No. 4 Alabama Faces No. 17 Kentucky Amid Two-Game Slide

The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide will host No. 17 Kentucky on Saturday, looking to recover from back-to-back losses against Auburn and Missouri. Alabama head coach Nate Oats emphasized the importance of urgency, as the Tide seeks to improve their NCAA tournament seeding amidst defensive struggles that have seen them allow over 80 points in several recent games. In their last matchup, Alabama narrowly defeated Kentucky 102-97 at Rupp Arena, marking Kentucky's first home loss of the season. The Wildcats are aiming for a signature road win to bolster their tournament hopes, having recently secured an 82-61 victory over Vanderbilt. Kentucky's coach, Mark Pope, noted that the need for defensive stops will be crucial after their previous encounter where they allowed significant scoring runs. This matchup is pivotal for both teams as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season before March Madness.