Kentucky vs. Jackson State: Preview, Odds & How to Watch

It was a long wait for Lipscomb following Kentucky‘s win over Duke, a full week separating the two. This time, though, it’s just 72 hours between games with Jackson State in town on this Friday evening matchup inside Rupp Arena.

What do you need to know about the Tigers in game two of the BBN Invitational and fourth installment of the Unity Series? KSR has all of the details to get you ready for tip-off at 7 p.m. ET.

How to Watch, Listen

Tired of this long run of subscription-based broadcasts to open the season? You’re in luck. Tonight is the very last streaming-only game for Kentucky following SEC Network+ showings for Pro Day, Kentucky Wesleyan, Minnesota State Mankato, Bucknell and Lipscomb up to this point. Wright State and Duke have been the only nationally televised games, and after Jackson State, it’s nothing but TV the rest of the way.

So get those computers set up one last time this evening and then set them aside again until next year. The Cats will be back on TV right where they belong.

No. 9 Kentucky (4-0) vs. Jackson State (0-5)
7 p.m. ET | Friday, Nov. 22 | Rupp Arena (Lexington, KY)

• Streaming: SEC Network+/ESPN+ (Andrew Kappes, Cameron Mills)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 106 or 191
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

You can also follow the game via our new LIVE BLOG on the website, which will begin an hour before tipoff, or join the conversation on KSBoard.

Early season rewind

Kentucky: KenPom 15

• 11/4: 103-62 W vs. Wright State
• 11/9: 100-72 W vs. Bucknell
• 11/12: 77-72 W vs. No. 6 Duke
• 11/19: 97-68 W vs. Lipscomb

Jackson State: KenPom 322

• 11/4: 97-40 L at Houston
• 11/9: 80-71 L at High Point
• 11/12: 94-57 L at Xavier
• 11/16: 94-81 L at Vanderbilt
• 11/20: 79-62 L at Western Kentucky

Series History

Interestingly enough, Kentucky and Jackson State have never played before. Mark Pope hasn’t taken on the Tigers at his previous stops at BYU and Utah Valley, either. The Wildcats have taken on Southern (2021), Florida A&M (2022) and Kentucky State (2023) in previous Unity Series matchup, which raise awareness of the missions of the HBCUs and to provide opportunities for students at both institutions.

Kentucky vs. Jackson State Odds via Circa Sports

Spread: Kentucky -35.5
Total: 159.5

Kentucky Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#1 – Lamont Butler
6-2 – 208 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
11.3 PPG, 2.8 APG, 2.5 RPG

#00 – Otega Oweh
6-4 – 215 – GUARD – JUNIOR
15.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.8 SPG

#2 – Jaxson Robinson
6-6 – 192 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
10.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.0 APG

#7 – Andrew Carr
6-11 – 235 – FORWARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
10.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.8 APG

#22 – Amari Williams
7-0 – 262 – CENTER – GRADUATE STUDENT
11.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG

Jackson State Projected Starters

#1 – Dorian McMillian
6-3 – 178 – GUARD – FRESHMAN
9.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 APG

#21 – Marcus Watson Jr.
5-10 – 175 – GUARD – JUNIOR
7.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.2 APG

#3 – Jayme Mitchell Jr.
6-5 – 190 – FORWARD – REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE
13.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.4 APG

#13 – Romelle Mansel
6-9 – 220 – FORWARD – GRADUATE SENIOR
9.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.0 APG

#7 – Shannon Grant
6-11 – 290 – CENTER – GRADUATE SENIOR
6.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG

Statistical Comparison

(via Kentucky’s game notes)

Fun stats from UK’s game notes:

• Kentucky improved to 4-0 on the season with its win over Lipscomb earlier this week. It marks the best start for the Wildcats since UK started 7-0 during the 2016-17 season
• This is the fourth installment of the Unity Series. For the third consecutive season, the game will honor a pair of legends — this times Kenny “Sky” Walker from Kentucky and Purvis Short from Jackson State
• Kentucky leads the SEC shooting 41.8 percent from three while hitting at least 10 3-pointers in all four games for the first time in program history
• There has been a different leading scorer in each of the team’s first four games with six players averaging double figures and nine scoring at least 7.0 points per game

Pregame Storylines

FORMER NBA STANDOUT MO WILLIAMS IS THE HEAD COACH

The Jackson, MS native racked up 10,759 career points in the NBA across 13 seasons, playing for Utah, Milwaukee, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland and Charlotte — two stints with the Jazz and Cavaliers, winning a championship with the latter. Now, the former All-Star is in his fifth year as a head coach and third at Jackson State with a career record of 42-75. “He’s clearly an unbelievable ambassador to the game of basketball and unbelievable pro with a terrific career. He’s going to continue to do great things in coaching,” Pope said of Williams.

A 0-5 START ON THE YEAR

Jackson State is one of the worst teams in college basketball, ranked No. 322 out of 364 total Division I schools in the latest KenPom update. The Tigers have the No. 316 offense and No. 298 defense nationally, even worse in both categories when looking at effective field goal percentage — 41.1 percent shooting (No. 344) and 63.6 percent allowed (No. 362). As things stand today, Jackson State is the worst team on Kentucky’s schedule by 80 spots in KenPom, that New Year’s Eve matchup vs. Brown coming in at second-worst with the Bears ranked No. 242 overall. Pope did his best to compliment the Tigers — “It’s gonna be incredibly competitive,” he said — but that’s because every opponent is ‘the biggest game we’ve played all season long and that’ll never change.’ The Wildcats have no choice but to take care of business in this one.

THE FIRST 5-0 START SINCE 2016-17?

Would you be surprised to hear Kentucky has not started a season 5-0 since De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk were on campus eight seasons ago? That group started the year 7-0 before losing to UCLA in game eight. The 2015-16 team did the same the year before with a 7-0 start and a loss to the Bruins right after. That’s what makes this year so interesting, especially with the Duke win locked up. If the Wildcats can wrap up the BBN Invitational with back-to-back wins vs. Jackson State and Western Kentucky, then beat Georgia State at home on Black Friday — a projected win rate of 95 percent or higher in all three, mind you — the only thing separating UK from its best start since 2014-15 will be a road win at Clemson on Dec. 3.

KENNY “SKY” WALKER TO BE HONORED

Kentucky honors one past Wildcat and one legendary representative from the competition in the Unity Series. This season, the school is bringing back Kenny “Sky” Walker to Rupp Arena, along with another top-five draft pick and NBA standout in Purvis Short, a Jackson State legend who racked up 14,607 career points in the league. They’ll both be honored in the matchup Friday evening. “We get to honor the great Kenny “Sky” Walker and the great Purvis Short, two unbelievable graduates from Jackson State and from Kentucky who had great careers at their respective schools, then went on and had incredible NBA careers. They have been great stewards of the game,” Pope said.

Join The Discussion on KSBoard

Want to interact with the KSR crew during tonight’s game? Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard, where we’ll be sharing live updates as your eyes and ears inside Rupp Arena while also answering questions and providing real-time analysis (and probably complaining about the officiating).

New members can get KSR+ for seven days for just $1 and 50% off the annual price.

---

Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel

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

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.