Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs North Carolina: TV/Streaming Info, Keys to the Game, and Predictions

Published

2 years ago

December 14, 2023

Kentucky Wildcats DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards, and Adou Thiero looking on from the bench,

College basketball games on CBS often just feel different, especially with Brad Nessler and Bill Raftery on the call as they will be this weekend as the #14 Kentucky Wildcats take on the #9 North Carolina Tar Heels in the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta.

This will be the 43rd meeting between the two programs, with the Tar Heels holding the series lead, 25-17. However, they are just 1-3 against Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic. The last time the two teams matched up was back in 2021, as the trio of Kellan Grady, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Sahvir Wheeler overwhelmed the Tar Heels as the Wildcats went on to win 98-69.

This season, the two teams are currently ranked in the top 15 and possess two of the best fast-paced offenses in the country, contributing to what is expected to be an exciting, high-scoring contest.

That said, the Tar Heels have a similar identity to what they have been in recent years, led by two All-ACC calibers players Armando Bacot and RJ Davis, with new supporting pieces. Whereas Kentucky brings just 19 percent of last season’s minutes and looks much more modern in their style of play.

Rebounding Battle

Over the years, a staple for good North Carolina and Kentucky teams has been rebounding. In fact, the Tar Heels have been a top 10 rebounding team in six of the last seven seasons, with Kentucky being a top 30 rebounding team in five of those seasons.

This year things are a little different, North Carolina is ranked just 61st with 39 rebounds per game and Kentucky is ranked 87th with 38.2 per game. The difference between the two is that UNC is heavily reliant on Bacot in their rebound efforts, whereas it has been much more of a group effort for Kentucky with seven players averaging for than 4+ rebounds per game, compared to just two for UNC.

Kentucky should be able to outrebound UNC’s smaller backcourt, but it will be up to the recently returned Aaron Bradshaw, and potentially Ugonna Onyenso who is expected to play, to limit Bacot on the boards.

Take Advantage of Mismatches

One of North Carolina’s biggest weaknesses is their backcourt size, or lack thereof. Pair that with subpar defense thus far this season, especially with screening action, there is a recipe for Kentucky to exploit.

RJ Davis (6-0) and Elliot Cadeau (6-1) make up the North Carolina backcourt, while they are explosive offensively, they are a liability at times on defense. In their last game against UCONN, the Huskies were able to shoot right over them, and even more notably create mismatches through screens.

As John Calipari has said multiple times this season, this Kentucky team is full of “basketball players”, meaning they can all pass, dribble, and shoot. With a versatile lineup of players, Kentucky can and should look to take advantage when they are both on the court.

Ball Movement

Ball movement has been a staple for this Kentucky team for much of the season, ranking top ten in assists per game (19.6 APG) and first in assist/turnover ratio (2.20). However, after assisting on more than sixty percent of their baskets in four straight games, the ball has started to stall just a bit.

UCONN, the best passing team North Carolina has faced, had 25 assists on 34 made field goals. They did so by using mismatches (above), backdoor cuts, etc., essentially motion. The opportunity will be there for Kentucky to do the same.

Be the Aggressor, Win the Fight

Oftentimes in big games the last few seasons, Kentucky has not been the aggressor and they have lacked fight. That has not been the case for this team and it was seen very early this season.

Going up against then No. 1 Kansas, just a week into the season, the Wildcats got down 9-0 in the first three minutes and it appeared to the be start of a blowout. To Kentucky’s credit, they battled back to take a 12-point lead by the end of the first half. However, their immaturity showed and they folded down the stretch as a much more experienced Kansas team made the plays to win.

Carolina will be another test. Against Arkansas, the Tar Heels went up as much as 12 in the first half. Against Tennessee, the Tar Heels put up 61 points in the first half. While Carolina play’s fast is more than capable of throwing the first punch, they are not very deep and tend to slow down toward the end of games.

If Kentucky can punch first and retain the aggressor the majority of the game, they will have a good shot at the win.

Kentucky Wildcats vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

Date: Saturday, December 16th, 2023
Time: 5:30 pm ET
Location: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
TV Channel: CBS
Announcers: Brad Nessler, Bill Raftery, and Jenny Dell.
Online Stream: CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports App.
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the UK radio call on the UK Sports Radio Network.

Replay: CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports Network (check local listings).
Rosters: UK | UNC
Stats to Know: UK | UNC
KenPom: UK | UNC
Odds: ESPN’s matchup predictor is slightly in favor of North Carolina, but at 53% predicts a toss-up game. Bart Torvik and EvanMiya are also in agreement, favoring the Tar Heels at 53% as well.
Predictions: Similar to the percentages, the score projections expect a close game with Kentucky as the underdog. Bart Torvik and EvanMiya project the Wildcats to lose by one point, predicting final scores of 84-83 and 82-81 respectively. Haslametrics projects a tad larger margin of defeat, 87-83.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

BB Recruiting

James Madison Transfer Justin McBride to Visit Kentucky on Tuesday

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky will host James Madison transfer James McBride for a visit on Tuesday, after communicating with Mark Pope and the staff via Zoom video call.

James Madison Athletics

While much of the attention in the transfer portal goes to the top targets, you need to build a full roster. Still with starting spots to be claimed, Kentucky also looking at depth pieces. The most recent, James Madison transfer Justin McBride.

After talking to the staff this week via Zoom video call, McBride is scheduled to take a visit to Lexington on Tuesday.

