LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Clemson in the SEC/ACC Challenge
After four easy wins at home, it’s time to see what this Kentucky team can do on the road. KSR’s new and improved LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Littlejohn Coliseum as No. 4 Kentucky takes on Clemson in the SEC/ACC Challenge (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Kentucky is 7-0, the best start since the 2016-17 season. If the Cats win tonight, it’ll be the best start since the 2014-15 season. Tonight, they’ll face a Clemson team that is 7-1, the only loss coming at Boise State. The Tigers made it to the Elite Eight of last year’s NCAA Tournament but lost seven players from that squad. This year’s team was picked to finish fourth in the ACC preseason poll and is led by Chase Hunter (16.4 points per game) and Ian Schieffelin (11.6 rebounds per game).
Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from both Littlejohn Coliseum and the couch. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
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Kentucky’s loss to Clemson was the SEC’s only loss of the night
12/03/2024 11:14:10 PMThe SEC proved it just means more by winning the SEC/ACC Challenge on night one, 9-1. Unfortunately, the Cats were responsible for that lone loss. Here’s the scoreboard:
Clemson 70, No. 4 Kentucky 66
No. 3 Tennessee 96, Syracuse 70
No. 21 Oklahoma 76, Georgia Tech 61
No. 22 Texas A&M 57, Wake Forest 44
No. 23 Ole Miss 86, Louisville 63
Arkansas 76, Miami 73
Georgia 69, Notre Dame 48
Missouri 98, California 93
South Carolina 73, Boston College 51
LSU 85, Florida State 75
Clemson fans storm the floor
12/03/2024 11:03:53 PMEven though Clemson was only a 1.5-point underdog, the fans stormed the floor because of course.
FINAL: Clemson 70, Kentucky 66
12/03/2024 11:01:09 PMKentucky’s undefeated start to the season is over. Clemson beats the Cats in the SEC/ACC Challenge 70-66, the SEC’s only loss of the night.
We’ll have plenty to say about this one, but the biggest issue for the Cats was shooting. The Cats were only 7-27 from three-point range, the third game in a row they’ve struggled beyond the arc. Lamont Butler battled foul trouble throughout, playing only 19 minutes; without him, the Cats seemed rudderless.
Kentucky falls to 7-1 on the season. They’ll be back in action Saturday vs. Gonzaga in Seattle.
Lamont Butler three cuts Clemson’s lead to 2 with 2.2 to go
12/03/2024 10:57:06 PMOf course now is when Kentucky hits a three. Lamont Butler’s trey cut Clemson’s lead to 68-62 with 2.2 seconds to go. This one’s probably over, but yet another reminder of how much this team needs Butler.
Score Update: 21.3 2H – Clemson 67, Kentucky 62
12/03/2024 10:50:33 PMIt’s not looking good, folks. With 21.3 seconds remaining, Kentucky trails 67-62. We’ll have a lot of questions after this one. A big one for me is why Koby Brea played so little in the second half when the Cats were desperate for a bucket.
Score Update: 1:06 2H – Clemson 66, Kentucky 62
12/03/2024 10:46:03 PMOtega Oweh has two wide open three-point looks but missed them both, which kind of sums the night up. Kentucky trails by four with 1:06 to go…
Jaxson Robinson keeps Kentucky within striking distance
12/03/2024 10:38:46 PMAt the final media timeout, Kentucky trails Clemson 66-60 with 3:24 to go. The Tigers’ lead was eight, but a bucket by Jaxson Robison pulled the Cats within striking distance. Andrew Carr has not been good tonight, but this block was huge.
Score Update: 5:00 2H – Clemson 61, Kentucky 58
12/03/2024 10:31:58 PMKentucky has trimmed Clemson’s lead to three with buckets by Amari Williams and Jaxson Robinson, but it still feels like the Tigers have the momentum. Dillon Hunter just stuffed Otega Oweh’s shot, the Tigers’ ninth block of the night.
Not over yet…
Lamont Butler picks up his 4th foul
12/03/2024 10:28:05 PMKentucky cannot find its groove without Lamont Butler, which makes the fact that Butler just picked up his fourth foul especially painful. Kerr Kriisa is back in.
Score Update: 7:47 2H – Clemson 59, Kentucky 54
12/03/2024 10:23:04 PMIt’s not looking good, folks. Kentucky trails by five with 7:47 to go, 59-54. The bench continues to struggle, especially Kerr Kriisa. The Cats have only hit one of their last eight shots, with zero field goals in the last 3:10.
The refs also did not call a technical on the Clemson player who just slammed the ball into the ground. Isaac Humphries would like a word.
Thank goodness for Lamont Butler
12/03/2024 10:17:50 PMThis three gave Kentucky the lead, 52-51. Unfortunately, Clemson’s Del Jones responded with a layup to put the Tigers back on top, 53-52 with 10:08 to go.
Score Update: 11:48 2H – Clemson 51, Kentucky 49
12/03/2024 10:11:24 PMClemson is back in front at the Under-12 media timeout. Every time Kentucky makes a bucket, it feels like the Tigers respond. You know what would really help? Some threes. The Cats are 5-15 from beyond the arc, attempting (and hitting) just one three so far this half.
