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Kentucky vs Vanderbilt Round 2: TV/Streaming Info and Keys to the Game

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© Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Kentucky Wildcats are riding high after beating an NCAA Tournament-caliber Auburn team by 32 points and re-entering the Top 25 rankings this week, coming in at No. 23. On Wednesday, the Wildcats will look to carry their momentum into their last home game of the season, against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

This will be the second matchup against Vandy this season as Kentucky played one of their better games in a 69-53 victory at Memorial Gymnasium back in January.

This time around, the Commodores are playing an improved brand of basketball, winning six of their last seven games, including a win over Tennessee. It is also of importance that they have returned their leading scorer, Liam Robbins, who was out with an injury for the first matchup.

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This game is important as there are SEC Tournament implications for both teams. For Kentucky, they will lock up a 3-seed with a win. Whereas for Vanderbilt, a win would allow them to keep fighting for a 5-seed.

With that being said, let’s take a closer look at the matchup.

Limit Vandy from Deep

One of the biggest reasons for Vanderbilt’s hot stretch of late is their 3-point shooting. Over their last seven games, the Commodores have made 10 or more 3s in five games.

A big reason for this is the shooting of Myles Stute and Trey Thomas, who combine for more than 4 made 3-pointers per game. In their first matchup, Kentucky did a good job and held the duo to just 1-5 shooting from deep. However, another player, Malik Dia, made a career-high four 3-pointers despite entering the game with seven made 3s on the season.

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Kentucky will need to limit Stute and Thomas once again, staying on them through screening action. If another unproven shooter has a career shooting night from deep, that is something that you risk.

Carry Momentum, Keep Confidence High

While Kentucky’s turnaround has been impressive, John Calipari believes this team can only improve by “1-2 percent” at this point of the season. However, he has noted that there is one where they can improve, individual confidence.

Fortunately, the Wildcats are coming off a statement win where they displayed a level of confidence that had not been seen all season. Given how long it has taken to build up their confidence, the Cats can’t afford to have a letdown game in the last week of the regular season.

Therefore, Kentucky needs to show progression and prove that they consistently perform at that level. While a 32-point win can’t be expected, a 10-15 point wire-to-wire win would sustain their level of confidence going into a big-time game against Arkansas.

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Enjoy and Celebrate the Seniors

With it being the last game, it is also Senior Night and will be some Wildcats’ last game in Rupp Arena. On Monday, Kentucky announced that there will be six players participating in Senior Night activities: Brennan Canada, CJ Fredrick, Antonio Reeves, Jacob Toppin, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Sahvir Wheeler.

UK Athletics was sure to note that due to the extra COVID year, “all six still have eligibility for the 2023-24 season, decisions on the future will be made at a later date.” With that said, three of those players – Toppin, Tshiebwe, and Wheeler – are expected to leave at the end of the season. Whereas the others have more of a decision to make.

While none of these players played at Kentucky for four full seasons, they have all given their heart to this program in their time here. Rather than concentrating on what could happen, let’s enjoy these players for the remainder of this season and support them through what is hopefully a long run in March!

Kentucky Basketball (20-9) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (16-13)

Time/Date: 7:00 pm ET on Wednesday, March 1st, 2023
Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY
TV Channel: SEC Network
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: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).
Rosters: UK | VU
Team SheetsUK | VU
Stats To Know: UK | VU

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Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook has yet to release the odds for the game. ESPN’s matchup predictor favors the Wildcats heavily, giving them an 89 percent chance to win. Bart Torvik is still heavily confident in Kentucky at 80 percent, the same as KenPom.

PredictionsBart Torvik picks Kentucky to win respectably, 79-70, also the same as KenPom.

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Men's Basketball

Amari Williams Picked 46th by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft

Amari Williams is the second Kentucky player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, as Boston takes the big man with their second round pick.

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Amari Williams is drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Wesley Hale | Imagn Images

Fan-favorite big man (and official Weetabix sponsor) Amari Williams has officially made it to the big leagues, taken by the Boston Celtics with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, via a trade with the Orlando Magic.

The selection makes Williams the second Wildcat to be scooped up from this year’s pool, following Koby Brea being picked by the Phoenix Suns just five picks earlier at the 41st spot. From Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team, two transfer athletes (thus far) in their last year of eligibility have achieved next-level dreams by way of the blue and white.

Williams, who averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game during his lone season in Lexington, will look to aid Boston in filling their recently vacant five-spot, left by the recently traded Kristaps Porzingis.

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As Wildcat fans surely know, not only can Williams battle with the best of them in the paint, but he can run the floor as efficiently as just about any guard, too. His versatility and sizable frame ensure a high ceiling in the NBA and, despite not every draft board seeing him selected, the league champions two years removed made the call when it mattered.

Hailing overseas from Nottingham, England, and spending his first four years of college basketball at the University of Drexel, Williams’ success is a testament not only to Kentucky Basketball’s immaculate tradition, but to his own incredible work ethic and intangible ability.

Cats fans will be sure to follow and support their point-center to the next level, as they always do. Go be great, Amari – all of BBN has your back.

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Men's Basketball

Koby Brea Selected to the Phoenix Suns With the No. 41 Overall Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

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Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

Koby Brea arrived at Kentucky last season as one of the nation’s deadliest shooters, lived up to the billing, and reaped his rewards on Thursday night at the NBA Draft. The former Kentucky star is heading to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 41 overall pick

As a 6-foot-7 wing, Brea entered the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most experienced prospects after spending four years at Dayton and a fifth at Kentucky during Mark Pope’s successful first season as head coach, where he became one of the best three-point shooters in all of college basketball.

Last season at Kentucky, the Bronx native averaged 11.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts per game in 36 games, 16 of which were starts, showcasing his scoring ability in transition, off the catch, and via handoffs and screens.

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Not only did Brea achieve his own dreams of playing at the next level, but becomes a piece of history for Pope, becoming the first player drafted out of Kentucky during the Pope era.

Brea joins a rebuilding franchise with a notorious background for drafting Kentucky guards. Eric Bledsoe rings the bell, Tyler Ulis of course, and the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker obviously leads the pack.

Go be great Fuego!

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Men's Basketball

How a Call with Mark Pope Led Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky

After winning a national title at Florida, Denzel Aberdeen committed to Kentucky without ever visiting campus—thanks to a revealing three-hour call with head coach Mark Pope.

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Chet White | UK Athletics

As a junior, Denzel Aberdeen was a key part of Florida’s national title run. But a certain phone conversation convinced him to leave his home state and head north to Lexington in hopes of experiencing that feeling once again.

He had never set foot in Lexington before deciding to become a Kentucky Wildcat — and he didn’t need to. All it took was one phone call — three hours long, on Easter Sunday — with head coach Mark Pope to convince him that he belonged in blue and white.

“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest,” Aberdeen said, meeting with the media in Lexington for the first time earlier this week. “A lot of it was just getting to know me and getting to know the school, the university, getting to know him (Pope), how their style was, a lot of film. Once I saw that, I was like this looks like a great guy to play for.”

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The two went on to discuss Aberdeen’s role at Kentucky in more depth, including how Pope envisions him fitting into Kentucky’s new system — a system that, according to Aberdeen, is very similar, if not better than the one he just left.

“We had a lot of great players at Florida, especially the tall bigs. Bigs that love to run there, and we have just as much here; our bigs love to run, they play defense, and they play at a fast pace. So I think the things that we’ve got here are just as good, or even better,” Aberdeen said.

Averaging 7.7 points and nearly 20 minutes per game off the bench for the Gators last year, it’s clear to see what Aberdeen brings to the team: experience, versatility, calmness in the backcourt, and championship pedigree. Pope’s phone conversation with Aberdeen wasn’t just impactful on the court — it also speaks volumes to what he is doing off the court in pursuit of the goal he laid out in his introductory press conference: to hang banners.

This phone call wasn’t just about Denzel Aberdeen. It was a glimpse into Pope’s player-first, transparent coaching approach, which could define his era at Kentucky — and potentially make this season a special one, with Aberdeen playing another key role in a deep NCAA Tournament run.

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“I know the goal is to win No. 9,” he said. “I know the fans want that, we want that, all the staff and coaches want that. That pushes us. We know what we gotta do when we come here and put on that Kentucky jersey. Just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Being here is a blessing, and I can’t look back.”

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