Men's Basketball

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

Published

3 years ago

December 7, 2023

The Kentucky Wildcats take on the Penn Quakers at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Chet White | UK Athletics

Kentucky has entered the stretch of their schedule where they will play just three games in three weeks, all on Saturdays. While this certainly gives the team plenty of time to practice and learn more about themselves, a positive for a young team, it can also be a negative.

After losing to UNC Wilmington as an 18.5-point favorite this past Saturday, many fans have voiced their frustrations and participated in debates as we wait for the next game. Fortunately, that game is now less than 48 hours away as the Wildcats will have an opportunity to redeem themselves this Saturday as they take on the Penn Quakers in Philadelphia.

Played at the Wells Fargo Center, the home of the Philadelphia 76ers, the game will serve as a homecoming of sorts for several Wildcats including Aaron Bradshaw, Justin Edwards, Tre Mitchell, Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner, and Kareem Watkins who are all from or grew up in the area. This will be just the second matchup between the two teams, with Kentucky winning the first, 86-62, back in 2011.

Penn has just one NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008, but historically, they are arguably the most storied program in the Ivy League. Leading the Ivy League with 39 conference titles, the Quakers went to the Final Four in 1979, and hold an overall NCAA Tournament record of 13-26.

This season, Penn is projected to finish fifth in the Ivy League and is currently just above .500 at 6-4. The Quakers have played a common opponent of UK in St. Joseph’s, losing 69-61. That said, they also beat Villanova in mid-November.

Penn is a team that Kentucky should be able to take care of business against and need to. Let’s take a look at some things to watch.

Guard Play

Saturday’s game will come down to guard play. Kentucky has one of the best backcourts in the country, when fully healthy. However, Penn has two all-conference-level guards in Tyler Perkins and Clark Slajchert, who combine to average 35 points per game, nearly half of Penn’s points.

While talented, Kentucky’s biggest issue this season has been perimeter defense, and specifically staying in front of their man. Fortunately, Penn’s guards are not as quick as UNCW’s, but they are better shooters. Kentucky’s backcourt will still be able to be aggressive in looking for steals and transition opportunities, but they need to do so with discipline.

DJ Wagner

Speaking of guards. After suffering an ankle injury toward the end of the first half of the Miami (FL) game, DJ Wagner has consistently been in a boot and receiving treatment. While the injury isn’t very severe, it is more than a simple tweak.

Sitting out of the UNCW game, it is clear that Kentucky missed him. While inconsistent at times this season, Wagner is a leader on the floor, a solid perimeter defender, and is the best on the team at taking his man off the dribble to create for himself and others. Without him, the Wildcats just looked uncomfortable.

Kentucky is a more talented team than Penn and has had more time to prepare to play without him this time around, if needed. That said, Wagner suffered his injury nine days ago and by the time of the game, 11 days. A typical sprain takes 2-3 weeks to recover and it has been announced if he will be available or not.

My prediction, knowing the type of player Wagner is and the toughness he has, I would expect him to give it a go.

Statement

Prior to Saturday’s loss, Kentucky may have been the hottest team in the country. The Wildcats had scored 95 or more points and shot nearly 60 percent from the field during that stretch, culminating in the dominant win over Miami. Then the UNCW loss provided a wake-up call, and maybe a needed one for a young team.

In his postgame press conference, Tre Mitchell talked about the disappointing performance but said the team is already looking ahead to their next game and ready to make a statement.

“I feel bad for whoever we got next, short and sweet,” Mitchell said. “These dudes are not going to take this lightly. Whoever we got next better come with everything they got. These dudes feel like they’ve got something to make up for.”

Tre Mitchell talks about about the loss.

He throws in a “I’m sorry for whoever we play next” pic.twitter.com/bukLTUTdKO— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) December 3, 2023

Kentucky Wildcats vs. Penn Quakers

Time: 12 pm ET on Saturday, December 9th
Location: Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV Channel: ESPN 2
Announcers: To be announced.
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 | PENN
Stats to Know: UK | PENN
KenPom: UK | PENN
Odds: ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Kentucky just a 68.3% to win, which is surprising given that Penn is ranked near 200th in KenPom. Bart Torvik and EvanMiya are substantially higher at 92% and 88%.
Predictions: The projections have Kentucky winning but the margins are not very consistent. Bart Torvik projects the Wildcats to win 86-70, while Haslametrics projects a tad smaller margin of victory, 86-74. EvanMiya falls in between, projecting an 84-71 win.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

Men's Basketball

Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance Drafted First Round by the San Antonio Spurs

Published

10 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Kai McClelland

Brett Davis | IMAGN Images

It’s every kids dream to play professionally one day, let alone be able to play for the University of Kentucky on the way to the next level.