In good news, Kentucky is fighting back on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds to three this half.
Kentucky takes the lead
12/03/2024 10:04:06 PMIt’s been a rough game for Amari Williams, but he just scored to put Kentucky up one, 43-42 with 15:28 to go. Even better news: Lamont Butler is back in after his ankle scare. Phew.
Score Update: 15:35 2H – Clemson 42, Kentucky 41
12/03/2024 10:02:39 PMThe Cats are fighting back, making four of their last five field goals to pull within one at the 15:35 mark. Clemson hasn’t scored in 2:15. Otega Oweh has spurred Kentucky’s second-half rally, scoring seven of the Cats’ 11 second-half points. He’s up to a game-high 15 points so far.
Lamont Butler rolls ankle
12/03/2024 09:58:45 PMIf things weren’t bad enough, Lamont Butler is now limping after rolling his ankle. He was able to walk it off enough to make it to the bench, where he’s testing things out with the trainer.
Otega Oweh hits a three to open the half; Lamont Butler picks up 3rd foul
12/03/2024 09:55:30 PM…but Kentucky’s still struggling on the inside. Ian Schieffelin is dominating the matchup with Amari Williams. Schieffelin now has a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. In other bad news, Lamont Butler just picked up his third foul.
Rebound the ball, please!
12/03/2024 09:45:14 PMThere’s no other way to shake it: Kentucky is getting out-physicaled and out-hustled through one half of action, especially on the glass. Clemson has 31 rebounds compared to Kentucky’s 21. Ian Schieffelin already has 13 rebounds for the Tigers. It’s the offensive rebounds that are really killing the Wildcats though. Clemson has 13 to UK’s seven, resulting in a 10-1 lead in second-chance points. That’s the whole ball game so far. Clean that up in the second half and Kentucky should be in position to win down the stretch.
HALF: Clemson 37, Kentucky 30
12/03/2024 09:35:18 PMIt’s halftime, and man, does Kentucky need a moment to regroup. The Cats are all out of sorts right now, allowing Clemson to close the half on a 14-2 run. The Tigers, specifically Ian Schieffelin, are crushing the Cats inside, winning the rebounding battle 31-21, 13-7 on the offensive end. Schieffelin has 13 rebounds himself to go with nine points.
With Andrew Carr, Lamont Butler, and Brandon Garrison all on the bench with two fouls, the Cats are struggling to combat Clemson’s physical play. Kentucky didn’t score for the final 2:39 and is just 10-32 from the floor, 4-14 from three. The Duke game showed us that Kentucky can rally from a halftime deficit. Let’s hope that Pope is breaking down the data he collected in the locker room.
Clemson goes on a 10-0 run to lead 33-28, 3:00 1H
12/03/2024 09:25:28 PMClemson just struck back. The Tigers just went on a 10-0 run to take a 33-28 lead with three minutes left in the first half. With Lamont Butler, Brandon Garrison, and Andrew Carr all on the bench, Kentucky’s reserves are struggling, turning the ball over and missing shots at the rim. The Tigers are up to nine offensive rebounds, which have led to eight second-chance points.
Kentucky responds with a 9-0 run!
12/03/2024 09:20:41 PMAnd just like that, Kentucky is back on top. After going scoreless for well over three minutes, the Cats are on a 9-0 run, spurred by a Jaxson Robinson three, a layup by Lamont Butler, and back-to-back buckets by Otega Oweh, the most recent which sparked a “Go Big Blue” chant at Littlejohn Coliseum. Kentucky leads Clemson 28-23 with 5:41 to go in the half.
Score Update: 7:17 1H – Clemson 21, Kentucky 19
12/03/2024 09:16:06 PMKentucky is in the midst of a 3:22 scoring drought, missing their last seven shots. The offense is struggling against the physical Tigers, who are on a 6-0 run. Kentucky is just 5-19 from the field so far.
In other news, while the officials are calling all the fouls, they seemed to miss this double dribble…
Brandon Garrison makes it three Cats with 2 fouls
12/03/2024 09:13:55 PMYou get a foul, you get a foul, and you get a foul! Brandon Garrison just picked up his second, making it three Cats with two fouls with just over eight minutes to go. Speaking of, Lamont Butler, who has been on the bench for the last seven minutes with two fouls, just checked in.
Andrew Carr picks up his 2nd foul
12/03/2024 09:09:04 PMThe fouls are mounting at Littlejohn Coliseum. Andrew Carr picked up his second, bringing Kentucky’s team total to five. Lamont Butler has been on the bench after picking up his second foul at the 15:11 mark. Brandon Garrison also just picked up a foul to take Kentucky’s total to six. Clemson has eight fouls total. This game could drag on well into the night.
Score Update: 11:40 1H – Kentucky 17, Clemson 15
12/03/2024 09:02:03 PMIt’s a back-and-forth battle so far. After missing two free throws Andrew Carr hit a huge three to put the Cats up 17-12. Clemson’s Dillon Hunter responded on the other end to cut that lead to three at the Under-12 media timeout. The Tigers are having their way on the offensive glass so far, with five offensive boards to Kentucky’s three for six second-chance points.
