Kentucky vs. New Mexico State: Preview, How To Watch

Between the GLOBL Jam and the preseason, we’ve seen this Kentucky team play six exhibitions so far, but in one hour, the 2023-24 season tips off for real. The No. 16 Cats open the season vs. the New Mexico State Aggies from Conference USA, an 8 p.m. ET start on SEC Network. Kentucky cruised in its first exhibitions, beating Georgetown College 92-69 and Kentucky State 99-53; with a victory tonight, the Cats would improve to 100-21 all-time in season openers, 13-2 under John Calipari.

Here’s what you need to know about tonight’s game, the first to officially go down in the Win-Loss column.

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How to Watch

8 p.m. ET | Monday, November 6 | Rupp Arena

TV: SEC Network (Tom Hart, Dane Bradshaw)
Streaming: WatchESPN
Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 374, SXM App
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

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Kentucky vs. New Mexico State Odds (FanDuel)

Spread: Kentucky -15.5
Total: 141.5 points
Kentucky Total: 78.5 points
New Mexico State Total: 62.5 points

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Kentucky Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#21 – DJ Wagner
6-4 • 192 • GUARD • FRESHMAN
Exhibition Stats: 8.0 PPG, 4.0 APG

#12 – Antonio Reeves
6-6 • 195 • GUARD • SENIOR
Exhibition Stats: 19.0 PPG

#1 – Justin Edwards
6-8 • 203 • FORWARD • FRESHMAN
Exhibition Stats: 13.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG

#3 – Adou Thiero
6-8 • 222 • GUARD • SOPHOMORE
Exhibition Stats: 11.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG

#4 – Tre Mitchell
6-9 • 231 • FORWARD • GRADUATE STUDENT
Exhibition Stats: 18.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG

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New Mexico State Projected Starters

New Mexico State’s 2022-23 season was canceled in mid-February amid hazing allegations. Since then, the Aggies have brought in an entirely new roster and coaching staff. Jason Hooten is the new head coach in Las Cruces after 13 years at Sam Houston State. The Aggies are still waiting on the NCAA to grant waivers for two players, Seton Hall transfer Femi Odukale and Wake Forest transfer Davion Bradford.

The Aggies may be a mystery but New Mexico State’s game notes do include projected starters! I very much encourage you to check out Brandon Ramsey’s scouting report for more on the Aggies.

#2 – Jordan Rawls
6-2 • 180 • GUARD • SENIOR
2022-23 stats (Western Kentucky): 7.5 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 2.6 APG

#0 – Jaylin Jackson-Posey
6-2 • 196 • GUARD • JUNIOR
2022-23 stats (Stephen F. Austin): 6.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.6 APG

#4 – Brandon Suggs
6-6 • 205 • GUARD • SENIOR
2022-23 stats (Central Florida): 6.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.9 APG

#21 – Robert Carpenter
6-7 • 215 • FORWARD • JUNIOR
2022-23 stats (Mississippi Valley State): 17.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.6 APG

#1 – Kaosi Ezeagu
6-10 • 255 • CENTER • GRAD STUDENT
2022-23 stats (Sam Houston State): 5.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 0.4 APG

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Shootaround Halfcourt Shot Maker: Justin Edwards

Gameday shootaround ✅@Jedwards3_ 🙌 pic.twitter.com/wCMfw55UqF

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 6, 2023

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Join The Discussion (R.I.P. KSR Live Blog)

For the first time in over a decade, KSR will be without its in-game live blogs, a longtime tradition here on the blog. Unfortunately, the company that hosted the KSR live blogs no longer exists, so we are without the machine that made it all possible.

If you still want to interact with the KSR crew tonight, consider joining the conversation on KSBoard. New members can take advantage of our TIPOFF SPECIAL and get 50% off their first year or 1 month for just $1.

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Kentucky vs. New Mexico State History

This is only the second meeting between Kentucky and New Mexico State on the hardwood. The first took place in 1999 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in New Orleans. One year after winning the national championship, Tubby Smith’s Cats defeated the Aggies 82-60 to advance to face Kansas in the second round. Heshimu Evans and Wayne Turner combined for 29 points.

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Kentucky vs. New Mexico State Storylines

BIG Z UPDATE?

The preseason came and went without the debut of Zvonimir Ivisic, the Croatian seven-footer who joined the roster the week of Big Blue Madness after some hiccups during the admissions process. As of 7 p.m. ET, UK has yet to announce if Big Z has been cleared by the NCAA. Last week, John Calipari said that the freshman would go through warmups with the team prior to the Kentucky State exhibition, but a bout of food poisoning sent him back to the Wildcat Lodge early. Will we see Big Z tonight? Stay tuned.

KENTUCKY’S MAKESHIFT FRONTCOURT MEETS SIZE

If Ivisic isn’t cleared to play tonight, Kentucky will be without all three of its seven footers as Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso continue to recover from foot surgeries. That leaves Tre Mitchell as the tallest player on the roster at 6’9″ So far, Mitchell has excelled at the stretch five but how will he do against teams with actual size?

While Mitchell and the Cats have a significant talent advantage over New Mexico State, the Aggies do have three players 6’10” or taller, including starting center Kaosi Ezeagu. With Hunter Dickinson and Kansas looming next week, tonight will be a good chance to see how Kentucky combats size in the middle as we wait for the seven-footers to return.

WHICH FRESHMEN WILL SHINE?

Veterans Antonio Reeves (19.0) and Tre Mitchell (18.5) were Kentucky’s leading scorers in the preseason exhibitions, but the trio of five-star freshmen each spent time in the spotlight. Rob Dillingham excelled vs. Georgetown College, while DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards stepped up vs. Kentucky State. Which freshman will shine the brightest tonight?

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Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel

Can’t watch live? KSR’s got you covered. Drew Franklin, Jack Pilgrim, Zack Geoghegan, and Jacob Polacheck are at Rupp Arena and will share their Rapid Reactions 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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