Indiana men’s basketball (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten) is set to take on Kentucky (6-4, 0-0 SEC) in a renewal of the annual rivalry series on Saturday evening at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Hoosiers are
coming off of a dominant 113-72 win over Penn State that saw Lamar Wilkerson catch fire from deep en route to a career night as he set multiple single game Indiana records. The result got Indiana even in Big Ten play following a disappointing showing on the road at Minnesota.
The Wildcats have seen some disappointing showings of their own, albeit against some high-level competition. Kentucky’s four losses are to rival Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina and, most recently, a 94-59 drubbing at the hands of Gonzaga.
Here’s what to know about the game:
Indiana Hoosiers vs Kentucky Wildcats
- Game Time/Date: 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 13
- Game Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Streaming: YouTubeTV/FuboTV/ESPN unlimited
- KenPom Spread: Wildcats by 4
Predictions
This will be, by far, the most hostile environment Indiana has played in under Darian DeVries up to this point.
The rivalry has been dormant in the regular season for well over a decade now, so it’ll be interesting to see the overall reception to the Hoosiers in Lexington, but it’s safe to say there will be no love lost from Big Blue Nation for the cream and crimson.
Kentucky plays like a version of Indiana with more high-level talent, but shooting and injury woes have dragged the roster down some. The Wildcats have fallen in multiple high-major games, but still present a major threat to the Hoosiers on Saturday.
Between the sheer talent and road environment, the path to a victory seems slim. But who knows.
