The college basketball spotlight shifts to a packed Saturday schedule, with 19 teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll set to take the court. The action begins in Lexington, where No. 8 Kentucky will host No. 4 Alabama, both teams being top contenders in the SEC race.
Alabama enters the game after suffering its first conference loss to Ole Miss earlier this week, while Kentucky has bounced back from a road loss to Georgia, securing victories over Mississippi State and Texas A&M. Auburn and Ole Miss are the only SEC teams still undefeated in conference play as we head into the weekend.
Later in the day, No. 9 Kansas will square off against in-state rival Kansas State on CBS. The Jayhawks have a dominant 18-game home win streak against the Wildcats at Allen Fieldhouse, with 27 wins in the last 28 matchups dating back to when the Big 8 became the Big 12 in 1996.
One of the final ranked matchups of the day features No. 13 Oregon taking on No. 17 Purdue. The Boilermakers are currently 6-1 in Big Ten play, while Oregon holds a solid 4-2 record in the conference. Purdue has been on a roll, winning six consecutive games since its loss to Auburn last month.
No. 4 Alabama at No. 8 Kentucky
12 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) – If you enjoy high-scoring affairs, this matchup is sure to impress. Alabama leads the nation in scoring offense with an impressive 89.5 points per game, while Kentucky isn’t far behind, ranking third at 88.7 ppg. After a tough loss to Ole Miss, Alabama will look to bounce back with a big road win at Rupp Arena, where Kentucky has been tough to beat. Kentucky enters the game with two consecutive ranked victories, and it promises to be an exciting battle. Prediction: Alabama -2.5 – Cameron Salerno.
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Justin Okoronkwo, a promising young linebacker, only spent one season with Alabama football before deciding to pursue a different opportunity. After the 2024 season, Okoronkwo transferred to South Carolina, entering the transfer portal just before the deadline.
This timing is significant, as it followed the announcements from inside linebackers Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson that they would be returning for another season with Alabama. Okoronkwo explained his decision in an interview with The State in South Carolina.
“I felt like the starting spots were already gone,” Okoronkwo said. “And, I mean, it’s hard to compete — especially at a place like Bama — with guys who are more experienced than you.”
Along with the return of Lawson and Jefferson, Alabama also secured Nikhai Hill-Green, a linebacker from Colorado. This made for a crowded room, even with Jihaad Campbell, a 2024 starter, declaring for the NFL Draft.
Faced with tough competition, Okoronkwo decided to seek opportunities elsewhere and found a new home with the Gamecocks. South Carolina needs to replace two starting linebackers for the 2025 season. He also noted that the program’s strength staff played a role in his decision.
“(It’s) very impressive, especially compared to Bama,” Okoronkwo said. “What they are doing there, I really like because it’s way more related to the game. Like what drills they do and what lifts they do. That really stood out to me.”
In his brief time at Alabama, Okoronkwo logged 39 defensive snaps in 2024, including 14 in the Missouri game. The former three-star recruit from Germany is now looking forward to his new chapter with South Carolina.
