Tag: Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball

Kentucky announces two exhibition games ahead of 2024-25 college basketball season

Kentucky will play against Kentucky Wesleyan on Oct. 23 and against Minnesota State on Oct. 29, the school announced Friday.

Kentucky on Friday announced two exhibition games before the start of the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.

The Wildcats will host Kentucky Wesleyan on Wednesday, Oct. 23 and Minnesota State on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Rupp Arena. Tipoffs and any television/broadcast information were not announced.

Kentucky Wesleyan competes in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference as a Division II program. Minnesota State competes in the Northern Sun Conference.

Minnesota State went 35-2 a season ago and won the Division II national championship on March 30 against Nova Southeastern University. Kentucky Wesleyan was 21-9 overall last season, including 15-5 in conference play.

Before the exhibition games, Big Blue Madness will return to Rupp Arena on Oct. 11, while the Blue-White Preseason Experience featuring intrasquad scrimmages with both the men’s and women’s basketball programs was announced for Oct. 18 inside of Historic Memorial Coliseum.

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The Wildcats’ first official regular season game of 2024-25 is set for Monday, Nov. 4 against Wright State at Rupp Arena. Tipoff and broadcast information has not been announced.

Kentucky is entering its first season under new coach Mark Pope, a former Wildcats player and member of the school’s 1996 national championship team. Pope was named Wildcasts head coach on April 12 following the departure of John Calipari earlier that month.

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Kentucky Mens Basketball Betting Odds to Win NCAA Tournament

A look at the odds of the Kentucky Wildcats winning the NCAA Tournament this March.

It has been an extremely up and down season for the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team. Between the injuries that have plagued this team this season, to the dominant stretches of play, to the inconsistent defense, not many truly know what to make of this Wildcats team or how they might fare in the NCAA Tournament.

Despite that, they are tied for the 11th best odds in the country right now, at +2500, to win the NCAA tournament. They are currently tied with both Duke and Marquette. Connecticut has the highest odds in the country at +475, with Purdue and Houston rounding out the top three at +650 and +850 respectively.

Kentucky is the fourth highest team in the SEC as far as odds go. Tennessee at +1300, and Alabama and Auburn both at +1800 are all three ahead of the Wildcats. Kentucky still has big games left against Tennessee and the SEC tournament that can really change these odds.

The Wildcats have a chance to make their way into being the SEC team with the best odds if they close out this season strong, but if they falter down the stretch, with how inconsistent they have been, look for their odds of winning to plummet.