Round 2 of the Cats and the Tide is on deck. Here’s what you need to know!
After a much-needed win over Vanderbilt, the Kentucky Wildcats travel to Tuscaloosa for arguably their most difficult game of the season, taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The first time these two teams played was a classic between two high-powered offenses, coming down to who could execute better down the stretch, which was Alabama as it won 102-97.
This edition of the matchup will look a little different, as Kentucky could be without Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, who accounted for nearly 50 points through scoring and assists in the first matchup.
The Crimson Tide have looked like a Final Four favorite for much of the season, but they have hit a bit of a rough patch. They lost a close home game vs. No. 1 Auburn, then fell on the road to a top-15 Missouri team.
It’s hard to see this talented of an Alabama team losing three straight games, regardless of opponent. And with Saturday’s game set to be a white out — Kentucky is still everyone’s Super Bowl — this is going to be a very challenging environment for the Cats to win in.
. @AlabamaMBB vs. Kentucky! First 10,000 fans get a white T-shirt ⚪️ Let’s pack Coleman!
Kentucky
Coleman Coliseum
⏰ 5 PM#RollTide pic.twitter.com/X579uhCT0S— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) February 20, 2025
Let’s take a look at the matchup.
Limit Runs, Get Defensive ‘Kills’
Without Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, it is going to be hard to match the offensive production of Alabama, barring an off-shooting night. That said, Kentucky needs to be better on the defensive end in this rematch.
The Wildcats have been much better on the defensive end of late. Over the last three games, they rank 28th in BartTorvik’s defensive efficiency ratings. While that is a small sample size, it is a sign things are trending in the right direction.
As seen in the first matchup, Alabama is a team that can put up points in a hurry, given its pace and shooting, similar to Kentucky. The Cats will need to do their best to limit those runs and get kills (three stops in a row).
Rebounding Battle
The rebounding battle has been big for Kentucky all season, and this game is no different. In the first matchup, Alabama won the battle of the boards by four, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds.
By the numbers, the Crimson Tide are the top rebounding team in the country and ranked top 20 in offensive rebounding percentage, collecting 34.5% of their misses. To combat that, Kentucky needs to set the tone early. The Wildcats need to be the team to hit first and hard on the boards,
Do that and limit Alabama’s extra opportunities, and Kentucky will give themselves the best chance at the upset.
Execution and Stepping Up to the Challenge
Kentucky lost the first game to Alabama due to poor late-game execution, failing to give themselves a shot. That was with Lamont Butler at point guard. With Butler out, this team is going to have to rely on a combination of point guards to execute in this game: Travis Perry, Koby Brea, Collin Chandler, and Amari Williams.
While not as experienced in that point guard role, they are going to have to limit the self-inflicted mistakes. In key moments, someone is going to have to step up.
One player that seems to reflect Kentucky’s success is Koby Brea. The Wildcats are 10-0 when Brea hits at least three three-pointers. Can he answer the call?
Opposing Players to Watch
G Mark Sears 6-1, 190 lbs
- 17.8 PPG (4th in SEC)
- 4.8 APG (3rd in SEC)
- 34.5% 3P
G Grant Nelson 6-11, 230 lbs
- 12.6 PPG
- 8.3 RPG (4th in SEC)
- Scored season-high 23 points vs Kentucky (1/18/25)
G Labaron Philon 6-4, 177 lbs
- 10.4 PPG
- 3.4 APG
- 3.4 RPG
Kentucky Basketball vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Time: 6:00 PM ET on February 22nd
Location: Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV Channel: ESPN
Announcers: Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes, and Dick Vitale
Online Stream: ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens will have the call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).
Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook has yet to release the odds for this game, so check back Friday. KenPom (29%), ESPN (27.2%), and BartTorvik (23%) give Kentucky practically a 1 in 4 shot of pulling off what would be a massive upset. EvanMiya gives the Cats a 13.5% chance at victory, as they calculate injuries are worth 3.5 points in Alabama’s favor.
Predictions: EvanMiya is going with a 96-83 win for Alabama. BartTorvik (97-88), KenPom (94-87), and Haslametrics (92-85) have the Cats losing by single digits.
Beating a motivated Alabama team on the road is a tall task, especially without two of your most important players. I am taking the Tide to win 94-82.
Send us your Kentucky vs. Alabama score predictions in the comments section!
And Go CATS!