A three-star transfer, ranked 201st overall according to 247Sports, McBride is being recruited by multiple power conference teams including Baylor and Cal, as well as SEC foes Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

Out of high school, McBride was a four-star recruit, ranked in the top 150 nationally.

“He is a versatile player who has that IT factor about him. You can tell by the passion he plays with that there is a huge chip on his shoulder,” 247Sports asked program director Vonzell Thomas said as he evaluated McBride out of high school. “What I like about his game is his will to win. He does whatever it takes to win and not every kid has that mentality.”

From Texas, McBride committed to Oklahoma State over the likes of Kansas and Arkansas, where he played alongside former Wildcat Bandon Garrison. There, he appeared in just 24 games, averaging just over five minutes per game.

Seeking a larger role, McBride entered the transfer portal and dropped to the mid-major level, committing to Nevada. With the Wolfpack he nearly tripled both his minutes and production, averaging 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per game. His most recent stop, James Madison this past season, McBride had a breakout year, averaging 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds on 40 percent shooting from deep.

Entering his senior season, the 6-7, 240 pound McBride is eyeing a jump back to the power conference level, prioritizing fit at his next stop.

Will that be Kentucky?

McBride has good size and athleticism, and has an inside-out style of game. Meaning he can work his away around the paint, but can also space the floor with his shooting, grading fairly well as a catch and shoot guy. Overall, he ranks in the 97th percentile in scoring volume. That said, there is come consistency to be lacked on the defensive side.

BB Recruiting

Multiple Transfers Meet With Kentucky on Wednesday

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2026

Tristan Pharis

The transfer portal is active, and Zoom stock is going up as college coaches are video chatting around the clock to build their rosters, including Kentucky.

On Wednesday, Mark Pope and the Kentucky staff added three more names to the Zoom list.

Alex Wilkins (Guard, Furman), 4⭐️, 46th-ranked transfer

Class: Sophomore
Physicals: 6-5, 175 lbs
Last season averages: 17.8 PPG, 4.7 APG, 46% FG, 32.8% 3P

An underrated prospect coming out of high school, Wilkins splashed on the scene this year at Furman. As a freshman, he led his team to the NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.8 points and 4.7 assists and earning second team All-SoCon honors.

There were few players as critical to their team’s success as Wilkins, leading the SoCon in possession usage (34.4%) and shot usage (31.7%). That does lend some explanation to his poor shooting splits and turnover concerns (3.8 turnovers per game).

A quick, wirey guard, Wilkins is a capable scorer at all three levels, and can create for his teammates. However, he needs to add some muscle for power conference competition, and needs to have more consistent effort on the defensive end.

A freshman, those are both correctable things.

Isaac Celiscar (Forward, Yale), 4⭐️, 84th-ranked transfer

Class: Junior
Physicals: 6-6, 210 lbs
Last season averages: 13.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 57.3% FG, 40.7% 3P

Isaac Celiscar is one of the most efficient, versatile players in the transfer portal.

The first takeaway, averaging 13.2 point per game with 57.3 percent shooting, he is extremely efficient on limited opportunities. Shooting nearly 41 percent from deep, he is a threat from deep as well. That efficiency carries over to his passing, as he averages more than three assists per game, on just 1.3 turnovers per game.

Celiscar grades out as a glue-guy with great offensive skills and good feel for the game, but he does have limitations in terms of his athleticism and shot creation.

Jalen Cox (Guard, Colgate), 3⭐️ , 149th-ranked transfer

Class: Senior
Physicals: 6-3, 180 lbs
Last season averages: 17.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, 5.0 RPG, 52.1% FG, 36.5% 3P

Jalen Cox is the lowest ranked player Kentucky has reached out to, but the Wildcats need depth and Cox is a experienced guard with proven production.

Averaging 17.9 points and 5.3 assists (2.0+ assist-to-turnover ratio) per game on 52 percent shooting from the field, Cox is a versatile and efficient offensive player. He has also multiple conference All-Defense selections too, making him a two way player.

The biggest concern with Cox is his athletic ceiling and how that translates to power conference competition. However an experienced two way player is a great rotation piece.

BB Recruiting

Top Five Transfer Paulius Murauskas Moves Up Call, Talks With Kentucky on Wednesday

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky met with Saint Mary's transfer Paulius Muruaskas, one of the top forwards in the transfer portal, on Wednesday and is looking to schedule a visit for him to come to Lexington.

Saint Mary's Athletics

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are as busy as anyone in the transfer portal. On Wednesday, they met with their biggest fish of this transfer portal cycle so far, Paulius Murauskas.

Originally scheduled for Thursday, the Wildcats met with Murauskas via Zoom video call on Wednesday, per source.

Currently ranked 4th overall in 247Sports transfer rankings, the top-ranked forward, Murauskas is the prototypical modern basketball player. Good size at 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, with the ability to create for himself and others, has a good handle, and overall good feel for the game.

Murauskas started his collegiate career at Arizona after some professional experience in Lithuania. Playing just five minutes per game with the Wildcats as a freshman, Murauskas transferred to Saint Mary’s, where he has flourished and earned All-Conference honors the last two seasons.

This past season, Murauskas averaged 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from deep. As for his weaknesses, he is not super athletic, and he does need to be more consistent with his shot.

Originally thought to follow former Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett to Arizona State, Murauskas is exploring all options. Following the Zoom, Kentucky is trying to get him on campus for a visit in the near future.