Kentucky’s latest tune-up comes with a little extra juice, even if it won’t count in the standings.
The Wildcats and Texas Tech meet tonight at Rupp Arena in what is Kentucky’s second preseason exhibition. UK already handled its first one, rolling past Little Rock 69-49 on Oct. 16 in Lexington. The Wildcats have one more exhibition left after this one - Oct. 28 against Central Florida, also at Rupp - before opening the regular season Nov. 2 at home against Manhattan.
Texas Tech is using tonight as its only preseason exhibition before heading into the season. The Red Raiders open Nov. 2 against Jackson State in Lubbock, Texas.
On paper, this is still a ranked matchup. Texas Tech checks in at No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25. Kentucky is No. 23 in both polls.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight at Rupp Arena.
There won’t be a traditional TV broadcast. The game will stream on SEC Network+, the digital companion to SEC Network. Authenticated subscribers can watch through TV-connected devices or by using WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
Noah Frary will handle play-by-play, with Ravi Moss as analyst and Maggie Davis reporting from the sideline.
For radio listeners, Tom Leach and Jack Givens will call the game on the UK radio network, airing on 840 AM in Louisville and on 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington. The broadcast will also be available online through UKAthletics.com.
In Other News...
Kentuckys SEC Title Push Just Took A Brutal Hit
Kentuckys bid for a 10th straight Southeastern Conference regular-season volleyball title took a sharp turn Thursday night in Knoxville, where the Wildcats couldnt close out Tennessee after building a two-set lead. Kentucky looked in control early, taking the opening sets with command, but the Volunteers flipped the match with a steadier rhythm and a more balanced attack as the night wore on.
Brooklyn DeLeye still powered Kentucky with 25 kills, but the Wildcats had trouble matching Tennessee over the final three sets as the pressure mounted. The loss doesnt end the chase, but it does put Kentucky in a tougher spot as it tries to hold off the rest of the SEC in a race that suddenly looks a lot less comfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Kenny Minchey Still Has One Loyal Voice In Vanderbilt Territory
Justin Geisinger has a foot in both camps heading into Kentuckys meeting with Vanderbilt, and that makes this week feel a little more personal than most. A former Vanderbilt player who now coaches high school football, Geisinger also helped guide Kentucky starter Kenny Minchey during his prep days, giving him a direct line to one of the Wildcats most important players while still carrying the ties of his own college past.
Geisingers connection to Vanderbilt runs even deeper because he once shared a locker room with head coach Clark Lea, which only sharpens the conflict of loyalty. He has made it clear he has affection for both programs, and with Minchey under center for Kentucky, the matchup brings together several strands of his football life at once. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Has A Vanderbilt Problem Will Stein Wants Solved Now
Kentuckys strong start has put the Wildcats in a good spot, but the next test comes with some history attached. Will Stein has been making sure everyone inside the program understands what is waiting with Vanderbilt, a matchup that has not gone the way Kentucky has wanted in recent seasons even as the Wildcats have stacked up quality wins this fall, including the upset of Oklahoma. With the team sitting at 6-1, the timing of this one matters too, because it arrives as the final game before Kentuckys bye week.
Stein also knows the atmosphere should help, and he has pushed fans to turn the home crowd into a factor for a sellout game with a Blue Out theme. Kentucky has already shown it can handle pressure and momentum this season, but this one carries a different kind of edge because of the opponent and the recent results between the schools. For a team trying to keep its footing in the SEC race, ending the pre-bye stretch on the right note would go a long way toward quieting a problem that has lingered a little too long. [Read more 🡒]