The remaining days of the regular season will tell us a lot about an SEC packed with Tournament quality teams. That’s no different in this Saturday rematch between Vanderbilt and Kentucky with these two teams currently tied in the league standings. It’s been a month since the Commodores rolled on their home floor, but will things be different this time in Lexington?
An impressive start to the season for Vanderbilt (22-6) hasn’t been forgotten, as the Commodores won sixteen straight before hitting some struggles in the SEC. Still, Vanderbilt has some pretty nice wins in league play, knocking off Alabama, beating Auburn on the road, and of course grabbing that 25-point win over Kentucky at the end of January. The Commodores are hoping to shake off these recent struggles heading into March.
It’s been a similar story for a Kentucky (18-10) squad that has had far more issues than expected this season. The Wildcats really got on a hot streak last month but have now lost three of four games, falling down to just 9-6 in the SEC. There have been some missed chances and some rough showings but Mark Pope needs to find a way to stabilize things for his team heading into the most important month of the year.
Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky: When and Where
Date:Â Saturday, February 28, 2026, 2:00 pm ET
Location:Â Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch:Â ESPN
Streaming: FuboTV
Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky: Betting Odds
Spread: Vanderbilt Commodores -1.5, Kentucky Wildcats +1.5
Moneyline:Â Vanderbilt Commodores -102, Kentucky Wildcats -118
Total: 155.5
Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky: Series History
All-time series:Â Kentucky leads 158-51
Last meeting:Â Vanderbilt 80, Kentucky 55 (January 27, 2026)
Projected Starting Lineups
Vanderbilt Commodores
Tyler Tanner (18.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.2 apg)
Tyler Nickel (14.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Devin McGlockton (10.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
AK Okereke (9.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Jalen Washington (8.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
Kentucky Wildcats
Otega Oweh (17.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Denzel Aberdeen (12.9 ppg, 3.3 apg)
Collin Chandler (10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Malachi Moreno (8.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
Andrija Jelavic (5.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
With both teams hopeful and desperate for an important win, we have to consider what happened in that 25-point Vanderbilt win last month. While the Commodores didn’t exactly shoot the cover off the ball, the Wildcats were doomed by a slow start and some tough shooting, with Aberdeen and Oweh the only Wildcats who were doing anything in that game. Kentucky needs to start better and find a more consistent flow to their offense. Vanderbilt knows how to win and how to play smart in hostile road games but it all comes down to who wants this game more, especially with both teams trying to break out of recent skids.
Can Vanderbilt solidify their seeding and standing with the Selection Committee by completing a season sweep against these Wildcats? Does Kentucky find a way to take care of business at home and get some much needed revenge?