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Kentucky vs. Gonzaga: TV/Streaming Info, Keys to the Game, and Betting Odds/Predictions

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2 years ago

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Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope directs his players.
Jordan Prather | IMAGN

Coming off their first loss of the season to Clemson on Tuesday, the Kentucky Wildcats have a quick turnaround until their next big challenge. The Wildcats travel to Seattle on Thursday to take on the seventh-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs for a primetime game on Saturday, and what will most likely be their last ranked matchup before conference play.

This will be the third game of the six-year series between the two teams, with the Wildcats still looking for their first win over the Bulldogs. All-time, this will be the fourth meeting between the teams, with Gonzaga holding a 2-1 advantage.

Mark Few, in his 26th season at Gonzaga, returns 68% of a roster that went to a ninth straight Sweet Sixteen last March. That roster continuity is the most of any team in the Top 25.

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While they lean a lot on the backcourt of Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman (once a Kentucky commit), who both play more than 30 minutes per game, they have some depth as well, ranking 19th nationally in bench points per game, the most of any team in the Top 25.

Ranked top 20 in KenPom’s offensive and defensive efficiency metrics, one of just six teams, Gonzaga is one of the most well-rounded teams in the country. Kentucky has already beaten one such team in Duke.

Let’s take a look at the matchup.

Three Point Shooting

Kentucky’s offense is centered around three-point shooting, with Mark Pope looking to shoot 30-35 per game. That’s great when you’re making them, not so much when you aren’t. After shooting greater than 40 percent from three in four of their first five games, the Wildcats have shot less than 28 percent in three straight contests.

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On the other side, what Gonzaga does best defensively is defending the three. The Bulldogs rank fourth in opponent three-point percentage. In their one loss this season, West Viriginia made 11 threes on 35 attempts.

Can the Cats shake their slump against one of the best 3P defenses in the country?

Make Free Throws

Free throws are free for a reason, but Kentucky hasn’t been taking full advantage of their opportunities.

Despite shooting the three well and having four to five shooters on the court at all times, the Wildcats are only shooting just above 73 percent on the season. That includes a season-low 61 percent (11-18) against Clemson. If the Wildcats had shot 70-75 percent, that’s an extra two points and the end of the game could have played out much differently.

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Gonzaga on the other hand is shooting nearly 83 percent from the charity stripe, the third-best mark in the nation. The worst free throw shooter in the rotation shoots 70 percent.

Tight games can be lost or won at the free-throw line. Kentucky can’t afford to leave points on the board like they have been.

Take Care of the Ball

Kentucky has been fairly good at taking care of the ball thus far this season, averaging just over ten turnovers per game, ranked 53rd nationally. That number is just over Mark Pope’s per-game goal of ten or less.

Against Clemson, the Wildcats turned it over a dozen times, not many of their average, but many of them were unforced, not due to Clemson’s defense.

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Of late, the main culprit has been Amari Williams. While he is a skilled passer, the big man has turned it over 11 times over the past three games and has recorded four or more turnovers in four of Kentucky’s eight games this season.

Gonzaga ranks 13th nationally in turnovers (9.4), but in their sole loss to West Virginia, they had a -4 turnover margin.

Opposing Players to Watch

G Ryan Nembhard, 6-0, 180 lbs

  • 10.6 PPG
  • 10.8 APG (1st nationally, would be 5th best in NCAA history if sustained)
  • 45% 3P

G Nolan Hickman 6-2, 190 lbs

  • 11.5 PPG
  • 46.2% 3P

F Graham Ike 6-9, 250 lbs

  • 13.8 PPG
  • 6.5 RPG
  • 2.4 FPG (four fouls in two straight games)

#4 Kentucky Basketball (7-1) vs. #7 Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-1)

  • Time: 10:00 PM ET on December 7th
    Location: Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA
    TV Channel: ESPN2
    Announcers: Jon Sciambi and Jimmy Dykes will call the action.
    Online Stream: You can stream the game online using ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
    Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens will have the call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
    Replay: WatchESPN and ESPN network of channels (check local listings).
    Rosters: UK | ZAG
    Stats to Know: UK | ZAG
    KenPom: UK | ZAG
    Team Sheet: UK | ZAG
  • Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook has yet to release the odds, so please check back later for those. Expectedly, the projections all have Kentucky as the underdog, giving them roughly between 30-40 percent chance at victory: ESPN (40.6%), Bart Torvik (38%) and EvanMiya (34.1%) KenPom (29%).
  • Predictions: KenPom and EvanMiya have Kentucky losing by a score of 85-80. Haslametrics and Bart Torvik have the Cats losing by s slightly narrow margin, 84-81. Unfortunately, I think Gonzaga’s depth and three-point defense prevail, and I pick the Bulldogs to win 90-84.

