NASHVILLE — Kentucky basketball is focused on winning the SEC Tournament this week.
Oklahoma has the same goal on its mind. But it has another motivating factor: revenge.
Blame Otega Oweh.
The Sooners-turned-Wildcats guard tormented his former squad when the teams met last month in Norman, Oklahoma. He scored a game-high 28 points, including the final 18, which included the go-ahead basket in an 83-82 victory for Kentucky.
OU hasn’t forgotten heading into tonight’s second-round clash at Bridgestone Arena.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
“I know our guys were stung after that game,” Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said Wednesday after his team’s 81-75 win over Georgia in the first round. “Both teams played their tail off. Looking forward to a great matchup (today) with Kentucky.”
And Moser went out of his way to make sure people know that as consistently excellent Oweh has been this season, the Wildcats are far more than one player.
“They’ve got so many different offensive weapons. … Their offense is so spaced out,” Moser said. “They have 5s that can pass. Amari (Williams) and Brandon (Garrison) both can pass so well. They’ve got shooters everywhere. They’ve got a veteran, Final Four point guard (in Lamont Butler). It’s going to be a group effort guarding all their motion, their blast actions.
“We’ll get after it.”
Can the Wildcats frustrate the Sooners again en route to another win and a spot in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals? Or will Oklahoma avenge last month’s agonizing home defeat?
Follow along below with live updates from Nashville:
Kentucky vs Oklahoma basketball halftime score
The Cats and Sooners picked up where they left off in their first meeting at OU on Feb. 26. UK led that game by two at halftime and is again up a basket 40-38 in the SEC Tournament.
Koby Brea leads the Cats with 12 points and Otega Oweh added 11.
OU guard Jeremiah Fears missed his first six shots from 3-point range, but has since warmed up. Fears leads the Sooners with 12 points, followed by 10 from Kobe Elvis.
Kentucky vs Oklahoma basketball score in first half of SEC Tournament second round
With 7:51 remaining in the first half, Kentucky leads Oklahoma, 25-18.
UK is 11 for 17 (64.7%) from the field; Oklahoma is 6 of 17 (35.3%). Kentucky is 3 for 7 (42.9%) beyond the 3-point line. Oklahoma is 2 of 10 (20%) from distance.
Kentucky basketball’s starting lineup vs. Oklahoma in SEC Tournament
Here are Kentucky’s starters vs. Oklahoma:
And here’s Oklahoma’s lineup:
What channel is UK basketball vs Oklahoma in SEC Tournament on today?
The SEC Tournament contest between the Wildcats and Sooners will air on SEC Network. Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Jimmy Dykes (analyst) and Molly McGrath (sideline) will have the call.
Authenticated subscribers can access SEC Network via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
You also can stream SEC Network on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
How to listen to Kentucky vs Oklahoma on the radio
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.
Kentucky vs Oklahoma basketball betting odds
Betting odds: Kentucky is a 6 ½-point favorite (-110) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 159 ½ points (-105). The money line odds are Kentucky -298, Oklahoma +240.
Kentucky basketball 2024-25 schedule
- Oct. 23: exhibition vs. Kentucky Wesleyan ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 123, Kentucky Wesleyan 52
- Oct. 29: exhibition vs. Minnesota State Mankato ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 98, Minnesota State Mankato 67
- Nov. 4: vs. Wright State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 103, Wright State 62
- Nov. 9: vs. Bucknell (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 100, Bucknell 72
- Nov. 12: vs. Duke (Champions Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 77, Duke 72
- Nov. 19: vs. Lipscomb, (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 97, Lipscomb 68
- Nov. 22: vs. Jackson State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 108, Jackson State 59
- Nov. 26: vs. Western Kentucky (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 87, Western Kentucky 68
- Nov. 29: vs. Georgia State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 105, Georgia State 76
- Dec. 3: at Clemson (ACC/SEC Challenge) ∣ SCORE: Clemson 70, Kentucky 66
- Dec. 7: vs. Gonzaga (Climate Pledge Arena; Seattle) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 90, Gonzaga 89 (OT)
- Dec. 11: vs. Colgate (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 78, Colgate 67
- Dec. 14: vs. Louisville (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 93, Louisville 85
- Dec. 21: vs. Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York) | SCORE: Ohio State 85, Kentucky 65
- Dec. 31: vs. Brown (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 88, Brown 54
- Jan. 4: vs. Florida (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 106, Florida 100
- Jan. 7: at Georgia | SCORE: Georgia 82, Kentucky 69
- Jan. 11: at Mississippi State | SCORE: Kentucky 95, Mississippi State 90
- Jan. 14: vs. Texas A&M (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 81, Texas A&M 69
- Jan. 18: vs. Alabama (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Alabama 102, Kentucky 97
- Jan. 25: at Vanderbilt | SCORE: Vanderbilt 74, Kentucky 69
- Jan. 28: at Tennessee | SCORE: Kentucky 78, Tennessee 73
- Feb. 1: vs. Arkansas | SCORE: Arkansas 89, Kentucky 79
- Feb. 4: at Ole Miss | SCORE: Ole Miss 98, Kentucky 84
- Feb. 8: vs. South Carolina | SCORE: Kentucky 80, South Carolina 57
- Feb. 11: vs. Tennessee | SCORE: Kentucky 75, Tennessee 64
- Feb. 15: at Texas | SCORE: Texas 82, Kentucky 78
- Feb. 19: vs. Vanderbilt | SCORE: Kentucky 82, Vanderbilt 61
- Feb. 22: at Alabama | SCORE: Alabama 96, Kentucky 83
- Feb. 26: at Oklahoma | SCORE: Kentucky 83, Oklahoma 82
- March 1: vs. Auburn | SCORE: Auburn 94, Kentucky 78
- March 4: vs. LSU | SCORE: Kentucky 95, LSU 64
- March 8: at Missouri | SCORE: Kentucky 91, Missouri 83
- March 13: vs. Oklahoma (SEC Tournament, second round; Nashville), 9:30 p.m., SEC Network
Record: 21-10 (10-8 SEC)
Kentucky basketball 2024-25 roster
- Ansley Almonor (forward, senior)
- Koby Brea (guard, graduate)
- Lamont Butler (guard, graduate)
- Andrew Carr (forward, graduate)
- Collin Chandler (guard, freshman)
- Grant Darbyshire (guard, junior)
- Brandon Garrison (forward, sophomore)
- Walker Horn (guard, junior)
- Kerr Kriisa (guard, senior)
- Trent Noah (forward, freshman)
- Otega Oweh (guard, junior)
- Travis Perry (guard, freshman)
- Jaxson Robinson (guard, graduate)
- Amari Williams (center, graduate)
Oklahoma basketball 2024-25 schedule
The Sooners are 20-12 this season. They finished 6-12 in SEC play during the regular season. Oklahoma was one of the nation’s last unbeaten teams, beginning the 2024-25 campaign 13-0.
OU clinched its spot in today’s second round via an 81-75 victory over Georgia on Day 1 of the tournament.
UK is 4-0 all time versus Oklahoma.
Click here to see the Sooners’ full 2024-25 schedule.
Oklahoma basketball 2024-25 roster
Want to learn the Sooners’ roster?
Click here for player bios and more.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling. We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site. Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.
