Connect with us

Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs. Texas A&M: TV/Streaming Info and Keys to the Game

Published

on

UK Athletics

The Kentucky Wildcats are on the rise with back-to-back SEC wins, and will have the opportunity to extend it to three straight as Texas A&M comes to Rupp Arena this Saturday.

In their non-conference schedule, things started off shakey for the Aggies, with just an 8-5 record. However, things have started to click as of late. Five games into conference play, and Texas A&M is 5-0 and only the second undefeated team in the conference alongside Alabama.

Looking at the wins, they haven’t played the SEC’s toughest teams (i.e. Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn) but have swept Florida and beat a Top 25 Missouri team by 18. That being said, if Kentucky wants to extend their winning streak and end Texas A&M’s, they are going to have to put up another good performance.

Advertisement

Let’s look at the keys to the game.

Make Free Throws

The Aggies play with a lot of physicality on defense, and in turn, foul a lot. This will slow the game down, but should also give Kentucky ample opportunities for points at the free throw line, but they must make them.

While free throw shooting has not been a strength for the Wildcats for much of the season, things have started to look up. In their last two games, the Wildcats have hit 45 of their 55 attempts for an impressive 82 percent.

Play Disciplined Defense

While the Aggies foul a lot, they also get themselves to the free-throw line, ranking top five in free throws attempted and free throws made. This comes from their style of offense, which likes to find driving lanes and concentrate in the paint with With that said, Kentucky is going to have to play disciplined defense.

Advertisement

Against Tennessee, Kentucky held the Volunteers to their lowest point total of the season (56). However, they followed that up with a poor defensive performance in the first half of the Georgia game, allowing a Bulldog season-high of 42 points.

In that game, they did refocus and pull away in the second half, but Kentucky will need to put together a full forty-minute performance on the defensive end against Texas A&M.

The Aggies like to run a lot of screening action, both on and off ball, making communication critical. In their defensive efforts, Kentucky must also stay out of foul trouble, specifically Cason Wallace and Oscar Tshiebwe.

Beat the Zone Press

Buzz Williams is noted for his three-quarter court zone press, dropping back into a man-to-man defense. At times this season, Kentucky has struggled against similar schemes.

Advertisement

Over the last two games, Kentucky has found their best five: Wallace, Reeves, Fredrick, Toppin, and Tshiebwe. However, Sahvir Wheeler could come in and prove valuable in press situations with his ability to get it up the floor.

To do so, the Wildcats must get the ball to the middle of the floor. If Kentucky is successful in this against an extended defense, they could find open driving lanes, three-point opportunities on the wings, and even dump-ins to Tshiebwe.

Kentucky Basketball (12-6) vs. Texas A&M (13-5)

Time/Date: 2:00 pm ET on Saturday, January 21st, 2023
Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY
TV Channel: ESPN
Online Stream: WatchESPNESPN+, SEC Network+ or ESPN app
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the UK radio network call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
Replay: SEC Network (check local listings).
Rosters: UK | A&M
Team SheetsUK | A&M
Stats To Know: UK | A&M

Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook has yet to release the odds. This is a matchup where computer models differ greatly. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Wildcats a 75.9% chance to win. Bart Torvik virtually picks a tossup, but gives the edge to the Cats at just 53%,

Advertisement

PredictionsBart Torvik picks the Wildcats to win in a nail-biter, 71-70.

Men's Basketball

CBS Sports: Kentucky Has “ended pursuits” in Transfer Portal Following Aberdeen Commitment

In the wake of yet another addition to Kentucky’s incoming roster, CBS Sports reports that Coach Pope and staff may have closed the portal.

Published

on

Mark Pope and staff may have everything they need from the transfer portal.
Chet White | UK Athletics

Following another flurry of transfer portal additions in his second year at the helm, it appears that Mark Pope and staff are satisfied with their sophomore haul. The portal in Lexington may be officially closed for the 2025-26′ season.

Right after Kentucky received the surprising commitment of Denzel Aberdeen, Matt Norlander, an analyst for CBS Sports, posted the following on X (Twitter):

“Barring any portal defections, Kentucky has ended its pursuits of all other portal targets, sources told CBS Sports. Getting Aberdeen today [April 21] meant they’ve moved off Andrej Stojakovic, Rylan Griffen, etc. Otega Oweh going through pre-draft process-but I expect him back in Lex”.

