 106 or 190 and the SiriusXM App
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Last Five

Kentucky: NET 24, KenPom 23

• 2/6: 109-77 W at Vanderbilt
• 2/10: 89-85 L vs. Gonzaga
• 2/13: 75-63 W vs. Ole Miss
• 2/17: 70-59 W at No. 13 Auburn
• 2/21: 75-74 L at LSU

Alabama: NET 5, KenPom 6

• 2/3: 99-67 W vs. Mississippi State
• 2/7: 99-81 L at Auburn
• 2/10: 109-92 W at LSU
• 2/17: 100-75 W vs. Texas A&M
• 2/21: 98-93 W vs. No. 24 Florida

Series History

Kentucky holds a significant edge in the series, leading 116-41 overall and 59-11 in Lexington including a 19-7 record under John Calipari. Nate Oats is 3-4 against the Cats since taking over the Tide, but won the last head-to-head matchup in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 7, 2023 — a 78-52 blowout.

Antonio Reeves went for 20 points in that one, followed by Sahvir Wheeler with 15 to round out double-figure scorers. Kentucky shot just 28.7% from the field and 25.0% from three while Alabama hit 48.1% of its shots overall and 36.4% from deep.

Kentucky had won ten straight from 2014-18 before the series was split 4-4 from 2019-23.

One play from every win over Alabama since 1995

Kentucky vs. Alabama Odds via FanDuel

Spread: Kentucky -1.5
Total: 178.5

Kentucky Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#15 – DJ Wagner
6-4 • 192 • GUARD • FRESHMAN
10.5 PPG, 3.4 APG

#12 – Antonio Reeves
6-6 • 195 • GUARD • SENIOR
19.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG

#1 – Justin Edwards
6-8 • 203 • GUARD • FRESHMAN
8.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG

#4 – Adou Thiero
6-8 • 222 • GUARD • SOPHOMORE
7.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG

#2 – Ugonna Onyenso
7-1 • 226 • FORWARD • FRESHMAN
4.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.0 BPG

Head Coach: John Calipari (32nd season, 15th at UK) – 850-261 overall, 405-121 at UK

Alabama Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#1 – Mark Sears
6-1 • 185 • GUARD • SENIOR
20.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.1 APG

#55 – Aaron Estrada
6-3• 190 • GUARD • GRAD SENIOR
13.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.3 APG

#3 – Rylan Griffen
6-6 • 190 • GUARD • SOPHOMORE
8.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.0 SPG

#2 – Grant Nelson
6-11 • 230 • FORWARD • SENIOR
12.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG

#15 – Jarin Stevenson
6-11 • 210 • FORWARD • FRESHMAN
5.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG

Head Coach: Nate Oats (5th season at Alabama, 9th overall): 207-92 overall, 111-49 at Bama

Statistical Comparison

(via Kentucky’s game notes)

Fun stats from UK’s game notes:

• Kentucky has not played a complete game at full strength this season.
• UK is 6-1 in games following a loss this season.
• A win would push the Cats to 4-2 against AP Top 25 foes this season
• Reed Sheppard is the only player in the country who has made 50 3-pointers, dished out 100 assists and snatched 70 steals. He ranks second in UK single-season history as a freshman with 70 steals and that mark is good for fifth among all UK players in its history.

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Pregame Storylines

WILL TRE MITCHELL PLAY?

Mitchell returned following a two-game absence dealing with a back issue vs. Ole Miss, then suffered a shoulder injury that forced him off the floor yet again. He missed the Auburn and LSU games, but could he return with Bama in town? The fifth-year senior returned to practice this week and things are trending in the right direction, but he should be considered a game-time decision. Kentucky could use both his production and leadership in the top-20 matchup.

TWO TOP-THREE SCORING OFFENSES

This game may not be the best measuring stick for defensive growth with either team. Kentucky enters the matchup ranked No. 306 in scoring defense while Alabama sits at No. 308. On the flip side, the Tide come in ranked No. 1 overall in scoring offense at 91.0 points per game while the Cats are No. 3 at 87.6. Eight 100-point efforts for Oats’ squad while Calipari’s has done it four times while living in the 90s — although it hasn’t hit the 80-point mark since the Gonzaga matchup on Feb. 10 with improving defense at the top of the priority list.

“Maybe the first to 100 wins,” Oats said Friday. And there’s a lot of truth to that.

SLOWING DOWN MARK SEARS

Antonio Reeves has a say in the SEC Player of the Year race, but Alabama star guard Mark Sears is undoubtedly in the conversation, too. The 6-1 senior is averaging 20.4 points per contest to lead the SEC while shooting 50.8% from the field, 43.9% from three and 85.5% at the line — a sniper and bucket-getter at all three levels. And he’s averaging 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals, so he’s not one-dimensional, either. All eyes are on Kentucky’s ability to limit Sears from going nuclear inside Rupp Arena.

ALABAMA COULD BE SHORTHANDED

The Tide are certain to be down at least one player, as backup big man Mohamed Wague was suspended for one game by the SEC for throwing an elbow vs. Florida on Wednesday. Elsewhere, starting guard Latrell Wrightsell missed the Florida game with a head injury and remains day-to-day, Oats adding that “we’ll see how today goes, see what happens for tomorrow.” Wrightsell is fifth on the team in scoring at 9.0 points per game while shooting a team-high 44.5% from three.

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Join The Discussion on KSBoard

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Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel

Miss the game? KSR’s got you covered with a Rapid Reaction live from Rupp Arena on the KSR YouTube Channel. We’ll also have wall-to-wall postgame coverage on the website, including highlights, comments from John Calipari and the players, stats, and takeaways.

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