Photo | Chet White UK Athletics

Snow may have fallen across the Bluegrass, but that won’t stop Big Blue Nation from packing into Rupp Arena to cheer on the Wildcats!

Tonight at 7:00 PM, the Kentucky Wildcats will face the Vanderbilt Commodores in a crucial matchup. Kentucky enters the game ranked 17th in the country with a 17-8 record, while Vanderbilt also sits at 17-8—and importantly, the Commodores have already defeated Kentucky earlier this season in Nashville.

This game feels like a must-win for Kentucky. Despite the high-profile victories this season, the Wildcats have shown a frustrating tendency to play down to their competition. Coming off a tough loss to Texas in Austin, it’s clear that Kentucky needs this win to get back on track.

In terms of injuries, Kentucky will once again be without Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson. The Wildcats have shown they can overcome setbacks, as evidenced by their win over Tennessee without Robinson—and with Butler becoming sidelined during that game, too. While fans felt confident after that victory, the team’s collapse in the final five minutes against Texas has left some on edge. The big question now: Can this group of players come together to secure a much-needed win without their top three point guard options?

Kentucky boys, Travis Perry and Trent Noah, will need to continue their recent strong performances. Perry has scored 6 and 8 points in the last two games, while seeing a significant uptick in minutes. Meanwhile, Noah has proven he’s not afraid of the spotlight, stepping up to hit big shots when needed. He’s scored 7 and 11 points in his last two outings, averaging 20 minutes per game.

Since their win over Kentucky, Vanderbilt has struggled but faced tough SEC competition. They were blown out by Oklahoma, 97-67, but showed resilience in closer games against Florida, Tennessee, and Auburn. Their only win since defeating the Wildcats came against the Texas Longhorns—of course, that was a big win for them.

Currently, Kentucky is favored by 4.5 points to win tonight, and ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Wildcats an 81.8% chance of victory.

What To Know:

• Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt
• Date: February 19, 2025
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Location: Rupp Arena
• Broadcast: SEC Network