UCLA vs. Kentucky: How to Watch, Game Info, Betting Odds

The Bruins' road trip will come to an end at the CBS Sports Classic in New York on Saturday, giving them a chance to solidify their resurgence with a win over the Wildcats.

WHO: UCLA vs. Kentucky

DATE: Saturday, Dec. 17

TIME: 2:15 p.m. PT

LOCATION: Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY

TV: CBS – Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Jenny Dell (sideline)

STREAMING: fuboTV (Start your free trial)

RADIO: AM 1150, Sirius Ch. 83, SXM App 83 – Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)

SPREAD: UCLA -2.5 (-110), Kentucky +2.5 (-118)*

MONEY LINE: UCLA -128, Kentucky +106

OVER/UNDER: O 141.5 (-110), U 141.5 (-118)*

UCLA came in at No. 16 in the most recent AP Poll and No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and is currently No. 6 in the NET Rankings, No. 4 in the KenPom and No. 3 in the BARTHAG. Kentucky came in at No. 13 in the AP and Coaches Polls, and is currently No. 19 in the NET, No. 6 in the KenPom and No. 16 in the BARTHAG.

The Bruins were the heavy favorite to win the Pac-12 this season, earning the No. 1 spot in the preseason media poll with the vast majority of first-place votes. The Wildcats were also the media's pick to win the SEC.

UCLA is led by coach Mick Cronin, who is in his fourth season with the program. Cronin boasts a 77-32 record since arriving in Westwood and a 442-203 record as a head coach overall, including his stints at Murray State and Cincinnati.

The Bruins are currently 9-2, including a 2-0 record in Pac-12 play. A winless weekend in Las Vegas set UCLA back in the polls a bit following losses to Illinois and Baylor, but they eventually recovered by beating both Stanford and Oregon in the early portion of the conference schedule. The Bruins went ahead and solidified their bounce back with a 87-60 win at No. 20 Maryland on Wednesday.

UCLA is averaging 81.8 points per game while allowing 63.0 points per game, which ranks No. 30 and No. 51 in the country, respectively. The Bruins have the No. 3 adjusted offense and No. 17 adjusted defense in the KenPom. Their 50.4% field goal percentage ranks No. 12 in the country, and their 16.5 assists against per game ranks No. 34.

Guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. leads UCLA with 17.1 points per game, and he ranks second on the team with 5.5 rebounds per game. Guard Jaylen Clark is averaging 15.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, while point guard Tyger Campbell is averaging 12.8 points and 4.5 assists per game. Freshmen Amari Bailey, Dylan Andrews and Adem Bona are each emerging as secondary options alongside veteran sharpshooter David Singleton.

Kentucky is led by coach John Calipari, who is in his 14th season in Lexington. Calipari led both UMass and Memphis to Final Four appearances – even guiding the Tigers to a win over the Bruins in the 2008 national semifinals – before winning it all with the Wildcats in 2012. Calipari is 372-103 with Kentucky, and he sits at 817-243 for his career.

The Wildcats are currently 7-2, having played just one game in the past two weeks – a 10-point home win over Yale. Kentucky lost its first two meaningful games of the year to Michigan State and then-No. 2 Gonzaga, racking up wins against far inferior opponents before sneaking by Michigan 73-69 in London, England.

Kentucky is averaging 80.6 points per game while allowing 64.1 points per game, which rank No. 44 and No. 78 in the country, respectively. The Wildcats have the No. 18 adjusted offense and No. 7 adjusted defense in the KenPom. Kentucky ranks in the nation's top 20 in rebounds, assists and blocks per game, while also coming in at No. 32 with a 39.2% 3-point percentage as a team.

Reigning national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe is back for Kentucky, and he is leading the way with 16.1 points, 13.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, as well as a 34.2 player efficiency rating. Sahvir Wheeler is one of the Wildcats' other top returning contributors, putting up 9.0 points and 6.5 assists per game, while Antonio Reeves, Jacob Toppin and Carson Wallace all average double figures.

UCLA is 7-8 against Kentucky all-time, but won the most recent matchup in December 2017. The Bruins and Wildcats have split the two times they've faced off in the CBS Sports Classic, with the former winning in 2017 and the latter taking home the win in 2014.

The two blue bloods have played each other twice in March Madness as well. UCLA beat Kentucky in 1975 to claim the national championship, but Malik Monk and De'Aaron Fox combined for 50 points to help the Wildcats get some revenge against Lonzo Ball and the Bruins in the 2017 Sweet 16.

UCLA has won the last three regular season matchups with Kentucky. The only time they have ever battled it out in New York was at the 2000 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, which the Bruins won 97-92 in double overtime.

*Odds via SI Sportsbook

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