Kentucky

Kentucky vs. Missouri: Preview, Odds, How to Watch

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2024

Kentucky vs. Missouri: Preview, Odds, How to Watch

Kentucky‘s first SEC road test has been passed. Now it’s time for the Wildcats’ first home conference matchup of 2024 — a revenge battle against Missouri. UK opened league play with a double-digit loss in Columbia last season, the first of six SEC losses that group would go on to take. Led by Dennis Gates, the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament in year one under the 43-year-old coach, but are off to a rough 8-6 start this time around.

Can the Cats continue building momentum in the conference? Let’s preview the matchup.

How To Watch

No. 6 Kentucky (11-2) vs. Missouri (8-6)
7 p.m. ET | Tuesday, January 9 | Rupp Arena

TV: ESPN (Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes)
Streaming: WatchESPN
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

Team Records

No. 6 Kentucky: 10-2 (KenPom: 17)

11/6: 86-46 W vs. New Mexico State
11/10: 81-61 W vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (Wildcat Challenge)
11/14: 89-84 L vs. No. 1 Kansas
11/17: 101-67 W vs. Stonehill (Wildcat Challenge)
11/20: 96-88 OT W vs. Saint Joseph’s (Wildcat Challenge)
11/24: 118-82 W vs. Marshall
11/28: 95-73 W vs. No. 8 Miami (FL)
12/2: 80-73 L vs. UNC-Wilmington
12/9: 81-66 W vs. Penn
12/16: 87-83 W vs. No. 9 North Carolina
12/21: 95-76 W at Louisville
12/29: 96-70 W vs. Illinois State
1/6: 87-85 W at Florida

Missouri: 8-6 (KenPom: 102)

11/6: 101-79 W vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
11/10: 70-55 L vs. Memphis
11/13: 68-50 W vs. SIU Edwardsville
11/16: 70-68 W at Minnesota
11/19: 73-72 L vs. Jackson State
11/22: 82-59 W vs. South Carolina State
11/25: 78-70 W vs. Loyola Maryland
11/28: 71-64 W at Pittsburgh
12/3: 82-72 W vs. Wichita State
12/9: 73-64 L at No. 2 Kansas
12/17: 93-87 L vs. Seton Hall
12/22: 97-73 L vs. No. 13 Illinois
12/30: 92-59 W vs. Central Arkansas
1/6: 75-68 L vs. Georgia

Series History

Kentucky leads the all-time series 14-3, but Missouri has won two of the past three matchups dating back to the 2020-21 season — both wins at home. Second-year coach Dennis Gates is 1-0 against John Calipari following an 89-75 upset win in Columbia last season, a matchup that saw star forward Kobe Brown go for 30 points for the Tigers. Oscar Tshiebwe finished with 23 points and 19 rebounds while Cason Wallace added 19 points in the loss.

Overall, though, Coach Cal is an impressive 10-3 in the series, including 6-0 inside Rupp Arena.

Kentucky vs. Missouri Odds via FanDuel

Spread: Kentucky -12.5
Total: 162.5

Kentucky Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#21 – DJ Wagner
6-4 • 192 • GUARD • FRESHMAN
12.1 PPG, 3.5 APG

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

#1 – Justin Edwards
6-8 • 203 • FORWARD • FRESHMAN
9.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG

#4 – Tre Mitchell
6-9 • 231 • FORWARD • GRADUATE STUDENT
12.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.2 APG

#2 – Aaron Bradshaw
7-1 • 226 • FORWARD • FRESHMAN
7.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.2 BPG

Head Coach: John Calipari (32nd season, 15th at UK) – 843-255 overall, 398-115 at UK

Missouri Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#55 – Sean East II
6-3 • 180 • GUARD • SENIOR
17.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.9 APG

#10 – Nick Honor
5-10 • 200 • GUARD • SENIOR
10.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 2.1 APG

#2 – Tamar Bates
6-5 • 195 • GUARD • JUNIOR
10.2 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 APG

#35 – Noah Carter
6-6 • 235 • FORWARD • SENIOR
11.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG

#23 – Aidan Shaw
6-8 • 208 • FORWARD • SOPHOMORE
4.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG

Head Coach: Dennis Gates (2nd season at Missouri, 5th overall): 33-16 at Mizzou, 83-56 overall

Statistical Comparison

(via Kentucky’s game notes)

Fun stats from UK’s game notes:

The Wildcats rallied from an 11-point first-half deficit at Florida on Saturday. It’s the second time this season they have overcome an 11-point deficit (Texas A&M-Commerce). It marked the largest halftime deficit (8) overcome on the road since March 7, 2020 (10) at Florida.
UK is 8-0 against Missouri at home in the series’ history. The Wildcats are also 13-1 under Calipari in the first SEC home game of the season.
Kentucky ranks among the top 10 nationally in points per game, assist-to-turnover ratio, fastbreak points and 3-point percentage.

Pregame Storylines

REMATCH VS. DENNIS GATES

Kentucky’s trip to Columbia last season set the tone for the rest of conference play. It was an upset win that gave Gates an early spark as one of the hottest up-and-coming coaching names in the country, Missouri ultimately winning a tournament game for the first time since 2010. Things aren’t going as well in year two with six early losses — one a Quad 4 to Jackson State — and the Tigers are desperate for a statement win. Meanwhile, the Wildcats are looking for revenge at home to ruin the second-year coach’s undefeated start in the series.

FORCING TURNOVERS AND LAUNCHING THREES

Missouri’s all-around production won’t blow you away, scoring just 76.5 points (No. 148) while giving up 71.3 (No. 177) and shooting just 45.2% from the field. The Tigers are also abysmal on the glass, pulling down just 34 rebounds per game (No. 280) with a margin of -2.8 (No. 293). They do, however, force 14.5 turnovers per game (No. 61) with an overall margin of 3.0 (No. 51) while launching 26.5 threes per game (No. 40) with 9.1 makes (No. 55). That’s only a 34.3% clip (No. 152), but this is also Rupp Arena we’re talking about — everyone finds ways to get hot. Mizzou will get the shots up to have a chance while being disruptive on defense.

A LOUISVILLE NATIVE LEADS MIZZOU

There are some Kentucky ties at play here in the battle of Cats vs. Tigers — a homecoming of sorts for Missouri’s star player. Back for his final year of eligibility, Sean East II is originally from Louisville before closing out his high school career as a 1,000-point scorer and an Indiana All-Star selection at New Albany High School. East started his college basketball career at UMass before transferring to Bradley, then going down a level to John A. Logan Community College before bouncing back up to the high-major level at Missouri. He has scored in double figures all but two games this season, averaging 17.1 points per contest overall.

Join The Discussion on KSBoard

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, consider joining the conversation on KSBoard. New members can try 1 month for $1.

Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel

Miss the game? KSR’s got you covered with Rapid Reactions 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.

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.

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Kentucky

FCPS superintendent to recommend keeping Stables program at Kentucky Horse Park

Published

10 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

FCPS superintendent to recommend keeping Stables program at Kentucky Horse Park

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins announced Tuesday he will recommend keeping The Stables alternative school at its current location through the end of next school year.

The school is located within the Kentucky Horse Park and allows students to work with horses while learning in a smaller setting. FCPS’ “Project Right Size Bright Futures” initiative had been considering terminating the facility contract over efficiency reasons.

Parents like Jennifer Boling understand the implications of the decision after seeing what the program did for her two children.

“It’s just changed their complete life around. Neither one of them trusted adults before,” Boling said.

The district’s Right Size Bright Futures committee had been looking at cutting the school’s facility contract with the nonprofit Central Kentucky Riding for Hope. Liggins acknowledged Tuesday that while the program is costly, it is worthwhile.

Liggins said he wants to promote the work being done to find partnerships to help continue the program’s long-term viability.

School Board Chair Tyler Murphy told WKYT he was excited to hear about Liggins’ recommendation ahead of Thursday’s board meeting.