Clemson takes the lead, but Koby Brea takes it back
12/03/2024 08:58:55 PMMyles Foster gave Clemson its first lead of the game but Koby Brea stole it back with his first three of the game. Unfortunately, he picked up a foul on the other end, but we’ll forgive it if it means more threes.
Score Update: 15:11 1H – Kentucky 11, Clemson 8
12/03/2024 08:51:49 PMGood news or bad news? Good: Kentucky leads Clemson at the first media timeout. Bad: Lamont Butler just picked up his second foul. Butler’s been playing great otherwise, leading Kentucky with five points, so this is not ideal.
Both teams are a little cold early on. Kentucky is 3-9 from the floor, Clemson 2-8.
Christian Reeves picks up his second foul
12/03/2024 08:49:07 PMClemson center Christian Reeves just fouled Otega Oweh on a three-point shot, his second foul of the game. Oweh made two of three from the stripe to make it 9-5 Cats with 16:11 to go until half.
Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr pick up early fouls
12/03/2024 08:44:07 PMThe refs are already making themselves known, calling two early questionable fouls on Lamont Butler and Andrew Carr. Mark Pope, who famously attended a referee symposium to better understand officiating, is unhappy with them so far.
It’s okay because a Lamont Butler and-one makes it 6-2 Kentucky with 18:13 to go.
Birthday boy Jaxson Robinson starts things off with a three!
12/03/2024 08:41:44 PMToday is Jaxson Robinson’s 22nd birthday and he tipped off the celebration with a big three-point bucket on the opening possession.
Tennessee cruises past Syracuse
12/03/2024 08:33:02 PMIf you’ve got ESPN on waiting for Kentucky vs. Clemson, you watched the end of Tennessee vs. Syracuse. I hate to say it, but the Vols looked very good, cruising past the Orangemen 96-70. Add in Missouri’s win over Cal and the SEC now leads the SEC/ACC Challenge 5-0.
Time for the main event. The crowd at the KSR Road Trip watch party in Fort Collins, Colorado is ready:
10 minutes to go until tipoff
12/03/2024 08:30:29 PMThe crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum looks ready to roll:
Usual Starting Lineup
12/03/2024 08:22:16 PMIf it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Kentucky will go with its usual starters vs. Clemson.
00 Otega Oweh
01 Lamont Butler
02 Jaxson Robinson
07 Andrew Carr
22 Amari Williams
Pope confirms Brandon Garrison will play vs. Clemson
12/03/2024 08:18:49 PMJack Pilgrim said Brandon Garrison looked good in warmups after sitting out the Georgia State game as a precautionary measure (soreness). In his pregame conversation with Tom Leach, Pope confirmed Garrison will play vs. Clemson.
“He got in a really light workout on Sunday evening, got to practice yesterday. So, he’s should be a full go today.
Love to hear it.
Good crowd at the KSR Road Trip Watch Party in Fort Collins
12/03/2024 08:13:33 PMThe radio crew is in Fort Collins, Colorado tonight and, of course, some fans showed up at the Grey Rock Sports Grill to watch the game with them. I’m sure that’s just the beginning of Blue getting in.
Arkansas comes back to beat Miami
12/03/2024 08:08:18 PMMiami led almost the entire game but Arkansas came back to win it 76-73 thanks to some big buckets by Boogie Fland. Miami has now lost five straight games.
The SEC is now 3-0 in the SEC Challenge, as South Carolina beat Boston College 73-51 and Georgia beat Notre Dame 69-48. No. 3 Tennessee is cruising vs. Syracuse and it looks like Missouri will beat Cal too. So far, it just means more.
Brandon Garrison looks good to go
12/03/2024 08:02:57 PMHeld out “more as a precaution than anything else” due to “a little bit of soreness” against Georgia State, it appears Garrison will make his return for the Wildcats following the one-game absence.
The sophomore forward went through full warmups with no apparent setbacks.
Looks like Kentucky is back at full strength.
Sights and sounds from Littlejohn Coliseum
12/03/2024 07:55:28 PMKSR has arrived for Kentucky’s matchup at Clemson inside Littlejohn Coliseum ahead of the opening tip. Students flooded the venue as soon as doors opened while the rest of the orange and purple have trickled in since.
They’re not alone, though. Big Blue Nation has showed out, too, with most sections featuring at least a couple of Kentucky fans and several with a good chunk of blue. Talking with BBN members around the arena, many made the short trip from Atlanta over to Clemson — just two hours away.
Plenty to get a “Go Big Blue” chant going if things swing Kentucky’s direction this evening.
Take a look at some of the early views from Littlejohn Coliseum:
Tip time now 9:41 p.m. ET
12/03/2024 07:38:04 PMThe game is already being pushed back. According to Dave Baker on the official UK pregame show, tipoff has been pushed back to 9:41 p.m. ET, probably because Tennessee/Syracuse, which is also on ESPN, is only at halftime. Yawn.
Here are your How To Watch Details for whenever this one does tip off.
Television: ESPN (Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes)
Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
Online Radio: iHeart
Satellite Radio: Sirius 158 or 190
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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