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.