Home teams listed first unless otherwise noted:
11/15/11: Kentucky 75 - 65 Kansas (New York City) (Champions Classic)
04/02/12: Kentucky 67 - 59 Kansas (New Orleans) (NCAA Final)
11/18/14: Kentucky 72 - 40 Kansas (Indianapolis, Ind.) (Champions Classic)
01/30/16: Kansas 90 - 84 Kentucky (OT) (SEC/Big XII Challenge)
01/28/17: Kentucky 73 - 79 Kansas (SEC/Big XII Challenge)
11/14/17: Kansas 65 - 61 Kentucky (Chicago) (Champions Classic)
01/26/19: Kentucky 71 - 63 Kansas (SEC/Big XII Challenge)
12/01/20: Kansas 65 - 62 Kentucky (Indianapolis, Ind.) (Champions Classic)
01/29/22: Kansas 62 - 80 Kentucky (SEC/Big XII Challenge)
01/28/23: Kentucky 68 - 77 Kansas (SEC/Big XII Challenge)
UK's two wins during the 2011-12 season, UK's 32-point win to kick off its 2014-15 run, and UK's 18-point win in Lawrence, Kansas are four of the best games I've ever seen the Cats play. The loss last year at home was one of the most discouraging. K-Pom has the Jaykawks winning on Tuesday by a score of 77-72, which would imply that the Cats are going to be a lot more competitive than they were last year.
I think one of the most important games in the UK/KU series is one that was never played. In March 2020, Kansas was the runaway number-one team in the nation, and UK was probably headed for a victory in the SEC Tournament and a number-two seed. At the time, I was absolutely certain we were going to be placed in Kansas's region -- and to be honest, I wasn't even mad. I had so much faith in that team that I was willing to take my chances, and I'm still disappointed that matchup didn't come off.
In the 10 games above, the higher-ranked team won nine out 10 times. Cal and Self are both really good at their jobs, and they don't get upset very often. The only upset was the 2022 game in Lawrence, where UK was number 12 and KU was number 5.
ReplyDeleteIn the warm-up game in the Champions' Classic, Duke leads Michigan State 27-20 with 1:19 left in the first half. This is the point where I would normally complain about how Michigan State is always hopeless against Duke and UNC, but Michigan State did knock Zion Williamson out of the tournament in 2019, and that counts for a lot with me.
ReplyDeleteTom Izzo went 3-13 against Coach K, but he eliminated Duke from the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2019.
DeleteKentucky and KU will be the main event. If these games go the way they normally do, that means UK will start playing at around 9:52 PM Eastern Standard Time.
ReplyDeleteFinal Prediction from Ken Pom: KU 76, UK 72.
ReplyDeleteKen Pom gives the UK/KU game a "Thrill Score" of 78.9, which is very high.
DeleteVegas has KU favored by 6 1/2, and has an over/under line of 147.5 points. That would work out to a score of something like this: KU 77, UK 70.
DeleteThrough two games, UK is shooting 32.7 percent from three-point range, and 75.9 percent from the line.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, over in Calloway County, Western Kentucky leads Murray St. 22-14 with 11:08 left in the first half.
ReplyDeleteWestern leads the all-time series with Murray State 95-56. They first played each other in 1932, but they haven't played each other since 2014. That's absurd -- this fixture should take place every year.
ReplyDeleteIf the Big Five in Philadelphia can play each other every year, then Murray, Western, Eastern, and Morehead can play each other every year.
DeleteActually, I just checked the schedule and the Big Five don't play each other this year. But they should. And the Kentucky schools should play each other as well. And Georgetown should play Maryland and GWU.
DeleteMurray St. 21 - 27 W. Kentucky (7:49 left in the first half)
ReplyDeleteK-Pom has Murray winning this game 78 to 72.
DeleteMurray St. 25 - 32 W. Kentucky (5:05 left in 1st half)
ReplyDeleteWith 8:25 left in the prelim, Michigan State has closed to within three points of the Dukies. Duke leads 51-48.
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 28 - 36 W. Kentucky (3:49 left in 1st half)
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 34 - 43 W. Kentucky (Halftime)
ReplyDeleteWith 3:40 left, the Dukies lead 62-56. They've shot 24 free throws. Michigan St. has shot 5.
ReplyDeleteDuke blows it open. They lead 68-56 with 1:52 left, and that will do it. I can't even make fun of Izzo. He's 6-4 against UK, and he eliminated us from the tournament in 1999 and 2005. He's also beaten us twice in double overtime.
ReplyDeleteCoach K went 7-2 against Kentucky. Dean Smith went 13-3, and beat UK the last six times he coached them, including the 1977 and 1995 Tournaments. On the other hand, UK went 18-15 against Bobby Knight.
ReplyDeleteThe Duke/MSU game is over, but both teams are fouling each other to ensure that the UK/KU game starts as late as possible.
ReplyDeleteNext year, they will play the Champions Classic in Atlanta, and UK will play Duke.
ReplyDeleteMichigan State giving hard fouls down nine points against Duke with less than a minute to go is peak Michigan State.
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 37 - 43 W. Kentucky (18:20 left in 2d half)
ReplyDeleteDuke wins 74-65.
ReplyDeleteAt least they didn't go to overtime. But they did combine for 42 free throws. 30 for Duke, 12 for MSU. I'd love to see a game where UK got 30 free throws, and Michigan State got 12. Last year, UK lost to Michigan State in double overtime. We got 24 free throws and they got 27.
DeleteMurray St. 43 - 43 W. Kentucky (15:36 left in 2d half)
ReplyDeleteRacers open the second half on a 9-0 run.
DeleteKen Pom gives KU a 65 percent chance of victory. ESPN gives them a 74.8 percent chance.
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 50 - 49 W. Kentucky (13:05 left in 2d half). They must be going nuts in Murray.
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 53 - 51 W. Kentucky (11:37 left in 2d half)
ReplyDeleteAfter going 2-22 in his last season at Iowa State, Steve Prohm has returned to coach Murray State. Western has a new coach: Steve Lutz, who took Texas A & M Corpus Christi to the NCAA Tournament last year.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting ready for this game by listening to Patty Loveless and Ricky Skaggs sing "Daniel Prayed." You can't get much more Kentucky than that.
ReplyDelete"He cared not for the King's decree
But trusted God to set him free."
"They locked him in the lion's den
ReplyDeleteBecause he would not honor men."
UK and KU will start at 9:45 PM, so I was pretty close in my prediction.
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 59 - 59 W. Kentucky (9:18 left in 2d half) What a game!
ReplyDeleteHere are the Cats' starters:
ReplyDeleteD.J. Wagner, G, Camden, N.J. (6' 4", 192 lbs., freshman)
Rob Dillingham, G, Hickory, N.C. (6' 3", 176 lbs., freshman)
Antonio Reeves, G, Chicago (6' 6", 195 lbs, fifth year)
Adou Thiero, G, Leetsdale, Pa. (6' 8", 222 lbs., sophomore)
Tre Mitchell, F, Pittsburgh (6' 9", 231 lbs., grad student)
Sorry, it's not Dillingham, it's Justin Edwards, G, Philadelphia (6' 8", 203 lbs., freshman)
DeleteI feel like this game will really set up UK's whole season. The Cats are pretty much an afterthought these days, and they will remain so until they can win a game like this.
ReplyDeleteKU jumps out to an early 7-0 lead, so the Cats will remain an afterthought.
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 69 - 69 W. Kentucky (4:29 left in 1st half)
ReplyDeleteObviously, I meant the 2d half.
DeleteKU up 9-0, and everyone in the Commonwealth should get an early night.
ReplyDeleteHere's the bottom line: UK has a much smaller team than KU, but they are also much worse at shooting the ball.
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 70 - 74 W. Kentucky (3:47 left in 2d half)
ReplyDeleteKU leads 11-3 at the first TV timeout and this game is over. I've actually watched this same game several times. UK's loss last year to Gonzaga and the loss last year at home to Kansas are just two examples. Basically, at this point both KU and UK know that KU is going to win. Now the Jayhawks won't play super hard the whole game, and the margin will go back and forth, but UK won't ever lead and KU fans won't ever be nervous.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is the UK just doesn't have good players. It's like watching Kansas play Kansas St.
ReplyDeleteOr it's like watching those early Rick Pitino teams if they didn't have Mashburn and no one could shoot.
DeleteMurray St. 72 - 74 W. Kentucky (2:40 left in 2d half)
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 74 - 78 W. Kentucky (1:31 left in 2d half). I can't give any more detail, because I don't know how to watch this game.
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 79 - 82 W. Kentucky (36 seconds left in 2d half)
ReplyDeleteMurray St. 81 - 86 W. Kentucky (14 seconds left in 2d half). This will be a very sweet victory for the Hilltoppers.
ReplyDeleteYes. Was.
DeleteMurray St. 81 - 86 W. Kentucky (FINAL). Huge win for the Tops!
ReplyDeleteCats were up 81-75 late with 3:46 left, and lost 89-84. In the last 3:46 of the game, they were outscored 14-3. Ken Pom says it's bad luck, but it's not.
ReplyDeleteIn last year's Champions Classic, the Cats were up 61-58 on Michigan State with 1:54 left. They lost in double OT.
DeleteIf you really want to beat UK in a big game, the best place to be is about 3-5 points behind with less than four minutes to go.
DeleteLast year, they were up 60-56 on K-State with four minutes left in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. K-State outscored them 19-9 the rest of the way.
DeleteCats tried hard, but they can't shoot. They went 12-38 from three-point range, 31.6 percent, and that killed them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, they fall apart down the stretch.
Delete