Kentucky basketball and Clemson have clashed 16 times. Yet the last time the Wildcats tussled with the Tigers was before the turn of the millennium.
The last meeting came with both programs ranked among the top-15 squads in the nation: No. 8 Kentucky downed No. 13 Clemson, 76-61, on Nov. 29, 1997, in Phoenix, a matchup that was part of the Premier Classic. UK went on to capture the national title that season under first-year coach Tubby Smith.
The Wildcats and Tigers will renew their on-court rivalry tonight in Clemson, South Carolina. The contest will be part of this year’s SEC/ACC Challenge, now in its second season.
Both squads won their respective matchups in the inaugural edition of the Challenge: UK mauled Miami, 95-73, at Rupp Arena, and Clemson kept its unbeaten record intact in an 85-77 road win over Alabama.
The Wildcats have won 75% of the games in the series with the Tigers, owning a 12-4 advantage entering tonight’s tilt.
Mark Pope will try to keep his perfect season (7-0) going as he leads No. 6 UK into its first road game of the 2024-25 campaign.
Here’s what you need to know to follow today’s game from home:
UK and Clemson are slated to tip off at 9:30 p.m. today at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina.
Betting odds: Kentucky is a 1 ½-point road favorite (-110) on BetMGM, which set the over/under at 156 ½ points (-110). The money line odds are UK -135, Clemson +110.
The contest between the Wildcats and Tigers will air on ESPN. Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) will have the call.
Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
You also can stream ESPN on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.
You can also listen online via UKAthletics.com.
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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