Be sure to send us your Kentucky vs. Gonzaga score predictions! Go CATS!!

Also posted on A Sea of Blue.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance Drafted First Round by the San Antonio Spurs

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8 hours ago

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June 23, 2026

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Brett Davis | IMAGN Images

It’s every kids dream to play professionally one day, let alone be able to play for the University of Kentucky on the way to the next level. 

Although Jayden Quaintance’s time with the Wildcats ended anticlimactically, his NBA dreams have officially come true at just 18 years old. 

The Cleveland, Ohio native began his collegiate career with the Arizona State Sun Devils, starting in all 24 games he played in.

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Before his unfortunate knee injury, Quaintance was good for nearly a nightly double-double, averaging 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game to go along with 2.6 blocks a night. 

He would transfer to Kentucky ahead of his sophomore season, making his first appearance on Dec. 20 against St. John’s.

Finishing the game with 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, many members of the Big Blue Nation were confident that their superstar had finally debuted. 

Only appearing in three more games for the 2025-26 season, it was quite clear that his eyes were set on playing at the next level, not taking any chances of another injury. 

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Selecting Quaintance with the No. 20 overall pick, the Spurs have now added on to their elite front court and will likely utilize him as a two-way player.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Players and Staff Speak About the Importance of Zoom Diallo to This Team, “It’s a recipe for success”

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5 days ago

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June 19, 2026

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Zoom Diallo is turning heads in Kentucky basketball practices. See why Mikhail McLean and Malachi Moreno are already raving about the new PG1.
UK Athletics

Mark Pope likes to start his roster-building process with a point guard. In year one, that was Lamont Butler. This past season, it was Jaland Lowe, who was the second commitment after an eager Kam Williams signed with the Wildcats without a visit.

This season, that point guard is Zoom Diallo.

According to early practice reports, Diallo has not only been one of the best players, but one of the most important in terms of helping this team build its foundation. According to one source, “Zoom has been one of the purest forms of a floor general early on. These guys rally around him. He’s the voice of the team in the early stages and backs it up by going the extra mile.”

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Assistant coach Mikhail McLean confirmed that in interviews this week.

“Zoom’s been my favorite so far,” he said on Tuesday, before going into more depth with BBN Tonight on Thursday, comparing him to a quarterback.

“He’s just a connector,” McLean said. “If you know what a quarterback is like, where they just kind of connect everybody. He has a bubbly energy and personality. He’s humble enough to accept who he is as a person. He gasses and encourages everybody to be the best version of themselves, and that’s how he gets the best version of himself.”

McLean mentioned another “connector” on the team, Malachi Moreno, who actually played a part in recruiting Diallo to Kentucky, “his favorite point guard.”

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“I had already known Zoom for a while,” he told KY Insider on Thursday. “We had been in Adidas Euro camp together, and being on the Adidas circuit, we’ve been good friends for a while. We always wanted to play together. He ended up at Washington, and I ended up here, but the stars aligned and now he’s here with me. I got my favorite point guard.”

As far as the impact Diallo has on the court, Moreno mentioned his ability to make plays for his teammates, but also highlighted his ability as a bully guard, drawing a comparison to Otega Oweh.

“He’s a high-assist-rate guy,” Moreno said. “He makes plays, and he earns shots for his teammates, and he’s also a bully guard.”

“I think that also helps in the SEC as well, being one of those bigger bully guards. You saw how Otega was last year. He was able to be so good because he was such a bully and able to muscle his way through the paint and really earn shots for everybody, earn shots for himself. I think having a guy like Zoom like that as well, it’s just a recipe for success.”

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High praise for Kentucky’s PG1 this season.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Team Visits Patients at UK Children’s Hospital, “We can brighten somebody’s day”

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5 days ago

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June 19, 2026

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Kentucky basketball players spent time at UK Children's Hospital, playing Fortnite and making crafts with young patients.
Chet White/UK Athletics

This year’s Kentucky Basketball roster arrived on campus earlier this month. While summer practice has started as the Cats are getting acclimated to the program, they are also getting acclimated to the community.

As a basketball player at Kentucky, you are more than just an athlete; you are someone many young people around the state look up to.

On Wednesday, the team visited the UK Children’s Hospital to see some of the strongest young people in the state.

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Photos showed players interacting with the children by playing games, creating crafts, and even putting together some toys.

Malachi Moreno revealed during an interview on Thursday that he invited one of the children, a young boy named Jackson, whom he met at DanceBlue, to play the popular video game Fortnite with himself, Kam Williams, and Trent Noah.

“The guys really took in what it means to be a part of this brand,” Moreno said of the experience. “When we walk into a room, we can brighten somebody’s day.”

This is what it’s all about.

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Also posted on A Sea of Blue.

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