Advertisement

With the addition of Aberdeen, the Wildcats’ roster ballooned to near-max capacity for next season. Seeing two of the team’s walk-on players, Grant Darbyshire and Walker Horn, enter the transfer portal seemed to all but confirm this suspicion, too.

Losing One of Our Own

That is, until last night. With less than two hours remaining for players to do so, Travis Perry shocked much of the Big Blue Nation by throwing his name into the hat. This came just weeks after a string of comments from the Kentucky-native point guard seemed to confirm his return for a sophomore season.

Though all the same, given Kentucky’s bulk of back-court additions this offseason, his departure makes sense for the sake of playing time alone. The Lyon King will be sorely missed.

So while the Kentucky staff may still be very much content with their current roster, with hundreds of players remaining in the portal and an unexpected spot on the roster coming open, another grab is far from out of the question.

Advertisement

Who Coach Pope and company would go after is entirely unclear, as that potential player would likely have to accept a minimized role off the bench for a stretch of his time in Lexington. If anything, the logical replacement would be a direct fill-in at the PG2/PG3 spot in Perry’s absence.

Either way, the ‘Cats are set to come into next season as one of the most exciting teams in college basketball with a ceiling far out of view. Mark Pope continues to prove his prowess in the transfer market, too, easing the worries of Wildcats fans and closing the door on many supposed “insiders” who’ve spent the last month suggesting otherwise.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

REPORT: Travis Perry Enters Transfer Portal

Published

on

Kentucky basketball Travis Perry talks about growing more comfortable on the court.
Jordan Prather | IMAGN

The transfer portal has been kind to Kentucky in the Mark Pope era. Last season, the staff was able to build a Sweet Sixteen roster almost exclusively from the portal, and this offseason have put together a top-five portal class.

While the portal giveth, it also taketh. Just hours before the deadline to enter, Kentucky native and fan favorite Travis Perry has entered the transfer portal, per multiple reports.

Coming to Kentucky as the state’s all-time high-school scoring record holder, fans were excited to see how his career would unfold in Lexington.

Advertisement

Not expecting to play much freshman, he was called upon due to injuries and played some key minutes for the Wildcats into the postseason. He averaged 2.7 PPG and .6 APG on 32% shooting from three.

Looking at the depth chart, it was difficult to see where Perry would get much playing time next season, leading to his decision to enter the portal.

Perry has yet to release an official statement, but all the best to him in his future.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

Top Transfer Guard Denzel Aberdeen Commits to Kentucky

Former Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky, likely closing the transfer portal for next year’s roster.

Published

on

Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky.
UF Athletics

Another day, another “boom.” Denzel Aberdeen has officially committed to Kentucky for the 2025-26’ season.

A soon-to-be senior guard fresh off his championship win with Florida, Aberdeen spent his first three years of eligibility in Gainesville. Now, following an apparent conflict in the Gators’ rotation, he’s swapped teams in the southeast.

At 6 ‘5”, 190, Aberdeen spent much of this past season beating defenders off the dribble and making them pay at the rim. His speed and size made him a nightmare off the bench for opposing teams, and for the short stretch of play that he started during the year, Florida didn’t miss a beat. 

Advertisement

In 19 minutes, Aberdeen averaged 8 points, two rebounds and one assist per game. His consistent contribution to the Gators’ title run made him one of the most coveted transfers in the cycle this season, and given his big blue commitment just days after entering the portal, Mark Pope clearly wasted no time in Kentucky’s pursuit.

Aberdeen slots in as yet another addition to what was already one of the strongest portal classes going into next season. His SEC experience and combo-guard intangibles make Aberdeen one of the most exciting portal players to come through Lexington in a long while, reinforcing Kentucky’s back court to what may be the final degree.

Whether or not Mark Pope is officially done for next season, nobody is sure, but this commitment only further cements the fact that he knows exactly what he’s doing. Just like the  fanbase behind him, Coach Pope seems to never sleep.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending