Kansas vs. Kentucky college basketball: What to know for Saturday's blueblood showdown
Two of the bluest of blue bloods in men's college basketball face off Saturday when Kentucky and Kansas clash. A breakdown of the key particulars.
Eddie TimanusWhen Kansas and Kentucky get together on the basketball court, it’s always going to be an attention-grabber.
That’s true even if it’s not a top-five matchup, which in this case it isn’t as the two bluest of blue-blood programs prepare to square off Saturday evening at storied Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, as part of the made-for-TV SEC/Big 12 Challenge series.
These are two of the most recognized programs associated with men's basketball, after all, even if you’re just a casual fan. They've combined for 12 national titles and 33 Final Four appearances. But make no mistake – those who support the Jayhawks and the Wildcats are anything but casual fans.
Bottom line, it’s going to be talked about, and you don’t want to miss out. Here are some particulars going into the marquee clash.
How to watch
The contest tips off Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
The game will be televised on ESPN. It can also be streamed via the ESPN app.
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What’s up with Kansas?
The Jayhawks are the defending NCAA champs, but their roster looks a lot different from last season’s title team. Still, things looked promising after they rose as high as No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll with 16 wins in their first 17 games. The last three games, however, have all been losses in the difficult Big 12, and they limp into Lexington with some questions about where this season is headed.
What’s up with Kentucky?
The Wildcats are unranked, and a Jan. 10 loss to a bad South Carolina team had the program's rabid followers concerned that the season was circling the drain. But Kentucky appears, for the moment at least, to have righted the ship and is on a four-game winning streak, sporting an overall record of 14-6. One of those victories was on the road against No. 4 Tennessee.
Names to know
Kansas is paced by Jalen Wilson, a 6-8 forward who can score from just about anywhere. He’s putting up 21.4 points a game, with 45 made three-pointers on the season, while adding 8.6 rebounds per contest. Kentucky’s man in the middle is Oscar Tshiebwe, a 6-9 double-double machine averaging 16.6 points and 13.9 boards.
