Kentucky vs. Gonzaga: Preview, Odds & How to Watch

Ready or not, here come the Zags, Kentucky set to take on Gonzaga in Nashville — game four of the six-year series with Mark Few and the Bulldogs. Sitting at 7-1, they’re one of the best teams in college basketball with the analytics loving this group, ranked No. 5 in KenPom with the No. 13 overall offense and No. 8 defense in the country.

Michigan handed them a 40-point loss their last time out nine days ago, but up until that point, the Zags were steamrolling everyone in college basketball, including five name-brand wins, something the Wildcats can’t say they have any of at this stage.

What do you need to know about the matchup? KSR has the preview as we get ready for tip-off in the Music City.

How to Watch, Listen

Kentucky vs. Gonzaga: How to Watch, Listen

Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2 (Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes)
Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
FM: 98.1 WBUL
Online: iHeart Radio
Sirius XM: 211 or 190

You can also follow along on the KSR LIVE BLOG, which will start a few hours before tipoff, and join the conversation on KSBoard.

Take advantage of our KSR+ Introductory Offer to get bonus coverage of the Cats, including game threads, in-depth scouting reports, and the latest recruiting and roster intel. $1 for 2 days.Join the most vibrant online community in the BBN during Mark Pope’s second season.

Season Rewind

Kentucky: KenPom 11

11/4: 77-51 W vs. Nicholls
11/7: 107-59 W vs. Valparaiso
11/11: 96-88 L at No. 12 Louisville
11/14: 99-53 W vs. Eastern Illinois
11/18: 83-66 L vs. No. 17 Michigan State
11/21: 88-46 W vs. Loyola (Md.)
11/26: 104-54 W vs. Tennessee Tech
12/2: 67-64 L vs. No. 16 North Carolina

Gonzaga: KenPom 5

11/3: 98-43 W vs. Texas Southern
11/8: 83-68 W vs. Oklahoma
11/11: 90-63 W vs. No. 23 Creighton
11/14: 77-65 W at Arizona State
11/17: 122-50 W vs. Southern Utah
11/24: 95-85 W vs. No. 8 Alabama
11/25: 100-61 W vs. Maryland
11/26: 101-61 L vs. No. 7 Michigan

Series History

Kentucky and Gonzaga have met just four times — three coming in the current six-year series between the two teams — with both teams earning a pair of wins for the all-time 2-2 tie. The Wildcats earned the win out in Seattle last season, matching the largest halftime deficit overcome (16 points) in school history in the 90-89 victory. The Zags won the first two matchups in the new series, first in Spokane during the 2022-23 season, then again in Lexington in 2023-24. They will meet again at Rupp Arena in 2026, followed by a trip back to Spokane in 2027 inside the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Mark Pope has seen plenty of Gonzaga over the years dating back to his time at BYU, entering this one with a 2-9 all-time record. Mark Few, like the Zags all-time, is 2-2 against the Cats.

Kentucky vs. Gonzaga Odds

If Kentucky wants to get in the win column against a team with a pulse, it’ll have to do it as an underdog. According to our friends at BetMGM, Gonzaga is a 3.5-point favorite against our Cats. The total is 155.5, giving us a projected final score of 79.5-76.

As for the computers, KenPom is calling for a 78-77 Gonzaga win, while BartTorvik projects a 79-77 Kentucky loss. ESPN’s Matchup Predictor has it as (essentially) a toss-up, giving the Zags a 53.2 percent chance to pull off the win in Nashville.

Gonzaga is 6-2 Against the Spread (ATS) this season, with overs hitting in three of the last four games. Kentucky is 4-4 ATS and has failed to cover in each of its three losses.

Thanks to Friends of Coal for powering KSR’s game day coverage.

