LEXINGTON — Anybody who’s listened to Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope converse since his tenure started has heard his purpose of the crew making an attempt, at minimal, 30 3-pointers per sport.
The Wildcats are falling wanting that goal to this point.
Twenty video games into the 2024-25 season, UK is averaging 27.2 makes an attempt from lengthy vary per outing. Not dangerous. However it’s not 30.
Getting ready to host Arkansas — and ex-Kentucky coach John Calipari — tonight at Rupp Arena, Pope is not giving up on his 3-point goal.
“Arkansas is a terrific, actually proficient crew and terrific at guarding the three and likewise terrific at defending the rim,” Pope stated of the Razorbacks, who’re tied for eighth in Division I in block percentage (16.3), a measure of what number of photographs tried by an opponent are rejected by the defensive crew. “They are a fairly good twin punch by way of having the ability to do each these issues. … We simply should go earn these (3-point) photographs.
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“We have got to discover a option to earn ’em.”
Discover them and you will find a happy Pope.
“After we earn 30 (3-point makes an attempt in a sport), it implies that we’re taking part in proper. We’re shifting proper. We’re executing proper,” he stated.
Comply with alongside beneath with stay updates from Rupp Area:
The competition between the Wildcats and Razorbacks will air on ESPN. Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Jimmy Dykes (analyst) and Alyssa Lang (sideline) may have the decision.
Authenticated subscribers can entry ESPN through TV-connected units or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
You can also stream ESPN on Fubo, which affords a free trial.
Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) may have the UK radio community name on 840 AM in Louisville and each 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.
You can even pay attention on-line through UKAthletics.com.
Betting odds: Kentucky is an 11 ½-point house favourite (-110) on DraftKings, which set the over/underneath at 158 ½ factors (-110). The cash line odds are Kentucky -600, Arkansas +440.
Report: 15-5 (4-3 SEC)
The Razorbacks are 12-8 this season, with a 1-6 mark in SEC play.
Calipari’s membership solely had one notable win through the nonconference portion of its schedule: Arkansas topped Michigan, 89-87, in New York on Dec. 10, a matchup that was a part of the Jimmy V Classic.
Arkansas’ lone SEC triumph is in opposition to Georgia; it has losses to Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Calipari is 2-4 in six prior meetings in opposition to UK. 5 of these video games occurred when Calipari was UMass’ coach. In his lone matchup with Kentucky as Memphis’ coach, Calipari’s Tigers gained, 80-63, within the third-place sport on the 2006 Maui Invitational.
Kentucky leads the all-time series with Arkansas, 36-14. Coming into tonight’s tilt, the Wildcats have gained three in a row over the Razorbacks and 11 of the previous 14.
Click here to see the Razorbacks’ full 2024-25 schedule.
Wish to be taught the Razorbacks’ roster?
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Attain Kentucky males’s basketball and soccer reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and comply with him on X at @RyanABlack.
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