Kentucky vs. Ole Miss: Preview, Odds, How to Watch

Right when we thought the Cats were back on track, they sputtered once again in the form of an 89-85 loss to Gonzaga inside Rupp Arena for a third consecutive home loss — the first time in the venue’s history. Kentucky looks to avoid a fourth straight in a late one tonight, this time against Chris Beard and the Ole Miss Rebels.

What do you need to know about the matchup, a big one for the Wildcats as they fight to get back in the win column and build back some much-needed momentum? Let’s break things down.

How To Watch

No. 20 Kentucky (16-7) vs. Ole Miss (18-5)
9 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | Rupp Arena

• TV: ESPN (Karl Ravech, Jay Bilas, Marty Smith)
• Streaming: WatchESPN
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 161 or 190
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Last Five

Kentucky: NET 25, KenPom 27

• 1/27: 63-57 W at Arkansas
• 1/31: 94-91 L (OT) vs. Florida
• 2/3: 103-92 L vs. Tennessee
• 2/6: 109-77 W at Vanderbilt
• 2/10: 89-85 L vs. Gonzaga

Ole Miss: NET 58, KenPom 60

• 1/24: 77-51 W vs. Arkansas
• 1/27: 71-68 W at Texas A&M
• 1/30: 86-82 W vs. Mississippi State
• 2/3: 91-77 L vs. Auburn
• 2/6: 68-65 L at South Carolina

Series History

Kentucky holds an overwhelming edge in the series, leading 110-14 overall and 56-2 in Lexington including an 18-5 record under John Calipari. The Cats currently hold a two-game winning streak dating back to 2021.

Traveling to Oxford last season, UK earned a 75-66 victory with Cason Wallace nursing an injury. Antonio Reeves caught fire with 27 points on 7-12 shooting and 6-7 from three — sound familiar? — while Jacob Toppin added 18 and Oscar Tshiebwe put up yet another double-double with 14 and 11.

A win would push Kentucky’s winning percentage against Ole Miss to 96.6% in Lexington while improving the Cats’ record to 5-1 this season following a loss.

As for the head-to-head battle with Chris Beard, Calipari earned a victory in the lone matchup back in 2020 when Kentucky traveled to Texas Tech and left with a 76-74 overtime win. Nick Richards and Immanuel Quickley combined for 46 in that one. The Cats were scheduled to face Beard at Texas in 2021 before the game was canceled due to COVID.

Kentucky vs. Ole Miss Odds via FanDuel

Spread: Kentucky -8.5
Total: 164.5

Kentucky Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#15 – Reed Sheppard
6-3 • 187 • GUARD • FRESHMAN
12.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.2 APG

#12 – Antonio Reeves
6-6 • 195 • GUARD • SENIOR
19.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG

#1 – Justin Edwards
6-8 • 203 • GUARD • FRESHMAN
8.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG

#3 – Adou Thiero
6-8 • 222 • FORWARD • SOPHOMORE
7.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.1 APG

#2 – Ugonna Onyenso
7-1 • 226 • FORWARD • FRESHMAN
3.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.7 BPG

Head Coach: John Calipari (32nd season, 15th at UK) – 848-260 overall, 403-120 at UK

Ole Miss Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#5 – Jaylen Murray
5-11 • 170 • GUARD • JUNIOR
14.3 PPG, 4.0 APG, 1.3 SPG

#11 – Matthew Murrell
6-4 • 200 • GUARD • SENIOR
16.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.5 APG

#7 – Allen Flanigan
6-6 • 215 • GUARD • SENIOR
15.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG

#4 – Jaemyn Brakefield
6-8 • 220 • FORWARD • GRAD SENIOR
11.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG

#33 – Moussa Cisse
7-0 • 230 • FORWARD • GRAD SENIOR
4.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG

Head Coach: Chris Beard (1st season at Ole Miss, 12th overall): 255-103 overall, 18-5 at OM

Statistical Comparison

(via Kentucky’s game notes)

Fun stats from UK’s game notes:

• Kentucky has not played a single game at full strength this season.
• The Wildcats are averaging 10.0 3-pointers per game at a nation-leading 41.0% clip. Only two teams in program history have averaged 10.0 or more made 3-pointers for an entire season (1990, 1993).
• Antonio Reeves has scored in double figures in all but one game and has 12 games with 20 or more points. He is connecting on career highs from the field (.498), 3-point range (.445) and the free-throw line (.878).
• The Wildcats rank 25th in the NCAA’s NET rankings. The SEC has three teams ranked in the top 10, four in the top 25, eight in the top 50 and 11 in the top 100.

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Pregame Storylines

WILL TRE MITCHELL PLAY?

Kentucky got DJ Wagner back against Gonzaga, putting the Cats just one piece away from a complete team. Mitchell has missed two straight games with a back issue, but Coach Cal confirmed he returned to practice Monday and added “we’re getting back to having a full roster for the first time this year.” And this one is personal for the fifth-year senior, who played for Chris Beard at Texas in 2021-22 before entering the transfer portal. The growing expectation is Mitchell returns to face his former coach in hopes of getting UK back in the win column.

REMEMBER JAYLEN MURRAY? THE PEACOCK IS NOW A REBEL

One of Ole Miss’ top offensive weapons, the junior point guard is averaging 14.3 points and ranks fifth in the SEC in 3-pointers made with 54 while adding four assists per contest. Something else to remember? Murray helped hand Kentucky its first-round loss in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, playing 19 minutes and scoring eight points for Saint Peter’s in the Peacocks’ historic upset. The Wildcats get a chance for revenge in a game they have no choice but to win after losing three straight inside Rupp Arena.

JAMARION SHARP IS BACK IN LEXINGTON

While we’re taking a trip down memory lane, how about the 7-5 center out of Hopkinsville’s last appearance at Rupp? Sharp played for Rick Stansbury at WKU and was on the receiving end of Kentucky’s 95-60 victory during the 2021-22 season. Oscar Tshiebwe set a Rupp Arena record, surpassing Shaquille O’Neal with 28 rebounds to go with 14 rebounds. Sharp was limited to eight points and six rebounds with seven blocked shots. He’ll be looking to feast against a struggling Wildcat frontcourt.

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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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