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Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt: TV/Streaming Info, Keys to the Game, and Predictions

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Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham (0) celebrates a basket during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena.
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

The Kentucky Wildcats are entering a big week. After losing back-to-back games at home to Tennessee and Florida, at Rupp for just the eighth time since opening in 1976, the Cats have a get-right game against Vanderbilt Commodores, or what is expected to be.

Vanderbilt did beat Kentucky twice last season, including the first round of the SEC Tournament. However, they lost several key pieces and are much worse this season. Of their six wins, just two have come against teams ranked in the top 300 of the NET.

It is February and for Kentucky, this needs to be a game with little doubt, where they get out early and never look back. Let’s take a look at the matchup.

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Ball Screen and Driving Defense

Vanderbilt is one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the country, 340th in fact. That said, a lot of their scoring comes off ball-screen offense and drives, highlighted by guards Ezra Manjon and Tyrin Lawrence, who really hurt the Cats last season. Manjon is Vanderbilt’s leading scorer, but when he drives he is just as dangerous as a passer and will look to take advantage when the defense is over-helping.

Of course, ball-screen defense and staying in front of a defender have been two of Kentucky’s biggest defensive weaknesses, among a plethora of them. Given just how bad of a shooting team Vanderbilt has been, Kentucky should feel confident in giving space to prevent penetration. Ball-screen defense is all about knowing your personnel and communication.

Hold Under 60 Points

Vanderbilt’s offense last season was their calling card, as they were close to an NCAA Tournament birth. This season, it’s far from it. Ranked 30th in offensive efficiency last season, the Commodores are 233rd this season, by far the worst of the SEC.

That said, Kentucky’s defense this season has been far from their calling card. Giving up 90+ in three straight home games, there is much to be desired. If the Wildcats want to put themselves back into the national title contender conversation they have to show improvement on that side of the ball.

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After the Tennessee loss, Adou Thiero was asked about the defensive struggles, to which he responded, “We just got to find the fight in ourselves and stop letting teams come in and do whatever they want.”

They have a good opportunity to do so against an offensively deficient Vanderbilt team that averages just 66 points per game. If they give up more than that, it will lead to more worry.

Dominate the Boards

While Kentucky’s defense has been the biggest area of concern, it’s not the only one. Rob Dillingham cited rebounding as an area the team needs to grow more consistent at, himself included.

“I feel like we didn’t fight as hard as we could,” Dillingham said. “Not boxing out, letting them get second chance points, not rebounding the ball. It’s the little things. Either we want it or not.”

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Vanderbilt has not rebounded well all season and, on paper, should have the size to compete with Kentucky on the boards. If Kentucky truly wants it, they will win the rebounding battle handily.

Opposing Players to Watch

G Ezra Manjon 6-0, 170 lbs

  • 14.7 PPG (16th in SEC)
  • 3.4 APG (14th in SEC)

G Tyrin Lawrence 6-4, 200 lbs

  • 14.2 PPG (18th in SEC)
  • 5.4 RPG

Kentucky Wildcats Basketball vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

  • Time: 8:30 PM EST on February 6th
  • Location: Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee
  • TV Channel: SEC Network
  • Announcers: To be announced.
  • Online Stream: WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
  • Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the radio call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
  • Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).
  • Rosters: UK | VU
  • Stats to Know: UK | VU
  • KenPom: UK | VU
  • Team Sheet: UK | VU
  • Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook has Tennessee -1.5 and an over/under of 160. ESPN’s matchup predictor has Kentucky as a heavy favorite on the road, 87.2%. Other projections are in agreement, all giving Kentucky an 80%+ chance of winning: EvanMiya at 83.2% of, Bart Torvik at 83%, DRatings is at 84.8%, and KenPom at 84%.
  • Predictions: The score projections are all taking Kentucky to win by double-digits. Bart Torvik and Haslametrics have the Cats winning 82-71. EvanMiya went with an 80-70 win for Kentucky. KenPom is 82-72.
  • Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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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