Kentucky
What channel is Kentucky vs LSU on today? UK basketball odds, TV schedule, game time
Kentucky’s Mark Pope breaks down loss to No .1 Auburn
Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope breaks down what went wrong in loss to No. 1 Auburn. The Tigers won for the first time at Rupp since 1988.
LEXINGTON — Not a single scholarship player on the 2024-25 Kentucky basketball roster ever called Daimion Collins a teammate in college. But Collins will be back in familiar surroundings tonight.
Now a fourth-year junior forward at LSU, Collins spent his first two seasons (2021-22 and 2023-24) at UK. He then entered the transfer portal and joined the Tigers. Tonight, he’ll return to Rupp Arena for the first time since his departure.
He’ll do so with a struggling squad: The Tigers are 14-15 overall and 3-13 in SEC play. LSU is 15th in the league standings, ahead of only South Carolina, which is 2-14 in conference competition.
Collins has done his best, however. He’s made 21 starts in 27 appearances, averaging single-season personal highs in points (8.6), rebounds (4.4), assists (0.6) and blocks (1.6) per game. His blocks-per-outing average ranks sixth among SEC players.
He and the Tigers aim to spoil senior night for coach Mark Pope and the Wildcats.
Kentucky (19-10, 8-8) remained ranked in both the USA TODAY Coaches and AP Top 25 polls after a lopsided home defeat to No. 1 Auburn last week. UK is No. 24 in the newest coaches rankings and No. 19 in the AP poll.
Though LSU won the most recent matchup between the two — via a last-second putback by Tyrell Ward last season in Baton Rouge, Louisiana — Kentucky leads the all-time series, 93-29.
Here’s what you need to know to follow today’s game from home:
UK and LSU are slated to tip off at 7 p.m. today at Rupp Arena.
Betting odds: Kentucky is a 12 ½-point home favorite (-105) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 157 ½ points (-115). The money line odds are Kentucky -650, LSU +470.
The contest between the Wildcats and Tigers will air on ESPN2. Brian Custer (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) will have the call.
Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN2 via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
You also can stream ESPN2 on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.
You can also listen online via UKAthletics.com.
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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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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