Overview
- Tipoff is 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2 at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
- Kentucky enters 9-5 and 0-1 in the SEC after an 89-74 loss at Alabama, while Missouri is 11-3 and 1-0 following a 76-74 win over Florida.
- Missouri regained guards Jayden Stone and Trent Pierce, who combined for 19 points and four threes as Dennis Gates praised their shot-making, defense and rebounding.
- Analytics and odds favor Kentucky, including a KenPom projection of Wildcats by nine, an ESPN model giving Missouri about a 20% chance, and sportsbooks listing spreads around -13.
- Key themes include Kentucky’s 8-1 home mark and interior scoring versus below-average three-point shooting, against a Missouri offense rated for efficiency that now faces its first true road test in five weeks.