KSR Today: Beat Duke.

It’s November 12. Champions Classic Day. It’s a day that needs no introduction around here, but I am writing one anyway because the job calls for it. You already know what is ahead, though: Kentucky plays Duke tonight in the fifth Champions Classic matchup between the two blue-blooded college basketball programs.

Duke has had Kentucky’s number lately, winning three of their first four Champions Classic run-ins and nine of the last 11 games overall against the Wildcats. Kentucky has only beaten Duke three times since 1979. Kentucy’s recent Champions Classic results are bad, too. The Wildcats have one Champions Classic win in the last seven years.

It’s time to flip those trends at 9 o’clock tonight in State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Go Cats. Beat Duke. We hate Duke. More on that game and other things:

Kentucky vs. Duke: How to Watch, Listen

No. 19 Kentucky vs. No. 6 Duke
9 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Nov. 12 | State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA)

• TV: ESPN (Dan Schulman, Jay Bilas, Jess Sims)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 106 or 190
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Amari William and Otega Oweh preview the game

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Wildcats excited for first marquee game and road trip

In the pregame conversation with Williams and Oweh, we learned preparation for Duke is like any other game. However, excitement for the first road trip and an opponent like Duke have the Wildcats excited for the nationally televised test.

“It’s going to be a big event, playing Duke. I’m just excited to play them,” said Otega Oweh. “I just want to play at the highest level, some of these rivalry games. Those are the things I was looking forward to. The fact that it’s in Atlanta, it’s a difference scene. I’m really excited.”

Williams added, “It’s fun, it’s our first road trip. Guys haven’t really experienced that yet, and neither have I. There’s a lot of fun surrounding it. Like Coach Pope says, it’s the next game, but in the big arena, it’s going to be fun, for sure.”

[Kentucky prepares for Duke like any other game, but excited for national spotlight]

Kentucky met Charles Barkley last night

Part of the team’s pregame preparation in Atlanta included hanging out with Charles Barkley at the team hotel. Chuck is an Auburn guy, but he has shown love to Kentucky in the past, too.

Enjoyed spending our @championclassic eve with Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley. pic.twitter.com/lMYBi8grKk

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 12, 2024

Duke is a six-point betting favorite

The point spread hasn’t done any moving since Sunday. Duke is laying six to Kentucky in the desert and on the apps, with a total of 160.5 points. If you’re feeling really confident, like me, a moneyline bet on the Wildcats pays +215.

Kentucky moved up the polls on Monday

Kentucky climbed four places in the AP College Basketball Top 25, moving from 23rd to 19th in the update. The Wildcats moved five spots up to No. 18 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Kentucky’s Women’s Basketball is also ranked, slotted at No. 20 in the AP and No. 22 in the Coaches Poll.

Kentucky WBB plays tonight, too

We can’t forget the Kentucky Women’s Basketball game tonight. UKWBB also plays on Tuesday evening, hosting Wofford at 6 p.m. in Historic Memorial Coliseum. You can watch the game on SEC Network+ or follow along with KSR’s new live blog format here on KentuckySportsRadio.com.

Game 3 for Kenny Brooks’ 20th-ranked team is their last before hosting No. 18 Louisville in one of the games of the year on Saturday. Kentucky won its first two games by an average of 42 points.

Kentucky WBB vs. Wofford: How to Watch, Listen

No. 20 Kentucky WBB vs. Wofford
6 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Nov. 12 | Historic Memorial Coliseum (Lexington, KY)

• TV: SEC Network+ (Jeff Piecoro, Christi Thomas)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 98.5 Icons (Darren Headrick)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 106 or 190
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Watch the games at KSBar and Grille

Head to KSBar and Grille to watch the women’s game at 6 p.m. and the KSR Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. The KSR crew is staying late to watch the Kentucky-Duke game with a Champions Classic watch party. Ryan Lemond’s shirt may come off if things are going well.

Now, onto Kentucky Football news.

Mark Stoops was asked about his future at Kentucky

John Huang turned Mark Stoops’ routine Monday press conference upside down with a question about Stoops’ future in Lexington. Huang asked Stoops if he has any intentions to step down at the end of the season and “enjoy life,” to which Stoops replied, “Very briefly, zero. Zero percent chance I do that.”

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Watch Stoops’ Monday press conference

After Stoops’ Monday conversation, he handed off his Monday night call-in show responsibilities to Vince Marrow. Marrow gave a Cutter Boley-Tim Couch comparison in his one-hour chat with Tom Leach and the callers.

Kentucky’s game at Texas was assigned an afternoon start

Monday also gave us the kickoff time for Kentucky’s game at Texas on November 23. The Wildcats and Longhorns were assigned the 3:30 p.m. slot on SEC Network for their first-ever meeting as conference foes.

I’ll leave you with the hype video for Kentucky-Duke

Beat Duke.