Kentucky
Ole Miss basketball vs Kentucky: Prediction, picks, injury updates and odds
OXFORD — Ole Miss basketball will try to slow down another elite offense.
No. 23 Ole Miss hosts No. 12 Kentucky on Tuesday at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).
The Rebels (16-6, 5-4 SEC) have an impressive road victory against No. 4 Alabama. Kentucky (15-6, 4-4) profiles similarly. The Wildcats have the No. 2 scoring offense (87.2 points a game) in the SEC, behind Alabama. Even if starting point guard Lamont Butler, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, can’t play, Kentucky still has five players averaging at least 10 points.
Here are three things to look for during the game:
Amari Williams brings a Johni Broome-like presence for Kentucky
The Rebels struggled to stop No. 1 Auburn’s star center, Johni Broome, in their most recent game. Kentucky center Amari Williams brings a similar presence.
Williams, a 7-foot senior transfer from Drexel, averages 9.0 rebounds per game, second in the SEC to Broome. He is a big reason why the Wildcats are No. 4 in the SEC in rebounding as a team.
The Rebels allowed Broome to score 20 points and get 12 rebounds. Although Williams (10.3 points per game) is not the elite scorer Broome is, they must box him out consistently. Ole Miss is No. 15 in the SEC in rebounding; that is a weak point Williams could exploit.
Ole Miss must stick tight to Koby Brea on defense
Senior Kentucky guard Koby Brea can hurt defenses in an instant.
Brea has started just three games this season, but when he comes off the bench, teams must be aware of his location at all times. He is shooting 46% (56 made) on 3-pointers, second-best in the SEC.
The senior transfer from Dayton has made at least one 3-pointer in each game this season.
Missouri sharpshooter Caleb Grill, the only player in the SEC who shoots 3-pointers at a higher percentage, hurt Ole Miss this season. He scored 22 points and made five 3-pointers against the Rebels.
Will Sean Pedulla stay on fire shooting the basketball?
Part of the reason Ole Miss was able to keep the score close against Auburn was because of senior point guard Sean Pedulla. He scored a season-high 29 points on 10-for-16 shooting, and as usual, he was a marksman from the 3-point line. He shot 3-for-6 from deep while also creating midrange looks and getting out in transition for layups.
Pedulla has scored at least 15 points in each of the Rebels’ past five games.
Ole Miss vs Kentucky prediction, picks
Ole Miss 76, Kentucky 78: Ole Miss is coming off a close loss against No. 1 Auburn. Kentucky is coming off an emotional home loss to John Calipari and Arkansas. The Rebels’ elite defense should keep Kentucky’s offense below its scoring average, so this will be all about Ole Miss’ offense doing enough to have a chance late.
Ole Miss vs Kentucky odds
Lines from BetMGM. have not been posted yet
Ole Miss vs Kentucky injury updates
Ole Miss should be at full strength. Senior guard Matthew Murrell has been banged-up all season but played through nagging injuries against Auburn.
Kentucky point guard Lamont Butler’s status is important to monitor. Butler, who has a shoulder injury, did not play Saturday against Arkansas, and his status is in doubt for the game against Ole Miss.
How to watch Ole Miss vs Kentucky: Time, TV channel, live stream
Ole Miss and Kentucky tip off at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Feb. 4. ESPN will broadcast the game. Streaming is available via Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
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Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
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.
Time is of the essence if you’re Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats right now. With the transfer portal set to close in just a few days, chaos reigns as programs and players scramble to secure their next opportunities. Among the fray is Kentucky, which finds itself navigating a tumultuous landscape in search of elite talent. With many of the Top 25 players already committed, the urgency for the Wildcats to land a game-changing recruit has never been more at the forefront following this season.
One of Pope’s primary targets is Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman. The 6-foot-9 rising junior made waves during his time at Syracuse, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 47.4 percent from the field last season. His potential is undeniable; many experts predict Freeman will be a future first-round NBA draft pick, making him a coveted asset for any program.
Freeman’s recent visit to Kentucky has sparked much-needed hope. However, despite positive feedback from his trip, he left without making a commitment to join one of college basketball’s blue bloods. The competition is fierce. The question looms: Can Kentucky outmaneuver these schools and secure his commitment?
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Well, Friday morning, the Cats were able to outlast one of their deepest competitions for now in Connecticut. Freeman was set to make his way to see the Huskies, but he has since cancelled his Friday visit, per UConn Report (subscription required). Now it appears the Huskies officially have bowed out of the race. That’s one down, and just the Alabama Crimson Tide, it appears, stands in the way for Mark Pope and Kentucky.
Mark Pope faces additional pressure following the return of Rob Wright to BYU, leaving the Wildcats in a precarious position when it comes to key portal targets. They need to act swiftly to avoid being left without significant talent as the portal closes. Freeman’s skill set would not only bolster their roster but would also complement rising star Malachi Moreno, as Freeman would be the ideal fit for the power forward.
As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on Mark Pope and his ability to close this deal. The stakes are high, and for Kentucky, landing Donnie Freeman could be the key to turning chaos into triumph, but will they be able to close perhaps the deal amidst the age of transfer portal madness? Well, they are one step closer now, it appears.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball closing in on a Donnie Freeman commitment?
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