Date and Time: January 14th, 7:00 PM ET
Location: Central Bank Center at Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
TV: ESPN2 (Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes on the call)
Sling TV: With their "Sling Orange" package, which includes ESPN networks, you can watch the game live.
Hulu + Live TV: Hulu's live TV option includes ESPN networks, making it another viable streaming choice.
FuboTV: Known for its sports coverage, FuboTV offers the ESPN networks as part of its channel lineup.
Streaming: ESPN+ and the ESPN app
Radio: UK Sports Radio Network (Tom Leach and Jack Givens)
Lexington, KY: 98.1 FM / 630 WLAP
London, KY: 103.9 FM WWEL
Louisville, KY: 840 AM WHAS
Madisonville, KY: 93.9 FM WKTG
Hazard/Pikeville, KY: 101.1 WSGS
Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings)
Game Preview: Kentucky vs. Texas A&M
The Kentucky Wildcats (14-2) host the Texas A&M Aggies (11-4) in what promises to be a crucial SEC showdown. With Kentucky coming off a dominant performance against Mississippi State and Texas A&M potentially missing star guard Wade Taylor IV due to injury, the Wildcats enter the matchup as slight favorites.
Texas A&M brings its signature gritty rebounding and defensive intensity into Rupp Arena, but the Wildcats’ high-powered offense, led by Mark Pope, has been nearly unstoppable. Kentucky’s top-10 rebounding and assist rankings will be tested against the Aggies’ No. 1 offensive rebounding rate in the country.
Key Stats to Watch
Kentucky Wildcats:
- Points per Game: 89.2 (#3 nationally)
- Rebounds per Game: 40.9 (#10 nationally)
- Three-Point Shooting: 36.7% (#54 nationally)
- Turnovers per Game: 9.7 (#15 nationally)
The Wildcats are excelling on both ends of the court, with their balanced attack led by a deep roster. Kentucky's ability to hit from deep and dominate the boards(at times) has made them a top SEC contender.
Texas A&M Aggies:
- Points per Game: 77.4 (#81 nationally)
- Rebounds per Game: 42.3 (#4 nationally)
- Field Goal Percentage: 43.1% (#224 nationally)
- Free Throw Attempts per Game: 26.4 (#5 nationally)
Texas A&M thrives on crashing the boards, but their offensive efficiency takes a hit if Wade Taylor IV (15.7 PPG, 4.8 APG) is unavailable. Without Taylor, the Aggies will rely heavily on forward Henry Coleman II and guard Zhuric Phelps to generate offense.
Prediction: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Texas A&M Aggies
If Wade Taylor IV sits out, the Aggies will be without their most reliable playmaker and scorer. Kentucky’s offense, spearheaded by fast-paced ball movement and efficient shooting, should exploit Texas A&M’s defensive vulnerabilities in the second half.
While Texas A&M’s rebounding edge could keep the game close early, Kentucky’s depth and superior shooting (56.4% effective FG percentage) will likely prove too much for the Aggies to handle. Expect Wildcat guards Koby Brea and Otega Oweh to be key contributors in both scoring and controlling the boards. ESPN has given Kentucky a 61 percent chane of wnning.