Kentucky
Kentucky vs. Oklahoma time, TV channel, online stream, predictions for SEC Tournament showdown
The Kentucky Wildcats will make their 2025 SEC Tournament debut Thursday night vs. the Oklahoma Sooners, who defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 81-75 in Wednesday’s opening round. That included a 16-0 second-half run to put the game effectively on ice.
Game time is set for approximately 9:30 PM ET, though any veteran of watching postseason basketball knows it’s much likelier that tip time is at 10 PM or later.
Kentucky enters the league tournament with a 21-10 record and a 10-8 mark in what was one of the best conferences in recent memory. As many as three SEC teams will get a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament, while there could be as many as five teams that earn a top-two seed.
The Wildcats have a chance to be one of the teams that earn a 2-seed, but only if they make a deep run in Nashville. They’re widely projected as a 3-seed right now, but dropping to a 4-seed is very possible if they don’t handle business in their SEC Tournament opener.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, is 20-12 overall and needs to keep winning to lock up a spot in the NCAA Tournament after going 6-12 in SEC play. The Sooners currently sit among the last four teams in the field of 68 in ESPN’s latest Joe Lunardi bracketology.
Beating Georgia ‘should’ have locked up the Sooners’ spot, but you can bet they’re going to keep playing like there’s no tomorrow, especially after losing at home to Kentucky toward the end of regular-season play. It was a highly-contested game that got very heated during the game and in the postgame celebration, even seeing beer cans being thrown at Kentucky players.
Bet on this rematch being another war that goes into the final minutes before deciding a victor.
The winner advances to Friday’s quarterfinal action vs. the 3-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide.
Opposing Players to Watch
G Jeremiah Fears 6-4, 182 lbs
F Jalon Moore 6-7, 215 lbs
- 16.2 PPG (8th in SEC)
- 5.8 RPG
- 36.3% 3P
G Duke Miles 6-2, 188 lbs
Here’s what you need to know for what hopes to be the first of four Kentucky SEC Tournament games in the Music City.
Kentucky Basketball vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Time: Approximately 9:30 PM ET on March 13th, 2025 (plan for 10)
Location: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee
TV Channel: SEC Network
Announcers: Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes, and Molly McGrath.
Online Stream: ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens will have the call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).
SEC Injury Report
Rosters: UK | OU
Stats to Know: UK | OU
KenPom: UK | OU
Team Sheet: UK | OU
Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook does not have a spread just yet, so check back later. EvanMiya projects Kentucky to be a six-point favorite.
Predictions: EvanMiya picks Kentucky to win 84-78. I’m going with an 81-79 victory, Kentucky!
Let us know your Kentucky vs. Oklahoma predictions in the comments section!
Kentucky
Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report
Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.
One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.
Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.
The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.
Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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