GAMEDAY: Kentucky's Season Defining Match-Up with Alabama

Now or Never

Kentucky is running out of time to turn around the season.  Throughout Kentucky's four-game losing streak, the Cats have been close.  In each game they've shown signs that they've turned a new page, yet every time they appear to take a step forward, they go right back to where they started.  Whether its offensive ineptitude or mistakes down the stretch, John Calipari's team has failed to put together a complete game. "A bunch of these games, it's not that they were taken (away), it's that they were given (away). And we've gotta get out of that mode," Cal said yesterday. Kentucky can't afford to give Alabama anything.  Led by the excellent freshman backcourt combination of Colin Sexton (18.3 ppg, 3.5 apg) and John Petty (10.8 ppg, 38% 3FG), Avery Johnson's Crimson Tide have won their last two games by a combined 43 points. If Kentucky can't contain Alabama to snap the four-game losing streak, it's hard to see a scenario where the season is still salvageable.  Today is the day UK must leave it all on the line, or risk losing the fan base for good.

Tyrese Maxey on Campus

Today's game has a little more on the line with Tyrese Maxey in town.  The nation's second-ranked point guard is in Lexington for an unofficial visit this weekend, his second UK game this season.  If Kentucky can put on a good show, Calipari will be in great position to land another great point guard.

TV, Radio, Vegas

TV -- A 2:00 tip-off on CBS with Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas on the call. Radio -- KSR Pregame Show on 630 WLAP at 11:30. Hear Leach and Pratt on the UK Sports Network, Sirius-137 and XM-190. Vegas -- Kentucky -4.5

Today's Tale of the Tape

Murray and Fox's All-Star Appearances

De'Aaron Fox and Jamal Murray were the first of ten Wildcats to take the Staples Center court at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.  In defense of his 2017 Rising Stars MVP crown, Murray had 21 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds in a 155-124 victory for Team World.  Fox played 16 minutes as a Team USA reserve and finished the night with 4 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds. Murray will return to the court for tonight's Skills Challenge.  Devin Booker will try take the 3-Point Shooting title from Klay Thompson.  Coverage begins at 8:00 on TNT.

College Basketball on TV

Time	Game	Network
Noon	Texas at #23 Oklahoma	ESPN
Noon	Syracuse at Miami	CBS
Noon	Providence at Butler	Fox
1:00	Iowa State at Kansas State	ESPNU
2:00	#2 Michigan State at Northwestern	Fox
3:30	#10 Auburn at South Carolina	SEC
4:00	#21 Texas A&M at Arkansas	ESPN
4:00	Florida at Vanderbilt	ESPN2
4:30	#3 Villanova at #4 Xavier	Fox
6:00	#20 West Virginia at #13 Kansas	ESPN
6:00	#18 Tennessee at Georgia	SEC
8:00	Oklahoma State at TCU	ESPN2
8:15	#14 North Carolina at Louisville	ESPN
10:15	Oregon at UCLA	ESPN

[mobile_ad]