Tag: Rupp Arena

Notre Dame and Kentucky to Renew Hardwood Rivalry

Notre Dame will have one of college basketball’s biggest names on it’s out of conference schedule the next three seasons.

Notre Dame and Kentucky have met in basketball 62 times over the years, the most recently being a thriller that sent the Wildcats to the Final Four in the 2015 Midwest Regional Final.

Now Notre Dame and Kentucky will meet again on the hardwood as a three game series between the teams has officially been announced with action starting this year at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

Notre Dame will travel to Kentucky on December 12 of this year while a neutral site game will be played in 2021 and the Wildcats will play in South Bend on December 10, 2022.

“It is great to renew a series between two of the ‘blue bloods’ of college basketball,” Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey said. 

“If our recent battles with Kentucky are any indication, these games should be appointment viewing for college basketball fans.” 

Kentucky was won 43 of the 62 all-time meetings with Notre Dame.

Rick Barnes becomes first UT coach to win twice at Rupp Arena

Rick Barnes becomes first UT coach to win twice at Rupp Arena.

LEXINGTON — The 2019-20 season has been an exercise of inconsistency and mediocrity for the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team.

The Volunteers’ 17-13 overall record and 9-8 Southeastern Conference mark are certainly proof of that.

But the season has not been without its bright spots for the Big Orange. Tuesday night, the Vols, erased a double-digit deficit against longtime rival and SEC power Kentucky, leaving Rupp Arena with a 71-63 victory.

With the win, the Vols helped their coach, Rick Barnes, make a little history for Tennessee.

Barnes, last season’s Naismith Coach of the year, became the only UT head coach to defeat the Wildcats twice at Rupp Arena.

Tennessee has only beaten Kentucky in that building six times since it opened in 1976 and Barnes is the only Tennessee coach to win there twice. The Vols last beat Kentucky in Lexington in 2018, when they were regular-season conference champions.

Ray Mears guided the Vols to victory there in 1977. Don DeVoe posted a win at Rupp Arena in 1979. After a long drought in the Bluegrass State under Wade Houston and Kevin O’Neal, the Big Orange won at UK under Jerry Green in 1999.

Bruce Pearl guided Tennessee to a win at Rupp in 2006.

Scores of Tennessee’s wins at Rupp Arena

  • 1977: Tennessee 71, Kentucky 67, OT
  • 1979: Tennessee 66, Kentucky 65
  • 1999: Tennessee 47, Kentucky 46
  • 2006: Tennessee 75, Kentucky 67
  • 2018: Tennessee 61, Kentucky 59
  • 2020: Tennessee 71, Kentucky 63

 

 

Tennessee records sixth all-time win against Kentucky at Rupp Arena

Tennessee defeats Kentucky at Rupp Arena.

LEXINGTON — The Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team won at Rupp Arena for the sixth time Tuesday night.

The Vols defeated their SEC rival Kentucky Wildcats, 81-73, behind a dominant second-half performance that included a 29-9 run.

Tennessee has now won at Rupp Arena in the following years: 1977, 1979, 1999, 2006, 2018 and 2020.

Junior John Fulkerson had a career-high 27 points for Tennessee.

NCAA Basketball: Tennessee at Kentucky
Mar 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward John Fulkerson (10) celebrates after the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

The Vols (17-13, 9-8 SEC) trailed by as many as 17 points in the contest.

“Our guys were confident,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said following the win. “Even when we were down, and I would walk into the timeout, they were talking to each other about ‘Hey we just can’t keep making those turnovers and mistakes that we’re making.’ They were great at driving the ball and we really said, ‘Hey we’re going to get into those gaps and they’re going to have to make some jump shots.’

“And we actually made some plays in the gap where we knocked it through, got out in transition and got some baskets like that. We also tried to speed the tempo up some. But, when we got into a dead ball situation, we knew we were going to play through Fulky.”

Tennessee searching for sixth all-time win at Rupp Arena

2019-20 Tennessee basketball.

LEXINGTON — The University of Tennessee’s men’s basketball team travels to Kentucky Tuesday night to face the sixth-ranked Wildcats at Rupp Arena.

The contest will tipoff at 9 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN. Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes will have the call.

Tennessee and Kentucky last played on Feb. 8 as the Wildcats were victorious, 77-64, at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Vols and Wildcats first played on Feb. 5, 1910, and have met 229 times.

Tennessee-Kentucky all-time series

  • Kentucky leads Tennessee in the all-time series, 156-73
  • Kentucky leads Tennessee in games played in Lexington, 91-17
  • The Vols have beaten Kentucky five times at Rupp Arena, with wins coming in 1977, 1979, 1999, 2006 and 2018

Auburn at Kentucky college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Saturday’s Auburn Tigers at Kentucky Wildcats college basketball matchup, with NCAA betting odds, picks and best bets

The Auburn Tigers (24-4, 11-4 SEC) battle with the Kentucky Wildcats (23-5, 13-2 SEC) at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center in Lexington at 3:45 p.m. ET Saturday. We analyze the Auburn-Kentucky odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

The Wildcats are the No. 9 team in the recently released USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. The Tigers are ranked 15th.

