Kentucky basketball had another top 15 matchup in Rupp Arena, this time against #4 Alabama, and while the Wildcats hung around, the final minutes were the story

The No. 4 Crimson Tide bounces back from loss to Ole Miss by handing the No. 8 Wildcats' their first loss at home

In particular, Alabama attacked a trio of Kentucky guards — Koby Brea, Jaxson Robinson and Travis Perry — and had a great deal of success doing so. Wildcats head coach Mark Pope noticed it, but there wasn't much he or his team could do about it.

One of the best games of the college basketball season took place on Saturday as Nate Oats and No. 4 Alabama went on the road to Rupp Arena to take on Mark Pope and No. 8 Kentucky in Lexington. The two teams battled back and forth in a high-scoring affair before Alabama eventually made a few more plays to come out on top 102-97.

Mark Pope and Nate Oats matched wits on the court, and Kentucky and Alabama put on a show in Rupp Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats host the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide in college basketball action on Saturday, Jan. 18.

No. 4 Alabama marched into Lexington and beat No. 8 Kentucky in a thrilling 102-97 showdown between SEC powerhouses. The Crimson Tide and Wildcats showed exactl

Two of the nation’s highest-scoring teams in college basketball collide Saturday at Rupp Arena when the eighth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats play host to No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide. The start time is noon on ESPN, with Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas serving as the broadcast team.

While scoring is going to be very important for the Kentucky Wildcats, and they need to shoot the three ball well, another key to victory is Lamont Butler slowing Mark Sears. Alab

Winning on the road is a notoriously difficult thing to do in college basketball, but Alabama has been exceptional at it this season. The Crimson Tide has a 5-1 record in true road games this year, which includes a 5-game winning streak in road arenas after losing its first road game of the season to Purdue back in November.

Six-loss Arizona sits at No. 8 in the latest BPI rankings, as ESPN is taking into account the Wildcats’ strength of record and expected point margin moving forward as 12 of the 16 teams in the Big 12 Conference are considered Quad 1 competition.