Although Jayden Quaintance’s time with the Wildcats ended anticlimactically, his NBA dreams have officially come true at just 18 years old.

The Cleveland, Ohio native began his collegiate career with the Arizona State Sun Devils, starting in all 24 games he played in.

Before his unfortunate knee injury, Quaintance was good for nearly a nightly double-double, averaging 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game to go along with 2.6 blocks a night.

He would transfer to Kentucky ahead of his sophomore season, making his first appearance on Dec. 20 against St. John’s.

Finishing the game with 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, many members of the Big Blue Nation were confident that their superstar had finally debuted.

Only appearing in three more games for the 2025-26 season, it was quite clear that his eyes were set on playing at the next level, not taking any chances of another injury.

Selecting Quaintance with the No. 20 overall pick, the Spurs have now added on to their elite front court and will likely utilize him as a two-way player.

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Players and Staff Speak About the Importance of Zoom Diallo to This Team, “It’s a recipe for success”

Published

5 days ago

June 19, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Zoom Diallo is turning heads in Kentucky basketball practices. See why Mikhail McLean and Malachi Moreno are already raving about the new PG1.

UK Athletics

Mark Pope likes to start his roster-building process with a point guard. In year one, that was Lamont Butler. This past season, it was Jaland Lowe, who was the second commitment after an eager Kam Williams signed with the Wildcats without a visit.

This season, that point guard is Zoom Diallo.

According to early practice reports, Diallo has not only been one of the best players, but one of the most important in terms of helping this team build its foundation. According to one source, “Zoom has been one of the purest forms of a floor general early on. These guys rally around him. He’s the voice of the team in the early stages and backs it up by going the extra mile.”

Assistant coach Mikhail McLean confirmed that in interviews this week.

“Zoom’s been my favorite so far,” he said on Tuesday, before going into more depth with BBN Tonight on Thursday, comparing him to a quarterback.

“He’s just a connector,” McLean said. “If you know what a quarterback is like, where they just kind of connect everybody. He has a bubbly energy and personality. He’s humble enough to accept who he is as a person. He gasses and encourages everybody to be the best version of themselves, and that’s how he gets the best version of himself.”

McLean mentioned another “connector” on the team, Malachi Moreno, who actually played a part in recruiting Diallo to Kentucky, “his favorite point guard.”

“I had already known Zoom for a while,” he told KY Insider on Thursday. “We had been in Adidas Euro camp together, and being on the Adidas circuit, we’ve been good friends for a while. We always wanted to play together. He ended up at Washington, and I ended up here, but the stars aligned and now he’s here with me. I got my favorite point guard.”

As far as the impact Diallo has on the court, Moreno mentioned his ability to make plays for his teammates, but also highlighted his ability as a bully guard, drawing a comparison to Otega Oweh.

“He’s a high-assist-rate guy,” Moreno said. “He makes plays, and he earns shots for his teammates, and he’s also a bully guard.”

“I think that also helps in the SEC as well, being one of those bigger bully guards. You saw how Otega was last year. He was able to be so good because he was such a bully and able to muscle his way through the paint and really earn shots for everybody, earn shots for himself. I think having a guy like Zoom like that as well, it’s just a recipe for success.”

High praise for Kentucky’s PG1 this season.

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Team Visits Patients at UK Children’s Hospital, “We can brighten somebody’s day”

Published

5 days ago

June 19, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky basketball players spent time at UK Children's Hospital, playing Fortnite and making crafts with young patients.

Chet White/UK Athletics

This year’s Kentucky Basketball roster arrived on campus earlier this month. While summer practice has started as the Cats are getting acclimated to the program, they are also getting acclimated to the community.

As a basketball player at Kentucky, you are more than just an athlete; you are someone many young people around the state look up to.

On Wednesday, the team visited the UK Children’s Hospital to see some of the strongest young people in the state.

Such a fun day spent with the wonderful kids at @KCHKids 💙 pic.twitter.com/U3n2Q1mTvH— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 18, 2026

Photos showed players interacting with the children by playing games, creating crafts, and even putting together some toys.

Malachi Moreno revealed during an interview on Thursday that he invited one of the children, a young boy named Jackson, whom he met at DanceBlue, to play the popular video game Fortnite with himself, Kam Williams, and Trent Noah.

“The guys really took in what it means to be a part of this brand,” Moreno said of the experience. “When we walk into a room, we can brighten somebody’s day.”

This is what it’s all about.

Also posted on A Sea of Blue.