“They do incredible work. The passion around that work is very meaningful and powerful. It’s important because they are truly leaving an impact on every child that goes through their doors,” Murphy said.

The leader of the school’s partnering agency shares in Murphy’s excitement.

“Elated that there’s been a response and gratified that people took time to listen to the story of our participants,” said Pat Kline, executive director of Central Kentucky Riding for Hope.

Boling said while she is more optimistic than before, she needs to see results.

“I want to see them actually follow through and not just be words,” Boling said.

According to Liggins, the Stables program costs the school district about $1.1 million. A majority of that comes from personnel, he said.

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Kentucky

Unexpected death of central Kentucky woman prompts community fundraising effort

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Unexpected death of central Kentucky woman prompts community fundraising effort

MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Central Kentucky mother is working to raise money for her daughter’s funeral after the woman died unexpectedly while visiting a friend in Pennsylvania last week.

Ashley Lowery McCoy’s mother, Paula Carrier, said the community has stepped up during her time of shock, raising around $5,000 for funeral arrangements in just four days.

“She’ll look down on all of us, and she’ll be smiling. She’ll say, ‘Hey, they actually love me,’” Carrier said. “She’d be proud of everybody for stepping up. She’d see that she mattered.”

McCoy had recently left a sober living program about a month ago after battling drug addiction, according to her mother. At the same time, McCoy managed to leave an abusive relationship.

“My daughter’s seen me get clean. She wanted to get clean, and she did it,” Carrier said. “She would tell you, ‘Mom, you should be proud of me because I’m doing good,’” Carrier said.

McCoy’s pastor said she had recently given herself to God before leaving for her trip to Pennsylvania.

“You could tell that she was broken and she wants a change in life,” Senior Pastor at the Revival Hope Tabernacle church, Walter Rhodus said.

“She left this world and I mean she gets to spend eternity in heaven. That’s priceless. I mean, absolutely priceless,” the pastor said.

With Ashley’s funeral scheduled for December 19, the family is still $2,000 short of covering the costs. They have set up several donation locations in Jessamine County and Madison County.

LEX 18

“No mom should have to do that. If I don’t get it, I don’t know what I want to do, I’ll sell everything I’ve got,” Carrier said. “If I could, I’d ride back here with her. I would take my child’s place.”

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Kentucky

Kentucky Volleyball set for Final Four showdown with Wisconsin

Published

2 days ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky Volleyball set for Final Four showdown with Wisconsin

The semifinal stage is set for No. 1 seed Kentucky volleyball, as the Wildcats prepare to take on No. 3 seed Wisconsin in the NCAA Final Four on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 9:00 PM ET inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

Kentucky has been dominant throughout the NCAA Tournament, including a 3–0 sweep of Wofford, a sweep against Cal Poly in the Sweet 16, and a sweep over Creighton in the Elite Eight. Their only dropped set came in the Round of 32 against UCLA. Outside of that brief hiccup, Kentucky has controlled matches from start to finish and remains undefeated at home this season.

Wisconsin arrives in Kansas City after a statement win over No. 1 Texas in the Elite Eight. The Badgers earned a measure of revenge against the Longhorns, who handed Wisconsin one of its four losses during the regular season. Kentucky accounted for Texas’ other two defeats, beating the Longhorns in both the regular season and the SEC Tournament championship.

Thursday’s matchup also carries historical weight for Big Blue Nation. Wisconsin was the team that ended Kentucky men’s basketball’s perfect 38–0 season in the 2015 Final Four, denying the Wildcats an undefeated national title.

Now, Kentucky volleyball has an opportunity to write a different ending against the Badgers on the sport’s biggest stage.

If the Wildcats advance, they’ll face the winner of the other national semifinal matchup, which sees No. 1 seed Pittsburgh, who actually handed Kentucky one of its regular-season losses, take on No. 3 seed Texas A&M, whom the Cats defeated in College Station.

With a spot in the national championship match on the line, the Wildcats will look to continue their dominant run and settle an old score. The national championship game is Sunday, Dec. 21, on ABC at 3:30 PM ET.

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