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

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Kentucky Wildcats guard Antonio Reeves (12) shoots the ball during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Rupp Arena
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

The Kentucky Wildcats have started 2-0 in conference play and with four of the top five teams losing this week, could make the jump into the top five of the AP Poll in January for just the second time since 2017. Standing in their way will be a motivated Texas A&M team in College Station on Saturday, who has started 0-2 in SEC play.

The Aggies debuted in the AP poll this preseason at No. 15, one spot ahead of Kentucky, but with a 9-6 record, they have fallen out of the others receiving votes category. Things seem to be trending in the wrong direction, as they have lost four of their last six games, with their two wins coming against sub-300 KenPom teams.

That said, four of A&M’s six losses have come against ranked teams by an average of seven points. The Aggies certainly have the talent to challenge Kentucky and a sold-out College Station crowd will give them an advantage.

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Let’s take a look at the matchup.

Rebound, Limit Second Chance

Playing the best rebounding team in the country last Saturday, the Wildcats will play another top 10 rebounding team in Texas A&M. The Aggies average just under 43 rebounds per game, ranking 8th nationally, but where they really excel is offensive rebounding.

Just how good? Well, A&M ranks first nationally in offensive rebounds per game (18.3 RPG) and offensive rebounding percentage (44.6%). For reference, Kentucky who was a top-three offensive rebounding team in the country the last two seasons with Oscar Tshiebwe, averaged just over 12 offensive rebounds per game and a 37.7 offensive rebounding percentage.

One reason A&M attacks the offensive rebounds hard, is they don’t shoot very well, at all. In fact, they are the second-worst shooting Power 5 team behind Rutgers, shooting just over 40%. That said, the two biggest threats on the glass will be their big men Henry Coleman and Andersson Garcia, who combine to average more than 17 rebounds per game, including 8 offensive. Fortunately, Kentucky’s guards have rebounded fairly well much of the season, but the bigs have to show more effort.

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Wade Taylor

A&M is led by preseason SEC Player of the Year, Wade Taylor IV, who leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals. A dynamic playmaker, creating for himself and his teammates, he is the motor of the team. As a result, Taylor has a usage rate of 31.7, ranking top 25 nationally.

Taylor is 4th in the SEC in scoring, averaging 17.3 points, but on a very inefficient 42.8 effective field goal percentage. That said, he makes it a priority to get his teammates involved, averaging 4.0 assists per game.

That said, Taylor has a tendency to try to do too much if pressured, which can result in turnovers and bad shots. If Kentucky’s backcourt can pressure Taylor into mistakes, they can limit A&M’s offense and push the slow pace A&M will look to play with.

Hustle

Buzz Williams has always been a tough and gritty coach and he has instilled that in his Texas A&M teams. As we have seen this week with four of the AP top 5 falling on the road, winning conference road games is tough. The team that wants it more, dives on the floor for loose balls, flies around on defense, and reduces second-chance points could be the one that wins this game.

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Opposing Players to Watch

G Wade Taylor IV, 6-0, 175 lbs

  • 17.3 PPG (4th in SEC)
  • 4.0 APG (7th in SEC)
  • 2.4 SPG (2nd in SEC)

F Henry Coleman III, 6-8, 245 lbs

  • 12.5 PPG
  • 8.4 RPG (3rd in SEC)
  • 61.3% FG (2nd in SEC)

G Tyrece Radford, 6-3, 190 lbs

  • 12.2 PPG
  • 5.1 RPG
  • 2.2 APG

Kentucky Wildcats vs. Texas A&M Aggies

  • Time: 2 pm ET
  • Date: January 13th, 2024
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Announcers: Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas will be calling the action.
  • Location: Bryan-College Station in College Station, Texas.
  • Online Stream: Stream the game online with WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
  • Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the UK radio call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
  • Replay: WatchESPN and the SEC Network (check local listings).
  • Rosters: UK | A&M
  • Stats to Know: UK | A&M
  • KenPom: UK | A&M
  • Team Sheets: UK | A&M
  • Odds: ESPN’s matchup predictor has the Wildcats as an underdog, giving them just a 34.6 percent shot to win. Bart Torvik gives Kentucky a 50-50 shot at the victory, while EvanMiya gives Kentucky a 54.9 advantage.
  • Predictions: EvanMiya has the Cats winning in a close one, 77-76. Bart Torvik and Haslametrics have Kentucky losing in a close game, 79-78 and 80-79 respectively. DRatings has the Cats winning 85-74.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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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.

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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”.

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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.

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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.

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Men's Basketball

REPORT: Travis Perry Enters Transfer Portal

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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