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Men's Basketball

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

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The Kentucky Wildcats will take on Texas A&M Commerce at Rupp Arena on November 10, 2023.
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

After an impressive 40-point win in the season opener, the Kentucky Wildcats will retake the court this Friday against Texas A&M Commerce, the first of three games in the Wildcat Challenge presented by Kentucky Tourism.

While the Wildcats are coming off a blowout win, Texas A&M Commerce is coming off a blowout loss, losing by 32 points to No. 15 Texas A&M. Given that performance along with the fact that Texas A&M Commerce was picked to finish 7th in the Southland Conference, Kentucky shouldn’t have too much of an issue on Friday night.

That said, this will be Kentucky’s last game before a matchup against No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic in Chicago. Making it key to continue to play well, execute, and build up confidence.

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Let’s take a look at things to watch for in the matchup.

Continue to Play Through Tre Mitchell

Following Monday’s game, John Calipari mentioned a “tweak” in his postgame press conference and challenged the media to identify it. After watching the tape I, as well as other media members, have come to the conclusion that the tweak was to get the ball into the hands of Tre Mitchell.

Finishing with 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, Mitchell’s impact could be seen in many areas of the game, and the reason why is simple, his versatility. In the last two seasons, as good as he was, Oscar Tshiebwe had to remain in the paint to be effective. That is not the case for Mitchell.

Currently playing the five, allowing Kentucky to play a five-out style, he doesn’t stop moving whether he is screening, passing, or flashing. With the improved spacing, that creates opportunities for himself and others. Simply, good things happen.

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Shot Selection

One of the biggest criticisms of John Calipari in recent years is that of his “archaic offense”. Through the exhibition games and the season opener, that is MUCH improved. In Monday’s game, nearly 85 percent of Kentucky’s shots came from layups/dunks or three-pointers, leaving just 15 percent for mid-range shots.

Even of those ten mid-range attempts, only three came outside of the paint.

In 2023, that is winning shot selection. Like Calipari mentioned post-game, it’s about building habits, and that goes for himself too, and not reverting on offense.

Adou Thiero

Playing twenty minutes, Adou Thiero had a solid debut with 5 points, 7 rebounds, and a number of things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. However, his night was cut short after a hard fall midway through the second half. Shortly afterward, he took himself out of the game and went on to the locker room.

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Not much has been said, but one could conclude he may have suffered a concussion. “Adou has a headache, so it’ll be a day-to-day thing with him,” John Calipari said after the game.

More should be known at the pregame press conference later this week, and hopefully, we will receive a positive update. With an already depleted frontcourt, losing Adou, who is playing as a big, would certainly hurt.

No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats (1-0) vs. Texas A&M Commerce (0-1)

Time/Date: 7:00 PM EST on Friday, November 10th
Location: Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
TV Channel: N/A, streaming only
Online Stream: SEC Network +, WatchESPN, and the ESPN app.
Announcers: TBA local announcers.
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 | TAMCOM
Stats to Know: UK | TAMCOM

Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook has yet to release the odds for the game. ESPN’s matchup predictor has the Wildcats as a near guarantee to win, giving them a 96.8% chance to win. Bart Torvik gives Kentucky a similar chance at 97%.

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PredictionsBart Torvik picks the Wildcats to win easily, 79-59. DRatings has the Cats winning 81-62. Haslametrics is going with an 81-58 victory, Kentucky!

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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