LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky men’s basketball game against South Carolina, previously postponed, was rescheduled for March 6 at the Rupp Arena. Rush hour and TV network will be announced later.
The rescheduled game, which was originally scheduled to start the South East Conference list for the UK on December 29, will close the league part of the UK calendar. The Wildcats’ previously postponed game against Texas A&M on February 23 will not be rescheduled. Kentucky will end with 17 conference games.
The original South Carolina game was postponed due to a combination of positive tests, contact tracking and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the South Carolina men’s basketball program. The decision to postpone was consistent with SEC COVID’s management requirements -19.
Tickets purchased for the original December 29th date with South Carolina will still be valid for the rescheduled game against the Gamecocks on March 6th. UK ticket holders will receive an email communication if additional changes are made to the Kentucky schedule.
Given the unusual nature of this season – specifically, the current unknowns related to deferred games being rescheduled or canceled games being replaced – UK Athletics appreciates the continued support, flexibility and understanding of its ticket holders. If circumstances change during the season and games are canceled and not rescheduled, UK Athletics will evaluate the credit and refund options for the portion of the ticket payment at the end of the season.
The UK will play Gamecocks for the first time this season. South Carolina enters this weekend at 5-12 overall and 3-10 in the SEC game.
Kentucky has a 52-13 record against Gamecocks, including 28-2 at the Rupp Arena. South Carolina defeated Wildcats 81-78 last season in a hoot in Columbia, South Carolina.
The Wildcats are playing their best basketball towards the final stretch of the season. The UK won three consecutive games before Senior Day’s game on Saturday against Florida, including an impressive 70-55 victory last weekend at No. 19/20 Tennessee.
The United Kingdom has an average of 78.0 points per game and 40.6% of 3 and 82.9% of the free-throw line during its three-game winning streak. Advance Isaiah Jackson, who was named SEC’s freshman of the week on Monday, has an average of 16.3 points and 9.0 rebounds during the modest three-game series.
Even before the winning streak, the numbers are offensive. The UK has scored 80 or more three times in the last four games – after doing this only once in the previous 17 – and recorded 62 assists combined with 40 of 3 points combined. The 40 points of 3 are the most important seconds in the John Calipari it was over a period of four games. Graduated guard Davion Mintz made 14 of them.
The defense remained excellent, ranking 25th in Ken Pomeroy’s defensive efficiency rating during Wednesday’s games.
The South Carolina game was the first of four UK games affected by the COVID-19 security protocols. In addition to the South Carolina and Texas A&M games, the November 27 Wildcats game against Detroit Mercy was postponed due to a combination of positive tests, contact tracking and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the Detroit Mercy and SEC / Big 12 program. Texas on January 30 was canceled after the UK was put on a break after a combination of positive tests, contact tracking and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the program.
The SEC’s COVID-19 management requirements, as developed by the SEC’s Return to Activity Task Force and Medical Guidance, are available at SECsports.com. The health and safety of Wildcat student-athletes, coaches and employees remains the number one priority for UK Athletics.
To find out what’s new on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and on the web at UKathletics.com.