Kentucky
LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Clemson in the SEC/ACC Challenge
After four easy wins at home, it’s time to see what this Kentucky team can do on the road. KSR’s new and improved LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Littlejohn Coliseum as No. 4 Kentucky takes on Clemson in the SEC/ACC Challenge (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Kentucky is 7-0, the best start since the 2016-17 season. If the Cats win tonight, it’ll be the best start since the 2014-15 season. Tonight, they’ll face a Clemson team that is 7-1, the only loss coming at Boise State. The Tigers made it to the Elite Eight of last year’s NCAA Tournament but lost seven players from that squad. This year’s team was picked to finish fourth in the ACC preseason poll and is led by Chase Hunter (16.4 points per game) and Ian Schieffelin (11.6 rebounds per game).
Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from both Littlejohn Coliseum and the couch. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
Special thanks to today’s live blog sponsor, Ole Jim’s BBQ:
This holiday season give the tastiest gift in the form of Ole Jim’s BBQ sauce and rub! Ole Jim’s began in the hometown of our founder in Eddyville, KY. Being unable to find a sauce and rub that provided the flavor he wanted, Jim set out to make his own. Blending sweet and savory spices with a touch of tangy, he created the signature Ole Jim’s BBQ Sweet Sauce. Jim’s inspiration comes from his love and passion of cooking on his smoker and gathering with family and friends.
Ole Jim’s BBQ is a Kentucky Proud product, and that’s just what we are… proud to be made in the bluegrass! Take advantage of free shipping on orders of $19.99 or more. Happy shopping at olejimsbbq.com. Savor the flavor!
Andrew Carr picks up his 2nd foul
12/03/2024 09:09:04 PM
The fouls are mounting at Littlejohn Coliseum. Andrew Carr picked up his second, bringing Kentucky’s team total to five. Lamont Butler has been on the bench after picking up his second foul at the 15:11 mark. Brandon Garrison also just picked up a foul to take Kentucky’s total to six. Clemson has eight fouls total. This game could drag on well into the night.
Score Update: 11:40 1H – Kentucky 17, Clemson 15
12/03/2024 09:02:03 PM
It’s a back-and-forth battle so far. After missing two free throws Andrew Carr hit a huge three to put the Cats up 17-12. Clemson’s Dillon Hunter responded on the other end to cut that lead to three at the Under-12 media timeout. The Tigers are having their way on the offensive glass so far, with five offensive boards to Kentucky’s three for six second-chance points.
Clemson takes the lead, but Koby Brea takes it back
12/03/2024 08:58:55 PM
Myles Foster gave Clemson its first lead of the game but Koby Brea stole it back with his first three of the game. Unfortunately, he picked up a foul on the other end, but we’ll forgive it if it means more threes.
Score Update: 15:11 1H – Kentucky 11, Clemson 8
12/03/2024 08:51:49 PM
Good news or bad news? Good: Kentucky leads Clemson at the first media timeout. Bad: Lamont Butler just picked up his second foul. Butler’s been playing great otherwise, leading Kentucky with five points, so this is not ideal.
Both teams are a little cold early on. Kentucky is 3-9 from the floor, Clemson 2-8.
Christian Reeves picks up his second foul
12/03/2024 08:49:07 PM
Clemson center Christian Reeves just fouled Otega Oweh on a three-point shot, his second foul of the game. Oweh made two of three from the stripe to make it 9-5 Cats with 16:11 to go until half.
Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr pick up early fouls
12/03/2024 08:44:07 PM
The refs are already making themselves known, calling two early questionable fouls on Lamont Butler and Andrew Carr. Mark Pope, who famously attended a referee symposium to better understand officiating, is unhappy with them so far.
It’s okay because a Lamont Butler and-one makes it 6-2 Kentucky with 18:13 to go.
Birthday boy Jaxson Robinson starts things off with a three!
12/03/2024 08:41:44 PM
Today is Jaxson Robinson’s 22nd birthday and he tipped off the celebration with a big three-point bucket on the opening possession.
Tennessee cruises past Syracuse
12/03/2024 08:33:02 PM
If you’ve got ESPN on waiting for Kentucky vs. Clemson, you watched the end of Tennessee vs. Syracuse. I hate to say it, but the Vols looked very good, cruising past the Orangemen 96-70. Add in Missouri’s win over Cal and the SEC now leads the SEC/ACC Challenge 5-0.
Time for the main event. The crowd at the KSR Road Trip watch party in Fort Collins, Colorado is ready:
10 minutes to go until tipoff
12/03/2024 08:30:29 PM
The crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum looks ready to roll:
Usual Starting Lineup
12/03/2024 08:22:16 PM
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Kentucky will go with its usual starters vs. Clemson.
00 Otega Oweh
01 Lamont Butler
02 Jaxson Robinson
07 Andrew Carr
22 Amari Williams
Pope confirms Brandon Garrison will play vs. Clemson
12/03/2024 08:18:49 PM
Jack Pilgrim said Brandon Garrison looked good in warmups after sitting out the Georgia State game as a precautionary measure (soreness). In his pregame conversation with Tom Leach, Pope confirmed Garrison will play vs. Clemson.
“He got in a really light workout on Sunday evening, got to practice yesterday. So, he’s should be a full go today.
Love to hear it.
Good crowd at the KSR Road Trip Watch Party in Fort Collins
12/03/2024 08:13:33 PM
The radio crew is in Fort Collins, Colorado tonight and, of course, some fans showed up at the Grey Rock Sports Grill to watch the game with them. I’m sure that’s just the beginning of Blue getting in.
Arkansas comes back to beat Miami
12/03/2024 08:08:18 PM
Miami led almost the entire game but Arkansas came back to win it 76-73 thanks to some big buckets by Boogie Fland. Miami has now lost five straight games.
The SEC is now 3-0 in the SEC Challenge, as South Carolina beat Boston College 73-51 and Georgia beat Notre Dame 69-48. No. 3 Tennessee is cruising vs. Syracuse and it looks like Missouri will beat Cal too. So far, it just means more.
Brandon Garrison looks good to go
12/03/2024 08:02:57 PM
Held out “more as a precaution than anything else” due to “a little bit of soreness” against Georgia State, it appears Garrison will make his return for the Wildcats following the one-game absence.
The sophomore forward went through full warmups with no apparent setbacks.
Looks like Kentucky is back at full strength.
Sights and sounds from Littlejohn Coliseum
12/03/2024 07:55:28 PM
KSR has arrived for Kentucky’s matchup at Clemson inside Littlejohn Coliseum ahead of the opening tip. Students flooded the venue as soon as doors opened while the rest of the orange and purple have trickled in since.
They’re not alone, though. Big Blue Nation has showed out, too, with most sections featuring at least a couple of Kentucky fans and several with a good chunk of blue. Talking with BBN members around the arena, many made the short trip from Atlanta over to Clemson — just two hours away.
Plenty to get a “Go Big Blue” chant going if things swing Kentucky’s direction this evening.
Take a look at some of the early views from Littlejohn Coliseum:
Tip time now 9:41 p.m. ET
12/03/2024 07:38:04 PM
The game is already being pushed back. According to Dave Baker on the official UK pregame show, tipoff has been pushed back to 9:41 p.m. ET, probably because Tennessee/Syracuse, which is also on ESPN, is only at halftime. Yawn.
Here are your How To Watch Details for whenever this one does tip off.
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 158 or 190
Live Stats: StatBroadcast