Kentucky Basketball Game today: Kentucky vs Vandy, Line, Predictions, Odds, TV Channel; Live Stream for Basketball Game March 11

The wait is over and it’s go-time for the Kentucky basketball team in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, but in a shocking turn of events, the Cats foe will be Vanderbilt. 

The Commodores seeded No. 10, stunned Alabama on Tuesday 82-76 night to advance to the quarterfinals. They have now won two games in two days thumping Georgia 86-51 in the opening round.

Kentucky coach John Calipari doesn’t really worry about who his squad will tangle with. Had it been Vandy or Bama the Cats would have faced a team that lives and dies with its 3-point shooting. They are built to win 3 games in 3 days as well to weaver their way to a title.

The No. 3 seeded Cats will be facing off against the Commodores for the third time this season and have won both of the matchups. But for the UK coach, he’s been in this situation before.

"“The other team we’ve played is more inspired. My thing is, I’m not worried about that. How many times I’ve been in this position, I can’t even tell you. Probably lost some, probably won some. My thing is, I’m not worried about that. It’s, how do we get to where we’re in the mental space we need to be in. That we’re a machine. Here we come.”"

This is where Coach Cal does his finest work. He has now won 23 games as the UK coach in the SEC tournament with just five losses. Those wins are the fourth-most in league history behind Billy Donovan (27), Wimp Sanderson (25), and Tubby Smith (24).

Calipari has guided the Wildcats to the championship game in eight of the possible 11 tournaments his team has appeared thus far and his squads have cut down the nets six times (2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018).

Kentucky has its eyes set on winning the SEC and the NCAA Tournament. They are currently projected as a No. 2 seed, but Baylor lost to Oklahoma on Thursday and if the Cats top Auburn in the title game they surely would move back onto the No. 1 line.

https://twitter.com/KentuckyMBB/status/1502071811168555008

Still never count out a team like Vanderbilt. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose at this moment so Kentucky can ill afford one of its sleepwalking starts.

Scottie Pippen, Jr. will make them pay if that’s the case. He seems to do that to a lot of opponents. He leads the SEC averaging 20.3 points per game, 4.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds. He will get his points one way or the other but lives at the free-throw line.

The Dores also get big contributions from sophomore forward Myles Stute (8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds), junior forward Jordan Wright (11.5 points, 6.7 rebounds), and senior guard Rodney Chapman.

Kentucky needs a balanced effort from all five spots but must feed Oscar Tshiebwe in the paint. The Commodores have no answer. He is third in the league in scoring at 17.3 points and a league-leading 15.3 rebounds.

It was on January 11 in Nashville when the SEC Player of the Year went off for 30 points and 13 rebounds as UK won 78-66 in a game that was not as close as the final score would indicate. The Commodores trailed by 28 only to dial up the final 16 points of the game as the Cats went scoreless over the last six minutes.

Sahvir Wheeler is back healthy for UK and he leads the SEC dishing out 6.9 assists.

Kentucky won the rematch in Lexington 77-70 as Pippen tallied 33 points, while  Davion Mintz led Kentucky with 21 points with Keion Brooks Jr. adding 20 and Kellan Grady a dozen.

Kentucky basketball vs Vanderbilt Odds and Betting

WynnBet’s College Basketball Odds has Kentucky as a 10.5 point favorite. The over/under has been set at 141.5 points and the Moneyline has Kentucky at -650 and Vandy +475.

Kentucky averages 80.1 points a game while Vandy puts up 70 points. UK shoots 48.9 percent from the field while allowing 40.1 percent. The Dores make 42.5 percent of their shots while opponents knock down 42.1 percent.

Kentucky vs Vanderbilt Prediction Today

Kentucky leads the overall series 153-47 with Big Blue winning the last 12 meetings and 15 of the past 16. Vanderbilt has actually won the past two times the teams have met in the SEC Tournament 64-48 in 2013 and 71-64 in 2012. The two have met 8 times in the tournament dating back to 1940 with Vandy winning 5 of them.

KenPom likes Kentucky to win 77-66

Vanderbilt has shown vast improvement under Jerry Stackhouse but will run out of gas and weapons against the Cats. Their only chance is to get UK in serious foul trouble which they will attempt to do hacking and very physical and hit about double digits from behind the arc.

My prediction is Kentucky 75, Vanderbilt 67

What Channel is the Kentucky Basketball Game On

Today’s game will be on the SEC Network with tipoff set for approximately 8:30 pm   EST.

Play-by-Play – Tom Hart

Color – Dane Bradshaw

Sideline – Alyssa Lang

Kentucky versus Vanderbilt Live Stream

Today’s Kentucky game can be streamed live on ESPN and SEC Sports Network.

Kentucky over the airwaves:

For the radio enthusiasts, our stellar team of Tom Leach (play-by-play), Mike Pratt, and Dick Gabriel (sideline) will have the call on the UK Sports Network. They can be heard at 840 AM around Louisville and in the Lexington area at both 630 AM and 98.1 FM. If you are outside these areas check your local statins or you can always listen online at www.UKAthletics.com

Kentucky’s Next Game and Upcoming Schedule

The winner advances to the SEC Tournament semifinals to face the winner of the Mississippi State (18-14, 8-10) vs. (2) Tennessee (23-7, 14-4) battle that will tip at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network. The Vols won the pair’s lone meeting on the road.