GAMEDAY: Basketball at Arkansas and Baseball's Home-Opener at The Cliff

Cats are Road Underdogs

The BBN is still riding high after the streak-snapping home win vs. Alabama.  That could all change tonight when Kentucky enters a sold out Bud Walton Arena. The Cats are 3.5-point underdogs and only have a 34 percent chance to win according to ESPN's BPI.  They will face a red hot Arkansas team that has won four in a row.  Their most recent victory was a 94-75 beat-down of Texas A&M at home last Saturday. Bud Walton is never an easy place to play.  This year the Razorbacks are 14-1 at home.  Kentucky is just 7-7 in the all-time series at Bud Walton, but the Cats have won five straight over Arkansas, dating back to that stupid 2014 Michael Qualls overtime tip-dunk.

The Last Time Kentucky Played Arkansas

It got ugly in the final two minutes of the 2017 SEC Championship.  After Malik Monk took it to his home state school with 17 points, the Razorbacks couldn't handle the embarrassment.  Dusty Hannahs threw a nasty elbow and Moses Kingsley brought a tomahawk down on De'Aaron Fox's face in the final 1:25 (you can watch below) to leave an ugly blemish on the championship game. https://youtu.be/ys2ZaOXS_fg?t=39m1s The game ended with a final score 82-65 as fans chanted "M-V-P" for Kentucky's Dominique Hawkins.  Watch the fun highlights here.

TV, Radio, Vegas

TV -- The final late night 9:00 tip-off of the year on ESPN with Joe Tessitore, Sean Farnham and Laura Rutledge. on the call. Radio -- KSR Pregame Show on 630 WLAP at 6:30. Hear Leach and Pratt on the UK Sports Network, Sirius-137 and XM-190. Vegas -- Arkansas -3.5

Today's Tale of the Tape

First Pitch at The Cliff

The 50th and final season at Cliff Hagan Stadium beings tonight at 6:00 on UK's campus.  Kentucky moved up the game one day trade off rainy weather for a breezy 75 degrees. Arrive early to see a few special first pitches to start UK's home season. The eighth-ranked Bat Cats' game against Xavier should wrap up just in time to see Kentucky take on Arkansas.  To prepare for the game, listen to the latest KSR Baseball Podcast, or bump to this year's walkout music.

Hear from Fox

De'Aaron Fox believes the Cats were destined to win No. 9, until Luke Maye ended Kentucky's 2017 run to the Final Four.  The former Kentucky point guard joined The Aaron Torres Sports Podcast to talk about the way his Kentucky career ended, what he misses most about college, how it prepared him for the NBA and much more.

Happy Birthday Little Bro

I don't know about you, but Nathan's looking 22.  Happy Birthday young fella.  I'd normally take this opportunity to burn you through the blog, but your coach has already taken that liberty on Twitter. [mobile_ad]