Live updates, channel for SEC games

On January 26, 2025By Littum

The companies for Kentucky basketball And Vanderbilt is no different. Not in terms of talent, a characteristic that cannot be measured in raw numbers. What Wildcats and Commodores Del is that of programs that have had wholesale turnover since last season ended.

UK’s 2024-25 roster does not have a single scholarship player from the previous year’s team; The same goes for commodores. First-year Kentucky coach Mark Pope brought in nine players via the transfer portal, along with three freshmen. Fellow Rookie SEC coach Mark Byington leaned even more heavily into the transfer market; Byington’s Vandy Squad has 11 transfers.

However, despite the colossal changes each program has experienced since the completed 2023-24 campaign, it hasn’t slowed down any of this season.

UK enters today’s matchup on Memorial High School With a 14-4 overall record, including a 3-2 mark in SEC play, entering the No. 9 in both USA Today coaches and Associated Press Top 25 Polls. Vandy is 15-4 (3-3 in conference play).

Pope admires Byington’s craftsmanship.

“What an incredible job the staff has done to construct this team and put together pieces that fit and get guys to fully buy in,” Pope said. “They play incredibly hard and have a real joy and moxie and toughness in their game.

“As a full reconstruct, it’s really impressive.”

Which team will come out on top today in Nashville?

Follow below for live updates:

The Cats trailed at halftime, 41-27, after the Commodores capitalized on turnovers by the visitors.

Kentucky had 10 turnovers; Vandy scored nine points off those giveaways.

UK is shooting 37.9% (11 for 29) from the field and is just 4 of 14 (28.6%) from behind the 3-point line. Jaxson Robinson and Brandon Garrison lead the Wildcats with six points apiece. Piece.

Vanderbilt made 44.7% (17 for 38) of its field goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes.

Commodores guard Jason Edwards had 12 points to top the scorecard in the first half.

With 7:49 left in the first half, Kentucky leads Vanderbilt, 22-21.

UK is 9 for 19 (47.4%) from the field; Vanderbilt’s 8 of 23 (34.8%). Kentucky is 4 for 10 (40%) from beyond the 3-point line. Vanderbilt is 5 of 13 (38.5%) from distance.

The Commodores have missed seven of their last eight shots from the field, including four in a row.

With the NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs running into the Kentucky/Vanderbilt broadcast window, the contest between the Wildcats and Commodores begins airing on ESPNews.

It will move back to ESPN when the Pacers/Spurs game ends.

Here are Kentucky’s starters vs. Vanderbilt:

And here is Vanderbilt’s lineup:

Andrew Carr, who has started all 18 games for Kentucky this season, will not play today against Vanderbilt. He was a fifth-year senior and was listed as “out” on SEC Availability Reportwhich was sent at 12:30 PM ET Saturday.

Carr has recently been battling a back injury. Although UK coach Mark Pope expressed optimism earlier this week Carr would be closer to full health in time for the contest with the Commodores, the 6-foot-11, 235-pound Pennsylvania native will instead miss his first game in the 2024-25 campaign.