Kentucky Basketball Game today: Kentucky vs S. Carolina State., Line, Predictions, Odds, TV Channel; Live Stream for Basketball Game Nov. 17

The Kentucky basketball team faced its first real test of the young season on Tuesday but fell in double overtime 86-77 to Michigan State. Tonight against a heavily overmatched opponent in South Carolina State, John Calipari’s team gets to work out the issues and iron out some of what it learned.

South Carolina State (0-3) will be playing its fourth game of the year, all on the road still seeking its first win. They have losses at South Carolina (80-77), Tennessee State (80-61), and Duquesne (96-71).

Kentucky (2-1) has already defeated Duquesne 77-52 in a very physical game as a tune-up for Michigan State.

This is the second team out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) the Wildcats have faced already dispatching Howard 95-63. South Carolina State was picked to finish tied for last by the coaches and athletic directors in pre-season voting.

South Carolina State averages 69.7 points per game shooting 39.5 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from 3-point range. In the losses, their opponents have outrebounded them by an average of 44 to 37.

Look for Calipari to turn up the defensive pressure with Sahvir Wheeler and Cason Wallace looking for plenty of steal opportunities. The Bulldogs average 12 turnovers a game and Wallace alone had 8 against Michigan State.

Lesown Hallums leads the Bulldogs’ scoring averaging 12.7 points per game and Davion Everett adds 12.3 and led the scoring against Duquesne with 15 points and 9 rebounds.

Oscar Tshiebwe (22 points, 18 rebounds, 4 blocks) made his season debut against Michigan State and looked every part of the returning National Player of the Year. Unfortunately for UK he fouled out at the end of the first overtime.

Sahvir Wheeler had a solid floor game with 16 points, 8 assists, and two steals but again made some questionable decisions at key moments down the stretch.

Cason Wallace is clearly who Kentucky needs to have the ball in his hands when the game is on the line despite being a freshman he was outstanding in the Michigan State spotlight and played 44 minutes ringing up 14 points, five rebounds, five assists, and eight steals.

Kentucky basketball vs South Carolina State Odds and Betting

Kentucky basketball is a 39.5-point favorite according to FanDuel.  The over/under has been set at 145.5 points and the Moneyline has Kentucky at -100,000 and South Carolina State at +4,000 (yes the zeros are correct in each).

Kentucky vs South Carolina State Prediction Today

Kentucky and South Carolina State have met only once before and that was in the 1998 NCAA Tournament’s South Regional in Atlanta where the Wildcats won 82-67 behind Nazr Mohammed’s 18 points, Scott Padget’s 14, Allen Edwards’ 13, and Heshimu Evans with 12. That turned out to be the year Tubby Smith led this team to the National Championship.

KenPom gives Kentucky a 99.95 percent chance of winning and predicts a 90-54 victory for the Wildcats. The ESPN Predictor has Kentucky with a 98.8 percent shot of winning

Wildcat Blue Nation staff prediction

Eric Thorne – Kentucky 93, South Carolina State 52

Tyler Reed– Kentucky 101, South Carolina State 72

Justin Tyler McMillian – Kentucky 82, South Carolina State 65

What Channel is the Kentucky Basketball Game On

Today’s game will be on the SEC Network with tipoff set for 7 PM EST.

Play-by-play Tom Hart

Analyst Pat Bradley

Kentucky versus South Carolina State Live Stream

Today’s Kentucky game can be streamed live on the SEC Network, WatchESPN and on FuboTV.

Kentucky over the airwaves:

For the radio enthusiasts, our stellar team of Tom Leach (play-by-play), Jack Givens, 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. The game also will be carried on satellite radio: Sirius (Channel 138), XM (Channel 190), and the SiriusXM app (Channel 961).

Kentucky’s Next Game and Upcoming Schedule

Kentucky basketball hits the road for one of the most highly anticipated games facing No. 2 Gonzaga on Sunday in Spokane, Washington at the Spokane Arena.  Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM EST and will air on ESPN. Here’s a look at their schedule for the following five games.

November 23 North Florida 4 PM SEC Network Plus

November 29 Bellarmine 7 PM TBD

December 4 Michigan in London, England 1 PM ABC

December 10 Yale 1 PM SEC Network.

December 17 UCLA 5:15 PM TBD