Kentucky men’s basketball returns to Rupp Arena on Wednesday night with urgency surrounding the program as the Wildcats open their SEC home schedule against Missouri.
After an 89–74 loss at No. 14 Alabama, Kentucky enters the matchup at 9–5 overall and 0–1 in SEC play, and head coach Mark Pope hasn’t shied away from acknowledging what went wrong. Physicality, toughness, and consistency—especially against high-quality opponents—have become talking points as the Wildcats look to steady themselves early in conference play.
Missouri arrives in Lexington with momentum, holding an 11–3 record and a 1–0 SEC mark, making this more than just another January game. For Kentucky, it’s an early test of whether Pope’s adjustments can translate into results on the floor.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, where a crowd of 20,545 is expected for the Wildcats’ SEC home opener.
How to watch Kentucky vs. Missouri on television
The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
Network: ESPN2
Announcers:
Play-by-play: Tom Hart
Analyst: Dane Bradshaw
ESPN2 channel listings
Spectrum Cable: Channel 27
DISH Network: Channel 143
DirecTV: Channel 209
U-verse: Channel 606 (1606 HD)
How to listen on the radio
Fans can also follow the game through the UK Sports Network.
Over-the-air radio
WLAP-AM 630 and WBUL-FM 98.1 (Lexington)
WHAS-AM 840 (Louisville)
Satellite radio
Kentucky broadcast: XM Channel 84, Sirius Channel 84, Internet Channel 84
Missouri broadcast: XM Channel 381, Internet Channel 971
UK Sports Network broadcast team
Play-by-play: Tom Leach
Analyst: Jack Givens
A complete list of UK radio affiliates statewide is available online.
How to stream Kentucky vs. Missouri online
Live video: WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app (with a participating TV provider)
Live updates: In-game coverage and fan discussion will be available at Kentucky.com
What Mark Pope is trying to fix
Following the Alabama loss, Pope pointed to areas that must improve immediately—namely defensive toughness, rebounding presence, and offensive execution against physical teams. Kentucky struggled to match Alabama’s intensity, and Pope emphasized that effort and discipline must be consistent, not situational.
The matchup with Missouri provides an early chance to see whether Kentucky can translate those lessons into action. With conference play accelerating quickly, Pope has stressed that improvement must come now, especially at home.
Players to watch
Kentucky guard Jaland Lowe led the Wildcats against Alabama, scoring 21 points while adding three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a blocked shot. His production remains a key piece as Kentucky searches for offensive rhythm and leadership on the floor.