Auburn at Kentucky: Three things you need to know

1. The Wildcats can lock up the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament and win the regular-season conference title with a victory.

2. Kentucky is looking to pay Auburn back for a 75-66 win by the Tigers on the Plains back on Feb. 1 as the under (145) easily connected in that one.

3. After a two-game losing skid on the road, the Tigers have rattled off wins and covers in the past two. However, they’re 2-4 SU/1-5 ATS in the past six on the road, and they haven’t won in regulation away from home since Jan. 4 at Mississippi State.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Auburn at Kentucky: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:05 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Kentucky 76, Auburn 67

Moneyline (ML)

AVOID. Kentucky (-295) should be able to polish off Auburn (+230) in this one, claiming the regular-season SEC title along the way. However, it’s never good business to lay nearly three times your potential return. Look to the Wildcats against the spread instead.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Wildcats returns just a $3.40 profit. A wager of $10 on the Tigers returns a profit of $23.

Against the Spread (ATS)

KENTUCKY (-6.5, -110) likely has had this game circled on their calendar after losing in the first meeting to Auburn (+6.5, -110). The Tigers have been very good at home, but they’ve struggled mightily on the road. You can expect Big Blue nation to be partying another conference championship at Rupp with a resounding win.

Over/Under (O/U)

The lean in this one is to the Over 141 (+100), but I wouldn’t bet it. This one will be too close to call, and likely the total will be decided in the final minute of regulation. AVOID, or go very lightly on Over.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=11866]

Louisville at Kentucky odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Louisville Cardinals at Kentucky Wildcats sports betting odds and lines, with NCAA basketball betting picks and tips.

The Louisville Cardinals (11-1, 2-0 ACC) and Kentucky Wildcats (8-3, 0-0 SEC) square off at Rupp Arena in Lexington at 3:45 p.m. ET Saturday. We analyze the Louisville-Kentucky odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

The Cardinals are ranked fourth in the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll.

Louisville at Kentucky: Three things you need to know

1. The Cardinals covered the spread in five of their past six games, and they’re 4-1 against the spread in the past five as a road favorite, too.

2. Kentucky has cashed in just one of its past five against the spread, while going 1-4 ATS in the past five at home. The favorite has cashed in four of the past five meetings in this series, which bodes well for Big Blue.

3. Kentucky still ranks 330th in the nation with just 27.8% of its 3-pointers made. The Wildcats are 14th in the country with 78.5% free throws made.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Louisville at Kentucky: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Louisville 67, Kentucky 62

Moneyline (ML)

The moneyline wasn’t available at the time of publishing.

Against the Spread (ATS)

LOUISVILLE (+1.5, -121) is the play, as the No. 4-ranked Cardinals are slight dogs on the road. You can expect the Cardinals to feel a little disrespect and come out with a chip on their shoulders against the rival Wildcats (-1.5, +100).

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 131.5 (-110) is the way to go, as it has been the dominant trend for the ‘Ville. The Under is 4-1-1 in the past six for the Cards, and 14-5 in the past 19 against teams with a winning record, too. The Under is 19-7 in the past 26 at home for the Wildcats, and 20-8 in the past 28. Unless Kentucky suddenly gets well and starts banging 3-pointers, something the Wildcats have struggled with all season, this game should stay Under the projected number.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=11866]

Utah Valley-Kentucky odds: UK heavily favored over UVU

Previewing Monday’s Utah Valley Wolverines at Kentucky Wildcats sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball analysis and picks.

The Utah Valley Wolverines (3-1) head east to face the Kentucky Wildcats (2-1) at Rupp Arena Monday at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Utah Valley-Kentucky odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Utah Valley at Kentucky: Three things you need to know

1. Not many expected Utah Valley would have a win more recently than Kentucky, but the Wildcats were tripped up by Evansville last time out by a 67-64 score as 24.5-point favorites.

2. Kentucky’s offense has been sluggish, averaging just 74.7 points per game (PPG), and they’re 334th on 3-pointers at just 24.5 percent from behind the arc.

3. G Ashton Hagans (leg) is a question mark for Monday’s game against the Wolverines.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Utah Valley at Kentucky: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Kentucky 79, Utah Valley 54

Moneyline (ML)

There is no moneyline for this game at the time of publishing due to the large spread, but even if one were to be released by tip-off, the risk is not worth the meager reward.

Against the Spread (ATS)

KENTUCKY (-24.5, -115) had cashed in nine straight games against the spread before its loss to the Purple Aces last time out. The Wildcats are also 5-2 ATS in the past seven at Rupp Arena.

Utah Valley (+24.5, -105) is just 1-5 ATS in the past six games overall, and 2-5 ATS in the past seven non-conference tilts. The Wolverines have three wins, but they haven’t faced a team remotely close to the caliber of Big Blue.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 136.5 (-121) is the play. Kentucky is still working out the kinks on offense, and should do just that against the Wolverines. However, UVU won’t contribute much to the total in this game where it’ll be quite overwhelmed. Look for freshman G Tyrese Maxey to show out in this one.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]