How to Watch: No. 13 Alabama Basketball at No. 17 Kentucky

Everything you need to know about the Crimson Tide's trip to Rupp Arena as it chases an SEC title.

With five games to go in the SEC regular season schedule, the conference regular season title is firmly in focus for the Alabama basketball team.

The Crimson Tide still sits alone atop the standings with an 11-2 record, having at least a full-game lead on every other team in the conference.

That lead is going to be challenged on Saturday, though, as Alabama travels to Rupp Arena to face a Kentucky team that will be desperate and hungry after suffering a brutal loss at the buzzer at LSU on Wednesday.

It's been a strange season for the Wildcats, who have an 8-5 record in SEC play and have suffered some head-scratching losses like what happened in the midweek, but also have some monster wins such as beating Auburn on the road last weekend.

Alabama last won in Rupp back in 2021, but that was the season where fan attendance was limited due to COVID. The Crimson Tide hasn't won a game against a full crowd in Lexington since 2006. 

It's going to be challenging, especially with this being Alabama's second straight game where its opponent can actually keep up offensively. Kentucky's offense is right behind Alabama's in terms of points per game, and is in the top-10 in efficiency. 

A win for the Crimson Tide would go a long way in maintaining its stranglehold on first place in the league as March approaches.

How to Watch: No. 13 Alabama at No. 24 Kentucky

Who: No. 13 Alabama (19-7, 11-2 SEC) at No. 17 Kentucky (18-8, 8-5 SEC)

When: Saturday, Feb. 24, 3 p.m. CT

Where: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.

TV: CBS

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Analyst: Bryan Passink). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

Series: Kentucky leads, 113-40

Last Meeting: On January 7, 2023, Alabama routed Kentucky 78-52 in Coleman Coliseum for the two teams' only meeting for the season. Brandon Miller led Alabama with 19, while Mark Sears added 16.

Last Time Out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide erased a 10-point second half deficit and beat Florida in overtime, 98-93. Grant Nelson led the way with 22 points and added six blocks in one of his best games of the season, while Aaron Estrada scored 20 of his own.

Last Time Out, Kentucky: The Wildcats suffered a heartbreaker on Wednesday night, losing to LSU in Baton Rouge on a buzzer-beating layup. Senior guard Antonio Reeves led Kentucky with 25 points in the loss.

Alabama Leaders:

• Scoring: Mark Sears (20.4 PPG)
• Rebounding: Grant Nelson (5.6 RPG)
• Assists: Aaron Estrada (4.3 APG)

Kentucky Leaders:

• Scoring: G Antonio Reeves (19.7 PPG)
• Rebounding: F Tre Mitchell (7.5 RPG)
• Assists: G Reed Shepherd (4.0 APG)

See also:

Three Takeaways from Alabama Basketball's Overtime Win Over Florida