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Kentucky vs. Yale: 2022-23 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Holden Walter-Warner

Nov 29, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) celebrates a basket during the first half against the Bellarmine Knights at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) celebrates a basket during the first half against the Bellarmine Knights at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kentucky Wildcats try to stay undefeated at home as they host the Yale Bulldogs, an annual powerhouse in the Ivy League.

TV Schedule: Saturday, December 10, 1:00 PM ET, SECN

Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY

The Kentucky Wildcats and the Yale Bulldogs are both undefeated at home entering Saturday’s non-conference contest. Unfortunately for the Ivy League squad, this game is taking place at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

It’s been more than six decades since these two programs faced off on the hardwood in men’s basketball. Kentucky had the upper hand in 1961, topping Yale by 21 points.

Kentucky comes into the game off its best win of the season, a four-point victory over the Michigan Wolverines. The Wildcats fell short in its other games against high-level competition, losing to both Michigan State and Gonzaga.

Yale, meanwhile, is a solid 8-2, but the two losses have come in the last four games, both to major competition. Both defeats were close, but Colorado and Butler both prevailed over the Bulldogs, whose best wins of the season are an overtime victory over Hawaii and 39-point demolishing of Vermont.

The Bulldogs have a vaunted defense, holding opponents to 39 percent shooting and 57.8 points per game. Only two opponents have scored more than 62 points all season long.

One concern coming out of the Michigan game was Kentucky’s inability to force turnovers. Their defense posted a 9.9 percent turnover percentage in the London contest, easily the team’s worst mark of the season, according to Bart Torvik.

Yale does have a dangerous individual weapon in Matt Knowling. The junior forward is averaging 16.2 points per game and is a good shooter – albeit one without a three-pointer in his arsenal – hitting 64.6 percent of his shots. Oscar Tshiebwe and Kentucky will need to shut him down.

The Wildcats are a strong three-point shooting team, which should help them separate from Yale. The team is shooting 39.3 percent from three. Freshman Cason Wallace has hit 50 percent of his threes, while senior Antonio Reeves is not far behind.

A heavy advantage should belong to Kentucky on the boards. The team is one of the best in the nation at rebounding, grabbing 42.5 boards per game. Yale only has one player taller than 6-foot-8 and 7-footer Danny Wolf barely plays. This is an area where Tshiebwe should dominate on Saturday.

That being said, Yale only gives up 20.5 percent offensive rebound percentage to opponents, one of the best figures in the whole country.

Kentucky has had a few days to rest following its overseas victory over the Wolverines, but international flights have a way of exhausting a person. It will be interesting to see if the Wildcats are able to get going quickly for an early tip on Saturday.

Ranking the final unbeatens. dark. Next

Yale should once again be one of the top teams in the Ivy League and a contender for the NCAA Tournament. But Kentucky is one of the top teams in the nation and a contender to go as far as the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, perhaps beyond. These two squads are built different, plain and simple.

Prediction: Kentucky 73, Yale 66