LEXINGTON — Kentucky men’s basketball closes the 2024-25 preseason tonight at Rupp Arena.
The Wildcats won their preseason opener under new coach Mark Pope last week, rolling past Kentucky Wesleyan by 71 points.
UK’s newcomers looked at ease in the dominant exhibition victory, as every scholarship player who took the floor scored at least two points; senior guard Kerr Kriisa was the only Wildcat who didn’t play, sitting out while nursing a hamstring injury.
For tonight’s exhibition finale, Kentucky welcomes Minnesota State Mankato to town.
Like Kentucky Wesleyan, Minnesota State Mankato is a Division II program. The Mavericks are the defending national champions in Division II, finishing last season 35-2. It was the first national title for the men’s basketball program.
Minnesota State Mankato was picked to repeat as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champion in the league’s preseason coaches poll.
The Mavericks are led by senior Kyreese Willingham, the NSIC preseason Player of the Year. He appeared in all 37 games last season, averaging 14.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per outing. Willingham made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining in last season’s national title tilt.
Minnesota State Mankato coach Matt Margenthaler has guided the program the past 23 years. In that time, he owns a 488-211 record (.698 winning percentage), with eight conference titles and 14 NCAA Tournament appearances to go along with last season’s national championship.
Here’s what you need to know to follow along from home:
Kentucky basketball vs Minnesota State Mankato start time
UK and Minnesota State Mankato are slated to tip off at 7 p.m. today at Rupp Arena.
What channel is UK basketball vs Minnesota State Mankato on today?
The exhibition between the Wildcats and Mavericks will not air on a traditional TV channel.
Instead, it will stream live on SEC Network+. Darren Headrick (play-by-play) and Cameron Mills (analyst) will have the call.
Authenticated subscribers to SEC Network+…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/channel-kentucky-basketball-exhibition-today-091653543.html
Author : The Courier Journal
Publish date : 2024-10-29 09:16:00
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