Kentucky Potential Starters

#1 – Denzel Aberdeen
6-5 – 195 – GUARD – SENIOR
13.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.5 APG

#5 – Collin Chandler
6-5 – 205 – GUARD – SOPHOMORE
11.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.6 APG

#00 – Otega Oweh
6-4 – 215 – GUARD – SENIOR
13.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.3 APG

#3 – Kam Williams
6-8 – 205 – GUARD – SOPHOMORE
5.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.3 APG

#24 – Malachi Moreno
7-0 – 250 – CENTER – FRESHMAN
10.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.8 APG

Gonzaga Potential Starters

#17 – Mario Saint-Supéry
6-3 – 199 – GUARD – FRESHMAN
8.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.1 APG

#7 – Tyon Grant-Foster
6-7 – 215 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
12.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.9 APG

#23 – Adam Miller
6-3 – 200 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
9.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.9 APG

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#34 – Braden Huff
6-10 – 245 – FORWARD – REDSHIRT JUNIOR
15.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.3 APG

#15 – Graham Ike
6-9 – 255 – FORWARD – GRADUATE STUDENT
15.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.4 APG

Statistical Comparison

(via Kentucky’s game notes)

Fun stats from UK’s game notes:

Denzel Aberdeen and Otega Oweh have each scored in double figures in all seven games. Oweh has reached double figures in 41 of 44 games during his time at Kenticky, while Aberdeen’s eight-game streak is the longest double-digit run of his collegiate career.
Andrija Jelavic has earned an increased role over UK’s last three games. In those three games, Jelavic is averaging 6.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.7 blocks per game. He is shooting 56.3% from the field and is averaging 17 minutes per game.
Friday’s game will mark the first of three trips to Nashville for the Cats this season. They’ll take on Gonzaga in a neutral site matchup, before visiting Vanderbilt in January. They’ll finish with the annual trip for the SEC Tournament. Kentucky is 91-38 overall in the Nashville Metro Area, including matchups vs. the Commodores on their home floor.
In addition to Jayden Quaintance missing each of the first eight games, UK has been without Jaland Lowe (six games), Mo Dioubate (three games) and Trent Noah (one game) this season.

Pregame Storylines

DIOUBATE IS OUT, BUT WILL WE SEE LOWE?

Kentucky has been without Jaland Lowe for five games and Mo Dioubate for three. Will either player return in Nashville? We know the latter is a no-go while we’re waiting for the former, who returned to practice in a full-contact capacity this week.

“He’s got a high-ankle sprain. He’s doing good, won’t be available tomorrow. There’s a chance maybe next week, we’ll see,” Pope said of Dioubate. “These things sometimes can be weeks and weeks and weeks, so he’s doing everything he can to get back.”

KSR has learned Lowe got through practice unscathed and looked like his normal self, but is there enough confidence there to take our next shot at a return against the Zags?

“We’re gonna see what happens. I don’t know (about Gonzaga), we’ll see,” Pope continued. “Don’t know, I’m not sure.”

(STILL) TIME TO WIN ONE

Kentucky has destroyed every no-name opponent this season, beating Nicholls by 26, Valpo by 48, Eastern Illinois by 46, Loyola (Md.) by 42 and Tennessee Tech by 50. None of them have been close and the Wildcats have looked exactly like the preseason contender everyone thought they’d be. Against Louisville and Michigan State? Total no-shows, followed by another disappointing effort against North Carolina. Up to this point, they’ve failed every single test.

Fans don’t care about the cupcake wins, they’re restless for a big victory. The clock is ticking.

SLOWING DOWN A DOMINANT FRONTCOURT

Graham Ike went for 28 points on 9-16 shooting with 11 rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes in last year’s matchup. The year before that, it was a 23-point, five-rebounds effort inside Rupp Arena. He’s had Kentucky’s number across two coaches, and now, he’s back to doing the same as a senior in Spokane, averaging 15.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest. Now, though, he’s joined by junior forward Braden Huff, who has taken yet another leap in year three en route to 15.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest.

If we thought the Wildcats had their hands full against the Michigan State and North Carolina frontcourts, this one will only be tougher.

“They’re good, they’re physical,” Pope said Thursday. “Back-to-back games, their leading scorers are their starting four and five. The only difference is their four and five are bigger and more skilled and more physical and play at an even higher pace. They’re really dangerous.”

Join The Discussion on KSBoard

Want to interact with the KSR crew during the game? Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard, where we’ll be sharing live updates as your eyes and ears in Nashville while also answering questions and providing real-time analysis (and probably complaining about the officiating).

Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel

Miss the game? KSR’s got you covered with a Rapid Reaction from Bridgestone Arena immediately after the game, live on the KSR YouTube Channel. We’ll also have wall-to-wall postgame coverage on the website, including highlights, comments from Mark Pope and the players, stats, and takeaways.

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