KSR Gameday: No. 15 Kentucky takes on Texas in Austin

Good morning, folks! How are we feeling about this one today? The No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats (17-7; 6-5 SEC) are in Austin, TX to face the hosting Texas Longhorns (15-10; 4-8 SEC) later tonight on ESPN. Just by looking at team records, you’d assume Kentucky is the clear favorite, but injuries are going to make this one interesting.

And that’s where we’ll start. Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson were both listed as OUT on the SEC’s Availability Report from last night. Backup point guard Kerr Kriisa remains out, as well. Mark Pope has waded through injuries all season long, but this is the first time he’ll be without any of his primary ball handlers. Now down to just four scholarship guards, Pope will roll out a by-committee ball-handling group of Travis Perry, Otega Oweh, Koby Brea, Collin Chandler, and Amari Williams. We’ll see how it goes…

Of note for Texas, forward Arthur Kaluma was listed as doubtful. Him sitting out would be a big loss for the Longhorns. The 6-foot-7 senior is second on the team in scoring (12.9 PPG) and first in rebounds (7.9 RPG). His final status will be determined a couple of hours prior to tipoff. But regardless if he can give it a go or not, Texas will be powered by star freshman/future NBA lottery pick Tre Johnson. Once a UK target under John Calipari, Johnson leads the Longhorns with 19.3 points per game on shooting splits of 43.9/38.6/87.4. He’s good.

But even with Johnson in the fold, Texas has not been great this season. Head coach Rodney Terry is on the hot seat in year three, just two years removed from an Elite 8 appearance. The Longhorns have dropped its last three games and desperately need some help with its resume. A win over Kentucky would go a long way in boosting that.

Due to Kentucky’s many injuries, Texas enters this one as the betting favorite. FanDuel has the Longhorns -3.5 as of this morning with the over/under set at 157.5. That being said, KenPom is calling for an 81-80 Kentucky victory. BartTorvik projects Texas to win 83-82. It should be a good battle tonight in Austin.

• KSR Staff Predictions: Kentucky at Texas
• Kentucky is separating from play-in round in SEC Tournament seeding race
• Kentucky will face a desperate Texas team on Saturday
• Mark Pope explains why he makes early substitutions
• Kentucky Returns to Austin for First Time Since Heartbreak
• What’s been the key to Kentucky’s defensive growth beyond Lamont Butler’s return? Focus.
• Resume Rundown: Where to expect Kentucky in Bracket Reveal

Kentucky at Texas: How to Watch, Listen

• Time: 8:00 pm EST
• 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 81 or 390
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

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

Got thoughts? Take advantage of our KSR+ Introductory Offer and continue the conversation on KSBoard, the KSR Message Board. $1 for seven days.

Top 16 bracket reveal is this afternoon

This afternoon around 12:30 p.m. EST, CBS will have its annual bracket reveal with the committee chair revealing the current top 16 seeds. Kentucky almost certainly locked up a spot in that group after the big victory on Tuesday over Tennessee, but just how high will the ‘Cats land? We could see as many as three SEC teams holding onto a one seed in the initial reveal.

Bat Cats split Opening Day doubleheader

After making it to the program’s first-ever College World Series in 2024, the Bat Cats returned to the diamond Friday in Nashville for Opening Day against Lipscomb. Kentucky got off to a great start in the surprise doubleheader (bad weather rearranged this weekend’s schedule) but came up short in game two.

The Wildcats torched Lipscomb in the season opener with an 11-0 run-rule victory. Right-handed senior pitcher Nic McCay tossed five innings, allowing just two hits while striking out four batters. Senior Cole Hage was the star on offense with a three-run home run the headline of his four-hit performance. Patrick Herrera and Luke Lawrence drove in three runners each.

But game two, which started almost immediately after game one, was less thrilling for Nick Mingione’s squad. Three runs scored by Lipscomb in the fourth inning was all it needed to steal a 3-1 win. UK left seven runners on base in this one while the game-tying home run in the ninth inning fell short of the warning track.

Kentucky returns to action on Sunday to close out the series. The ‘Cats will close things out against Lipscomb at 2:00 p.m. EST on ESPN+.

Pope went to visit Nate Ament

According to Dushawn London of 247 Sports, Mark Pope was in attendance for five-star Nate Ament during his senior night on Friday.

Ament was in Lexington starting Monday night and stayed through Kentucky’s win over Tennessee on Tuesday before heading out Wednesday. The 6-foot-9 wing is down to a final 11 of Arkansas, BYU, Duke, Georgetown, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas with the Blue Devils, Cardinals, Fighting Irish, Volunteers, and Wildcats of Lexington seen as the top contenders.

A decision is expected soon. Pope is doing whatever he can to keep Kentucky in the mix.

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Another doubleheader split for softball

Kentucky softball also split its doubleheader on Friday down in Clearwater, FL. This is already the third time this season the ‘Cats have split a doubleheader. UK first beat Clemson 7-6 to open the day but came up short 6-3 against No. 9 Oklahoma State. Freshman Anna Mauck drilled her first career home run in the first game against Clemson.

Rachel Lawson’s crew will finish the Clearwater Invitational today against No. 4 UCLA. First pitch is set for noon EST on ESPN+.

“The Journey” dropped last night

Saturday’s college basketball slate

We’ve got a BIG day of college hoops ahead of us, headlined by the nation’s top two ranked teams (Auburn and Alabama) going head to head on ESPN. 19 ranked teams will be in action today, including four matchups between Top 25 programs. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the basketball.

TIME (EST)/TV	MATCHUP
12:00 PM (ESPN)	Arkansas @ No. 8 Texas A&M
12:00 PM (The CW Network)	No. 23 Clemson @ Florida State
1:00 PM (SEC Network)	Vanderbilt @ No. 5 Tennessee
1:00 PM (CBS)	No. 16 Wisconsin @ No. 7 Purdue
2:00 PM (ESPN)	No. 6 Houston @ No. 13 Arizona
3:00 PM (ESPN+)	No. 12 Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State
3:30 PM (SEC Network)	No. 21 Missouri @ Georgia
4:00 PM (ESPN)	No. 1 Auburn @ No. 2 Alabama
4:00 PM (ABC/ESPN+)	Stanford @ No. 3 Duke
4:00 PM (ESPN2)	Cincinnati @ No. 10 Iowa State
6:00 PM (ESPN2)	No. 22 Mississippi State @ No. 19 Ole Miss
8:00 PM (FOX)	No. 11 Michigan State @ Illinois
8:00 PM (ESPN)	No. 15 Kentucky @ Texas
8:30 PM (SEC Network)	South Carolina @ No. 3 Florida
10:00 PM (ESPN)	No. 17 Kansas @ Utah