< Previous10 @KentuckyMBBYou can enjoy FREE * grocery delivery, 2X Fuel Points and more for as low as $59/year. *$35 order minimum. Restrictions apply. Subject to availability. Delivery time not guaranteed. Official Grocery Partner of UK AthleticsWEEKNIGHTS 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY 9:00 a.m.From Press Row The Champions Classic Kentucky is 5-6 in Champions Classic games. Kentucky is 2-1 against Michigan State in the event, including winning by a 69- 62 score in 2019 when the teams opened the season as the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked squads in the country. This will mark the fourth time the event has been held in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. UK is 1-2 in the event in the building. The victory came in historic fashion in a 72-40 win over No. 5 Kansas on Nov. 18, 2014. UK's team would finish the regular season unbeaten that season. UK leads the all-time series with the Spar- tans by a 14-11 margin. The teams have nev- er met in Indianapolis. Historic Opener With a 95-63 win over Howard to open the 2022-23 campaign, a few Wildcats set records along the way. • Cason Wallace recorded the second-most assists in a UK freshman debut, while becom- ing the first UK freshman in school history to have at least 15 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in a collegiate debut • Wallace was one of only two freshmen to accomplish the season-opening feat since the 2010-11 season, joining Lonzo Ball, who went for 19 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in a 119-80 win over Pacific on Nov. 11, 2016 • Antonio Reeves sunk a game-high six 3-pointers, which is a record for any UK play- er in his debut with the Cats • Lance Ware totaled four steals, the most in a Kentucky season-opener since Knox and Gilgeous-Alexander each had four in a 73-63 win over Utah Valley Nov. 10, 2017 Cats Began Season Ranked No. 4 For the 13th time in 14 seasons under head coach John Calipari, the Kentucky men’s basketball team began the season among the preseason top 10 in the Associated Press Top 25. The Wildcats were tabbed No. 4. • Including this season, Calipari’s teams have been ranked inside the top five 11 times • Eight Kentucky opponents enter the 2022-23 season ranked in the AP Top 25, in- cluding four nonconference opponents • UK will have 10 total matchups in 2022-23 against top-25 opponents Wildcats Picked to Win SEC The Kentucky men’s basketball team, un- der the direction of 14th-year head coach John Calipari, was picked by the league’s media to win the 2023 Southeastern Con- ference title. In addition to the preseason poll, senior Oscar Tshiebwe was tabbed the preseason SEC Player of the Year. Tshiebwe was joined on the preseason All-SEC First Team by fellow senior Sahvir Wheeler for both the media's selections as well as the league's coaches. • UK has won the regular-season title 49 times in the history of the program • Kentucky has captured the SEC Tourna- ment crown 31 times • It’s the 17th time since the 1998-99 season the Wildcats are the SEC preseason favorite • Calipari has directed his teams to regu- lar-season SEC crowns in 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 • Kentucky has claimed the SEC Tournament title six times Big-Game Cal, Cats John Calipari’s teams aren’t just good against the best teams in the country, they’re great. Some notes about Cal's teams against the best: • Not only does Kentucky own a 67-44 record (60.4%) vs. Associated Press Top 25 teams under John Calipari, UK is 7-4 when both teams are ranked in the AP top five • All-time, Calipari is 13-8 when both teams are ranked in the AP top five • When both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25, Calipari’s all-time record is 89-64, including a 58-36 mark at Kentucky • When both are ranked in the top 10 he has a 27-21 record, including 16-14 at UK • By defeating top-ranked Michigan State to start the 2019-20 season, UK knocked off the No. 1 team in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. Kentucky downed Tennessee on Feb. 19, 2019 • With the win over MSU to begin 2019- 20, the Wildcats have nine victories over the No. 1 team in 25 tries in program history • Calipari improved to 6-4 vs. the No. 1 team in his career with the win vs. Michigan State, including 3-2 at Kentucky. According to ESPN, Calipari is the only coach with a winning (.600) KENTUCKY 14 @KentuckyMBBMOP IT LIKE IT ' S HOTMOP IT LIKE IT ' S HOTInside The Numbers KENTUCKY 18 @KentuckyMBB MICHIGAN STATE (1-1) AT KENTUCKY (2-0) Series Breakdown Overall - UK - 14-11 at Lexington - UK, 7-3 Calipari vs. MSU - 3-1 Izzo vs. UK - 5-4 Current UK streak - W2 John Calipari Tom Izzo Overall Record: 812-241* Overall Record: 667-268 Record at UK: 367-101 Record at MSU: 667-268 Overall Seasons: 31st Overall Seasons: 28th at Kentucky: 14th at Michigan State: 28th * on court record UK Stat Opp. 86.0 Points Per Game 68.0 44.0 Rebounds PG 39.0 21.0 Assists PG 14.0 8.0 Blocks PG 3.5 9.5 Steals PG 7.5 12.5 Turnovers PG 12.5 .504 FG Pct. .427 .512 3-Pt. FG Pct. .279 .605 FT. Pct. .667 1.7 Assist-to-TO Ratio 1.1 THE MATCHUPTALE OF THE TAPE • Improve Calipari's record to 4-1 against Michigan State • Move Kentucky to 93-58 all-time against members of the Big Ten Conference • Extend Kentucky's winning streak against Michigan State to three games • Even UK's record at 6-6 in Champions Classic games • Increase UK's record under Calipari to 82-30 in neutral-site games A UK WIN WOULD... 49 SEC regular-season titles in program history 31 SEC Tournament championships 21 Straight home victories in Rupp Arena 21.0 SEC-leading assists per game by the Wildcats BY THE NUMBERSNext >